You know this feeling when your feet sink into the sand while you are trying to run ahead and avoid the big wave coming towards you?

This moment of pure panic, that you can't think of anything else besides the earth moving underneath you and the certain emotion of dread.

You are well aware that it's going to crush you, yet you are still fighting it. It's human nature after all. Even when you are under it, you are still looking for a way out.

And sometimes there is. A hand to drag you out from the abyss, a light in your mind guiding you to swim upwards, save yourself.

But let's face it.

The majority of times you are on your own and no light can stop the inevitable.

So when the car stopped spinning and our ragged breaths were the only thing that could be heard, I opened my eyes and welcomed the darkness with the only way I knew.

A kiss.

Not a thank you kiss or a goodbye I love you kind of touch. But a harsh, ''it's my turn to fuck you up'' warning.

One Jackson would remember for a very long time.

My hands grab the back of his head roughly, fingers digging into his scalp, holding him locked in place, while our lips collide together. The action catches him off guard and I feel him trying to pull back but I don't let him.

No baby. I make the rules now.

I slip my tongue into his mouth dominating our kiss and he moans returning the action.

Freeing myself from the seatbelt I had across my body, I do the same with him, without separating our lips. His hands roam all over my body, until they settle on my waist. Dragging his head back, he looks me in the eyes trying to catch his breath. ''Daphne...''

I sush him kissing him again, more forcefully and move to climb over his lap.

Realizing what I was doing, he grabs my neck with one hand putting an end to our heavy makeout and stopping my movement.

''Hey...''

''Oh now you wanna talk?'' I repeat his words from earlier disregarding the feeling of his palm on my neck and pushing myself into his lap.

I dive in kissing him again, only for him to pull back once more. ''Baby wait..''

''Don't call me that.'' I say harshly, putting my own hand around his neck. ''No baby, darling, my love...none of this. You can call me Daphne and that's it.''

Reading the seriousness of my words over my face, I feel him gulping hard underneath my palm before whispering a barely audible ''Okay.''

Giving him a subtle nod I kiss his neck, dragging my tongue from the base up to his earlobe, making him shudder. My hips grind against him, nails digging harsh against his skin, until he is nothing but a panting mess.

''Fuck baby..'' He says squeezing my waist and I catch his jaw in a tight grip.

''What did I just say?''

''M'sorry..I can't stop myself.'' He exhales breathlessly, cupping and squeezing my ass.

''Then I guess our time here is over.'' I respond sternly, moving to get off his lap, although he doesn't let me.

Tugging me closer again, he grabs my hips in order to sway my body back and forth, making me intentionally grind on him, while he whimpers as if he is in pain from our proximity.

''No, no...I-I'll be good. I promise.'' He sutters and I feel myself getting hornier by the minute.

Fuck. I love to see him like this.

Leaning forward I brush my lips with his on purpose to see if he is going to hold back. Jackson runs his tongue over them clearly impatient and a frustrated whine escapes his mouth when he realizes I'm not going to give in. Every time he tries to catch mine I move away, still keeping close to him, until he can't take it anymore and pins me roughly against his body.

''Fuckin kiss me.'' He says grabbing the back of my head in a demanding hold.

A light smirk takes over my face when I deep forward, taking his bottom lip between my teeth and tugging it roughly, then soothing the pain with a subtle lick. He rotates his hips upwards continuing the little lap dance I was practically giving him by grinding our bodies. Our lips find each other again in a wet kiss, full of teeth and tongues and fire and ice, all together harmonizing in a perfect sync.

My palm grabs his jaw keeping it in place, while our muscles fight for dominance. I can sense him getting impatient to flip the energy around, even though he seems to thoroughly enjoy me on top of him.

Poor baby doesn't even know that I have instore for him.

''What do you want Jackson?'' I whisper into his mouth, trailing wet kisses under his jawline and ear.

''You already know.'' He says, letting his head fall backwards, eyes shut closed in an attempt to keep it together.

I hum, finishing my mark on the side of his neck and lick my lips in the process, taking a glance in his direction.

''I wanna hear you say it.'' I reply almost as worked up as he is, pressing my center down on him to feel the outline of his cock, straining against his jeans.

He squeezes my ass again, rubbing himself on me, which causes both of us to moan out loud inside the heavy atmosphere of the car.

My hands drag through his dark locks, the slight tugging on his hair, making him groan again and I find a sick pleasure watching him being such a mess.

''Say it.'' I command sternly and he sucks in a breath.

''You. I want you. Always.''

The last part of his words bring back the stupid butterflies in my stomach that I had managed to restrict until now. Stupid feelings...stupid Daphne and even more stupid Jackson Wald.

''Yeah? That's what you want baby?'' I whisper, caressing his jaw, only to see him nodding frantically.

My hand squeezes his neck once again, lightly, just enough to have him panting, while I mumble into his ear. ''And how do you want me?''

An audible sigh comes off his lips, the space between our bodies becoming hot once again, making both of us pant.

''Umm?'' I nudge my head against his, pressing for an answer.

Shallowing thickly, he whines again into the thin air before he moves his hooded eyes across my face, his stare itself enough to spread the fire in my loins.

''I want your body against mine. Like this.'' He whispers, hugging me so tightly, it's almost suffocating.

My chest presses against his, the feeling of his hot skin underneath the grey-tshirt making my nipples harden.

''Your hands fisting my hair..'' His palm finds mine moving my fingers between his dark locks.

''Like this?'' I ask tugging it harshly.

''Mmm...yeah.''

''What else?''

''I want my hands over your body. Feeling it, owning it, pleasuring it...''

His firm hands roam over my waist, digging deliciously into my hips and up my ass, massaging the flesh over the material of my trousers. He rocks me once again over his crotch, hissing at the contact, while I silence a quiet moan. Finally, his palms drag over my chest, caressing my tits gently first, his eyes never leaving my face, until the back of his fingers brush over my nipples.

His cold rings come in contact with the thin layer of my bodysuit and I can't help but shiver under his gaze. Repeating the action he takes a look at the hardened buds peeking through my top and seductively licks his lips before glancing at me momentarily, flicking his fingertips over them. My body jolts instantly receiving a deep hum from his side, a silent curse escaping his beautiful shaped lips.

''So responsive.''

And at that moment I know. The tables have turned once again. I'm in his mercy. And the worst thing is...I'm okay with it.

''Wanna know what else I want baby?'' He whispers kissing the spot underneath my ear.

My own words betray me and I find myself silent once again, although the brief mention of the nickname I prohibited doesn't go unnoticed. It's his way to claim back the dominance in our situation, giving me a subtle but firm notice that my playtime is over.

''I want my mouth on you.''

Listening to his words I hum involuntarily, pressing myself harder on him, my body having a mind of it's own.

"On every inch of your sweet, sweet body." He continues taunting me. Lips dragging along my jawline and down my neck.

"Like this"

His hips snap upwards lifting my body until he is eye level with my chest, giving a last seductive glance before he dips forward, engulfing one of my nipples through the body suit with his warm mouth.

My lips part instantly, head thrown back, to the point my back almost touches the steering wheel.

His tongue lapses against my hardened bud, humming as if he could actually taste it even though the material of my top is restraining him from getting the pleasure that he wants. Or at least that's what I thought. Because the moment his teeth tug at my flesh I moan pathetically, my body arching as far as his hold allows it, while my long hair swaying against my back and over the wheel.

''I could swallow you whole babygirl.''

His hips move against me, lips kissing every inch of my upper body and for a moment I forget all the reasons that made me angry with him.

My hands deep into his shoulder blades and he moans loudly into my skin, until I raise my palm to slide it through his hair. My hips halting their movements and my eyes opening widely. He senses my body tensing and before he has the time to wonder about my reaction, the paralized look on my face and the audible gasp make him realize.

''Jackson...Is-is that blood?''

The red substance covering my hand is warm against my palm, while I look frantically towards his shoulder only to see his gray t-shirt, getting stained by the same dark color.

''What-''

''It's fine. I'm okay.'' He says sifting in order to check on the wound I am oblivious about.

''What do you mean you are okay? You are bleeding. What happened, what is that?''

''Baby relax...''

''I have fucking blood on my fingers, your t-shirt is soacking, do not tell me to relax.'' I reply frustrated.

What the hell.

''Shit.'' I hear him whisper while he presses down onto his shoulder with the fabric of his jacket. ''The wound probably reopened.''

My frustration has turned into a new level he could not even understand, so I just move off his lap, taking my place into my seat, and putting on the seatbelt. ''Can you drive?'' I ask huffing.

Jackson gives me a side glance I can only assume is his way to ask me if I'm kidding, but I'm way past that. ''Yes. I was gonna take you home anyway D but we need to-''

''You are not taking me home.'' I say looking outside the window while he turns on the engine.

''But-''

''We are going to your place and you will tell me exactly what happened these days you were missing or this is the last time you ever see me Jackson. Pick your poison.''

The elevator opens with a ding and we find ourselves in front of his door, the one I stared hopelessly at a few days ago when he denied me entrance or to be more precisely when he so cruelly ignored me and lied about it. I know I am probably exaggerating but I can almost smell her sweet perfume when we walk through the door.

She was here. The redhead girl with the floral scent and the confident attitude that made me cower the moment I saw her. Her presence lingers here even though she is nowhere to be seen and it takes me a second to stop myself from turning around and leaving this place for good.

''Come'' I order Jackson, ignoring his eyes penetrating my back while I walk towards his bedroom.

My heart is beating loudly in my chest, thoughts of her walking bare feet in his place clouding my mind, but I shake them off for the sake of my sanity.

''Sit down.'' I nod, as soon as we get into the bathroom, while he sits reluctantly at the end of the bathtub.

''Daphne-''

''Where is your pharmacy kit?'' I ask, stopping him. I need to have clear head for this.

''Under the sink. Can you wait for a second?''

Ignoring him, I look for the kit hearing him sigh behind me.

''Okay. Take of your shirt.'' I tell him after a moment.

''Daphne it's nothing. I can handle it.''

''Sure you can. I wanna see what this nothing is though.''

We stare at each other looking for one of us to give up, but it's not my time to back down. And he knows it.

Exhaling deeply he rubs his forehead, the dark circles under his eyes now evident upon the strong lighting off the room. Did he look so tired earlier? His skin is also a little pale.

''I don't want you to worry. It's fine.''

''Who said I'm worried?'' I ask, crossing my hands in front of my chest. ''I'm just curious.''

''Curious?'' He says arching an eyebrow.

''Yep.''

Jackson seems ready to call me out on my bullshit but surprisingly he doesn't. On the opposite. He grabs the hem of his t-shirt removing the item from his body and if it wasn't for the slight path of blood running down his chest, I probably would have been distracted. Because for a bit I have forgotten about the scars all over his chest area. I've only seen them once and he was quick to hide it. But now he looks comfortable enough to stand half naked in front of me.

Taking a few cautious steps towards him, I look over his shoulder, only to find a badly stitched wound with blood all over it.

''What...Jackson where it this wound from?''

He stays silent looking away and I close my eyes momentarily to stay calm. If that's how you wanna go with it.

Taking a clean washcloth I wet it with some warm water and proceed to clean the blood from his chest, purposely delaying the destination to the source of this mess. I am cautious to not touch any other part of his body not really knowing if he is okay with me touching anywhere near his scars.

Fuck I should have asked.

He flinches a little when the cloth touches his skin and I retread quickly apologizing. ''Sorry. I thought...I'm sorry. You can do it yourself...It's just that it needs to be cleaned.''

It's actually quite pathetic how easily he makes me turn back to the shy, nervous reck I usually am around him. Yet for some reason he doesn't seem to realize the power he has over me. When he finally looks into my eyes, his head hanging low, almost as if he doesn't have enough power to keep it up, he looks lost. Like a little kid. And my heart clenches inside my chest.

''You can touch me.'' He says after a while, although the idea seems to scare him.

''No- it's...You better do it by yourself. I-I can help with the rest of it.''

My mind runs a mile away searching for all these times I may have touched his chest by mistake or during our handsy moments. Did I? Was he okay with it? Did he seem to dislike it?

''I want you to do it.'' His voice is firmer this time, while his eyes search for mine in a way to reassure me. Or himself. I'm not sure.

''You do?'' I ask unusure and he just nods.

Taking the cloth once again into my hands I continue what I was doing trying hard not to stare into his eyes which are closely following my every move. I know he wants to catch my attention but I'm stubbornly not giving in even if I want to.

Instead, I trace my eyes over the scars, looking for an answer that I am sure he doesn't want to give me.

''Not now.'' He says as if he read my mind and I stop my movement nodding reluctantly. There is no reason to deny it. He knows I was wondering.

Finishing his chest area I finally look into the wound. ''Jackson how did you get this?''

He opens his mouth but closes it again looking anywhere but me. I can tell he is searching for the right words and if it was in his hands he probably wouldn't tell me anything. But we are not doing this today.

''Jackson if you keep-''

''I was shot.''

The three words that's been left in the open make everything around us stop. Like the air has been washed out from the room and I'm not sure if the rapid beating of my heart or my hitched breath, are more loud than the silence that has engulfed us.

''What-Jackson what the hell!''

''I'm fine Daphne..''

''Stop saying that! You are not fine, you are fucking bleeding, you just told me you've been shot...What is the matter with you, are you nuts? Why are you even standing up more so driving around the city when you've been badly injured?!''

''Babe take a breath and listen..''

''No you listen! You can't do this. You could be infected, did you even see a doctor? What fucking butcher stitched you up like that?'' I exclaim looking at his wound.

Jackson actually has the audacity to laugh at my reaction and if he wasn't injured I'm pretty sure I would have slapped him in the face.

''Jackson!''

''Sorry, sorry. I saw a doctor.''

''You went to the hospital?'' I ask, raising an eyebrow.

''Well I can't exactly do that. Not with a gunshot injury. He came here.''

''Who is he?''

''A doctor that we use when these type of stuff happens.''

''What is he? a vet? Does he know the human body is a little different from the animals?''I say crossing my arms, making Jackson laugh even louder.

Fuck. Even his laugh is beautiful. Asshole.

''It's fine. The wound opened up only because I put pressure on my hand today.'' He says calmly playing with the rings on his hands.

''You should be in bed resting. What were you doing driving all the way to the hellbreak mountain. It's like an hour drive. Your shoulder-''

''I came for you.'' He responds simply, making me stop from whatever speech I was going to give him.

Taking a deep breath I ignore his words coming to the most important part. ''Who shot you?''

His demeanor changes immediately, all the vulnerable parts that he let me see earlier completely disappearing. ''That's something you don't need to know.''

I roll my eyes on his response, huffing annoyed. ''Of course. Because you are the one to make that decision.''

''I'm trying to protect you. Keep you out of this mess.'' He says firmly. His eyes penetrated mine from a close distance.

''And where did that get us? How are you even keeping me out of your work when you come into the party yelling at everyone like a lunatic. I'm pretty sure even the rocks now know that there is something between us.''

''Did Isaac tell you this?'' He spits bitterly as even the mentioning of his name is making him nauseous.

''Is he your problem now?''

''No you are my problem!'' He suddenly yells, making me jump on my place. ''You shouldn't be there in the first place Daphne!''

''I went there with my friends. It was just a night out that you may I say managed to ruin.'' I yell back at him.

''Isaac is not your fuckin friend!''

''I never mentioned him! I didn't even go there with him. And don't tell me who is my friend and who is not. You've no idea what is our relationship like.''

My words bring a sudden silence into the room, once that seems stronger than his gunshot statement and for a moment I regret the things that just came out of my mouth.

Jackson, who has been standing up for a while now, backs away and a look of hurt flashes through his eyes but only for a second. The moment passed by as quickly as it came and I'm left with the hard exterior I haven't seen in a while from him.