Master of Desire, Lacey Alexander [early reader chapter books TXT] 📗

plait which she and Laela were forced to wear to indicate their royal virginity hung asheavy as a chain from the back of her head, and the idea  that she might be thought of in some other way, especially by the mysterious man across the room, was infinitely titillating.

How she longed to reach bride’s age as Maven had some months back, so that she,too, could finally know  the pleasures to be  found with a man. Other girls her age knew, now even Maven knew—everyone  knew, it seemed, except  for her and Laela. Such wasthe price of being a royal daughter, her virginity her greatest asset. Or  her father’sgreatest asset, she amended.

Maven had been traded in marriage for protection of the northern border—it was only lucky for her that she seemed to have found happiness with Dane.  Teesia and Laela, too, would be bartered into arranged unions. But Teesia wasn’t afraid. Her status in life meant she  would marry a man of power. And surely a man of power would be a man of great sexual prowess, as well.

6

Master of Desire

Sex. A word her parents, even her sisters,  had no idea  she knew. But her  friend Bella, from the village, had been persuaded to  tell her much over the last few months.  Bella, the young widow of a prosperous businessman in Myrtell, was very fond of  Teesia and seemed to find it hard to deny  her anything—even secrets forbidden to  beshared with a royal daughter. So instead of being kept totally in  the dark about sex as tradition demanded, Teesia had already learned something about it. And she already craved  it. Bella had made it sound like the most wondrous part of life and Teesia couldn’t wait to learn more, firsthand.

Rising to her feet, Teesia thrust her breasts slightly forward for the benefit of Ralen of Charelton. A glance down revealed that her nipples puckered the fabric prettily. The warmth that climbed  her face resulted from  both nervousness and anticipation, theinner heat of desire. “I’m going to take  a walk,” she announced, pushing past  Laela.

“All right. I shall go, too.”

“No,” Teesia said quickly.

Laela looked  wounded. “Are you mad at me? Just because I said your dress was cuttoo low?”

Teesia gave her head a quick shake. “No, Laela. I just…wish to be alone, that’s  all.”

“Is something wrong?”

No, something’s right. Or it might be anyway, if I can ever get away  from this crowdedroom.  “Not at all. I just…want to give you some time with Maven.” She motioned to thechair she’d just vacated. “Here,  take my seat. We’ve not seen our sister in many months.  You should be given some time to speak with her, as I have.”

Laela smiled, believing the explanation. “You’re right, Teesia. Thank you.”

As Laela slid into the seat, Teesia’s  body began to hum with heightened anticipation. She had no idea if the man in  black would seek her out, but maybe, if she were lucky, she’d get a taste of the mysteries  of sex that so haunted her these days. Shesimply didn’t think she could wait until bride’s age to experience it, and even as much as his stare intimidated her, she realized  this was an opportunity that  would never return to her if she passed it up.

Of course, her father would kill her if he  had any notion what she hoped for, andshe knew wanting to be with this feral-looking man was wrong, but she couldn’t help her feelings, her body’s urges. Ralen of  Charelton had brought them to boiling levelwith just a glance, and she couldn’t help wondering what  else  he could make her feel.

She slipped from the fortress’s great hall into a corridor that led to the garden—which she thought would be a delightful place for a seduction. But she stopped when she caught sight of herself in an  enormous  viewing glass, its rare and jagged pieces from the Before Times pasted together on  the wall. Her father owned many of the valuable antique viewing glasses, but  she’d  never seen one so large, and it reminded her what power and wealth lay  outside  the royal fortress, as well. Maven had married well and Teesia could  only hope to be as lucky.

7

Lacey Alexander

A sconced candle lit the space only dimly,  yet highlighted the shadows and coves of her body. The manner in which the green silk  clung to her curves reinforced the notion that she was becoming a woman.

Then she noticed her hair, pulled back from her face. No man would touch a girlwith braided hair—it was unthinkable, an offense punishable by death if her father found out.

Dare she? Dare she take away the one aspect of her appearance tonight that identified her as a virgin,  a girl with a valuable bride’s price between her legs?

If her parents or sisters saw her hair flowing free, she’d be in immeasurable trouble…yet somehow, just now, the risk  seemed worthwhile. Maybe it was the wine driving her to such lengths, or maybe it was the stark lust she was experiencing for the mysterious Ralen—but whatever the reason, she wanted to be beautiful. A real woman, not just a girl on  the way to  becoming one.  She wanted to be a desirable, attainablewoman that the forbidding dark-haired warrior in the great hall could want—and have!

Biting her lip as she peered into the jagged-edged viewing glass, she reached upand began untwining her hair.  She could re-plait  it later easily enough. And even if thedark man did not seek her out, she could at least look on herself at her most exquisite—with her hair falling loose around her shoulders, framing the pale green silk thathighlighted her feminine curves.

Soon enough her hair was free, somehow setting  her  free, too. She smiled boldly into the viewing glass and thought,  Come and get me, dark warrior from the south. Come and make me a woman.

“Lovely,” said a deep voice from behind her in the darkness.

She flinched  and turned, but could only  make out the shadowy shape of a man.

“It was designed by