Page 2 of Ice Cold Christmas

She could have sworn that she saw a crack in Victor’s careful armor. Melody swallowed. Had she really seen it? Or just hoped that she had? “Why not? You have everything you ever wanted.”

“The hell I do.” Grim. “But I will.” A vow. He let go of her wrist.

She should probably finish her dramatic, fleeing exit. But…

He reached into his tux pocket. And he dropped to one knee in front of her.

Melody blinked. “Why are you taking a knee? What is happening right now?”

“I was going to wait. Had this whole scene planned out. But with you, nothing ever goes according to plan.”

Was that an insult? It felt like one.

He opened a small, red box. “I don’t want you to be a secret. I just want you.” He stared up at her, unblinking. “Marry me.”

“What?” Her hands fisted at her sides.

“I didn’t want anyone to say I was fucking you in order to get the company. The company will be mine. And I want you, too.”

Her brow furrowed.

“Not like you’re a damn bonus prize, that’s not what I meant. Fuck, I’m screwing this up.” Victor kept the box extended even as he huffed out a frustrated breath. “You’re it, Melody. You’re what I want. Not a secret. I want you with me, always.”

He hadn’t said he loved her.

Then again, she hadn’t told him those words, either.

He’s offering me a ring. She should take it. Throw her arms around him and tell him how thrilled she was. But, something felt off.

Because he hadn’t said he loved her.

“I love you,” Melody blurted.

And…something changed. In his eyes—the darkness flared ever bolder. On his face—a flash of savage satisfaction. In the next instant, he was on his feet. Towering over her again. His mouth crashed onto hers, and she shouldn’t kiss him back, Melody knew that she shouldn’t, but she did. Because she truly loved him. With every part of her being. Even though she feared that she should not. She loved him.

Her mouth opened beneath his. The kiss was frantic. Passionate. Hungry. Possessive. His hands were suddenly around her waist. What had he done with the ring? The glittering, gleaming ring? But she stopped wondering when he lifted her up. Victor put her on the edge of the big, intimidating boardroom table, and he pushed her legs apart.

Her dress hiked up. A shiver skated over her even as her hands grabbed for his shoulders, and she held on with all of her strength.

They weren’t going to fuck right there. No way. Not with all of those people right outside. Her family. Her friends. Strangers. Enemies. Surely, they weren’t—not there?

But one of his hands slid between her legs. Went right under the skirt of her dress. He caught the edge of her panties even as his mouth continued to claim hers in a primal possession and then he was brushing his callused fingertips right over her clit?—

The squeak of the door. Laughter. “Come on, we can go inside and—” The male voice broke off, shocked.

Victor had gone statue-still. For just an instant. But in the next moment, he wrenched away from her. Spun for the intruder. “Out, now!” Nearly a roar.

The person—people? Because she thought she’d heard the sound of feminine laughter—so maybe a man and a woman—got out. Immediately. The door clicked closed.

Melody’s heart raced too quickly. Her breath came too fast. Had she been spotted? And what would happen if she had been? No, no, Victor shielded me. She didn’t think anyone had seen her face…

Victor spun back toward her.

She should get off the table. Maybe close her legs. Both acts seemed like excellent ideas.

“Marry. Me.”

She smoothed down her dress even as she slid off the table. “Is that an order? Or a request?” Her stomach was in knots, and her knees felt far too weak. “Because it sounded like an order.”