“You are the most important to me, Seanmhair,” he said and kissed her brow again.
“I do so love you,” she said softly as her eyes drifted shut.
“And I you, Seanmhair,” Slatter whispered and turned to see his wife standing at the open door.
As usual, she was struck by how his smile could stir her senses or was it how lovingly he had been with his grandmother that had touched her heart.
His smile turned mischievous as his arms circled her waist. “I see a spark of desire in your eyes, mo ghaol.”
Willow didn’t deny it. “Aye, you spark an ember that forever burns within me for you with a smile or simple touch.”
He squeezed at the sides of her waist. “Never is my touch simple. Every time my hand touches you it is with purpose, whether to let you know that I am there for you, that I love you, that I ache for you, or that I simply want to feel the comfort of your hand in mine. Purpose, mo ghaol, I always touch you with purpose.” His hand moved off her waist to stroke along her back. “I think we should take this conversation to our bedchamber where I can demonstrate in great detail the purpose of my touch.”
She almost surrendered, forgetting what she was going to ask him, and turned as he directed her, with a slight urging of his hand to her lower back, to the stairs. She was reminded of it with how silently he climbed the stairs behind her, almost as though he wasn’t there.
“I have a question,” she said after entering their bedchamber.
“Let it wait,” he said, his lips already at her neck, teasing the sensitive spots he knew all too well would have her responding with soft moans.
Willow had to push him away and shake her head to gather her wits about her. “It can’t wait.”
“Be quick, I have an ache for you that won’t be satisfied quickly.”
For a moment she gave thought to wait to speak with him until after they made love, worried what she had to ask him might affect both their passion. But in the end she let her sensible nature prevail, especially since she wanted to put the worry to bed before he took her to bed.
“I spoke with James and he told me—”
“That many of the warriors believe me responsible for the attack on Walcott.”
Willow looked at him befuddled.
“I’m not deaf to the wagging tongues around me.”
“And do you know that many believe you sneak out at night and prowl the area?”
“I’ve heard that as well.”
“Do you?” she asked.
He didn’t answer and when he turned away from her, she felt a pang to her heart.
Slatter ran his hand through his hair and shook his head as he turned to face her again. “It is better you don’t know some things.”
“How can you say that?” she asked incredulously.
“Easily, since I don’t want you harmed in any way.”
She walked over to him, her hand shooting out to poke him in the chest. “You harm me by lying to me.”
“I didn’t lie to you. I just didn’t mention it to you.”
“So you keep secrets from me.” She turned away. “It’s time I do the same.”
Slatter grabbed her arm and swung her back around to face him. “You’ll keep no secrets from me, wife.”
“If you can keep secrets so can I,” she argued.
“I do it to protect you.”
“Or is it that you don’t trust me?” she challenged.
“What would you have said to me if I told you I was going to search the woods at night to see if I could find this culprit?”
“You searched the woods?” she asked.
“From the look in your eyes, it is more than a simple question you ask me, wife, and a good way to avoid answering my question.”
“I would have gone with you,” she said, “but then you knew that and tried to divert me from the real reason you snuck out of the keep at night.”
“And what would that be?” Slatter asked with caution, knowing his wife was not one who could be easily fooled.
“You were meeting someone. Someone you trusted. Someone who could do what you couldn’t, go wherever he pleased.” She gasped. “Walcott. He hadn’t just arrived. He’s been here for a while. He’s not someone anyone pays mind to. Doesn’t want to pay mind to because of his constant grumbling.” She paced, thinking, and stopped suddenly. “It’s why he warned me about the danger in the darkness. He found something in the darkness, didn’t he? That’s why he was attacked.”
Slatter went to her and gripped her wrists in his hands. “Listen well, wife. You’ll leave this be. I’ll not have you suffer Walcott’s fate.”
“You’re my husband and I love you. We’re in this together whether you like it or not,” Willow warned. “I’ll see you safe just as you do for me.”