It wasn't a question but she nodded anyway. "You know about our work?"

"A little. Why don't you enlighten me further?"

"Intergalactic business transactions are increasing everyday, as the transport system advances and becomes more efficient. Yet, because of the hundreds and thousands of galaxies and planets in the universe, not everyone knows the languages of their potential business partners. That's where we come in. As telepaths, we can communicate from mind to mind, sending pictures, images, thoughts, feelings, without the need for speech or writing. We serve as the medium between the two transacting parties, enabling them to negotiate their business through 'mind pictures'. If need be, we also record the transactions in the written languages that we know, which is usually requested by those from Earth."

"That's very important work that you do," he said gravely.

"It is." Rhiane warmed up, as she always did when talking about work. "The Federation is also fast being recognized as a very reliable third party witness to intergalactic business contracts even between those who can communicate with each other. We help to accelerate the universe's economy and everybody's profiting from it."

"You seem very happy and satisfied with your work. What is the problem then?"

"I..." she hesitated. Now that the time for truth had come, she wished she could have gone on talking more about her job instead.

He waited, his gaze intent and patient on hers.

"Please, this is just between us, right?" She leaned forward and turned earnest eyes on him. "It would ruin me should this get out..."

"You have my word on it. I'm bound by the medic oath, which forbids me from revealing confidential information on my patients."

"All right." She paused, swallowed, then said, "I've been having…I don't know how to describe it…but I suppose it could be called a 'blackout'."

"You don't know?"

"I don't know how to describe it," she started to say, becoming agitated. Panic fluttered in her heart. How could he help her if she couldn't articulate her condition properly?

He came around the desk, sat beside her and placed one hand over hers. "All right, calm down. We'll identify it together."

His hand was steady and warm over hers, almost dwarfing her small hands. It looked strong and exuded confidence. It should have quieted her but the feel of it stirred up memories of those hands on her breasts…on her thighs…in her-

She snatched her hands out of his and slammed the door on her memories. She was trembling, she couldn't help it. Just one touch and the heat came zinging back, making her very much aware of him as a man.

Damn. Her shields must have been affected by her fears and weakened.

"Why deny your memories, Rhiane?" Morgan asked in a low voice, his hand moving to grasp hers.

Oh god, he remembered!

He held on tightly as she tried to tug her hand away again but heat sliced its way through her when his thumb stroked her wrist with feathery caresses. She shuddered with longing. His gaze delved deep into her soul when he asked, "Do you remember this, Rhiane?"

An image flashed in her mind, of a man's head bending down to kiss the woman's lips. She was the woman and his lips on hers were warm and firm, sweet and intoxicating.

"Or this?"

She saw a man's hand slipping between the woman's legs. She knew the texture of those hands, those long, skillful fingers. And more hands at her back, caressing her buttocks. Her pussy clenched in reflex, as though his fingers were there on her body...

"Or this?"

She saw three naked bodies twining and twisting on the bed, the sensation of hard, male bodies enthralling on her naked skin. Tendrils of desire snaked down her spine to pool between her legs. She moaned from deep within her and the sound broke her away from the trance she had been in.