The sun beat down on the pristine white sand beach as waves crashed against the shore. Miriam sighed and adjusted her wide-brimmed straw hat, squinting out at the azure waters. It was a picture-perfect day, the kind you see on postcards and travel brochures. Except she wasn't here by choice.

Miriam had been on a week-long island cruise with her boyfriend Marcus, or at least, she thought he was her boyfriend. Turns out he had other plans once they hit port, ditching her to shack up with a scantily-clad bartender. Typical Marcus, she seethed—smooth talker, sexy as sin, but about as reliable as a two-bit hustler.

She and Lila, another passenger who'd gotten left behind by her tour group, had managed to flag down a small fishing boat to drop them off at this idyllic little cove. "We'll just wait here until the next ship comes along," Lila had said brightly. That had been two days ago. Miriam was starting to think the rickety old boat had been their last chance.

Lila appeared beside her, holding out a coconut. "Here, drink this. It'll help keep you hydrated."

Miriam accepted the fruit gratefully. Lila was a godsend in this whole mess. While Miriam spent her days pacing the beach and cursing her bad luck, Lila just seemed to roll with it. She was always puttering around their makeshift camp, gathering coconuts and wild herbs, splinting together a lean-to shelter. If not for Lila, Miriam shuddered to think how desperate their situation would be.

"Thanks," Miriam said, cracking open the coconut shell. The sweet, clear liquid inside tasted like liquid heaven. She took a long sip, then passed it to Lila. "You're a regular MacGyver, you know that?"

Lila flashed her a warm smile. "We'll get through this. Don't worry so much."

Easy for her to say, Miriam thought. Lila was probably used to this kind of thing, off adventuring in the wilds of wherever. She had the effortless beauty and lean, bronzed limbs of someone who spent a lot of time outdoors. Her blonde bob hair was just starting to go frizzy in the island's humidity, and she wore only a simple, faded green dress. Any other day, she’d be in a faded tank top and khaki shorts. The whole "castaway chic" thing really suited her.

Miriam, on the other hand, was a city girl through and through. She worked in marketing, lived in a high-rise condominium, and owned enough shoes to start her own retail shop. The idea of roughing it for more than a weekend was unthinkable. And yet, here she was, ridiculous sundress, no makeup, no blow dryer, no latte machine. She probably looked a mess.

"Hey," Lila said softly. "Are you okay? You seem… distant."

Miriam blinked, realizing she'd tuned out for a moment. "Oh! Yeah, I'm fine. Just… thinking."

"About your boyfriend, the jerk?" Lila offered a sympathetic smile. "You're better off without him, you know. He didn't deserve a woman like you."

A little thrill ran through Miriam at Lila's words. "A woman like me?" she repeated, feeling a bit dazed.

"You know what I mean," Lila said, bumping her shoulder against Miriam's playfully. "Smart. Funny. Beautiful inside and out. He was a fool to dump you."

Miriam's heart started to pound. Was she imagining things, or was there a subtle heat behind Lila's gaze? She licked her suddenly dry lips, hyperaware of how close they were standing. She could feel the warmth radiating off Lila's body, smell the coconut-scented sunscreen on her skin. "I… I don't know what to say."

Lila reached out and tucked a stray curl behind Miriam's ear, the tips of her fingers brushing Miriam's cheek. "You don't have to say anything. I see you, Miriam. The real you, not the persona you put out there for the world. You're special."

Miriam's eyes fluttered closed at the touch, her breath catching in her throat. She'd been so starved for affection, for someone to truly see her. And Lila did, she was sure of it now. The way she looked at Miriam, her gaze open and appreciative...

In a burst of courage, Miriam leaned in and kissed her.

Lila made a soft noise of surprise but melted into the contact immediately, her lips parting beneath Miriam's. The kiss was sweet, searching, a revelation. Miriam wrapped her arms around Lila's neck, tangling her fingers in Lila's silky hair as she deepened the embrace.

Lila's hands slid down to cup Miriam's hips, drawing their bodies flush. Miriam gasped as she felt Lila's breasts press against her own through the thin fabric of their shirts. She'd never kissed a woman before, but it felt so right, so natural, like coming home.

They kissed for a long moment, tongues stroking and twisting together, until Lila finally pulled back. "Wow," she breathed, her eyes heavy-lidded and cheeks flushed. "That was..."

"Amazing," Miriam finished, her own voice husky. She licked her kiss-swollen lips, chasing Lila's taste. "I've never wanted anyone so badly in my life."

Lila's smile was pure sin. "Then what are we waiting for?"

She took Miriam's hand and led her towards their shelter, her intentions clear. Miriam followed eagerly, her body thrumming with desire. The rest of the world fell away - her ruined cruise, her cheating boyfriend, the fact that they were stranded on a deserted island. All that mattered was Lila and the promise of her touch.

As they ducked into the shade of the lean-to, Lila turned and pushed Miriam up against the supports. "I've wanted you since the moment I saw you on that boat," she confessed, her hands roaming over Miriam's sides and back. "I thought I was losing my mind."

"You weren't," Miriam panted, arching into her touch. "I noticed you, too. I just… I didn't know how to process it."

"Well, process this," Lila growled, and captured Miriam's mouth in another searing kiss.

They came together in a tangle of limbs and fevered caresses, all teasing licks and biting kisses and grasping hands. Lila pulled Miriam's dress down to cup her breasts, and Miriam cried out at the touch, her back bowing. Lila thumbed her nipples until they were straining, aching points, before drawing one into her hot mouth to suckle.

Miriam fisted her hands in Lila's hair, holding her to her breast as pleasure lashed through her. "Oh god, Lila, yes… just like that."

Lila released her nipple with a wet pop, blowing on the sensitive peak. "You taste even sweeter than I imagined," she purred, before kissing her way down Miriam's quivering stomach. She hooked her fingers in the waistband of Miriam's dress and tugged it down, along with her panties.

Miriam kicked them off impatiently, too desperate to feel Lila's hands on her bare skin to worry about modesty. Not that there was anyone around to see them anyway.

Lila nudged her thighs apart and settled between them, her breath hot against Miriam's freshly shaved mound. "I'm going to eat this pretty pussy until you scream," she promised darkly.

Miriam's response was lost in a broken moan as Lila sealed her lips over her clit and sucked. Her hips jerked forward, seeking more of that exquisite suction, and her hands flew to Lila's hair again. "Fuck, Lila, you feel so good… don't stop!"

Lila didn't stop. She licked and suckled and thrust her tongue inside Miriam's clenching channel, stoking the fire in her belly higher and higher. Miriam was so wet, so responsive, her slick coating Lila's chin as she devoured her. She could feel Miriam tightening, her thighs starting to quake...

With a final hard lick right over Miriam's clit, Lila sent her flying. Miriam threw her head back and came with a ragged wail, her pussy pulsing against Lila's mouth. Lila gentled her through it, lapping at her release until she collapsed back onto the sand, spent.

"That was… incredible," Miriam wheezed, her chest heaving. "I've never come so hard in my life."

Lila crawled up her body to kiss her deeply, letting her taste herself on Lila's tongue. "You're incredible," she murmured against Miriam's lips. "I'm so glad you got stranded here with me."

Miriam laughed breathlessly. “Me too. Now, it’s your turn.”

Miriam pushed Lila onto her back and moved down, kissing a trail to her breasts. She licked and sucked at Lila's nipples until she gasped and tangled her fingers in Miriam's hair.

Miriam continued lower, placing open-mouthed kisses on Lila's stomach. She spread her legs apart, exposing her glistening pink pussy. Miriam groaned at the sight and dove in, licking up through her folds to circle her clit.

Lila cried out, arching off the ground. "Oh fuck, Miriam, yes!"

Miriam sealed her lips around Lila's clit and sucked hard, making her buck and thrash. She thrust two fingers deep inside her weeping cunt, curling to rub her g-spot. Lila came with a loud moan, her thighs clamping around Miriam's head.

Miriam worked her through it, licking and stroking until Lila collapsed back, completely spent. Miriam crawled up her body to capture her mouth in a filthy kiss, sharing the taste of her juices.

"Who knew getting ditched by a loser could be the best thing that ever happened to me?"

Lila smiled, her eyes bright with affection and heat. "I think we're going to have a really good time on this island, Miriam. Even if we're stuck here for weeks."

And as Lila kissed her again, Miriam couldn't find it in herself to disagree. Being stranded on a desert island with this amazing woman suddenly seemed like her own personal slice of heaven.

They made love for hours on the beach, worshipping each other's bodies, climaxing again and again until they were both boneless and sated. They finally drifted to sleep in each other's arms as dawn began to lighten the sky.

When they awoke the next morning, they were rescued by a passing ship. Miriam was surprised at her sadness to be leaving the island.

As they sailed away and the island shrank behind them, Lila took Miriam's hand. "I don't want to lose this. Us."

Miriam squeezed her fingers. "Me neither. Let's make this work when we get back. See where it goes."

Lila smiled and pulled her into a tender kiss. The cruise ship faded on the horizon behind them as they made plans for their future together.