Mississippi No Longer

“I never thought I’d be back here.”

“Where did you even get that idea?” she asked him, hands reaching up to bring his face closer to hers. “I am happy, there is nothing to be worried about. If there was something wrong, we would have had a discussion about it. What matters to me is that you are happy and want me to still hold a claim over you. So whenever something is bugging you, you must talk to me about it.”

Thea could guess what he could ask, but none of her guesses were anywhere near his question. Her eyebrows raised in surprise, almost not even believing he asked her that. “Bryan,” she began, her gaze serious, “if I had wanted you to call me something, I would have demanded that from the second we’ve met. I didn’t and I don’t want you calling me any of the titles that are used here. Thea is perfectly fine and I will never ask of you to call me anything else.”

“Look, Lucas and Thea never fight. You’ve got to make friends with Lucas and get Thea to forgive him because honestly, it’s bloody annoying playing mediator.”

She leaned lazily against his body, liking how firm he felt. Her chin rested on his chest as she looked up at him, the hand that was stroking his stubble now back around his waist. “Shoot.” she told him before adding, “also don’t think I didn’t notice that ‘I ain’t ever that unhappy about anything’. We’re gonna discuss that after we eat.” she told him, wanting to know if there was ever something he wasn’t satisfied with or something he wanted but didn’t ask of her. True she was his Mistress, but she wanted him to speak to her freely about anything he needed or if he was unhappy about something.

“You’re around my sister and I’m pretty sure you’re the reason why Thea and Lucas are fighting.” 

“I don’t think you’re going to like to know what happens to people around here that misbehave.”

“Still, I want you to speak up whenever.” she told him, smiling as he kissed her forehead before raising her eyes to meet his, biting her lip at his answer and trying not to laugh. “Thank you for narrowing it down for me, babe.” capturing his chin between her fingers, she tilted it down and leaned in to press a soft kiss to his lips. After they entered the suite, Thea left him for a moment to call down to the kitchen and order a pizza before returning and exclaiming cheerfully as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “All done. They will bring it up. Are you tired?” she raised one of her hands to stroke his stubble.

“You are going way easy on me, you know that?” she said with a light smile before wrapping her other arm around him as well. “I want you to request things and complain if something is wrong.” tilting her head up, she pressed a kiss against his neck before snuggling up against him, enjoying their casual day. “What would you like on pizza?”

“I am not. You being happy makes me happy...” he told her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Uh... Meat?” he suggested, knowing it wasn’t all that helpful, but he wasn’t that picky about food. He hadn’t had the luxury of being picky before he’d given himself up, and he still had that mindset now

Thea sneaked an arm around his waist as they returned to her suite, head leaning against his shoulder. “Okay, though if you would like something else, don’t hesitate to say so.” she mused before tilting her head slightly up so she could give him a smile.

“It sounds good.” he told her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer. “I promise. I have no complaints or requests.”

“Sunbathing was more exhausting than I thought it would be.” Thea mused with wonder, eyebrows raised before she turned her head towards the person next to her. “Wanna get some pizza? I’m starving.”

“Leaders.” Porter mocked the sedate tone of the man who he’d presumed to be a slave, an absent look rendered on his face. “That’s sweet.”

“Are you high or somethin’?”

“I ain’t free porn to stare at.”

“To the leaders, yeah ya are.”