Isla del Sol

The wine had been flowing for a couple of hours, and Carrie's living room was bathed in the warm glow of fairy lights and the soft hum of conversation. Carrie, Sarah, and Laura were sprawled across the sofas, empty glasses and a half-eaten cheese board between them. Monica's absence was noted but not mourned—she was off with Oliver, and none of them begrudged her that.

"So," Sarah said, swirling the last of her red wine, "I've been hearing about a place. An island. Exclusive. "

Laura leaned forward, her eyes glinting. "Isla del Sol?"

Sarah nodded slowly. "The very same."

Carrie raised an eyebrow, setting down her glass. "I've heard the name. What do you actually know about it?"

Sarah grinned, pulling out her phone. She scrolled for a moment, then turned the screen toward them. "A friend of a friend went last year. She couldn't stop talking about it. Said it changed her life."

Laura squinted at the screen. "What is that? A wristband?"

"Three colors," Sarah said. "Red for anything goes. Amber for most things. Green for vanilla only. Everyone wears them, so you always know where you stand."

Carrie's eyes widened. "Say's here we have to have a medical certificate?"

"It's Mandatory," Sarah confirmed. "You have to prove you're clean before you even set foot on the jetty. Then they destroy the records. Total discretion."

Laura let out a low whistle. "That's serious."

"It gets better," Sarah said, her voice dropping. "There are condom stations everywhere. Baskets of them, just sitting out. Free. Optional. And sex is encouraged everywhere. The beach, the lagoon, the bar, the hammocks. Anywhere, anytime. Also it's not full of balding fat old blokes either, it's full of couples and single men, but the average guy, our favorite, the dad bod types."

Carrie sat back, a slow smile spreading across her face. "What's this Temple on the map?"

Sarah's grin widened. "Oh, that's where a ceremony of types happens every night, The Free Use Ceremony."

Carrie said. "The Free Use Ceremony?."

Laura looked between them, confused. "Is that what I think it is"

Sarah set her phone down, leaning in. "Every night, any woman on the island can volunteer. She puts her name on a list, and when her night comes, she takes her place on this big round lounger in the middle of the Temple. Then she's free use. Anyone can approach her, do whatever they want. Vaginal, anal, oral, multiple partners, rough, gentle. She has no say once she's on that lounger."

Laura's mouth fell open. "mmm, fuck, sounds divine?"

"Oh yes" Sarah said. "It's the ultimate act of submission. And people sit around and watch. Two hours, start to finish. Then she gets aftercare, and she's treated like a queen for the rest of her stay."

Laura was quiet for a moment, processing. Then she let out a breathy laugh. "Fuck me."

"That's the idea," Carrie said, smirking.

Sarah scrolled through her phone again. "The island is off the coast of Mexico. Warm, no mosquitoes, clothing optional. You can walk around naked all day and no one bats an eye. It's not cheap, but it's not crazy either. A week's stay, flights included, works out to about what we'd spend on a decent holiday."

Laura looked at Carrie. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Carrie's smile was slow and deliberate. "Sounds like absolute fun"

Sarah clapped her hands together. "So we're doing it?"

"We're doing it," Carrie confirmed. "But we need to get our names on the list. Places go fast, and I want to make sure we're on the island for a Free Use Ceremony."

Laura bit her lip, a nervous excitement flickering in her eyes. "My names going on the list soon as we arrive"

Carrie reached over, squeezing her hand. "Me too, and you Sarah, we put our names down for the ceremony"

Sarah raised her glass. "To Isla del Sol."

Carrie and Laura raised theirs. "To Isla del Sol."

They drank, the promise of sun, sin, and surrender hanging in the air between them. Monica might be off with Oliver, but she'd hear all about this when they got back. Assuming they came back at all.