Astronomical

When sexy, kilt-wearing astronomy professor Greg MacIntyre moves in next door, Blake Theriot knows he's in trouble. Blake is a research librarian, and he likes things orderly and controlled, except in his secret fantasies where he craves a big, powerful man like Greg to shake things up.

Every time Blake tries to talk to his erudite neighbor, his brain shuts down and his vocabulary consists of one-word utterances. When a few shots of after-dinner whiskey loosen Blake's inhibitions, the two men share a hot kiss and the promise of more. If Blake can let go enough to give Greg a real chance, his life might be forever changed.

Dedication

To my husband, the number-one geek in my life.

Astronomical by Silvia Violet

Copyright © 2012, 2016 by Silvia Violet

Cover art by Meredith Russell

All Rights Reserved. No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Smashwords Edition.

Published in the United States of America.

Astronomical is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are fictionalized. Any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

CHAPTER ONE

The front door banged open, making me jump. I muttered a curse as I looked at the spaghetti sauce I’d splattered on my shirt. Now I’d have to change before I headed to work.

Blake, are you in the kitchen?

Yeah.

My sister’s shoes made a swishing sound as she walked through the living room and into the kitchen. It smells great.

Thanks, I answered absently as I looked through the spice rack for cayenne.

Have you been outside lately?

I shook my head. Renee had a conspiratorial tone in her voice that told me trouble was coming. I focused on the sauce. I would not fall prey to her scheme, whatever it was.

You should come check out the view.

I tasted the sauce and added more pepper. Why?

When you told me your new neighbor was an astronomy professor, I imagined someone even geekier than you.

Heat rose to my cheeks like it did every time I thought about Dr. Greg MacIntyre. No one had caused such a strong reaction in me in years. The man was truly devastating—tall and beefy with wavy red hair I longed to run my hands through, preferably while on my back throwing my legs over his shoulders. No need to choose between brains and brawn with him.

But during the few conversations we’d had, I’d babbled like a fool in response to his erudite remarks. If Greg was gay—and he’d given me no solid reason to believe he was—he wouldn’t want a drooling imbecile for a partner.

Renee started to say something else, but she was interrupted by her daughter, Haley, rushing into the kitchen. Hey, Mom. I thought I heard you come in.

Renee was raising Haley on her own. She worked as a nurse in pediatric intensive care and had arranged her schedule to work three night shifts in a row and then have four days off. Haley usually spent those nights with me and occasionally stuck around for a few hours after school on the first of Renee’s days off so her mom could catch up on sleep or run some errands.

Haley turned pleading eyes on me. Dr. MacIntyre is outside. Can I go meet him now?

I was rushing to get dinner made because I’d agreed to fill in for someone at the main campus library and had to go back to work. My shirt was stained. I’d overslept that morning and raced out the door without shaving or doing anything to tame my curly hair. This was definitely not a good time.

But Haley had been anxious to meet Greg since he’d moved in a week ago. She loved astronomy and all the mind-boggling math it required. She’d seen Greg setting up a telescope in his backyard and hoped he’d let her take a look through it. I couldn’t deny her the chance to meet a real-life astrophysicist, especially one so well-respected that Louisiana State University had lured him away from Berkeley for their Advanced Gamma Ray Survey Mission. I wasn’t sure exactly what the program’s professors did, but their work sounded impressive and expensive.

I sighed. I’d already made an ass of myself with Greg, so what difference did it make how I looked?

Sure. Just let me— Before I finished my sentence, Haley shot out the door. I nearly busted my ass racing after her. Renee laughed as I stumbled down the porch steps.

When I reached the yard, my heart nearly stopped. Greg was indeed outside, up a ladder, fixing a broken gutter, wearing nothing but a utility kilt. A fucking kilt. Could he get any more perfect?

I stared, frozen to the spot. My mouth watered as I took in his muscular legs, his round ass, and the broad expanse of his back. He reached up to hook the gutter back in place, and I bit my lip to hold in a groan at the sight of his muscles flexing.

Uncle Blake? Haley snapped me out of my trance. Are you okay? she asked.

Uh…yeah. I’m fine.

Her lips turned up in a mischievous grin. You like him, don’t you?

Who?

She rolled her eyes. Dr. MacIntyre.

I prayed her loud whisper hadn’t carried across the yard. He’s a nice man.

Right.

Not a conversation I wanted to continue. Come on. Let me introduce you.

As we got closer, I had to resist the urge to look up Greg’s kilt. Sweat rolled down my temples as I wondered whether he was naked under there. At least in the Louisiana heat, everyone was sweaty.

Hi, Greg, I called.

He looked down and smiled. His green eyes sparkled, and my cock responded. I so didn’t need to be standing there with a hard-on.

I know you’re busy, but I wanted to introduce you to Haley.

Hi, Haley. He waved at her, and she blushed a deep red. Even ten-year-olds couldn’t resist him.

He started down the ladder, his kilt lifting with each step. I couldn’t stop myself from peeking. I nearly passed out when I caught a glimpse of his pale, ass cheek. My cock hardened more, and I prayed he—or worse, Haley—wouldn’t notice.

When he reached the ground, Greg shook Haley’s hand. Nice to meet you.

"Nice to meet you too. I was hoping you’d show me your telescope sometime. I’ve been reading Seeds’s Foundations of Astronomy, and I’ve got lots of questions."

His smile widened. Most likely you already know more than most of the freshmen I’ve taught. I’d love to answer your questions and do some stargazing together.

Haley grinned. Great!

I nearly swooned. Greg was hot, brilliant, and apparently also good with kids.

There are lots of cool things I can show you. How much math have you done? Any algebra yet?

I barely heard his questions. My gaze was glued to his hand as he ran it casually up and down the handle of his hammer. I couldn’t stop imaging him touching my dick the same way.

I’ve been working on algebra on my own, Haley said. My stupid school won’t let me move ahead, and my class is still adding fractions.

He rolled his eyes. I’ll help you with the math too.

Haley’s face lit up. That’s awesome! Thanks! She glanced at his kilt. So are you, like, Scottish, or what?

He laughed. On my father’s side, yes, but I wear kilts because I like them, especially this style. It’s got lots of useful pockets and straps. He slid the hammer he’d been caressing through a loop on the side as a demonstration. Pants get too confining.

My knees threatened to give as I thought