Damn it. She was getting emotionally attached to them.
"Now I have to know the truth about what they are," Sheena said out loud, frowning as she stared at the rejuvenator cylinder. "I just have to."
A throat clearing in his office doorway had Nate's head swiveling away from his workstation. The electronic communication he'd been attempting to answer lost all importance as his gaze took Sheena in.
She was wearing clothes today that covered nearly every inch of her. His mind instantly stripped them away, reminding him of what she'd looked like last night, when she'd been naked and begging him to come to bed.
His personal torture amped up to a nearly intolerable level of arousal. He mumbled swear words under his breath as he rubbed his nose.
"Stop it, Nate," Sheena said sharply, glaring at him.
"Stop what?" he nearly yelled back, feeling cranky as hell.
"I can't talk to you when you're all but drooling. Are you going to be able to talk rationally to me or should I come back later?"
Nate snorted and finally tore his gaze away. "If I'm churned up beyond what's polite to show, it's your damn fault. I've gotten hard every five seconds all day long which is about how often I've thought of you naked and begging me to make love to you."
"You know it was the ale," Sheena said firmly, drawing in a big breath for courage. She came into the office and slid uncomfortably into a chair in front of Nate's boring metal desk. "I can't believe this place looks just the same as it did a hundred years ago. Even the furniture. Don't you ever want to change anything?"
"Only my underwear," Nate joked, watching her eyes light with irritation over his flip answer. He shook his head and sighed at her seriousness. "No, Sheena. I don't seem to crave constant change the way many people do. Sameness suits me."
"You got that from your mother. The Provost never changes her mind about anything. That's one of the many reasons I knew I could never work with her." Sheena sighed as she looked around. "I still can't eat the same thing for breakfast more than once a week. I don't know how we ever managed to stayed married for twenty-three years."
"It worked because we were complementary opposites," Nate said softly.
Sheena's eyebrow raised at his accurate, even if textbook, definition of their former relationship. "Did you get a psych degree after I left?"
"Of a sort. I spent more than a century with your matchmaking parents. Plus, I read a lot on the subject of complex relationships," Nate said, shrugging off his answer. He wasn't about to tell her that he'd also married not one, but two women, who were relationship therapists. Both had declared him a hopeless case.
Sheena swallowed tightly and brought her gaze to Nate's. "Tell me what Angus and Erin are."
Nate released a slow breath, thinking about the limitations he was under. "They're normal humans just like me and you. I wish you could just accept that and let the rest of the explanation go."
Sheena shook her head. "What are you keeping from me, Nate? They're less than half my age, but look exactly like my parents did when they were younger. There are only one or two possible explanations for such a situation. I know the aliens did not give us technology to rejuvenate my parents that much. Your new matchmakers even openly admit they're not my parents. Ergo, Angus and Erin have to be clones."
Nate shook his head and firmed his jaw. "They're not clones, but I can't tell you their origin story. The Guardians have denied your clearance to hear it. I've sent forward an appeal on your behalf because I knew you'd want to challenge their decision."
"Of course, I want to challenge it. If Angus and Erin were made from any DNA belonging to any now deceased McNamara, Bri and I have a right to know. Use of any Familial DNA would make Angus and Erin our lawful property."
Nate snorted, and then he grinned. "Please tell them both that story within my hearing. I'd love to see their faces when you explain they're your DNA property. That would absolutely make my day."
Sheena ignored the sarcasm. "When I arrived, you offered to show me their DNA reports. I'd like to see them now."
Nate nodded. "Sure … but it's going to cost you after the torture you and your sister have put me through."
Sheena threw up her hands. "I can't believe you want money to tell me a truth I have every right to know. You're a bastard, Nathaniel Tiberius-a real bastard."
Sheena pushed herself out of the chair and stomped around for a moment while she struggled to keep her temper in check. When she'd calmed down, she turned to find her torturer standing less than a foot in front of her and grinning like an idiot.