Darcone raised an eyebrow at his hesitation, but didn’t comment. Out of excuses and pride, Nate raised his fist and let his knuckles rap on the door.

“Leave now,” Darcone said in a growly whisper. “No go in there.”

Startled by the strange advice, and by Darcone speaking so much to him, Nate’s gaze swung to the grumpy alien. “I have to go in,” he answered. He’d fallen asleep on Sheena when she’d come to see him. That at least deserved an apology, especially after his cock-blocking crew broke in on them earlier.

“Happy, you will not be,” Darcone warned, as Bri answered the door.

“Oh, good morning. I thought you were Angus.”

“No, thankfully I’m not him. Is Sheena awake?”

“Yes, but she’s a bit distracted this morning, Nate. We had a late night visitor. How about you come back later?”

“If it wasn’t important, I wouldn’t be here, Brianna. I need to see your sister this morning.”

“Okay.” Bri turned and grinned at Darcone. “Stay alert. We may need you to referee.”

“A joke, this is not,” Darcone said gruffly, growling at Bri’s laughter.

“It is if you have a sense of humor. Maybe you should get one, Darcone,” Bri answered, stepping aside.

Nate glanced warily at both of them before moving around Brianna to enter the suite. A disheveled, grungy looking Sheena sat at the table hunched over her work com. She was wearing her snug workout pants and that short top she’d had on when she’d come to seduce him. She’d never looked sexier. His body hardened at sight of her.

“Admiral Tiberius? Good morning, Sir. General Scott Montgomery from Novus Prime. Your captain said you were indisposed when I arrived yesterday evening.”

Nate’s gaze swung to the speaker, his hand automatically extending at the formal greeting. Now he understood what his captain had been yammering about when he’d burst into his quarters this morning and woke him at some insanely early hour.

Then his gaze fell to the small towel that barely covered the man below the waist. Scott Montgomery’s gaze followed his down.

“Yes. Sorry for my state of undress. I haven’t located my clothes this morning.”

“They’re in the bathroom where you left them,” Sheena lied deftly, not lifting her gaze from her com.

Nate’s gaze took in Sheena, looked at Scott, and then beyond them all into Sheena’s bedroom. The bed covers looked like they’d been tossed to the floor during the night. His mind shut down, refusing to guess what had gone on, even though the naked evidence was standing in front of him.

“How about I make ya a cup of fecking tea, Nate?” Bri asked cheerily, doing her best imitation of Angus’s accent. It had him glaring, but also managed to snap him out of his stupor.

“I’ll take a cup too,” Sheena murmured. “Make mine a double. Keep them coming.”

“Let me just get a shower and make myself presentable. Then we can talk,” Scott said. He looked at Sheena and then back at Nate before shrugging and heading to the bathroom.

A giggling Bri headed to the kitchen.

“Brianna MacNamara, don’t make me kick your giggling ass this morning. I don’t care how strong you are. I’ve got stuff in my medical satchel that will make your skin purple for weeks.”

Nate, still dazed over the nearly naked general, walked to the table and took the seat across from Sheena. “Chaos follows you around, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. I eat it for breakfast,” Sheena said tiredly.

“Bad night, Dr. MacNamara?” Nate asked.

Sheena snorted. She marked her place in her studies and closed down the com. Too many nosy people were now up and about. Fighting Scott’s sexual advances off this morning had not been her idea of a good way to wake up. She’d nearly given in just to dull her persistent arousal, but her guilt was bad enough as it was.

She pushed her com aside. “Yes, it was a bad night,” Sheena said tersely.

Nate tilted his head to the door. “So you and Montgomery.”

“No. It’s old news,” Sheena replied. “He never got the notification. He knows now though.”

“Doesn’t look that way.”

Sheena huffed. “Jealous?” she asked.

Nate let the accusation settle between them. “Yes. I suppose I am since you were in my bed last time I saw you. Did you sleep with him?”

Sheena debated on her answer, but settled on honesty. “Yes. But not the way you think. That’s what he thinks though and I’d appreciate it if you would just let him think it. I would prefer he take that version of last night back to Novus Prime with him. I have reasons.”

Nate snorted. “So you spent the night with Montgomery for old times sake, but you wouldn’t stay with me when I asked. Why?”

“I don’t stay with men who keep things from me. That’s why Scott is in the process of becoming history. Are you willing to tell me the truth about Angus and Erin?”

“I’ve told you all I can,” Nate said.

“No,” Sheena replied. “You haven’t. You’ve told me all you’re willing to tell me because your loyalty is not to the matchmakers or to me or even to yourself. You’re following orders from people who are lying to you just like you’re lying to me.”

Nate was silent as Bri slid steaming mugs in front of them.

“Thanks,” Sheena said.

“You’re welcome. Let me know when you’re hungry and I’ll make you some food.”

Bri bent and planted a kiss on the top of Sheena’s head. Sheena reached up and patted her sister’s arm. Then just as quietly, Bri walked to a chair in the sitting area and picked up a reading com.

Nate watched it all warily. The MacNamara females were suddenly a tight unit of two. In all the time he’d known these women, they’d never been this close.

“You should know I’ve filed paperwork to take ownership of Angus and Erin.”

“What?” Nate asked, his gaze whipping back to a determined Sheena staring at him over her cup.

“If they’re registered as clones of our parents, and that blatant lie is being used to convince most people, then it’s only right that Bri and I own their DNA. I uploaded the request through my personal Guardian link. You’ll probably have their approval coming through in the next couple of days.”

“Have you told Angus and Erin you’re claiming them as property?” Nate asked, stalling his panic the only way he knew how.

“Not yet,” Sheena said calmly, “but I don’t think they’ll mind when I explain the situation. They already think of Bri and I as family. It’s not like I’m going to turn them into test subjects. I merely want the right to protect them… and I will.”

Nate leaned forward, glaring at the woman he wanted to kiss so badly he couldn’t think straight. “Why are you doing this, Sheena? They’re not clones. You know they aren’t. You tested them and you saw their DNA report.”

“Then what are they, Nate?” Sheena asked again, sipping more of the amazing brew from her mug, grateful for its magic. Her brain was coming around again. She kept giving Nate chances. That’s what love did to a person.

Scott chose that moment to exit the bathroom, smelling shower fresh and smiling broadly. He walked to the table and put his hand on Sheena’s shoulder. She looked up into his clear green gaze and reminded herself that he had been lying to her for over a year. It made it easier to keep the hurt at bay.

“Feeling better?” she asked sweetly.

Scott nodded. “Yes. Got a call that woke me up though. I need to get back. Did you tell me you were staying or did I dream that?”

Sheena chuckled. “I did tell you that. I need to remain here until my claim for the clones is formalized. Plus, my sister is supposed to be dating aliens and picking a mate. I’m planning to stay until my life resembles something more like normal.”

“Good luck with that,” Scott declared, leaning down and kissing her lips. “Chaos follows you around.”

“I hear that a lot,” Sheena replied, not looking at Nate. She felt his whole body tighten when Scott kissed her a second time. “Last night was wonderful—a great way to say goodbye.”

“Absolutely, Dr. MacNamara. Take care of yourself. Call if you need me. That’s not going to change.”

“Thanks, Scott. And thanks for explaining my situation to the Director for me. I appreciate it.”

“Always happy to help a friend.” Scott turned to address Nate. He bowed his head. “Admiral. Thanks for letting me visit. I’ll be sure and give the AAS airship a good report.”

“Next time call first… or you might not leave with the same feeling,” Nate said, glaring back at the man.

Grinning at Sheena, which she knew Scott did mostly to irritate Nate, her deceitful lover turned and walked briskly to the door. She heard Darcone growling as he escorted Scott away. Too bad Darcone’s species wasn’t one of the ones who ate their fellow aliens. Scott’s wife and kids could probably do better than a man who slept with targets.

“Great. I now officially hate all men,” Sheena declared, putting her full attention back on her mug.

“Is it completely over with that guy?” Nate demanded.

“What’s it to you if it is?” Sheena snapped, grumpy and frustrated by all the male posturing over something that hadn’t even happened.

She didn’t see Nate get up until he was looming over her. His hand was in her hair and his mouth on hers before she had time to process his intentions. She groaned into his mouth, hungry as ever for him. Scott’s kiss hadn’t caused a single flutter. Nate’s kiss stripped her soul bare.

Nate eventually let her go and eased away. “Believe me now that nothing happened?” she whispered.

Nate nodded and kissed her hard again, drinking in her response. “One day you’re going to tell me what the hell went on last night.”

“Only if you morph into a man who holds nothing back from me. You can’t expect honesty if you’re not willing to give it.”

“This is not a matter of honesty. It’s a matter of world security,” Nate said gruffly.

“No. It’s a matter of family, of loyalty, of knowing who matters most on this planet. I will own Angus and Erin by the end of the day. If I want to take them with me when I leave, there’s nothing you or your mother or the Guardians can do to stop me—and I would advise you not to try, Admiral. Nobody fucks with the people I love. Nobody. I don’t care what their politics are.”

Nate straightened and backed away. “You’ve changed, Sheena. You’re harder than you used to be.”

“Yes, I have changed. It’s what happens when people disappoint you over and over again. I wish I could same the same about you. I’d be climbing you like a tree right now if you had ever loved me even a fraction of the amount I loved you. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect you—even now—and I hate myself for still caring. Now go away before I call my droids.”

Not saying anything more, especially with Brianna hanging on every word he said to Sheena, Nate spun on his heel and left as fast as General Montgomery had. Whatever game Sheena was playing with the other man, she obviously didn’t trust him enough to confide about it.