Rachel woke late the next morning to sunlight streaming through the bedroom curtains and the sound of her husband moving around in the kitchen. For a moment, she lay still, feeling the pleasant ache in her muscles, the slight tenderness between her legs, reminders of yesterday's adventure. She stretched like a cat, smiling at the ceiling, and her hand ran down below her waist. No stubble, lovely and smooth. It felt good.  She got out of bed and emerged from the bedroom to find her husband was already dressed, pouring coffee into a travel mug.

"Morning," he said without looking up. "I'm heading to the taverna. The lads want to watch the early match."

"Of course they do," Rachel said, keeping her voice neutral. She poured herself coffee and sat at the small kitchen table, willing herself to appear casual. Inside, her heart was already racing with anticipation, and she found it hard to think pf anything else.

Her husband grabbed his wallet and keys. "I'll probably be back late. We are going to grab dinner there too."

"Have fun," Rachel said, taking a sip of coffee to hide her smile.

He paused at the door. "You'll be alright here?"

"I'll manage," she said. "I might go for a walk, explore a bit. Perhaps get a bite to eat around the harbour after a bit of shopping"

"Right. Well. See you later then."

The door closed behind him, and Rachel listened to his footsteps receding, the sound of the small hire car starting, the engine fading into the distance as it went through the gears. She counted to sixty, then to sixty again, forcing herself to wait a full five minutes in case he'd forgotten something and came back. When she was certain he was gone, she abandoned her coffee and practically ran to the pool area, her heart hammering with excitement. She looked up at Andy's terrace, shading her eyes against the morning sun.

He was there, sitting in a wicker chair with an espresso cup in hand, wearing only shorts, his silver hair catching the light. When he saw her looking, he smiled.

"Good morning," Rachel called up, unable to keep the eagerness from her voice.

"Good morning yourself," Andy replied. "Sleep well?"

"Eventually," she said, and saw his smile widen.

"Want to grab your things and make an early start of it," he said. "Come over for a coffee before we set off. The door's unlocked, just come straight up."

Rachel didn't need to be told twice. She rushed inside, her hands trembling slightly as she changed into her favourite black bikini, a different one from yesterday, cut slightly higher on the hips and complementing her darkening tan. She pulled on her blue sundress, grabbed her sunglasses and bag, and checked her reflection. Her skin glowed from yesterday's sun, and her eyes were bright with anticipation.

Moments later, she was pushing open Andy's gate, going through his front door and walking through his villa. It was similar to hers but felt more lived-in, with books stacked on surfaces and a pair of binoculars on the windowsill.

"Andy?" she called.

"Up here," his voice came from above. "Coffee's waiting."

Rachel climbed the stairs to the terrace and found Andy standing by a small table where two espresso cups sat steaming. Before she could say anything, he pulled her against him and kissed her, hard and deep and hungry, his hands sliding down to cup her ass through the thin sundress.

Rachel melted into him, her bag dropping to the floor, her hands finding the warm skin of his chest. When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Andy rested his forehead against hers.

"I've been thinking about you all night," he said.

"You’re not the only one. You were in my dreams, and I've been thinking about you all morning," Rachel replied. "I’ve never experienced so much in one day before."

Andy laughed and handed her an espresso. "Drink this. We've got a bit of a journey ahead of us."

They sat together on the terrace, their chairs close enough that their knees touched. Rachel sipped her coffee and looked out at the view, the olive trees, the distant glimpse of sea, the endless blue sky.

"Such a lovely view,” she began, then trailed off, not quite sure how to finish.

"I agree, and not just the scenery. Everything I am looking at seems just perfect." Andy offered.

"Perfect," Rachel said. "Well yesterday was definitely perfect. Just what I needed, though I didn’t realise it before I met you."

"Well, today's going to be even better," Andy said. "This island I'm taking you to, I discovered it last year. Completely deserted, pristine beach, water so clear you can see the bottom even in the deep parts. And absolutely no one around for miles. Not sure why it hasn’t been invaded by day trip boats, but I’m very happy it hasn’t been."

"Sounds like today could be even better than yesterday," Rachel said.

"That’s my plan." Andy agreed. "I've got food, drinks, everything we need for the day. All you have to do is relax and enjoy yourself."

"I think I can manage that," Rachel said, her hand finding his thigh.

They finished their coffee, and Andy disappeared inside to grab a large cool bag that he'd clearly prepared earlier. Rachel followed him down to the Jeep, feeling giddy with anticipation. As they drove through the narrow streets toward the harbour once again, Andy's hand rested on her knee, his thumb making small circles on her skin.

The harbour was busier this morning, with fishing boats returning from their night's work and tourists beginning to emerge from hotels and tavernas. But Andy's boat was waiting at the far end, sleek and ready, bobbing gently in the water. He pulled into his parking spot just next to his mooring, and they got out of the jeep and headed for the boat, cool bag and all.

They loaded the cool bag aboard, and Rachel cast off the lines with more confidence than yesterday. Andy guided them out of the harbour, and soon they were cutting through open water at speed, the town receding rapidly behind them.

Rachel sat close to the bow this time as they headed out, but this time she didn't wait long to catch more of the sun. Once they were well clear of land, with nothing but empty horizon in every direction, she stood and pulled her sundress over her head. The sun felt good as she sat near the bow in her black bikini, looking back at Andy driving the boat. After a few more minutes, she realised that there was only Andy here, he had seen her body, and tan lines were so last year. So, without hesitation, she reached behind and unfastened her bikini top, letting it fall to the deck. Her bottoms followed a moment later. She stretched out on the bow deck, completely naked, feeling the sun claim every inch of her skin. The freedom of it was even more intoxicating than yesterday, no hesitation, no uncertainty, just pure pleasure in her own body and the knowledge that Andy was watching.

And he was watching. Rachel heard the engine slow slightly, and then Andy's footsteps on the deck. She opened her eyes to find him standing over her, his gaze travelling slowly from her face down to her breasts, her stomach, and lower.

"You're a work of art," he said.

"Come here," Rachel replied.

Andy knelt beside her, his hand sliding up her inner thigh. When his fingers reached the apex, he made a small sound of appreciation.

"So smooth," he murmured. "You did a thorough job."

"I was motivated," Rachel said.

Andy leaned down and kissed her there, just once, his tongue flicking briefly over her clitoris before he pulled back. Rachel gasped, her hips lifting.

"More," she breathed.

"Later," Andy promised. "Right now, I need to concentrate on getting us there in one piece. But feel free to come astern and keep me company." Rachel stood, gloriously naked, and followed him to the helm. She stood beside him, one hand resting on his shoulder, feeling the wind on her bare skin and the sun warming her body. Andy's free hand occasionally strayed to touch her, a caress of her hip, a squeeze of her ass, fingers trailing down her spine.

"You're making it very hard to concentrate," he said.

"Good," Rachel replied. “Glad to know I’m not losing my charms!”

The journey took about forty minutes, and Rachel spent most of it pressed against Andy's side, occasionally kissing his neck or running her hands over his chest. By the time the island came into view, they were both breathing harder. It was exactly as Andy had described. A small, green island, running to about fifty metres in all directions, with a few trees on it for shade. The shore was mainly rocky, but there was a crescent of white sand beach and water that changed from pale blue near the shore to deep sapphire further out. There wasn't a building in sight, not even a boat. There were many like it in this part of the Mediterranean, but this one felt special.

"It's beautiful," Rachel breathed.

Andy dropped anchor in the sheltered cove, and they transferred to the small tender, an inflatable dinghy with an outboard motor. Andy loaded the cool bag while Rachel climbed in, still naked, not bothering with her bikini. The short ride to the beach felt surreal, like they were the only two people in the world. They quickly landed and walked onto the beach. The sand was warm beneath Rachel's feet as she stepped onto the beach. Andy pulled the tender up onto the sand, then spread out a large blanket he'd brought. Rachel helped him unload, but the moment everything was arranged, she turned to him.

"Shorts off," she said. "If I'm naked, you're naked."

Andy grinned and obliged, pushing his shorts down and kicking them aside. He was already half-hard, and Rachel felt a surge of satisfaction at the evidence of his desire. They lay down on the blanket together, and for a moment, they just looked at each other, two naked bodies on a deserted beach, the sun warm on their skin, the sound of gentle waves in the background.

Then Andy rolled toward her, his hand cupping her face as he kissed her. Rachel opened to him, her leg hooking over his hip, pulling him closer. She felt him harden fully against her thigh, felt her own body responding with a rush of heat and wetness between her thighs.

Andy kissed his way down her neck, her collarbone, her breasts, taking time with each nipple until Rachel was squirming beneath him. Then he moved lower, his lips trailing over her stomach, his hands spreading her thighs.

When his mouth found her clitoris, Rachel cried out, her hands fisting in the blanket. He took his time, licking and sucking with patient skill, occasionally sliding his fingers inside her. The combination of sensations, the sun on her skin, the sound of the sea, Andy's talented mouth, built her pleasure to an almost unbearable peak.

"Andy," she gasped. "I need you inside me."

He lifted his head, his lips glistening. "Your wish is my command."

He moved up her body, positioning himself between her spread legs, the tip of his cock resting between her labia. Their eyes met and then he pushed inside, filling her in one slow thrust. Rachel wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, and they began to move together in perfect unison.

The missionary position felt intimate and intense, their faces close enough to kiss, their bodies pressed tight together. Andy's rhythm was steady and deep, each thrust hitting her perfectly, reaching to her innermost depths. Rachel felt her orgasm building again, different from the ones his mouth had given her, fuller, more complete.

"Yes," she breathed. "Just like that. Don't stop."

Andy didn't stop. He kept the same steady rhythm, his hips driving forward, his hands braced on the sand on either side of her head. When Rachel came, she cried out his name, her inner muscles clenching around him, her nails digging into his shoulders.

But Andy wasn't finished. He pulled out, and Rachel made a small sound of protest until she felt his hands on her hips, turning her over. She turned over willingly, rising onto her hands and knees, presenting herself to him. Andy entered her from behind, and the angle was completely different, deeper, more primal. Rachel braced herself on her forearms, looking out at the endless blue sea as Andy gripped her hips and thrust into her with increasing force.

"God, you feel so wet, so incredible," he groaned.

Rachel pushed back against him, meeting each thrust, feeling the pleasure build again impossibly fast. The sound of their bodies meeting, the slap of skin on skin, mixed with the gentle stir of waves on the shore. When her second orgasm hit, Rachel actually screamed, not caring that her voice carried across the empty beach.

Andy followed moments later, burying himself deep and groaning as he came, his fingers digging into her hips hard enough to leave marks. They stayed locked together for a long moment, both trembling, before Andy carefully withdrew and collapsed beside her on the blanket.

"Jesus," he breathed.

Rachel laughed, rolling onto her back and staring up at the cloudless sky. "I think we've christened the beach."

"Not just that, I think you've ruined me for all other beaches," Andy replied.

They lay together, catching their breath, letting the sun dry the sweat on their skin. Listen to the gentle whoosh of the waves on the shore. Neither of them speaking for a while, just taking pleasure and solace from being in each other’s arms in a post orgasmic glow. After a while, Andy sat up and reached for the cool bag.

"Hungry?" he asked.

"Starving," Rachel admitted.

Andy had packed a proper feast, fresh bread, cheese, olives, sliced tomatoes, cold meats, and a bottle of white wine that was still reasonably cool. They ate sitting cross-legged on the blanket, both still naked, feeding each other bites and laughing at the absurdity of having a picnic in the nude.

"This view is incredible," Rachel said, gesturing at the sea with a piece of bread.

"The view from where I'm sitting is pretty spectacular too," Andy said, his eyes on her breasts.

Rachel threw an olive at him. "Charmer."

"Just honest," Andy said, catching the olive and popping it in his mouth.

They finished eating and packed away the remains of lunch. The sun was high now, beating down with Mediterranean intensity, and the water looked impossibly inviting.

"Swim?" Rachel suggested.

"Why not. Race you," Andy said.

They ran into the water together, splashing and laughing like children. The water was cool and clear, and Rachel dove under, feeling it wash away the salt and sweat from their lovemaking. When she surfaced, Andy was right beside her, water streaming down his face.

He pulled her against him, and they kissed, treading water, their legs tangling together. Rachel felt him hardening again against her stomach and reached down to wrap her hand around him.

"Again?" she asked.

"You're insatiable," Andy said.

"You're inspiring," Rachel countered, echoing his words from yesterday.

Andy moved them closer to the shore until he could stand on the sandy seabed, and then lifted her, and Rachel wrapped her legs around his waist. The water made her buoyant, and Andy was strong enough to hold her easily. He lifter her slightly higher, then lowered her slowly onto his erection.

Making love in the water was different, slower, more languid, with the waves rocking them gently. Rachel held onto Andy's shoulders, rising and falling with the motion of the sea, feeling him deep inside her. The sun beat down on them, the water lapped at their bodies and kept them cool, and Rachel felt utterly, completely free.

They came together this time, both crying out, their voices carrying across the empty water. Afterward, they swam lazily, floating on their backs, letting the sea support them.

Eventually, they made their way back to the beach and stretched out on the blanket to dry. Andy lay on his back, one arm behind his head, and Rachel curled against his side, her head on his chest. She could hear his heartbeat, steady and strong, and feel the rise and fall of his breathing.

"I could stay here forever," she murmured.

"Me too, but for today we've got a few more hours," Andy said, his hand stroking her back. "No rush."

They dozed in the sun, woke to kiss and touch lazily, then dozed again. The afternoon stretched out, golden and perfect, with nothing to disturb them but the occasional cry of a seabird. No boats appeared to disturb their privacy.

Finally, as the sun began its descent toward the horizon, Andy stirred.

"We should probably head back," he said reluctantly. "I don't want to navigate in the dark."

Rachel sighed but nodded. They packed up their things, and Rachel finally put her bikini back on, though it felt strange and restrictive after hours of nakedness. They loaded the tender and made the short trip back to the boat.

The journey back to the harbour was quieter, both of them tired and sun-drunk and satisfied. Rachel sat beside Andy at the helm, her head on his shoulder, turning around occasionally so that she could watch the island, their island as she would always remember it, recede behind them.

As they tied up at the dock, the harbour was coming alive with evening activity, tavernas setting out tables, locals gathering for their evening with friends, tourists returning from day trips. Rachel and Andy moved through it all in their own bubble, barely noticing anyone else. The drive back to the villas felt too short. When Andy pulled up in his drive, Rachel didn't want to get out of the Jeep.

"Tomorrow?" Andy asked.

Rachel turned to look at him. "Tomorrow. And the day after. And every day for the rest of this holiday. I'm yours, Andy. Completely."

Andy smiled and leaned over to kiss her. "I was hoping you'd say that. I've got a few more places I'd like to show you."

"Show me everything," Rachel said.

They kissed again, longer this time, until a passing couple on the street made them break apart with embarrassed laughs.

"Go," Andy said. "Before I drag you back to my villa and tie you to the bed so you can never leave."

"Don't tempt me," Rachel said, but she climbed out of the Jeep.

Andy got out too, kissed her hard and long one more time, opened the door to his villa as Rachel let herself into hers. She turned, they both waved and then she stepped in, closing the door behind her and leaning back on it. Reliving the experiences of the day she let out a deep sigh and then moved inside, switching the lights on.

The place was empty, her husband still at the taverna, of course. Rachel went straight to the bathroom and turned on the shower, washing away the salt and sand, though she was reluctant to wash away the scent of Andy's skin on hers. She dwelled under the cooling stream of water as it ran over her.

When she was clean and dry, she pulled on a light robe and poured herself a brandy and coke. She took it out to the balcony and settled into a chair, looking out at the darkening sky over the sea in front of her. Watching the twinkling lights of the fishing boats heading out for another night.

The stars were beginning to appear, bright and clear in the Mediterranean night. Rachel sipped her drink and let her mind wander, to tomorrow, to the days after, to the possibility of a life that felt like this all the time. She knew too much had changed, and that her husband was no longer central to her plans unless he accepted the change in her and could change himself. There might be someone else, not necessarily Andy, though the thought wasn't unpleasant. But she needed a life where she felt alive, desired, and above all free.

She thought about the deserted island, about making love on the sand with the sun on her skin and the sea as witness. She thought about Andy's hands and mouth, about the way he looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

Somewhere in the distance, she heard music from a taverna, laughter, the sound of life being lived. Her husband was out there somewhere, watching football, drinking with his friends, completely unaware that his wife had spent the day naked on a beach with another man. Rachel felt no guilt. Just a deep, satisfied contentment and a fizzing anticipation for tomorrow.

She finished her drink and went inside, climbing into bed with a smile on her face. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough. But for now, she had her memories of today, the sun, the sea, the sand, and Andy. It was more than enough to fill her dreams.