Unwrapped

“What?”

“We’re the only two people in the building but this could have easily happened with everyone here. Now, with more than two people, they would have helped with the heat, but provisions? There is nothing here. I want to work for a company that is prepared for just about anything.”

“You know, that makes so much sense.”

“Don’t go stealing my ideas, honey,” he said.

She burst out laughing. “Please, I’m not going to be stealing your ideas. Even if they’re good ones. I’ll shock everyone at the meeting anyway.”

“How will you do that?” he asked.

“Completely agreeing with you. To be honest, the fact we’re going through this right now, I don’t imagine anyone going up against your ideas. They’re solid.”

“Yep, of course they are. That’s because they’re mine. Bingo.”

“You found something?” she asked, walking over to him.

“Yep, look at this.”

She walked over and he’d found a supply closest. It had things for decorating, painting and blankets used for spillages.

“We can’t be picky at a time like this.”

So with their bounty, they made their way back down to their part of the office.

They pulled the blankets over them and with each one, Delaney hoped it would keep them warm. The weather didn’t look any better, in fact it looked worse, and without any heating, they needed all the warmth they could get.

“It must have been left over when they painted the stairwell,” she said.

“Yeah.”

Once they were done, they both climbed beneath them.

Ivan wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He kissed the top of her head and she closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of his hold on her.

“I can’t wait to see the look in their eyes when you tell the board you agree with me.”

She laughed. “You know they’re going to be shocked.”

“Yes.” He held her a little tighter and she felt safe, warm, comforted. “I was thinking about something.”

“What?”

“The promotion.”

She groaned. “Let’s not talk about that. I don’t want to even think about work right now.”

“How do you feel about working together?”

“Together?”

“There’s nothing in the rule books that states they can’t promote two people. We’re both damn good at what we do, and they would be fools not to keep us around.”

She tilted her head back to look at him. “You’d be willing to share a promotion with me?”

“I’m sharing my warmth. I don’t hate you, Delaney.”

“I don’t hate you either.”

“See, we’re making really good progress tonight. What do you think?”

She licked her dry lips.

“How about we discuss this in the morning?”

“The morning?”

“When we’re not so cold and can think.”

“You’re expecting me to change my mind?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know what to think.”

“I’m not going to change my mind but I’ll do what you want.” He kissed the top of her head and she felt an answering stir of heat within her body. She didn’t want him to stop kissing her, not ever.

Don’t want things you can’t have, Delaney.

Chapter 11

Delaney slowly opened her eyes, realizing she’d fallen asleep. She was pressed tightly against Ivan’s body, and despite the fact her face was chilled, it wasn’t as cold as she’d assumed it should have been for not having had heat all night.

But despite all that, Delaney only felt warmth.

Looking out the window, she could see the sun starting to rise over the skyscrapers. Damn, they had slept this whole time?

She looked over her shoulder and saw Ivan still sleeping, his short dark hair slightly disheveled. Even with his guard off, he was attractive, strong and powerful.

She slipped out of bed and realized it was warmer than it had been last night. Was the heat back on? Walking over to the thermostat, she saw that it was indeed on.

Delaney rubbed her hands together to warm them. She moved toward the window and stared at the city. The snow must have stopped falling sometime after they fell asleep, because it seemed like traffic and city life was back to normal.

The traffic.

The bustle of people up and down the sidewalks.

The street vendors.

The angry chaos that always went with city life.

Just then, she heard shuffling behind her. She was throwing her clothes on in a matter of seconds. Looking over her shoulder, Delaney saw Ivan sitting up in the bed, his focus on her.

“Get dressed,” she whispered. “Someone is out there.”

He smirked, but stood and started dressing as well. She stared at him and he gave her this sleepy, lopsided smirk, and she felt her heart start to race, her body reacting to being in his presence instantly.

She smiled in return.

Once they were dressed, he held out his hand and she found herself walking toward him, letting him wrap his hands around her waist and pull her down onto the mattress.

He kissed her soundly, deeply. Nothing else mattered in that moment aside from the two of them, alone, the room starting to get hotter.

And then she heard voices, ones pretty damn close. Snapping her eyes open, she pulled back, seeing shadows on the other side of the window, the blinds drawn so she couldn’t make out who was there.