Page 25 of Goalies Don't Date Ice Princesses

“Why are you here, Archer?” I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.

“To see you,” he breathed, his words sending shivers down my spine. “To be close to you.”

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to gather my thoughts amidst the chaos within me. His hand, still lingering near my ear, gently traced the curve of my jaw, sending shivers down my spine. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding louder in my ears.

Archer’s touch grew bolder, his fingers grazing against the soft skin of my cheek. My breath hitched, an involuntary response to his proximity.

“What do you say, Princess?” He whispered. “Can I kiss you?”

Before I could think it through, I felt my chin dipping down in a nod. There was no going back now. In an instant, Archer closed the space between us, his body pressing mine against the cold wall. A surge of anticipation flooded through me as Archer’s lips descended upon mine, capturing them in a gentle yet fervent kiss. His touch was electric, his kiss both tender and passionate, his lips warm and soft.

Pressed against the wall, the rough surface grazed against my back, but I hardly noticed. All that mattered was the intoxicating taste of his lips, the way his hands moved with purpose, caressing my cheek, trailing down my neck. My fingers instinctively tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, our bodies pressing against each other.

Slowly, Archer broke the kiss, his breaths coming out in short, ragged bursts. I could feel his heart pounding in sync with mine, the rush of emotion so intense it was almost physical. He rested an arm along the wall just above me, keeping his chest pressed to mine.

“You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that,” he murmured.

I was so overwhelmed, so dizzy from the breathtaking kiss, that I couldn’t speak, but if I could have, I would have said,Oh trust me. I’ve felt the same.

sixteen

The tripto the ski lodge felt long—much longer than it should have since it was only a little over three hours—and by the time we arrived, all of us were exhausted. After dropping my bags in the room I would be sharing with Blair, I went back down to the lobby and collapsed on the couch in front of the fireplace. Over the next half hour, more and more people did as well, until eventually Archer came to sit as well. He kept a couple of feet between us to act like we weren’t actually sitting together as we each read our own books, but every so often, he would look over and smirk.

And every time he did, my eyes drifted down to his lips, and I remembered the way he had kissed me in the change room the day before.

Slowly, people started to get up and leave, until it was just Archer and me sitting alone by the fire.

“So, I was thinking,” Archer said once we were alone.

“That’s always dangerous,” I said, flashing him a little smirk. He lightly shoved my head, and I laughed. “Fine, fine. What were you thinking?”

Archer leaned back against the plush cushions of the couch, his eyes twinkling with mischief. The warm glow of the crackling fire danced across his face, casting shadows that made him appear both mischievous and alluring. A gentle breeze whispered through the open window, carrying with it the scent of autumn leaves and the distant promise of winter.

“Well,” Archer began, his voice low, “I was thinking we should go skating on the pond outside tonight.”

“The pond?” I asked.

“I know we normally skate on the indoor rinks,” he said, “but I don’t know how we would do that here. Plus… well, I don’t know, I like skating outside. And I haven’t done it in a while.”

“Okay,” I said. “Let’s do it.”

Two hours later, we glided across the smooth, frozen surface of the pond, hand in hand. The sun was setting behind us, casting a warm, golden light over the snow-covered trees that surrounded the pond. The stillness of the winter air only added to the magic of the moment.

As we skated, we couldn’t help but start to goof off. We began to race each other, laughing and shouting as we chased one another around the pond. Our breath came out in quick, white puffs, creating a haze around us. I felt completely free, completely alive in that moment. My laughter mingled with the soft rustling of falling snowflakes as I clung onto him, feeling the cold nip at my fingertips despite the warmth that emanated between us.

But then, without warning, Archer stopped and turned to face me, his deep brown eyes sparkling with mischief. Before I knew it, his arms were around me and he was pulling me close, our skates scraping against the ice as we tried to maintain our balance. As he pulled me close, I could see the sparkle in his deep brown eyes, the rosy flush on his cheeks from the cold air. Our lips met in a passionate kiss, and I could see nothing but him in front of me, all other distractions faded away. The cold air was forgotten as our bodies pressed together on the ice. It was a perfect, stolen moment that I would remember forever.

As we broke apart, we both couldn’t help but burst into a fit of giggles. “What was that for?” I asked, still breathless from the kiss.

He grinned mischievously, his cheeks rosy from the cold. “Just couldn’t resist,” he replied with a wink. I smiled up at him. Snowflakes were landing softly on his eyelashes and cheeks, making him look like he was one with the snow. His dark hair fell in messy strands over his forehead, only slightly wet from the falling snow.

Without hesitation, he pulled me close once again and pressed his lips to mine. This time, there was no laughter or teasing—just pure passion and desire. The crisp, fresh smell of winter air lingered around us, mixed with the scent of wood smoke from the nearby campfire, but as we kissed, I caught a hint of his cologne, a warm and inviting aroma that invited me in.

The world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us in our own little winter wonderland. My hands found their way into his thick coat, feeling the warmth of his body beneath the layer of clothing. His strong arms held me close as we continued to kiss, our bodies swaying in time with the rhythm of our hearts.

Eventually, we had to break apart for air—and to finally head back home before it got too dark. As we took off our skates and gathered our things, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for this stolen moment with Archer on the ice. It was a simple reminder that love can be found in even the most unexpected places—like a frozen pond in the middle of winter.

seventeen

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