‘More like prurient.’

He shook his head. ‘No. Try infatuated.’

For a moment I forgot to breathe. ‘Then maybe I will kiss you really badly to rid you of that,’ I said.

His eyes held mine. ‘Go on then.’

I could think of many reasons why I should just turn on my heel and run away but a bet was a bet. I wasn’t Taylor’s ward for nothing. I stepped up to Byron and stood on my tiptoes. I could smell his raw masculinity – an indefinable scent which suggested power and sex and a whole lot of other things that I didn’t want to think about. Emerald eyes glittered at me.

‘What are you waiting for?’ he breathed.

I had no idea. Perhaps I was simply savouring the moment. A snappy comeback was on my lips but I ignored it and pressed my mouth against his.

Byron didn’t react immediately and I grinned. He was creating his own mini-challenge. Let’s see how long he could resist. I coiled my body against his, running my fingers lightly around his waist. When that didn’t work, I ran them in the opposite direction. I was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath.

My tongue flicked against his and I deepened the kiss. Byron muttered something and yielded, grabbing my waist and hoisting me up, forcing my hands to leave their teasing dance and reach round his neck. He pushed forward, so my back was pressed against a tree. The trunk was rough but I barely noticed.

Cupping my face and moving in for the kill, Byron’s teeth nipped at my bottom lip, sending an explosive burst of pleasure rippling through me. Every semblance of common sense fled and I gave myself up to the heady sensation of his taste, his body and his ardour, which more than matched my own.

It was only a distant buzzing which managed to break through my consciousness. ‘Byron?’ I murmured, as my insides squirmed. ‘Stop.’

His fingers brushed my skin, searing in a way I’d not thought possible. ‘Mm?’

‘Drone.’ I couldn’t even form proper sentences. The buzzing got louder and I pushed him away. ‘There’s a drone coming.’

His breath was ragged as mine. We stared at each other as the buzzing got louder and the drone appeared, hovering above us.

‘They should have banned those things. It’s not like they’ve been used before at the Games.’

‘It’s a brave new world.’

He eyed me. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘I suppose it is.’

‘Byron!’ a voice called.

We turned. The four other Moncrieffe competitors – Jamie included – appeared round the corner. The spell was well and truly broken.

‘Your Clan like working together,’ I said in an undertone.

‘Tactics,’ he muttered, raising a hand in greeting.

‘Where’s Tipsy?’ Jamie asked.

‘Ahead.’

I ignored the suspicious glances they sent me. Jamie frowned. ‘How did you get here, Integrity?’

I shrugged and grinned. ‘Tactics.’ I wiggled my fingers at them. ‘See ya!’ Then I took off, pelting back into the woods. There was still a challenge to win.