The Second Promised Excerpt

Haven & Scott will be out tomorrow. I know what you're thinking. Just get to the excerpt, woman! So here it is:

     Haven blinked at Scott’s harsh tone. She’d just walked in the door when he nearly bit her head off. “What has gotten into you?”
     “I’m a patient man and it takes a lot to make me angry. But you’re pushing it.”
     “What are you talking about?” She placed her purse on the sofa and turned to face the irate blond Adonis at her back. She was irritated to note that he was even sexier when he was angry. As she watched, he raked his fingers through his hair. Stubble shaded his square jaw.
     “I’m talking about my wife disappearing for hours on end. You don’t call and when I call you, you don’t answer. You have to admit, if I were doing this to you, you’d be steamed.”
     She sighed and sat down on the sofa. “I’m sorry. You’re right.” And so was Denise. It was time she told him about her decision. She couldn’t go on avoiding him for the next twenty-five days. Patting the cushion next to her, she said, “Please sit. We should talk.”
     Scott sat down. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do since I moved in here. I want this marriage to work.”
     “Well, I don’t think that either of us should have to force ourselves to work on something that we don’t want.”
     He blinked. “You’ve lost me. What is it that we don’t want?”
     She gestured helplessly between the two of them. “You can’t believe this is working?”
     “We’ve just begun.”
     She dried her suddenly sweaty palms on the sides of her skirt. She’d never liked confrontations. Gaze directed at her lap, she explained, “Scott, I know I’m not your type. I saw the pictures of all your old girlfriends. You have your preferences. And that’s fine. But I’m happy with my body the way it is. For you to try to change me is unfair. I’m sorry you’re not attracted to me. At the end of our thirty-day trial period, we can dissolve the marriage. Hopefully, next time they will pair you with someone more to your liking.”
     “Haven, look at me.” He cupped her chin and lifted her face to his. “Don’t tell me what I want and don’t want.” His mouth covered hers. He nipped at her bottom lip and then sucked it lightly. “Believe me, I want you.”
     She gasped as he plunged his tongue into her mouth. Instant lust exploded in her belly causing the peaking of her nipples. Even the tips of her ears tingled. Scott’s fingers slid over her scalp as he tilted her head to the side and deepened the kiss. He wasn’t shy or tentative. His mouth was hot and hungry on hers. His arms closed around her, aligning their upper bodies so that her breasts were flattened against his chest. It didn’t even occur to her passion fogged brain to resist as he pressed her back into the sofa cushions.
     She lost track of time as his mouth slanted over hers again and again. Clutching his shirt, she moaned helplessly as his tongue tangled with hers. It was only when his hands closed over her breasts, his thumbs stroking over her tight nipples that she came back to her senses. The electric pleasure of it was too good and too much too soon. She was in very real danger of giving in to what was most likely a moment of horny weakness on his part. Moaning, she forced an arm between them, breaking the heated lip lock. Scott growled. His full lips were wet and reddened. Holding his smoldering gaze, she shoved at his shoulder until he shifted back and she was able to wriggle her way from beneath him.
     Backing out of his reach on unsteady legs, she cleared her throat. “That can’t happen again.”
     He grimaced, adjusted himself, and straightened up on the couch. “Why not?” His voice was deep and gravelly with arousal.
     Haven wet her lips and dragged her gaze up from the very interesting and substantial bulge at his crotch. “You admitted it had been almost a year since you had sex. You’re horny. I’m not going to give myself to a man whose only requirement is a warm female body. I have too much respect for myself for that.”
     He raked a hand through his hair.  “I’ll admit I’m on edge because it’s been a while. I like sex and I have a healthy sex drive. But I do want to be with you.”
     “Based on what?” Not waiting for a reply, she shook her head. She didn’t want to make him lie to her. At the moment, she suspected he’d say anything to get her naked. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to get through our probationary period and then we’re going to go our separate ways.”
     Scott stood. Glowering down at her, he asked, “And if I don’t agree?”
     Haven faltered as she stared up at him. “What do you mean?”
     “You’ve come to this decision on your own without including me. Why would I agree?” His eyes flicked over her slowly. A slow smile curved his lips. “And I’m finding myself growing possessive of you. So I’m going to have to disagree. We’re going to stay married.” Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, “And we’re going to consummate this marriage. Soon.”