Secrets

3. Curse His Bloody Big Ego...

They stood like that for ages. Valkyrie didn't know exactly how long, but she liked it. No...

She loved it.
She loved him.
Nothing else mattered in the world, not any more. All that mattered, was being with Skulduggery.

"Well," he said after a while, making her look up at him. "That was... Cool."

"Betcha you liked that huh?"

"You win that bet. I haven't been able to kiss anybody for four hundred years."

"I'm happy to be the first."

"I am too."

That made her eyebrows shoot up.
"Really?" She asked, and he nodded. She blinked. "How long have you felt like this?"

He sighed. "A long time."

She swallowed. A long time. Sounded like, a long time.

"I'm sorry," she said, pulling away from him and leaning over the balcony again.

"For what?" He asked tenderly, standing beside her.

"For leaving."

He sighed again. "You don't have to be sorry for anything Valkyrie. You've been through things that no one should ever have to go through. Ever. I understood why you left, and you don't need to apologise."

She looked at him, her eyes welling with tears.
"Valkyrie," he whispered, brushing them away. "Don't cry."

"I can't help it," she sniffed, wiping her eyes furiously.

"Please."

She stopped, and looked into his emerald eyes. She wanted him so bad.

"Is this it?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" He replied.

"Is this it? Do we just, get together?"

"You make it sound awfully easy."

"Is it easy?"

He hesitated, and she sighed, her dark hair being blown back in the wind, her long legs hardly doing any work as she put all her weight into her arms, leaning against the railing. Her arms were crossed over her chest, making her breasts bulge. Without even trying, she was making herself look incredibly sexy.

"I guess so," he said, not taking his eyes off her body.

"So, this is it? We're... Together now?" She asked, turning to him. He struggled to stop the frown of disappointment from showing on his face when she moved away from the railing, and nodded.

"If that's what you want."

She grinned, showing her perfect, white teeth. He shuddered.

"Yes," she replied, approaching him. "Yes it is."

"Should we tell the others that we're a thing now?" Valkyrie asked. Skulduggery nodded.

"I think we have to."

They walked back in through the front door, holding hands, fingers interlocked. They caught stares of awe from Desmond, and Melissa grinned. Alice was still playing on the floor, her smile widening when she saw them come in. The little girl jumped up, and ran to hug her sister. Valkyrie giggled and ran her fingers through Alice's hair. Melissa walked up and hugged Valkyrie.

"So he does feel the same way," she whispered. "I knew it."

When she pulled away, Valkyrie grinned. Her dad had his eyebrows raised, staring at Skulduggery. Valkyrie sighed nervously.

"Dad..." She warned. Desmond shook himself.

"Sorry," he muttered. Valkyrie grinned and felt Skulduggery's arm wrap around her waist. She saw her dad look at it, and she glared daggers. Dads, so overprotective.

"Um..." She said, making everyone look at her. "Skulduggery actually came here to get me..." Desmond stared at him. "To go to work," she finished quickly.

Jesus Christ, she had to get Skulduggery and herself out of here, before her father brought out a shotgun. Melissa nodded, and peeled Alice off of Valkyrie's leg.

"Good luck with whatever it is you have to do this time," she said, giving her daughter a kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks mum."

Desmond was still staring. Valkyrie shifted uncomfortably, and cleared her throat.

"Um... We're going now. Bye."

"Bye sweetheart," her mother called.

Desmond narrowed his eyes and Valkyrie's mum managed to pull him away. When they were out of the lounge room, Valkyrie turned to Skulduggery with apologetic eyes.

"Skulduggery I'm so sorry. My dad is..."

"I was a dad once Valkyrie. I know how he feels. You don't have to apologise."

She nodded, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Yeah, you're right."

"Whenever am I wrong?"

She scowled. Curse his bloody big ego. She sighed.
"Let's go."