S/O to that flavor of chocolate ice cream in that store that I've been dying (no pun intended) to try for being the chapter title.
S/O to that chocolate cake I just baked for making my apartment smell amazing.
S/O to Maxon Schreave because it's his birthday and this chapter is for him.
Photo #75: Death by Chocolate
Eadlyn wishes she was in this next picture because it has one of her favorite things in the world in it - chocolate. The picture was making her mouth water so if she were actually in the picture herself, she would be drooling like a dog on a hot day. It was just so beautiful to look at all that chocolate. Her dad was in the picture too and he looked overjoyed to be in an environment with all that chocolate - which she couldn't blame him for - but she could only focus on the chocolate.
Surely, consuming all that chocolate in one sitting would be deadly but Eadlyn would do it in a heartbeat. Death by chocolate? Who wouldn't want that?
-o-
Still sleeping, Maxon wakes up and inhales a strong scent of chocolate. He thinks over how such a pleasant scent could be possible, not that he's complaining. He loves chocolate but it's not something he's ever waken up to and the kitchen is not only a few floors down but at the other end of the palace. Maxon opens his eyes and sees that America isn't in bed next to him.
Now, it's time to investigate.
The moment he notices America's gone, that's when he suspects that the two are connected.
He leaves his pajamas on but puts a robe on top. Maxon walks out and notices that the palace staff are much more giddy and cheerful as they bow and wish him a good morning. He doesn't question it since it may be the chocolate in the air that's causing this happy environment. Maybe this is a pleasant gas attack?
Maxon enters the kitchen where the chocolate scent hits him like a new awakening. He looks around and ignores the mess of chocolate and other baking ingredients and materials because of what he sees right in front of him: an array of various chocolate cakes that present themselves boldly on their crystal platters and behind it all is America wearing a basic tee and dated jeans with her hair swirled up in a bun that has some red strands sticking out. She's also decorated in cocoa powder, icing sugar, and frosting with a giant smile on her face.
All in all, it's a beautiful sight.
"Happy birthday!" America exclaims to him as she goes to hug him tightly. "I wanted to be the first to say that."
With all the royal duties that he's been extremely busy with recently, he completely forgot about his birthday let alone the fact that it was even coming close. All the work really makes the days just pass by. It didn't help that nobody reminded him (unless America ordered them not to, just like how she ordered everyone not to say happy birthday until she did).
"Did you do all this by yourself?" Maxon asks her, astounded by all the cakes he sees.
"I did," America replies, "and it was all worth it to see this happy face."
"Thank you so much."
"Anything for you."
America places her hands on his face and stretches his already-big smile with her thumbs. He holds the back of her head as he pulls her in to a kiss. He can definitely tell that she did all this baking since she tastes like sugar and cocoa. That definitely gets her more fluttering kisses that usual.
"Did you make a fruit cake?" Maxon asks only out of curiousity.
America scoffs a little, putting a hand on his chest. "Fruit was not invited unless it was the plus one of chocolate."
Maxon laughs. America takes his hand and sits him down in a chair that's in front of all that cakes. She stands at the other end of the small table and opens her arms to present all the cakes. Maxon's mouth waters the longer he looks at all of them. He just wants to eat them all this instance.
America points at the first cake which is a large rectangle. "This is a Black Forest Cake. It's layers of sponge cake being held together with whipped cream and cherries. On the outside, there's more whipped cream, sour cherries and chocolate shavings."
"Those words were beautiful," Maxon says.
"Were you even listening to my description?"
"Of course."
America smirks as she points to two smaller circular dishes. "This first one is a chocolate soufflé which you know since you've eaten thousands of those before and this second one is a molten lava chocolate cake which is really just my first attempt at a soufflé that sank in the oven."
"Great salvaging," Maxon comments.
"I call it multi-purpose."
"Of course, dear, continue."
America points at a round medium-sized chocolate. "Devil's food cake which just your basic chocolate cake with icing."
"Did you know that chocolate was a temptation of the devil?" Maxon asks her. America looks at him weirdly. "That's where the name comes from."
America cocks an eyebrow at him. "Are you implying that I'm the devil?"
Maxon straightens up before leaning on the table with a charming grin on his face. America as the devil? She has the red hair and the fiery personality so that theory makes sense.
"You don't need chocolate to tempt me," Maxon whispers to her.
America's eyes pop and she grins as she looks away from him. The next cakes are closer to Maxon so she steps next to him and hugs his head so it's against her torso.
"This fudge cake is the definition of chocolate," America says, pointing at a cake on a glass display plate. "Chocolate cake mix, chocolate pudding, and chocolate chips."
America kisses her fingertips and opens them upwards to emphasize the deliciousness of her cake based on only it's appearance and description. Maxon seems to already be on board with eating it just by looking at it.
"This German chocolate cake is my favorite," America tells Maxon about the next cake. "A layered chocolate cake filled and topped with a coconut-pecan frosting."
"I didn't know coconut was German," Maxon comments.
America shrugs. "And this is our last cake." She brings her hands together. "A chocolate cheesecake with a chocolate and graham cracker crust and a filling of fluffy cream cheese and chocolate sauce."
America beams at Maxon's complete loss for words. She is only getting more excited now that the cake walk is done because the best part is still yet to come: eating them.
"I could listen to you talk about chocolate for the rest of my life but I'm starving and these cakes are speaking to me," Maxon tells her.
America sits Maxon down in a chair that has all the cakes surrounding him. She hands him one of those giant forks used to serve the food and takes one for herself as she sits in a chair next to him. The bigger the fork, the bigger the mouthful. The two of them each pick a cake to start from (he went for the cheesecake and she chose the German chocolate one) and just dug their forks right into it because this moment was too extraordinary for a plate to participate in.
Maxon almost cries at his first bite. "This made my day."
"Well, you make my life," America replies.
"I seriously love you."
America smiles back, unsure whether or not he was saying that phrase of endearment to her or the cakes. Maxon looks up at her with a cocked eyebrow and then she realizes that he's waiting for a response. She smirks, happy that he was talking to her.
"I seriously love you too," she responds.
Maxon with cake is me. Find yourself an America Schreave who would do this for you. Points for me for writing two cake chapters in a row.
Stay Tuned - One life-changing moment tears at America's heart... (Self-Promo - last one of the year I swear and there was a sadistic pun up there, I'm sorry-not-sorry).
