Jeff had been deprived of gentle touch throughout his childhood spent in an unsuitable environment. Due to this absence, Jeff had no understanding of what gentleness truly meant.

He was never touched with gentleness and so he had never learned how to be gentle himself.

However, you didn't mind this about him. You accepted him just the way he was, even though his touch could be poisonous and harsh. Despite knowing that you couldn't fix him, you were more than willing to show him that he deserved to experience gentleness.