“Are you sure about this, Ivan?” Paul, one of the executives, asked.

“Am I sure about what?” His gaze was on his woman as she circled the party, taking a few moments with each person.

Earlier in the day, they’d had that business meeting and he’d brought up how essential it was for there to be a survival kit of some kind on the premises at all times, throughout every single weather season.

Much to everyone’s surprise, Delaney had agreed with him. Not that he had any doubt she would. They had agreed it was important for all staff after what they had gone through.

“You and Delaney.”

“You got a problem with my relationship?” Ivan asked.

“Before you guys got snowed in, I don’t think we could even leave you in a room without the two of you finding something to fight about. Now you’re saying you’re in a relationship with this woman. Ivan, Delaney is a ball buster. She’s hard working, stubborn, determined, and she is always one step ahead of the game.”

“And that’s why I love her.”

Ivan laughed at the shock on Paul’s face.

“What? You didn’t think it had gotten that far yet.”

“All due respect, Ivan, you don’t know her.”

He turned to look at Delaney. She stood at the drinks table, sipping on a glass of champagne. He noticed this at every single party they’d attended. Where a lot of their colleagues got completely trashed and were unable to talk let alone walk, Delaney always had the same glass of champagne that if she finished, she’d replace with water in the fountain to make it look like she was still drinking. He, himself, couldn’t stand to be completely out of it. He liked to keep his wits about him.

“Actually Paul, you guys don’t know her. Not even a little bit.”

They saw the ball buster, the determined, career-focused woman, because that was what she needed to be for them to take her even a little bit seriously. To him, she was so much more than that.

“If you’ll excuse me.” He put his glass down and made his way over to her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her close. His lips went to her neck.

“You startled me,” she said.

He smiled. “I want to dance with you.”

“Ivan, no one’s dancing.”

“Who cares? It’s almost Christmas and I want to dance, baby.”

He took her hand, and they found a small spot, not caring who saw them, if anyone did. The entire office floor would see them, but he wasn’t talking business, not now. His focus was on Delaney.

“Did you enjoy your talk with Paul?” she asked.

“Are you worried?”

“I thought there was some kind of company policy about not, you know, fraternizing or getting together. I can’t think when you look at me like that.” She laughed.

The sound was beautiful to hear.

“I believe there was one in place but after Richard, the CEO, married his intern, I think they changed the rules. We’re at work all the time. How can we possibly find love with anyone else?”

Well damn, the rules had changed? It wasn’t “wrong” for him to be with Delaney?

“Well, I’m starting to think you’re a bit of a romantic at heart,” she said. “I wish I had known this earlier today.”

“Why?”

“Whenever I got a phone call or someone came to my office, I tried not to freak out. I thought I was going to get fired over this.”

“They couldn’t fire you. You’re too damn good at your job and they know it.”

“You’re complimenting me?”

“Hell yeah. They’d be crazy not to give you that promotion.”

“Ivan, they’ll be crazy not to give both of us that promotion. If they even thought about it, would you consider working together, being a team?”

Ivan pursed his lips and looked up at the ceiling, trying to think. “I don’t know. We’d have to have the same office. That’s a must. You’d have to wear skirts every single day, and I’d want to know what color panties you were wearing so I know to pull them off.”

“Will you stop? I’m being serious.”

He saw the need in her eyes. He felt it himself. He wanted her so fucking badly. All day he’d been wanting to make excuses not to go to this thing, but he also didn’t want her to worry and think he was trying to hide their relationship.

He had nothing to hide.

In fact, he was the luckiest man in this fucking room.

“I’m being serious as well. I need to make these demands, so you know what I want.”

She burst out laughing. “Fine. How about I tell you a little secret?”

“Go on, I can’t wait.”

“I’m not wearing any panties.”

His cock liked that.

Liked it very much.

“You’re not wearing any?”

“Nope.”

“You know, that is just not fair. I don’t …” He glanced around the room and when he saw no one was paying them any attention, he took her hand and walked her away from the room and down the darkened hallway. He had Delaney pressed against the wall within a matter of seconds. He held her hands above her head and slammed his lips down on hers.

She moaned, and he swallowed down each and every single noise. She was fucking killing him with need.

He wanted her so badly, so fucking much, it was a constant ache.

“We should get back to the party.”

Ivan let go of both of her hands and agreed, only he didn’t move away.

“Ivan,” she said, giggling.

He sucked on her neck as he moved to the skirt of her dress. Lifting it up, he ran his fingers over her thighs, finding exactly what he was looking for.

Her pussy.

Without panties.

His need went up two notches. “Do you have any idea what you do to me? I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you all day long. I need you now.”

“At the Christmas party?”

“There’s no better place.”

He’d been wanting Delaney for so long. Having her now was a dream come true.