Page 82 of One Forbidden Moment

If he was back in her world, his old world, he'd have access to a gun, a proper knife, and weapons to protect her.But in Everstill, he would have to depend on his hands.Hopefully, the others hadn't thought far enough ahead to make any weapons.

He went to Jillian and slipped his fingers into her hand.They moved down the hallway together.The air seemed to grow heavier with every step.

"The bedroom is the safest area of the house."He shut the bedroom door behind them and locked it."You need to rest."

Jillian sat on the edge of the bed and shook her head.Her wide eyes appeared haunted.She was exhausted.Fear was the only thing keeping her upright.

"I don't think I can sleep.Not after today," she whispered.

He sat beside her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees."I'll get us out of here."

She looked at him, her eyes searching his face."What do we do?"

The plan formed in his mind.It was dangerous, but they had no other option."When the storm comes, we move."

Her fingers curled into the blanket."The veil will open again?"

He nodded, firm and certain.Everstill always shifted during storms.They both survived the last time they went through.

She reached for his hand, her touch trembling."You'll be with me?"

He squeezed her hand."I'm not letting you go alone."

She leaned into him, her forehead touching his shoulder.Her breath was warm against his skin.

"Then, I'll be ready," she said.

Moe closed his eyes, knowing there were more dangers than the veil waiting outside for them."Come on, let's go to bed.You're hurt and need sleep if you're going to recover."

He stood.Instead of standing up, she unbuckled his belt and looked up into his eyes.

"Please.It'll help you sleep, and I need you."She moistened her lips."For a few minutes, I want to close my eyes and feel like we're back home, and you're as close as possible to me.We're safe, and no one is after us."

Jillian caused a weird reaction in him.His body gave up all fight.A war could be going on outside, and he would always, fucking always, go to her when she needed him.

"You're not saying anything," she whispered.

He let out a long, shaky breath, the tension in his shoulders finally giving way."I'm trying to remember how to breathe," he admitted, his voice raspy.

Her gaze softened."I'll help you breathe."

He brushed his fingers through her hair, pulling her closer and pushing the world outside the door farther away.Heat pooled in his lower stomach.It took little for Jillian to get him hard.

Lifting her off the bed, he peeled her shirt away.The moment she reached behind her to unclasp her bra, he hustled to rip off his own clothes until it turned into a competition to see who could get naked first.

They collided in the center of the mattress, the impact knocking the wind out of both of them with a dullthud.There was no grace to it, just a raw, desperate necessity to be skin-to-skin.Her softness against the hardness of his chest was exactly what he needed to silence the static of the men in Everstill.He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the warmth of her skin.

She smelled like everything he ever wanted.

Jillian wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper into her as if she could merge their skeletons.Hyperaware of the way he shifted his weight on her, he traced the curve of her hip with his calloused thumb.

She cupped her hands against his face, pulling him down.He captured her mouth.

His movements were heavy and deliberate.He found the pulse that brought a mew from her.A surge of protectiveness so intense he couldn't expand his lungs.He didn't just want her.He wanted a future with her.He wanted to build a damn wall around her that nothing, especially dark shadows, could penetrate.

He pulled his mouth off her.Her eyelids fluttered, and her lips remained parted.Her gaze locked onto him, reading his soul.

She gripped his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin."Fuck me."