“You could be a gambler. A thief, for all I know. Besides—” He captured her hand and stoppedher from walking on, holding her in place.“Besides what, you insufferable prude?”“Prude, eh? Do you need another kiss to remind you what a prude I am?”“Don’t you dare.”“Then don’t call me names.”“You started it.”

“Cheese and crackers? Really?" She looks at me skeptically. "Besides, he's not a gigolo, you prude! He's an escort. Big difference.""An escort who, at the end of the night for a little more cash, will have sex with people. What do you call that?"Sara's laugh has a wicked edge to it "I call it my good fortune.”

“You're such a prude. It's pathetic."Eesh."What I am is too much of a lady to say what you are.”

“Sod off, you hopeless prude.”

“Don’t you dare walk away from this, Jack, don’t you dare, Molly says fiercely. Most people don’t ever feel what yer feeling. Be with her. An if it lasts one hour, one night, a week a month, it don’t matter. Be with her, burn with her, shine with her… fer whatever time’s given to you.”

“And then his voice echoed through my head. Merit. He silently called my name, even as he stood beside her. Liege? I answered back. His eyes glinted. Don’t call me that. There is nothing else for me to call you. You are my employer.That is the deal we’ve struck.”