His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 274

Familiar footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Archer walked in wearing dark loungewear. He stopped by the sink, turned on the faucet to wash his hands, and smoothly reached out to take the avocado from Virginia's grasp.

"Let me," he murmured, his voice still carrying a raspy morning grit.

They were standing intimately close. His signature scent enveloped her, his presence utterly commanding.

Virginia took a half-step back. "It's fine. I'm almost done."

Archer frowned slightly. His long fingers bypassed the avocado and caught her hand instead.

Virginia instinctively tried to pull away, but his grip was firm.

Almost deliberately, he stroked his thumb across the soft skin of her knuckles.

Just as her ears began to burn, he unhurriedly released her and took over the cutting board.

"Go rest in the living room."

Virginia pressed her lips together and stayed right where she was.

Right then, Miles Sutton walked in, yawning loudly, his curly hair sticking up in every direction. "Virginia, what's for break—"

He stopped dead in his tracks.

He stared at the two of them standing far too close at the island, taking in Archer's intensely possessive gaze and the suffocatingly sweet tension in the air.

"Ah, I just remembered my agent needs me. As you were." Miles gave a dry, awkward chuckle, spun on his heel, and quickly shut the door behind him.

They were alone in the kitchen once more.

Virginia felt her cheeks heat up. Just as she turned to grab a plate, Archer paused his chopping, leaned in, and pressed a feather-light kiss to her cheek.

It was a warm, fleeting touch.

She froze, then turned to glare at him.

At 10 AM, down in the Starlight Entertainment underground garage.

The moment Miles stepped out of his van, two figures darted out from behind a parked car, blocking his path.

It was Richard and Eleanor Sutton.

Eleanor was sweating profusely, her makeup smudged, while Richard's rumpled shirt clung to his back. They both looked utterly desperate.

"Wesley!" Eleanor cried, her eyes welling with tears as she lunged forward to grab his hands.

Miles took a quick step back, his eyes guarded. "How did you get in here?"

"Is that how you speak to your parents?" Richard snapped, puffing up his chest to assert authority. "Do you have any idea how much effort it took to track down your schedule? You wouldn't even answer our calls!"

Looking at the familiar faces before him, Miles felt absolutely nothing but a cold disconnect.

"...What do you want?"