Holiday in Hedonism

Adele was only partially woken by the sound of knocking on her bedroom door. Her tired bleary mind tried to make sense of where she was, and what was happening. But failed completely. The bright sunlight filling the room burnt into the back of her brain even though her eyes remained closed. So she grabbed what felt like a pillow and pulled it over her head. Somewhere off in the distance, her name was being called.

There was that knocking again, then the squeak of a door handle being turned. But the sounds came from far away as if she was still dreaming. She completely failed to comprehend the relevance of those sounds and less than a second later, she was fast asleep again.

"What the..." Jackie gasped as she carefully eased the door open. She had been calling her friend's name and knocking on her bedroom door for several minutes before she felt it necessary to look inside. When she did, she wished she hadn't.

"Oh my god." Jackie hissed in a whisper as she stared at her friend. Adele lay sprawled, face down, naked on the bed with her head under a pillow. The covers were scattered on the floor along with what looked like the clothes she had been wearing. Her soft pale skin shone bright white in the sunlight. Well, most of it did. But her big round bottom was a vibrant pink, with hand and finger-shaped marks clearly discernible on her soft cheeks and upper thighs.

A low grumbling moan from her friend told Jackie that Adele wasn't dead at least. She was too shocked to react at first. Her mind was racing, trying to work out just what could have happened, and what if anything she should do about it. Adele groaned again and shifted on the bed. Bending one knee up as she rolled a little onto her side, and exposing Jackie to way more than she was comfortable with as her thighs moved apart.

Flustered, Jackie grabbed a sheet from the floor and quickly covered her friend's naked body. Deciding that she would do and say nothing unless her friend did. Then she crept quietly from the room and left Adele to sleep some more.

Adele woke properly a couple of hours later, with a film of sweat over her skin. Her mouth was dry and sticky and the room was hot with sunshine. She lifted herself onto her elbows and peered cautiously around the room through narrow eyes. It looked like she had kicked most of the covers off the bed during the night. All except the sheet, which was now tangled around her ankles.

It took a few minutes for her to figure out where she was. But when she did the previous night hit her like a train. Everything came flooding back to her in one swift tidal wave of realisation.

"Oh fuck." She hissed weakly as she slid her legs off the side of the bed and sat upright. Her body quickly let her know this was a bad idea, and she curled forward into a ball, groaning.

"What the fuck," she gasped as her head pounded, her thighs cramped, her neck and shoulders locked. Her bottom seemed to think she was sitting on sandpaper and her breasts and nipples throbbed and burned with even the slightest movement. After a few minutes hugging herself, she sat upright again, gingerly.

She held her breasts tenderly, lifting them and looking down at the soft pink globes spilling from her hands. Her nipples were hard and tingled as if someone was holding a candle to them. The skin around them was pink, hot to the touch, and covered with what looked like finger marks.

Getting gingerly to her feet she stood in front of the mirror. Twisting from side to side, gazing in shock, and no small amount of shame, at the pink marks on her pale skin. The small scratches on her knees and elbows. And as the previous night played through her mind she sank onto the bed again. Cupping her face in her hands and groaning.

"Oh you fucking stupid bitch," Adele whimpered "What the fuck have you done?" Her mind raced with the possible implications of last night's impropriety. Playing through scenarios where she had to explain herself. But slowly she became more rational. Reasoning that the only people who knew were those who took part. So unless someone else said something, neither would she.

Right now though, she needed coffee, or water, or both. She lifted herself cautiously to her feet once more. Her poor little body complained all the way and felt every inch the middle-aged woman she was. She found her dressing gown, wrapped it around her sore aching curves, and tiptoed cautiously from the bedroom.

"Oh hello, sleepy head," Jackie said loudly from the balcony as Adele crept noiselessly into the kitchen.

"What time is it?" Adele asked, sitting down gingerly across from her friend at the small table. She tried to brush the mass of auburn hair from her pale face with her fingers. Wincing slightly, the warm metal chair not helping her sore cheeks.

"Lunchtime," Jackie replied, with just the right amount of rebuke in her tone. Then she got up, went inside, and poured a cup of coffee from the pot that had been stewing all morning. She placed it in front of Adele and went to sit back down.

"Hmmm, thank you," Adele said, genuinely more grateful than she should have been for the beverage. Despite the heat, the coffee was gone before Jackie could sit down. So she went and got the pot, along with some pastries. Adele ate and drank like a little starving orphan. Jackie watched her, dying to ask just what she had been up to last night.

"I suppose the other night finally caught up with you then?" She said, having spent the last few hours trying to think of a reason her friend would need to sleep so late. Adele looked up at her with bleary eyes, a slightly confused look on her face. Then, she grabbed the get-out that was being offered and started to nod as she swallowed a piece of pastry with a mouthful of coffee.

"Hmm, mm, ooh yes, oh just so sleepy, I slept like a log, all night." Adele lied.

"Yes, I peeked in on you a couple of hours ago," Jackie admitted.

"Oh?" Adele's head snapped up, her fearful eyes searching her friend's face for any sign she had seen those marks.

"Yes, you seemed pretty out of it, and you looked so cozy all tucked up under that sheet. So I just let you sleep."

"Oh yes, thanks," Adele almost gasped with relief, " I think I needed it."

"Yes," Jackie smirked to herself, "I think you did." After brunch, Adele went back to her room and took a couple of painkillers. Then she took a long shower. The warm soapy water felt like heaven on her skin. She massaged her aching body as the caffeine, tablets, and sweet fatty food kicked in. She began to feel more human.

It was ridiculously hot and sunny already and Adele knew she would burn in minutes. So she coated herself in factor fifty. Put on her comfiest bra and nickers. Tied her hair back in a ponytail low at the back of her head. Then put on one of those new dresses and picked up her wide-brimmed straw hat.

"Ready?" Jackie asked as Adele finally appeared.

"Yes," she replied sheepishly, "I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting, thank you so much though." The pair headed out into the midday sun. On a mission to explore. Adele still felt rather distant though, as if she was watching someone else have these adventures. They took taxis here and there and had a great time.

Slowly Adele felt better and stopped aching. As the afternoon turned into evening the temperature dropped to a little over roasting. She even started to liven up. The sun was getting low when Jackie suggested they get dinner in town. So they stepped from the taxi into the little town square.

They were surrounded by little bars, cafes, and restaurants, spoiled for choice. They strolled around the square until they spotted a restaurant they liked the look of, then sat at one of the shaded tables outside. Within a couple of minutes a pretty young woman in the shortest black miniskirt and a tight white blouse appeared beside them.

"Bonjour, Bienvenue, voulez-vous boire un verre pendant que vous décidez?" She said.

"Oui s'il vous plaît" Jackie began to reply, being the designated French speaker for their trip.

"Oh, I speak English," the waitress interrupted with the most adorable French accent.

"Oh thank god," Jackie laughed, "thank you so much, I'd love a glass of red wine please, how about you Adele?"

"Yes, the same for me please," Adele said, taking the menu that was offered to her, "thank you."

"Thank you, just one minute." The waitress said with a smile and went inside. The pair chatted and laughed, having fallen into their old routine during the afternoon. The morning's discomfort was all but forgotten. Until Henri appeared beside them, a tray and two glasses of wine in his hand.

"Bonjour, Bienvenue," He said with a broad grin. Adele turned scarlet, her face flushing bright red as she gazed up at him. Jackie noticed this first, then turned to see what had caused it. The young waiter never took his eyes off Adele as he placed the glasses on the table. While Adele, totally flustered, blushed and looked away like a coy schoolgirl.

"Merci," Jackie replied, recognising the tall young black man from the pool in their apartment complex yesterday morning. Taking her friend's reaction into account, she quickly put two and two together and came up with, oh that dirty little bitch. She watched Adele squirm with embarrassment and just knew she had fucked him.

The meal continued uncomfortably. Adele was distracted and vacant. Keeping watch for Henri then blushing like a little girl when he appeared. He turned up frequently, filling their glasses again and again. The cute young waitress served their food and the little town square bustled with life.

Jackie got frustrated with her friend's lack of focus, and considered calling her out there and then. But she knew Adele's history, and how long it had been since she had been with someone. So she did her best to let it go and let Adele have her fun. Eventually deciding to play along.

"That boy is so good-looking," she said after he had filled their glasses, "I bet he gets all the girls around here."

"Mmm, yes I should think he does," Adele answered and tried her best to look unbothered. Night fell, but the temperature didn't. The pair sat and chatted as they took their time to eat. Adele watching Henri work and longing to just jump on him. Jackie watched them both, noting every look and glance they exchanged.

"Well, I think it is time we got going," Jackie said eventually, after coffee and paying the bill. "We have to head home tomorrow and will have to make an early start."

"Hmm, I suppose so." Adele agreed, looking totally deflated at the idea. "I just need to pop to the loo." Adele got to her feet and headed inside the restaurant.

"I'll get us a taxi," Jackie called after her and crossed the small square toward the waiting cabs. Adele scanned the restaurant for Henri and he appeared through a little door at the back of the room. Making his way to the small bar with a box of beer bottles. He spotted Adele right away and saw in her face that she wanted to talk to him.

He deposited the box on the bar, then gestured with a nod of his head to the small door. They both moved toward the back of the room. Henri held the door open for her and followed her down the narrow corridor. He took her arm and led her by a couple of side doors. Then out into a small courtyard through the last door.

"Oh Henri, I'm going home tomorrow, I ju..." Before she could get any further Henri stooped down, wrapped his long powerful arms around her, and lifted her into the air. Pressing his lips against hers, holding her tight, and kissing her passionately. Adele responded instantly, wrapping her arms around his neck and flicking her tongue into his mouth. Lifting her legs, and opening them wide to wrap them around his waist as he pressed her back against the wall of the courtyard.

They kissed hard and noisily, their hungry mouths devouring each other. Gasping, panting, and moaning as their bodies pressed together. His hands quickly moved up under her dress to caress Adele's soft pale skin. Squeezing her bottom through her panties as his hips moved, pushing his obvious excitement into her.

"I have to go." Adele gasped, fearing that if she didn't do something now, she would let him fuck her right then and there. Whether or not Henri understood her words, he seemed to get her meaning and reluctantly lowered her feet to the floor.

"Thank you," She gasped, one hand on the back of his neck, the other on his chest, "I love you." Then she turned and fled back through the restaurant and out to her friend waiting in the taxi. In the dark of the taxi, Adele wiped a tear from her eye. She felt overjoyed to have met Henri and his friends. But at the same time, devastated that she had to leave them.

Back in the apartment, the ladies sat for one last drink on the small balcony. Watching the last pale blue of the day disappear over the horizon. To be replaced by the deep black night sky, studded with so many stars it took your breath away.

"This is a magical place Jackie," Adele sighed, her head back gazing up at the sky, "I feel as if I am in a different world, a different universe even."

"I hate to say it," Jackie giggled, "but I told you so." She looked at her friend, and couldn't help feeling she looked about ten years younger. The stress and worry she had been carrying for the past few years had melted away. She thought back to her time in that village when she had first fallen in love with the place. Who was she to judge? Her heart went out to Adele.

"But it isn't real you know?" Jackie said in a low voice as if she was sharing a secret. Adele dropped her head and looked at her, a questioning smile on her lips.

"Most of the people here go back to normal lives. You can't take it with you. That is why you should make the most of it while you are here." Adele felt the piercing, knowing eyes of her older friend looking right through her. A shocked, embarrassed, and slightly guilty expression flashed across Adele's face. But before she could respond Jackie got to her feet.

"Well, it is getting late, and we have an early start, I'm going to sleep," Jackie said leaning over Adele. "Goodnight my darling, take care." With that, she placed one hand against Adele's cheek and kissed her forehead. Then turned and went to her room.

Adele was dumbfounded, she sat in silence as her friend left, and then for some time after. She thought about what she had said, and what others had told her over the last couple of days. It all seemed too surreal like she had stepped off the plane into another dimension where all the rules were different.

The world beyond the balcony was silent but for the occasional sound of a distant car. The lonely distant lights of the complex highlighted odd corners and buildings below her, in a weak yellow/orange light. She longed to venture out into that world and find her new friends, and find him. But she didn't know where to look. In stark contrast to that morning, she felt wide awake, more alive than she had ever felt before.

She stood and leaned on the metal rail of the balcony. Watching the narrow alleyways around her and listening. Hoping for some sign that it wasn't over just yet, that there was one more chapter in the story of this magical world. But all was quiet, the warm night seemed to have muffled the world with its blanket.

Adele didn't know how long she spent on that balcony, waiting. But it was so long that she gave up, and resigned herself to going home in the morning. Back in her stuffy little room, she opened the window, stripped naked, and flopped down on the bed, frustrated. She wriggled and squirmed, trying to get comfy, but it was no use. Her mind was on high alert and her body felt alive to any sensation.

A warm gentle breeze floated in through the open window and caressed her naked body. It made a noise as it touched her, a noise that almost sounded like splashing. Slowly Adele became aware of the sound, and then she heard distant laughter. Her eyes popped wide open, her head raised, turning to the open window.

She was sure now, that she could hear distant voices, but too faint to make out properly. Then more laughter and a splash, then silence. She waited, holding her breath so her breathing didn't interfere with her hearing. At last, she heard another laugh then her name.

"Oh Adele, Adele," the distant voice wailed in a rather fake sounding, baleful moan, "oh Adele, where are you?" She didn't know if the call was a serious call for her, or just Philippe taking the piss. But she recognised his voice, and from what she knew of him. It was probably both. Within seconds, she was leaning naked from the open window. Trying to figure out exactly what she could hear.

There were more splashes as if someone reacted to Philippe's idea of a joke. Then some more talking that was too low and quiet for her to make out. The alleyways were still empty, she figured they must obviously be taking another swim. Like they were when she met them. There was another distant laugh, then.

"Oh Adele, I love you." drifted through the still warm air. Followed by splashing and laughter. Adele wrapped her dress around her, fastened a couple of buttons at the front, and slipped barefoot from the apartment. Her dress floated up around her hips as she skipped down the stairs. Then flowed out behind her as she ran on her tiptoes, one arm holding her breasts in place, into the night.

Jackie lay in bed listening to the voices outside calling her friend. She heard the door of the apartment click shut, and she went to the window. In the alleyway below she saw Adele running silently toward the sound of laughter. Jackie smiled and went back to bed.

The laughing and splashing stopped abruptly as Adele ran around the corner. She stood, panting breathlessly, watching the two young men in the pool. Philippe and Henri were both waist-deep in the pool and turned to look at her when she appeared. There was a moment of silence. Adele stood under one of those orange lights on the corner of a building. The pool was on the far side of a small unlit patio area. Beyond the pool, the world faded into trees, bushes, and the night.

Adele moved first, instinct taking over and beating doubt and propriety into submission. She walked down the side of the pool, past the watching young men, to the steps leading into the shallow end. There she stopped and turned to face them, before unfastening the three buttons and slipping her dress back off her shoulders.

The thin cotton floated to the ground around her naked body and she stepped forward. Slowly walking into the pool. The water was cool and refreshing, it made her skin tingle. But she didn't react, she was focused on Philippe and Henri. She waded out to them, the water rippling up to her breasts as she moved. Splashing quietly on them, making her nipples harden in response to the cool caress.

She gave a little hop as she reached Henri. Wrapping her arms around his neck to hang from him, her soft pale body pressed against his gloss black wet skin. She kissed him, just as he had kissed her behind the restaurant. A powerful, lustful kiss that clearly showed her desire. Philippe gave a little cough and shifted uneasily.

Adele released her grip and slid down Henri's dark lean body, trailing her fingers down to the waist of his underwear and just catching the waistband under the water with her nails, before turning to Philippe. She pressed up against him, his broader, more muscular sun-kissed body taught and firm against her curves. Then she pressed her lips to his and kissed him as she had Henri.

"Oh, putain," Philippe gasped as Adele's hand moved down over his six-pack and cupped the growing bulge in his underwear, rubbing and squeezing as it pulsed in her hand. She felt Henri's hand on her back as he approached from the side, and turned her head toward him. Henri bent down and kissed her again, their tongues twisting together.