I went to stand, but his hands shot up and gripped my hips, forcing me to remain where I was. I glared down at him. “I beg your pardon, Your Highness. You’re causing a scene.” Challenge entered his expression. “I can think of more efficient ways to cause a scandal.” Before I could ask what sort of illicit substance he’d been sniffing, he subtly ground his hips upward, his grip on me unyielding. If he’d been trying to stun me into silence, it worked. I realized at once what the issue was. He wasn’t keeping me there to make a scene; he held me there to avoid one. My mouth snapped shut.
