Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 49

"Do you want to ride the plane again?" he demanded now, leaning his back on the thick armrest on my footing.

My eyes widened, heart pounding. "No!" I moaned. "I don't want to ride the plane again. Not now. Not yet."

"Good. Then we're going to Kent in an hour."

I sighed in relief. I was sure he'd come up with a good reason for our absence, so I didn't worry much. But really...I was worried about what people were going to say back in San Ricardo. What if they thought we were dead? I checked my Facebook and Twitter multiple times, and Viv was already very worried and furious.

She said everyone was curious already. She also felt like we had been kidnapped.

We couldn't really call her -- not now. But Michael promised he'd let Frederick take care of everything back in California. It was hard to think positive though, because me and Michael? We were all over the news! I was sure everyone got the drift already...

What if they thought we had eloped? Gah!

Okay, so I really didn't mind that much anymore.

Besides, Michael and I were kind of eloping (except for the part where we were hiding and we got married, because, hello, we weren't married yet). But how could I explain everything to them?

"I'll send two maids to pack your things so it'll be faster for us to get going," Michael announced, patting my knee. Both of my legs actually tingled from his single touch. That was how electrifying his casual touches were.

I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Aren't you tired yet? Don't you want to rest first?"

He exhaled, closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.

"I'm knackered, of course. But if we leave now, we can escape the other parties we've been invited to. Clearly, if we stay here, we have no choice but to go because many of the people in the stupid social whirl still haven't met you. We can get there in an hour or two."

"Aren't you tired?" I repeated, having fun seeing him scowl at me. I smirked. But really, I didn't want to leave now. I was too exhausted to even lift my butt off the comfy leather sofa.

"Also," I pressed, "seeing you in your state at the moment, which is the same as mine, I'd say you'd totally nod off as you drive away."

Suddenly, Michael began to grin at me wolfishly. "You clearly don't know me that much, do you?"

"I know for a fact that you're an arrogant 'bloke,'" I teased.

He barked a laugh. "True. But you don't know how I drive."

"I do!" I insisted. "You're not that fast. I also think you're cautious."

"It's London," he reasoned, shrugging. "I have to follow the rules." Then his eyes twinkled. "But you'll see how I really drive. We're heading to the country, love. I can drive my car like hell wheels on fire."

I widened my eyes. "Somehow, that statement scares me."

Ignoring my remark, he twisted his back a little to look at my feet, which were rubbing against each other to ease the aching pain that the shoes had cost them. He'd felt my feet rubbing together because it was slightly nudging his lower back.

"Why?" he asked in a low voice; then he whispered, "What if I don't want to?"

"Because if you don't stop, I'd go crazy and tell you to go on for as long as you want to!" I suddenly burst out.

Michael stopped his hands working up on my right leg, startled. Realising what I had just blurted out after looking at him in confusion, I clapped my hands on my mouth, eyes saucerwide. Flushed and embarrassed, I quickly got up off the sofa, never minding my shoes that were on the carpeted floor. I bolted across the giant living room full of black, white, and grey -- but then I felt a hand wrap firmly around my wrist.

I halted, not wanting to stop going, yet I had no choice but to stay in place. I couldn't look behind at the guy I was now forever humiliated to face.

Shaking, I simply froze on the spot. Nobody moved for a while.

Michael held my wrist from behind; me looking down at my bare feet. I took in a shaky breath, gazing down at the floor as he finally began to move and pivoting me slowly to face him.

"Keller," he voiced out quietly. "Look at me."

My eyes remained on the floor. Suddenly, the gleam on the toe part of his leather shoes were interesting to look at.

"Please?" he murmured sweetly.

I shook my head, sniffing a little. I wasn't going to cry, but I was so humiliated that I felt my whole face turn hot and crimson.

Finally impatient, Michael held my chin firmly with his thumb and forefinger, his silvery depths meeting my green orbs. With a deep breath, he said, "Did you really mean what you just said a while ago?"