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“When aren’t I?” I ask, pretending to be offended.

“It’s not you I’m worried about, Angel. Stella is the troublemaker.”

“Fair point.”

I wait until he’s collected up the plates and is almost inside before I swipe the screen and wait for the call to connect.

“Holy shit, where are you?” Stella gasps the second her eyes lock on the view of the ocean behind me.

I can’t help but laugh. “Paradise.”

“I was pissed when I heard your bitch of a mother shipped you off, but now I’m kinda jealous.”

“Things could definitely be worse.”

“Bit extreme though, don’t you think?”

No, not really. “Mum’s always been one to go to the next level. I can’t even really be pissed. I’d planned to lock myself into my basement for two weeks. I get to do that sitting out here.”

“But you’re so far away,” she complains, making me wonder if she does know exactly where I am.

“I’ll be back before you know it. And it’s not like you don’t have anyone to keep you company back there. How’s everyone?” I ask, concern twisting up my insides.

The Italians might be after me, but I’m not naïve enough to think that they won’t turn their attention elsewhere once they discover I’ve been well and truly hidden.

“Everyone’s good. The guys are all pretending they’re studying, but mostly, I’m pretty sure they’re watching porn and getting drunk.”

“They’re in Nico’s flat then,” I mutter, reaching for my wine.

“Oh, check you out.”

“Check who out?” a familiar voice asks behind the screen somewhere.

“Calli is in heaven,” Stella says as Emmie drops beside her, passing a bottle of cider over.

“Sea, sun…” Emmie says, studying me and my surroundings. “She’s missing something.”

“Jesus, do you two ever think of anything but sex?” I ask, my cheeks heating, knowing that the end of Emmie’s statement isn’t far from the truth. And as if he’s listening, Daemon chooses that moment to reappear.

“It’s almost criminal not to make the most of that beach,” Emmie mutters.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Maybe I’ll find a local to make use of. Have a little holiday romance.”

A deep growl rumbles in his throat as he grips the top of the door frame. His shirt lifts up, giving me a delicious shot of those deep V lines that disappear into his sweats.

Darkness clings to him just from my bullshit words, and it makes my heart rate pick up.

“Damn, that would be hot. Have you seen any of the locals?”

“Not yet. There was a guy working out down by the shore earlier. If he comes back, maybe I should talk to him.”

My eyes flick between the screen and the angry guy staring at me like he’s about to charge any minute.

“Hell, yes. You need to do it tomorrow and get us photos.”

“Not sure Seb and Theo would be happy with that.”

“Ah, don’t worry your pretty little head about that,” Stella says with a laugh. “We’ve got plenty of ways to prove to them that it’s only their cocks we want.”