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‘I know vaginal rejuvenation treatments are a thing, but I’ve never heard of anyone inserting clay up their fanny before!’

‘It could be the next big beauty craze. They could call it a Fanny Facial or Coochie Clay Mask!’

‘Oh my God!’ Stella snorted. ‘Anyway, enough about the clay. How was the sex?’

‘Easily the best shag of my life. Two thousand out of ten. And before you say it, I know that’s not technically possible, but I don’t care. That’s how amazing it was.’

Just as Stella had asked, I filled her in on everything.

‘I’m happy for you, hon. After all the crap you’ve been through on this trip, you deserved to have something to put a smile on your face.’

‘Yeah. It’s been a rollercoaster, but those orgasms definitely helped.’ I groaned as I replayed the sensations of him being inside me and how good it felt when his tongue licked my clit.

Such a shame I wouldn’t get the chance to experience it again and that I’d missed the chance to have him go down on me properly.

‘I don’t mean to get serious but what’s the plan? Was it just a one-off?’

‘Course!’ I said. ‘I’m not stupid. This isn’t like you and Max. We live in two different countries, so it can’t go anywhere. And he’s massively scarred by his parents’ experience.’

‘What happened with his parents?’

‘They had a holiday fling when his dad was modelling in London and his mum moved to Italy to be with him and it was a disaster. So, there’s no way he’d entertain the idea. Anyway, like I said, it was just a one and done thing. Thinking about anything beyond that is crazy.’

‘So you’re not gonna hang out any more?’

‘We had lunch today at his favourite restaurant by the sea and he reminded me that we couldn’t do anything again.’

I filled Stella in on the call from Victoria.

‘He’s right. It’s risky. Do you think you’ll be able to keep your distance?’

‘Totally! It was just sex. I’ve only got four and a bit days left here. It’d be stupid to start catching feelings. I’ll be fine!’ My voice shot up higher than I’d meant it to, but what I said was true. As much as I liked Romeo, I knew what this was. It was just a fling. Nothing more, nothing less.

‘Okay, well, just be careful.’

‘Thanks, but I’ll be fine. Tomorrow I’m going to ask mychauffeur– still can’t believe I’ve got one of those – to take me to a beach which is supposed to be like the Maldives of Italy, so I’ll go swimming there, do a bit of reading on the beach then find somewhere to eat. It’ll be fun.’

Although I would’ve preferred to hang out with Romeo, we’d agreed that we couldn’t see each other any more outside of the hotel, so that was that. It was for the best all round.

And anyway, I was a strong, independent woman. I’d survived just fine being single. I didn’t need a man to take me around to different places to have a good time.

‘Sounds amazing! Keep me posted and send pics!’

‘Will do. How’s everything with you?’

‘All good. I’m loving working on this website design project for the Romance Library. I’ve got a meeting with the owner tomorrow, so me and Max are gonna stay the night afterwards. Sunshine Bay is supposed to be stunning.’

‘I’ve heard of that place. Sounds lush! You guys are always travelling, here, there and everywhere. I wish I could do more of that.’

‘What’s stopping you? You spoke about spending time in the US years ago and never did. If I had an American dad and dual citizenship and had the option to go and spend however long I wanted over there like you, I would’ve jumped at the chance.’

‘You trying to get rid of me?’ I chuckled.

‘No! It’s just, ever since I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone, I’ve been so much happier and I just want the same for you, that’s all.’

‘I know. But it’s different for you and Max. You run your own businesses. My boss wouldn’t allow me to go away that much. Especially not if I want to become head receptionist. Coming here was pushing myself out of my comfort zone and look how that turned out.’

I was about to say that it’d been a shitshow. But it hadn’t been all bad. I’d visited loads of stunning places and I’d had two mind-blowing orgasms.