Frosty, Inc Read online

  “First, how did you find out about this?” Frosty asked.

  She stared at him for a minute. “My mother just left here. It would seem Christmas dinner just got really large and formal.”

  “Wait, formal like in your grandparents?” he asked, his two hearts now beating a mile a minute, and he knew his eyes had turned a blood red.

  “Afraid so. Since I’m the baby of the family this soras is important from the way mom was acting. Even though if my grandparents think for one minute, I’m going back with them, they’ll have a rude awaking.” She frowned and downed the rest of her wine. “You know some brandy might be better, and stronger, because I have a feeling, I’m going to need it. Now, spill.” She got back up and went to her small bar. “How much crap are we going to have to deal with?”

  He sat back and stared at Holly. Her casual and smart attitude totally confused him. “Do you have a gist of what we are talking about Holly?” he asked.

  “Mates, that is all I got out of mom before you knocked on the door.” Holly said.

  y blew his breath and ice crystals formed, showing how nervous he was. It was bad enough he had to explain what soras was, but knowing their king and queen were coming here to Earth because of it…

  “Soras… yes you are mine. Yes, it’s like mates, but more. Let me ask you this. Have you spent time with your brother and my sister, Beth?” he asked.

  She frowned and sat back down and pointed to her arm. “Yes, I spent a week up there healing when this happened, why?”

  Frosty frowned. “You’ll tell me how that happened too, but for now we’ll put it on the back burner. Did you see anything different about how they acted toward each other?” he asked, finishing his glass of wine and getting up and to pour himself a brandy.

  “You mean all the touching, him ordering her around, and let’s not forget him taking her into the bedroom or bathroom, or garage and the two of them having sex like jack rabbits, why?”

  He swirled the brandy around and stood by the coffee table in front of her. “Holly, soras are the perfect couple. When they join the first time, their souls connect, bond. There is no one without the other. Now, this is where things get complicated, and don’t get mad. It is what it is.”

  Holly frowned and sat up more. “Why?”

  He reached over, running his finger over the mark on her arm. “After this bond is made, for me to survive our loving feeds me. So, if you die, I die. I will always need to touch and be close to you. Even now I can feel the pull.” He pulled his hand away from her. “Did you know only a soras couple can take the place as the next king and queen?”

  “What?” Holly growled. “They wouldn’t? Would they?” she asked, her voice squeaking.

  He smiled, “You’re angry about the possibility of being a queen, but not over the fact that I will always need you at my side?”

  “Well, of course it bothers me, but you’re a hot man and we have time to work on us…” she said. “What?”

  “The process has already started. When we shook hands when you were in my office, the first touch.” He set his brandy down and lifted Holly up, taking her place on the couch, and putting her in his lap, needing to hold onto her.

  “It was said long ago, when our world was just starting out, the men would stray and leave the females to defend themselves and their children. Of course, the men loved their children, but they thought or craved loving so much they didn’t think their mate could sustain them. They were wrong. They are the only ones who can. It is said, the blood of our ancestors runs thick in those that find their soras.”

  “This is why you are here, isn’t it? You couldn’t stay away?” she asked, looking up at him.

  He rested his forehead against hers. “I will try, Holly Berry, I will try for you.” He said, knowing it was going to be a very, very long night for him.

  Holly got up and frowned at him, before leaving him and going upstairs. “Holly?” he asked, standing and going to foot of the stairs. He saw that she had put on boots and a coat.

  “Let’s go. We’ll get some of your belongings and bring them here, but we’re not…Well, you know. I’m not ready for that yet. I’m not going to let you suffer if you can just share my bed. Be warned, I kick in my sleep,” she grumbled. “Are you driving, or am I?”

  Frosty grabbed his coat and met her at the door. “I’m driving. Sorry, but that little bug is just, well not me,” he said, smiling as she locked her door.

  “Whatever, now I hope you know I’m not giving up my condo. Do you have any idea how much time I put into that place, not to mention that I just got Dylan’s room set?” She stopped and frowned. “You do like children, right?”

  He laughed, wrapping his arm around her, guiding her through the building. “Yes, Holly, I love children.”

  “Question, do you think that this is the reason your first wife did the nasty with the twins? Because I have to tell you she is crazy for doing them when she had you.” Holly said, stepping outside as he stood there, stunned.

  “You really believe that?” he asked. Then he heard gunfire. Immediately, he grabbed onto Holly and pulled her back into the building and covered her body with his, furious.

  “Holly, tell me you are all right?” he asked, pulling her away from the door and that is when he saw the blood. “NO!”

  Chapter Seven

  Holly heard him all right, but right now she was so pissed at her father that words wouldn’t come out. Plus, there was the little fact that her back was killing her. They had found her again and this time Holly knew she had lost Dylan.

  Tears clouded her vision as Frosty lifted her up and ran towards her apartment yelling, “I’m going to kill every single one of them!”

  As soon as Frosty stepped into her apartment, they were transported right to her parents’ home. Her father and mother were waiting for them.

  “Put her on the table. We need these clothes off of her. Frosty, go sit over there for now, while I heal my baby girl, again.” She snarled.

  “Mom,” Holly finally got out.

  “Don’t. This is the last time.” Her mother growled, stripping her of her shirt. She started working on healing her.

  Two hours later, clean from the bath, Holly was tired and hungry. All she wanted was to go back to her place and sleep, but her father had said no. Not until he had taken care of business. But before he could leave, the room got really cold and Holly moaned.

  “I’m not going back, Mother,” she snarled and glared at her grandfather and grandmother who now stood in the room.

  “Now listen here, young lady, you have no say in this matter,” her grandfather said.

  “But I do,” her father countered. “You can’t make her and Frosty take up the crown if they have no desire to.” Her father said, standing up to her grandfather.

  Her grandfather glared at her mother. “You did this. I have no idea why our ancestors decided you were good for each other,” He growled.

  “Enough,” both her mom and grandmother yelled.

  The room got quiet as everyone glanced at her grandmother. “You will stop this nonsense. They haven’t even formed their bond. They have years before they have to make that decision, and for you to insult our son is beneath you!”

  Feeling an arm wrap around her, Holly looked up to see Frosty there. He rubbed his cheek on her head.

  Grandmother wasn’t done. She turned to Holly’s father. “This ends tonight. We have waited for you to change this, and you have been but to slowly. This is the second time you have allowed your daughter to be hurt, by humans!”

  “Humans are not all bad,” Holly said, and all eyes turned to her. “What? There are plenty who work their butts off to provide for the family so don’t even give me that look.”

  “You have 24 hours, Ebenezer, to fix this mess if you wish to continue living here, because we will not have our grandbaby hurt again. We will see you at Christmas dinner,” with that her grandparents left, but not before her father was turned into a froze
n popsicle, thanks to grandfather.

  Holly couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Even her mom was smiling. “I believe grandpa is a little pissed, and I sure didn’t know grandma had that in her.”

  “Oh, you would be surprised. Where do you think we get our tempers, little lady?” She looked at her husband. “Go thaw out and start that planning. You know mom does not mess around.” Her mother turned back to her. “Until this is done you can’t go back to your place, baby. I’m sorry but it’s too risky. Now, you can stay here or you can go to Frosty’s home, because they don’t know him.”

  “You know they won’t let me have Dylan now,” she said, her heart breaking at the thought of not having her little man.

  “As I said you will have that guy with you. Now, where do you wish to be?” her mother asked.

  “No offense, but I would prefer my home, plus we have a food giveaway to plan,” Frosty said. “But can I ask why your parents are so set on us being the next king and queen?”

  Holly slapped his stomach. “Hush, I don’t even want to know.” She glanced at her mom. “Do I?”

  “I’ll explain another time. You are tired and hungry, go.” Her mother hugged her tight, before stepping back.

  One second, they were at her mother’s in New Mexico and the next they were in Rochester, NY. Yep, traveling their way had some benefits. But what greeted them made her pissed off to the max as she stared at a half-naked woman walking around his house.

  “Really?” Holly turned to glare at him. “After telling me all the stuff about soras?” She snarled as Frosty growled.

  The woman disappeared. “I had no idea that Belinda was going to be here.” Frosty said.

  “She has a key to your home? How many others?” Holly asked, ready to go back to her mother’s, but she stayed for some unknown reason.

  “I’m sorry. Yes, there are a few women that have keys, but that’s in the past. Locks are changed and everything of theirs is gone from this house.”

  “A few?” she snarled and moved into the house. Even though she knew it was his past, it still hurt like hell. “Where is the kitchen?” she asked and he pointed to the right around a corner. What she saw was amazing.

  Holly stood there, staring at his place. “Okay, now we really have a problem,” she muttered.

  “What?” Frosty asked, frowning at her.

  “Now, I want both places,” Holly said, taking in the view of the city and the large windows all around them.

  “The view and the windows are one of the reasons I bought this place. Well, that and I liked to be out here. The water and the cold winters, well, it reminds me of Alaska sometimes.” Frosty said.

  Holly glanced up at him. “You have missed them, haven’t you?”

  “Yes. I miss the elves and their parties, that’s for sure,” he said. “Come, let’s get some food into you. I even have some things from our home planet if you would like me to make them?”

  “You cook?” Holly stared at him and he laughed.

  “Yes, I’m actually a gourmet cook, I was taught under some of the best chefs,” he said, smiling.

  “Okay you are now forgiven for the tramp. Now show me what you’ve got, ice man,” she challenged.

  Chapter Eight

  Frosty smiled down at the bombshell next to him. “Have a seat, my lady,” he said and headed into his kitchen.

  “How many bedrooms do you have in here?” Holly asked.

  “Including the master, four. The master is on the left side while the rest of the bedrooms are on the right. Here munch on these while I whip us up something. I made these last night,” he said, placing a plate of baby crab cakes with spicy remoulade in front of her, one of his favorites.

  As he turned to make something for his woman to eat, he heard her little moan. “You, Mr. Frosty must make these for Christmas Eve. But I have to say we are going to be very busy tomorrow.”

  Frosty glanced over at her, frowning. “Why? Did I forget something? I don’t think I have any appointments tomorrow, just Mark and his wife coming to help plan our dinner.” He pulled out this leg of lamb and started to chop away at the meat. Easy Lamb Hotpot would fill them both.

  “No silly, we need to decorate your home. There is not one bit of Christmas here.” Holly got up and went to his desk and grabbed a pad of paper and a pen. “Lists, I love lists. Okay, we need a tree, lights for outside, garland. Wait, do you have any decorations in hiding around here?” Holly asked.

  “Um, no, sorry Holly, but Christmas just hasn’t been the same for a while,” Frosty said.

  “Well, it’s time to change that, isn’t it?” Holly frowned and sat back down. “Do you think my father will be able to fix all of this?” Holly asked. “I really don’t want to lose Dylan. Wait till you meet him.” She smiled as he nodded at the plate.

  “Eat another one,” he said, putting a glass of ice water in front of her. “Tell me about our Dylan, because he will be ours, Holly.”

  She met his gaze. “Are you ready for all the changes, a child, me, and Christmas? Because like my mom, it means a lot to us.”

  “It should. It was the date of the mating of the first official soras. Tell me, has your mother or father seen or heard from your great, great, grandparents?”

  “No, and you haven’t answered my question,” Holly said, coming over around the counter to stand next to him.

  Compared to him, she was small. She fit under his arm perfectly, but his soras was a fully packed woman with curves he loved to stare at and couldn’t wait to explore. He put the rest of the meat in the pan to cook, wiping his hands before he turned to her.

  Frosty lifted his Holly up and placed her on the counter in front of him, away from the stove. He reached up and pushed a lock of her hair out of her face. “Christmas, even as a child, was a very touchy subject when I was growing up. I honestly don’t think Beth remembers, because my parents made sure she had everything. But then when your brother, my best friend, well you know the story. Anyway, since then, Christmas was just a way to make my way in this world, because I had no desire to go back to a world where emotions were kept hidden, no matter who they hurt. I guess I always felt Christmas should be special and I had no one special to celebrate it with, well until you. Who knows, maybe that’s why the nickname my mother and father gave me, Frosty, stuck, and everyone uses it to this day.”

  Holly frowned. “Wait, Frosty isn’t your real name?” she asked.

  “No, the name given to me at birth was Para,” he informed her, and she frowned.

  “You know your parents are now not on my favorite list. Who names their son Para and then gives him Frosty as a nickname?” Holly growled and he laughed. He was unable to stop himself, so he hugged her tight. “Just so you know. When we have children, they will not be named some stupid thing or nickname that will hurt them.” She grumbled against his chest. “So, now I need something to call you…”

  Frosty snorted and tweaked her nose then went over and flipped the lamb in the pan.

  “It does not matter Holly, just call me Frosty as everyone else does,” he smiled.

  “Well it matters to me. Give me time and I will come up with a perfect name for you,” Holly said, and jumped off the counter, moving to stand in front of the large window and stare down at the city. “I think we will bring Dylan here, not to my home, just in case things don’t turn out right for my father. I know he is trying and it was wrong for my grandparents to yell at him like that.” Holly moved to the window. “In a way my father is like you. My grandparents and others never understood my father either.” She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled.

  “Do you know I’ve only met his mother and father once but my mom’s parents always come on holidays and such.” She nodded and turned again to the window. “My father was my idol. I used to follow him around, cherished the ground he walked on. Until that night,” she looked down at her arm and ran a finger over the scar. “It was the one time he hadn’t been there to protect me and to this day I
can see the sadness in his eyes, like he failed. I think all the negative reactions from my mom’s family and his are one of the reasons my dad can be so cold, deadly.”

  Frosty turned off the pan on the stove, dumping all the meat into the casserole dish, before going over to Holly. He needed to comfort her because he Frosty heard the sadness in h voice. “Isn’t that why he has your mother? Does she not make him smile? That is what a soras does, kind of. When we become one, my weaknesses are enhanced in you, to help me. Where my strengths help you.”

  She leaned back against him. “And I will be here for you, Keane. Do you like your new name? It means standing tall and very handsome.” Holly turned in his arms, smiling up at him.

  He laughed, looking down at her. “You don’t have to do that, Holly.”

  “Yes, I do. Now, go finish cooking our food, my stomach is grumbling,” she said and peeked around him to see her father there. “Daddy, is everything okay?”

  “Everything is fine, baby. I brought you some things from your home. Why don’t you go put them upstairs, while I have a chat with Frosty,” her father said.

  “First, we are not calling him that any more. We will call him Keane. His mother and father can go jump into the nearest ice glacier,” she mumbled and he snorted.

  “I think you mean jump into the nearest lake, and others don’t need to call me a new name, Holly. They are used to that.” He kissed the top of her head. “Go on, take your stuff up to the master bedroom.”

  Holly glared at her father. “You be nice, and no threating. You didn’t like it when grandpa did it to you. I think you’ll find Keane is a lot like you, Daddy.” Holly stepped up to her dad standing on her tippy toes, placing a kiss on his cheek. “All the good parts Daddy, and you have many.”

  The man stared as his daughter for a few seconds. “I love you, baby.” He placed a kiss on the top of her head. “You’ll explain the name thing when you come down.”