know so much about this time in history to make all this up?”
“I’m not dreaming and I’m talking to you, so I’d say you’re really here.” Augusta passed her a piece of bread layered with honey.
Janney was still torn. How could this actually be happening?
It was impossible. Nevertheless, there she’d been; sitting in a lovely courtyard in an ancient Roman villa, surrounded by all the conveniences of ancient life, talking to a woman who had never driven a car, never voted in an election. Never made a phone call, never sent a fax, didn’t have a microwave. As crazy as it seemed, Janney realized there was no way to return home except to go through that doorway. She’d tried that. At what point should she just accept this and go forward? She didn’t know, but didn’t think she was at that point yet.
“Augusta, I’m scared. What if I can’t get back? What am I going to do here? I can’t stand in the doorway all day and night waiting for the portal to open.”
Augusta reached across the table and patted her arm.
“You’ll just have to check the doorway when you can, and then go on with your life.”
“But the people at home. They’ll be worried. They’ll think I’m dead or kidnapped. Oh God, my mother warned me something could happen.” Her mother was always worrying and warning Janney about something.
“Dear, I’m sorry for your mother, but there’s nothing more you can do for her right now. The Gods brought you to us for a reason, and you should open your heart and your mind to the new experience. You might be pleased at what may happen.”
Obviously, Augusta believed the same as Marek. Believed the gods had done this.
What Janney had no way of knowing was that Augusta welcomed the young woman’s appearance. She loved Marek as a son and had prayed to her Gods that he would be relieved of his painful memories. He had alternately moped and raged ever
since the battle. This woman interested him, the first to break through the barrier he’d erected around himself. Augusta wanted to see Marek whole and happy again. She didn’t want Janney Forrester to be hurt, but she was here. The Gods must have sent her for a purpose, a purpose that could benefit both of them.
Dragging her thoughts back to the present, to the center of the Gorgon’s courtyard, Janney took a deep breath. Except for the fact that she was in another century, she felt real. She felt pleasure and anxiety. Excitement.
Sexual excitement. Oh boy, did she ever feel that.
Could she just forget what was supposed to be and go with what was? Could she allow herself to experience this as it happened and not expect to control everything as she did in her classroom? To experience the baths as they were in Roman times? Her intellect advised her to appreciate the opportunity to be here.
Yeah, sure, keep telling yourself that you’re fascinated by the history.
Her heart was in the most danger. The kisses last night got way out of hand. Now she’d see him again. Wracking her brain, she tried to remember if the Romans bathed naked.
Oh God, I think they do .
While she’d been crawling all over him, he’d been aroused.
She’d felt his thick, ridged penis at her hip when he pulled her over to his lap. Janney licked her lips and glanced at Augusta.
For now, she’d put herself in this woman’s hands. What else could she do?
Janney raised her gaze to the temple’s pediment. The Gorgon’s wildly flowing mane of hair and mustache, his wide, surprised, and sad looking eyes were familiar.
“He’s the most well-known symbol of the baths. Anyone who’s ever visited them recognizes this carving,” Janney marveled in fascination. “Don’t you think it’s amazing that it lasted two thousand years?”
“Yes, it is.” Augusta appeared thoughtful. “That’s the way I feel when I see the ancient stones out near Marek’s villa.”
“Stones? What kind?”
“Tall, in a circle. Some sort of Druid religious
“I’m not dreaming and I’m talking to you, so I’d say you’re really here.” Augusta passed her a piece of bread layered with honey.
Janney was still torn. How could this actually be happening?
It was impossible. Nevertheless, there she’d been; sitting in a lovely courtyard in an ancient Roman villa, surrounded by all the conveniences of ancient life, talking to a woman who had never driven a car, never voted in an election. Never made a phone call, never sent a fax, didn’t have a microwave. As crazy as it seemed, Janney realized there was no way to return home except to go through that doorway. She’d tried that. At what point should she just accept this and go forward? She didn’t know, but didn’t think she was at that point yet.
“Augusta, I’m scared. What if I can’t get back? What am I going to do here? I can’t stand in the doorway all day and night waiting for the portal to open.”
Augusta reached across the table and patted her arm.
“You’ll just have to check the doorway when you can, and then go on with your life.”
“But the people at home. They’ll be worried. They’ll think I’m dead or kidnapped. Oh God, my mother warned me something could happen.” Her mother was always worrying and warning Janney about something.
“Dear, I’m sorry for your mother, but there’s nothing more you can do for her right now. The Gods brought you to us for a reason, and you should open your heart and your mind to the new experience. You might be pleased at what may happen.”
Obviously, Augusta believed the same as Marek. Believed the gods had done this.
What Janney had no way of knowing was that Augusta welcomed the young woman’s appearance. She loved Marek as a son and had prayed to her Gods that he would be relieved of his painful memories. He had alternately moped and raged ever
since the battle. This woman interested him, the first to break through the barrier he’d erected around himself. Augusta wanted to see Marek whole and happy again. She didn’t want Janney Forrester to be hurt, but she was here. The Gods must have sent her for a purpose, a purpose that could benefit both of them.
Dragging her thoughts back to the present, to the center of the Gorgon’s courtyard, Janney took a deep breath. Except for the fact that she was in another century, she felt real. She felt pleasure and anxiety. Excitement.
Sexual excitement. Oh boy, did she ever feel that.
Could she just forget what was supposed to be and go with what was? Could she allow herself to experience this as it happened and not expect to control everything as she did in her classroom? To experience the baths as they were in Roman times? Her intellect advised her to appreciate the opportunity to be here.
Yeah, sure, keep telling yourself that you’re fascinated by the history.
Her heart was in the most danger. The kisses last night got way out of hand. Now she’d see him again. Wracking her brain, she tried to remember if the Romans bathed naked.
Oh God, I think they do .
While she’d been crawling all over him, he’d been aroused.
She’d felt his thick, ridged penis at her hip when he pulled her over to his lap. Janney licked her lips and glanced at Augusta.
For now, she’d put herself in this woman’s hands. What else could she do?
Janney raised her gaze to the temple’s pediment. The Gorgon’s wildly flowing mane of hair and mustache, his wide, surprised, and sad looking eyes were familiar.
“He’s the most well-known symbol of the baths. Anyone who’s ever visited them recognizes this carving,” Janney marveled in fascination. “Don’t you think it’s amazing that it lasted two thousand years?”
“Yes, it is.” Augusta appeared thoughtful. “That’s the way I feel when I see the ancient stones out near Marek’s villa.”
“Stones? What kind?”
“Tall, in a circle. Some sort of Druid religious
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