Cruel Awakening

"She can’t hear you, Corbin. She’s sleeping." Vaughn spoke directly into the receiver. His deep rumble laced the words with deliberate, mocking intimacy.

Under the silk blankets, Cleo lay still. She clamped her eyes shut, desperate to maintain her charade of being asleep while her heart hammered against her ribs.

On the other end of the line, Corbin's voice strained with shock and jealous anger.