Page 71 of One Forbidden Moment

The shadow pulsed.Violent and angry, it snapped back, releasing her so suddenly they both fell to the floor.Jillian collapsed against him, sobbing, shaking uncontrollably.Moe wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against his chest, shielding her with his body.

The darkness recoiled into the corner, folding itself into a thin, trembling line.A shadow as it watched, waited, and wanted.

Moe held Jillian's face in both hands, forcing her eyes on him."Don't look at it.Look at me."

She clung to him."It was going to take me."

He pressed his forehead to hers, breathing hard."Not while I'm alive, sweetheart."

"I can't believe this is happening."She wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder.

He held her like she was the last light in a world full of shadows.Everstill wasn't only trying to take her back.He wasn't going to let that happen.He'd already allowed it to steal his emotions, take his freedom, and wipe away his thinking.

Jillian shook in his arms, her breath uneven, her fingers clutching the back of his shirt.Moe cradled the back of her head with one hand and wrapped his arm around her waist.Her heart hammered frantically against his chest.

"It's retreating," he whispered, though he wasn't sure he believed it.

She nodded against him, her face buried in his shoulder."I'm scared."

He kissed the top of her head, lingering protectively.She lifted her face to his.Her eyes were wet, her cheeks flushed, her lips trembling.A tremor went through him.He'd come close to losing her.

"Moe," she whispered, "I can't lose you."

He leaned in and kissed her, knowing he couldn't tell her in that moment that losing her frightened him.She kissed him back with the same urgency, her hands sliding to his face, pulling him closer.Her breath mixed with his.Her body pressed against him.

The adrenaline melted into something fierce and tender.She belonged to him.He would die before he allowed anyone to take her away from him.

They moved together, climbing back onto the bed, still kissing, still holding each other.He refused to let her go.Jillian curled against him, her legs tangled with his, her hands gripping his shoulders.Moe cupped her face, brushing his thumb along her cheek.

"I'm here," he murmured against her lips.

She kissed him again, trembling."Don't leave me."

"I won't."

He pulled her closer, their foreheads touching, their breaths uneven, their hearts pounding in sync.

A cold burst slammed through the room violently.Jillian gasped, clutching Moe's shirt.He sat up instantly, pulling her with him.

"No," he whispered."Not again."

The lights flickered.The walls groaned.The temperature dropped so fast the air turned white with their breath.

Jillian scrambled behind him.Moe never took his gaze off the corner of the room.The shadow was already there, ready and more powerful.

It poured across the ceiling like ink spilled in water, thick and heavy, dripping down the walls in long, reaching tendrils.Jillian screamed and stumbled backward off the bed.Moe grabbed her, pulling her behind him.

"Stay with me," he said, voice shaking."Stay right behind me."

She clung to him, her fingers digging into his arm.

The shadow lunged.

A massive wave of darkness slammed into the bed, knocking it sideways.Jillian cried out as Moe dragged her toward the door, but the shadow moved faster, cutting them off, sealing the exit with a wall of black.

"Moe!"Jillian pulled on his arm."It's blocking us!"

He braced himself.There was no escape.He had no weapons.All he could do was fight with his bare hands.