Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 88

"Hey, I forgot," I said. I took my left arm off her shoulders and reached behind my pocket. It was a velvet box.

For a moment all Keller could do was open and close her mouth a few times. At last, she said, "You have a ring?"

"Solid white-gold." Reaching out, I touched her hair, that, under the setting sun, was nearly turning into a deep golden hue. "Not that I need any other type of gold, for this is worth more than all the gold in the world."

She leaned her cheek against my hand for a moment.

I grinned and knelt down in front of her. Opening the box with one hand, I told her, "Since I never really got to asking you to marry me in the first place...Keller Ashton Wuthering Blakely, will you marry me or not?"

She gaped and raised an eyebrow at me. "Demanding, now, are we?"

"Marry me, or face the consequences."

"Like what?" But her voice was nothing but a whisper.

"You'll be locked inside a closet with me for seven minutes. Seven minutes. Do you know how much torture that'll be? Do you?"

She nodded, reaching out her small hand for me to put the ring into her finger.

Both of us said in unison, "It would be seven minutes in hell."

Standing up, I put my mouth near her ear. "Last one in the servant's closet is a rotten egg, Blakely."

"But we have to get you a cast first before --"

I began running from her, laughing, all pain in my right arm gone. For a while, anyway.

"Cheater!" she called out. "You're gonna be punished!"

I turned around, jogging backwards. "With what?" I taunted. "Kisses?"

She grinned wolfishly. "You wish."

And we raced to get to the closet.

Seven minutes of pure heaven was what was waiting for us there.

Seven years later

Present day

Canterbury Cathedral, Kent, England

In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away, Shing Xiong quoted.

I've seen them wear the gowns several times this week but now that they're all dolled up with fifteen minutes remaining until they walk down the aisle together (their deal), I am literally stumped.

Viv looks so beautiful in her gown, which is pure white with a sweetheart neckline and soft lacework down the sweeping skirt. She peeks at me through her long veil that covers her face and form, the soft tulle seeming like crystallized spider webs.

Emerson places a gloved hand on Viv's waist and grins at her. She's in a champagne-coloured creation which has a skirt flowing down her tall figure with heavy lacework, a square neckline, and lacy elbow-length sleeves. I know for a fact that when she turns around you can see, through her lacy veil, a deep V that slants down to where her lower back stops, ending with a satin bow.

They're also both in sleek chignons and wavy fringes on the side that makes me feel like I'm in a grand vintage wedding.

"How do we look?" Emerson queries, turning this way and that playfully.

I grin, placing the book I was reading on the side, standing up to give her and Viv a tight embrace.

"Both of you look beautiful," I whisper tenderly, closing my eyes as they wrap their arms around me in return. "Frederick and Richard will be completely mesmerized, you'll see!"

We straighten up and see Emerson's eyes gleaming wickedly. "Richard has been mesmerized since last night when I was in my birthday suit, but I wouldn't mind seeing him totally gobsmacked when I walk down the aisle in this gown and stare at him really intently. I daresay he'll replay the happenings, wishing to revise them later for future purposes."

"Oh, my God!" Viv groans, but unable to hide her laughter. I keep my traitorous, smiling lips shut as best as I can. "Really, Emerson! Frederick and I have been waiting for this wedding and you and your groom can't even think past the wedding night."

Emerson turns around and picks up her bouquet of Stars of Bethlehem, the stems wrapped in champagne-coloured silk. "We think about the wedding too," she says airily. "We'll sit the night one out until it's time, and then you won't be surprised when you no longer see us in the vicinity."

With that, she smiles impishly at us, her gorgeous face and bright silver eyes shining profoundly. She then turns around in time to see the upcoming British, luxury wedding planner extraordinaire, Meredith Haywood, entering the room in all her glory.