“Why have you shut the door?" she inquired.

“Don't you prefer to have the door closed when you sleep?" he replied casually.

Upon hearing his response, Claudia's legs wavered, her body trembling, finding support in Bennett's steady presence as he drew near.

“Are you really so frightened?" he queried, his obsidian eyes Locked onto hers.

Claudia felt her arm, held by him, blazing with heat, while the man, fresh from the shower, exuded an aura of coolness.

He had obviously indulged in a refreshing shower.

She swallowed, sensing herself caught between an icy chill and a burning desire, her ears reddening and her cheeks following suit.

"No, not at all," she hastily assured herself.

After all, she had merely come to retrieve her phone. What reason had she to be frightened?

As she responded, her fingers scoured for her phone.

Before long, her gaze fell upon the phone case, adorned with the soft, white rabbit ears, resting upon the ebony bedspread.

It was her phone!

“My phone," she stated, making her intentions clear.

Her words were accompanied by a subtle shake of her hand, an attempt to loosen the grip of the large hand that enveloped her.

But her efforts proved futile, as Bennett advanced towards her, enfolding her within his embrace.

“Is your phone more important to you than I am?" he inquired.

“What ?"

Claudia's perplexed expression betrayed her confusion.

With a bemused smile, she cast an uncertain gaze upward, blinking. "No," she admitted simply, reiterating her purpose in coming here - to retrieve her phone.

"You've been fixated on your phone ever since you entered," he noted, a hint of playfulness in his tone.

“You haven't spared me a glance.”

“No, I have looked at you," Claudia protested, admitting to her discreet observations.

"Indeed?"

His laughter was sudden, his eyes twinkling. "What color is the towel in my hand?" he posed, seemingly earnest.