Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

She licked her lips. “Mmm. Wet.”

“Thanks for coming.”

“That looked amazing. How did you do that with the turn?”

I admitted it was fucking hot as shit my girl knew what she was talking about when it came to sports. She never got tired talking about swimming or any of the sports at the games. She was a better listener than Jim was sometimes.

I realized how hot it was she was mine. Only mine.

“I don’t know. I’ve been working on it all week and it suddenly clicked. I couldn’t get it down in Sydney.”

“If you’re going to make a change like that, this is the time to do it.” She smiled.

“I have to hit the showers. Want to go get lunch?”

A fan leaned over Ava’s shoulder and shoved a phone in her face. I glared at him, but saw Ava’s warning expression before I grabbed the phone and threw it in the pool.

“Which lunch is this for you? First, second, or third?”

I cracked a smile. “I thought I dispelled those hobbit rumors with you. And it’s second lunch.” I winked.

“I can’t.” She shook her head. “I don’t have anything to write today and I really need to get something to my boss.”

I scratched the back of my head. “Dinner is out because of the ceremony. That’s going to take all night.”

“I’ll be here tomorrow,” she piped up. “I’m going to watch you swim.”

“That’s not enough,” I growled. “Fucking dictators keeping us in the village. It sucks.”

“Think of it this way. You’ll get more sleep.”

There was truth there, but I’d rather fall asleep naked and inside Ava. I didn’t like that someone regulated when and where I could sleep. Not with the biggest games of my life in front of me. I needed her.

She was my release. She was my calm. She was fucking everything to me.

I kissed her quickly. “I’ll figure something out.”

She eyed me. “Blaine, what does that mean?”

“Don’t worry about it, love.”

She stood to leave, but I could see the hesitation. “Please don’t do something stupid. Call me tonight and have fun at Opening Ceremonies. I’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Me stupid?” I felt Jim’s hand on my back.

“Hi, Ava,” he greeted her.

“Hi, Jim.”

“Blaine, we’ve got press in an hour.”

“All right. Bye, love.”

He shuttled me to the locker room, but I wasn’t content. I had to see her tonight. Tomorrow was going to be my greatest swim, but I needed Ava Gold tonight if I was going to make that happen.

I knocked on the hotel door with my bag slung over my shoulder.

“Hold on,” I heard Ava call on the other side.