I could answer all her questions. I would. I needed people to know how the Olympic Committee had screwed me over today. But I wanted to make it clear with every answer. With every word—I wanted Ava Gold.

One night with her wasn’t enough.

“B-Blaine,” she stammered.

“Are you going to put that in the story?” I taunted, shredding through her boundaries.

“You know I’m not. And you’re breaking our agreement.”

“Wasn’t that meant to be broken?” She couldn’t tell me she didn’t want to get laid as badly as I did. “I don’t like rules.”

It was written all over her pretty face. She wanted me to take her upstairs and make her forget all the bullshit going on in her life. We both needed a day and night like that. Last time she helped me celebrate and I was a shoulder for her to cry on. We both had new needs. Running into each other was accidental.

“This isn’t happening again. I can’t do it.”

She backed up from the table and crammed her notepad and pen in the bag and clamped it shut. I was surprised she hadn’t placed a recorder on the table.

“Ava, come on. We had fun in Sydney.”

Her eyes sparkled with fury. “Fun?”

Shit. Wrong word. I could never tell what was going to piss her off. “We blew off some steam together.”

“I got fired that night, and I was stupid enough to think that you were actually concerned about me.”

“Love, I was. Didn’t you feel better?”

“Ugh! I woke up alone in a hotel room. I had to get a cab back to my place. You didn’t call, text, message. Nothing, Blaine.”

She slung her bag over her shoulder and marched her curvy ass right past me.

“We never said it was more than one night.” I tried to keep my voice low.

“We never said it was only one night.” She glared at me. “I don’t do one-night stands. And I certainly don’t do them with asshole athletes. My mistake. I’m not going to make it again.”

“I’m no one’s mistake.” I could throw around threats too.

“Then go find someone else who thinks you’re irresistible.” She shoved off my chest to clear a path toward the staircase in the lobby. “I’m sure the village is crawling with girls who can’t wait for one meaningless compliment from you. You can have your pick and they’ll drop their panties right there for you, won’t they?” Her chest heaved from talking so rapidly.

“Stop, Ava.”

“Too close to home?” she goaded. “Did I actually reveal the truth about you? Are you worried people might find out what an absolute prick you are?”

“Stop.” I moved closer to her, feeling the heat rise between us. “Don’t move one bit.”

Her bottom lip was mine. I remembered it. How it tasted. How it felt under my tongue and teeth. How it looked clamped on my dick. Fuck.

I reached forward, cupping her cheeks between my palms, and brought my lips down over hers with sudden force. She moaned with surprise, but I moved my mouth until I felt the slight part between her lips and slipped my tongue inside, twisting and flicking, sucking and tasting. The kiss was filled with lime and the sweetness of the rum. Her bag crashed to the floor when her arms wrapped around my neck. My hand slid to her lower back, making a leisurely path to her bottom. I gripped it roughly in my hand.

“Oh God,” Ava whimpered.

“I want to take you upstairs.” It wasn’t a question.

I didn’t give a shit if it was like a sauna in here. I wanted Ava. I wanted to make her mine all over again. I wanted her so badly I could taste it.

Her eyes lifted toward me for the first time since I planted that kiss on her lips. We could both savor the flavor of the drink lingering on our tongues. I still had her firm ass in my hands. I wasn’t letting go.

Her body went rigid in my arms. She flattened her palms against my ribs, pressing her fingertips into my skin.

I knew what was coming before she even said it.

“Bloody hell, Ava.” I sighed.

“Thanks for the interview.”

“Why don’t you thank me in the morning, over brekkie?” I winked.

“Like last time?” The anger in her voice flared again.

She wasn’t going to let me forget I ran out of my hotel room like a roo on fire. I couldn’t tell her the real reason. I couldn’t tell her how a night like that affected me.

I had to clear my head. I had to breathe. I had to get ready for the final qualifying swim. If I had spent another second tangled up with her I would have lost. Everything about her was intoxicating and exotic. How the hell could I stay when my legacy was on the line?

I looked like a dick in her eyes when I snuck out before she awakened. I had hit the pool that morning, trying to push through the water like a champion and not a man with his head out of the game. It wasn’t in the pool—it was back in that hotel room with a sleeping Ava.

“Won’t happen again.” I eyed her. “Aussie word.” I held up my hand.

She crossed her arms. “It doesn’t matter. There’s nothing you could do or say to get me to make that mistake again.” She collected her bag from the floor. “Thanks for the interview. I’m sorry if you thought things were going in a different direction. I’ve got to go. I’ll do my best to get your story in front of my boss.”

She turned for the staircase.

I shoved my hands in my pockets. My good-time-girl just walked away. Fuck.