A/N - just a little content warning, there's some mature scenes in this chapter. if that's not ur thing just skip it.
She's always loved her job, but lately it's been taking quite the toll on her.
Being a law enforcement officer has been her dream ever since she was a little kid. Back then, she read stories in the newspaper about heroic cops and from the very first sentence she knew that was who she wanted to be. She wanted to be a person who saved lives and served justice to those who deserved it. She wanted to put bad guys behind bars, like a superhero.
Despite everyone in her small Chicago town telling her she couldn't become a cop just because she was a woman, she worked her way up into law enforcement. She worked hard in school, studied on her days off from work, and pushed hard to get into a police academy. It was a rough mountain to climb but she managed to reach the top, and not once has she ever regretted it.
She's saved hundreds of lives since becoming a cop and she wouldn't trade that for the world. Lately, though, with Theo and her life going awol, she's barely had the time to really focus on cases and her boss isn't cutting her any slack.
"Listen, Teresa," her boss, Bertram, studies her with hard eyes. "I like you. A lot of people do. You're good at your job, but you've been slacking off lately. All these days off? Not good on your record. I understand you've got a kid, but you need to start getting back into the groove of things or else I'm gonna have to send you out."
His words blast towards her like a sudden punch to the gut. "Y-You're gonna fire me?"
"If you don't get your act together, yes, I will."
"Boss," her voice is pleasing, "I can't get a babysitter to watch Theo every single day. My friends have lives too and they're watching him for free, but they have kids of their own— "
Bertram holds up a hand to silence her. "I don't want to hear it, Teresa. You either find a way to make it work or you're done."
Bertram tends to remind her of her father at times, after her mother died and he went off the rails. They're both hotheaded and cruel, only doing things if it benefits them in any way. Losing her wouldn't be that great of a loss to him or anyone else. He just enjoys the control, likes the feeling of pushing her to the edge.
Well, she's very close to tumbling off it.
With mustered courage, she plants her hands down on either side of his desk and leans forward so that they're eye to eye. "You don't understand my life and you never will. Try having to work everyday for every week and having to come home late to a child who's upset that he doesn't get to see you as often as a child should see their parent. Try balancing work and being a mom on the same fucking arm. It's not as easy as you think it is."
With that being said, she turns and walks out of his office with a weight lifted off her shoulders. She'll regret her burst of stupidity when she gets home, but for now she'll allow herself to sink into the amazing feeling of talking back to her boss, even if it gets her fired tomorrow.
XxX
When she gets home, Theo is already in bed and fast asleep, his racecar blanket pulled up to his chin.
She sends Grace a smile of gratitude as she leaves and shuts the door behind her. Sighing, she pads to her bedroom and strips out of her work clothes and into a flimsy nightgown that brings cool air to her sweaty skin.
As she climbs into bed, the thought of Evan floats into her mind. She hasn't had a nightmare about him since the night she'd called Patrick. Maybe it's because he came back and tried to prove he's changed. Despite all the damage he's caused her and Theo, she can't deny that somewhere deep inside of her, she still loves him.
She won't let him back into her life, but she still loves him, and he's still Theo's father. If he has changed, he deserves the right to see his son.
Thinking about Evan just makes her dizzy, so she grabs her phone and presses a familiar contact. Five seconds later a friendly drawl spills through the phone.
"Hey, beautiful."
She smiles at the endearment. "Hi."
She hears shuffling and figures it's him rolling off his bed. "What's up? You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." A pause. Then, "do you mind coming over?"
Now it's his turn to pause. "Now?"
"If you want to. I mean, you don't have to— "
"No, no, I'll be over in ten." Without saying anything more he hangs up, the dial tone ringing in her ear.
Surprised, she sets her phone down and falls back onto her bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling above her. He seems enthusiastic to see her and it makes a small smile creep to her lips. She never thought she'd ever describe a man to be adorable, but that's exactly what he is.
True to his word, ten minutes later she hears a knock on the door. She hurries to the living room, forgetting that she's wearing a nightgown that barely covers anything, and opens the door.
Patrick stands on the porch with his hands in his pockets, a grin lighting up his face. His golden hair is perfect and his sea green eyes are shining with happiness.
God, this man is gorgeous.
"Teresa," he says before raking his eyes over her petite form. Then, his eyes darken, his grin slowly slipping from his face.
Now feeling a little self-conscious, she looks down at herself. "Something wrong?"
He shakes his head, letting himself further inside and shutting the door. "No, no. I just don't want your neighbors to see you wearing that."
Her brows furrow. "It's eleven p.m., everyone's asleep."
"There could be creeps peeping through their windows," he mumbles, his eyes still trained on her body.
"Jane," she rolls her eyes, not having realizes she'd called him by his last name until it slipped out.
Finally looking up at her face, he quirks an eyebrow. "Are you going to start calling me by my last name when I irritate you now?"
Her face flushes. "Maybe. It just slipped out."
"Hmm." He brushes past her and into the kitchen, making sure his fingers skim the bare skin of her thigh on the way. She shivers at the touch. "You have any tea?"
"Um, yeah, in the cabinet."
He retrieves it and begins making himself a cup. He lifts his eyes again and they linger on the V of her nightgown. "God, Teresa. You really shouldn't have called me over."
Feeling a little brave, she innocently asks, "why not?"
"Because look at you." He motions to her body, wetting his lips like he's dying for a taste of her. "How am I supposed to control myself when you're wearing barely anything at all?"
She steps into the kitchen and braces her hands on his chest, looking up into his now pitch-black eyes. "Maybe I want you to lose control."
His right eye twitches. "What are you saying, Teresa?"
"You know what I'm saying." She feels brave, intense. When it comes to sex she's never been this daring, but Patrick makes her feel like a whole new woman. He's awakened something inside of her that she never knew was there, and she wants to unleash it.
Biting her lip, she trails a hand down his chest and lays it flat against the impressive bulge in his jeans. He curses when his hand shakes and the tea in his cup spilled onto the floor.
She giggles ruthlessly, taking the cup from him and setting it on the counter. She feels like a schoolgirl seducing the football jock. And it feels exhilarating.
"Teresa," he says slowly, taking her hand off his groin, "as much as I want to pick you up and carry you to bed right now, I know something's up with you. Now, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I'm not going to take advantage of you."
Startled, her hands drop loosely to her sides. "Do you think I'm drunk?"
"No, of course not. But something's obviously wrong and you believe that sex is going to make it go away. It won't."
She pushes him away, irritated now. "Nothing's wrong, Jane."
"You've forgotten that I can read you like a book."
"Well close the damn book," she snaps, whirling around and storming out of the kitchen.
He follows her swiftly. "Teresa, I'm sorry. I just want to know what's bothering you."
"Nothing's bothering me," she lies, turning back around to face him with her arms crossed. "I just wanted..." She trails off, her gaze dropping to her bare feet.
Gently, as if reaching out to pet a dog, he steps closer to her. "What did you want, Teresa? Tell me."
"I want you to take me," she whispers, too embarrassed to meet his eyes. "I just want to...forget about everything for a little while. Life's hectic at the moment," she chuckles humorlessly.
His eyes are sympathetic. "Something with your job, I'm guessing?"
She shrugs, not offering an answer.
"Theo?"
"He's fine," she says softly. "I guess everything is just too much for me right now."
Without waiting a second more, he reaches for her and envelops her in his arms. She burrows her face into his neck and breathes him in, her heart feeling a little lighter.
He presses a soft kiss atop her head. "You're incredibly strong, you know that? And you're an amazing mother. Don't doubt yourself."
He feels her smile into his neck. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me," he murmurs. "I know things can get a little crazy, but if anyone can get through it it's you. I haven't known you that long but I know what type of person you are, and I wouldn't trade her for the world."
His words make her tear up a bit. She raises her head to look at him, and then, without words, kisses him passionately.
She melts into the kiss immediately and so does he. Their lips dance to a soft song before picking up the pace and becoming hungry and ravaging. His tongue sweeps along her bottom lip and she opens for him, a moan escaping her throat.
After a few more seconds he pulls away, breathless. "You're driving me crazy."
She smiles up at him. "I'm just testing the waters."
And then she pulls him in for another kiss, and this time there's no remorse from either party. His tongue brushes hers and as another noise of pleasure leaves her he hoists her in his arms and carries her to her bedroom, their lips never disconnecting.
He kicks the door shut and gently tosses her on the bed, shaking off his shoes before climbing over her. His kisses turn soft as he trails his lips down her jaw and neck, reaching the V of her nightgown and gazing at the tiny freckles peppering the milky white skin.
Her chest rises and falls with every second, making it even harder for him to resist tearing the gown off of her. With as much patience as he can muster, his eyes meet hers. "Teresa, you need to listen to me. If I start now..." He swallows. "I won't be able to stop."
"Is that a promise?"
"Yes."
"Then don't break it." She slants her lips over his again and soon his hands are fumbling with her nightgown. He sits her up and pulls it off of her, revealing her exposed chest to his line of sight.
She's the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.
"Teresa," he whispers, transfixed by her full breasts and the pebbling of her nipples. They look too delicious for words.
She bites her lip, and just seeing her doing that makes him groan. Everything she does is erotic without meaning to be. It's what drives him mad.
"Please," she whispers, and the word is his undoing.
He launches forward and takes one of her buds into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it. She gasps suddenly and grabs onto his curls, pulling just hard enough to arouse him moreso than he already is.
His mouth switches breasts as one hand slides down her body and to the hem of her underwear, softly brushing the skin just above her mound as if to silently ask if what he's about to do is okay. When she nods shakily, he slips his hand beneath the band and feels her heat.
"Oh," she sighs, arching her back slightly when he runs a finger through her walls. "Oh, god."
He releases her nipple with a pop and offers her a saucy grin, but she's too far gone to notice it. When he slips a finger inside of her she loses it, a moan ripping from her throat.
"Teresa," he murmurs breathlessly into her ear, adding another finger and starting to pump them in and out as she whimpers. "You're so wet for me, sweetheart."
"Patrick," she gasps, undulating her hips against his hand. "Oh fuck, that feels good. Don't stop."
"Wasn't planning to," he says. He presses his thumb against her clit and her body jerks, causing him to smirk. She's so close to falling off the edge, he can feel it, just a little more...
"Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop," she repeats over and over, her voice shaking with pleasure. "More. Please, give me more."
His lips tickle her earlobe. "That's it, sweetheart. Come on, you're almost there...I can feel you. Come for me, love."
She immediately obeys, her orgasm ripping through her and leaving her gasping for air. She gropes for the hand that isn't in her underwear and holds it tight, trying to get her breathing under control.
"I hope I did well," he says sheepishly, pulling her towards him and kissing her lips firmly. "I've been wanting to do that for a while now."
She laughs breathlessly. "What, finger me?"
"Well, feel you," he replies with a chuckle of his own. "But yeah, that too."
"Well, you certainly did a great job. Now, your turn." She reaches for the zipper of his jeans but he grabs her hand to stop her. She looks at him quizzically. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing at all," he promises. "But we're not going there tonight."
"What? Why not?"
"Because for one, I don't have any condoms with me— "
"I'm on the pill."
"—And two, Theo is right across the hall."
"Then we should keep quiet." She resumes her position but once again he stops her.
"Not tonight," he murmurs softly. "I want you, you have no idea how badly I want you. But tonight isn't the night. You need rest; you're exhausted."
She frowns. "But what are you gonna do with that?" She motions to his hard-on with a raised eyebrow.
"Take a freezing shower," he replies. "Mind if I use yours?"
Realizing he's not going to give in, she sighs and nods. "Fine."
"Thank you." He pecks her cheek before retreating out of the room. Minutes later she hears the water turn on and all she can think about is his naked body standing beneath the showerhead, all hard and tanned and beautiful.
Maybe she needs a cold shower, too.
Shaking her head, she slips out of her underwear and climbs into bed, pulling the covers over her body. He's right; she is tired. She tries to stay awake until he gets out of the shower, but as soon as her eyes fall shut they stay that way until morning.