Page 17 of One Forbidden Moment

"There has to be a way out."She pressed harder, her fingers trembling."It's not real.It can't be real."

Moe expected confusion.But the raw panic in her eyes hit him harder than he wanted to admit.

She turned toward him, her face pale, her chest rising and falling too fast."Where did you bring me?"she whispered."What is this place?"

"It doesn't matter," he muttered.

Jillian's hands slid frantically across the invisible wall, her breath coming in uneven bursts.She pressed her palms flat, then her fingertips, then her fists, searching for a seam, a crack, anything.Moe watched her chest rise and fall, watched her eyes go wide and glassy, watched the moment she realized she was trapped.

She turned toward him, her voice barely a whisper."I need to go home."

He shook his head.

"I need to leave," she demanded, louder this time."Please, I need to go home."

He grabbed her wrist before she could hit the barrier again."Enough."

She jerked back, but he held her firmly.A sob escaped her as she tried to turn away from him.He didn't want to see the panic and sadness on her face.Didn't want to feel the heaviness in his chest that came with it.

He dragged her away from the barrier, down the street, back toward the motorcycle.She stumbled after him, her steps uneven, her voice breaking."Let me go.Please.Stop touching me."

He hauled her onto the bike, swung his leg over, and started the engine.She didn't fight him this time.She sat rigid and trembling, her eyes unfocused, staring into a hollow distance like the world had dropped out from under her feet.

He rode back through the main street, the sky dimming into deep blue as dusk settled over Everstill.The town looked peaceful.Calm.Like nothing had happened.Like nothing ever happened here.

Copper stood outside the restaurant, arms crossed, watching them approach.His eyes narrowed when he saw Jillian's face.When Moe stopped the bike, Copper stepped forward.

"What did you do?"Copper asked quietly.

"I did what had to be done."

Copper's gaze flicked to Jillian, then back to him, and disappointment settled in the older man's expression.

"You can't force answers out of the veil," Copper said."And you sure as hell can't force them out of her."

Moe's jaw tightened."I needed to know."

"And now she knows too."Copper shook his head."All you've done is cause pain."

Moe toed the kickstand and lifted Jillian off the Harley.Copper reached out as if he might steady her, but she flinched away from him too.Possessiveness roared up inside him.He would be the only one to touch her.

"Take her home," Copper said."And stop pushing.Everstill doesn't open for fear."

Moe grabbed Jillian's wrist again and walked her down the street.She didn't fight him.She didn't speak.She just followed, silent and trembling.

When they reached the house, he opened the door and guided her inside.The moment he let go of her, she spun on him.

"What is this place?"she demanded, her voice shaking."Why can't I leave?What did you do to me?"

The answers to her question were impossible to find.He'd tried to understand the dynamics behind Everstill and how they were trapped here.But there was no one around to give him answers.He had to find them out himself, and with her help, maybe he could get them both out of here.

"Answer me," she cried.

Only recently, he had an idea about how he could come and go, and that involved her.But it was too soon.He had to wait until the timing was right and the veil opened.

He had no idea how long it would take.

Her face crumpled."I want to go home."