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sideways.
    She’d told herself she’d have her response to him firmly under control by now, but the spacious suite suddenly felt as if it had shrunk to the size of a shoe box when he strolled over to stand by her side at the dressing table, his gaze meeting hers in the mirror.
    Moistening her lips, she searched for a smart remark but, for the life of her, couldn’t think of one. His gaze slid to her mouth, as he appeared to absorb the evidence of her nerves, then dropped to the plunging neckline of her silk robe that had seemed respectable until he’d walked in, but now made her desperately want to pull the edges together.
    She resisted the urge to do so. Somehow. The color riding his high cheekbones, the dark heat that claimed his whiskey-hued eyes as they lifted to hers, ignited a slow burn beneath her skin. Sparked a chemical reaction that climbed up into her throat and held her in its thrall.
    He bent his head and brushed a kiss against her cheek. Unprepared, or perhaps overprepared for the press of his firm mouth against her sensitized skin, she flinched.
    Kostas straightened, a dark glitter filling his eyes. Her gaze moved to Page, who was watching them with unabashed curiosity.
    “Leave us,” the king bit out quietly. Page scurried from the room as if he’d been Zeus himself raising one of his thunderbolts.
    Stella lifted her chin defiantly as the door closed and the room went silent. “You will need,” he instructed tersely, “to learn to hide your very... distinct response to me when we’re around others, when the cameras start flashing tonight, or this isn’t going to be a very productive exercise.”
    Her chin lifted higher. “I don’t plan it, Kostas. It just happens.”
    The glint in his eyes deepened. “Maybe we should do it again, then, maybe a real kiss this time, practice , so it doesn’t happen tonight.”
    “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
    “Why not? Are you afraid of how you might respond?”
    “Hardly.” The pressure on her brain pushed her temper to its very edge. “But why stop there?” she challenged. “Why don’t we do it right now? Up against the wall while Page is waiting... Would that satisfy you? Would that be enough of a reaction for you? To have the whole palace abuzz with how you keep me in line?”
    He leaned his impressive bulk against the dresser, folding his arms across his chest. Dark amusement melted the ire in his eyes. “Is that the plan, Stella? To make me pay for entrapping you? To bait me until I fall over the edge? You forget how well I know you, how you deflect when you are stressed, when you feel cornered , how you use sarcasm as a weapon because that sharp mouth of yours is so very good at it.”
    She lifted a shoulder. “You have to work with the tools you’re given.”
    His mouth curved. “Why don’t you just tell me what’s eating you?”
    “Oh, what would be the fun of that? I’m enjoying your amateur psychology course so much, I think you should tell me .”
    He pursed his lips. Eyed her. “It’s been a trying two weeks. We’ve both been analyzed beyond endurance. Most of the Carnelians seem ready to welcome you, but some are reluctant to embrace a foreigner. Tonight is the night you must prove to them you belong. You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t feeling the pressure.”
    Remarkably spot-on. “I’ve been brought up in the media glare. I can handle it.”
    He inclined his head. “Regardless, I appreciate how you’ve risen to the occasion.”
    She had no smart comeback for that, so she left it alone. He flicked his gaze around the elaborately furnished, if exceedingly dark, suite. “How are you settling in?”
    “Fine. Except honestly, Kostas, you were right. It’s like you’re caught in the Dark Ages here. Everything is cold, unforgiving stone. There’s no warmth to the rooms, no life . How in the world do you live like this?”
    “It’s remained untouched since my mother died. My father refused to make changes. I