Page 32 of Switch

She bites her lip, a blush creeping up her cheeks. Then she shrugs, her voice light but teasing. “A girl has to be ready for anything.”

My smirk deepens as I pull my belt loose, sliding it through the loops and letting it drop to the floor with a quiet clink. I push my jeans down and step out of them, leaving me in my black boxer briefs.

Bella’s eyes drop, and when they flick back to mine, she’s grinning. “We match,” she says, giggling softly.

Her laughter warms something deep inside me, cutting through the heat and grounding me in the moment. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything as beautiful as you,” I say quietly, my voice steady but full of meaning.

Her fingers trail lightly over my chest, sending sparks racing across my skin. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

Bracing myself over her, my hands rest on either side of her shoulders. She looks up at me, her gaze soft but burning with something I’ve been chasing for longer than I’d like to admit.

I lean down, capturing her lips again, and the world fades away. It’s just her and me, and the moment feels like everything I didn’t know I was missing.

TWELVE

BELLA

His body presses against mine,solid and warm, and for a moment, it feels like everything else fades away. His lips crash into mine, deeper this time, stealing my breath and any thoughts I had left.

My hands slide up his arms, fingers curling around his shoulders like they belong there. He feels strong and unshakable, and I don’t want to let go.

His hands move over me, exploring like he’s memorizing every curve, every inch. The roughness of his touch contrasts with the gentleness in the way he holds me, like he’s trying to balance the fire and something softer.

My breath hitches as his fingers trail over my skin, and the intensity in his eyes when he pulls back for a second to look at me makes my chest tighten. It’s like he’s seeing all of me, not just my body but everything underneath.

I don’t know how he does it—how he makes me feel like I’m completely his and completely free at the same time.

His weight presses into me, his lips trailing down my neck, and every nerve in my body feels like it’s on fire. My hands explore his hard, muscular chest.

“Jax,” I whisper, my voice barely steady.

He pulls back just enough to look at me, his dark eyes burning with intensity. “What do you need, Bella?”

My cheeks flush, but I don’t hesitate. “I need you.”

His lips twitch into that smirk of his, but there’s no teasing behind it—just raw want. “You sure?”

“Completely,” I say, my breath hitching as his hands slide over my hips, pulling me against him.

But before he can take control, I press my palms to his chest, catching him off guard as I push him backward. He lets out a low, surprised laugh as his back hits the mattress, his hands moving to rest on my thighs.

“You’ve got plans, huh?” he murmurs, his voice rough and full of approval.

I lean over him, my hair falling in a curtain around us. “I figured it was my turn,” I tease, brushing my lips against his before pulling back just enough to watch his expression.

His hands slide up my thighs, his grip firm but not demanding. “Do your worst,” he says, his smirk deepening, though the hunger in his eyes tells me he’s already on edge.

I trail kisses down his chest, savoring the way his breath catches under my touch. His muscles tense and relax with every move I make, like he’s fighting to keep himself steady.

When I sit up slightly, my hands sliding lower, I catch the sharp inhale he tries to disguise as a breath. His eyes lock with mine, and for the first time, I realize I’m the one in control.

And I like it.

I trail my fingers lower, my touch deliberate, and Jax’s breathing deepens as I shift, straddling his thighs. My hands slide down his torso, feeling the taut muscles tense beneath my touch.

His dark eyes burn into mine, a mix of hunger and patience that’s unraveling me by the second. When my hands reach thewaistband of his boxer briefs, I hesitate for just a heartbeat, teasing him with the pause.

“Bella,” he murmurs, his voice rough and edged with need.

---