Page 24 of Switch

His eyes flicker, and for a second, I think he’s going to say yes. My heart is practically in my throat, but then he hesitates, running a hand over his shaved head.

“Not tonight,” he says, his tone soft but firm.

Disappointment hits harder than I expect, but I nod quickly, trying to brush it off. “Yeah, of course. No problem.”

Before I can turn away, he steps closer, his hands sliding to my waist and pulling me gently toward him. His gaze meets mine, and my breath catches at the intensity in his eyes.

“Bella,” he murmurs, his voice almost rough, like he’s warning himself as much as me.

And then he kisses me.

It’s not just a kiss—it’s everything. His lips are warm and firm, moving against mine in a way that makes the world disappear. My knees go weak, and I grab onto his jacket for balance, my heart racing so hard I can barely think.

When he finally pulls back, I’m breathless, my head spinning. His forehead rests against mine, and his voice drops even lower.

“Make sure you lock up,” he says, his words soft but commanding.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

“And when I call,” he adds, his lips brushing against my forehead, “make sure you pick up.”

Before I can answer, he steps back, his hands lingering on my waist for a moment before he lets go entirely. He gives me one last look—a mix of heat and something I can’t quite name—before turning and heading back to his bike.

I watch him as he starts the engine, the rumble filling the quiet street. He doesn’t ride off right away, though. He waits until I unlock the door, step inside, and give him a small wave.

Only then does he nod, as if satisfied, and take off into the night.

As I close the door behind me and lock it, my heart is still racing, my lips still tingling from his kiss. It’s official. I’m in trouble. But for the first time in a long time, I think I’m okay with that.

NINE

JAX

Perdition is unusually livelyfor a Saturday afternoon, and it’s got nothing to do with the usual crowd. No, today the chaos comes courtesy of the club’s women—Carlie, Jenny, Sophie, and Chloe—who’ve turned the place into their personal grocery delivery operation.

They just got back from some mega shopping trip, filling the kitchen with enough food and toiletries to last a month. Now I’m standing in the middle of the chaos, hauling bags of everything from chips to shampoo while they buzz around like a whirlwind of energy and chatter.

“Jax, put that on the counter,” Carlie says, pointing at the bags in my hands as she rummages through another. “No, not there—over by the sink!”

I roll my eyes but do as I’m told. “You know, I didn’t sign up to be a stock boy.”

Jenny laughs, grabbing a case of water from the floor. “Oh, come on, Jax. You’re always saying you’ll help a brother out. Consider this helping your sisters out.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, dropping the bags where she pointed.

As I head back to the door for another load, Jenny sidles up next to me, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “So, how are things going?”

“Fine,” I say, not breaking stride.

“Uh-huh,” she says, drawing the words out. “And what about your love life? Got a special lady we don’t know about?”

I stop in my tracks and give her a look. “Piston say something to you?”

Her laughter bubbles out immediately. “No. Why? What would he have said? What don’t we know, Jax? Is there really someone?”

I roll my eyes, regretting even opening my mouth. “Drop it, Jenny.”

But that’s like throwing gas on a fire. Now all of them are tuned in.

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