Sophia remembered back to her last conversation with her best friend. Lilly had encouraged her, “If you are asking about starting something with Sam, I think you should. Explore. Have fun.”

But now that it might really be happening, Sophia’s heart was racing. Sam was hiking up to this gorgeous, isolated beach to be with her.

~~ 

The last week had gone by fast. Sophia and Sam were camping with a group of co-workers. It was an activity-filled end-of-summer team-building trip to the Group Camp Site at Paulina Lake, Oregon. Scenic Newberry Crater was one of the rugged volcanoes in the Cascade Mountain Range. There were a pair of high-altitude lakes, a rustic lodge first built in 1929, and incredible hiking trails. On the first day, the group took a short hike to Paulina Falls for a photo. The next day, they boarded a tour bus, which took them all to the trailhead for a hike to explore an otherworldly obsidian flow. This was followed by an amazing catered picnic lunch, complete with a group photo. Another of the hikes had been to a hot spring, heated by the magma deep beneath this ancient volcano. Hot water bubbled right up through the sand at the lake’s edge.

Sophia was naturally conservative and normally dressed modestly, but two days ago, at that very hot spring, she publicly debuted a bikini for the first time in her life. She smiled to herself, remembering Sam’s appreciative gaze. She still couldn’t believe how daring she had been. 

Today was the day everyone else had gone back home. Sam had wanted to stay another night to do some kayaking. Sophia wanted to stay another night too, with high hopes of finally being alone with Sam. 

The two of them awoke in their own tents while the morning was still calm. The mist over the lake was clearing when the designated camp barista declared the coffee was ready. The camp coffee was a tradition for this group. It was made by filling a sock with coffee grounds and boiling it in an old-fashioned enameled metal pot on the campfire. Despite the rumor that the same sock had been used for years, the coffee was to die for on a cold morning. The group shared one last hearty breakfast of bacon, fried hash browns, and eggs. 

Sophia sat across the table from Sam. A few folks were nursing their hangovers, but generally, the conversations flowed easily. Sophia had overheard Sam’s interest in going kayaking while the lake was calm. As people were getting up, to break camp and head home, Sophia let him know of her intentions to hike back to the hot spring for a swim. She planted the seed: “When you are done, why don’t you hike up to join me?” 

“Wow! Umm… Okay, that sounds nice.” 

“Well, I’m going to get my day pack. Have a good time out there, and I hope I’ll see you later.” 

Sam smiled and nodded. Sophia knew he was interested, but that he was also being discreet. He would want to protect Sophia’s image.  After all, it was common knowledge that Sam was a married man.

~~

Sophia had needed this vacation. It had given her plenty of time to reflect on how quickly things were changing in her life. Lately, things had finally been going her way. She had gotten a huge promotion at work, and it came with a big raise. She had already moved into a luxury apartment. She had hoped that a nicer home would also boost her self-esteem. Despite her good fortune, this memory took Sophia further down the rabbit hole. “Now, the only thing Mom can be disappointed about is that I’m still single.” 

Sophia’s social worker had been helping her overcome a lifetime of belittlement. It was that very derisive subject she had last discussed with her social worker. Her therapist knew that in many ways, Sophia’s repressive mother had stunted the woman’s growth. For fear of being hurt, Sophia had suppressed her dreams of discovering life and love. She had hidden her hope and her playful nature. She was stuck in the uncertainty of her youth. 

Her therapist had listened to Sophia for years. Sophia was tired of being so guarded. She was tired of men who just saw her as a sex object. Being an Asian woman, many men assumed she was submissive and would find her purpose in serving them. Sophia longed for a man who would respect her intellect yet not expect her to only serve to please him. She longed for a man to satisfy her romantic desires on her terms, without trying to own her. 

Sophia’s therapist knew of her fascination with her best friend’s husband, Sam. They had talked several times about how Lilly, that best friend, had been very forthcoming to Sophia about their open marriage. It was hard for the therapist not to start a list of pros and cons. 

Her therapist knew about Sophia’s latest work success, yet Sophia would still talk humbly about herself and minimize her accomplishments. She also knew Sophia was impatient for more positive change. Sophia’s budding confidence was waiting to spring forth. So, in their last session, her therapist had asked her who she was. Sophia answered with a puzzled look on her face, “I’m Sophia. I’m a hard worker.”

~~ 

Sophia slowly walked up the trail, marveling at the scenery. She paused at a clearing to enjoy the view over the lake. Her thoughts wandered to Sam. She really enjoyed just being near him for a few minutes at breakfast. “Why didn’t I state my desire more clearly?”

Pulling her phone from her pocket, she called him. “Hi, Sam. I’m nearly at the hot spring. Are you on your way to join me?”

There was a short pause. Then Sam answered, “Yes, that sounds wonderful. Umm…”

Sophia added with an enticing voice, “I brought a picnic.”

“Ooh, nice. Can I bring anything?”

“Just you… and a towel, and something to drink. I think that will be plenty.”

“Great! I’ll see you as soon as I can get there.”

She smiled to herself. “That’s better,” she told him. “I’ll see you soon, then. Bye “

Sam said bye too, but as she ended the call, Sophia’s thoughts lingered. “He has always treated me with respect. He’s smart and amazingly empathetic. Lilly has had many Lovers, yet she chose him, and she has said he is the best she has ever had. What would it be like to be with him?”

Those thoughts brought a wave of shame. She heard her mother’s retribution in her head. “That is not how a proper Japanese woman behaves!” 

In rebuttal, she remembered Lilly’s encouraging words. “Sam is a very compassionate and understanding man. He will see you for who you are. He, like any warm-blooded, hetero man, is attracted to beautiful women, but Sam is more attracted to the person inside. I know he admires you and respects you.” 

Once again feeling emboldened, Sophia walked through the conifers, further up the trail. At another clearing, the water came into view. She walked another minute through the alpine meadow until a small sandy beach appeared, sheltered between some big rocks. The scene across the lake, with the rim of the crater in the background, seemed too perfect to be true.

Sophia put her pack down on one of the big rocks. She got out a blanket and her towel. Without hesitation, she took off her boots and socks and waded into the water. She smiled, feeling the warm sand and the hot water bubbling up between her toes.

She scrunched her feet in the sand and daydreamed about her home back in the city. She had a small garden there. There was a wooded trail not far from her home where she would frequently walk. She especially enjoyed springtime, when life sprouted and flourished wherever she looked.

She turned to look back over the meadow and the forest beyond. Although it was quiet and there was not another person in sight, life was abundant here in this mature forest. Standing in the warm summer sunshine, she felt an inner radiance flow through her. Her vision was sharp. Her skin was glowing. She felt confident, vital, and incredibly beautiful.

Sophia remembered that, as a young girl, she was often criticized by her parents for not trying hard enough, not being pretty enough, and not being good enough. Another memory followed. She continued to grow into her late teens. Her waist stayed slim, but her breasts and hips continued to grow into her twenties. In college, the men in her classes were openly fascinated by her breasts. She got propositioned often. Sophia figured she was a target because the men greatly outnumbered the women in her science classes.

She attended study groups because they were the best way to learn about what had been on the tests in prior years. She learned she was usually the brightest in her class and contributed more to helping others with assignments than she received in return. She tried to be social and date some of the guys who seemed nice and whom she found attractive. However, once they got her naked and had sex with her, that was it. Those guys were either clumsy or greedy, often both – every time. Afterwards, she would be awkwardly ghosted. Maybe they felt intimidated by her obvious disappointment. To her, it seemed she was just being used for their own pleasure. Sophia very much wanted good sex, and at least a friendly connection, with a good man, but it never worked out that way. For years, Sophia longed for but never had a boyfriend who could meet those simple desires. In college, she learned the shielding power of a lab coat. It would conceal her figure and well-rounded breasts. Sophia learned to love her lab coats.

After college, she got a job where the men at the research lab must have thought she was pretty. They would look her over and try to get her to go out to the bars after work. So, to prevent the inevitable disappointment, she continued with her lab-coat fashion statement every day. They protected her from her beauty. Still, a few times she heard men talking about her. In one particular exchange, she learned she was too big to be wife material, but that each of the guys sure wanted to get with her. So, at work, she concentrated on the joy she found in scientific discovery.

Her thoughts returned to the present. “Starting here on this vacation, is it possible that I can finally have everything I have ever wanted? Can I make this happen?”

The warmth on her feet and the sun’s heat made Sophia want to swim. She waded ashore and removed her shorts, shirt, and sports bra. Like lab coats, Sophia liked sports bras for the way they held her breasts tight, allowing her more control over her modesty. She took the clip from her hair. It fell free to the small of her back, glossy with a gentle curl, cut to taper toward the center.

Walking back into the water, wearing only her bikini bottoms, felt liberating. She had never been so openly exposed. She paused, thigh-deep. Feeling self-conscious, she looked around to make sure she was alone. The cool water felt amazing. She cupped some water in her hands and washed it over herself. She let her wet hands slide upward, over her belly and then couldn’t resist the urge to cup her breasts. She marveled that they felt so firm and yet yielded to her gentle squeezes. Her small, dark nipples hardened to pronounced points. She had never before felt such a strong, upwelling sense of beauty. The logical side of her mind struggled with the unfamiliar possibilities. She began to believe she was attractive. This led her to confront another implication. “I shouldn’t feel ashamed for being attractive.”

Sophia’s mind returned to the conversation she had with her social worker. When her therapist had asked her who she was and she had answered, “I’m Sophia. I’m a hard worker.”

Now, after having reflected more on this, that answer was obviously, woefully, incomplete. She had answered as if she were merely a cog in a machine. She restated the answer in her mind as an affirmation, “I’m Sophia. I’m an alluring beauty, filled with passion for life and the discovery of new things. I yearn for companionship, and I will be fulfilled when I can give freely of my talents, deeply share love and connect with others who are my equals.”

Sam spotted Sophia as he arrived at the beach. She was still looking out over the water. She became aware of his approach and half-turned as he announced, “Hi, Sophia. I’m here.”

Sophia didn’t try to conceal her nakedness. She knew from her past conversations with Lilly that he would be discreet. Her self-conscious doubts were absent, too. It felt natural and empowering to be openly seen.

Sam froze. He felt slightly uncomfortable, afraid he had intruded upon a private moment. He looked directly into her eyes. “I’ve never seen you with your hair down. It’s a very elegant look for you.”

She sensed his appreciation. Sophia pulled her shoulders back with her newfound pride, wondering, “Have I always been this beautiful?”  

It felt good to have captured Sam’s attention. She found herself desiring more. She turned the rest of the way to face him, taking a step closer. “It’s time I tried something different. Won’t you put your things down and join me?”

Without hesitation, Sam shucked his daypack and placed it beside hers. He took off his boots and his clothes, hesitating at his underwear. He had noticed Sophia was still wearing her bottoms, though they were quite skimpy. The blue material contrasted with her warm, toned skin. The high cut accentuated her small waist. She was slowly walking toward him and nodded, “Yes,” when she caught his eye.

Sam was enthralled by her beauty. His nearly full erection bounced free. He, too, felt confident and empowered.

Sophia reached out for Sam’s hand, and when Sam took hers, she pulled herself close. He moved his hands to her waist as Sophia boldly nuzzled his neck. “I’ve wanted this for so long… I can’t believe… Lilly said you might like to be with me.” Sophia took a shuddering breath. “Oh, Sam, I didn’t know…”

“Shhhh, it’s all good. I’ve always been attracted to you as well. Until now, I could only imagine how beautiful you are. But I knew you were a private person. I respect you too much to ever push myself on you.”

Sophia leaned back enough to look into Sam’s eyes. He thought to tenderly kiss her, but she stepped back further, leaving their embrace. “Come. You have got to try the water.”

Sam couldn’t help but admire Sophia’s swaying figure as he followed her into the shallows. She paused where the hot springs bubbled up through the sand and turned with a twinkle in her eye. They laughed together. Sophia pulled Sam close again, pressing her breasts into his chest. She kissed him. Their tongues briefly teased each other, then she pushed away once more, wading into deeper water. Sam followed once again, and the pair swam into the refreshingly cooler water.

Neither of them was a strong swimmer, so they soon found themselves back where they could touch bottom. Sam was feeling bolder, so he came in for another kiss. He grasped Sophia by the waist with both hands. Her desire surged. Kissing became more urgent. Sophia could feel Sam’s erection pressed between them. She moved one of Sam’s hands to her ass, and he was more than happy to squeeze.

Sophia arched her back and breathlessly pulled away, looking into his eyes with hunger. She pulled Sam’s other hand from her waist to her breast. With her hand over his, she encouraged him to passionately, roughly, squeeze and massage. Sophia’s arousal built like a summer storm. It felt incredible to be the focus of Sam’s desire. She reached between them, grasping his hardness.

Sam staggered, and they had to catch their balance. “Sophia, I’m overwhelmed with desire for you.”

Sam’s reserve had been replaced by his need to ravish the beauty that had been enticing him. This time, he pulled her by the hand. “Let’s go back to shore.”

Sophia sat on the blanket and gathered her hair behind her. Sam admired her figure for a moment, then he too dropped onto the blanket, taking her into another embrace, and kissed her with urgency. Sophia allowed herself to roll onto her back, pulling Sam with her. He moved from her insistent mouth to adore her neck and throat.

Sophia groaned in surrender to both frustration and pleasure. Sam’s naked skin felt so good against hers. His hardness was pulsing against her thigh. For the first time in her life, Sophia did not feel an underlying sense of shame for her sexuality. She wanted this. She knew he wanted it too.

Sam slid down further to kiss and suckle her breasts. On his elbows, he grasped each breast, fondling and kissing her beautifully pointed nipples. His rapid breathing caused Sam’s abs to move, slightly sliding over Sophia’s mons.

Incredulous, Sophia looked down to watch Sam as he consumed her small, dark nipples. They had contracted into hard points, and she marveled that they felt more sensitive than ever. Her breathing hitched when Sam gently pinched and rolled them between a thumb and forefinger. She hissed, “Oh, yessss.”

Sophia grasped handfuls of the blanket as Sam slid further down her body. He helped her shimmy out of her bottoms, kissed her vulva, and then pressed the flat of his tongue onto her clitoris. He found her nipples again with his hands and gently grasped them while slowly, gently circling her clit.

She gasped, throwing her head back, as an orgasm rocked its way free. Sam moved up to hold her. He seemed to have an innate sense of what she needed. When Sam’s hand cradled her head against his shoulder, Sophia thought to herself, “He is a wonderful lover!”

Sam was enthralled to have discovered this side of Sophia. He knew she was intelligent, intuitive, and caring. He had always considered her beautiful, but in an understated sort of way. Now he had uncovered the alluring passion that she had kept hidden behind her shell of professionalism. He pushed himself up onto his elbows and connected through her eyes. “It’s my privilege to be with you. You are an incredible woman.”

Indulging her need for more, Sophia pulled Sam into her. He resisted his primal urge to just fuck her hard. Instead, he slowly, gently, worked Sophia to her next orgasm. Sam confirmed Sophia’s long-held belief that there must be someone better. She realized she would like to have more sex with him – again and again. Some thirty minutes later, when her third glorious orgasm was inevitable, Sophia whimpered, “Cum with me. Don’t stop what you’re doing. Fill me.” Then she let go, surrendering to his amazing, deep strokes. Sam felt her breasts surge against his chest, and he too surrendered to their mutual pleasure. 

The couple composed themselves and sat up, side by side, on the blanket. They looked out over the pond with their backs against a long rock. Sophia imagined she would normally have felt self-conscious, but instead, this felt like the most natural and comfortable thing: to sit naked beside a naked man, their skin glistening with exertion.

Some doubt pushed away Sophia’s bliss. “Is Sam going to ignore me now? God, we work together.”

Pushing back a surge of emotion, Sophia reached out and put her bikini bottoms back on. She pulled her daypack down so she could get the food and drink she had carried. “I’ve got to talk this out.”

She admitted to Sam, “When I first met you and Lilly – wow, a couple of years ago now – you two had come to discuss recruiting candidates for the lab. The three of us spent the better part of the day talking, and I developed a small crush on you. It seemed so silly at the time.”

“Oh, I remember that day clearly. I was struggling not to come on too strongly. I didn’t want my attraction to distract you from why we were recruiting you. I was so taken with you that even Lilly noticed. She teased me about it that night.”

Sophia smiled at the compliment, feeling a little better. “I really liked Lilly too. Since getting to know her, she has been the one woman I can talk to as a friend. I never worried that she might stab me in the back. I truly admire how you two give each other so much freedom and respect. I have asked her about you several times.”

“I know. I also know you are a very private person. I never wanted to be pushy, because I respect you too. I believe sexuality can be a sincere, heartfelt, deeply personal expression of desire and pleasure. That is what I wanted to share with you, not some quick, one-time thing.”

Sam and Sophia went for another swim. It was a good chance to wash off before getting dressed. They both were tempted to make love again, but instead decided to walk back to camp, with the promise that they would share a tent that night. 

Sam and Sophia joined hands as they walked away from the hot spring. The shade of the trees when they reached the edge of the forest added coolness to the waning afternoon. Looking back at the lake, they could see a fine, shimmering mist forming over the warm water.

Sophia marveled to herself at how natural and easy it felt to hold hands. The memory of an old longing came back to her. As a schoolgirl, she desperately wanted a real boyfriend.

Sam, too, marveled at how comfortable and in sync he felt with Sophia. He was so happy to have had this experience with her. He sincerely hoped this would be the start of a new chapter in their lives. Sam was so grateful for the freedom he and Lilly had in their marriage. He wanted Sophia to experience the deep love and passion he and Lilly shared. He vowed to do his best to bring joy into these two women’s lives.

That evening they went to Paulina Lake Lodge for a hearty steak dinner. Their table had a romantic view over the water. They explored their intimate desires and feelings. That night back in their tent, the croaking of the frogs was met by the sounds of Sam and Sophia’s mutual passion. Sam joined her, and this time didn’t hold back anything, as he fulfilled the needs of their new intimacy.

~~

At the end of the week, Sophia met with her social worker. She related, with her chin held high, that this summer vacation and team-building workshop turned out far better than she could have ever imagined. She talked on and on about Sam, how great work was, how supportive her friend had been, and how good she felt.

Sophia related that she still had some insecurities, but that talking with her friend, Lilly, had helped a lot. In fact, Sophia was going to their place for dinner that night. Lilly had told her to be open to “possibilities.”

Her social worker nodded with a knowing smile. Change was finally happening for Sophia. Sophia was being recognized for meeting her career goals. She was filled with bright, creative energy, and vitality. She was growing beyond her mother’s influence. She was coming into her own. Sophia was becoming the woman she always wanted to be.