Page 40 of Frozen Obsession

Roman

Once Xena gets the okay from the doctor, though they clearly didn’t want to release her. They allow her to sign herself out because she’s well enough to leave. As well as she can be giving the situation. I head back home, determined to make sure everything is perfect for her. After ten long fucking years of going through hell, she deserves that much. Now, our forever begins. My heart does that familiar tugging thing, making me press a hand to my chest as a smile pulls at my lips. I walk toward the pickup truck, eager to get home and prepare for her. I could’ve brought her along, but I want everything in its place. No surprises. She deserves that.

I open the door, slide into the seat, and crank the engine. The truck rumbles to life, and I pull out onto the road. The town blurs as I drive, Christmas lights faintly twinkling in the distance. There’s barely any traffic—it’s the holiday—but the snow and ice make the drive tricky. After about thirty minutes, I reach the cabin. Thankfully, I’d already taken care of the mess Vik left behind, but I need to be sure. The cops had left the place in disarray after their investigation, poking around and questioning me about Jimmy and that other asshole. In the end, though, it all came back to Vik. Turns out, Vik's obsession with revenge worked in our favor.

I take a deep breath as I step out of the truck, the cold air biting into my skin.First things first—I walk to the hunting shed, grab a shovel, and get to work. The ground is frozen solid, every shovelful of dirt heavier than the last. The cold seeps into my bones, but I keep digging, sweat trickling down my back despite the freezing air. My hands ache, but I push through until the shovel hits metal. Dropping to my knees, I wipe the dirt away, revealing the blue, rusted safe. My fingers tremble as I punch in the code. The lock clicks open, and there it is—a garbage bag stuffed with cash. It should be around twenty grand. It’s not a lot, but it’ll get us through for now. At least until I’m healed, the house is ready, and Xena is carrying my child.

Relief floods through me as I pull out the money, stuffing it into my jacket. I close the safe, pack the dirt back in, and head toward the house. That’s when I see it.

A dead bird. Pinned to the front door with an arrow. Stiff and frozen, its eyes glassy. Beneath it, a message is scrawled in dried blood:I know what you did.

My heart pounds as I whip my head around, scanning the treeline. But there’s nothing. No movement. Whoever did this is long gone. The blood’s dry, so it’s been here a while. Still, I curse under my breath, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

But I won’t let this shake me. Whoever left it, they’re not getting near her. I won’t let them. Not again.

I rip the bird off the door and toss it into the snow before heading inside. Right now, what matters is getting Xena home. I head straight for the bathroom, scrubbing the grime and sweat away under the scalding water. I throw on my old clothes, shaving up the sides of my head like I always have—not to the scalp, just enough. It’s the way I’ve always worn it, and I’m not about to change that now.

Cleaned up, I get to work on her favorite—chicken noodle soup. The warm scent fills the cabin as it simmers on the stove, bringing some life back into the cold, empty space. While it cooks, I scrub the blood off the door, wiping away every last trace. Then, I finish the decorations, making sure everything is exactly as it should be. Perfect.

But there’s one last thing. I head to our parents’ room, hoping what I’m looking for is still there. I dig through the closet until I find it—the surprise. Something that’ll mean the world to her.

Once I'm done with my surprise, I go back to the kitchen for one final taste test before I go. The soup tastes just right. As usual, perfect. I place the lid on the pot, turning the heat down low to let it simmer.

Now, it’s time. Time to go get my girl and bring her back to where she belongs—our home.

Chapter Twenty- Five

Xena

Once Roman arrives at the hospital, we leave in a hurry after signing the release papers. We walk out hand in hand, no words spoken between us, just the quiet comfort of being together. As we make our way toward the truck, I run my thumb gently over his hand, letting myself soak in the feeling—the overwhelming love that fills me to the brim.

We pull into the familiar driveway, the sight of it flooding me with memories. "Roman, thank you," I say, squeezing his hand.

"Never thank me. You’re my very reason to breathe. Without you, there’s no me, Xena Bean," he says, his big, tattooed hands cupping my face as he crashes his lips into mine. My lip's part, and his tongue slips inside, dancing along with mine, claiming me, devouring me, worshiping me. His tongue twirls and flicks, a dance as old as time.

"I love you," I murmur, pulling away slightly, our lips still touching. He smiles.

"And I you."

We kiss again, and within seconds I’m straddling him, fucking Mariah Carey "All I Want for Christmas," playing in the background as we make out. When we pull away, we’re breathless, his hardness pressing against me, and I’m soaked. "Let’s get inside," he says, cupping my ass and giving it a squeeze.

I don’t hesitate, and soon we’re out of the truck, walking hand in hand throughthe door. My eyes go wide as I take in all the decorations—the house is clean, homey, festive. My arms wrap around his neck again. "Thank you for breathing life back into me," I whisper.

He just pulls me into the living room, guiding me toward the family portrait on display. The shelves his father always wanted to fill with pictures are now lined with our history—us. The tears wreck me. "When did you do all this?" I ask, my voice trembling.

He shrugs casually. "I became a real problem after I woke up," he jokes, but the emotion in his eyes says more.

"I’m serious. My injury wasn’t as bad as it looked. Once they stopped the bleeding and stitched me up, I signed myself out. I hate hospitals," he replies, moving behind me to help me out of my coat. His arms wrap around me, his chin resting on the top of my head. "I thought I was going to lose you that night," he whispers. "Never again, Xena. Ten years away from you was enough for me."

I nod, my heart too full for words.

His hands slide down my waist, tugging down the sweatpants he brought me earlier, then moving up to pull off his sweatshirt from my body. "I love you, Xena. You’re my gift today and always," he murmurs, his hand tracing the curve of my bare skin. Heat pools in my stomach, goosebumps rising under his touch. The fire crackles behind us, and the Christmas lights twinkle softly.

"Fire, Christmas lights, and..." I trail off as I inhale the familiar smell of chicken noodle soup, my favorite. "You really did all of this for me."

"I told you, you’re my gift. I’ll always take care of you, even if I break you. I’ll always put you back together," he whispers against my skin. The clothing on his body feels like a barrier, too much between us. I need to feel him now, to unwrap my gift.

He must sense it because just as I turn to face him, Roman helps me undress, and I crash my lips against his. My hand finds the spot where he was injured, and Ifreeze for a moment, but he stops me.

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