Chapter Seventy-three (Bed Of Roses)

Eirika walked into the kitchen, drawn to the delicious aromas that filled the room. She'd picked one of Arric’s shirts to wear. It carried his scent and she'd wanted to be enveloped in it. Arric stood over the stove, a large wooden spoon in one hand and a pot of bubbling liquid in the other.

The kitchen was filled with the savory smell of spices and the sound of sizzling oil. The countertops were littered with bowls of chopped vegetables, cans of tomatoes, and various spices. Arric's attention was on the task at hand but Eirika couldn't ignore his toned forearms and body that were on total display.

"Hey, there," he said with a smile as he stirred the pot. "I'm just finishing up here. Would you like to help?"

Eirika eagerly accepted the invitation, excited to see what Arric had cooked up. She peered into the pot and saw a rich, reddish-brown sauce simmering away. She couldn't quite place all of the ingredients, but the aroma suggested garlic, onion, and oregano. She also noticed a