Stavros woke up because he could hear birdsong. He'd been having the strangest dream, where he was on a long highway in the middle of nowhere trying to thumb a ride. Only all the vehicles on the road were military jeeps, and none of them would stop for him. He'd been able to feel the gravel on the side of the road under his bare feet, prickling the soles.
He sat up, shaking off the remainder of the dream because he felt someone beside him. Not just beside him, but inside his head. The Russian shook his head as if to clear it, looked to his left. It was a woman, and Stavros flushed when he realized she was naked. It didn't help that he'd slept in his boxer shorts the night before, and he immediately covered his groin when he realized he was sporting morning wood.