Page 23 of Driven by Desire

He pressed his knuckles into his eye and thought for a moment. Could he give her this promise and be truthful? He was a cruel bastard. He was willing to do just about anything to get what he wanted. But truthfully, he couldn't picture himself hurting the mother of his woman.

He nodded his head. “Yes, you have my word. I won’t touch Cilia again.”

“Thank you,” Riley said softly, her voice tired.

“You need sleep, woman,” he stated, stubbing his cigarillo out in an ashtray he kept in a drawer. “If you won’t come to me, then at least stay safe where you are until I can flush you out of hiding and back under my influence.”

She laughed, the sweet sound wrapping around his body causing his muscles to tighten in response. “I still have things to do before you drag me off to your lair. I’m not going to make it easy for you to find me, Soloman,” she said with a yawn.

“I don't think you know the meaning of the word easy,” he growled.

“That’s not what my high school boyfriend said,” she giggled.

He slammed his fist against the side of the desk, angry despite knowing she was just making a silly joke. “You just signed his death warrant,” he snarled.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry Soloman, that was a stupid thing to say! Please don’t kill anyone!” she begged.

He groaned into the phone and gave her all the ammunition she would need to bring him to his knees. “I don't think you get how fucking on edge you make me. I spend half my time wanting to beat the shit out of anyone that looks at you, which is every damn guy with eyes, and the other half nearly coming in my pants just from hearing your voice. You're ruining me, gorgeous.”

She didn’t say anything for a moment. He could hear her breathing lightly and rustling around. Then she said quietly, “I’m going to bed now. Sweet dreams, Soloman.”

He stared at the phone after she hung up on him. No one had ever said anything like that to him before. Fuck, it sounded good coming from her lips. He still badly wanted to get his hands on her, but now he was picturing her curled on her side in a bed somewhere, sleeping safely, waiting for him to find her.

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