Page 86 of One Forbidden Moment

His mouth claimed hers, kissing her deeply, slowly, desperately.Her knees weakened.She could taste his fear and hope, every unspoken truth.

The unknown wasn't killing her quickly.It was savoring the process, unraveling her sanity one agonizing heartbeat at a time.

They might not get out of Everstill.

She whispered against his lips, "Moe...?"

He pulled back enough to speak, his voice rough and trembling."I love you, sweetheart."

Her breath broke, her chest tightening around the words she'd needed more than she realized.Tears stung her eyes as she searched his face, seeing nothing but truth.

She whispered, "But what about—?"

"Let me talk."He kept his hands on her face, his thumbs brushing her cheeks like he needed to memorize her."I love you.I've loved you since the first moment you looked at me like I wasn't trapped here.Like there was a life away from Everstill.Since you fought for me.Since you made me want to live again."He exhaled loudly."Hell, sweetheart, you weren't afraid of me.Even when you thought I was going to kill you, you stood strong."

Her tears spilled, her breath shaking as the confession wrapped around her.Her heart ached with the force of it, overwhelmed by the depth of his feelings.

"That is the most messed-up confession I've ever heard."She kissed him on a laugh of pure joy."I love you, too.So much, I can't live without you.I need you, and will always, always fight to stay beside you."

He rested his forehead against hers again."Wherever you go, I go."

"Good, because I'm not going anywhere without you."She closed her eyes, holding that promise inside her."Forever, babe."

"Forever."He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight enough to steady the storm within her.Jillian's heart thudded painfully, the fear she'd been holding back rising again.

She stroked his face, peering into his eyes."But I need to get back to Mom."

His expression softened.

She inhaled.The image of her mother sitting in her chair at the nursing home, confused but smiling, flashed through her mind.

She swallowed the emotions tightening her throat."She needs me."

"I know she does."He brushed his thumb along her cheek, slow and gentle.

Grief swelled in her chest."If we don't make it back, she'll think I abandoned her."

He cupped her face more firmly, grounding her with the warmth of his hands."If we don't make it back, no time will have passed for her."

Her breath caught."Can we be sure of that?"

"Time doesn't move for her while you're here.She's exactly how she was the last time you saw her.Remember when we went through the veil before?"

It was easy to forget how old Moe was because here, he didn't age.Yet she'd experienced going home and straight back to the time he'd kidnapped her.It was as if she hadn't left.

The tightness in her chest eased, and she breathed."So, right now, Mom's okay?"

He nodded, brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb."She's alive.She's safe at the nursing home.She's not getting worse.She's exactly the way she was the last time you saw her.There are people taking care of her."

She blew out her breath."I know I'm being selfish because I don't want to live without her."

He held her tighter, his hands sliding to her shoulders."Wouldn't your mom want you to live your life for yourself?To find your happiness?"

Her tears spilled freely now.She whispered, "She would.She always wanted that for me."

He kissed her forehead."Have you ever thought that maybe being here, loving me, staying in Everstill...maybe that's saving her?"

She closed her eyes, letting the idea settle into her chest like a fragile hope."There's no cure for early-onset dementia."