e atmosphere tinged with something unspoken. Seeing the icy shar

o experience. Sti

just Elliot trying to humili

n she was about to pull off his underwear, Elliot

er hesitant mess of moves just now, Elliot kissed like he meant business. He pried he

exploded into firewor

liot in a way that made his nerves light up like a live wire. So

tory. His hand slid across her shoulder, and with terrifying ease, he tore straig

and a gasp escaped her lips. That sound triggered

e edge of her mouth, down to

so breathless her

se, brushing right against her skin as

her head. But that question-it sounded super familiar.

ted his nam

ce-cold water over their heads. Whatever

burned. He stared at her for a long beat, face unreadable. Then he pushed off

laced with something darker. "Wow, Miss Walton. Even n

k at the chaotic mess she'd become, ligh

if you want. But don'

to defend that loser? Elliot's

e special?" he scoffed, "Then how com

lowly sat up, casually smoothing out her crumpled dress

ation," Elliot said flatly. "You're

didn't seem too turned off. More like someone who

girl turned call girl-that's n

ou, Mr. Grant-five million down the drain just to sleep with so

ll as sharp-tongued as eve

t. I thought we were stranger

elt a quiet satisfaction wash over her. Just like back

and asked casually, "If this is how you treat your cli

ot interrupted, "You work at Luna Heights too, don't you? Fi

selling her body. And he? He's the one paying her

couldn't afford

smile. "Any other requests, Mr. Grant? Just s

d blandly. "I'm not

ame to me-so maybe don't act high a

d it back-for th

league's voice came through: "Charisse, aren't you at

t i

done talking, so she

Elliot said coolly. "So how'd you end up with a guy who can

threw dirt on eve

he surface," Charisse said softly, her gaze steady, eyes clear, a faint smi

rove the wedge betwe

er the six-year-old girl he first met, nor the sixteen-year-old they'

them. The world spinning faste

back then, and didn't expect an

after this-if she wanted to keep her job-

nt. I'll head out now. If you need anything later,

"I thought Princess Walton w

ng you is part of the jo

lled out a check, signed

at the numbe

his for?"

ss

hought since nothing had really

reamed loud and clear-he only saw her as a hos

ned in a way she hadn't expected. It hit h

s-what was there to

t ache show. Her voice was almost playful as she added, "Actually, we could rethi

oice unreadable. "Five

or free." Her smile was dazzling, cheeky even-like the kind of

make the rules feel like hers,

s shirt sleeves, then replie

w check, wrote five millio

gers were still pressing down lightly o

you promised happenin

feel like it,"

t enough charm to be dangerous. Probably the fi

se, I feel

uickly. Owen was waiting

nish. He pulled her over, pinned her agai

me. It was rough. Quick. Just e

od from his mouth with a slow grace. "Go ahead. Y