Rocket Science
K.M. Neuhold
M/M Romance
Release Date: 09.27.19
Blurb
Relationships aren’t rocket science. If they were, I might stand a chance of figuring one out.
Elijah
Saying I’ve had a crush on my best friend’s older brother, Pax, most of my life is like saying the big bang was just an explosion. It’s true, but I’m not sure that quite captures the essence of its true enormity.
I know he’s only hanging out with me because I’m new in town, and getting my PhD doesn’t leave me with much time to make friends. And even if it did, my strength is mathematics, not friend-making. What I don’t understand is why he kissed me…why he seems to want to keep kissing me. I don’t think my advanced physics knowledge is going to help me figure this one out. But I think for once I’m okay with not knowing, as long as Pax and I don’t know together.
Pax
He’s still the awkward Nerdlet I remember…he’s also probably the cutest, most tempting man I’ve laid eyes on. I know I should keep my hands off him, but this thing between us is like a force of nature. I want to be his first everything. He says we’re nothing more than atoms crashing into each other. I’m no scientist, but I don’t think either of us are braced for the explosion.
Rocket Science is a stand-alone MM romance featuring an inexperienced nerd, a cocky player, and a satisfying HEA
“You were flirting with him. It’s okay, you can flirt with him, I just thought this would be a good learning experience for me, to know what I could do differently with other men in the future.” A slight quiver in his voice belies his otherwise calm tone.
“Oh, Elijah,” I say his name delicately, reaching out for him before I can think better of it. My hand lands on his waist, and I pull him a little closer so I can finally see his face in the dim light of the room. I brush my thumb over his cheek and look into his eyes, searching for the right way to explain it. “It’s not about you.”
He snorts a laugh and starts to pull away, but I tighten my grip on his hip.
“Come on, Pax. I may be awkward and inexperienced, but even I know the whole it’s not you, it’s me thing is bullshit.”
I’ve never heard him swear before, and it catches me off guard. He tries to pull away again and I grit my teeth in irritation.
“Will you wait one goddamn minute and let me explain?” I snap, and that stills him. “I don’t do relationships. You heard my friends last weekend; I’m a slut. I fuck anything that moves. You deserve better than that.”
“That’s all? You think I deserve more than you’re willing to give?”
“Damn right you deserve more,” I say. “You should be with someone who knows how to do all the hearts and flowers bullshit, who will take you on a proper date and woo you. You don’t want to waste your time with me, Einstein, you really don’t.” The words are like glass on my tongue, but they have to be said.
“I can do casual,” he says.
“What?”
He shrugs and moves closer. “We’re adults; it’s no big deal,” he reasons, leaning closer until I can practically taste the sweet smell of liquor on his breath, my heart beating faster as I resist the urge to reach out for him. “It doesn’t have to be complicated,” he goes on, pressing me into the door with his body against mine, small but somehow commanding in this moment. I shouldn’t want him, but fuck, he’s not making it easy. My breath hitches, and heat flares in his eyes. “We’re nothing more than atoms crashing into each other.”
And then we do crash into each other. His mouth claiming mine in a bruising kiss, his tongue sweeping past my lips to slide against mine. The timid man I kissed a few weeks ago is gone. There’s no awkward fumbling or shaky hands clutching the front of my shirt. Elijah’s arms loop around my neck, his hips pressed to mine as he grazes his teeth against my bottom lip before licking into my mouth again. A moan falls from my mouth into his, and I seal our lips more firmly together, digging my fingers into his hips to keep him in place
Author K.M.Neuhold is a complete romance junkie, a total sap in every way. She started her journey as an author in new adult, MF romance, but after a chance reading of an MM book she was completely hooked on everything about lovely- and sometimes damaged- men finding their Happily Ever After together. She has a strong passion for writing characters with a lot of heart and soul, and a bit of humor as well. And she fully admits that her OCD tendencies of making sure every side character has a full backstory will likely always lead to every book having a spin-off or series. When she’s not writing she’s a lion tamer, an astronaut, and a superhero…just kidding, she’s likely watching Netflix and snuggling with her husky while her amazing husband brings her coffee.
