“Yes, yes.” My head rolled to the side as he thrust with wicked force. “I want to be yours. Don’t stop. Oh God, please don’t stop.” The words spilled from my lips before I knew what I was saying.
He was so deep inside me I didn’t know where he stopped and I began. Our heated bodies dripped with sweat as we climbed and scaled, tugging and clawing at each other. Grinding our hips, fighting for release, desperate to hold on to the building tension that escalated the harder he pumped.
“Oh my God, Blaine!” I screamed when he hit my innermost walls, filling me with pure bliss.
“Fuck,” he groaned, licking my throat and pressing his lips to my mouth.
I felt the downward spiral. I felt the shivers and vibrations course through my veins as he plunged one last time before tensing with his own release. Our eyes closed as the orgasms barreled through us. He throbbed and pulsed inside me, spilling everything he had in a hot fiery rush.
My body relaxed and Blaine sighed as he kissed my forehead. “I don’t know what you Americans say, but that was fucking awesome.” He shot me a wolfish grin before rolling next to me on the bed.
I stared at the ceiling, letting his fingers curl through mine. Why did I all of a sudden feel like Blaine Crews owned me?
He adjusted so I could curl into his arm. “You’re the fucking devil, love.” He chuckled.
“Me?” I didn’t know who had crossed which line, only that our bodies had somehow come together in an explosive impact. I felt bad for the people in the room next to this one.
I still felt the tingles all the way to my toes as my clit vibrated with aftershocks. Blaine caressed the dip along my hipbone, feathering over my skin with his strong hands.
“Yeah, you’re the devil.” He kissed the top of my head. “But I fucking love your kind of dirty work.” He chuckled.
My eyes closed slowly as I listened to the steady thump of his heart. I felt different. My body was satisfied in a completely new way, and in some kind of life-altering epic moment, I had broken every rule I had and enjoyed every second of it.
I drifted off to sleep with Blaine’s long, solid arms holding me, his naked body snuggled behind mine, and a smile on my face.
11
Blaine
She was the best fuck of my life. I wasn’t going to live the next three weeks in the same city with Ava Gold and pretend she wasn’t here. It wasn’t happening.
Something happened between us that night in Sydney. Something I never admitted to myself. I didn’t get attached. I didn’t have relationships. Maybe that was why I ran out on her the next morning—because I felt it.
I felt different lying next to her. As if suddenly she had become mine. I was possessive and protective all at once. Those weren’t natural instincts for me. I’d never had anyone to care about.
Jim was the closest thing I had to family and he wasn’t exactly modeling relationships. The man had never been on a date that I knew of. He was a bachelor—devoting his life to my career.
I’d never cared about having a relationship. Women were everywhere. I’d never had a problem finding someone beautiful to fuck. Why bother with all the mess and confusion that came with a girlfriend?
But when I fucked Ava it wasn’t like the other women. I lost a part of myself. The world spun to black and there was only one thing that mattered—her.
When I met Ava, she was another conquest. Another woman to challenge me. But the second I had her in my hotel room, it all changed. She brought me to my knees. She got under my skin. Her voice filled my ears. Her sweet slice of heaven wrapped around my dick like it owned it.
Bloody hell, I wasn’t walking away a second time.
***
I reached for the door to the shabby hotel where she stayed when my phone rang. All the athletes were given their own cells to use when they checked into the village.
I looked down. It was Jim.
“Jim.”
I looked toward the blue sky. The sun hung over the palm trees like a ball of fire.
“Good news. The pool is open.” He sounded excited.
“What?” I took a step back from the door to let a couple pass me. “How is that possible? You said another day at least.”
“I think word got out you were pissed. Your bark is loud enough, Blaine. The valves are ready and everything is running. You can train tonight. The water is waiting for you. I’ll meet you over there?”
I hesitated. I had forgotten about the pool. I was on a mission and it had nothing to do with my butterfly stroke. I couldn’t tell that to Jim. He’d flip the fuck out.
“Yeah, you’ll see me there.” I had to get my shit together. This was the Olympics. A lifetime of preparation was on the line.
Years of swimming. The hardest training of my career had gone into these games. I couldn’t blow it off for a woman. Even if she was the woman who had changed everything.
“Good. I’ve got your bag. Can’t wait to see you in that Olympic water.”
“Yeah, right.”
I hung up and shoved the phone into my pocket. I couldn’t storm up to Ava’s room now. I had to swim. Damn it.
Maybe after practice I could try to talk to her again. I could make her understand. I could tell her what it was like when I woke up and walked away that morning.
For now, the aquatics center was where I needed to be.
***
My first dive into the pool was the most photographed of my life.
The entire press corps was gathered around the pool when I walked out of the locker room.
“Bloody hell, Jim.”
He slapped me on the back. “I know. But they want to see you practice. There’s nothing I can do about it. All practices at the Olympics are open. You know that.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to feel like a fucking zoo animal.”
I unzipped my hoodie and adjusted my goggles. The flashes went off with every moment. I wasn’t even on the dive block yet.
“How did they find out I was here?”
“The aquatics center sent out a newsflash on one of their social media accounts,” Jim responded.
“They did what?”
He shook his head, warning me not to lose my shit in front of a hundred news hounds.
“It was going to happen anyway. At least now you get the bloody press out of your face, and for the rest of the week the novelty will be over for them.”
I scowled. I wanted to swim, but not like a fucking trained dolphin.
“Pretend they aren’t here. You do it all the time.”
Jim stepped back while I stretched in front of the open lane. I had the same routine I used before every meet. I was superstitious and ritualistic about how I swam. I crossed the right arm over the left first—always.
I never changed the order of movements.
“Hey, Blaine. How are you feeling today?” a reporter shouted from the side of the pool.
I ignored the question, but flashed a smile.
“What’s your first day in Rio de Janeiro been like?”
“Going to break another record?” The questions kept piling up.
I should be happy as hell I was here, but in the back of my head was the frustration that things with Ava were unresolved.
“All right, first lap is a warm up only,” Jim instructed. “Get a feel for the lane. Just let your muscles ride out the water. Okay?”
I nodded. Jim was worried the time change would affect my time. It was one of the reasons we arrived so much earlier than the other swimmers.
“Whenever you’re ready.” He smiled at me.
“And what about them?” I tilted toward the press.
“Block them out.”
I rolled my eyes and pulled the goggles snugly in front of my eyes. I tugged the straps behind my ears. The swim cap snapped against my forehead as I completed my pre-swim ritual.
Drown them out, I told myself. I looked straight ahead. The water shimmered. I could see the interlocking rings on the tiled floor gli
stening through the depths. I was the first one in this pool. I owned it. I owned the gold.
I gripped the sides of the block with the edges of my fingers, tucked my knees, then dove forward, pushing off with the strength in my legs. I sliced through the water, skimming as far as I could before coming up into my freestyle stroke.
The water felt good. I took in enough air and eased into the first lap, letting my arms and legs stretch before I kicked off the wall for the return lap.
By the time the first round of warmups had finished, half of the stands were full. I propped my elbows on the edge of the pool.
Jim leaned down. “Well, we know who everyone is going to be cheering for next week.” His grin spread from ear to ear.
“This is bullshit.” I kept my voice low. “I just want to swim.”
“Then swim.” He stood up, pulling his timer from his coach’s jacket. “Do a full medley.”
“Still bullshit.” I dove into the water as the timer started to tick.
12
Ava
My stomach rolled again and I looked around for my bottled water. I didn’t know how long jetlag was supposed to last, but I was tired of it. I hadn’t felt fully energized since I had been in Brazil.
I was ready to send my story to Vic, but I wanted to check a few final facts before I hit send. I chugged the water, replaced the cap, and dropped it into my bag. The aquatics center wasn’t far. I could be back in an hour and upload everything to the server.
I reached the rectangular building and noticed the lights. Blaine had said it looked like a ghost town this morning, but as I pulled open the double doors, it was anything but.
I marched inside, searching for the main competitors’ pool. I stared at the spectacle in front of me.
The crowd cheered.
I walked up to one of the reporters on the end of the first row.
“What’s going on?”
Her eyes lit excitedly. “Blaine Crews is warming up. It’s amazing to watch him.”
“What?” My brows knitted together.
“He’s been in there an hour probably. God, he’s gorgeous.” She sighed, and I thought about swiping the puppy love look off her face.
“Thanks.”
I stepped closer to watch him take another lap.
I felt the anger bead in my veins. Another lie. Another playboy move to get me back in bed. There was no story. The pool wasn’t closed. Blaine was swimming while the entire world watched him cross one length after another.
And now what? I didn’t have anything to give to Vic. Nothing. Not a single damn story. I didn’t have anything feel-good or newsworthy. What I had was a bunch of pickup lines from a professional player.
I could kill him for what he had done. I growled lowly and stomped toward the swim block where his coach held the timer outright.
“Ava?”
I turned around at the shock of hearing my name. I stood awkwardly staring at my former boss.
“Wow. Phil. Hi.”
He stood from the seats. “Good to see you here. Looks like you still have the Blaine Crews beat.”
“Something like that.” I wasn’t going to explain my reason for marching in to see the swimmer.
Phil had on a blue polo like always. He adjusted his glasses. “You know I hated how things went for you down in Sydney.”
I held up my hands to stop him from embarrassing both of us. I didn’t want to relive the shame again.
“Really, Phil. It’s water under the bridge. I have a new job—I love it.”
“Really? That’s great. I’m glad to hear it.”
I tried to smile. The anger for Blaine was bubbling under my skin. I wanted to get my hands around his neck.
“It was good to see you again,” I lied.
“You too. Maybe we can get a drink or something before the games are over.”
“Maybe.” I stepped away and turned. I was not interested in spending time with anyone from Sports Now.
I continued my march toward the dive block, ignoring the signs to stay behind the sold red line painted on the tile.
I recognized Blaine’s coach.
“I need to speak to Blaine,” I announced.
His eyes focused on the time. “Come on, damn it,” he muttered.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m talking to Blaine.” He never looked up.
“Well, I would like to talk to Blaine.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“He’s in the pool and he isn’t doing any interviews until Opening Ceremonies. Are you on the list?” he asked absently.
“Oh, I’m on a list.”
There was a burst of excitement behind us as Blaine touched the wall and emerged from the water.
He slid the swim cap from his hair, dipping his head backward in the pool. He pushed himself from the surface, shaking the water from his hair. My mouth dropped as I watched the droplets glide over his skin, rolling over his torso and dropping toward that deep V of sinful muscles. Shit.
“How was that?” he asked his coach.
“You’re off pace, but it’s warm-ups.”
I cleared my throat and Blaine whipped his head in my direction.
“Ava.”
I couldn’t let his thrilling shirtless wet body get to me.
“You owe me an explanation.” I glared at him.
“Aww, love, what’s wrong this time?”
I hated and loved that pet word all at once. “You fed me a bogus story, Blaine Crews,” I fumed.
“What are you talking about?”
I knew the chatter behind us had stopped. Everyone was leaning toward us to listen to our exchange.
“The pool?” I looked around us. “It looks fully functional to me.”
“It wasn’t. I swear.” He cocked one eyebrow up in confusion, while his muscles glistened under the lights.
“And you conveniently showed up here to swim in front of two hundred members of the press. Come on, I know this was planned. I can’t believe you. For a minute today, I almost believed you. Almost.” I spun on my heels, catching a slick patch on the tile.
My arms flew out to the side as my feet gave way and I squealed for something to break my fall. That something was Blaine.
“Gotcha, love.” His hand wound around the small of my waist, clutching me with one arm.
I looked into his green eyes and caught the quick wink he gave me while the press went ballistic taking pictures.
“Shit,” I whispered.
He leaned down and pressed a dripping wet kiss against my lips. “Not the first time I’ve caught you in my arms.”
I wiggled for him to free me, but my heels were like slippers on an ice rink. I couldn’t gain any traction on the wet tile. It only made him hold me tighter.
I couldn’t imagine what I looked like. Blaine dripped all over me, smiling and laughing. He didn’t give a shit how this appeared. He was enjoying every minute of it.
“Let me go,” I hissed. I didn’t want to make any more of a scene than I already had.
“Only if you promise something,” he taunted.
“What?” I was at a complete disadvantage. If he let go of my waist I’d fall.
“Drinks tonight.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Not after what you did today.”
He began to loosen his grip and I squealed, clutching at his shoulders. “Don’t you dare, Blaine. I will land on my ass in front of all those people.”
“So?”
“My old boss is over there,” I whispered. “Please don’t do it.”
He laughed. “The pool was closed. You can ask Jim. So tell me you’re sorry and I won’t drop you on your sexy ass in front of all these reporters.”
The horror spread through me.
“You wouldn’t.” I seethed.
“Wouldn’t I?” There was nothing but cocky mischief in his eyes.
“Fine. One drink, but that’s it.”
“One drink with you is all I need.” He picked me up by
the waist and carried me to the textured entryway and placed me on my feet.
He waved to the crowd.
“I’ll pick you up at seven, love. And I’ll be ready for the apology then.”
I groaned and turned for the exit. How the hell had Blaine wrangled that out of me? But I would never tell him I was sorry. Never.
13
Blaine
I showered in the locker rooms. Warms ups didn’t go the way either Jim or I wanted, but it was early in the week. I had time to get in the zone. And knowing Ava might be a part of that put a smile on my face.
I didn’t expect to see her at the pool, but once I did I knew my last laps were the best ones.
I picked up my gym bag and slung it over my shoulder.
Jim was waiting for me on the other side of the door. “The press hasn’t left,” he warned.
“I’m not up for interviews right now.” I exhaled. “I’ve got dinner plans.” I wanted to get back to the village and change before my date with Ava. She wasn’t calling it that, but I was. I had an incredible night planned for us.
“About that. Who’s the girl?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Someone I met at finals last month.”
“You met her in Sydney?” He looked surprised.
“Yeah, why?”
He took his cap off and adjusted it on his head. “Not used to you seeing the same girl twice. She’s lasted over a month.”
I chuckled. “I didn’t say that, but we don’t tell each other everything.” I gripped his shoulder.
“Don’t stay out late, Blaine.” He eyed me as we reached the door.
“Now you sound like my dad.”
“Or the coach that wants you to take the gold back to Australia.”
“I’m taking it home.” I grinned, backing out of the aquatics center.
“Don’t get distracted. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Okay. Okay,” I groaned.
Jim waved to me as I hopped on the shuttle for the village.
Thirty minutes later, I was getting ready for my date with Ava.
***
She was waiting for me when I walked into the hotel lobby. I eyed her long legs under her skirt. Her tits had never looked more full and delectable in a tight top. She might be pissed, but she dressed like she wanted something from me.
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