Silenced by a Kiss

The harsh glow of her cheap phone screen cut through the dim bedroom. The name "Hubby" flashed repeatedly, turning the quiet space into a minefield. Cleo had forgotten that Corbin would call her tonight. She knew he would be furious about her defiance back at the hotel, but she had not expected the timing to be this disastrous.

Vaughn’s large hand, which had been resting against her cheek, suddenly tightened. His fingers clamped hard around her delicate chin, his grip rough enough to leave bruises. His dark eyes burned with territorial anger as he stared down at her. "You are married? Did you lie to me when you said it was your first time?"

Cleo refused to cower. She glared back into his terrifying eyes and snapped, "My husband suffers from severe erectile dysfunction. Haven't you already checked me out? Besides, you are the one who tricked me first with a fake three-million-dollar check."

Before Vaughn could reply, the phone on the bedside table vibrated again. Corbin was relentless when ignored. Flustered by the persistent noise, Cleo snatched up the device and pressed the answer button.

Corbin’s shrill, angry voice instantly blasted through the small speaker. "Cleo, why did it take you so long to answer? Sloane told me you left the hotel with some rich guy. Who is he? Where are you right now?"

Vaughn stood directly in front of her like an immovable mountain. Cleo panicked, making frantic hand gestures to beg him to stay quiet so she could handle the situation.

The attempt to hide him for the sake of her husband annoyed Vaughn. He refused to be dismissed. Stepping into her personal space, he grabbed the back of her head and cupped her face, tilting her chin upward. He forced his mouth over hers in a deep, invasive, and punishing kiss. His tongue pushed past her lips, rubbing against her sensitive palate and swallowing her panicked gasps right back into his own throat.

Terrified that Corbin would hear the intimate sounds of the kiss over the line, Cleo hit the end-call button. The moment the call disconnected, rage exploded inside her. She swung her right hand with explosive force and slapped Vaughn across the face. Her sharp nails dragged deeply across his skin, leaving a raw, bleeding scratch along his muscular neck.

Vaughn slowly pulled his head back. He ran his thumb over his split lip, tasting his own blood, but he did not strike back.

Cleo’s eyes filled with hot, unshed tears of genuine grievance. "Just because you took my virginity once does not mean you have the right to keep touching me whenever you please. It was supposed to be a one-shot deal. Why are you still harassing me?"

Instead of erupting into fury, Vaughn touched the bleeding scratch on his neck. A slow, amused smile tugged at his lips. He was used to submissive, gold-digging women who did whatever he wanted. Cleo’s defiance only deepened his dark curiosity.

Suddenly, his own sleek, expensive phone began to ring inside his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the caller ID, and immediately switched the device off. Cleo caught a glimpse of the screen and suspected it was his rumored fiancée.

Adjusting his suit jacket, Vaughn looked down at her with confidence. "I will look for you again in a few days."

"What for? So you can keep screwing me over with another fake three-million-dollar check?" Cleo retorted bitterly.

Vaughn’s expression hardened. He was clearly displeased by her constant accusations against his wealth. "My money and that check are real. I do not let women lose their virginity to me for nothing. If you are trying to run some cheap scam to get more cash out of me, you should come up with a smarter strategy."

Cleo tightly pursed her lips, a heavy weight sinking in her chest. She realized he truly only saw her as a deceptive, greedy woman who would do anything for money.

Vaughn turned on his heel and walked out of the apartment. As soon as his heavy footsteps faded down the corridor, the guest bedroom door creaked open. Tessa slowly crept out into the living room, her face pale with shock. She stared at Cleo in disbelief. "Do you have any idea who you just brought into this house, Cleo?"

"A beast," Cleo muttered, collapsing onto the cheap, worn-out living room couch.

Tessa let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "I do not care how you managed to lure Vaughn Lockwood back here, but he is getting married very soon. You need to wake up—not every duckling can turn into a swan."

Vaughn Lockwood. The billionaire CEO was getting married. Cleo opened her eyes slowly, staring blankly at the ceiling. The crushing realization made her already low opinion of the arrogant man plummet to the ground.