The longer we fight our attraction, the higher and hotter the flame grows…

Haven, an all-new forced proximity, second chance, sports romance and the epic finale in the Defiant Kings Series from USA Today bestselling author, Bella Matthews, is now available!

She’s a former Olympic figure skater whose world turned upside down. He’s a pro-football player who never let go of the past. What happens when these two finally have their second chance and a stalker threatens everything?

Brandon Dixon came into my life like a quiet storm. Powerful and intense. I was sure he was my fresh start. But it turned out life had other plans.

We’ve spent the past decade avoiding each other until we can’t anymore. And if I thought a younger Brandon was hard to resist, that boy doesn’t hold a candle to the man standing in front of me now. Bigger, broader, and more protective than ever, ignoring him is impossible.

The longer we fight our attraction, the higher and hotter the flame grows—until one night and one elevator change everything.

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Keep reading for a look inside Haven!

Chapter 1 — Ashlyn

Fifteen Years Ago

“This is such a bad idea, Nina.” I hesitate and glance over at my teammate before she climbs out of the car.

The shoo-in for the Olympic gold medal in figure skating slams the door shut behind her, then rounds the car and opens my door. “Get out of the car, Ashlyn. We’re already here.” She turns around and looks over the fraternity house behind her. “What Coach doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

“No, but it might hurt us,” I argue as I get out and tug my sweater down. “If he realizes we’re not in the house—”

Nina’s eyes flare, and she cuts me off, “Stop. We’re already here, and we’re going to have fun. We leave for Paris in two days, and then everything will change. Just have one night of fun with me . . . Please,” she begs, and I do what I always do. I give in.

“Fine.” I link my arm through hers. “One night. But we’ve got to be smart about it and back in the house before five. I refuse to get caught because of a stupid frat party.”

“First of all, we’re not a frat, we’re a football team. Frats are for douchebags,” a deep voice rumbles from the shadows before a guy steps out and Nina launches herself at him. She wraps her arms around his thick neck and her legs around his waist before kissing him, and my cheeks flame.

I stand there, waiting for her to stop and take a breath, feeling like a third wheel when another guy, this one bigger and broader, and oh my God, hotter than the one Nina’s mauling, clears his throat. The sound is deep and gravelly and sexy as hell. “You guys gonna come up for air, or you plan on giving the whole street a show, man?”

The big guy moves next to me and blatantly looks me over. “Hey. I’m Brandon.”

“Ashlyn,” I offer softly . . . though, awkwardly is probably more like it. This guy looks like Henry Cavil and The Rock had a baby. Shit. And I sound like a tongue-tied idiot.

“Well, Ashlyn, want to come inside and get a drink? These two don’t look like they’re coming up for air anytime soon.” His lips tip up to one side in a practiced smile, and I think my panties might have just melted away.

Then his words finally register.

“What?” I ask tall, dark, and muscley before marching over to my sister-from-another-mister and yank on her shoulder. “Who the hell is this, and when did you find time to meet someone? And where the hell did you meet him? And why didn’t you tell me?” I demand.

Nina and I have been like sisters ever since my mom basically sold me to Nina’s dad so he could train me for the Olympics ten years ago. We’ve shared a room. Shared our secrets and fears. Hell, we even shared a pair of skates two years ago at nationals when hers broke ten minutes before her free skate.

I know everything about her.

At least I thought I did.

She unlaces herself from the football guy and smiles sheepishly. “Sorry, Ash. This is Eric. Eric, this is Ashlyn.”

Eric gives me a nod. “Hey. I’ve heard all about the perfect Ashlyn. Nice to finally meet you.”

I glare at Nina. What the hell has she been telling this guy?

She’s in so much trouble.

“Don’t be mad, Ash. If I told you, you wouldn’t have come,” Nina pleads, and she’s not wrong. “Come on. Let’s go inside.” She reaches for me, but Eric tugs her away.

“Come on, babe. I wanted to show you that thing. Dixon’s got your girl, don’t you, Dix?” Okay. That’s strike two for Eric, but I don’t get a chance to say anything else before he picks Nina up, throws her over his shoulder, smacks her ass, and walks away.

I look up at the dark sky and resist the urge to cry when the big guy next to me places his big palm at the small of my back, right above the waist of my low-slung jeans. “Come on. Let’s go around back and get you something to drink.”

I hesitate for a hot second as a shiver races down my spine from the feel of his warm skin against mine. “Thanks, but I don’t need a drink or a babysitter.”

“What if I told you you’d be doing me a favor?” And there goes that smile again.

Jesus, get it together, girl.

“I’d say you were lying,” I answer but let him guide me down the worn grass pathway alongside the old brick house, and toward the backyard, where the music is just a little louder than all the voices.

“Well, that’s the first thing you’re going to learn about me, Ashlyn. I never lie.”

A few groups of people call out his name and congratulate him as we walk by. “You seem like a pretty popular guy.”

“Yeah . . . well.” It’s his turn to hesitate, and if I’m not mistaken, he may even turn a little red. “My football team won the national championship a few weeks ago, but most of these guys weren’t back on campus until classes started this week. They’re still pretty excited.” And there’s something about the way he says it—like he’s embarrassed by it—that intrigues me.

“That’s amazing. You guys must be pretty good to make it that far. Congratulations.” We stop by a keg where I’m handed a yellow Solo cup of foamy beer, then led over to a very indoor couch sitting outside next to a heat lamp. Brandon drops down and stretches his thick legs in front of him and his arm across the back while he waits for me to sit.

When I eye him skeptically, his smile grows bigger. “You really don’t want to be here, do you?”

“Not really. It’s kind of a big week for me. I should honestly be sleeping.” Could I possibly sound more lame?

“Listen, I wasn’t kidding before. You can really help me out. I just wanted to chill tonight, but the guys had other plans, and I couldn’t say no. How about you stick by my side and act like we’re together?”

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For more information about Bella Matthews and her books, visit her website:

https://www.authorbellamatthews.com/