His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 326

At a gentle slope, Virginia lost her footing as the edge of her snowboard caught on a mound of snow.

They both lost their balance and tumbled into the snow.

Archer reacted incredibly fast. Almost the second they went down, he pulled her tightly against his chest, taking the brunt of the impact as his back slammed into the icy slope, acting as a human cushion.

"Ugh..."

Virginia lay flat against his chest, planting her hands by his shoulders to push herself up. "Are you okay?"

Her voice carried a distinct note of panic.

Archer didn't answer.

They were so close that her warm breath fanned completely across his jawline.

Her neatly tied hair had come loose in the fall, and a few strands brushed against his nose and chin, carrying the fresh scent of her shampoo.

The man's dark eyes locked onto her.

His gaze traced down from her bright eyes, landing squarely on her red lips, parted slightly in surprise.

The air seemed to freeze in place.

Archer's breathing noticeably quickened.

He pulled off his right glove. His rough, cool fingertips gently brushed her cheek before pressing softly against the corner of her mouth.

The tips of Virginia's ears burned red, and her immediate instinct was to scramble away.

"Don't move," he said, his left hand clamping securely around her slender waist, his voice incredibly rough.

Just when she thought he was going to kiss her, he turned his head away, took a few deep breaths, and closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, the turbulent emotions had completely vanished, replaced by his usual clear-headed calm.

He let her go, propped himself up on one hand, and pulled her to her feet.

"Let's go. Keep practicing." He brushed the snow off his suit, his tone returning to its normal flatness.

...

"Congratulations, Boss!"

Henry grinned, showing off his bright white teeth, and kept the hype going. "Boss, this is huge news! You have to treat us to dinner tonight!"

Archer looked down at the stiff woman in his arms, the faintest curve pulling at the corner of his mouth. "No problem. You pick the place."

At eight o'clock that evening, they arrived at a unique, high-end local restaurant.

Henry had rented out the entire second-floor terrace, and the long dining table was packed with exquisite dishes.

Archer had given instructions beforehand, so there wasn't a single drop of dairy on the table. Even the two seafood dishes were placed as far away from Virginia as possible.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became completely relaxed.

Someone suggested playing Truth or Dare, and the idea immediately won a unanimous vote.

An empty wine bottle was placed in the center of the table.

The first few rounds landed on Henry and some other executives, keeping everyone laughing uncontrollably.