“But what?" he prompted, his dark eyes encouraging her to continue.

His intense gaze made her heart race, her thoughts scattering to one singular desire. She wanted to kiss him.

No sooner had the words escaped her Lips than she felt his lips on hers. Wait! Was he kissing her?

Bennett's lips lingered on Claudia's for a brief moment, and she vividly sensed the warmth and tenderness of his lips.

“I've kissed you. What now?" Bennett said, his voice deep and resonant, a sound that Claudia found strangely captivating.

His gentle Lips parted from hers, and she found herself wishing they hadn't.

Claudia blinked, gazing at Bennett's impassive face, and uttered, "I want to kiss you again.”

She was shocked by her own boldness. When had she become so audacious? Was she losing her mind?

How could she even speak such words?

She must have gone mad!

Bennett's intense eyes stared at her, mirroring her shock for a split second before he regained his composure.

With a measured move, he reached out and placed his hand on the back of her head.

Her eyes fixed on his lips, Claudia awaited the second kiss, her heart pounding, her breath quickening.

But just as his slender lips were about to meet hers again, Bennett's grasp relaxed.

He stepped back, saying, "I'll take you to the hospital."

The comforting scent of wood abruptly vanished as he pulled away, and Claudia instinctively leaned in, wanting more of it.

The moment Bennett retreated, she advanced, inhaling the woody aroma greedily. She reached out and clung to Bennett's waist, asking, "Can I hug you then?"

She embraced him tightly, and then looked up, her eyes misty and pleading. She appeared helpless, yet irresistibly charming.

Two conflicting voices warred within Claudia's mind. One urged her to be demure. Don't be so brazen. Don't cling to Bennett like this. They were merely pretending to be a couple, not truly together!

Yet the other voice shouted, “How can you waste such a chance? You're being foolish, Claudia! When you were in your right mind, you never dared touch him. Now, slightly inebriated, your inhibitions lessened, why hold back?"

The voices clashed in her mind. She knew she was acting shamelessly, but the comfort of his embrace made it hard to pull away.

Eventually, anxiety overtook her.

“Mr. Dreskin, please take me to the hospital!"

If she didn't get to the hospital soon, she feared she'd lose all control!