The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 220

All the strength drained from the hand holding the glass, and it dropped onto the cushions, the remaining liquid quickly soaking into the fabric.

Sebastian's eyes instantly darkened into a smoldering, predatory gaze. The torrential surge of desire within him screamed at him to stop holding back, to finally take what he wanted.

Yet, his ironclad self-control fired back a warning: move too fast, and he would ruin everything he had built so far.

It felt as though two opposing forces were ripping him apart from the inside.

Ultimately, restraint won the battle.

His large hands firmly grasped her slender waist. With a swift, fluid motion, he rolled and settled her securely onto the sofa. "Careful with your injury."

It wasn't until she was sitting upright that Riley snapped out of the shock of their intimate collision. She babbled incoherently, "I'm sorry... I... I didn't..."

"It was an accident. Don't worry about it," Sebastian said, his deep voice carrying a rough, raspy edge.

He stood up. "I have things to take care of. I need to go." With that, he turned and headed straight for the door.

Riley watched his broad back disappear from the room. She heard the front door open and click shut, yet she remained utterly frozen in place.

Her fingers slowly drifted up to touch her lips.

Had she really just kissed Sebastian?

Oh my god, she had kissed Sebastian St. John!

This was insane. Completely insane!

Riley squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists, her heart racing in absolute panic.

It took her a long while to open her eyes and try to rationalize the chaos.

She hadn't done it on purpose. She had already been lifting herself up when he grabbed her and pulled her back down. That was why it happened.

It wasn't just her fault. He shared the blame.

No, she needed a shower to clear her head.

The next day at the hospital, Riley received a notice that she was officially cleared to join the research institute's projects. Furthermore, Dr. Grosse had scheduled her for only a half-day of outpatient clinic duties per week.

This arrangement was perfect. She had her clinic hours, inpatient cases to manage, and research to conduct. It was exactly what she wanted.

She would definitely be busier, but she thrived on this lifestyle. Everything was finally falling into place according to her plans, giving her a deep sense of security and purpose.

The disciplinary action against the hospital director came down three days after Jenna Joyce's incident. He was immediately dismissed from his position.

While Jenna's public crisis had certainly tarnished the hospital's reputation, she had survived, averting an absolute tragedy. Wasn't a direct termination a bit harsh?

But this was an executive decision far above Riley's pay grade. Judging by the severity of the punishment, whoever was pulling the strings behind the hospital clearly didn't tolerate incompetence. She would have to ensure her own work was flawlessly rigorous moving forward.

After work that evening, Riley arrived at her apartment complex only to spot Sebastian's car parked by her building. She froze in her tracks as the memory of their accidental kiss on the couch crashed into her mind uninvited.

Franklin Finch caught sight of her, immediately stepping out of the vehicle and walking over. "Riley, are you free tonight?"