“Ahem.”
The embarrassed throat-clearing, followed by a second voice demanding, “Cover your shame, woman!” was the last thing Ginger expected to hear after the night she’d enjoyed.
Besides, she wasn’t sure how shame was supposed to be covered, especially when what she felt was marvelous. All right, she was sore and tender in places, and rather hung over, though not in the having-drunk-too-much-alcohol way. Who knew too much great sex could make you groggy?
Could you have too much great sex?
If it could be done, she’d done it tonight.
“Colonel, sir,” the embarrassed voice whispered. “Excuse me for waking you up, but—”
“Rouse yourself, man!” the other voice boomed.
Ginger giggled. “Please don’t,” she murmured. “Not on my account. Not just yet, anyway.”
“Wha? What?” Bern muttered.
She felt his breath brush her cheek when he spoke, and realized that he was the warm weight lying half on top of her. The cool morning breeze skimmed across the rest of her, teasing one bare nipple to a hard peak. Maybe that was the shame the guy was talking about. Was that any way to talk to the goddess’s own—
That voice…There was something familiar about it…
“Is that you, Dr. White?”
Ginger’s eyes flew open and she caught sight of a familiar, concerned face.
“Sergeant Kaye?” Oh, good Lord, she was naked in front of a colleague! She didn’t recognize the man standing next to him, but the stranger was frowning down at her with utter disgust written all over his face.
“His name’s Percy Perkins, and he’s a jerk,” Bern whispered. He sat up and said, “I hope you brought us some clothes, Kaye.”
The sergeant held out the dress Ginger had worn last night, and a long tunic for Bern.
“Of course you realize that I intend to report this infraction,” Percy said.
“Infraction of what?” Bern asked. “There’s no rule against team members fraternizing.”
“You led an orgy! Your disgusting behavior roused the indigenous population to—”
“He didn’t get any, sir,” Kaye put in.
Bern scratched his jaw. “I can see how that might make him cranky.”
“Not to mention being named Percy,” Ginger added. “That alone probably put the guy into years of therapy. Could you sue your parents for giving you a name like that?” she asked Bern.
He shrugged. “Ask Percy.”
“Well?” she said.
Percy declined to respond. But his posture, though it seemed impossible, became even more tense.
“I could use a shave,” Bern said. “And a bath.” He sprang to his feet and helped Ginger up. “How about you, sweetheart?”
“Definitely.”
“Have the team meet us at the bath, Kaye. But give us a few minutes, will you?”
They could hear Percy spluttering as they walked away.
She slipped the white dress over her head, and they walked arm in arm across the field toward the villa, frequently stepping over and around still-sleeping revelers.
The spring ceremony had apparently been a great success.
Kaye went off to his assignment, and Percy followed behind them, making the occasional disapproving sound. The morning sun shone down, the sky was blue, the earth was green, birds sang, and Ginger was happier than she’d ever been before. They had the blessing of the goddess, she supposed.
They passed the old bishop preaching to a small group of revelers who looked thoroughly hangdog and hung over. Myrdyn gave them a pleasant nod when he saw them pass him by.
“We must be good for business,” Bern said.
“If he baptizes all those people, the energy in the pool is going to be whacked out for days,” Ginger said.
“That is hardly a scientific explanation of a temporal malfunction, Dr. White,” Percy complained.
They both ignored him.
Once they reached the bathhouse, Ginger led them into the preparation room where oils scented the bathers’ bodies before they got into the hot water of the bathing pool. Benches lined the walls, and the floor was tiled in a beautiful leaf-patterned mosaic.
“This is where I meant to bring you yesterday,” she told Bern.
He pulled her close. They looked into each other’s eyes. “It was worth the detour.”
“You two are being disgusting,” Percy said.
Bern sighed. “You know, this time I think I agree with him.” He let her go. “We do need to make plans.”
“We have work to do,” she said.