The Beast

E I G H T E E N : A F T E R C A R E

Hello guys. I'm so sorry for the long wait but I've had a lot going on of late. Wasn't going to update bc I wanted to do a double update but the next chapter isn't done yet. Hopefully by tomorrow, it's published. Thanks for your patience xx

***

Jessie came out of Patrick's house looking worried and Theo rushed to get her immediately.

"You were out here?" she asked breathlessly.

"You thought I was going to just wait for you in the car? I was scared he was going to do something to you, but I didn't want to disrespect you by getting it. But trust me, I'm never letting you meet him alone again".

Jessie smiled at that. Theo was not perfect but he was close. She didn't know what she had done to deserve him.

"What happened in there?" Theo asked.

"Can we go home first?" Jessie asked tiredly, leaning towards Theo's shoulder.

Theo smiled imperceptibly at Jessie's use of the word home. It was not the first time she had done so, but every time, it managed to make him smile.

The ride home was silent. Jessie managed to keep contact with Theo even though he was driving. His hand on her thigh, her hand on his. Her head on his shoulder, their gazes on each other.

When they reached home, Theo carried Jessie out of the car to the couch in the living room. They lay there for a while. Theo sensed that Jessie did not want to talk about her meeting with Patrick so he didn't push. They lay there in silence. But they didn't need to talk. All they needed was each other.

°°°

"Theo?"

Theo stirred but did not wake up. Jessie didn't even remember getting on the couch with him, or them falling asleep either.

Jessie took advantage of the fact that Theo was sleeping and observed him. His eyelashes were long, way longer than hers. His cheekbones were defined and Jessie was sure you could use it as a knife.

Jessie giggled at her silly thoughts. Theo stirred again and his eyes were still closed when he asked, "Laughing at me?"

Jessie jumped, startled and almost found herself on the floor.

"You scared me!" she exclaimed, pouting at Theo.

It was Theo's turn to laugh. Jessie pouted even more and made a show of getting down from the couch but Theo wrapped his arms around her.

"You're an asshole," Jessie said without any heat, smiling at Theo.

Theo smiled back at her then leaned down and placed a small kiss on her nose.

"Theo. Can you promise me something?" Jessie asked after a while.

Theo frowned a bit, but answered. "Yeah, sure"

"Promise you'll keep on loving me. Promise me, Theo," Jessie implored, now sitting up, no longer lying on Theo's laps.

"Jessie, what's bringing this on? What did Patrick tell you?" Theo asked urgently.

"Just promise me Theo!"

Theo looked at Jessie for a few seconds then said, "I promise"

"Thank you Theo," she replied, placed a chaste kiss on his cheek then lay in his laps.

"I'm just scared you'll hate me for what I'll do next. I just want to protect because I," Jessie took in a deep breath,"I love you Theo. And I never want you to look at me with anything other than affection in your eyes"

Theo held Jessie's face with both hands and placed his lips delicately on hers.

"I love you Jessie, and nothing you do will make me stop," Theo said, kissed her again, then lay straight on the couch with her laying over him.

"Did Patrick give you an ultimatum?" He asked a short while later.

"What?"

"You heard me Jessie. Did Patrick give you an ultimatum? Go back to him if not he hurts me?"

"Theo..."

"Answer me Jessie. I need to know. You keeping me in the dark will not solve anything," Theo implored.

"Okay. He did. But he's really powerful, baby and I wouldn't be able to bear seeing you hurt. I wanted to tell you, but it was too much of a risk for me."

"What exactly did he tell you?"

"He said he was going to press charges against you for kidnapping and abuse," Jessie answered reluctantly.

"Abuse? Why abuse?" Theo asked and Jessie immediately regretted adding that part.

"I– he– I have bruises," she said finally.

"What? Where?" Theo asked urgently, sitting up on the couch. Jessie reluctantly showed Theo the bruises that Patrick had placed on her arms and watched as his face grew red with anger.

"Theo..." she started, wanting to placate him but stopped at soon as she saw the look he sent to her. Jessie swallowed and looked down at her hands and gasped.

The bruises were really showing now, her skin was swollen and distended with blue, black and red markings on it.

She tried pulling her arms back but Theo would not let her. She watched him and he bent and placed a gentle kiss on each other the bruises.

Jessie shuddered and looked down at Theo's head. He had continued his journey to the other hand, doing the same thing he had done for her left hand.

He kissed the bruises gently, nibbling sometimes, but making sure not to hurt her even more than she was.

Soon enough, he had progressed to the unbruised part and was placing small kisses on her shoulder, then her collarbone, then her neck.

Jessie threw her head back and whimpered at the sensations going through her at that moment. She had never felt anything like this.

Theo held her head gently when he had finished his delicate invasion of her upper body and kissed her.

This kiss was different from all the other ones. It was more passionate, more intense than any other kiss they had ever shared.

They pulled away from each other almost at the same time and just stared. It was their moment. Every other thing was forgotten. All they needed and wanted was each other.

Jessie leaned forward and placed her lips on Theo's again. She was a bit surprised by her bold move– Theo was too, but both of them went with the flow. There was nothing more important in that moment than being with each other.

"Jessica, are you ready?" Theo asked in a whisper against Jessie's lips. Jessie blushed profusely. She did not even need to ask what she had to be ready for. With the heavy sexual tension in the room, it was normal that both of them had urges.

But that had to wait. Jessie shook her head lightly looking down. Even though she knew he was nothing like Patrick, Jessie was scared Theo was going to get pissed at her.

"Hey, look at me," Theo said lifting her head. He stared at her intensely then reassured her. "It doesn't matter that you're not ready. Actually, no it does cause I'm going to have to take a cold shower which will not actually work. But if you're not ready, you're not ready. Don't out any pressure on yourself"

Jessie looked at Theo with bright eyes. It was comforting to hear such words after Patrick had basically threatened her just hours before. It made her feel happy and loved.

"I love you," was all she said then lay her head on his chest once more.

Theo smiled at that, placed a kiss on her head and leaned back. They could happily stay like this, leaning on each other. For now, all their problems didn't seem that important anymore.

They loved each other and that was all that mattered in the moment.