Glitch (Next Level Book 1)

Glitch’s intense gaze doesn’t intimidate me, it empowers me. What is it about this guy that makes me so bold?

Everything. The answer is everything.

I’ve just laid my truth out—or most of it, at least—and I fully expected him to run out of here. Instead, he looks more committed to this evening than before.

I can’t believe I told him I got caught saying his name while I came. See, this is what happens when I get flustered. I overshare. But I want him to know because I want him to understand that this isn’t a rebound.

I’ve been harboring secret feelings for him for months. I want to tell him I tried to break up with Jason multiple times because my heart wasn’t his, it was Glitch’s, and I only kept taking that douche canoe back because I felt guilted into it every time.

That was my fault. I won’t ever make that mistake again.

Just like I won’t hold back from Glitch tonight, or any other night from here on out.

I back up, making him follow me out of the kitchen, down the hall, and into my bedroom. If we’re moving fast, it doesn’t feel like it. Honestly, this night feels like it’s been in the works for ages.

“It smells so good in here,” he says, looking around, taking in every little detail of my personal space. The contrast between his dark hair and inked skin against my blush pink walls and cream bedding is hot. He plucks a white peony from a vase and smells it. Dropping his hand down to his side, he twirls the stem between his fingers and stalks over to me.

I keep walking until the back of my knees hit the bed.

“Promise me something.” He buries a hand in my hair and brings me close to his mouth. “If you need me, you’ll tell me. Whatever it is, no matter the time of day or night, if you need me, you’ll tell me.”

The word tumbles off my tongue. “Promise.”

Tension eases from his shoulders.

I thought he’d push me onto the bed next, but that’s not what Glitch does. He presses me flush against his chest, spins me around, and walks me back to the bare wall next to my dresser.

Our eyes deadlock.

My heart hammers in my chest.

“Ara, I’m about to say something that’s going to come out really, really fucked.”

I can’t wait. “Spill it.”

“I’m glad your computer’s broken.”

I don’t know how to respond, because honestly, me too.

“It got us here, and I’m glad it did. But I’m pissed I can’t fix it. I should have been able to fix it.”

He’s not talking about the computer. I know he’s not, because his tone is restrained and his hands tremble on my hips.

“I’m glad it broke too,” I say, swallowing my pride. I built that damn thing with some of the money I earned off my very first commission. It meant big things for me. It meant I was successful and could spoil myself a little. Since I’m in a dry spell now, with no new money in sight, a massive creative block, failed relationships that were total nightmares, and up until today I didn’t even have food in my pantry, I’d put more meaning on that stupid piece of equipment than I should have. “I’m glad you had that chat room open all the time for us.”

“Me too.” I wish you’d have used it and told me about Jason sooner. He didn’t say those words, but they were there, hanging in the air between us.

Glitch always kept the channel between us private. It was open for me anytime I wanted to pop in and say something. I just rarely did. Not nearly as often as I wanted to, at least. But knowing the option was there, that the door was open, had been a comfort. Weird, right?

“Glitch?” I snake my hand around his neck.

“Hmm?”

“Want to reboot?”

The air whooshes out of him, and he laughs. “Yeah. Let’s do that.”

A do over would be great, right about now. “Okay. How?”

He smashes his mouth to mine, erasing every coherent thought from my head. I swear I’m floating. Blood rushes to my ears and I’m a little dizzy. Holy fuck, this man can kiss.

“Hi,” I say once he lets me go.

Glitch radiates confidence. His eyes gleam with desire. To be the center of his attention is like I’m the sun he orbits around. And I’m burning. He leans into the side of my face and runs his nose up my cheek. His breath is hot against the shell of my ear when he growls, “Heyyy, Kitty.”

Swear to fuck, my eyes roll back in ecstasy. Two words. Two fucking words are all it takes for me to lose my composure. The butterflies in my belly are now a fireball of tight need coiling inside me. I keep my eyes closed and clutch my throat. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

Glitch brackets his hands on the wall by my head. His mouth rubs against the shell of my ear again, making my nipples harden into tight peaks. “Take your dress off for me and show me what I’ve been missing out on.”

I hesitate.

“Four,” he counts, nuzzling my neck. “Want to make it five?”

I don’t move.

“Five it is.” Glitch places a gentle kiss on my neck—the polar opposite of the spankings I’m earning by disobeying his commands.

“You want it off, do it yourself.”

“Six,” he counts, even as he gathers the fabric, bunching it inch by inch in his hands. He cocks a brow and focuses on rucking my dress higher and higher. Fuck counting, he can spank me till I can’t sit for all I care. I just don’t ever want this to stop. He tugs the dress over my head and now sees I don’t have on panties.

He bunches my dress into his hands and brings a specific—and suspiciously wet—spot up to his nose and inhales. “Fuuuuck, Ara.” He tosses the dress to the floor and steps back, appreciating the view.

I’m so glad I wore a good push-up bra today.

There’s a massive bulge in his jeans, which further spurs my confidence.

“You look good enough to eat.”

I feel hot everywhere his gaze lingers. “Well, you still haven’t had dinner.”

He runs his thumb across his bottom lip and keeps staring at me.

It starts to make me second guess myself. “Not what you thought?” I’ve gained some weight lately. Not that he knows that.

“No.” He rubs his chin. “So much better.”

I release a shaky breath.

“Now where were we?” Glitch backs away and drops down on the edge of my bed. Tilting his head, he stares at every inch of my body. Finally, his gaze lifts to my eyes, and he pats his lap. “Come here, Kitty.”

Kitty. He’s called me Kitty twice now. I love it so much I could squeal. Instead, I stand there, uncertain of which direction to sit.

Glitch makes the decision for me by turning me so my back is pressed against his chest. It’s the best angle, I soon realize, for his mouth to be close to my ear again. His velvet voice is intoxicating when he growls. That’s it. That’s all he does. Growls. And my lust cranks up ten more notches.

It’s starting to feel like a sauna in here.

“I’ve been fantasizing about you for so long, Ara.” His hands drift up my thighs, ribs, then he leans back to run his fingertips along my spine.

The clasp in my bra springs open. I tug the damn thing off and toss it across the room.

“Exquisite.” He palms my tits with his hot hands. I want him to pinch my nipples, but I can’t bring myself to say it.

When he skates his hands down my torso, I shudder. Everything feels hot and cold at the same time. I can’t believe we’re here, doing this.

Glitch gathers my hair in his hands and winds it around his palm like a rope. He doesn’t pull, just… holds it. “Is there anything I should stay clear of doing to you, Ara?”

Fuuuuck. “I don’t think so.” I’ll let him do anything he wants. My brain can’t wrap around a hard line, and I swear it’s because I’ve already put my all my trust in him that he’d never hurt me. I’m an adventurous girl, and there are a ton of things I still haven’t tried but want to. The prospect of doing any of those things with Glitch makes my pussy clench with need.

“Are there any places on your body that are off limits?”

My heart clashes into my ribs. “No.” I mean it. “But I have one condition.”

He nuzzles against my neck and gently bites the spot above my shoulder that drives me wild. “Only one?”

“Mmm hmm.” My head falls back on his shoulder. I already feel like I’m in another dimension with his hands all over me like this.

“You better tell me before I start… which is in about two more seconds.” He pinches my nipples and I groan, shoving harder into his chest.

“Kitty.” I start panting. “I want you to keep calling me Kitty.”

His rumbling groan is one-thousand percent primal in response to my demand.

Game on.