Her Shadows, His Secrets

“I’m sorry. It’s just an outfit.” I laugh.

“No, it’s the girl making the outfit.”

“Hanna!” Brenda hollers, coming down the stairs and heading toward us. I hurry and move in front of him, and he puts his hands on my hips, his cock already softening. “I’m so excited. My mom is too. She made a whole feast for you.”

“They didn’t have to do that. I’m trying to lose some weight.”

“What?” they both say in unison, Theo’s voice a little harsher and heavily laced with anger.

“I just want to get in a little better shape and eat food that’s good for my body. Calm down, you two.” I turn to look back and forth between the siblings. Theo’s neck vein is protruding, and I know I’m going to have to explain this one to him.

“Brenda, you know the drill,” he warns, and she and I both roll our eyes.

“Your broody, possessive alpha thing can be super annoying,” she says while departing.

When she’s gone, I turn and face him. “I am not doing it for body image issues. I just want to eat better. I need stamina to keep up with my insatiable boyfriend who can’t seem to leave me alone,” I tell him.

He eyes me, grabbing me around my lower waist, and he pulls me against him. I’m careful not to drop the pie in my hand. “Eating to fuel your body with better food is different. Doesn’t mean you have to lose weight. Word it better next time, puppet.”

I glare at him. “It is my body, and what if I do want to lose weight? What would that matter? You won’t like me if I’m skinny?”

He grumbles, “You know what I mean. I know it’s your body, but I just want it to be for purposes that aren’t vain.”

I sigh. “Theo, you have to let me have a say in my body and let me decide how I want it to look, work, and thrive. Whether it be for looks or health.”

“As long as you don’t do it because you’ve gone back to thinking I don’t love you the way you are now.”

“Oh, I won’t. And I’m sure the neighbors don’t want to see you teach me that lesson again.”

“Dammit, temptress. You’re making me hard again. Ass in the house.” He turns me and slaps my ass. I start moving, and he catches up, grabbing my hand as he leads the way. When he opens the door, my senses are flooded with comfort food smells.

“Okay, that smells way too good. I can have a cheat night.” I ignore his second grumble and some mumble about “fuck a stupid diet.”

“Oh my! You must be Hanna. Brenda has told me so much about you!”

Theo stiffens next to me, going stone-like. What the hell is that? He drops my hand, takes the pie, and his mother hugs me.

“It’s nice to meet you. She tells me about you too, and that food smells divine,” I compliment her. I see mostly Brenda in her looks. Theo has some traits, but I’m assuming he looks more like his dad.

“Thank you. I made my famous casserole and mashed potatoes with homemade gravy. An old family recipe.” Could she be any more Southern and adorable?

“Sounds great. Thank you for having me and making what I’m sure is a lovely meal.” I turn a little red, getting a tad anxious. I’ve come into myself comfortably with Brenda and Theo, but before I came to South Carolina, I was never really a social person, so it can be a lot sometimes.

“All right, let’s move it to the kitchen, Mom. Hanna made us a pie.” Theo breaks up our exchange, and I silently thank him by reaching for and squeezing his hand.

“That looks wonderful. Brenda and Rob are in the kitchen.” She leads the way, and I look up to Theo. He still looks so cold.

“Theo, I can leave if you don’t want your parents to know about us.”

He looks down, and I see the instant guilt consumes him when I give him a look of embarrassment.

“No, it’s not that. I just try to not be too joyous around them. My parents can take a lot of energy out of me. And I don’t want them to overwhelm you, greens.”

I feel instantly better. “I will let you know if it’s too much, trust me?”

He searches my eyes. “Yes. I trust you.”

We make it into the kitchen, and I’m met with the same enthusiasm from Rob—Theo and Brenda’s father.

“You’re just as beautiful as my son let on.”

I look up at Theo and raise my brows. He gives me a smile, rolling his eyes. “You’re too kind. It’s just a lot of makeup. Smoke and mirrors.”

He comes up and scoops me up for a hug, and I was in fact right. Theo look more similar to his father.