It amused Luke how the emotions played on her face plainly – from dismay to apathy to shock then confusion until finally it seemed that his gaze was too much for her and she had to look away blushing. The prince leaned back against the backrest with a smug smile, taking off his sunglasses as if to enjoy the color that crept up her cheeks. Was he enjoying her apparent discomfort? Of course, he was. He thought it was mean that he teased her to a position where she was blushing like a middle school girl. Rhiane could not even look him in the eye. But what else did she expect after she boldly walked up to him to ask him to do something he plainly refused to do?

As if it was not enough, he declared the obvious. “You are blushing.” Luke turned his seat so that his body was facing hers. He fought against the urge to touch her cheek and gently guide her face towards his so he could see how the entirety of her face looked like. Instead, he leaned his weight forward on his elbows resting on the armrest so that his face was as close as it could get to hers. “How easily your principles sway, Ms. Black.” He teased hearing that she was grasping for reasons, even using his own words, in order for him to take back the challenge. As if she was willing to forego the cause she had so boldly and almost passionately argued for. 

“Let me remind you as well that Ms. Viscomi will report whatever we do - or not do.” Her words were chosen to emphasize his point, much like she did to counter his. “She pointed out your shortcomings like she did mine. Therefore, it is only fair that it is not just I who will be forced into doing something that I believe is both counterproductive and unnecessary. If I need to improve my image with the masses by listening to peasants speak about --” He cut himself before he said something that would irritate her more than he already did. “If I need to talk to them to prove that the crown cares, then you must show affection towards your fiance and prove to the world that this is more than just an arranged marriage.”

He reached for the armrest of the co-pilot seat, then gently nudged it until she was facing him. Luke, unsatisfied with the closeness, crouched over her and tilted her chin up slightly so she would be forced to look up at him. A few strands of dark locks strayed from the perfectly brushed side part. “And have I ever pushed you away?” It was the other way around, actually. On one occasion, he did flirt with her just to tease her, but she practically ran away from him. She never consented to touch him which he thought was good at first, but then it got him thinking what it was she saw in him that made him so repulsive. 

When they first met, he was intent on doing everything in his power to stay away from her. Thus, during their first dance he proposed how they would live the rest of their lives separately without the other meddling in the other person’s affairs. However, as days went by, perhaps because of the punishment that earned him no more than ten meters from Rhiane (except when he has a scheduled conference call), the curiosity grew. He could have any woman in the kingdom, yet there was this one woman, who was virtually nobody, who did not care that she was going to marry the crown prince. 

“So what do you say about practicing?” Luke teased. “Just close your eyes and move your face closer. I’m sure you’ve done this before.”

“Almost time to --” Carter paused in mid-step right at the threshold. A mixture of surprise and contempt was on the co-pilot’s face. It was difficult to mask an emotion when it was induced so suddenly. Luke saw it, but he neither moved nor explained himself. “My apologies.” The young noble took a step back allowing the door to slide close.