Glitch (Next Level Book 1)

Wearing a maxi dress was a big mistake. I’m wet. If I sit, it’s going to show. I’d forgone underwear because… well…

Like I said, big mistake.

Glitch is staring at me like he wants me for dinner. And he’s got green eyes with blue and yellow flecks in them that seem to darken the more I stare. He sucks in his bottom lip, and my eyes drift to his mouth. Jesus, this man is fine.

Dressed in a dark gray t-shirt and jeans, he looks both dangerous and unassuming at the same time. He pulls his hands out of his pockets and I glance at his ink. There are so many images curving around his muscles, it’s amazing. 

Out of nowhere, I hear his stomach growl. Loudly. Now I feel terrible for not just lying to him and saying, Yes, take me to dinner now. I’m starving! “What do you want to eat?”

He smiles at me wickedly. “You.”

Holy Hell. I don’t think he’s lying. Heat floods my body and it’s hard to breathe. You can do this, Ara. You can totally do this. Look, talking trash to your friends online over a game is not the same as talking dirty to a man you’ve been fantasizing over and getting off on for months.

But I’m going to try my best.

I step closer and press my hand to his chest. Holy wow, his body is hard. The steady, strong beat of his heart thuds against my palm. He’s not nervous like me. I’m glad. One of us needs to be in control here, and I know it won’t be me. I’ll fuck it up.

I lick my lips and love that he watches. “Me?” I tease breathlessly. “I might be too much for you.”

“Only one way to find out.” He leans in and waits for me to meet him in the middle. His gaze is playful and primal at the same time. It’s like staring at a panther who can’t decide what he wants to do with his mouse. Glitch brings his hand to the back of my head, threading his fingers into my hair, and brings me closer, closer, closer.

Then his stomach growls extra loud and I start laughing.

“Wow.” He grabs his belly. “I’ve legit never been cockblocked by myself before.”

The tension between us eases enough for me to take in some air. “Let’s get you some food.” I head into my kitchen, feeling Glitch’s gaze on my ass as I go.

It does look dynamite in this dress. These things are incredibly forgiving while still hella flattering. “I have…” Opening my fridge, I quickly slam it shut. “Ramen or cereal. And a half jar of pickles.”

“Ramen’s good.”

I can’t believe I’m going to make this man fucking ramen. Just shoot me now. “I haven’t been to the grocery store in forever.” Now I’m flustered. “I don’t eat much while I’m painting, so I never think to get food until it’s too late.” I grab the last pack I have, but before I can open it, Glitch takes it from me.

“Come on.” He places the ramen back in the cupboard and grabs my hand, luring me out of the kitchen.

“Where are we going?” Because my bedroom is in the opposite direction of where he’s pulling me.

“Out.”

“Okay.” I snag my keys from the little table by my door and follow him. I can’t help the cheesy grin I’m rocking. And the fact that I so easily and quickly follow his lead is alarming. I swear he could lure me into Hell, and I’d joyfully skip the whole way down.

He leans against the wall, hands stuffed in his pockets again as I lock up. “That dress is phenomenal on you, Ara.”

I bite my lip to keep from squealing. I seriously have no chill. “Where to?”

“You’ll see.”

I follow Glitch to his car, and he opens the door for me while simultaneously looking around the parking lot. I swear he’s searching for predators. Even after he shuts my door, he’s still looking around like he expects trouble. This complex is old and crappy, but affordable. The outside’s a little creepy, but my apartment is great. Okay, not great, but decent. It’s enough for me.

“Buckled up?” he asks, dropping into the driver’s seat.

Yes, Daddy. “Yeah.”

“Sorry,” he lightly chuckles. “I uhhhh… I’m used to having a kid in the car with me. I say shit out of habit.”

He has a kid? “How old are they?”

“He’s nine.” Glitch freezes. “It’s my nephew. Not my kid. I don’t have any kids.”

I’m not sure how to respond. “Cool.” Cool. COOL? Christ on a cracker! I need a lesson on how to be sexier.

Starting the engine, he grinds his molars, which only flexes his jaw muscles.

Because of course he has a sharp jaw line too.

And don’t get me going on his forearms or how hot he looks backing out of the parking spot, spinning the wheel with the heel of his palm.

Wow, Ara. Doesn’t take much to make you swoon. I have got to get laid. I swear everything I see my brain makes sexual.

To my surprise, we pull up to a grocery store. Glitch cuts the engine and slaps my thigh. “Come on.”

I love that we keep finding ways to touch each other. It’s more him than me. He grabs a cart and heads for the produce aisle first. “Apples?”

Love them. “Yeah. Ummm. Are we seriously grocery shopping on our first date?”

He flashes another killer grin. “We’re preparing for our first date.”

“Fuji, gala, and honeycrisp.”

He bags three of each. “Grapes?”

“Red,” I say, then watch him put green and red in the cart.

“Ohhhh, strawberries.” He grabs a couple of boxes and heads to the veggies for some carrots. We joke and make our way down each aisle. I end up pushing the cart because I need something to keep my body busy. Glitch walks beside me sometimes, and behind me, others. We work our way through the entire store until the cart is filled.

“This is a lot for one dinner.”

He just smiles, placing everything on the conveyer belt in a meticulous way. He must catch the expression on my face because he says, “I used to be a bagger when I was in high school. There’s a method to this.”

I don’t doubt it. “You seem like someone who has a method to everything.”

He winks, and I want to squeal again.

The chemistry between us is wild. Like we’ve been together forever, but it’s also brand new and exciting. He’s easy to be around. And his confidence is wonderful. Comfortable.

I slap a baguette on top of the frozen pizza. He grabs it, but I don’t let go of my end. We glower playfully, and I realize I want to mess with him. I like the fiery look in his eyes when I do.

He leans into me and growls, “Brat.”

He knew that about me already. I never hold my tongue when we play online, and it’s time I learn to not hold back in all aspects of my life. “Whatcha gonna do about it?”

He drags his eyes down my body. “Fuck around and find out.”

I’m on fire.

Glitch hovers his phone over the scanner, paying for the food before I can even get my credit card out. We’ve bought a ton of groceries, and I know it’s not all for tonight’s dinner date. No one can eat five pizzas, six apples, four pounds of chicken, ramen, oatmeal, a variety of fruit, and a two-pound bag of skittles in one night.

I keep my mouth shut and smile at the cashier when she hands me the receipt. Glitch snags it from me before I catch the total, and the computer’s already back to the home screen, so I can’t see it there either. Damnit.

“So, how long have you lived here?”

“My whole life,” he says. We yip-yap all the way back to my apartment. He’s easy to talk to. It’s like we’ve been friends for forever.

Finally home, Glitch makes it his goal to hook every bag around his arms because he refuses to make more than one trip, or let me help. I lead the way, hold the lobby door open, and then rush up the steps to beat him to my apartment. I unlock fast and he blazes in, bags strung around both arms and two more dangling from his fingers.

“Here, let me take some.”

He growls playfully and sweeps past me to put them on the counter. “Phew.” He stretches his arms over his head. The act makes his shirt ride up enough for me to catch a glimpse of more ink on his abs. “I didn’t think I was going to win that one.”

“Milk almost got you?”

“The bread,” he corrects. “I nearly crushed the baguette coming up the second flight of steps.”

We start laughing, and I pull out the chicken. “What are we making with this?” I hadn’t asked earlier.

“Whatever you want. That’s for later this week.”

I freeze. Then I take a real good look at this food. “You bought me groceries for the week.” I’m not mad. I’m mortified.

“I bought dinner.”

“You bought me groceries.” I don’t know if I want to laugh or cry or hide under a rock. “I can pay for my own fucking food, Glitch.”

I shove the chicken in the fridge and snag the next thing and shove that in the freezer. I think it was the peas. I can’t even tell because I’m all flustered.

“Hey.” Glitch grabs both my hands and stops me. “I bought dinner for the week. And some snacks.”

I look at all the bags. “Well…” I can’t figure out how to feel. I knew what he was doing in the store, and I let it happen. I just hadn’t expected him to pay at the end. “I guess you’ll be here a lot this week since you’ve bought enough food to make six huge dinners.”

“See?” He grins. “You were right about me, Ara. I do have a method for everything.”

I shouldn’t like this. In fact, I should pay him back and tell him it was nice to run an errand, and that I’ll see him around. But I don’t want to. Honestly, this is the sweetest thing anyone’s done for me in a long time. “You’re trying to take care of me,” I accidentally say out loud.

He tenses with the box of cereal in his hand and slowly puts it in the cupboard. “I’ve overstepped.”

“No.” Maybe a little. “I’m glad you did this.” I hand him more things to shove in the cupboards. “It’s probably one of the nicest things anyone’s ever done for me.”

We stare at each other again. “The bar must be low if buying you a baguette is considered one of the nicest things someone’s ever done for you.”

The look in his eyes, paired with the tension in his shoulders, melts me a little. I need to recover some power here. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you, the way to a girl’s heart is through carbs?” I grab the baguette and run my hand down the length. “It’s a pretty decent size too, but I’ve had bigger.”

The intensity leaves his gaze, and he smiles again. “The bakery must have been cold. It’ll be more impressive once it’s warmed up.”

I playfully whack him on the arm with it. He takes it from me and tosses it to the counter, then grabs me by the waist. We close in on each other. We’re going to kiss. I hold my breath. He leans in and his mouth almost brushes mine.

Smack!

I’m instantly reeling, my mouth wide open. “You spanked me!”

“That’s for being a brat in the grocery store.”

He’s not sorry. Neither am I.

Oh my God, this guy is fun.

Glitch snags the Skittles off the counter and rips the bag open with his teeth. Pouring some candy into his hand, he holds a green one out for me to take.

If this is my reward, he better give me something bigger than that. I open my mouth, lean in, and bite down on his fingers.