Merry christmas to all of you! :) I am sorry if it's been a while since my last update, but I've been sick with covid and working a lot. But here is the latest chapter and I hope you enjoy it! Please leave a review and tell me what I can improve.
"Where shall I drive you to, miss?" asked the taxi driver as he drove away from Cemetery Road.
"Grimwood House," Valkyrie replied, turning her head to catch one last glimpse of Skulduggery. He was still standing in the doorway, watching the taxi as it drove away with her.
"Isn't that where Gordon Edgley, the famous writer, lived?"
"Yes, and I happen to own that house."
"Wow! I can't imagine what it's like to live in a celebrity's house." The taxi driver started talking about how much he liked Gordon's books and how sad it was that he wouldn't be able to read any more new books from him.
Valkyrie let him talk and only answered when she was asked a question. She had no desire to talk, but instead let her thoughts wander freely in her head. She couldn't stop thinking about the night and morning that had been. She couldn't stop thinking about Skulduggery. At his smile, at his velvety voice, his smell, at the way his body had been pressed tightly against her own…
Valkyrie shook her head in an attempt to banish the memories of her and Skulduggery's intimate encounters, but the more she tried not to think about them, the more space they took up in her head. She felt her womb begin to throb in anticipation and she crossed her legs in a failed attempt to stifle the pounding.
Why do I feel this way about someone I just met? I shouldn't feel this strongly about a stranger. I shouldn't want to jump into bed with him again and again. I shouldn't want someone I don't know as much as I actually want right now. I shouldn't want to see him again so soon.
Skulduggery made it clear to me right from the start that he is not normal, that he has baggage that many people don't even come close to in a lifetime. He is dangerous and I know if he was pushed enough, he could snap. Who knows what he might do when all boundaries are blurred? He walks around with a lot of dark thoughts, which is not so strange considering what he's been through, which could lead him to do something unforgivable that he won't be able to take back.
Despite all this, there is something about him that I find so terribly attractive. It's not just his looks, it's something else that I can't put my finger on. He has an aura about him that for some reason I'm drawn to. I suspect he feels the same way about me, given the way he acted around me. The way he talked to me, the way he smiled at me, the way he showed himself vulnerable, the way he touched me…
I want to see him again. I want to continue our conversation that just flowed on as if we had known each other for ages and not just for a little more than half a day. I want to see Skulduggery again so I can hear his velvety voice once more. I want to hear him tell me what he intends to do with me the next time we see each other…
Valkyrie was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice them arrive at her house. It was only when the taxi stopped that she again became aware of her surroundings. She gave the taxi driver a smile and was just about to take her bank card out of her bag, when he shook his head and smiled. "You don't have to pay, ma'am. Your male friend fixed it for you."
I'll have to remember to thank Skulduggery when I talk to him later tonight.
"Thank you very much and have a nice day." Valkyrie gave the taxi driver another smile, before getting out of the taxi and walking up to the front door where she unlocked the door. She stepped into the hall where she put her bag down before heading up the stairs and into her bedroom.
Once inside, she took off the clothes she had borrowed from Skulduggery and threw them on the bed. She went naked to her closet where she took out a new bra, panties, a black sweater and a pair of equally black jeans. She sat down on the bed where she got dressed and just before she was about to get up to go back downstairs, she let her eyes fall on Skulduggery's clothes lying next to her.
She couldn't help it. Valkyrie lifted the clothes up in her hands and placed them against her nose. They smelled of Skulduggery and the memories of their sex acts flooded through her. She felt her sex begin to tingle with arousal again and she forced herself to put the clothes away.
Reluctantly.
"Harden yourself, Valkyrie! You are no longer a teenager filled with hormones telling you that the only thing you should be focusing on is getting laid! The only thing you must focus on now is getting in your car and driving to your parents' house to pick up your dog."
Valkyrie stood up and walked back down the hall. She took out the bag that contained her dress and knickers given to her by Skulduggery and took it to the laundry room. She put the clothes in the laundry basket before walking back out into the hall, took the car keys off the hook, opened and locked the front door, and then finally got into her own car. She started it and drove out of her driveway.
She hadn't been driving for many minutes before her phone rang in her trouser pocket and she had to let go of the steering wheel for a few seconds to fish it out. When she finally managed to pick it up and looked at the display, she saw that it was Tanith calling. A smile appeared on her lips, and she knew she was about to hear all the juicy details of what Tanith had been up to during the night.
"Hello, Tanith."
"Val, tell me everything! I saw when you and Skulduggery disappeared together! What happened between you two? Did you sleep with each other? How was he? Is he as handsome naked as he is with clothes on? Or let me guess: he is even more handsome naked? He must be with that body!"
Valkyrie laughed as a warmth spread throughout her body as she thought of Skulduggery's green eyes, smile, his laugh and his velvety voice. His voice! She could listen to him talk for hours without getting tired of his voice. Not to mention his sinewy body…
"Val, are you still there?"
"Hmm?"
"You haven't answered my questions! It was dead quiet, so I thought the line was broken." Tanith interrupted herself before saying with a smile in her voice "Or could it be that this Skulduggery guy was that good?"
"He is more than good, Tanith. He is divine."
Tanith laughed. "Tell everything! I want to hear all the details!"
"Where do I start? His voice is as smooth as velvet and could make anyone fall in love with it as soon as they heard it. He has the kind of body I find most attractive, sinewy and not too muscular. He's charming, has a sense of humour, knows exactly what to say to get me firing on all cylinders…"
"Watch yourself. If you keep going like that, you'll make me blush."
"You wanted all the details!" Valkyrie laughed before continuing. "The sex was wonderful, Tanith. I couldn't get enough of him! We slept with each other twice in a row in his bed before falling asleep. He didn't even pull out of me after we came, but we did round two basically as soon as we got our breath back.
We had sex a third time in the shower in the morning after we woke up. He surprised me while I was lathering up and I just couldn't resist him! I'm not usually the one to request having another intercourse the morning after, but as soon as I felt Skulduggery's arms around me and he whispered in my ear, I couldn't feel him inside me fast enough. I haven't felt this attracted to anyone since Fletcher and I ended our relationship! I feel like a horny teenager again!"
"Wow, then he really must be something extra! Do you think you will meet again? It sounds like you wouldn't mind anyway, wink-wink."
Valkyrie laughed again. "He's going to call me tonight."
There was silence for a few seconds. Valkyrie could see Tanith in front of her. She bet her best friend right now was wide-eyed and gaping. "Wow again... Then he must really like you if he can't even wait a whole day before contacting you. Could it be that you two are… meant for each other?"
"Tanith don't start that again. Just because we're sexually attracted to each other doesn't mean we're meant to be together forever. I have been attracted to others before I met Skulduggery whom I met more than once, before. It is far too early to say where this will lead."
"Why do you say that?"
Valkyrie hesitated. Had Tanith picked up on the chilly atmosphere between Skulduggery and China yesterday at the bar? And if she had, what was it that said she had the right to talk about China and Skulduggery's relationship? Skulduggery had never said anything to her that she couldn't tell that China was his ex, but she didn't know how China would react if she told Tanith.
"Valkyrie? Does this have anything to do with whatever is going on between Skulduggery and China? I saw how cold they were to each other, don't believe otherwise. After you and Skulduggery disappeared onto the dance floor, China looked after you two with hatred in her eyes. I've never seen her like that before and to be honest she scared me a bit. I think she went home then, because I didn't see her anymore after you disappeared. I asked Ghastly, but he didn't want to tell me anything as he thought it was up to China herself to talk about what had happened between the two of them."
"So, China didn't say anything to you, just left?" Valkyrie asked, feeling her hesitation only increase.
"Right. She didn't even say goodbye or wish us a nice evening. She just turned on her heel and disappeared among the crowd."
Valkyrie sighed. "Tanith, I don't know if I should tell you this. Skulduggery doesn't seem to mind me doing it, because he hasn't said anything else. I understand how Ghastly is thinking, because he probably doesn't want you to risk your relationship with China getting into trouble."
"China is not my boss, you know that. I couldn't care less about her privacy. What she has and hasn't done in her past doesn't affect me. You know her far better than I ever will."
"Okay, but if she asks, you haven't heard anything from me. Pretend to be surprised, okay? Our relationship is probably strained enough as it is right now… I bet she saw me and Skulduggery leaving the club together in his car. Which in turn means she knows we've slept with each other."
"What you do in your spare time is up to you, Valkyrie. It's not like she and Skulduggery are a couple and she's caught him cheating."
"In a way, that's exactly what she's done."
"Huh?!" Tanith shouted.
"Skulduggery is China's ex."
"You're joking!"
"No unfortunately not. Which means you might understand why I'm so hesitant about this whole situation. I feel like I'm betraying China's trust, especially after what Skulduggery told me about her upbringing and how they met."
Valkyrie told her everything Skulduggery had told her about China's childhood. About her fanatical parents, about the power the church had had over her, about Damocles Creed and their intended marriage, and how she had freed herself from all that by choosing Skulduggery over the church.
"Their relationship unfortunately ended abruptly when Creed took the opportunity to seduce China one night when she came over to him after she and Skulduggery had had a heated argument. As soon as Skulduggery found out that China had been unfaithful, he ended the relationship and ever since that day they have been enemies. China still has feelings for Skulduggery and thinks he should have given her a second chance as she believes she was taken advantage of, while Skulduggery on the other hand thinks if she's done it once, what's to say she wouldn't be able to do the same thing again?"
It was dead quiet on the other end. It took almost a full minute before Tanith said anything. "Not to sound like a broken record, but wow... I didn't expect that."
"That's what I thought too when Skulduggery told me. So now you might see what I meant about me being dubious about whether it's a good idea to keep seeing Skulduggery."
"Valkyrie, I want you to listen very carefully now," Tanith said in a firm voice. "You probably shouldn't, no correction, you shouldn't care what China thinks, as she and Skulduggery are a closed chapter. Skulduggery has every right in the world to sleep with whoever he wants, whenever he wants. That this someone happened to be you doesn't matter, does it?
If he's half as wonderful as you describe him, I think you should give him a chance. Sure, China will probably be mad, maybe downright furious with you at first before she gets used to the fact that the man, she still loves is dating someone else and that this person happens to be one of her employees. But she will get used to it after a while. After all, we are all adults, and we should be able to behave like adults too."
"I guess you're right, Tanith. I'm going to sit down and talk to her tomorrow when I go into work. But enough talking about me now. Did you get lucky? Did you follow Ghastly home, or maybe it was he who followed you, wink-wink?"
Tanith giggled and when she answered Valkyrie's question, she sounded like a teenage girl that just has had her first intercourse and wants to tell every detail to her girlfriend. "I managed to catch myself a really good catch, Valkyrie. Ghastly is divine! He is like a big, muscular teddy bear! He is totally different than the other guys and girls I have had a relationship with before. He feels like someone that I could actually give a chance and test dating."
"Wow", Valkyrie answered with genuine surprise in her voice. "I think I've never heard you say that word about anyone else before. He must really be something extra."
"He is! I would describe that the relationship I have with him is on the same level as yours and Skulduggery's. Our conversations just flowed on as well and we also had a hard time keeping away from each other. When we finally came home to Ghastly, he took things as they came, although I could see on him that the only thing, he wanted to do was throw off my clothes and push himself inside me.
He was a real gentleman, something I am not used to. He was very careful with checking with me if I was comfortable with the things he did and asked me what I wanted him to do. He was so careful that I finally had enough and took command, something that he didn't mind should be added."
"I am happy for your sake Tanith and hope that it will work out between you and Ghastly. Considering all the dirtbags you've been together with you deserve to meet someone that treats you like a queen."
"Same Valkyrie." A sound in the background made Tanith interrupt herself and become quiet for a few seconds before she came back. "I have to go now, Val. Work stuff."
"Show them who's boss, Tanith. See you tomorrow at the Sanctuary. I take it you want to be there when Serpine's trial date is announced?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Valkyrie. Take care. Love you."
"Love you too." Valkyrie hung up and parked her car next to her father's. She turned off the engine and took off her seat belt when her phone rang again. The display read "Fletcher" and a big smile broke out on her lips. "Fletcher, hello! Long time no sees. How are you?"
"Hey, Steph, or do you want me to call you Valkyrie?" laughed Fletcher. "It's so weird that you've changed your name. I still haven't gotten used to it. Your name was Stephanie when we met and you will always be Stephanie to me, even though Valkyrie is a name that suits you really well."
"You can call me whatever you want, but if you ask me, I prefer Valkyrie."
"Okay, I'll try to remember it for future use. How are you? I saw on the news last night what had happened and thought to myself I should call and congratulate you. How does it feel to have finally caught Gordon's killer?"
"Thank you, Fletcher. I'm honestly just glad it's all over. There were days when I thought I would never find Serpine, that he would get away with all the crimes he committed, but I had promised my uncle at his funeral that I would catch his killer and I never break a promise."
"I know you don't."
"So how are you doing? I guess you are busy with final exams right now."
"You can surely say that! There are only a few weeks left until the summer holidays and all students in their final year will have their final exams next week. Stressed is just the beginning of it! But enough talking about me, I want to know what you have been up to during the night."
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Fletcher," Valkyrie replied innocently, receiving a snort in response.
"Don't mess with me, Valkyrie. I know you well enough to hear in your voice when you try to keep something from me. You've met someone, haven't you? That's why your phone was off late last night. You just turn it off when you don't want to be disturbed. Tell me: male or female this time?"
Valkyrie laughed. "Sometimes I wonder if it is not a disadvantage that we are such good friends, but you are right. I have met someone. His name is Skulduggery Pleasant, and he is a private detective. I met him last night at a night club and I followed him home. We went in his 1954 Bentley Continental."
Fletcher whistled low and Valkyrie could hear that Fletcher was impressed as he said "Wow, that wasn't a bad catch, Valkyrie! I know who Skulduggery Pleasant is. I've seen him on TV sometimes when he's given interviews in connection with some police investigation, he's been involved in. He's handsome."
Valkyrie laughed again and told the whole story from beginning to end. When she was done, she got another whistle from Fletcher. "This Skulduggery sounds like a man for you, Valkyrie. How many have you met before him who have managed to leave you speechless on more than one occasion?"
"Because I love hearing my own voice, you mean?" Valkyrie replied, laughing again.
Fletcher laughed too. "Promise me that you will call and update me on how your relationship is progressing. And no, I'm not jealous. It's just because I want to hear so he's not a jackass taking advantage of you."
"I'm a big girl now and can take care of myself, Fletcher."
"I know, but that doesn't mean I care less about you, Valkyrie. I want the best for you and since I can't be your boyfriend, I'm going to do my very best to be your best friend and be there for you when you need me."
Valkyrie felt tears of joy and gratitude form in her eyes. She quickly rubbed them away before they could run down her cheeks. She took a deep breath before answering Fletcher. "It means a lot to have you as a friend, Fletcher. To prove how much Xena and I intend to stop by after I finish at Mom and Dad's. I know it's been a long time since you got to see her."
"In that case, I make sure to have dinner ready. And before you say I don't need to go to the trouble, I have only one thing to say: accept it."
Valkyrie laughed out loud. "That sounds divine, Fletcher. I'll call you when I'm done here."
"Do it. Say hello to Melissa, Desmond and Alice from me and I'll see you in a few hours."
"I will and we will. Goodbye, Fletcher." Valkyrie ended the call and got out of the car before walking over to her parents' front door.
The moment she opened the door and stepped into the hall she was greeted by Xena who jumped into her arms and started licking her face. She barked and pressed her muzzle against Valkyrie's neck. Valkyrie laughed and hugged her dog while whispering nonsense in her ear.
Her parents joined them and gave her a warm smile. As soon as Valkyrie managed to get Xena to calm down, she received a hug from first her mother and then her father. They scanned her up and down and Valkyrie could tell from their body language that they knew what she had been up to during the night.
"I see you've had an interesting night and morning, Stephanie. Tell me, what was he like? He must be something special if he made you abandon Xena like this," her father said.
Valkyrie felt her cheeks heat up and she began petting Xena in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. "He was… special."
"Special, you say? Considering your cheeks are as red as a pair of tomatoes, I'd say he must be unique, or at least very good in bed. You wouldn't mind giving me any details? I could use some pointers, you see. I suspect your mother is getting a little tired of me and…"
"Desmond, stop before you embarrass yourself completely." Her mother glanced into the living room before turning her gaze to Valkyrie again and continued in a slightly lower voice "Besides, Alice is in the living room and she's way too young to hear her older sister talk about her love life."
Valkyrie was about to answer when Alice came rushing up to them. "What does 'love life' mean and why wouldn't Stephanie want to talk to me about it?"
"You'll find out when you grow up and get a boyfriend," Valkyrie replied, giving her sister a hug.
"Is that where you've been all night and is that why Xena slept at our house?"
"I spent the night with a male friend who might become my boyfriend in the future."
"What do you mean? Either you're together or you're not!" Alice said confused, giving her sister a confused look.
"Me and this friend haven't decided yet if we want to be boyfriend and girlfriend. We haven't known each other that long and want to take it slow. We might not fit together as a couple, but we might just be really good friends," Valkyrie explained, receiving a nod in response from Alice, signifying her acceptance of her sister's answer.
"Why are we standing out here in the hall? Come on, let's go and sit on the sofa instead and talk for a while! It's been a while since we met and I want to hear what you've been up to, Stephanie," her mother said, leading them all into the living room.
Valkyrie stayed for nearly two hours before excusing herself and telling them she was going to Fletcher's for dinner, much to her parents' delight. They still liked Fletcher as much now as they had when they had been a couple and Valkyrie knew they found it really sad that things hadn't worked out between the two of them, as they had thought Fletcher was perfect for her.
"Say hello to Fletcher from us and give him a big hug. I'll have to remember to invite him here the next time you dine with us, Stephanie. It has been far too long since we had a chance to meet him. I understand he has a lot to do right now with all the final exams this week. It's the only thing Alice talks about as soon as we ask her how school is. She wonders when it's her turn to take those tests and why she can't take them now, so she doesn't have to do them when it's her turn to graduate high school."
Valkyrie laughed and hugged her little sister. "You are way too smart for your age!"
Alice was about to answer her when she was interrupted by Valkyrie's phone starting to ring. Valkyrie picked up the phone and felt a small lump in her stomach when she saw who it was that was calling. She looked up at her family and gave them a small apologetic smile. "Unfortunately, I have to take this, it's work."
She went out into the hall. When she was sure her family couldn't hear what she was saying, she took a deep breath before answering. "China, I was going to call you tonight. I apologize if I have hurt you…"
"Valkyrie, I'm not calling because of Skulduggery," China interrupted her. Her voice was tense, and Valkyrie understood that something had happened at the Sanctuary.
"What happened, China?"
"I don't have time to explain. You must come in immediately as there has been an emergency."
Valkyrie felt the lump in her stomach grow and get bigger. It was now the size of a rock. "What kind of emergency?"
"He has fled. Nefarian Serpine has somehow managed to escape from his cell."