Nate's Fated Mate(36)

"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.