What he’d done to relieve himself of his physical torment took the edge off his lust, but the effect only lasted until he found himself thinking about kissing Sheena in his office. There had never been another woman who generated that much desire in him merely by breathing. How she did it was now a century old mystery he’d never been able to solve and probably never would.

The quiet knock at his door surprised Nate. Crew members normally contacted him via com link first unless it was critical. He grabbed a shirt and pulled it on as he walked to answer. A freshly showered Sheena with wet hair stood on the other side. He stared at her as he pulled his shirt down into place. The urge to tug her into the room rolled over him like a wave.

“Hi. Can I come in?” she asked.

Nate swung the door wide to let her pass. A low growl from Darcone was followed by a resigned head shake as the alien walked off. After a hundred years of serving with Darcone, words between them weren’t really necessary in most situations. That suited Darcone because he didn’t like to talk anyway. It normally suited Nate too, but he no longer saw it as a positive for his character. Now it only made him feel emotionally shut off from just about everyone on his ship.

He closed the door and turned slowly. Sheena was dressed in comfort clothes, gray banded workout pants and a tight top that molded to every curve she owned. It wouldn’t have been a seduction wear choice for most women. But it had always been Sheena’s. Her relaxed clothes signaled the scientist was finally going off-duty.

“Did you come about the report?” he asked, testing his theory.

Sheena studied the floor as she sighed. “Not really. I’ve decided there’s no use digging until I know what to ask. I’m sure you suspected I’d react that way.”

“Are we being politely honest… or just honest?” Nate asked.

“Honest.”

Nate felt one corner of his mouth lift over her utter lack of hesitation. “Yes. I suspected you’d be stumped by the information.”

“But you’re not willing to tell me more about why, are you?”

“Not at this time,” Nate said wearily. He was surprised when Sheena nodded.

“Okay. Next issue. Can I stay the night?” she asked.

Nate stared, unsure he’d heard correctly. “Just like that?”

Hearing the echo of Bri’s surprise in his question, Sheena decided she must have gotten more blunt over the years. A woman had needs, didn’t she? She’d decided to let Nate take care of the ones she had for him—on her terms, of course.

“Yes. Just like that. I’ve gotten very realistic about sex in the last hundred years. I’m tired of being wound up. Aren’t you?”

Nate frowned at the flat statement. Did Sheena really think all they had was a physical attraction? That had never been the case with them. It wouldn’t be the case tonight either—if he let her stay. He studied her, looking for what, he didn’t know. When he made no move, Sheena laughed at his hesitation.

Grabbing the bottom of her shirt, Sheena pulled it over her head in a one smooth motion, leaving her naked from the waist up. Her nipples beaded as Nate stared.

“Breathe, Nathaniel.”

Nate looked away from a now half naked Sheena to save his sanity. His clothing felt like it was choking him. “Why are you doing this, Sheena? Tell me the real reason.”

Sheena shrugged. “Do I really need to explain our mutual attraction to you? It was obvious to me this afternoon that we weren’t done with each other. Maybe all divorced couples go through this second chance thing. I don’t know.”

“Well, I do. I’ve been divorced from five women. It’s only been like this with you,” Nate said sharply.

“Thank you, I think,” Sheena said with a small chuckle and a shake of her head. “If that’s the case, why aren’t you over here taking advantage of my offer. Don’t you want me?”

Nate hadn’t felt himself move, but suddenly he was standing next to her. One hand cupped her naked breast while his mouth lowered and slid across hers as unerringly as ever.

Want her? This wasn’t just about wanting her. This was madness… lust… need. He needed her. He needed her like he needed air.

Even through the blood pounding in his ears with his loud heartbeat, he heard the fasteners of his pants give way seconds before Sheena’s hand plunged inside and closed around him. Stroking firmly, she groaned into his mouth, and he eagerly swallowed every tiny sound. Only this woman had ever brought him this sense of rightness and a pure, hot, all-encompassing desire to be inside her.

A flashing light above his door drew Nate’s attention from her and had him muttering an epithet. He pulled his shirt off and roughly tugged it over a dazed Sheena’s head as she stared in shock at the guards now coming inside. Nate used her hastily clothed body as a shield while he fastened his pants back. The uncomfortable tightness at least flattened his erection enough to make him presentable.

“Apologies, Admiral. A strange shuttle is requesting permission to dock. They lacked normal clearance for coming aboard the AAS airship. Those aboard only laughed when I asked for their registration. My instinct is to deny them, but I wanted to check with you first. It’s rare anyone dares to go around well established protocol.”

Nate stepped around a stiffening Sheena. He could feel her shutting down… and shutting him out. “Next time, use the damn com to warn me of your arrival. Wait for me outside, Captain.”

Sheena snorted as the man’s eyes widened over what she was sure was an unusual order. The idiot finally took in the scene he’d burst in on. You could see in his gaze the moment his pea brain finally figured out exactly what he’d interrupted.

“My apologies… uh… to you as well… uh… Dr. MacNamara.”

“For what? Interrupting my stupidity?” Sheena asked, smiling wickedly. Stooping, she picked her shirt up from the floor where she’d dropped it during her pathetic strip show. “Do you think it surprises me that this airship is still staffed with more cock-blocking human bastards than aliens? I assure you that it does not surprise me at all.”

“Sheena…” Nate began.

She raised a hand to stop his denial. “Save it, Admiral. I don’t need more lame apologies. I’m horny, not heart-broken. But don’t worry, I can take care of my own needs later. It not like I wasn’t used to doing that most nights when we were married.”

Beyond the stunned and gasping men, Sheena spied a semi-friendly face. “Oh look… Berg is here. He can take me back to Bri’s quarters. Now there’s nothing stopping you from rushing off to do your job, which apparently only you can do. I know how much you love being needed by every creature on this fucking airship.”

Sheena walked forward with intention. The still startled men with Captain Cock-Blocker parted for her to pass. She saw Berg look over her head, no doubt seeking permission from Nate, but she didn’t wait on him to get it. She started back to Bri’s room at a rapid clip, cursing herself for giving in to her physical weakness.

At least some good had come of tonight. The sexually frustrated walk down memory lane had re-immunized her. Lust, desire, and whatever warmth she’d been feeling for Nate had left the moment he’d thrown his shirt over her head to hide her nudity. Worse, his scent now surrounded her, wiping away a hundred years of therapy. Just how crazy was she acting?

Thoroughly pissed, and just as thoroughly aroused now, Sheena promised herself that she was not about to fall down the damn rabbit hole of wanting him more than air again.

* * *

“Captain Cock-Blocker?” Bri laughed as she repeated the nickname. She also noted Sheena hadn’t taken off Nate’s shirt yet. Her too intelligent, former brother-in-law had to be one of the most stupid males she’d ever met when it came to women. “Did you actually call him that to his face?”

Sheena ran a hand through her hair and nodded. “Do we have any ale? I’m wound so tight, I feel like climbing the walls.”

Bri chuckled, nodded, and rose from her seat to fetch a glass. She ended up pouring two and brought them both back to Sheena.

“Here. You can drink mine too. Maybe it will take the edge off. There’s nothing worse than coitus interruptus. It makes a woman mean.”

Snorting, Sheena took several good swallows. Then she lifted the first glass and downed the rest. She set it back on the table harder than she meant to.

“Damn Nate for making me feel like an idiot again. My hand was wrapped around his dick and the fucker still pulled away from me. Who does that shit? Other men wouldn’t have done that shit. I fucking know that’s the truth. There have been plenty of men in my life and none ever turned me down. None.”

Bri nodded. “Of course, they didn’t. Nate’s just… I don’t know. I can’t explain him. Captain Cock-Blocker though. Wow. Every time I see him now, that’s all I’m going to be able to call him, even if it’s only in my head.”

“I’m glad my torment entertains you, Bri.”

Bri leaned back and studied her sister. “Bet Nate’s jaw dropped when you said all that. He’s not used to you being so sassy. A man has to respect a sassy woman. There’s no other choice.”

“I wasn’t sassy,” Sheena denied. “I was flat out a bitch and didn’t care. I still don’t.”

She drank until she drained the second glass and set it beside the other empty one.

“Okay. This too shall pass. I’m heading to take a shower—a really long one that hopefully will involve some productive groaning and maybe even some weeping. I advise you to turn on a action vid and create some background noise.”

Unable to look at her now giggling and nearly hysterical sister, Sheena walked to the bathroom. At least this trip wasn’t turning out to be a total loss, she and Bri were finally getting to act like a normal family.

Well, normal for MacNamaras that is.

* * *

“Admiral, I’m terribly sorry about interrupting your…”

“Save it for our discussion tomorrow,” Nate ordered, striding ahead of his captain to the docking bay. “They offered you the Guardian access code. What more did you need from them?”

“But we…”

“We what? Never get visitors? No, we typically don’t, but that’s changed a lot these last few months, now hasn’t it?”

He was halfway to the shuttle when the pilot opened the door, but all he noticed was Sheena’s four droids turning their heads toward those debarking. It was uncanny how sophisticated they were… and how more freaking smart his former wife had become over the last century. Programming wasn’t even Sheena’s real job. It was just her damn hobby.

Keeping his back to his men, Nate rubbed his forehead and then lowered his hand to rub his chest as well. Tonight was the first time in his entire life that he remembered regret owning him. Watching Sheena leave, especially knowing she so upset and mad at him, had nearly reduced him to not being able to function.

His narrowed-eyed gaze roamed backwards until he spied his ship’s captain staying a healthy distance away from him.

“Captain Cock-Blocker does fit him perfectly,” Nate said under his breath, convinced now that his mother was right. Sheena was definitely a MacNamara, no matter who had supplied the DNA that made her.

By the time his gaze returned to the shuttle, he was stunned to see the official keepers of Dargoona Castle walk down the debarking ramp. They were his age and Sheena’s age and had served the MacNamaras all their life.

“Carleton? What are you and Elsa doing here?” Nate asked in surprise, walking briskly to the older man. They were actually close in age. The ageless miracle of Sheena’s serum hit him once more. Carleton’s head nodded in reply to his greeting. Elsa’s shy smile warmed him.

“Hello, Nathaniel. Two days ago Provost Tiberius came to visit. She had not been expecting the droids Sheena left to guard us. We put what was left of them in the armory for safe-keeping. I know sometimes Sheena’s efforts are… experimental.”

Nate’s mouth twisted in a half smile. “Good call. Sheena will not be pleased Mother broke her toys. I don’t look forward to dealing with the inevitable explosion.”

“Yes. The droids did the job they were programmed to do,” Carleton replied, looking around. “However, once the droids were gone, Provost Tiberius insisted we accompany the kilt makers here until she could determine our safety. She personally left a battalion of guards at the castle. I think she was concerned about the reasons Sheena had felt the need to leave droids.”

“Whatever the reasons, I’m glad you’re here. I only wished the Provost had warned me so I could have greeted you properly,” Nate said, actually meaning it. “Let’s put you two in quarters next to Angus and Erin. Sheena and Bri are already installed on one side. Having all of you there together will allow me to assign you the same guards.”

“Whatever you think is best. You’ll have to pardon our shock. Elsa and I aren’t used to flying more than just to the next island over for supplies… and most times we take the water shuttle.”

“You may see a few aliens while you’re here.” Nate saw Elsa’s eyes widen. He put a hand on her arm. “It’s alright. They’re not going to try and hurt you, but seeing them can jolt a person at first. Just try not to stare too long. Some consider that a challenge. Most are decent beings.”

Elsa nodded and stepped closer to Carleton who put an arm around her. “I’m sure we’ll be fine,” Carleton said for them both.

It was then that Nate heard a group of men arguing at the top of the shuttle ramp. His chin lifted. “Who are they?”

Carleton didn’t even turn. “They’re the kilt makers. Your Director John sent them with us. He wanted to make sure Angus got exactly what he wanted.”

“Kilt makers?” Nate repeated, staring at the two men now descending the ramp. What in hell was he supposed to do with them here? Had John lost his mind?

“Half the shuttle is full of their kilt making supplies,” Carleton told him. “They’re going to need a work area as well as a sleeping room. Fortunately, they’re life partners. If needed, we can share a suite with them.”

“No. That won’t be necessary. I’ll find them a place,” Nate said, shaking his head. His life had been so simple before the Universe 6 version of Angus had arrived.

“Hello, Handsome. Where are all the aliens? Everyone here looks so normal and boring,” one of them said to him in complaint as they got close.

Carleton cleared his throat, let go of Elsa, and turned to stare hard at the man. “This is Admiral Nathaniel Tiberius and he runs the Alien Abduction Services airship. If you don’t mind your manners, you’ll soon find yourselves doing your tasks from a cell below deck. If you don’t believe me, ask Brianna MacNamara. The daughter of the Matchmakers just got out of the Admiral’s holding cell.”

Nate wanted to laugh when the two men swung startled gazes his way. He glanced at Carleton who turned to him and winked as he cleared his throat again.

“Admiral, this is Evan and Matthew Troy—your kilt makers.”

Nate nodded at the intro. “Gentleman, for your safety and the safety of this airship, you will not be seeing any aliens outside of your guards. I suggest you conduct yourself with decorum. Our interplanetary visitors do not react well to humans gawking and staring at them. Don’t make me have to explain your deaths to the Provost.”

“Sir… yes, sir,” they both said, before grinning at each other.

Nate had to work not to roll his eyes. More irreverent visitors meant more trouble. Great. Just what he needed.

“Captain…” he called out. A quick scurrying later brought his wimpy second to his side. “See to it the kilt makers are put in a suite on deck two with a room next door that can be used for their work. Have their supplies from the shuttle unloaded there.”

“Yes, of course, Admiral.”

“I’ll take care of our other guests personally. They’ll be staying until I talk to the Provost.”

“As you wish, Admiral.”

As he wished? What he wished was that Sheena was going to be waiting in his quarters when he returned. That was definitely not going to happen. Nate let a frustrated breath ease out when the quietly chatting cloth wielders followed the man who’d ruined his evening.

“How are the rejuvenated Angus and Erin adjusting?” Carleton asked as they started to leave the shuttle area. “They seem very different from the previous versions.”

Nate snorted and chuckled. “Turns out that level of rejuvenation is a very tricky thing,” he said, lying as best he could. He wasn’t sure how much the AAS director had told the castle keepers. “They’re certainly a lot more trouble now to deal with, that’s for sure.”

“I see. So not really adjusting at all then.”

Nate’s laughter over Carleton’s dry summary echoed through the halls.