Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 50

See? Why did I even say that out loud?

"Keller."

I couldn't really escape him anymore, could I? What choice did I have?

Biting my lip and chewing on it, I nodded.

Something triggered within him because his eyes travelled from my eyes to my lips that were being chewed.

I knew, as he slowly bent his head toward me, that he was going to kiss me, but instead of drawing away I lifted my face and met him halfway. His lips came down to caress mine in a long, undemanding kiss.

Even when the kiss deepened and my lips were being shaped to fit his perfectly, I knew he would let me move away if I tried. Without realizing what I was doing, my hands crept up his chest, twining around his neck, and everything changed.

Cupping my face between both his hands, he gazed down into my green eyes. "Keller," he whispered.

He carried me up into his strong arms and lay me down on the sofa. My heart skipped a beat, then began to hammer as he slowly, deliberately buried his lips in mine once again. He kissed me long and lingeringly, slow, compelling kisses that made my head turn to liquid. His tongue flicked over my lips teasing at first -- then urging, insisting that I part them and, at the moment I did, entering inside to explore my mouth while his hands moved down my back and beneath my hips, lifting me up and tighter to me as he pulled himself closer.

And then, without warning, he stopped.

Kissed and caressed onto dazed insensibility, I watched his smoldering gaze lift from my long gams to my chest and face. "If we don't stop now, love," Michael murmured in an odd, strained voice, "we won't be able to turn back."

Bending his head, he placed a sweet kiss on top of my head before reluctantly drawing down the skirt of my dress.

Laying beside me, propped up on an elbow, Michael caressed my cheek with his fingers, gently tracing the curve of my cheekbone.

I loved the warmth of his lazy smile and reached up, laying my hand against his chest. He concealed my hand with his own, holding it tightly against his shirt over the steady beating of his heart.

Michael's next words brought my floating soul plummeting back to earth: "It's time to get going. They're all expecting us in the country."

He chuckled at the look of disappointment that crossed my forehead and kissed my neck seductively, grazing his teeth gently on my skin. "Brazen girl!"

"Right," I said dazedly, surging to my feet, my face flushed. "We should've gotten ready a while ago."

"You can dress up now, or if you're too tired, you can just stay here and sleep for a while. I'll wake you up."

I shook my head. "I'll get ready. I can't stand being in an uncomfortable dress that I can barely move in."

He chuckled. "I'll get ready too. See you later, all right?"

"You're going to your room?" I asked, feeling a frown creep at the corner of my lips.

He blinked, but thinking about something partially in the affirmative, he grinned seductively, pulling me by the waist. "Unless you want me to come and change with you inside your room. That could really work for me." I saw the laughter in his eyes.

"I'm going to my room now -- without you." My face was burning up.

"That won't ever happen; not until I see you wear your whole Sesame Street underwear collection in front of my very own gorgeous, silvery eyes."

For twenty minutes we'd been bantering through the trip. From the busy and noisy streets of London, to the serene and colourful countryside. Michael said we were going to Canterbury, Kent, so it'd take thirty-four minutes till we get to the grand ducal estate of the Duke of Rossington, i.e. Michael's father -- whom I'd yet to meet when we got there.

To tell you the truth, I wasn't actually thrilled to meet the guy. Meeting his mother was too much for me to handle already, thanks. Maybe he was like his mother, for all I knew! Or maybe he was as arrogant as his son Speed Racer here, driving hell wheels on fire.

Lord Rossington never showed up to any of the soirées Michael and I had attended. Not even once. Even his daughter Emerson, too. Now, I was about to meet them in a few minutes.

This didn't ease my nerves upon meeting them because really, I'd been dreading the day I'd meet his grace, the Duke of Rossington.

"I hate you," I grumbled, crossing my arms over my chest.

Michael smirked. "You can keep on saying that, love, but from what we've done in the living room back at my flat, I rather reckon you feel quite the opposite for me."

"Well, not now I don't!" I hissed. "And don't remind me of that incident."

"Incident?" he echoed. "That wasn't an incident. It was the grand happening of the century! A total explosion of sparks and pure romance!"

"Shut up."

"No, I will nooot," he sang gleefully, pounding his palms on the steering wheel. "Say, who's your favourite out of all the Sesame Street characters?" he randomly queried. "I really prefer Dory. Fish are a total bore, because they just swim round like complete looneys, but I care deeply for Dory. It's rather depressing really, seeing her all the time on television when I was a kid. She doesn't talk at all!"