Chapter Sixteen
Why my family insists on turning this into a big do, instead of a simple meet-and-greet, I have no bloody idea. MacTaggarts love a party, though, and they especially love meddling. At least they won't drag any hapless lasses to this gathering in the hopes I'll fall madly in love with one of them and get married, so my mother can have the bairns she keeps pestering me to give her. Lachlan and Aidan have taken care of that, so she has no reason to harass me.
I find Emery in the vestibule, apparently hiding under the spiral staircase. She stares at the door to the outside, not blinking, her expression tight. I've never seen her this anxious. Emery takes everything in stride—but not today. I hover just outside the vestibule doorway, in the hall, and watch her nervous movements as she smooths her pale-blue shirt and touches each button in turn as if double-checking that she fastened them all correctly. Then she glances down at her blue jeans and makes a face I can't describe, but it seems like she's on the verge of panic.
Over her clothes? I don't spend that much time worrying about what I wear. My tan, long-sleeved shirt goes with my khaki trousers, and I shined up my leather boots. But I didn't fixate on my clothing the way she seems to be doing. It's my family out there, not the Spanish Inquisition.
I do love the blouse she's wearing. The neckline dips low enough to reveal her cleavage without being unseemly. She looks as bonnie as ever, so I can't understand her discomfort about her clothes.
Just as I step into the vestibule, Emery whirls around as if she means to flee back into the house. But she collides with me instead.
Yelping, she flails backward.
I catch her around the waist and hold her snugly against me.
She pulls in a deep breath, but instead of calming her, it seems to make her more miserable.
"Are you all right?" I ask.
"Yeah, sure." She unleashes a pitiful moan. "No, I'm not. Jeez, I was never this nervous for job interviews. I'm a disaster. Why do you have to look so good and smell so good? It's not fair."
"Emery." I drop my hands to her erse, which looks fantastic in those jeans. "You are beautiful, but my family doesn't care about superficial things. They want to know who you are, and you have no reason to be fashed about that. Jamie worships you after one evening in your presence."
"Your sister worships you too. You're her hero." Emery glances toward the hall doorway. "Where is Jamie?"
"She went out to keep the family from storming our castle."
Her face blanches, and her mouth drops open. "They're mad? Oh God, I—"
I seal my mouth over hers, strictly to short-circuit her panic. Though perhaps I let my lips linger there for a bit longer than necessary. "No one is angry. Relax, Emery. I've never seen you frantic before."
"You've known me for less than a week." Our lips scrape against each other when we speak. "To be fair, I've never been this frantic before. Never had to meet the in-laws, seeing as I called off my last engagement. And considering your opinion of me, I'm not sure what your family will think. Jamie might be an aberration."
I give her erse a gentle squeeze. "What do you think my opinion of you is?"
"I'm crazy and annoying."
She believes that? The daft lass.
I nibble on her upper lip and flick my tongue against hers. "You're wrong."
"Then what do you think…" Her voice trails off as I push two fingers between her thighs to rub her through her jeans. She clamps her hands over my biceps.
And I caress her while my breaths mingle with hers. "We can discuss that later."
I lift Emery onto her toes and devour my wife with a rough, demanding kiss while I massage her folds, though the fabric prevents me from feeling her slick heat.
A moan vibrates in her throat.
I set my wife down and peel my hands away, then pat her shoulders. "You're ready."
"I'm—huh?"
"You're not nervous anymore," I declare, and I don't even try to erase the self-satisfaction from my voice or my expression.
"Terrific," she says, sounding irritated. Straightening her blouse, she staggers backward a step. "I get to meet your family while I'm on the verge of orgasm."
"At least no one will doubt we married for love." I tap a finger on her nose. "You look like the adoring bride."