"This is the best birthday present ever!" Valkyrie Cain exclaimed, jumping into the bubbling, warm water.

Skulduggery Pleasant laughed as he came walking behind Valkyrie but stopped the second Valkyrie's body disappeared under the surface of the water and water splashed up all around the jacuzzi. He raised a hand and maneuverer away the water that was heading towards him, not wanting his outfit to get wet.

Valkyrie broke the surface of the water and turned to look into Skulduggery's black eye sockets. She was smiling from ear to ear and her eyes twinkled with happiness. She took a swim and let her arms settle along the edge of the jacuzzi. "Why don't you jump in and join me? The water is at a perfect temperature and these bubbles massage your whole body at the same time! I didn't know I had this many knots that needed to be massaged out!"

Skulduggery stood in front of Valkyrie and bent his knees, so his eye sockets were at level with her brown eyes. He tilted his head to the side in a way that told Valkyrie he was smiling. "I'm glad to hear that my birthday present to you is so appreciated, but you know I don't bathe."

"There is a difference between swimming in the sea and in a jacuzzi, Skulduggery. Especially when the jacuzzi in question is on a private terrace in a hotel room where no one can see what you're doing. And even if someone caught a glimpse of us, no one would raise an eyebrow as this is a hotel for mages."

"Everything you just said may be true, but it doesn't change the fact that I don't bathe, Valkyrie."

"It's my 30th birthday Skulduggery and you promised me it would be special! I must admit you have done a great job so far. First dinner at a restaurant where we were the only guests and where the only lighting came from candles and a private band playing romantic music while I ate.

After dinner you took me to a skating rink where we skated together and I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised to see that you are so good at skating, even though I should not have been surprised as there doesn't seem to be anything which you can't do and that you aren't good at.

And here we are now, in a hotel suite with its own jacuzzi and a fantastic view over Dublin. After you've gone through all this for me, you can't do the one thing I've asked of you this entire evening? All I ask is that you take off that suit, join me, and enjoy the rest of my birthday with me."

"When you put it that way, you make me sound like a real piece of shit."

Valkyrie laughed. "If you don't come in voluntarily, I will drag you down."

Skulduggery snorts. "I'd like to see you try."

Valkyrie smiled and stood up in the jacuzzi. She placed one hand on her hip while leaning her body to the side and raising an eyebrow. "Did you just challenge me on my birthday, Mr. Pleasant?"

"And if I did, Ms. Cain?"

"Do you really want to do this?" Valkyrie asked, feeling her magic begin to stir inside her body, wanting to be unleashed.

Skulduggery, seeing what Valkyrie was just feeling, also stood up. He looked completely relaxed and gave no hint whatsoever of wanting to defend himself. He laid his hands behind his back and leaned so close to Valkyrie that their faces were only a few inches apart.

Neither of them said or did anything. They just looked into each other's eyes and awaited the other's first move. When nearly three minutes had passed without either of them moving, Valkyrie smiled again before letting her hands fall below the surface of the water. She conjured her magic and a wave of hot, bubbling Jacuzzi water rose up towards Skulduggery's face. He took a step back and used water magic to deflect the wave from hitting him and instead directed it back at Valkyrie, who jumped to the side.

"Nice try, but not good enough, Valkyrie."

Valkyrie just laughed and let another wave of water hurtle towards Skulduggery. While he was busy steering it away, she lunged forward and grabbed Skulduggery's tie. She pulled it towards her, forcing Skulduggery to take a few steps forward until his knees hit the side of the jacuzzi. His tie dangled just out of reach of the bubbling water and Valkyrie couldn't stop a triumphant smile from spreading across her lips.

"I just need to pull your tie a little more and you will fall into the water with me. Do you want to wet your nice suit that I know you only wear on special occasions or are you going to undress and join me like I asked you to?"

"You can get really bossy when you add that side to yourself, Valkyrie." Skulduggery sighed and nodded after thinking for a few seconds. "Okay, I will join you. But only for a few minutes."

Valkyrie gave Skulduggery a happy smile before she leaned forward and kissed his teeth. She stroked his cheek with her free hand as she kissed him. After a moment she broke the kiss and let go of his tie. She sat down in the jacuzzi and smiled teasingly. "Whenever you feel ready, Mr. Pleasant."

"I'm going to make you eat those words, Valkyrie."

"I won't believe you until I see it."

Skulduggery did not answer but took off his hat and let it float in through the open terrace doors. He then took off his suit jacket and let it follow the same path as his hat. Valkyrie couldn't help but laugh. "It's just some jacuzzi water, Skulduggery."

"Which can leave some nasty stains. Are you aware of how many different chemicals there is in that water?" Skulduggery said as he began to unbutton his shirt. "I would never forgive you if I would never be able to wear this suit again, Valkyrie. I asked Ghastly to make this for me because the idea is that I shall only use it sparely and only on especially special occasions."

"Ghastly can make a new one for you. I know he wouldn't mind," Valkyrie replied as she followed Skulduggery's every move carefully.

Skulduggery had now undone all the buttons and was just about to take off his shirt. Valkyrie was always just as fascinated to see Skulduggery move without clothes. To see him move as gracefully as a normal human with muscles, joints and skin did. To see how all his bones moved in sync and did as he told them despite having no brain to send out signals to his muscles how to move.

Skulduggery laughed and the shirt disappeared into the hotel room. He bent down and began untying his shoes without taking his eyes off Valkyrie. He could see in her how much she was enjoying his little striptease and he had to admit to himself that he found the whole thing amusing too. "Do you see something you like?"

"You know I do."

Skulduggery stood up and stepped out of his shoes as he unbuttoned his pants and let them fall down his skeletal legs. He cocked his head as he watched Valkyrie's gaze scan his bare body hut. A pleased smile could be seen on her lips, and she let the tip of her tongue sweep over her wet lips before once again allowing her gaze to wander upwards and stop in Skulduggery's black eye sockets.

Skulduggery walked over to the Jacuzzi as the remainder of his suit disappeared through the patio doors. He stepped into the warm water and the moment he sat down, Valkyrie jumped into his arms. Her bikini clad body was wet from the water and Skulduggery could see her stiff nipples through the thin fabric, a clear sign of how much she enjoyed seeing him in his true form. He let his bony arms embrace his partner and soulmate before pressing her tightly against his chest.

Valkyrie let out a low gasp as her stiff nipples were pushed up against Skulduggery's chest and her sex began to tingle faintly. She rested her forehead against Skulduggery's and took a deep breath before wrapping her arms around his shoulder blades. "Skulduggery…" she whispered.

"You're shaking, Valkyrie. Is my presence really that intoxicating?"

Valkyrie laughed and began caressing Skulduggery's bones slowly. She let her lips wrap around his teeth as she pressed herself closer to him. She could feel Skulduggery's grip on her tightening and how he gasped even though he didn't need to breathe. She pulled away from him, but just enough so she would be able to say, "I think it should be me asking you that question, Skulduggery."

Skulduggery didn't answer, letting one hand travel up from Valkyrie's back up to her breasts while the other travelled downwards to her buttock. He began to caress Valkyrie, causing her to sway and let out a moan of pleasure. She shivered at the sensation Skulduggery's hands and fingers gave her and even though they had been a couple for two years now, she was just as turned on by Skulduggery's caresses now as when they had slept with each other for the first time.

Skulduggery leaned forward and began nibbling on Valkyrie's neck and throat - something he knew she enjoyed - while caressing her stiff nipple with his thumb. He let the rest of his hand cup the underside of her breast. Valkyrie in turn began to move her lower body against Skulduggery's pelvis as she let her hands caress Skulduggery's body. She concentrated mainly on his ribs and spine, as she knew he was most sensitive there.

"Valkyrie…" Skulduggery gasped against her neck, using the hand that cupped her ass to push her even closer to him. He shook a little from her caresses and to show her how good she made him feel, he unbuttoned her bikini top before letting his teeth encircle her nipple in a small bite.

Valkyrie moaned loudly and wrapped her legs around Skulduggery as she began to move faster and harder against his pelvis. She was so excited! She had never thought she could be so turned on by a skeleton, but here she was, riding Skulduggery as he caressed her warm.

Skulduggery let his hand that was over Valkyrie's breast travel down past her stomach until he came across her bikini bottoms. He let his middle finger caress the fabric slowly, causing Valkyrie to moan in both pleasure and frustration. Both of them were very aware that Valkyrie wanted to feel Skulduggery's fingers inside her, but Skulduggery couldn't help but tease Valkyrie as he knew she got impatient easily.

"Tell me what you want me to do, Valkyrie…" Skulduggery whispered in her ear.

"You know damn… mm… well what I… ah… want you to do… oh… Skulduggery…" Valkyrie moaned, pressing her throbbing sex against his finger.

"I want to hear you say it, Valkyrie."

"Finger me, Skulduggery!"

Skulduggery chuckled softly in Valkyrie's ear before replying "As you wish. After all, today is your birthday and I promised to make it special…"

Before Valkyrie could respond, Skulduggery had untied her bikini bottoms and slipped his middle finger into her. He let his thumb caress her clit as his finger slid out and into her. Slowly at first, but when he felt how nice Valkyrie found his treatment by following his movements and swaying to give him more space, he picked up the pace, letting both his index and ring fingers join in on the fun.

"Skulduggery!" Valkyrie gasped, beginning to shake from all the pleasure coursing through her. "God, you are so… ah! … good at this…"

Skulduggery laughed again and let his free hand caress one of Valkyrie's breasts to give her as much pleasure as possible. It wasn't long before he felt her innermost muscles begin to contract faster and faster. Skulduggery let his fingers move faster and harder inside Valkyrie.

Seconds before she came, Valkyrie grabbed Skulduggery's cheekbones and forced him to look into her eyes. In her dark brown eyes, Skulduggery could see how much she desired him, but also her love for him. How much she trusted him; how much she loved him. That she would never leave his side as long as they both lived.

"Skulduggery…" Valkyrie whispered the moment she came. She leaned forward and let her lips wrap around his teeth as she closed her eyes. Her entire body shook from the waves of orgasm that were currently washing through her.

Skulduggery pulled out of Valkyrie and put his arms around her in a tender embrace while pressing his teeth against her lips. So, they sat for a while, holding each other as Valkyrie slowly got her laboured breathing back to normal. Getting her pulse and breathing back to normal, she pulled away from Skulduggery and looked into his black eye sockets. Skulduggery tilted his head in that way he did when he was extremely pleased with himself.

"Happy birthday, Valkyrie."

"Thank you, Skulduggery. This is a birthday I will never forget in the first place. I would even say it is one of my best."

"Not the best? What else do I need to do?"

"Nothing, it has been absolutely perfect." Valkyrie smiled and kissed Skulduggery once more before resting her head against his bony shoulder. "This has been the best birthday ever."