The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 246

Sebastian took a step closer to Riley.

Riley immediately took two steps back.

Sebastian advanced again, backing her into a corner until her back was pressed flat against the wall, leaving her with nowhere to retreat. "If you're not avoiding me, what exactly are you doing?"

Riley: "..."

He was advancing on her, making her panic. Was she not allowed to back away?

Riley swallowed hard, trying to ease her dry, tight throat. Summoning her courage, she looked up at Sebastian. "You're misunderstanding. Why on earth would I avoid you out of nowhere?"

"Exactly. Why on earth would you avoid me out of nowhere?" Sebastian countered, turning her own words against her.

Riley was instantly stumped. Feeling guilty, she averted her eyes. After a long pause, she replied weakly, "I'm not avoiding you."

"Then why won't you look at me?"

Riley: "..."

She hadn't expected him to be so direct. For a moment, she was entirely at a loss for words.

She couldn't exactly tell him that seeing his face triggered memories of that highly erotic dream, could she?

Riley stared into empty space, maintaining her silence.

Due to the lack of movement, the stairwell's motion-sensor lights suddenly clicked off, plunging the area into pitch darkness.

With her vision gone, her other senses sharpened intensely—especially her sense of smell.

Right now, Riley felt as though her every breath was entirely consumed by the crisp, woody cologne radiating from Sebastian. The scent wrapped tightly around her, thick and impenetrable, making her feel as if she couldn't breathe.

Acting on sheer instinct, she reached out and shoved him, trying to put some distance between them. A second later, her wrist was caught in his grasp.

The man's palm was dry and searingly hot, the contact making her tremble all over.

She instantly tried to pull her hand back, but as if anticipating her move, Sebastian tightened his grip. She couldn't budge. "Sebastian, let go of me."

She intentionally raised her voice, and the motion-sensor lights snapped back on in response.

She hated the pitch-black obscurity; it gave her a surreal, uncontrollable sense of panic.

Riley: "..."

Why was he clinging so stubbornly to this question?

Her fingers curled into loose fists at her sides. Mustering her resolve, she met his gaze and threw the question back at him. "Does my avoiding you have that big of an impact on you?"

Sebastian's dark eyes locked onto hers. He pressed his thin lips together and said nothing.

Why wasn't he talking now?

What was the meaning behind this intense stare?

Did he not realize how overwhelmingly oppressive his gaze was?

Riley was struggling to hold her ground, but she forced herself not to back down.

Then, she heard Sebastian let out a soft sigh, sounding entirely helpless against her question. "Yes. It has a massive impact."

Riley froze, completely caught off guard by his answer. Almost involuntarily, she asked, "What kind of impact?"