Cosmic Love (Stargazers Book 1) Read online

  Gina shivered.

  “What's wrong?” Ford walked beside her now.

  “Nothing. It's just...so isolated.”

  “You'll get used to it. Well, mostly.” He grimaced.

  I wonder what he's thinking.

  “I hope so.”

  “It does get lonely, though.” Ford sighed as he led her to a small building with a dome. “Here's the observatory.” He brushed her hand with his when he opened the door.

  A tingle raced up her arm.

  They climbed a set of stairs to a tight space. He stood right behind her. “Here's where the magic happens. We have guys come in to read the printouts for this monster, but it's given us some great leads. You'll have to come over occasionally to monitor equipment.”

  “Okay, great.”

  “I really think we're going to work well together. It's been a while...” he trailed off, his face turning red.

  “What?” Gina desperately wanted him to finish his sentence.

  “Since I've been attracted to anyone so much.”

  “Um, wow. You're direct.”

  He shrugged. “To a fault, I'm told, but I guess a lot of scientists are. It's lonely out here, but it's more than that. My last relationship was with another physicist. Things didn't work out.” His mouth twisted.

  “I see.”

  “I loved her for her mind, but there wasn't a physical connection between us.” He frowned, adjusting a few knobs on a panel.

  “Ah.”

  Well, this is awkward, sort of. But not really.

  “Anyway, I know this is fast, but would you like to grab a bite with me tonight at the cafe on base?” Ford gazed into her eyes, and she swallowed hard.

  “Sure. What time?”

  “I'll pick you up from your place about 6. We don't like to work past 5:30 around here. We're under a lot of pressure, but working weekends means burnout if we work too much during the week. You know how that goes, I'm sure.”

  “Uh huh.” All Gina could think about was that she was going out on a date with Ford Crossett—tonight.

  He showed her the printout center, and they walked back down the stairs and on to the next place.

  * * * *

  Gina left the lab at 4 with Ford's blessing.

  He probably wants me to rest up for our hot date tonight.

  He had told her not to get too overwhelmed the first day. “You have plenty of time—at least a year.” He had laughed.

  She knew how it went. She had burned out before with new research projects, and she didn't want to do it this time around. That might be tricky seeing as how she was stuck in the desert, too.

  But there are the dudes here.

  Gina sank down onto her bed, setting her alarm for 5:15. She needed some sleep; her brain hurt from looking at graphs and data for hours. But she was happy.

  Best first day ever—a date with the sexy boss.

  * * * *

  When her alarm trilled, she woke up, heart hammering.

  What to wear?

  She chose a slinky black dress with sling back pumps. It might be overdressing, but she wanted to impress. Gina slicked shiny red lipstick on and a bit of blush. She didn't want to overdo the makeup, but she knew she looked more dramatic with some, rather than with very little or none.

  As she sprayed on her perfume, a knock sounded at the door.

  “Here goes nothing.” She blew herself a kiss in the bathroom mirror before going to let Ford in.

  He almost took her breath away when she opened the door. His long hair was pulled back.

  In a man bun?

  She could only hope, but she would have to wait until he turned around to see.

  He wore a dark blue shirt that set off his gorgeous eyes and slacks that left no muscle to the imagination.

  “Ready? You look nice.” He drew a hand from behind his back and gave her single red rose.

  “Thank you.”

  The man knew how to romance a girl. A single rose was a nice touch—not over the top, but it showed that he had put some thought into the evening. And around here, a single rose might not be too easy to find.

  “Shall we go to the Cafe of the Stars?” Ford rolled his eyes.

  “Is that really the name of the place?” Gina laughed and linked her arm with his proffered one. She lay the rose on the entry table.

  “Yep. I couldn't make that up. And it's our only eatery. Luckily, they serve pretty good grub.” They walked down the hall. She stole a look at his hair again. It was a man bun. She loved that style and the way it made a guy look so confident in himself and his sexuality.

  Gina hoped that Larch wouldn't come strolling out of his room. He didn't. It wasn't like he owned her, but he had been the first to make a move.

  But he didn't ask me out on a date nicely—not like Ford did.

  “So, I really cannot leave this place?” She sighed.

  “You can—but only in an extreme emergency or with months of clearance. If you had a big event coming up, you could go to it, in other words. But you'd have to give the government your first born child.” He laughed.

  “Wow, sounds like fun.”

  “I'm kidding—a little bit.”

  Luckily, no one saw them leave. The cool night air hit Gina's arms, and she shivered.

  “You're going to have to get used to cool nights in summer around here. It's hot as hell during the day, but then things mellow out.”

  “Obviously.”

  They walked in silence down the dirt road. Neon lights signaled an eatery.

  “Here it is—Cafe of the Stars. I can't count how many times I've eaten here now.” Ford laughed.

  “Think we'll run into anyone we know?” The idea made Gina a little nervous. It was too soon to get talk started.

  “Eh, maybe. You do realize that all the guys are dying to ask you out? I just made it to you first.”

  “Um, sort of.” Gina snickered.

  Ford stopped and held the door to the cafe open for her. “What do you mean?” He frowned, and she enjoyed seeing his jealousy.

  “Larch stopped by with some wine last night.”

  “Oh, hell. I should have known,” Ford growled. He led her to a cozy booth in the back. She let him face the door.

  “He didn't ask me out, though—not really.” She felt a bit bad about telling Ford about Larch's visit.

  “He will.” Ford's gaze darkened. “He's the playboy of the group. There's not a safe woman here—not even Ellen.”

  Gina giggled at the thought of Larch and the elderly Ellen fancying each other.

  “You're harsh.”

  They grew quiet as a waiter came to take their order. Ford recommended the sirloin plate, and he ordered the same.

  “I'm not harsh,” he said, after the waiter left.

  “That's good to know.” She winked and sipped at a water the waiter had left.

  “Just be careful with him. Seriously, Gina. He's a heart breaker.” Ford's expression was as serious as stone.

  “I will. Anyway, I'm here with you. So, enough about him.”

  He brushed her leg with his under the table, and a thrill of electricity ran up to her thigh.

  “So you are. And about me? Well, not much to tell. I do physics. It's my life, and that's why I'm here.” He grinned.

  “Hmm. A man of mystery.”

  “Not really. I'm just passionate—about one thing...at least right now.” He winked, and warmth flooded her.

  I could skip dinner and move right to desert, but that's not very ladylike of me.

  “I understand. I'm the same. I left my live-in boyfriend for this. Well, I wanted him to come along, but he wasn't in to that.”

  “That would have required marriage in a case like this or his living somewhere nearby and you begging for permission to sneak off from here once in a blue moon.” Ford sipped his water.

  “Yeah, it would have been okay with me. We never got that far.” Gina sighed, a pall falling over her mood.

  “Hey, chi
n up.” Ford touched her cheek gently.

  “Sorry. I'm still not really over it.”

  “I can tell.” He shrugged. “Give yourself time. You can still have fun, though, right?” He clicked his tongue suggestively.

  “I guess so.” She smiled at him, holding his gaze.

  I can't wait to get back to my room or his later.

  Their food came, steaming and smelling delicious. “This looks amazing.”

  “It is.”

  They ate in silence for a moment.

  “Seriously, though, we can get involved. It's fine, you know.” Ford put his fork down, watching her.

  “Um, okay, and you know this because...?” Gina trailed off, playing with a bite of baked potato.

  “I'm the main boss, and I called my boss last night to ask.” He leaned back and stared at her.

  “Oh.” She swallowed hard.

  “Yes. I think that's called planning ahead. As long as we all keep our minds on work at work and don't have any petty drama, he's fine with it. We do get random inspections, and they will be on the lookout for tension and that sort of thing with a new employee.” He cleared his throat. “Especially one that looks like you.”

  She laughed. “I see.”

  “So, here we are. Dessert?”

  * * * *

  “That was delicious.” Gina stretched and moaned softly as they walked out of the cafe.

  “Always. I've had that cake I don't know how many times, and it never disappoints.”

  They walked along in silence for a bit. “So, would you like to go back to my place and have a drink?” Ford asked, his hand under her elbow.

  I thought you'd never ask.

  “Sure.”

  “I know it's a work night, so I won't keep you out late. Although the weekend will be here soon. Not that it matters much. If we need to work, we do.” He chuckled softly.

  “Sounds good to me. I could use a drink. I just now feel like I'm starting to catch my breath,” Gina said, sighing.

  “We'll see about that.” Ford opened the door to the apartments, his tone suggestive.

  “Hmm.” She smiled as he opened his door.

  “Guys! What's up?” Larch Montbrook strolled toward them, a tight smile on his lips.

  “Oh, shit. This guy always picks the worst times,” Ford muttered, shoving the key all the way in the lock.

  “Not much. Dinner.” Gina gave him a challenging grin. “Enjoy your evening, Larch.”

  She walked inside Ford's apartment, savoring the look Larch had given her. It was one of pure, unadulterated jealousy.

  And she liked it.

  “Whew. Glad you lost him,” Ford said, throwing his keys on the table.

  “Me too.”

  Sort of.

  A pang went through her. She hadn't meant to hurt Larch's feelings...or start drama.

  “What are you drinking?”

  “A screwdriver if you have the stuff to make it.”

  “Of course I do.” Ford winked at her and worked on their drinks. “Make yourself at home.”

  Gina sprawled out on his luxe brown couch. The place was nice—modern like her place, but it had a touch of maleness about it with animal statues and outdoorsy objects on the end tables.

  “Nice place you have here,” she joked.

  “Look familiar?” He brought their drinks in. He held a cold beer and handed her a large screwdriver.

  “Wow. I'd better drink up.”

  “That's the idea.” He gave her a seductive smile, and heat suffused her veins.

  She took a long quaff of her drink, and he did the same with his beer as he sat very close to her. The heat off of his body came to her in waves, and her core turned to liquid.

  Without a word, Ford gently took her drink and lay his on the table next to it. She didn't resist him as he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. His lips pressed into hers with urgency. She moved her hands to his hair and moaned.

  “Mind if I mess up the bun?” she whispered.

  “Hell, no. Do whatever you want to it.”

  Before she could, he lay her back on the couch and kissed the hollow of her throat, her neck and the top of her breasts. His tongue swirled over them, leaving trails of fire on her chest. She moaned. It had been way too long since she'd felt anything like this.

  “I want you right now,” he rasped.

  “Do you have protection?” she asked as he stroked her inner thigh with his hand.

  “Of course.”

  She said no more as he flipped her over with a quick move. He shoved her dress up and yanked her pantyhose down, kicking her heels off in the process.

  “I need to be inside of you. I've wanted to be since the moment I saw you, Gina.”

  She gasped as his lips searched her inner thighs, his hands kneading them as he went.

  He moved her dress up higher, and she moaned as his warm mouth pressed against her bottom. He kissed and sucked her cheeks as his hand moved to her clit.

  “Oh my God. Please don't stop, Ford.” Her clit tingled, and she was already soaking wet. “I want to come.”

  “I know you do, but you can wait a minute.” He laughed as his fingers teased the erect nub.

  Her pussy clenched in warning. “If you don't stop, I won't be able to hold back,” she ground out between her teeth.

  “Don't worry. I'm going to take care of you, baby.”

  She whimpered as she heard a wrapper crinkle.

  Ford grabbed her ass with both hands and pushed inside of her.

  “Oh...” she said. He was large and long, filling her. That much she could tell.

  “You like that?” He didn't move.

  “Yes, please,” she begged.

  “Please what?” He laughed softly, squeezing her ass cheeks.

  “Fuck me.”

  “Like this?” He slid out and back again so slowly she thought she would scream.

  “Harder!” She wriggled against him, trying to push his cock deep inside of her.

  He teased her with the tip of his cock against her pussy. Then he let go of her right side and moved his fingers back to her clit.

  “Oh no.”

  “Oh yes, baby.” He flicked his cock against her pussy hole and rubbed her clit in a smooth rhythm.

  “Please fuck me. I'm going to come now.”

  “Go ahead,” he commanded. “It won't be the last time tonight.”

  Gina exploded, seeing red and blue stars in front of her eyes. “Ford, oh my God!”

  He pushed his cock deep inside of her, making her orgasm even better. Waves of pleasure rolled over her as he pounded into her cunt.

  “I don't want to come yet,” he said and pulled out of her.

  “Umm,” was all she could say.

  The tip of his cock pressed against her ass. “May I? You're ass is so ripe. I've been wanting to do this since I first saw you, too.”

  “Of course.”

  So, he's into anal.

  “I'll just smooth the way.”

  Gina heard him opening and closing something. Man, he's prepared for anything.

  Ford spread her ass cheeks wide and worked a finger into her canal and then two. She moaned with the pain and pleasure of it.

  “Tell me if it hurts.”

  It just might. It had been...how long?

  He pushed into her slowly—an exquisite torture.

  “You okay?” He stroked her back as one would a child's who is distressed.

  “Oh yeah. Better than okay.”

  “Good. That's what I like to hear.” He groaned. “You feel so good—so tight.”

  She laughed softly, and he moved into a rhythm, pistoning in and out of her.

  “Oh yeah.” A tingle pulsed through her from back to front.

  “Like that?” He rammed into her with a grunt.

  “Yes.” Unbelievably—to her anyway—the tingle intensified until she was on the brink of exploding again.

  “Are you ready?” He asked, moving dee
ply inside her.

  “Oh my god. Yeah.” She moaned and pushed against his cock.

  “Me too.”

  When he shouted, it triggered Gina's own release. Again, she saw explosions behind her eyes. This time, they were more like meteorites than stars, though.

  Ford collapsed on top of her, hugging her to himself. He kissed her neck. “I'll be right back,” he whispered.

  Gina sighed with contentment when he pulled out of her and disappeared into the restroom.

  That was mind blowing.

  She could have purred like a kitten, rolled over, and gone to sleep. She was that content after their lovemaking. When was the last time John had brought her to orgasm twice? So long ago she couldn't remember.

  He returned in a few moments, a big smile on his handsome face. “I enjoyed that.”

  Gina giggled. “Me too.”

  “Can you stay the night?” He asked, sinking down next to her. He massaged her feet with strong hands, and she whimpered with pleasure.

  “Yes.”

  Without a word, Ford took her hand and led her to the bedroom.

  * * * *

  To her surprise, the alarm woke her at 7 a.m.

  “I can't believe I slept all night.” Gina stretched and snuggled closer to Ford's warm body.

  “Me either...with you beside me. You're too sexy for sleep.”

  She laughed as his erection pressed against her stomach. “Round two? Do we have time?”

  “Of course.”

  “I have to get a shower and get dressed.”

  “Shh, we'll be quick.” He caressed her breast, and she groaned.

  Gina grasped his cock with one hand and cupped his balls with the other. She had wanted to take him in her mouth the night before, but he had been in control.

  “Oh, Gina.” His words were a prayer to a goddess as she shimmied under the sheets. She took the tip of his cock in her mouth, tasting the salty top of it.

  Ford groaned, rubbing her head with his hand. “Don't stop. Where did you learn to do that?”

  She didn't answer as she swallowed the rest of his thick, hard cock and moved up and down. She teased him, moving the head against her lips before letting him push hard into her mouth.

  “Stop, baby, or I'm going to come now, and I want to come inside of you.”

  Gina slid his cock into her mouth—deep--one more time. “Okay, okay,” she said, peeking up above the covers.