Even to himself, it sounded more like a plea than reason.

"I need to be with you," she said in a measured tone, but it still sounded to him like a plea.

It sounded to him like a plea into a gale.

It sounded to Richard more like a plea than a statement of fact.

His voice sounded to him like a plea into a gale.

The last sounded a bit too much like a plea.

It sounded, even to her, more like a plea than a protest.

If that sounds like a plea of quiet desperation, it is.

"I have to do something," Beth said and then regretted what might sound like a plea for his company.

It came out sounding a little too much like a plea, but she couldn't help it.