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The next morning, Romy woke sprawled across a large bed that had the softest, silkiest of sheets, to the sounds of clinking metal and the rich aroma of coffee.

She recognised the sound of Stone working out with the weights.

And with a body like that, she didn’t mind reaping the rewards.

Especially since Stone had taken her so many ways, and so many times throughout the night she could purr, ready to do it all over again.

Yeah, she’d been greedy seeking her own pleasure while also being just as greedy to please him.

She’d never truly let go before, not like she had with Stone after sharing their past hurts.

And then how they’d found comfort in each other in ways that had her screaming until she had no air in her lungs, with greedy hands worshipping bodies, skin, lips, and heartbeats.

There were no words for that level of intense lovemaking. None at all.

She grabbed the bedsheet and scooted across the hallway back to her room, where she showered.

Was it going to be awkward seeing Stone this morning, when the day after had always been awkward for her?

At the kitchen bench she poured her coffee, just in time to watch Stone emerge from the pool.

All those muscles gleaming under the golden beams of an outback sunrise, and those droplets trickling over each perfect muscle of his abdomen, down his treasure trail and lost in his wet shorts.

Now she’d seen, tasted, touched, and tortured what was under those shorts she wanted to go again.

‘Morning.’ Stone grabbed the towel and casually dried himself off.

‘Hey. Hi. Um…’ Her voice cracked.

He chuckled.

Awkward! She had to be blushing, judging from the heat coming off her face.

An annoying shrill sound cut through the silence. It was the phone Stone snatched up from the kitchen counter.

‘Yeah…’ Stone listened, stopping to kiss her forehead before heading to his own bathroom.

The kiss made her sigh into her coffee, putting all that awkwardness at ease.

But then Stone stopped and turned to face her. ‘Yeah, I’ll ask…’ With his hand covering the phone’s speaker he asked, ‘Finn wants to use your drones today. You in?’

‘Hell, yeah.’ She could avoid the awkwardness, hiding behind her camera.

Oh, no, Stone was right—it was her shield.

‘Well, get ready then, the outback express leaves in five.’ He playfully tapped her bum, then spoke on the phone. ‘See you in fifteen, Bossman. Make sure the coffee is hot.’

‘What’s going on?’ Romy called out, hearing the shower turn on. Did she dare go scrub his back?

‘The Duchess has found something.’