Read Online Ancient Ties by Jane Leopold Quinn - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jane Leopold Quinn
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columns and walls and paving stones. Not to mention, real live Romans.
Tipping her head back, she grinned joyously and reveled in the moment. The space was dim, a huge difference from its Twenty-first Century look. In modern times, the Great Bath had been open to the sky. Now it was covered by a high dome, which let in no light. Between the steamy water and the smoky oil lamps, the space was dark and dreamy.
My God, people would give big money to have this experience.
It was a Disneyland for archeologists or history buffs. She sank into a dreamy peace, drowsy and relaxed. She let the water caress her, the waves from the flowing hot spring swirled gently against her skin.
Janney listened lazily to Augusta’s conversation with another woman. She hadn’t slept well the night before, and all this heat and pampering caught up to her. She kept a polite smile plastered on her face until Marek’s name was mentioned. That perked her up. The woman was interested in how Marek was recovering.
Recovering from what?
She could tell that Augusta was being polite but cagey and didn’t want to give out much information.
It occurred to Janney that she really didn’t know much about him either, other than he was a great kisser, of course. He was a soldier, she knew that much, and he was on leave. Janney tried to put the story together from the questions the woman asked. From the bits and pieces dropped, she and Marek had dated or had a relationship—whatever it would have been called in ancient times. It sounded as if the woman wanted him back.
Janney shivered in the warm water. She didn’t think she cared for the picture of Marek and this woman making love.
She had no right to be jealous, but still, she was. No, this was way too intense. Jealousy over a man she’d just met, a man not even from her own time? Why would she care? It wasn’t as if he cared for her. To him, she was probably just another female.
Ultimately, even Ed had found someone more exciting and attractive. Janney believed that all she meant to Marek was a challenge. The strongest physical reaction she’d ever had to a man, and he had to be a warrior. The pain of her father’s death in war when she was twelve had never left her. How could she have any kind of meaningful relationship with a soldier?
Who said anything about meaningful?
Shivering, she thought of Marek’s lips and hands. He was skilled in seduction. Go for the target—whatever it takes. Win at all costs. She tried to ignore the rush of pleasure at the thought, and the tensing of her body. She didn’t need to look down to see that her nipples had tightened achingly, the soft lapping of the water only exciting them more. Hoping to distract herself, Janney raised her gaze to the outskirts of the pool. She heard a deep, gravelly bark of laughter. Janney lazily turned her head. Two men entered, talking and laughing. One had his arm around the other’s shoulders. Her breath stopped. Her heart fluttered. They were naked. Through narrowed eyes, she beheld him.
Holy cow!
Marek. A naked Marek! Buck-naked.
Oh, Lord, he is beautiful!
Tall, proud, and confident, he stood while Gaius talked.
Easy, unselfconscious, he responded, and they both laughed again.
Jolted back to reality by the water, cold now, against her newly heated skin, she was covered with goose bumps. Taking a surreptitious glance around, she wasn’t entirely surprised to note that just about every woman under the age of death watched Marek. Joining those women, she swung her gaze back
to him. He strode toward the pool, the muscles in his thighs flexing gracefully. He seemed to be moving in slow motion. His chest—so broad and firm. She’d hardly been able to keep her hands off him last night. Now, she craved to run her fingers over the ridges and valleys of that chest and down over his abdomen.
His hands, relaxed at his sides, drew her eyes downward to his flat belly. She bit her lower lip. Hard. Ed kept
Tipping her head back, she grinned joyously and reveled in the moment. The space was dim, a huge difference from its Twenty-first Century look. In modern times, the Great Bath had been open to the sky. Now it was covered by a high dome, which let in no light. Between the steamy water and the smoky oil lamps, the space was dark and dreamy.
My God, people would give big money to have this experience.
It was a Disneyland for archeologists or history buffs. She sank into a dreamy peace, drowsy and relaxed. She let the water caress her, the waves from the flowing hot spring swirled gently against her skin.
Janney listened lazily to Augusta’s conversation with another woman. She hadn’t slept well the night before, and all this heat and pampering caught up to her. She kept a polite smile plastered on her face until Marek’s name was mentioned. That perked her up. The woman was interested in how Marek was recovering.
Recovering from what?
She could tell that Augusta was being polite but cagey and didn’t want to give out much information.
It occurred to Janney that she really didn’t know much about him either, other than he was a great kisser, of course. He was a soldier, she knew that much, and he was on leave. Janney tried to put the story together from the questions the woman asked. From the bits and pieces dropped, she and Marek had dated or had a relationship—whatever it would have been called in ancient times. It sounded as if the woman wanted him back.
Janney shivered in the warm water. She didn’t think she cared for the picture of Marek and this woman making love.
She had no right to be jealous, but still, she was. No, this was way too intense. Jealousy over a man she’d just met, a man not even from her own time? Why would she care? It wasn’t as if he cared for her. To him, she was probably just another female.
Ultimately, even Ed had found someone more exciting and attractive. Janney believed that all she meant to Marek was a challenge. The strongest physical reaction she’d ever had to a man, and he had to be a warrior. The pain of her father’s death in war when she was twelve had never left her. How could she have any kind of meaningful relationship with a soldier?
Who said anything about meaningful?
Shivering, she thought of Marek’s lips and hands. He was skilled in seduction. Go for the target—whatever it takes. Win at all costs. She tried to ignore the rush of pleasure at the thought, and the tensing of her body. She didn’t need to look down to see that her nipples had tightened achingly, the soft lapping of the water only exciting them more. Hoping to distract herself, Janney raised her gaze to the outskirts of the pool. She heard a deep, gravelly bark of laughter. Janney lazily turned her head. Two men entered, talking and laughing. One had his arm around the other’s shoulders. Her breath stopped. Her heart fluttered. They were naked. Through narrowed eyes, she beheld him.
Holy cow!
Marek. A naked Marek! Buck-naked.
Oh, Lord, he is beautiful!
Tall, proud, and confident, he stood while Gaius talked.
Easy, unselfconscious, he responded, and they both laughed again.
Jolted back to reality by the water, cold now, against her newly heated skin, she was covered with goose bumps. Taking a surreptitious glance around, she wasn’t entirely surprised to note that just about every woman under the age of death watched Marek. Joining those women, she swung her gaze back
to him. He strode toward the pool, the muscles in his thighs flexing gracefully. He seemed to be moving in slow motion. His chest—so broad and firm. She’d hardly been able to keep her hands off him last night. Now, she craved to run her fingers over the ridges and valleys of that chest and down over his abdomen.
His hands, relaxed at his sides, drew her eyes downward to his flat belly. She bit her lower lip. Hard. Ed kept
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