I took the board under my arm and sat it up on the soft sand before heading back to the shallows to rinse off the sand from its top. Safely on the leeward side of the rock crag, we lay in the sun, taking the small swells as they rolled in and over us. Both of us were quiet in our thoughts. A few notable gasps and yelps rang out over the lapping, rippled water, but then all was quiet.

We lay soaking up the sun in the saltwater velvet, discussing the need for a beer as we sat waist deep—here in the middle of nowhere in our paradise. There were some back in our camper, but that seemed a million miles away from here, in this water, on this sand, under this sun.

Halfway through a scissors, paper, rock battle to see who’d fetch them, a couple walked around the beach and headed our way. The pair from ten minutes earlier. Dressed, to some extent. Him, in a pair of short board shorts. Block dusty pink, and her in a string bikini. Blue and white vertical stripe. The afternoon sun striking his body told of a lean, defined figure. Black wavy hair. His tanned skin, wet from ocean water, gleamed in the sandstone-filtered light. His abs looked perfectly chiseled from a distance, and his V-shaped abs and back told of a lifetime in the surf. The gentle breeze wafted through his sun-drenched hair.

Her bikini sat on her hips and bust as though designed with her in mind. The striped pattern contoured to the curves that I’d spotted earlier. Long brunette hair, sun-kissed at the tips.

Facing us were two smiles and waves as they walked hand in hand toward us. White teeth appear to be as sun-bleached as their hair and skin.

“Hi there!” he sang out as they approached.

“We didn’t expect to see anyone out here. How are you? My name is Felipe. This is Emilia.” She waved and smiled generously. Both of their eyes lit up when they smiled.

“Hi!” Taylah replied. “I’m Taylah; this is Brodie.”

We both tried to match their positivity, both seemingly feeling pangs of guilt as our distrust of people seemed greater than theirs.

“Have you been here long?” Felipe continued.

“Only arrived today, didn’t know about this place. It’s amazing, isn’t it?" We stood as I spoke, washing the sand off before we shook hands with each other.

Both looked a little younger than us—perhaps ten years, perhaps five.

“We absolutely love it here. We’ve been here a week.” Felipe wrapped his arm around Emilia.

“We’re on a road trip. Well, we’ve moved to the U.S. and decided to travel before we start work.”

“Oh wow. Congratulations! Where have you come from?”

“Chile originally, but we’ll be living in Chicago. We’ve come from there so far but want to make it to New Orleans before we settle.”

"Wow," I responded. “You’re going the unusual way!

“Everyone goes up the east coast," Emilia replied. Her eyes were still smiling. “We wanted to do something different.

“So exciting for you. I hope you have a great trip."

Emilia continued, “Well, we might catch up later. We need to go and clean up and get a fire going for dinner."

“Yeah, no worries," I replied

“What is your book about?” Taylah inquired, nodding to the book Emilia was holding. She couldn’t help herself these days. I loved her interest in reading.

“Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman” She replied, holding it up to show us the cover.

“It’s about a young man and his summer house guest in the Italian Riviera.”

“Oh, sounds interesting.”

Felipe pulled Emilia against him, squeezing her breast against his rippled torso. “Ok, well, have a great afternoon!” They turned and headed over to where their van was sitting amongst the giant Monterey Cypresses and Cottonwoods.

I patted Taylah on the bum. “We should probably do the same.” She hesitated for a moment before turning towards our base. I collected the board and walked with her. Wrapping the leg rope as we made our way.

A few hours later, after we’d enjoyed our post-swim beer and eaten dinner, Taylah headed out, brushing her teeth as she wandered.

I swore that was where she did her deepest thinking.

Occasionally she’d go a little further and have a peaceful pee in the bushes. Either way, she was gone for her usual five minutes or so. When she came back, she tucked her brush away as usual. Washing her hands and getting changed into whatever sleepwear she felt like that night.

It changed depending on the mood, the sun, the stars, the company, the town, and the campsite. I’d given up trying to guess but looked forward to the surprise each evening.

Tonight, she changed into a sheer pair of white shorts. The type you wear at home but not in public—too sheer and probably shorter than she’d be comfortable with. They had a white tassel line around the leg hem, giving them a nice touch.

As she lifted her top up and over her head, she revealed a pure white bra, which sat so pleasingly against her complexion. She reached back, unclipped the hooks, and shimmied the straps off her shoulder, letting it fall into her hand, which she in turn tossed into the van, on top of her bag. Standing up, she didn’t have the usual briskness of movement she so often had when walking around topless. Particularly in public. She locked eyes on me, walked the few strides, and wrapped her arms around my naked torso, pressing herself against me—sandwiching me between her voluminous breasts. She came to rest with her sternum against my ribcage, arms wrapped around my torso.

I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her tight to me.

Holding me for a moment, I relished the feeling of soft curves being pressed against me. The warmth of her figure, which I so adored.

Kissing me on the shoulder, she whispered ‘goodnight’ before heading off to bed.

I watched her back, ass, hips, and waist walk away from me as she climbed up into the soft bedding. Her hair was getting longer, the tips more bleached from this lifestyle.

I went to sleep that night with a fit of restlessness. As did my bride.

Eventually, after forty-five minutes of tossing and turning, I got off to sleep. I awoke the next morning spooning Taylah from behind. Her firm ass pressed against me. She breathed gently as the virgin rays eased their way over the horizon. The soft curves of her boobs were an allure I couldn’t resist. How they contoured up and off her body and how my arm slid between them when I held her shoulder. Her bosom rolled beautifully to her ribs, her hips then down to her firm, toned legs.

I had thoughts, and they caused a reaction, but she was sleeping soundly, so I thought better of it and got on early with coffees.

Half an hour later, we sat in comfy chairs, looking out over the ocean as the morning sun glimmered its first direct rays from behind us. We’d not yet gotten used to the noise. Or the lack of it. There were no thundering trucks, no low planes coming in or heading out, no beeping horns, no sirens. That seemed to create a vacuum. Now there were chirping birds, rustling leaves, and the ocean with its ebb and flow to take the place of the artificial fare we were used to.

Sipping our morning coffee’s, I looked across at Taylah. Her eyes were warm. She was happy. ‘Doctor’s eyes,' she called it.

“Let’s go for a walk.” She blurted. Not a usual thing for early morning, just not this early. “I want to sit on top of the rocks and drink my coffee. It’ll feel a bit like Titanic or Castaway. I haven’t decided yet.”

I giggled at her idea—it was so cool as I gathered my things. Fuck it all, really. A towel and my sunglasses. Towel over one shoulder, sunglasses on my face and coffee in my hand. She pulled on a short pink corduroy skirt and a large white T-shirt over her naked torso. I figured we may end up in the water, so I grabbed a second towel as we headed down to the beach.

“Oh shit!” Taylah again. “Low tide. Guess that takes out my Titanic moment.”

“Castaway for you today then. We need a Wilson.” I replied. The tide was out. The rocky crags from yesterday now sat clear of the water. Yesterday they were in three feet of water. I wondered if the tides were bigger on this side of the continent. Didn’t have any knowledge of that, so mentally tucked it away to search the next time we had cell service.

Climbing up the rocks was easier when done from the beachside—there was a lot less moss and lichen to slip on, plus it seemed to have better natural steps. Sitting at the top, we found a couple of flat slabs and set the folded towels down to sit on.

Up there, there wasn’t a single sign of human life. Nothing in the air, nothing in the water, and nothing visible on land. We were the only inhabitants on earth. We sat, sipped, and took it in. I rested my head on her shoulder.

“This is what it’s about. We’re alone. No work, no pressure. No bills.” Really, I was just thinking out loud, but it sounded like a statement.

“It’s magic.” Taylah’s reply was short, but on point.

We continued, sipping as the rising sun lifted to hit the crags’ base and start to drag itself up.

Over the burble of the oceans back and forth, a sharp moan rang out. I initially thought it was a seal, a sea lion, or some other ocean-going creature. We looked at each other. Taylah furrowed her brow. "What was that?” The second and third recurrences identified the likely source for us.

“Ohh…”

"Ohh."

"Hmmm."

Taylah crept forward, choosing her footing carefully on the rock piles' rough surface. Glancing over the ledge in front of us, she froze, then turned her head to me. Eyes wide and alert.

“Ohhhh, Ohhhh!”

Taylah beckoned for me to join her.

I moved delicately over to her side before peering over the ledge.

Below us and to one side, we could see the same pink towel from yesterday afternoon, sitting on a rock ledge just above the sand. On it sat Emilia, her legs spread wide, her upper body braced against the rock shelf behind her. Her knees were being held apart by Felipe's hands. He was on his knees in front of her, tongue working its way up and over her pussy.

Taylah and I met gazes. “What the fuck!" I mouthed. I looked back and watched Felipe lift her knees up off the towel and plunge his tongue inside her, holding it still and as deep as he could. Emilia’s head rocked back as she let out a bigger moan.

He brought his tongue out and slid it up to the top of her pussy, flicking her clit as he worked a finger inside her.

I ducked my head back. There was a rock projection that largely blocked Felipe's line of view to us.

Taylah looked over. Emilia’s bikini bottom was visible sitting next to her towel. Felipe had eased two fingers inside her and was working them up against her G-spot by lifting them up against her front pussy wall as he continued to lick and flick his tongue over her clit.

“Ohhhh Fucccccckkkkk!” Her moans were getting longer and louder.

His cock was obvious, hanging between his legs, barely off the sand. His biceps and shoulders glistened as they flexed in an effort to bring Emilia to orgasm.

Emilia leaned forward and pulled at her bikini string from behind her. She forcibly lifted her top off and cast it aside on the sand, taking each of her breasts in one hand.

We ducked back.

“We can’t watch. It’s none of our business.” Taylah was whispering the obvious—I knew it as well.

“We can’t really leave either; they’ll probably see us.” I countered. We were stuck.

“Ohhhhh. Ohhhh.” Emilia’s moans were becoming guttural, almost primitive. She was nearly at climax.

“Come here," Emilia’s voice again, short of breath and animated.

“Ohh Jesus! Ohh, fuck! ”Felipe, now, she must have been sucking his cock.

“We’ll have to wait it out,” I whispered to Taylah.

“Ohhh fuck! That feels so good!”

A moment later, "Ohh, you better stop; I’m going to make a mess. I want you right now! Please let me fuck you right now!” Felipe sounded like he was pleading.

There was no noise for a moment until the unmistakable sound of thigh on ass - slap, slap, slap.

We couldn’t help it—we both peered one last time. Below us, on the sand Felipe was kneeling behind Emilia, who was on all fours on the wet sand. They were facing the ocean, away from us. From our vantage we could see Felipe thrust his rock-hard cock deep inside Emilia’s waiting pussy. Just as yesterday, I couldn’t comprehend how he fitted so much cock inside her.

Emilia was moaning as she was tossed forward with every thrust. She arched her back more and more until her tits were brushing the sand beneath her.

We sat back down and lay flat on our backs on the rock. The sound of cock emphatically slapping against ass grew in both volume and repetition as we stayed still.

"Ohh fuck, you make me hard!” Felipe continued to vigorously thrust inside Emilia.

Her moan became one continual groan of pleasure as her pitch grew. The crash of flesh took on a fever pitch.

Taylah’s hand reached over and took mine. She drew it closer to her. Her other hand lifted her T-shirt; she lifted my hand and placed it on her naked breast. Her nipple was firm. I ran my fingers over it before cupping her breast from the underside and gently squeezing.

The thunder of fucking continued beneath us.

“Ohhh hmm! Ohhhhh hmmm!” Emilia was now unable to form words. Felipe sounded like he had a hand around each hip, and he was pushing her away from him before dragging her wet pussy onto as much of his cock as he could. The sound was like a machine gun from the Second World War.
I lifted my other hand and ran it under Taylah’s skirt hem. She adjusted her legs apart for me as I swiped my fingers across and then ran my middle finger between her labia. She widened her legs again for me. I felt a subconscious thrust against me. My finger found little resistance in parting her labia. She was wet.

I eased a finger as deep inside her as I could while massaging the breast on the opposite side to me. Taylah lifted her shirt for me. I eagerly took her erect nipple in my mouth, flicking my tongue over it and softly sucking. I eased another finger inside her wet pussy.

I briefly lifted my head. Below me, Felipe was thrusting with all his might, his shaven balls swinging as they slapped against Emilia’s ass. In front of him, Emilia had her ass as high in the air as she could, her knees spread as far apart as she could. Her tits were bouncing against her ribs and hitting the low water that was creeping in just above the sand.

I dropped my head back as Taylah reached over and took my cock in her hand. She slid her hand beneath my cut-off shorts and grasped my shaft and started slowly jerking me off from tip to base.
“Oh, ohh, OHH, OHHHHHH, FUCKKKKKKKK!” Felipe called out in primitive bliss. The slapping stopped. In my mind, I could see him pulling Emilia back onto his thick, veiny cock so he could blow his load as deep in her as he could.

Emilia whimpered and moaned for a moment. I could almost feel the blast of cum being deposited deep inside. Taylah continued stroking me, and I her.

“Oh my god!” Emilia was speaking. She was back to being able to form words now. “That was so fucking good!”

I rested my fingers inside Taylah, running them up and over her engorged clitoris while we listened.
“Time for breakfast, my baby.” Felipe was also back to earth.

“Can you do me up, please?" It sounded as though Emilia were putting her swimming swimsuit back on.

I released Taylah’s breast and gently withdrew my fingers from her, taking a moment to help adjust her clothing. She lifted her hand off my hard cock.

We waited.

Waited for a good while to ensure we were clear. To get back to our van and on with our day. The sun was now shining on the entire rock we were perched on. It’s warm rays kissing our skin. We held hands as we gazed up at the blue sky above.

“Good morning, friends!”

Our hearts sank.

“Fuck.” I whispered to Taylah. We locked eyes before the inevitable.

Sitting up, I took a sip of my coffee to try and act unconcerned. Seizing my most confident voice, I returned the greeting.

“Good morning, Felipe. Good morning, Emilia! How are you both this morning?”

“Wonderful, thank you, Brodie. Have you been here long?” The question we didn’t want. Taylah summoned her inner strength. “We’ve come up to have our morning coffee looking over the ocean.”

“Oh, it’s so lovely out here, isn’t it?" Emilia had put her swimsuit back on. Felipe had been out in the water and had the pink towel wrapped around his waist.

“Do you have any plans today?” Felipe enquired.

“No, just see what happens. Probably go for a walk after our coffee, see what the other end of the bay is holding.”

“Oh ok. Well. Have a great time if we don’t see you.” He smiled with his white teeth and warm eyes.
They both waved and went off back up the beach.

Not sure whether to be relieved, upset, or grateful, we finished off our coffees and then did as we said. We walked up to the far end of the little bay, then tried to make our way around the sharp headland, but the tide was rising, and we didn’t feel safe going too far. On the way back, we climbed the steep scrubby escarpment to the top of the headland. The sandstone was hospitable for small scrubby plants, like the saltbush and rosemary, that were tolerant to the heat and wind and salt air. On top, there were bigger trees, obviously protected from the wind, that were like our camp and created lots of shade.

After an hour or so, the sun had some sting in it. The view out over the headlands was stark. And beautiful. The sheer magnificence of the landscape served to remind us of our own insignificance. The small worries in the world all melted slightly when you took in a sight such as this.

After making the trek back down onto the beach, we took a welcome plunge into the ocean. The kiss of cool water added to the rich and varied sensations we’d experienced that morning. Taylah shed her skirt and shirt and ducked into the water, while I did the same, saving my board shorts the worry of getting wet. Taylah would need the shirt to maintain her dignity—she was well aware of the effect water had on white cotton. I remained hopeful that she’d one day forget.

Getting back to our van, a torn and folded piece of paper was obvious, having been tucked into the rear view mirror nearest the shore.

Taylah snatched it out, opened it, and read out loud: “Bonfire on the beach. 8pm tonight. Hope to see you there.”

Our eyes met. What did this mean?

“It’ll be ok, hey—just four of us chilling at the beach? I was half telling and half asking.

“If it gets weird, we’ll scoot.”

Taylah glanced at the ground, then out to the beach. She was deep in thought. She looked at me; her gaze lingered a little longer than usual. Like she was trying to get my attention. She said nothing for a moment before she spoke.

“We need to get better at trusting people. We’ll assume nothing will happen, but we’ll leave if it does."

It was settled. The rest of the afternoon was filled with the usual book reading, surfing, and swimming. Taylah finished her latest novel and moved on to “What Belongs to You” by Garth Greenwell. It centered around a youth who was forced to watch a boy he loved fool around with a girlfriend. The narrator, hurt but aroused, recalls the "combination of exclusion and desire.”

While I was out fetching some firewood, Taylah disappeared for ten minutes. When she arrived back, she looked flushed and smelled clean.

“Shower?” I joked.

“About as good as it gets." She replied as she tossed her toiletries bag back into its place. Her towel was wet. It smelled of salt water. She hung it up back where I’d tied the clothesline the previous day.

She started her new book but kept one eye on the time. I changed into my cutoff shorts and pulled on a clean white tank top. We grabbed a few of our beers and headed down to the beach.

The fire was already going well by the time we arrived. Felipe was circling the teepee of driftwood, stoking it with additional pieces. Laying girthier sections against the center, balanced with others from the opposite side. The aged grey timber burned well. It was obviously dry around here for the last little while. While the landscape wasn’t barren, it was showing signs of stress.