Page 94 of Switch

“I just don’t want you to feel bad. I don’t want you coming back because you think you have to take care of me, or because last night shook you up. I want you here because you know it’s where you belong.”

I don’t hesitate. I reach across the table, grabbing his hand, squeezing it tight.“It is. Anywhere you are is where I want to be.”

His jaw tics like he’s still trying to hold something back, but then his fingers tighten around mine, and I see it—the relief, the love, the need he doesn’t bother hiding anymore.

Jax lets out a rough breath, running a hand over his head. His grip tightens around mine for a second before he abruptly pushes back his chair.

“Fuck,”he mutters, shaking his head.“I had this planned in so many different ways. Not like this. But I can’t wait anymore.”

Before I can even process what’s happening, he pulls a small box out of his pocket and drops to his knees in front of me.

My heart stops.

He opens the box, and I swear my breath catches in my throat. The ring isgorgeous.A big-ass round diamond in the center, smaller diamonds wrapping around the band. Simple, timeless, absolutely perfect. And he picked it for me.

I look at him, my chest aching, my pulse racing. His eyes burn with so much love it nearly knocks the air out of me.

“Bella, will you marry me?”His voice is rough, raw.“Will you be my wife? Have my babies? Take care of us?”He swallows hard.“I’ve never needed anyone before—anyone—until I met you. You came into my life, shook it up, shook me up, and gave me new dreams. I don’t want any of it without you.”

He takes a breath, holding my gaze.“Bella, please… say you’ll be my wife.”

I clap a hand over my mouth, my eyes stinging as I stare down at him. This big, strong, fearless man—on his knees forme.

A tear slips down my cheek as I smile through it.“Yes.”My voice shakes, but there’s no doubt, no hesitation.“Yes, Jax. In a hundred lifetimes it would always be you.”

Before I can even take another breath, he’s up, wrapping me in his arms, crushing his mouth to mine. His lips brush against mine as he murmurs,“You’re mine now, baby.”His voice is thick with emotion.“Forever.”

EPILOGUE

SWITCH

Perdition is on fire tonight—musiclow, drinks flowing, brothers laughing. It’s been months since everything settled, and for once, things finally feel right.

I walk in, scanning the room, and my eyes land on her. Bella, my wife. She’s been out for a girls’ day and just made it back to the club. She’s at the bar, leaning against it, laughing with the other old ladies. Carlie, Jenny, Sophie, Chloe—all of them wrapped up in some conversation, probably giving Dagger or Tank hell about something. She’s in her element, completely at home in a place she never thought she belonged. And fuck if it doesn’t make me love her more. But then… something catches my eye.

A glimpse of white just above the waistline of her jeans— a bandage, mostly hidden beneath her shirt. My body moves before my brain even catches up, instinct driving me forward. Bella spots me, her smile softening as I step in behind her, pressing a slow kiss to the curve of her neck. But my fingers drift lower, tracing over the edge of the bandage, right where skin meets denim.

“You okay?” My voice is low, rougher than I intended.

She tilts her head, looking back at me, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. “Yeah,” she says, but there’s hesitation in the way she answers.

I narrow my gaze, lifting the back of her shirt slightly. And that’s when I see it. Ink. I blink, my brain stalling for a second before the words catch up. “Is that a tattoo?”

She nods, biting her lip, watching me carefully.

I grab her hips and get on my knees so I can get a good look. Fucking hell, it’s our Iron Reapers patch, bold and dark, inked right there on her lower back. And surrounding it? Property of Switch.

My chest goes tight. I lift my gaze to hers, still trying to process it. “You branded yourself with the club? With my name?”

She nods again, but there’s hesitation in the movement, like she’s not sure how I feel about it. Like she thinks I wouldn’t love the fact that my woman permanently marked herself as mine.

I shake my head, a slow grin pulling at my lips. Then, without another word, I grab the back of her neck and kiss the hell out of her, making damn sure every single person in this bar knows exactly what she is to me. Hell, most of them already do. Mine.

When I finally pull back, she’s breathless, her hands fisted in my cut.

“You really think I’d be anything but obsessed with this?” I rasp, my thumb brushing against her lower back, tracing the ink. “Jesus, baby, you just made sure there’s no getting rid of me now.”

She laughs, relaxing into me. “Wasn’t planning on it.”

I press another kiss to her lips, murmuring against them. “Good. Because you’re mine, Bella. Always.” And now the whole damn world knows it too.