Ginny Hartman Read Online Free

with grace, and as she moved further into the hall and closer to where he was sitting, he had the chance to behold her exquisite beauty.
    Brown, silky hair wove around her bodice as she twirled in time to the music.  He watched mesmerized, as waves of hair curled around her arms and chest, touching her in places that he suddenly wished he could reach out and grasp. Then the music slowed and he watched as her movements slowed with it, grateful that her hair was no longer caressing her body alluringly.  But the relief that he felt was short lived as she began to sway her hips seductively. His mouth went dry as he watched her move with assurance, her arms twisting through the air, her hips continuing that tantalizing sway that was starting to drive him mad.
    He reluctantly peeled his eyes away from her long enough to glance at her parents, to see what their reaction was to the little vixen who was seducing the crowd. King Eustace and Queen Constance sat watching with pride gleaming in their eyes, seemingly completely unaware of the effect she was having. He thought about looking around to gauge the reactions of the other guests in attendance, but already his eyes had been off of the princess for too long, and he was loathe to miss another second of her mesmerizing dance.
    Focusing his eyes once more on her, his hand clutched his goblet of wine tightly, his whole body fraught with awareness, as he watched her intently. Soon, the young princess turned and looked directly at him, her wide violet eyes piercing his soul. It was the girl he had encountered earlier in the woods! This revelation did nothing to ease his escalating desire as their earlier encounter played out in his mind.
    He didn't have long to think back on the earlier events, for her dancing was utterly distracting him. He didn't know if it was his imagination, but he could have sworn he saw recognition flash across her lovely face, as she continued her dance right in front of him. Everything in the room faded but her. He wouldn't even allow himself to blink for fear of missing even the briefest of moments of her dance. She was so close to him now, so close his hands itched to reach out and grab her full hips and pull her down into his lap. He flexed his hands instinctively, wanting nothing more than to touch her, that is, until he looked at her lips. He nearly groaned in agony. Nay, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her.
    Long before he wanted it to, the song ended. The room was silent, everyone completely mesmerized by the little enchantress, but nobody more so than him. His breath caught in his chest, as he watched her hands fall to her sides and her eyes fall from his, as she slowly turned towards the High King. The only sound that could be heard in the great hall was the sound of her delicate slippers tapping on the stone floor as she purposefully made her way to the king's table.
    As she approached, she bowed herself gracefully before the High King and uttered softly, “I, Rosalind Fiona Mildred Alison Taran Violet Harcourt, humbly bow before you and ask of thee permission this day to enter into womanhood. May my request be granted?”
    The room was silent as everyone leaned forward slightly in their chairs, eagerly awaiting the High King's response, but nobody anticipated it more than Terric. His eyes studied King Cedric's face, a face that was as familiar to him as his own, and he knew that he would surely grant her entrance, for nobody had ever danced the Saylatee more perfectly than her. A tremor of jealousy washed over him as he awaited King Cedric's response. For a moment he hoped that he would deny her request, for the thought of any other man seeking her attention made his blood simmer in rage beneath his skin. But on second thought, he wanted nothing more than her entrance to be granted, for her to be officially available. To him.
    “Permission granted,” the High King's voice bellowed proudly throughout the great hall.
    The princess rose and