The Scottish Bride (The Brides of Holland Springs Book 5)(6)

Cadence touched her hair, and Waverly swatted it away with a warning not to touch her handiwork. Since all the models Waverly hung around with seemed to be pretty temperamental, Cadence figured that it must be part of the job, so she’d keep the peace with her sister and keep her hands out of her hair.

“Can I go now?”

Waverly shook her head. “Not yet. You have a present from Maddox. He says it belonged to the second duchess of Lennox.” She went to a bag by the bed and dug inside, pulling out a slim case and opened it. Nestled inside the dark blue velvet was a necklace made almost entirely of diamonds.

“That’s... oh my goodness,” she said, breathless as her sister placed it around her neck. It felt cool against her skin. She looked up at Waverly as she fastened it. “It’s beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful.” Waverly tilted her head toward the window. “Maddox arranged for y’all to be married in the chapel on the grounds.”

“I thought... I thought we were getting married outside.” Cadence shook her head. “Not that I’m complaining, but his parents were married in that chapel, and almost every duke and duchess before them.”

“Your man wants to do it up right, my lady.” Waverly did a silly curtsy, and Cadence rolled her eyes.

“I’m not royalty.”

“You’re married to a man who is in line for the throne... and, someday, your children will be as well.”

“Children,” Cadence replied faintly, then shook herself. “Children are awesome. I want to do the thing that makes it possible for lots of children, lots and lots of times.”

Waverly rolled her eyes. “It’s called sex.”

“I was trying to spare you.”

“Oh, carry on, then... but later, m’dear.” She squeezed Cadence’s shoulders. “Because right now, it’s time for you to marry Maddox.”

***

Cadence didn’t wait for Maddox to open the door before she jumped him. He caught her, laughing as he attempted to punch in the code to the house.

“If you don’t stop, I won’t wait to get you inside,” he said.

“We’re on a secluded island with no other visitors until tomorrow morning,” she reminded him.

The door swung open, and they nearly fell inside.

Maddox swung her up his arms. “I wanted to woo you, but since you’ll have none of that, I’m taking you to bed this instant.”

They passed the kitchen along the way.

“The kitchen counter looks good.”

“Not happening for your first time. Bare-arsed on granite countertops wouldn’t be very comfortable.”

She gave him a look. “Personal experience?”

He lifted a brow. “I have no idea what you’re going on about.” Cadence was on the verge of apologizing. “Besides, it’s been so long since I’ve actually had sex that I can’t quite remember anything.”

“If that’s how you planned to woo me, then I’m supremely glad we’re going straight to bed,” she said with a haughty tone.

He stopped suddenly, his dark blue eyes assessing. “You are the only woman for me and have been for the last three years, my love.”

“Me, too,” she whispered, her stomach doing flips in her belly as he lowered her to the bed.

He held out his hand, and she watched in amazement as it shook. “This is what you do to me.” He crushed his mouth against hers, his beard tickling her skin. She wrapped her arms around him, sinking her fingers into his thick, dark hair. “I plan on making you mine tonight... over and over again.”

“Maddox,” she said, pushing at him until he lifted his head.

“What is it?”

She swallowed. “I’m not... that is.... I’m still a virgin.”

He blinked at that, and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “That’s... that’s ... shit. That’s unexpected.”

“I was waiting on you to be ready for sex with me,” she said teasingly. Although, it wasn’t a lie. It was the truth. He’d been the one for her for so long that no other man could compare.

“Then I am very glad I’ve been waiting for you as well.”

“So we’re both virgins tonight.” She winked at him, and he smiled. What he’d done in the years before his self-imposed celibacy didn’t matter to her. What mattered is that when he figured out she was the one for him, he didn’t go to other women. He was faithful to her before she had a right to demand it.

“Absolutely.” He slid her dress from her shoulder and kissed her there. “We should slow down. Take our time.”

“If we take any more time, I’ll scream and not in a good way,” she warned. To prove her point, she gripped either side of his shirt, right where it buttoned, and pulled as hard as she could until the buttons popped and his magnificent chest was revealed to her. She heard the buttons ping as they hit the floor and furniture around them.

“Dang, I’m good.”

“Want me to do the same to your dress?” he asked, his voice gruff.

“Don’t you dare.” She pushed him away and got to her feet, then turned around. “Unzip me. The zipper is hiding behind the row of buttons.”

She felt a tug as the dress tightened and then grew loose. With a happy, but nervous, sigh, she let it fall to the floor before she stepped out. Before she could turn around and show off her lingerie to Maddox, he was at her feet, kneeling.