“A day or two,” he said and went to move away from her.

“No,” she cried out softly, “don’t leave me. I need your warmth.”

He realized then how much of a toll the day had had on her. Willow was not only practical, she was brave. It wasn’t only the cold that trembled her tonight; it was that she had witnessed him kill three men. As much as she knew it had to be done to protect them both, it was not something that was easily forgotten.

“I’m going to get some pine branches and fashion a pallet for us to sleep on, so the cold ground doesn’t seep into our bones,” he said.

She used him to lean on as she slowly and with a few gentle moans began to get to her feet. “I’ll help.”

Slatter helped her to her feet as he got to his. He’d argue with her that he didn’t need her help, but it would be pointless. It would go faster if he just let her have her way, since she would anyway.

They were done in no time and Slatter spread a blanket over the narrow pallet.

“Keep your back to the fire and your chest pressed to mine and you should stay warm,” he said as he helped her down on the makeshift bed.

She turned on her side, facing her back to the fire as he suggested, then stretched her hand out to him. “Hurry we need each other’s heat.”

Slatter spread another blanket over her, then slipped beneath it, easing his cloak around her as he went to tug her close against him. He didn’t have to, she pressed herself so tightly against him that he thought she’d slip inside him. Her arm went around his waist and her one leg pushed its way between his two, not that he objected. They both needed the warmth to battle the cold. She tucked her head into the crook of his neck, seeking a spot to keep her face warm.

He worked his hand beneath her cloak to stroke along her back when she continued to shiver and silently cursed himself. He should have let Tarass’s warriors take her home where she’d be safe and kept warm. But no, he didn’t and why? When he had seen them take her, a fury had raged through him. He would return her home and no one else. After all, she was his wife.

His wife.

He had to stop thinking of her that way. Their marriage had been born out of necessity and it would end the same way. And he couldn’t let himself forget that.

Willow lifted her head to look at him. “I’m so cold.”

He acted out of instinct and brought his lips down on her trembling ones. It didn’t take long for him to chase the cold and quiver from her lips, though that didn’t stop him from continuing to kiss her. Why would he when she responded so eagerly?