My Hockey Alpha

Chapter 307

Bonus 7: Frame Job

Nina

I got to work as soon as we reached home.

Mixing bowls, a whisk, a dusting of flour and sugary sweetness in the air that I could taste on my tongue-the kitchen was my sanctuary, and I relished in the task at hand. Making the cake wasn’t merely a chore; it was a testament to our love, a sweet delight to mark our engagement.

It was a meditative practice, too; a way to unwind after everything. As I worked lovingly on the chocolatey batter, I found myself thinking that I would be spending a lot of time baking in this kitchen over the years.

In my peripheral vision, I noticed Enzo fiddling with something in the hallway. Curiosity nudged at me, so I wiped my hands on my apron and tiptoed to the corner.

“Whatcha doing?” I started to ask, but the words died in my throat as I saw him carefully aligning his mother’s picture in a new frame. He didn’t hear me approaching, and so his mannerisms remained natural, fluid, oblivious to my presence.

I watched, transfixed, as he gingerly hung the picture on the wall and took extra care to assure that it was hung straight. There was a sense of finality in his movements, and it finally occurred to me why he had looked so forlorn when he retreated from the hardware store.

This new frame was a final resting place for one of the few remaining relics of his mother, the woman who I had never met. I suddenly felt guilty for whining so much about my mother, who was alive and well, when he had lost both his mother and his father.

my throat. The moment was far too intimate for interruption, and so I quietly retreated to the kitchen, a

not waiting for my response before

slapping his hand away. “That’s

man taste the fruits of his fiancée’s labor?” he quipped, grinning broadly as he licked the chocolate batter off of his

I retorted, matching his playful tone. Our laughter echoed in the kitchen, filling the room with warmth. “Well, it’s delicious, raw eggs and all,” he murmured, licking

turned to find Enzo watching me, a soft look in his eyes. He

as I wrapped my arms around his neck and rubbed my nose against his. It occurred to me then that maybe he did notice

look, which was only broken when he blinked rapidly and shot me a warm smile.

I asked, a hint of surprise in my

each other. “Today was one of those days, you know? A bit crazy, a bit perfect. I

languid kiss. His lips tasted like chocolate, sweet and sticky. His fingers traced a path down my sides as his kisses began meandering down from my lips

coming?” he murmured in between kisses, his voice thick and sweet like the cake

my lip as I stifled a soft moan. ” Seven,” I replied.

kissing, and shot me a mischievous look. “So we’ve got

tell him that I still had to make the frosting and we still had to get ready for the party.

in our little world while the aroma of the baking cake filled the air. We didn’t need words; our actions spoke volumes, each touch a testament to our love. Our bodies intertwined into one as we gingerly peeled enough layers of our clothes away to feel one another. We had already made love that morning, and I was sore, but Enzo was gentle as he worked himself into me. The sounds of our moans and labored breaths slowly rose into the air along with the sweet smell of the chocolate