Sleep finally intruded on his thoughts and his eyes closed and he slipped into a contended sleep.

Slatter woke before his wife the next morning. He lay on his side wrapped around her. His body heat had kept her warm, what logs left in the hearth only giving off a small glow. He’d get up and add more logs soon, but first he wanted to linger with his wife, feel her warmth, and caress her soft skin. She felt so good and he warned himself to be good, let her sleep, don’t stir her awake, but then his innocent touch had done more than stir him. He had grown aroused and if not careful, he’d be slipping inside her as she woke.

He was being good, keeping control of his growing need when he heard her moan softly, and he smiled. He was about to turn her on her back when a sudden rap sounded at the door and he silently cursed whoever was there.

“Wake up, Willow, and you too, Slatter,” Snow called out and Slatter immediately rescinded his curse against Snow. “Sara is fully awake and wants to see you both.”

That had both of them popping up in bed.

“We’ll be right there,” Willow called out and turned to give her husband a jab in the chest. “You better make sure to put out this fire you set in me sooner rather than later.”

Slatter’s smile teased. “Anticipation only makes it better, my love.”

He got another jab in the chest for that before she scrambled out of bed.

“Wait,” Slatter said, laughing and reached out to try and grab her. “I can put that fire out quick for you.”

“It’s burning way to hot,” she said, placing her hand on her naked hip as she turned. “It will take more than a quick poke to extinguish what burns in me.”

The smile Slatter’s laughter had left vanished, staring at the seductive pose his wife had struck, not to mention how much she burned for him. Damn if he didn’t get all fired up.

Seeing the passion that flamed in her husband’s eyes had her donning her garments with haste. If he teased her with playful touches, she’d be lost, and since he looked about to lunge off the bed at her that seemed probable.

“Grandmother waits,” she reminded. “You can finally learn what happened to her.”

That stopped Slatter and dimmed the fiery passion in his dark eyes, though didn’t extinguish it.

Slatter dressed just as hastily as Willow had while she hurried a bone comb through her hair and plaited it with fast fingers. They were done in no time and with the same haste made their way to Sara.

Slatter was relieved to see his grandmother’s head had been elevated on two pillows and her gray hair had been combed and braided. And best of all she had a bit of color to her otherwise pale complexion.