Chapter Twenty
Elise and Ainslee managed the long train behind me as I walked down the castle staircase to Colin waiting at the bottom.
As I descended the last stair, Colin took my hand, kissed it gallantly, and murmured. “You look beautiful in our colors. Lachlan couldn’t have picked a more beautiful or better bride.”
“Thank you.”
All different emotions were bottled up in my body, excitement, nervousness, happiness, worry, and hope.
“Tradition is that the father walks the bride to the chapel,” Colin started explaining. “Lachlan will wait in front of the chapel door where you two will say your vows and then the priest will marry you inside. You up for me walking you to your future husband?”
I nodded with a knot in my throat. The walk seemed to go on forever, but in fact, it was a mere five minutes. Millions of thoughts ran through my head during that short walk but they all dissipated as soon as I spotted Lachlan in his kilt matching my tartan corset piece. He looked like he stepped from a fifteenth century scene just to claim me as his prize. He was handsome but all that mattered to me were his eyes on me. His hot gaze made promises of happy days and even happier nights. He made me feel like the most precious treasure and the most beautiful woman in the world.
Colin stopped in front of Lachlan with me by his side. Speaking in Gaelic, he pulled a sash in the color of their clan out of his pocket. He placed my hand into Lachlan's and joined them by binding them together in a knot.
Before I could even ponder what this meant, Lachlan leaned closer and whispered in my ear, “He’s giving his blessings. Tying the knot was the old way of marriage.”
I glanced into his eyes.
“So we are married?” I murmured softly, scared I’d break the spell of what was going on.
“By old ways yes,” he spoke softly, his hot breath in my ear. “We are also doing the church wedding, so there is no disputing our union.”
He gently nibbled my ear as he gently squeezed my hand. “Thank you for marrying me today.”
And just like that, I melted on the inside. This man knew exactly what to do and say to me, like he had a sixth sense when it came to me.
I followed his lead as we entered the church and followed the ceremony. Lachlan's voice was strong as he said his vows, his hand holding mine as he slid the ring onto my trembling fingers. When it was my turn, I repeated the words from the priest in a trembling voice, my hands shaking as I slipped the beautiful ring onto his finger.
Lachlan pulled me into his arms and the priest barely had time to say, “You may kiss the bride,” before his warm mouth covered mine in a hot kiss. I wrapped my hands around him, loving his warmth.
“My wife,” he mumbled against my lips. “Eve McLaren.”
“My husband,” I uttered softly.
A loud cheer broke out in the chapel, causing me to jump. He chuckled, tucking me into him protectively, as we accepted congratulations from our guests. There were only about fifty people but only a few of them mattered to me.
Elise had tears in her eyes as she hugged me.
“Those are happy tears, right?” I asked her and glanced over to Brandon.
“You know your sister,” he joked around. “She is a sucker for romance.”
“Lachlan, this is my brother-in-law,” I told him. “Brandon.”
“We’ve met,” he told me. “He helped me get ready.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Ummm, he helped you put your kilt on?”
His baritone laugh sounded in the church. “No, you are the only one that can help me with the kilt,” he joked, causing me to blush. “He helped me set up the reception area.”
“We are having a reception?” They really took care of everything.
“Yes,” he kissed my neck and whispered against my skin. “After reception, we are leaving for our honeymoon. And I can’t wait to get you naked.”
“Oh.” Damn, it is getting hot.
“Yes,” he muttered, his gaze burning into mine. “Oh.”