Rocket Science (Love Logic, #1)

by K.M. Neuhold

“Here you go, Nerdlet,” I say, setting his down in front of him. He frowns up at me. “Do you remember my name?” he asks suspiciously. “Elijah,” I purr, the alcohol in my system unleashing my flirty side with full force. But I refuse to acknowledge the way his name rolls off my tongue or how cute he is when his cheeks pink. “Oh,” he says a little shyly, reaching for his food and digging in without another word.

“You know what I do when I’m afraid of saying something stupid?” “What?” I ask. “I purposefully say something really stupid right away to get it out of the way. If he laughs it off with me, then I know we can have a fun date, and I’m able to relax. If he’s weird about it, I make an excuse and get the hell out of there.” My mouth falls open as I consider the sheer brazenness of that tactic. I push my glasses up my nose as they start to slip. He purposefully says something stupid knowing that someone else will hear it? “That’s…wow, if I wasn’t sure I’d burst into flames with embarrassment, I’d totally try that.” “Embrace the embarrassment,” he advises. “It’s never killed anyone.” “That you know of,” I point out. “Thanks for the advice though.” “No problem.” He finally releases my shoulder, and I sigh with relief.

“Can we…” I gasp against his mouth, barely able to hear my own words over my pulse thundering in my ears. “Anything,” he murmurs, dragging his lips along my jaw, the rough stubble on his cheeks abrading my skin. “Tell me and I’ll give it to you.” His words wash over me and lick at my skin like fire.

“Pants on or off?” he checks, his fingers grazing along the waistline of my jeans, making me tremble. “Off,” I answer instantly. Oh my god, I’m going to see Paxton without pants on. If this is a dream, please, please, please don’t let me wake up before I get to see his dick.

“Wow.” Elijah breathes out the word as if he’s just seen the face of God, a blissed-out smile on his lips, his skin flushed pink, sweat clinging to him along with our release, smeared on his stomach in the most obscenely sexy way I’ve ever seen.

“Elijah Morgan Cummings

EMC. Hahaha. I see what you did there, Neuhold.

My memory didn’t do him much justice, his cock so big I don’t know if I could hold it all in even two hands. How this thing is ever supposed to fit inside any part of me seems like a feat of engineering I should really take some time to understand the mechanics of.

I don’t care how or when this fizzles out, I’m going to enjoy the flame as long as I can.

In truth, my mind has been entirely focused on the physical aspect of what we might do, and that’s something I’m not sure I can ask him at this point without bursting into flames.

“What made you want to be a rocket scientist?” I ask. “Wow, hard question,” he says with a small laugh. “I can’t remember a time I didn’t want to design rockets. It’s like an immutable law of the universe—I want to understand everything there is to know about engineering and physics so I can make something that can go where I never will. I want to leave my mark in the stars. I want to be a footnote in history in the distant future when they’re talking about how we got to the point of colonizing other planets. I want to be part of something so much bigger than me.”

Elijah’s hot, that’s indisputable, but right now, glowing with happiness, his hopes and dreams spilling out of him faster than he can form the words, he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on. I think not kissing him right now might go against the very foundation of life itself. So, I don’t resist.

I know I’m not supposed to feel anything other than lust for Pax. That’s kind of the whole point of our not complicated arrangement. But what am I supposed to do when he takes me somewhere so thoughtful and looks at me like I’m someone? What am I supposed to do when he kisses me like he doesn’t have a choice? If he doesn’t want me to fall in love with him, he’s doing a really crappy job of keeping that from happening.

bristle at the idea of anyone else touching him, but I know that’s insane. Like he said, we’re nothing but atoms crashing into each other. But I have to admit, I’m starting to wonder if we’ll survive the inevitable explosion.

There’s beer in the fridge—help yourself if you want one,” I offer. He wrinkles his nose, and my heart trips over its own beat. “I’m good, thank you.”

“There’s this idea in string theory that there are infinite parallel universes with infinite possibilities,” he says, settling closer to me, his soft cock, still wet with his cum, pressing against my thigh as he hitches a leg over mine and nestles his head onto my chest. He lets out a content sigh, his whole body relaxing into me. “I hope we’re doing this in every single one of them.” “I love you.” The rogue words roll off my tongue, never bothering to check with my brain before leaping into existence. Elijah stiffens in my arms for a second, even his breath stilling. My heart gallops in my chest, waiting for his response, but wholly unprepared at the same time.