Chapter Fourteen

A week later, Theo was back to his usual self.

By usual, I mean he was yelling at people and throwing temper tantrums. He was also thoroughly punished by Hades. Something that Theo refused to talk about with even me. He just left it at, "Next time we think about saving that bastard's life, remind me of this and I'm heading to Crete". I assumed from that, that it was something very humiliating and thorough. Hades didn't play around, even with his sons-- even when his sons are experiencing Recharge.

Unfortunately, there was more bad news.

Though Theo's royal guard swarmed the streets of Styx, Rara and Prometheus were nowhere to be found, not even after we found the hotel they'd been staying at. We consulted psychics and even Hades himself, but Rara and Prometheus were shielded from him. Rara and Prometheus had completely vanished-- or so, that's how it's said.

Something in me told me that they would be back, and when they were, I would not hesitate to return Prometheus to his rightful place and Rara's to hers-- And by Rara's, I mean the darkest pits of Hell. I'm positive Lucifer would be happy to have a new plaything.

As for Theo's brothers, they all recovered quickly and had returned to work. They also resumed the meetings for their new organization that was set up for the sole purpose of keep Titans under lock and key.

Hades had officially called the organization TC. Titan Control. He thought it was humorous while his sons merely found his bad sense of humor irritating, though, they didn't say anything in case Hades regretted his decision of rescuing them.

Theo's palace was rebuilt and his chambers made much larger. I was relieved to be invited in just to see who it'd been designed. I was also pleased to see that his sheets were a vibrant shade of red that was nearly similiar to his hair. Black silk netting was draped over the top part, giving it the title of a canopy bed. His bathroom had also been redesigned and he seemed eager to bathe.

"You stay in here with me," Theo was saying as I stood in the corner of the bathroom, watching him bend over the edge and turn the water on, "I'm still not used to being alone constantly. Or at least, not comfortable with it now." I only nodded, but didn't move from my place. I waited for Theo to order me to set his bath for him, but to my surprise, he did it himself.

He poured the pink bubble bath soup into it, the water rushing from the faucet and stirring up the soup so the bubbles began to pile toward the top. He shut the bathroom door, sweeping across to the large black marble bathtub that was built into the floor, much like a hot tub. He undid the red belt on his silk robe, dropping it in a puddle on the floor, revealing his completely flawless and naked body.

I frowned instantly, though, when I saw deep scratches and cuts all over his arms, a couple scarring the insides of his thighs. I lifted my eyes to see Theo staring at me. I said nothing, but I didn't need to. Theo shrugged, reaching up to tuck a lock of hair back behind his ear, looking surprisingly embarrased.

"Old habits die hard." He answered to my silence. I only gave a slight nod, watching as Theo stepped into the tub, shivering at the heat before he lowered himself inside to sit on the bench. He looked like he was enjoying himself, though, with the warm water and pale pink bubbles floating across the surface of the water. He lifted a long, pale leg out of the water to place on the edge near my feet. He looked up at me past dark lashes.

"Actually," He said quietly, sinking back to the other side of the tub, still watching me, "Could you get in the tub with me? I'd feel safer if you did." I wanted to protest. Part of me wondered if these requests were just so he could tease me for my feelings, but wondering got me nowhere. Only action did, so I nodded and stripped my clothes off, folding them neatly and placing them on a nearby rack. I heard Theo scoff at the gesture, but I ignored it and stepped into the tub.

The hot water instantly gave me goose bumps and I had to get in slowly with how hot the water was. I finally sank down below the bubbly surface, sitting on one of the benches. Theo sat across from me, watching with intrigued red eyes. I could see a smile trying to pull at the corners of his lips, but he was fighting it. The way his eyes were, though. It was almost seductive.

Yes, I realized in distress.

He was teasing me on purpose.

He got off the bench and wadded over to me. He sat beside me, taking a red bath pouf off the ring that was hoisted near the faucet. He tossed it to me and I caught it, frowning at him until he came to sit beside me again, turning to face me. He stuck his leg out in front of me.

"Wash me while you're at it. You'll get bored sitting here, protecting me from drain monsters." He added with a wicked smirk. I took a deep breath, but obeyed anyway as I scrubbed the pouf in olive oil soup, gently massaging it along Theo's leg. He watched me intently before speaking.

"So, Malachi's calling another ridiculous meeting at his place again. Something about summoning Xenon to see if the bastard has any new information for us." He told me, frowning in disgust at Xenon's name. I didn't bother to hide my annoyance at the mention of it either.

"Why are we working with him?" I asked. Theo snorted, lifting his other leg for me to scrub. I was careful around the scars he'd given himself.

"I don't know. The little Titan trusts him for some stupid reason that I totally don't understand. Malachi told me the other day that Xenon keeps asking for their imp. An imp, can you believe it? Why would someone like him want an imp so badly? There's a farm of them not far from here. He can have any one he wants." He ranted, piling bubbles into his palm before blowing them so they fell over into the water. I frowned.

"He specifically wants Adrian's imp?"

"Yeah, because the brat loves the damn thing. He made a big deal about it before. Something about the imp being like a brother to him, which I personally find kinda gross."

"Why?" I asked honestly. Theo blinked, then frowned in confusion.

"It's an imp."

"Well, yes, I understand that, but I'm curious as to why you do not like the imps."

"They're lower-class demons. Small, weak. They learn too slowly."

"Adrian claims his imp is very smart."

"So did Regulus, but look who's dead?" Theo asked dryly, but then suddenly looked uncomfortable with his words and cleared his throat, changing the subject.

"Anyway, the point is that I don't feel safe working with Xenon. He's got quite the record and while his services have never once disappointed, he's still untrustworthy. I want you to keep an eye on him."

"Yes, Theo." I answered obediently. Theo sighed, then lowered his legs back in the water, looking down into it to watch his toes wiggle before he glanced at me.

"I'm... Ah, I didn't mean to sound so harsh," He muttered, averting his eyes now when I looked at him curiously, "About the imp. Like I said, old habits die hard. I know Epimetheus didn't do it, though. I probably would've remembered."

"It's all right," I answered quietly, "I have a feeling I know who did it anyway."

"Rara."

"I don't like hearing her name."

"Right. Out of my vocabulary. And out of my service too. Fuck it, next time I hire someone, I'll have you hire them. I'm an awful judge of character. Obviously. And I hate women." The last sentence seemed to be accidental because as soon as he spoke, Theo looked embarrassed and cleared his throat, moving across the tub away from me as he leaned on the side, playing with the controls that allowed jets to turn on. I hissed as soon as one struck me in the back, making me pull away to frown at it curiously. I waved my hand in front of it, but it didn't hurt. I think I had mostly been caught off guard.

I looked up, though, when I heard a snort and looked up to see Theo laughing at me as he cranked up the jet and it spurt against my hand. I backed away, only to back into another jet and grimaced.

"I do not like your tub."

"I do," Theo smirked as he waded over to sit near me, then paused to shiver as he sat in front of a jet, letting it bubble against his inner thigh, "It feels nice. You'll get used to it."

"Is there anything else you needed me to do?" I asked instead, looking away so as to avoid the way the jet pushed the bubbles away to reveal that Theo was very aroused. Theo bit his lip, looking away from me too.

"I just like your company." He admitted. I looked at him curiously.

"May I ask something in complete honesty and hope you don't get angry?" I asked. Theo scowled.

"That's like saying no offense after killing someone's puppy, but go ahead anyway. I'm curious." He responded, looking down into the bubbles that had gathered to stick to his chest. He brushed his fingers through them and I tilted my head to try and see what the expression was on his face, but he was avoiding my eyes on purpose.

"Theo. Ever since I told you that I loved you, you've been asking me to do things like this. Are you teasing me on purpose?" I asked. Theo stiffened and didn't speak for a moment, then shifted away from the jet to sit perfectly on the bench, legs closed under the water, hands resting on his knees before he slumped back against the edge, peering at me past his wet bangs.

"I'm not teasing you."

"No?"

"No," Theo insisted, then cleared his throat, brushing his hair back from his face before dropping his hand into the water with a splash before continuing, "I'm just... I guess I'm waiting."

"Waiting for what?" I asked. Theo stared at me, but didn't answer. He kept spreading his hands through the bubbles and warm water before he slumped back against one of the benches again, purposely not looking at me now. I sighed, but said nothing. I still couldn't figure out what Theo was doing by getting extremely close to me. Ever since I confessed, he'd ask very flirtatious requests, such as coming to his chambers simply to sleep with him, no sex, or asking me to dine with him.

And now I was sitting naked in a tub with him, having finished washing him.

Maybe he was testing me, I thought curiously. But testing me for what? Testing to see if I would break and jump him? I'd promised to keep him safe. If that meant protecting him from me, then so be it. I would do so. Or maybe he was testing to see if my love was true? Had nothing I said before gotten through to him?

Patience, I warned myself. Theo's luck with love was obviously very bad. I knew he still had lingering feelings for Adrian. They weren't feelings of love, though. It was more like feelings of power. He was still angry that Malachi and Adrian had defeated him in the court case before Hades. He was humiliated and he wanted to have power over Adrian, sexual power being something that Theo was fond of.

Up until recently anyway. Theo didn't call me to his room for rough sex anymore. The only thing he wanted was for me to sleep beside him. It was shockingly out of character for him. In fact, being shy in general was as well, as he wouldn't tell me anything about why he was doing it or what he wanted from me.

He ignored me when it came to those questions, like he was doing now as he dunked under the water, then came up in the center, sucking in a deep breath of air, reaching up to slick his hair back from his face.

"Is the meeting tomorrow?" I asked to avoid the silence. Theo hesitated, then nodded as he wiped the water from his face.

"Yeah, early in the morning too. There's something wrong with my brothers to be able to wake up so bloody early in the morning. Speaking of, once you're dressed, stay in my room. I don't want to sleep alone." He responded. I didn't have the chance to say anything else because he dunked back under the water for a while. I knew he was doing it on purpose to avoid talking to me. It was strange to see Theo so shy and cautious. He was usually one of the louder brothers, besides Cerberus, who was just plain obnoxious.

Theo finally resurfaced, gasping for air before he stood up, squeezing the water from his hair before tossing it over his shoulder.

"I'm finished. You can finish washing up if you want, just don't forget to drain the water." He told me. I said nothing, watching him climb out. I flinched inwardly at the view of his backside as he drew himself up onto the edge. I remained absolutely still as I watched Theo stand there, proud of his nudity before he lifted up his red robe, slipping his arms through the sleeves before heading out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

I looked away now, trying to will my throbbing erection away. I had a feeling that was all on purpose too. Or maybe I was just jumping to conclusions? No... Theo had never done things like this before. He was acting strange, but I knew it was him and not someone else.

It just meant something was bothering my lord.

I finished rinsing off, relieved that my body had calmed down to a degree before I climbed out. I started to change when the bathroom door opened and I looked up, frowning as Theo poked his head in.

"You don't have to get dressed. I don't like clothes in my new bed." He added, glancing me up and down very obviously. I raised an eyebrow, then slowly lowered my pants back down onto the rack. I approached the door, taking it out of Theo's hand and opening it wider to stand right in front of him. He stiffened, taking a step back as I leaned toward him.

"Theo, if you're planning what I think you are, I want you to know that this time, I refuse to harm you. I will not cut you or bite you." I said in a low voice, watching Theo's red eyes flicker from my groin all the way up to my eyes again. He blinked a few times before clearing his throat, straightening further as if he were trying to size me up.

"Fine... I suppose you deserve it then." Theo replied, placing his hands on his hips for a moment. I stepped into the room, closing the door behind me. Moving forward, I swept my other arm around  Theo's waist, savoring the narrowness of his hips fitting neatly into my arm. I pulled him up agaisnt me and could feel his hardness through the silk robes.

This was a bad idea, I knew. While Theo seemed to consent to it, there was still something about this that felt wrong.

"I want to hear you say it." I said, my lips hovering over Theo's. Theo blinked, looking at me with a frown of confusion.

"Hear me say what? I'm the one who should be making orders and I order you to--" I placed my finger on Theo's lips. His eyes widened and he looked at me, stunned that I had interrupted.

"I will do as you order after I hear you consent to this. I want you to know that I am doing this out of love. Not because you order me to. Not because you pity me or you're curious and I wish to take advantage of it. I am doing this because I want to feel myself inside of you, Theo. I want you to feel how much I love you. If words cannot get through to you, then actions may." I explained firmly, then started to take my finger away, but Theo reached up and caught my hand, holding my finger still in front of his lips.

Without breaking our eye contact, he hesitantly brought the finger to his lips again, parting them gently before flicking his tongue out like a snake, licking my finger tip. He used his tongue to coax my finger into his mouth. My body sprang back to life as he sucked carefully on my finger, twirling his tongue around it. His red eyes seemed to glow as he peered past his dark lashes at me, parting his lips away from my finger.

"I wouldn't be letting you if it was just for a fling." Theo said quietly. I ground my teeth together hard, then didn't hesitate this time as I picked Theo up, letting him wrap his legs around my waist as I turned us so he was up against the wall. Our mouths locked together hotly, tongues battling wetly, mingling with desperate gasps and moans. I gripped Theo's firm ass in my palms, jerking him up against me, closer so my hips could grind against his. He moaned, running his fingers through my hair, gripping tightly and pulling me closer.

His hands wandered down over my neck and to my shoulders, his nails digging into my skin. I didn't mind if he hurt me. I never said I wouldn't experience pain in this.

We kissed hungrily, held each other so close that it felt as if we were going to meld into one being.

I was actually kissing Theo now. Actually holding Theo. This was no trick, no game. Before whenever Theo and I had sex, I was only allowed to take him from behind. I was never allowed to look at him, never allowed to kiss him and now I was breaking all those rules. I kept my eyes open, savoring the sight of his dark lashes contrasting sharply with his milky skin. The way his expression twisted in desperation, as if he wanted to feel everything that I was feeling.

He wanted to feel how much I loved him.

And he wanted to love me. I wasn't sure if he did. I doubted it, but there was a sliver of me that clung to the hope that Theo thought of me as someone special, someone more important than anyone else.

I stepped back from the wall, but kept Theo in my arms, his legs still wrapped tightly around my waist, his arms now holding onto me around the neck.

"What're you doing?" Theo breathed heavily against the crook of my neck, his tongue dragging against my skin, making me groan deep in my throat before I stopped at the end of the bed.

"I told you that if we ever did something like this again, I would make love to you. It won't be a quick fling and it won't be a plug and go, Theo. I'm going to make you feel just how much I love you." I dropped Theo back on the bed, his robe splaying open to reveal the pale skin underneath and the throbbing erection he sported between his legs. To my surprise, his cheeks flushed as he bounced on the bed for a second before I knelt down on top of him. He looked flustered, reaching up to grab my bicep as I leaned over him.

"Like this? You're going to..." His voice trailed as he studied my body, eyes going right to my groin before shooting back up to meet my gaze. I nodded, pecking him gently on the lips. He seemed hungry for more than a simple kiss, but it was my turn to tease him. I kissed my way down his throat, watching him tilt his head back and purr like a content cat. His legs clamped on either side of me.

I ran my hands down his sides, bringing my lips to one of his pert pink nipples before flicking my tongue out at it. Theo made a noise of surprise, jerking and reaching his hand down to grab me by the hair.

"What're you doing?" Theo asked again, sounding alarmed.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Theo. I promised that."

"Promises are just words." Theo returned uneasily, narrowing his eyes at me. I said nothing to that and ducked my head down again. Theo clenched his fingers in my hair, pulling out a few strands in the process, but I ignored his tugging to place my lips over his nipple, sucking and licking gently. Theo whined at the feeling, tangling his fingers in my hair.

I could feel the shivers coursing through him, giving him goosebumps as I toyed with his nipple, scraping my teeth against it until it was hard. I gave the same attention to the opposite before I trailed kissed down his abdomen, watching him arch his back at the sensation. I reached his groin and didn't say anything as I took him into my mouth. Theo gasped, sitting up and grabbing my hair again with both hands this time. He curled into himself, but I continued to suck on him gently at first, tickling the tip of him with my tongue. He moaned, squeezing his eyes shut and breathing hard.

"S-Sept, stop... I order y-you t-to..." Theo broke off to moan, gasping for air as I sucked harder. I peered up at him to see his expression twisted in tortured pleasure. I felt my heart swell to see Theo enjoying this. He was telling me to stop, but I knew when someone really wanted it to stop and Theo was only afraid of the intense pleasure.

He didn't really want me to stop and I had a feeling that if I did, he'd hit me, so I continued to suck on him, putting my hands on the inside of his thighs to spread his legs out further. To my relief, he obeyed and spread his legs. His body trembled as he neared his peak before he cried out and fell back against the bed, arching his back and clenching his fists in the sleeves of his robes.

I collected every last drop of him in my mouth, pulling away, swishing my tongue around the bitter flavor of him. Theo panted, still dazed as he seemed to try and comprehend what just happened. As he did so, I picked him up by his ankles, pulling him up against me. He gasped, grabbing at the sheets first as I pulled his ass closer to my face.

"W-What're doing? Sept, stop..." Theo's voice drifted in confusion as I held him by the hips, parting my lips and dripping everything in my mouth onto his entrance. Theo hissed and squeezed his eyes shut.

"What is this?" He demanded, drawing his arms up over his head, grimacing. I didn't answer, just finishing spitting everything out before I brought a finger over, swirling it around. Theo clenched his teeth, then gasped as I slipped my finger inside.

"Why are you playing around?" He demanded again. Though he was complaining, he wasn't stopping me. He was just watching me. I could see his curiosity and uncertainty, so I continued to twist my finger inside him while I spoke.

"This is called foreplay, Theo."

"I know that! I mean... I just... I don't understand. I don't know. Why are you doing this to me?"

"I'll repeat it as many times as you want me to, Theo," I responded, adding a second finger that made Theo gasp as I stretched him out tenderly, "I love you. I love you very much. I've always loved you and I always will." Theo moaned as I made scissoring motions with my fingers, watching the way his muscles clenched and relaxed. I brought up my other hand, adding two more fingers to full stretch him out. While I'm sure he couldn't care less if it hurt or not, I wanted to do my best to make sure it didn't.

There was no pleasure in the pain that Theo was used to.

Because it was just that.

Something he was used to. He had turned something that was a weakness for most into something that was powerful to him... No, powerful over him.

And now I was going to show him that there didn't need to be pain to be pleasure.

I lowered Theo back down onto the bed, watching him squirm uncomfortably, wiggling his hips and watching me suspiciously. He had his head cocked at an angle, watching me with bright red eyes. I leaned over him, taking his hips in my hands as I brought myself near him. I leaned down over top of him, brushing my lips by his throat, toward the space just under his ear, kissing him there gently, feeling the goose bumps rise on his skin as he moaned.

"I love you, Theo." I breathed against his ear, watching him shiver before I pushed myself inside. Theo instantly put his arms around my neck, jerking me close to him as I pressed my hips against him until I was buried deep inside him, engulfed in heat. He panted hard, dragging his nails along my shoulders.

"Why aren't you moving?" He whined desperately, making me laugh quietly before I obeyed and began to move. Theo moaned and threw his head back against the sheets, still hanging onto me before dropping his arms to the sheets, fisting them so tightly that he ripped his claws through them. Theo's red eyes flashed, his head tilting back and forth as he squirmed. It was as if he was experiencing the ultimate pleasure.

Pleasure that I was giving him, because I wanted to.

Because I loved him.

I began to piston myself inside him, listening to him gasp and mewl, writhing and arching his back as if he were trying to get me to hit a certain place. I wrapped my arms around him and picked him up, bringing him into my lap and not once disconnecting our bodies. Theo put his arms around me tightly as I held his hips, his breath against my ear.

"S-Sept... This... It's... so... good..." He panted, making me smile as I held him against me tightly, thrusting my hips up against him at the same time I brought him down. I switch one hand to reach between us, taking him into my hand. Theo gasped and moaned, whimpering in pleasure as he ground himself down on top of me, my hand sliding up and down his throbbing cock.

"M-My name," Theo managed shakily, tightening his grip on me as he neared his limit, "Say my name." I waited a moment, his muscles contracting around me before I moaned into his ear.

"Theo. Theo, I love you. I love you, Theo.... Theo." I gritted my teeth as I came hard, grunting and breathing hard. Theo cried out, his nails cutting into my skin as he released, my hand sticky and wet between us. He rode me hard for a while longer before we slumped against the bed. Theo's head hit the pillow and I fell down beside him, reaching around him to close his robe, but he grabbed my hand and stopped me.

"Leave it." He murmured. I obeyed and laid back down, expecting Theo to get up and leave or chide me for being cheesy, but to my relief, he only rolled over against me, resting his head against my shoulder and placing his arm around me.

"You always cling to me in bed." I blurted. Theo snorted, but remained silent otherwise. We laid in bed in silence for a while, catching our breathes and letting the thick haze of lust slowly subside. After a while, Theo finally spoke.

"I always feel... strange when you say those things."

"Say what?"

"You know what I mean."

"That I love you? Saying I love you makes you feel strange?" I asked calmly, though, I was teasing him and he knew it. He scoffed and propped himself up on his elbow, looking down at me with a scowl.

"There's nothing wrong with that... Right?" He asked to make sure. I smiled faintly, reaching up to tuck a lock of his hair behind his ear.

"Nothing wrong at all." I replied. Theo nodded slowly, then slumped back down to the bed, head on my shoulder, arm around my torso. He even wedged his leg over me, his knee drawn up to my hip. I could feel and hear his heart beating beside me, thrumming in his chest. It caught up to mine, both our hearts beating a fast rhyme that made me smile even more.

"What're you grinning about? You don't grin very often, so it's got to be humorous." Theo pointed out, bringing a finger up to trace around my nipple. I flicked my tongue over my lips, watching the way Theo gazed at my chest before frowning when he realized I hadn't answered. He peered up at me, placing his hand flat against my chest.

"What?" He repeated. I shook my head.

"I thought you were teasing me, mocking me this entire time," I admitted, making him blink and frown at me in confusion, "The requests for me to sleep with you, bath with you, eat with you. You weren't doing it because you were making fun of me." Theo raised an eyebrow at me suspiciously.

"Oh no?" He asked.

"You know what you were doing it. I also know why you were doing it. There's no need to say it out loud if it makes you that uncomfortable." I answered. Theo blushed at that and moved so fast that I barely had time to catch him before he was sitting on top of me, looking down at me with a very kingly sort of look.

"I am your master. I can say whatever the hell I want. And... And I just so happen to like you," Theo added, clearing his throat and looking flustered again, "A lot. Very much." I smiled up at him, resting my hands on his thighs, gently smoothing them over his skin to rest on his hips. He hesitated at that, then rested his hands against my chest, splaying his fingers out.

"By the way... How did you know how to do all of that?" Theo asked suspiciously. I raised an eyebrow.

"I have a very wild imagination." I answered. Theo blushed, grabbing a pillow and smacking me with it once before holding it to his chest, scowling at me.

"You're a pervert. Stop lying around and fantasizing."

"Well, I certainly couldn't make those fantasizes come true before, could I?"

"Why not?"

"You'd castrate me."

"Not castrate," Theo responded slowly, making me grimace before he smirked and dropped the pillow on my face before I pushed it away to see that he'd leaned down closer to me, "Just play with you like a cat and a mouse. You should teach me more of those... things. I've never done any of that with anyone before, nor do I plan to. You're an exception." I smiled before Theo leaned down, kissing me deeply. I reached up, running my fingers through his hair before lowering my hands to his thighs again, reaching behind him to clasp his ass, pulling him up further against me so I could squirm my fingers inside him, making him gasp and drop against my chest, his head resting beside mine.

"What're you doing now?" Theo demanded, grabbing at my arms.

"Teaching you. You asked me, did you not?"

"Y-Yes, but--"

"Then so the teaching begins." I answered calmly, making Theo gasp and squirm on top of me.

Suffice it to say that that problem was resolved. I never would have guessed that Theo of all people would be shy, particularly about something like love... But he'd never truly been loved before. To hear that he hid it all this time, just as I had, was both comforting and amusing.

It was like Hades had said.

Theo was childish, a bit immature, tempermental, spoiled. And yet, including all of that and so much more, I still loved every piece of Theo.

And I would gladly spend the rest of eternity showing him just how much I loved him.