Nate stood over his father and stared into the face of the man who helped make him. He was still working to accept that someone in his famous family had chosen to walk down a path that led to six innocent deaths and money deals with criminals.

He was also still working to accept the new version of Sheena and the alarming skillset she’d developed during the hundred years they were apart. Did he really think he could live with a woman who’d probably brainwashed him to get him to tell her what she wanted to know?

The sight of her walking into medical made his dick start saluting. That answered the biggest part of his questions, but he still wasn’t ready to admit it yet. He was still upset and wanted her to confess her actions. He also wanted her to promise to never do it again.

“Thank you, Toorg,” Sheena said, patting the alien’s right pec the way Erin had told her Toorg enjoyed.

“I am Toorg,” he said happily, nodding to Nate over her head before trotting off.

Sheena walked to the medical table and stared down at an older version of Nate. “I am so thankful I gave us both the serum when I did. You look great instead of being half-way to this. We’ve got years before you’ll start to look this old.”

“Could we not debate my father’s appearance? How hard did you hit him anyway? That was a level 4 concussion you gave him.”

“He still has all his man parts, doesn’t he?” Sheena asked.

Stirred no doubt by their arguing, Nate’s father thrashed and finally opened his eyes. He looked at Nate and then at her.

“How are you feeling?” Sheena asked. “That was a bad bump you got on your head. Bri feels really bad for spilling her tea and not mopping it up. You walked in and hit the floor before she could get it cleaned.”

“Tea? What’s tea?”

Sheena laughed. “Sorry. I meant herbal stimulant. The new matchmakers call it tea. I’m not sure what they mean.” Sheena put a finger to her head and rotated it while he stared at her. “Clones get a little woo-woo sometimes. Programming weirdness.”

“Clones?” he whispered.

Sheena looked into his clouded, pain-filled gaze. “Yes. I assumed you had the clearance to know. That’s why Nate and I told you.”

“Right. Sorry. Terrible headache.”

Sheena patted his shoulder. “It’s no problem. Good thing you have such a hard head.”

“When can I travel?” he asked.

Nate narrowed his gaze on a grinning Sheena before shifting it to his father. “A few hours more, so long as you have a pilot. You’re in no shape to pilot a vehicle yourself.”

“You sound like a healer.”

“I am a healer, Father. I have a degree and everything,” Nate said.

“Right. Always forget that. Figured being an Admiral was enough of a job.”

“Well, it has been up to now. I hired a new Captain. Mom thought it was a great idea, though I’m sure it broke a few alien hearts. First time in nearly 500 years that a woman left the program before making a match.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

“Brianna MacNamara. She’s been assigned to the AAS ship with me.”

“Your mother…”

“Mother was thrilled. She’s hoping Sheena and I reconcile and give her a grandchild. Would you like that too?”

“I guess. I need to talk to your mother. We’ve let things go too long. Need to divorce.”

Nate nodded as he held his father’s gaze. “I always suspected you weren’t really a couple. She never said, but you were never around when I visited her. It’s been over 50 years since I’ve seen you.”

“Can’t see you if you never leave this fucking ship.”

Nate glared when Sheena crossed her arms. “Well, I used to—before I became Admiral.”

“I know. You’ll never leave this flying can now. You’re just like your mother, married to your damn job. Why do you think I left her? I wanted a real life.”

Nothing else the man could have said would have felt more like a verbal slap. Nate patted his shoulder like Sheena had done. “Okay. Rest now. Let the meds work their magic. You’ll wake up feeling better in a few more hours.”

Leaving word to be contacted when his father woke again, Nate and Sheena walked silently to his office.

* * *

Nate picked up her hand and tugged her with him to his chair. He sat in it and pulled her down into his lap. He hardened beneath her wiggling ass but ignored his arousal. They had way too much to settle first.

“I need you to tell me the truth, Sheena. Did you do to me what you did to my father?”

Sheena patted his cheek. “Yes.”

“Just like that? You can be all matter of fact about brainwashing me?”

“Yes. Just like that, and it wasn’t brainwashing. I merely planted suggestions in your subconscious mind. I’d pretty much figured out what Angus and Erin were, but I needed confirmation. I couldn’t regret my actions after I discovered the truth about Scott. Enemies were surrounding me and Bri on all sides. You weren’t coming over to my side fast enough. For a little while there, I was afraid you never would.”

Nate pulled her head to his shoulder. “I’m still pissed at you. Maybe I have no right to be, because I know everything you said is valid, but I’m still going to be mad for a while. I hate being used, even when I can see I gave you no other choice.”

“It’s okay. We’re used to being mad at each other. I can deal, if you can. Just hurry and get over it. I would really hate to spend another century drifting from lover to lover looking for someone to replace you.”

“I’d hate that too,” Nate said, hearing the resignation in Sheena’s answer. She would do exactly that if he made the wrong decision—something he had no intention of doing. “So what now, Dr. MacNamara, Super Spy?”

“First, we tell the Guardians about your father and the director Novus Prime. I’ll have to make a trip personally to do it. This is not something to be done over a com line, no matter how private.”

“Maybe you can go when Angus and Erin do. John said the Guardians have agreed to see them.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Sheena said.

“The Guardians might decide to kill my father,” Nate said sadly, realizing the truth of his words.

Sheena nodded against his neck. “They might. Or they’ll watch your father and my boss once they know. Either way, your father didn’t die at your hands when he could have—or at mine—or even Darcone’s hands. That pissed alien really, really wanted to kill the man.”

“Darcone,” Nate said, thinking about it. “He’s started speaking to me. A hundred years of silence, and now he’s chatty every time I see him. I guess people really can change.”

“In love, he is,” Sheena teased.

“Stop,” Nate ordered. “Don’t make fun of his speech.”

Sheena snorted. “Bri’s right. You really need to get a sense of humor. Darcone thinks it’s funny.”

Nate chuckled in her ear. “He thinks it’s funny when Bri does it. He wants to sleep with her. Everything your sister does is pretty much okay with him.”

“Well, there’s nothing stopping them from having a relationship,” Sheena said.

“Except that he’s obligated to take a mate home to his planet. That won’t be Brianna now, will it?”

Sheena sighed. “All these complicated rules. Love is not supposed to be this hard, Nate.”

“Now you sound like Angus and Erin.”

“Well, they’re right about this,” Sheena said, raising her head to meet his gaze. “And they’re right about giving the alien matches a wedding send off. If you want this program to really work, you’re going to have to let the two groups mingle and get real. Those fucking computer match-ups are driving Erin crazy. It’s only so long before the woman blows up about it.”

Nate sighed and then laughed. “You don’t have to convince me. I’ve seen her blow up. I hide in my office when it happens. She’s one of those women who gets angry during their menses.”

“So do I. Did you really hit on her?”

Nate chuckled. “Jealous much?”

“Yes.”

His laughter over her instant answer earned him a couple punches to his chest. “Nothing happened. I was just attracted at first. She reminded me of you. It was pathetic how much in love with Angus she was. Stupid idiot almost messed it up. I kept having to get between them.”

“You played matchmaker?” Sheena asked.

“More like I refereed and mopped up the blood. I thought Angus was going to pickle himself with alien ale before they worked things out.”

“Are we going to work things out?” Sheena asked.

“Yes. We are going to work things out,” Nate said firmly. “I can’t lose you again. I punched out my own father to save an alien because of you. You make me do the right things, whether I want to or not. I need a strong woman in my life.”

“I’m not campaigning to be your mother.”

Nate snickered. “Okay. Then marry me—again. Be my wife. I’ll do better this time.”

“Can I think about it?” Sheena asked.

“Sure. I have my own methods of convincing you,” Nate said, sliding open his desk drawer. He pulled out a remote. “See? I have cool toys too.” The door clicked and locked.

He lifted Sheena until she straddled his lap. “I think this office needs to be christened with a screaming orgasm, mostly because I need back inside you. I’m having withdrawal.”

“Sex in your most sacred space. Why Admiral Tiberius, I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes, Dr. MacNamara. Just say yes.”

Nate decided Sheena’s hot, needy mouth on his was far better than hearing the words.