Page 195 of Under Her Skin
She looked away and he realised that, unbelievably, she was ashamed. His heart thudded with pain and love for her. Gently, he took her face in his hands, tipping it up so he could kiss her gently. He swept his thumbs over the plains of her cheeks, wiping the moisture from her eyes. Her lovely dark eyes were red and full of pain, and she wouldn’t look at him. For a moment, he didn’t know what tosay.
‘What did he do to you?’ His voice was soft but she winced and pulled away fromhim.
‘Like I said, an argument. Please, Theo, for me, don’t push this. I’m not ready for you to be dragged into my ridiculous familydrama.’
That stung but he nodded, acquiescing. He held his arm out to her. ‘Want to gohome?’
She hesitated then nodded, taking his arm. They hadn’t got a few steps, though, before he stoppedher.
‘I just want to say: whatever it is, whatever he’s doing to you, it isn’t right. You only have to say the word, Jessie, and I’ll make it all goaway.’
Jess closed her eyes and he saw the conflict raging inside her. Finally, she spoke and her voice was a broken thing, low andgruff.
‘Please Theo… I just want toforget.’
He nodded, once, stiffly, and led her down to thecar.
‘Easy now, careful.’
Theo guided her carefully into the house. She suppressed a smile, ignoring the small tug ofirritation.
‘I’m not made of glass, Theo,’ she chided gently. His face was tense and she reached up to smooth the small crease between his eyes. He leaned his face into her hand. ‘You look sotired.’
He sighed. ‘I’m not the one who gotassaulted.’
‘I’m fine.’ She pulled away from him and went into the kitchen. Stan trotted up to her and, despite his size, she scooped the dog into her arms, kissing his furry head and burying her face in his fur. ‘He’s growing by the second, Iswear.’
‘Ihope not,he’s already Godzilla.’ Theo’s tone was fond as he scratched the dog’sears.
‘He’s still mybaby.’
Theo smiled and reached for the kettle. They stood in silence while he prepared the tea, Jess hugging the dog to her forcomfort.
The atmosphere was heavy, leaden. The light coming in from the window was a pale blue, ghostly, cold. It leeched the colours from theroom.
Jess swallowed and found her throat closed, sore. The adrenaline that raced through her earlier has dissipated and now all she wanted to do was sleep. Fucking Jules. He was a monster but Jess was more disgusted with herself. She didn’t believe Jules would go through with his threat to kill her – he was too much of a coward – but he could make her life very, very difficult. And if he hurtTheo…
She felt tears pricking her eyes. She was lost. Jules’s threats had brought her to the edge – and Theo’s kindness despite his confusion– had pushed her over the edge. She simply could not take it anymore. She wasbroken.
She droppedthe dog gently on the floor and rushed upstairs. In the bathroom, she threw up, great rasping sobs wrenching from heruncontrollably.
Downstairs,Theo listened to her heartbreak with his head in his hands. His chest thumped with despair, with the desperation of a man who didn’t know what to do, how to help, how to reach her. The bruises on her throat would fade soon, horrific as they were but they were simply physical wounds, not these deep chasms ofhurt.
There was a knock and he dragged himself up to open the door. Max. He’d called him as soon as they’d gotten back to his place, when Jess had been in the bathroom. He wanted to know everything about Jules Gachet and he knew Max would be a tenacious private detective and besides Jess, Max was the only person he trustedimplicitly.
Theo knewdespair was etched on his face when he saw Max’sexpression.
‘Jesus, you look…’ He stopped when he heard the sobs from upstairs. ‘Row?’
Theo gave short, humourless laugh. ‘I wish, buddy, I really do.’ He stood aside to let Max in and told Max what had happened Maxfrowned.
‘You got there in time to stophim?’
Theo shook his head. ‘No. I was too late. She was just sitting there, in a ball on the floor. God, you should have seen her, Max, she was terrified. I’ve never seen anyone that… traumatised.’ His shouldersslumped.
Max was silently for a long moment. ‘Theo…I’m going to say this and remember, I adore Jess but you’ve known her what? Aweek?’
Theo’s face was hard. ‘I love her, Max, I’m inthis.’
