He stood, his mouth agape and a shocked look on his face.She winced at his reaction. "Up until last year, this picture was me.I got into trouble and ...ost my scholarship." She knew that Brian adoredher, but she also knew that she _had_ to tell him the whole story, sincehe'd asked her on a date. "I found a job at the Morris Foundationclinic - as an adoption facilitator. It's called a lot of other things,too, like a rent-a-womb." But you were a guy?"Tommi nodded. "They used the organ cloning. All the time she kept her hands on my face and neck in intimate caresses. She smiled, and said, "Hi, again. I'm glad you're back from the war. I didn't even know enough to worry about you." I didn't say anything since summer was beginning and I had no idea how long I would be gone. The government keeps changing its mind about how long the tours are." I decided to follow her lead and run my fingers over her face and neck mirroring what she was doing to me. I had learned that often women would do. Then again not many Malaysians spoke proper English."I should hope not," I said. "He sold you to his gang, but you knew that, didn't you? Owed them money because of his fondness for horse racing." One of his gang said so."She showed considerable sangfroid at the oddest times.Then she brightened and said softly, "Hey, Mr. Kaid, how about ... I mean you like to ... um ... do me again? And maybe also bite me on neck like other night?"I turned slowly and faced her."Bite you on the neck? You crazy. Doing her part, my Muse ran -- scampered, actually -- to Steve and gave him as huge a hug as her diminutive frame would allow. The show she was putting on, fawning over Steve, was actually uncomfortable to watch. "Good Lord," I said to Nancy's Muse, "I can't have been THAT bad! Can I?" "Actually, Peta," she replied, "you were somewhat worse. Magick will do that to you, though. Ah wouldn't worry about it, sugah." "Did my big ol' Stevie-bear have a hard day?" my Muse cooed to Steve as.