Page 105 of Ice Cold Christmas

Worry clouded her features. “How do you feel?”

He stared at her. Smudges under her eyes. Tousled hair. Wrinkled clothes.

Absolutely freaking beautiful.

Then he looked around the room. His hospital room. A small Christmas tree had been set up in the corner. The blinking lights came from the tree.

“There wasn’t a big selection in the gift shop. The two-foot tree was a real find,” she murmured. “When I was staying in the hospital, I hated that my room was so stark. It always felt so cold.”

His gaze slid back to her.

“I didn’t want it to be cold when you woke up.”

How could he be cold? She was there.

“Victor.” Her brows pulled low. “Should I get a nurse? How do you feel?”

“I feel like it’s Christmas morning.”

Her eyes flared with alarm. “It’s not. Not yet. We still have a few days left. The doctors warned me that you might be confused coming off the anesthesia, but…I’m gonna get the nurse, just in case.” She turned away.

His hand flew out and curled around her wrist. “You’re here.”

“Y-yes.” She seemed even more worried as she glanced back at him.

“You love me.”

“Yes.” Not as worried. More definite.

He nodded. “Then it feels like Christmas morning.” Or, at least, what he imagined a wonderful Christmas morning would feel like. Pure joy. Hope.

For the first time in so very long.

Her breath rushed out. Then she was the one crushing her mouth to his again. Kissing him passionately. Frantically.

And he heard the music playing and he was happy. Finally.

“I’ll be home for Christmas…”

For real this time. No more dreams.

The next time Victor opened his eyes…

“Melody is back.” Sebastian Mage leaned on his cane and stared down at Victor. Hatterson waited behind him. “So you need to get your ass out of this bed.”

Victor blinked.

“Did you hear me? Melody is back,” Sebastian repeated as he rammed his cane into the floor for emphasis. “She’s telling me that you two are going to get married.”

Uh, yeah, as soon as I can get my ass out of this bed.

“She said you loved her.” Sebastian beetled his brows at Victor. “Do you love her?”

“More than anything.”

Sebastian rammed the cane down again. “Good.” His shoulders slumped. “I can’t…I can’t always be here for her.” He licked his lips. “You will, though…you’ll be there for her…when I’m not?”

“I’ll get my ass out of this bed,” he swore. Where the hell is Melody? “And I’ll be there for her. Count on it.”