Page 46 of Switch

I, on the other hand, donotsmell amazing. I’m a sweaty wreck.

I’m about to hop in the shower when there’s a knock at the door. My heart jumps and I freeze, staring at the door like there’s a goddamn ghost on the other side. I wipe my hands on my leggings and peek through the peephole. Jax. There’s something different about him. Like his a part of him is gone.

I unlock the door and open it just enough to see him, but not enough to let him in. “Hey,” I murmur, studying him.

“Hey, beautiful,” he says, voice rough. “I tried calling you back, but you didn’t pick up.”

I cross my arms, fighting the way my stomach flutters just from the sight of him. “So you figured you’d just ride over?” It comes out harsher than I mean for it to, but I don’t take it back.

He sighs, rubbing a hand over his jaw. He lookstired. More than tired. He looksworn. “Can I come in?”

I hesitate, then silently step back, letting him inside. But the second the door closes, he’s on me.

Jaxslamsme against it, his hands gripping my waist, his mouth crashing into mine. The kiss is desperate, hungry, filled with something that borders on need and something darker. His hands slide down to my ass, lifting me easily, and my legs wrap around his waist on instinct.

“Fuck, I’ve missed you, Bells,” he groans, his lips trailing down my neck, his stubble scraping against my skin in a way that makes me shiver.

But just as quickly as I give in, I push him back. “Stop.”

He freezes immediately, setting me down like I weigh nothing, his hands dropping to his sides. His brows pull together. “You okay?”

I nod, but I feeloff, like I don’t know where we stand right now. “Yeah… just been cleaning all day. I’m a mess.”

He smirks, that damn sexy half-smile that always gets me. “But you’remymess.”

I cross my arms, hesitating for only a second before I say, “Am I?” The words slip out before I can stop them, and I instantly regret how uncertain they sound.

His smirk fades, his brows pulling together. “What’s going on?”

I exhale sharply, debating whether I should even bring it up. But I can’t keep pretending like it doesn’t bother me. “I haven’t heard from you in days, Jax. Then you show up here, acting like nothing happened.” I shake my head, pressing my lips together. “What am I supposed to think?”

His jaw tenses, and he drags a hand down his face before meeting my gaze, something unreadable in his eyes. “I had to take care of some club business. It wasn’t something I could put off. By the time I was done, I was wrecked. I crashed, Bella. God’s honest truth.” He takes a step closer, his voice dropping. “But the second I woke up, you were the only person I wanted to see. Before anything, before anyone else. That’s why I’m here.”

The air between us shifts, thick with something heavy, something unspoken but felt in every charged second. His hands flex at his sides before he moves, backing me up against the wall, his palms bracing on either side of my head. He’s close enough that I can feel the heat of his body, the rough edge of his breath brushing against my skin.

“You’re mine, Bella,” he murmurs, his voice like gravel and smoke. “Every fucking inch of you. If you’ve got a problem with that—if this life isn’t what you want—then you better tell me now.”

I swallow hard, my heart hammering in my chest. Because yeah, his world is chaotic. And yeah, I hate the way he disappears without warning. But walking away? Letting him go?

“Are you mine?” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

His jaw tics, his eyes dark. “Baby, I’m so fucking yours.”

He leans his forehead against mine, exhaling like he’s been holding something in for too long. Then, his gaze locks onto mine, fierce and unshakable. “You’ve turned my world upside down, Bella. Changed my life in ways I never thought possible. And I’ll never be the same.” He cups my jaw, thumb brushing my cheek. “You and me? I’m in this until my heart stops beating. I’m not asking you to marry me today, but I’m telling you now—I’ll never touch another pussy. You’re it for me.”

His words destroy me, knocking the air from my lungs.

“I want it all and then some,” he continues, his voice thick with emotion. “We’re going to chase our dreams, then make new ones and chase those too.”

I swallow hard, my fingers curling into his shirt. “But you’re going to be in the club while we’re chasing them, right? I’m always going to be on the outside. Never knowing what’s happening.”

Jax’s expression shifts, something guarded settling into his features. “No, I’m never going to tell you all the gritty details. But you don’tneedthose things in your head, Bella. You don’t need to know the shit I do, the things I’ve seen. But I’ll tell you what Ican. If you’re mine.”

I search his eyes, looking for any sign of hesitation, any doubt. There’s none. And I realize, it isn’t even a choice. “I’m yours,” I whisper.

His whole body exhales, relief washing over him. “Fucking finally,” he murmurs before crushing his mouth to mine.

The kiss is hot and wet, stealing every last ounce of air from my lungs. His hands are everywhere, sliding under my shirt, gripping my hips, like he’s trying to memorize every inch of me. One of those hands slides between my wet lips.

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