Stephanie hadn’t expected the Algarve to feel this… cinematic. The hotel shimmered like something out of a travel magazine—whitewashed walls, terracotta tiles, and an infinity pool that seemed to spill straight into the Atlantic. She stood at reception, clutching her passport and the last-minute booking confirmation, still half in disbelief that she’d actually come.
Her friend Clara had insisted. “You need sun, sea, and strangers,” she’d said, pressing the idea. Stephanie had laughed then, but now, standing in the cool marble lobby, she felt the weight of her recent life collapse—the divorce, the empty flat, the silence.
“I’m afraid your room isn’t quite ready,” the receptionist said with a warm smile. “But please, enjoy lunch at the cocktail bar. We’ll come find you when it is.”
Stephanie nodded, grateful for the air conditioning. Her suitcase had been whisked away, leaving her in travel clothes: skinny jeans and a thick cotton T-shirt. She hadn’t thought to pack shorts in her hand luggage. Rookie mistake.
The cocktail bar was perched above the sea, its glass walls framing the turquoise horizon. She chose a table inside, near the window, and ordered a salad—greens, citrus, something light. The chilled wine she hadn’t asked for arrived anyway, and she didn’t protest.
As she forked through the salad, she glanced toward the pool. That’s when she saw them.
Two women lounged beside the water, sun glinting off their skin. One wore a wide-brimmed straw hat and sipped something pink from a tall glass. The other, Stephanie’s gaze lingered. She was stretched out on her stomach, legs bent at the knees, denim shorts slung low on her hips. The button was undone, revealing the curve of white bikini briefs beneath. Her skin was golden, her hair dark and tousled, and she laughed at something the other woman said, the sound carrying faintly on the breeze.
Stephanie looked away quickly, heart thudding. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe it was the sudden realisation that she was here, alone, and free in a way she hadn’t been in years.
She took another sip of wine, letting the coolness settle her nerves. The woman by the pool turned slightly, catching Stephanie’s eye for a moment, just a flicker, and smiled.
Stephanie felt her heart flutter.
Maybe Clara had been right.
Stephanie’s gaze lingered out from her table at the two women, drawn by something magnetic. The younger woman by the pool turned slowly, her eyes catching Stephanie’s through the glass. There was no mistaking the look, bold, deliberate, and knowing.
With a sensual motion, she slowly slid her denim shorts down her hips, revealing the full curve of her white bikini briefs. Sunlight caught the edge of her skin, golden and smooth. She didn’t look away. Neither did Stephanie.
A flush rose in Stephanie’s chest, unfamiliar but insistent. Her breath became shallower, her body reacting before her mind could catch up. She shifted in her seat, suddenly aware of the moistness between her legs. The air conditioning no longer able to cool the heat building inside her.
She wasn’t used to this. Not the feeling, or the quiet ache that pulsed inside her knickers. But she didn’t look away.
The woman smiled, just slightly, and turned back toward the pool, slipping into the water with a graceful dive.
Stephanie sat frozen, her wine untouched, her heart racing. Something had changed inside her, if only she knew what.
Just then, a soft voice interrupted Stephanie’s thoughts.
“Ms. Hartley?” A young woman in a crisp linen uniform stood beside her table, holding out a sleek room card. “Your room is ready. And you’ve been upgraded to a deluxe suite with a sea view.”
Stephanie blinked, taking the card with a nod and a murmured “Thank you.” The staff member smiled and disappeared as quickly as she’d arrived.
Deluxe suite. Sea view. Normally, she’d be thrilled. But right now, all she could think about was getting out of her stifling jeans and into a room with privacy and a bed big enough to stretch across. Her body buzzed, her skin prickling with heat that had nothing to do with the Algarve sun.
She stood, legs slightly unsteady, and made her way through the lobby, past the polished marble and the scent of citrus. The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and she stepped inside, alone.
As the lift ascended, she leaned against the mirrored wall, her reflection flushed and wide-eyed. She didn’t fully understand what had stirred in her by the pool, but it was real, and it was urgent.
When the doors opened, she walked quickly down the corridor, found her suite, and slid the card into the lock. The door clicked open.
Inside, the room was cool and elegant. Pale wood floors, net curtains billowing in the breeze, and a king-sized bed with crisp white sheets. Stephanie didn’t even glance at the view.
She closed the door behind her, kicked off her shoes, and reached for the button of her jeans.
Her friend Clara had insisted. “You need sun, sea, and strangers,” she’d said, pressing the idea. Stephanie had laughed then, but now, standing in the cool marble lobby, she felt the weight of her recent life collapse—the divorce, the empty flat, the silence.
“I’m afraid your room isn’t quite ready,” the receptionist said with a warm smile. “But please, enjoy lunch at the cocktail bar. We’ll come find you when it is.”
Stephanie nodded, grateful for the air conditioning. Her suitcase had been whisked away, leaving her in travel clothes: skinny jeans and a thick cotton T-shirt. She hadn’t thought to pack shorts in her hand luggage. Rookie mistake.
The cocktail bar was perched above the sea, its glass walls framing the turquoise horizon. She chose a table inside, near the window, and ordered a salad—greens, citrus, something light. The chilled wine she hadn’t asked for arrived anyway, and she didn’t protest.
As she forked through the salad, she glanced toward the pool. That’s when she saw them.
Two women lounged beside the water, sun glinting off their skin. One wore a wide-brimmed straw hat and sipped something pink from a tall glass. The other, Stephanie’s gaze lingered. She was stretched out on her stomach, legs bent at the knees, denim shorts slung low on her hips. The button was undone, revealing the curve of white bikini briefs beneath. Her skin was golden, her hair dark and tousled, and she laughed at something the other woman said, the sound carrying faintly on the breeze.
Stephanie looked away quickly, heart thudding. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe it was the sudden realisation that she was here, alone, and free in a way she hadn’t been in years.
She took another sip of wine, letting the coolness settle her nerves. The woman by the pool turned slightly, catching Stephanie’s eye for a moment, just a flicker, and smiled.
Stephanie felt her heart flutter.
Maybe Clara had been right.
Stephanie’s gaze lingered out from her table at the two women, drawn by something magnetic. The younger woman by the pool turned slowly, her eyes catching Stephanie’s through the glass. There was no mistaking the look, bold, deliberate, and knowing.
With a sensual motion, she slowly slid her denim shorts down her hips, revealing the full curve of her white bikini briefs. Sunlight caught the edge of her skin, golden and smooth. She didn’t look away. Neither did Stephanie.
A flush rose in Stephanie’s chest, unfamiliar but insistent. Her breath became shallower, her body reacting before her mind could catch up. She shifted in her seat, suddenly aware of the moistness between her legs. The air conditioning no longer able to cool the heat building inside her.
She wasn’t used to this. Not the feeling, or the quiet ache that pulsed inside her knickers. But she didn’t look away.
The woman smiled, just slightly, and turned back toward the pool, slipping into the water with a graceful dive.
Stephanie sat frozen, her wine untouched, her heart racing. Something had changed inside her, if only she knew what.
Just then, a soft voice interrupted Stephanie’s thoughts.
“Ms. Hartley?” A young woman in a crisp linen uniform stood beside her table, holding out a sleek room card. “Your room is ready. And you’ve been upgraded to a deluxe suite with a sea view.”
Stephanie blinked, taking the card with a nod and a murmured “Thank you.” The staff member smiled and disappeared as quickly as she’d arrived.
Deluxe suite. Sea view. Normally, she’d be thrilled. But right now, all she could think about was getting out of her stifling jeans and into a room with privacy and a bed big enough to stretch across. Her body buzzed, her skin prickling with heat that had nothing to do with the Algarve sun.
She stood, legs slightly unsteady, and made her way through the lobby, past the polished marble and the scent of citrus. The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and she stepped inside, alone.
As the lift ascended, she leaned against the mirrored wall, her reflection flushed and wide-eyed. She didn’t fully understand what had stirred in her by the pool, but it was real, and it was urgent.
When the doors opened, she walked quickly down the corridor, found her suite, and slid the card into the lock. The door clicked open.
Inside, the room was cool and elegant. Pale wood floors, net curtains billowing in the breeze, and a king-sized bed with crisp white sheets. Stephanie didn’t even glance at the view.
She closed the door behind her, kicked off her shoes, and reached for the button of her jeans.