Page 77 of One Forbidden Moment

But now, he worried about what that would mean for Jillian.She was the only woman here.It wasn't safe for her.

Copper stepped forward, voice low."What are the others saying?"

Vaughn looked at him with a strange, almost respectful tilt of his head."Everstill feels different since Finn and Moe left with that chick.Everyone feels it.They don't know why.They don't know what changed.But they know something did, and they like the way they're questioning everything.Their questions are feeding into their curiosity.Now we have Jillian here.Will there be more women coming?"

Copper ran his hand through his hair and turned his gaze back to Moe.He shrugged.The others being curious happened after he'd left.

"You left.Finn left.That shook something loose," muttered Copper.

Cold rippled down his spine."Finn's gone.He's not coming back."

"And yet Everstill hasn't settled.People are restless.They're asking questions."Vaughn nodded slowly."This is the closest we've felt to having our old lives back since coming here."

Moe narrowed his eyes."What kind of questions are the others asking?"

"Questions about her."Vaughn's gaze drifted past Moe to Jillian."And the other one that was here before her.Women have been missing from our lives.Men have needs."

Moe moved so fast that Jillian gasped.He stepped directly between Vaughn and Jillian, shoulders squared, voice low and dangerous."Don't look.Don't touch."

Vaughn's brows lifted, amused but not intimidated."I'm not touching her."

"You're thinking about it," Moe snapped.

"I've never had to force myself on a woman."A slow smile came over Vaughn."She's new.People notice new.We haven't seen a woman in a long time."He shook his head."Haven't touched a woman in a long time."

"She's mine," Moe said, voice rough, protective, absolute.

Vaughn studied Moe for a long moment, his expression unreadable.Then he nodded once, as if acknowledging a boundary he had no intention of crossing but every intention of remembering.

"Relax," Vaughn said quietly."I'm not here to take anything from you."

Vaughn's gaze flicked to Jillian one last time.Moe fisted his hands.

"Everstill is changing," Vaughn said."And it looks like your girl is staying.I'm sure we'll all get to know her better...soon."

"The fuck you will," Moe muttered.

"Yes, indeed.Things are changing around here."Vaughn paused at the threshold.

Then he stepped outside and disappeared into the pale light.

Jillian exhaled shakily."Moe..."

He turned to her, cupping her face gently, his voice still rough from the possessive edge Vaughn had pulled out of him."I'm not letting anyone touch you."

She leaned into his hands, her breath trembling."I want to go back."

"Vaughn's right," he said quietly."Everstill is changing.I'm not sure the veil will open again for us."

"It has to," she whispered."I need to get back to my mom."

"She'll be okay.Remember, no time will pass when you're here.One day, you'll go back, and it'll be the same day we left.She's okay.The nurses are taking care of her."He kissed her softly."I'll figure something out so we can go back."

Copper remained near the doorway, unmoving, his expression carved from centuries of silence.Jillian stayed close, her hand curled lightly in the fabric of Moe's shirt, as if she wasn't ready to let go.

But Moe's mind wasn't quiet, not after what Vaughn said.

"What did he mean?"he asked.