The black cloud of polluted vapor sailed above her forehead as she pushed the sheets off her and hunted her clothes. Behind her, Dylan frowned. “Are you leaving?”

“Mm-hmm,” She replied, dabbing the blunt between her lips and slipping into her worn-out jeans. She threw her hair over the tanktop and stuffed her underwear in her purse, sparing him a glance. “It's getting late. You should sleep. Oh, and thanks for the sex. I needed it badly. I'll see you soon!”

She bent to kiss him and Dylan weaved his fingers in her hair, fisting them in his palm, “You’re not leaving. I don't care if you've a rule to kick the men out of your bed. This is my house and you'll fucking stay.”

“The rule works both ways.” She chuckled, pressing her lips to him. Dylan groaned in her mouth and held her shoulders to roll her under him but she pulled back, shaking her head with a tutting. “No. I'm done for the day, Dylan. No more fucking. I have to travel tomorrow. I don't wanna limp.”

“Then you should take a rest. It's two o'clock. Why do you have to drive back to your home? My bed doesn't bite, I swear.” He said, sitting up to frown at him. She shook her head in defeat and nipped the cigarette in the ashtray, “I don't sleep with the man I've fucked, Dylan. Stop nagging. Bye!”

She turned to leave. Dylan scrambled off the bed hastily and bound his arms around her, before she could leave the room. She gasped, feeling his arousal pricking into the small of her back. He pushed his face in her hair and groaned, “Stay, Winters. I promise you won't sleep a wink. Wanna bet?”

“Dylan!” She bit her bottom lip and threw her head back on his chest, feeling the heat of the moment engulfing her till her bones. This was dangerous. She shouldn't be getting addicted, but everything in her pore begged her to not throw away the desires. 

Dylan kissed a scorching way up to her earshell and caught her lobe between his teeth, giving a soft tug. He knew this was her weak point. A sweet nothing, an intentional pull and she'd melt into his arms like butter. He smirked in delight when she ground her ass against his thickening length. 

“I take that's a yes, hmm?” He murmured in her ear, letting her set the pace. She hummed to him, chuckling. “If you promise to not sleep inside me like you once did.”

He froze and scowled, grudgingly pinching her nipple under her top. She winced at unprecedented assault. He spun her around and pushed her back on the door, her purse falling near their feet. His jet black eyes pierced into hers, “That was just one time. Ages ago. Can't you forget that?”

“You already know that I can’t. After all, you're a doctor.” She traced a forefinger over his stubbled jaw and pressed a smile on her lips, looping an arm around his neck. He sucked her chin, teasing his hands into her pants, “Well, I've many ways to make you forget everything. One that you love so much!” 

He rubbed a thumb over her clit and she whimpered, covering his hand from above. “No. Not again, Dylan. I've reached the quota for the day.”

“Clock is still ticking. We can renew the quota and…” He coaxed her into a toe-curling kiss and she hung from his neck, “I should leave. Tomorrow is a big day for us. I wanted to tell you this earlier but you didn't free my mouth.”

“What is it?” 

“I'm going to meet Ryan McClure.” Her words knocked the smile off Dylan's face. He pulled back from her to peer into her face. She continued in the same robotic tone, “Robert finally gave me the permission. I think Ryan has reached his limits. I'm sure he'll give me a clue or something.”

“And?” Dylan prompted, making her frown. “What do you mean by that? He's going to tell me about…”

“I don't care, Lana.” Dylan stepped away from her and turned away, weaving his palms behind his nape. He paced to his bed and snapped a finger at her, “You're not going there.” 

“Who are you to tell me that?” She snarled at him, getting off the door. He clenched his jaw and strode to her, eyes burning with anger. He twisted her arm behind her back, “Do I need to tell you who I am, Winters? Do you not fucking know already?”

“Leave my hand, Dylan!” She spoke so coldly that he couldn't help obeying her. The glow in her eyes washed off, “You're no one to me. We've been together for a reason.”

“And that's it?” He cracked like an iron wrought rod. “I’m your fuck buddy. Your boy toy? And you're my sex slave. Is that the only relationship we have?”

A sinister smirk formed upon her lips, “Well, thanks. I couldn't have described it better than that.”

As she turned to leave, Dylan almost pulled his hair out of frustration. He marched behind her to the hall and caught her elbow, gritting his teeth. “I'm not done yet, Winters. You can't walk away from me.”

“Watch me, Dylan Marsh.” She squirmed out of his hold and glared at him, “I can't believe it. All these years, you've tortured me for one thing and when I'm so close to that, you want me to back off? Are you even in your senses?” 

“I am in my senses, unlike you!” He screamed and breathed hard, staring at her defeated. “You don't understand this, do you? I can't lose you.” He cupped her face and looked into her eyes, hoping to penetrate the wall she'd built around herself. “I can't lose you to this madness, Lana. What do you think? I don't know what happens after this? I'm fully aware but I don't care.” 

He rested his forehead against hers and breathed, closing his eyes. “It's been years, Lana. Forget about this. You’ve a life. You’ve me. Focus on us.” He caught her gaze and convinced, “Don’t ruin us, baby.”

Lana ran hands over his shoulders and pushed him away gently, “There's no 'us', Dylan. Never was. Never will be. You say it's been years? For me, it's one endless night. My battle never stopped. And it won't stop until I've ruined who ruined me.” 

“And you're going to give them the power to ruin you again, Lana. Forgiveness is a virtue.” 

She raised an eyebrow at him, mockingly. “You teach me about forgiveness, Dylan? Please.” She exhaled a deep breath and picked her bag, “It's late. I have a long drive tomorrow. Good night!”

“Lana!” Dylan stopped her, extending a hand. “I love you.” 

She paused near the door, her back squaring in nervousness. She hovered on his doorstep for so long that he thought she was glued to her spot. He would've taken her to freeze if not for her shoulders shaking slightly, as though she was trying to control her sobs, like the day she first met him. 

It took him ten years to break the walls around her heart but the cage was so layered that it never completely melted. Her heart was arctic and he had burnt inside out to keep her warm. A scalding drop of tear paved down his cheek. He scooted to her and put his hands on her shoulders, resting his cheek on her head. “I love you a lot, Lana Winters. I love you so much it… aches me.” 

“Stop… it. I can't… take it anymore.” She buzzed into laughter, holding her stomach. Dylan watched her in surprise as she doubled over on the floor, falling on her knees. Her hair was all over her face and the streams of tears were coming down her cheeks as she tried to control herself. “Oh, God! You're… seriously… Fuck! You're so funny, Dylan. All this just to stop me from going? Boy! You're really something, ain't you?” 

She sat on her haunches and looked up at him, pressing her lips thin to stop her treacherous laughter. Dylan couldn't have felt more insulted than that. He clenched his jaw and wrapped his hands in her hair, pulling her up roughly to hold his furious gaze. “You think I'm joking?” 

“Or what?” Lana took the challenge head-on, the humor gone from her voice and the chill filled the space. She jerked his hand away and stared at him impassively, “Surely you don't want me to think that you fell in love with a rapist's sister? Have you forgotten who I am, Dylan Marsh?” 

She took a step ahead and pushed her nose into his face, keeping her gaze locked with him. “How can you fall in love with me? Or was that all a pretense? The whole drama to act heartbroken and help me in revenge was just to fuck me?” 

“Mind your tongue, bitch!” Dylan's eyes oozed fire as he caught her throat and pressed enough to choke her. Lana wrapped her fingers over his wrist and smirked, eyes glazing with tears. “That's what you are, Dylan. Harsh, complicated and… merciless. I'm done. I don't fall for this shit anymore.”

She wrenched his hand off her throat and stepped back, “We're not seeing each other again, Dylan. You and I aren't meant to be together. If I get any information out of Ryan tomorrow, I'll make sure you know about that.” 

She spun on her heels to leave and Dylan tried once again, “Did you never… ever feel anything for me, Lana?”

“I felt so much once, that I've started to feel nothing!” She spoke without turning to face him and opened the door, “My heart is tired.”