With the absence of light, her other senses sharpened.

She became acutely aware of her own breathing and Bennett's as well.

Tonight, she hadn't had a drink, so she wasn't feeling as bold as she was the previous night.

Claudia pondered how to initiate a kiss before drifting off to sleep.

Suddenly, the scent of shower gel filled the air. A hand gently settled on her waist before she could react.

"Are you in the mood for a hug tonight?" Bennett's voice broke the silence as he hugged her.

Color flooded Claudia's cheeks. She was grateful for the darkness concealing her face because he couldn't see it.

Mustering her courage, she said, "Sure." Then, she raised her head.

As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she began to see things clearer.

She couldn't see Bennett's features clearly, but it was enough to discern his face.

Her gaze met his as their faces were mere inches apart. She let her hand slide along his arm.

Claudia held back the urge to reach out and touch his face.

She wasn't being dishonest. The novel she had been reading had indeed reached a crescendo.

In that story, the protagonists had finally succumbed to their desire after several near misses.

On that sweltering summer day, the hero's shirtless physique practically radiated temptation.

The heroine, dressed in a flowing slip gown, collided with the hero in a rather unconventional manner. Their collision brought their bare skin into direct contact, the warmth accentuated by the sweltering weather, vividly depicted within the text.

Thinking of the scenes in the novel, Claudia found herself unexpectedly thirsty.

"What's on your mind, Claudia?" he inquired.

Her momentary distraction prompted the man to subtly tighten his grip around her waist. He inclined his head, their foreheads coming together intimately. His dark eyes gleamed in the dimness.

Bennett's warm breath brushed her face directly, his presence and warmth enveloping her with an undeniable intensity.

Feeling out of breath, Claudia responded, “Nothing.”

Even in the darkness, her nervousness prevented her from meeting the gaze of those deep black eyes.

In the shroud of darkness, a sultry, bewitching chuckle permeated the air.

“Are you still thinking about the novel's plot?"