Unwrapped

“Great offer, but I’m actually going to have to pass. Although you’re more than welcome to leave. Surely it’s not too far a walk for you to the Ritz Hampton, and I’m sure you can wade through the inches of snow already piling up out there.” She lifted a brow now and smirked.

He didn’t speak for long moments, but then pushed off the door frame and stepped inside. He set the blankets on the seat in front of her desk and curled his hands around the edge of the leather backing.

“It’s okay. I wouldn’t think about leaving you here alone. Besides, I can use this opportunity to catch up on paperwork.” He stared at her for long moments. Then he had the audacity to wink at her before turning and leaving.

Delaney gritted her teeth, so infuriated with this man that she could scream.

But underneath her anger she also felt desire. Her panties were wet, her nipples hard.

Fuck Ivan Redken.

And fuck her desire for him.

Ivan knew he’d gotten under her skin, but that was the point.

There was something about Delaney Anna Croft that turned him on like no other.

He headed back toward his office and went straight to the minibar. He poured himself a scotch, contemplated making Delaney one as well, but knew she would decline.

Technically, they weren’t on the clock anymore, but she was stubborn and determined, focused on the task at hand.

That’s why he wanted her so much, desired her so badly. His whole life had been focused on work, climbing that ladder to get to the top, knowing that with his money and the power of his family behind him, he could get whatever he wanted.

But he didn’t want that. He wanted to work for what he accomplished.

Money couldn’t buy everything, and he knew that now more than ever as he watched Delaney bust her ass for her career.

She didn’t come from a prestigious family, didn’t come from money. Everything she had she worked for. She deserved this promotion, and he knew she would get it.

But he liked getting under her skin because it turned him on. So, making her think that the long hours he stayed back, the extra work he did was because of the promotion was just a farce. He did all of that because he wanted her, because he wanted to be close to her.

And now he had that chance.

They were essentially locked in this building together all night.

Sure, he could’ve really pushed them trying to make it to a hotel for the night. But he knew no matter what, she’d decline. She was too proud.

So, he’d stay here with her, if only to make sure she was safe. But he also had far more selfish reasons for hanging back.

And that was because he hoped for a chance to make Delaney his.

Chapter 4

There was only so much Delaney could do before her brain screamed at her to have a break. Leaning back in her chair, she rubbed her arms, trying to get warm. The chill filled the air, seeping into her bones.

Glancing at the time, she saw it was nearly midnight.

Getting up from her seat, she grabbed one of the blankets he’d found and pulled it around her body.

Moving toward the window, she let out a gasp.

There was no visibility, it was snowing that bad.

Gritting her teeth as she berated her stupidity, she heard Ivan clear his throat.

“You didn’t leave?” she asked.

The Ritz sounded like a nice place right now.

“I told you I wasn’t leaving you.”

“You know you mentioned about the heat being lowered, was that true?”

“Yes. There was a memo that went out a few months back. It helps to cut costs.”

“Shit!”

“My thoughts exactly.”

She was aware of him looking at her.

“Cold?” he asked.

“Yes.”

This was no time to pretend they weren’t in a bad situation about to get worse.

“Look, I know the last place on earth you would want to be is trapped here with me,” he said.

“That’s right.”

He rolled his eyes. “But the fact is, you’re stuck with me and we’re not going anywhere. You can keep working and pretending we’re not up shit creek, but it doesn’t change anything. As much as you’re a pain in the ass, I want to get through this and be adults.”

He kept a stoic expression and shut her office door.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m trying to conserve heat. We’ve got to survive this, right? We need to be smart.” He went to the love seat and started taking the cushions off, then opened it out into a bed.

“How did you know that was a bed?”

“You’re not the only one who sleeps at the office, Delaney.”

He pushed off his shoes and sat on the sofa bed, patting the space beside him.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s going to get a hell of a lot colder in here. We’ve only got each other and I’d like us to get some heat going before we freeze our asses off.”