PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chapter 90: House Hunting

She settled back into her own spot on the bed, her own eyes growing heavy with exhaustion. The events of the day and the emotional toll it had taken on her finally caught up.

As she closed her eyes, Maya couldn't help but feel a sense of peace. She was finally back with Carina, safe and sound, and tomorrow they would start house hunting. Whatever obstacles they faced, they would face them together.
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A/N Some smut
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Early rays of sunlight streamed through the curtains of the bedroom, gently waking Carina from her sleep. She blinked sleepily, taking a moment to orient herself.

She turned to find Maya still asleep beside her, her face peaceful and relaxed. Carina smiled to herself and carefully slid out of bed, eager to start the day.

Making a quiet exit from the bedroom, she headed to the kitchen, her plan set in mind: making coffee and homemade French toast to surprise Maya with breakfast.

In the kitchen, Carina was in her element. She moved efficiently, gathering the ingredients she needed for the French toast. She hummed softly under her breath as she mixed the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract together before dipping slices of thick bread into the mixture.

The smell of cinnamon and vanilla filled the air as Carina cooked the French toast on a skillet, turning the slices to a perfect golden brown.

Maya quietly entered the kitchen, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and cooking French toast greeting her. She spotted Carina at the stove, diligently flipping slices of bread in a skillet.

With a soft smile, Maya approached her from behind, wrapping her arms around Carina's waist and planting a gentle kiss on her shoulder. "Mmm, something smells amazing," she murmured.

Carina smiled warmly, leaning back into Maya's embrace for a moment. "Good morning to you, too," she said, glancing over her shoulder at Maya. "I'm making us breakfast. I figured we should fuel up before we start house hunting."

She flipped the last slices of French toast onto a plate and turned off the stove, turning in Maya's arms to face her. "How'd you sleep?"

Maya's gaze was soft as she looked at Carina, her heart swelling with affection. "I slept better than I have in a while. Waking up to you beside me makes all the difference."

She reached up, gently brushing a stray strand of hair away from Carina's face. "But I should be asking you that. How are you feeling this morning?"

Carina smiled, her hands finding their usual resting place on Maya's hips. "I'm feeling good. More clear-headed than I have in the past few days," she said, still slightly weary.

She gave Maya a loving kiss on the cheek before stepping away to plate the French toast. "Have a seat, and I'll pour us some coffee."

The sound of Maya's phone ringing interrupted the peaceful morning. She fished the device out of her pocket, a hint of anxiety in her voice as she answered. "Hello?"

On the other end of the line, the real estate agent's cheerful voice answered, "Good morning! I was calling to confirm our appointments for today. I have seven properties on the schedule, all within your budget, and meeting your criteria."

Maya glanced at Carina, who was setting breakfast on the table, and smiled. "That sounds perfect. We're looking forward to seeing all of them."

The real estate agent continued, "Excellent! We're starting with the first property at 10 am. I'll text you the address. See you then!"

Maya thanked the agent and ended the call, a mixture of excitement and nervousness building within her. She put her phone down and joined Carina at the table.