Willow didn’t waste time in spreading her legs, eager for him to enter her, feel him swell inside her, fill her, love her.

“Love me,” she said, not realizing she did until the words had slipped achingly from her lips.

“Always,” he said and claimed her lips in a kiss that almost sent her over the edge.

She moaned with intense pleasure when he slipped into her and her moans grew as he did as he said he would… he took her quick and hard.

She spiraled up and up, reaching and reaching with every forceful thrust until she reached the edge and burst with pure passion.

Slatter captured her mouth in a kiss, though it was her climax he wanted to feel as her moans rippled through him, sending him over the edge to join her. He tossed his head back and let out a rumbling roar that echoed throughout the room.

“Don’t stop. Please don’t stop,” Willow pleaded.

She pleaded with him every time, though she didn’t have to. He had become familiar with her ways and knew she would climax again not long after the previous climax. He loved how responsive she was and how easily her passion ignited for him… only him.

They lay spent beside each other, Willow reaching out to take his hand only to meet him reaching out to take hers.

After a few minutes, Slatter pulled the warm wool blanket over them and Willow settled comfortably against him, her eyes growing heavy. A light snore came from her husband and she smiled, content. As she drifted off she recalled that she hadn’t told him about the Slayer or seeing Walcott up and about so late or about the cloaked figure she thought had entered the keep. Tomorrow she would tell her husband all that had happened and he could talk with Walcott and see if he had seen anyone lurking about.

Chapter 21

Willow woke to a pounding, not in her head, but at the door.

Slatter was already out of bed and slipping his garments on, the voice at the door frantic.

“Wake up! Wake up!

Willow hurried out of bed as well and into her garments with haste, the fright in Eleanor’s voice all too real, and a shiver ran through her.

Slatter yanked open the door.

Eleanor looked as pale as freshly fallen snow. “It’s your friend Walcott. Someone has hurt him badly.”

“Where is he?”

“The cottage he stayed in last night,” Eleanor said tears threatening her eyes.

Slatter turned to his wife.

“I’ll gather what I need to help him and meet you there,” Willow said, knowing without her husband saying what he wanted from her.

He nodded and rushed past Eleanor.

Willow went to follow and Eleanor grabbed her arm. “He’s hurt bad, too many stab wounds.”

Willow paled herself, recalling last night and how Walcott had warned her of the danger that lurked in the dark. It had found him.

“Get Snow, tell her how bad Walcott has been hurt and that I’ve gone to tend him. She’ll know what to gather together to help me. Then help her bring it to me,” Willow ordered. “And see that Carna stays with Sara.”