All Chapters of Ice In His Veins: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

It was an ordinary Tuesday. No candles, no flowers, no elaborate setup just Sebastian standing in the kitchen, making pasta, when Julian limped in from the living room, still in his sweatpants, his hair a total mess. Sebastian looked at him. Really looked at him. At the dark hair falling across his forehead. At the small smile that had become more frequent in the weeks since Richard was gone. At the way he moved, still careful, still healing, but lighter somehow. "You know I love you so much," Sebastian said. Julian looked up from pouring himself a glass of water. "I love you too. Why are you looking at me like that?" "Like what?" "Like you have something important you want to say." Sebastian turned off the stove. He set down the spoon. His heart was pounding, the way it did before a big game. But this was bigger than any game. "Remember at the lake? When I got down on one knee and made you promise?" Julian's expression shifted. "Yes." "I meant it. Every word."

The clearance came on a Friday. Julian held the paper in his hands and stared at it, his heart hammering. Months of pain, therapy, doubt all of it distilled into one simple medical note. Sebastian was in the kitchen making breakfast as always. He looked over when he heard Julian’s phone buzz. “What is it?” Julian looked up, eyes bright. “I’m cleared. I can play again.” Sebastian dropped the spatula and crossed the room in three strides. He read the paper, then pulled Julian into a fierce kiss, lifting him half off the chair. “Fuck yes,” Sebastian growled against his mouth. They didn’t even make it to the bedroom. Sebastian shoved Julian against the kitchen counter, yanking his sweatpants down. Julian’s cock sprang free, already hard. Sebastian dropped to his knees and swallowed him in one smooth motion, sucking hard and greedy while two slick fingers pushed inside him. Julian’s head fell back with a moan. “Seb...shit...” Sebastian worked him mercilessly, curling his

The wedding planning started almost as soon as Julian’s mother left. Sebastian had imagined something simple for them... a small ceremony with close friends and good food but Julian had other ideas. “I want flowers,” Julian announced. “Okay. Flowers.” “Not just any flowers. They need to mean something.” Sebastian blinked. “Flowers mean things?” Julian stared at him. “You’ve never heard of flower language?” “I’m a hockey player. I only know puck language.” Julian laughed and dragged him to the couch. They spent the evening tangled together with laptops open, researching. Roses for love, Lilies for purity, Sunflowers for happiness. When they found forget-me-nots—true love and memorie...Julian’s voice softened. “These,” he said. “I want these.” Sebastian looked at the delicate blue blooms, then at the man in his arms. “Like us.” “Exactly like us.” Just like us.... The food debate was louder. “Pasta,” Sebastian insisted. Julian groaned. “Pasta is your ‘I can’t cook’ default

The night before the wedding, they broke tradition. Sebastian had read somewhere that grooms were not supposed to see each other before the ceremony. It brings bad luck, or something like that but he did not believe in bad luck, he believed only in Julian and their love. So when he heard a soft knock on the bedroom door at midnight, he did not hesitate. "Come in." The door opened. Julian stood in the doorway, wearing an old t-shirt and sweatpants. His hair was messy. His engagement ring caught the light from the hallway. His face was pale, his eyes a little wide. "Can not sleep," Julian said. "Me neither." "Can I come in?" Sebastian stepped aside. "Always." Julian walked to the bed and sat down on the edge. Sebastian sat beside him. They did not turn on the lights. The room was dark except for the soft glow of the city through the window. The traffic hummed below. Somewhere in the distance, a siren wailed. "I am nervous," Julian said. "I am also nervous too." "It's not abou

The cabin felt different now that they are married couple. Sebastian carried Julian over the threshold, because Julian said it was tradition and Sebastian said it was ridiculous but he did it anyway. Julian laughed the whole way. "You can put me down now," Julian said. "My leg hurts." Sebastian set him down gently. "You are a liar." "You caught me." They stood in the middle of the cabin, the same cabin where everything started, where they had first held each other, where they had survived the blizzard, where they had promised forever. The fire was already lit. The wine was chilling. The snow was falling outside. "Alone at last," Julian said. "Finally." Sebastian kissed him passionately and deeply. The world outside disappeared. They spent the first two days in a haze of happiness. They cooked meals together, sat by the fire. They made love in the afternoon light and talked about nothing and everything. Sebastian taught Julian how to play poker properly and Julian