ROOM FOR TWO

The ticket crumpled in her palm as she tightened her grip against it. Her eyes were swollen, and she could still feel her head banging with a serious migraine from the alcohol she took last night.

She wore a short white dress that highlighted her slender yet curvy body, red Louboutin heels, and a silver chain that adorned her neck. Her long, wavy chestnut hair was let down.

Avery settled into her seat as she boarded the plane the next morning. She kept her head down, refusing to let her eyes drift towards the couple who were giggling beside her.

It could have been her and Ethan. A hot stream of tears threatened to escape, but she forced it back. She wouldn't do that today, not here.

Soon, Avery arrived at her destination at Santorini and headed towards the resort she had booked a room with beforehand. She squinted, lifting a hand to shield her eyes from the sunlight.

The cold breeze penetrated her skin as the waves crashed against the golden beach sand, the palm trees swaying lazily.

The buildings stood tall with an impeccable architectural design. It was a beauty to behold. Paradise, as she had always pictured. The kind of place she had once imagined walking through in Ethan's arms, but here she was, alone with a heavy heart and broken promises.

Avery tightened her grip on her suitcase handle as she stepped into the lobby. The design was simple yet classy.

The ceiling was adorned with a golden chandelier hanging in the air while the glossy tiles illuminated the light.

The smell of vanilla mixed with the faint saltiness of the nearby ocean filled the air, almost clouding her senses.

The sounds of people's giggles, laughter, and the clicking of the glasses resonated from the bar through the lobby. Avery made her way towards the front desk. She was welcomed by a young petite lady dressed in a white shirt and fitted black skirt. Her smile was welcoming, even though it seemed like a well practised gesture.

"Welcome to Blue Wave Santorini Resort," she said brightly. "Reservation name?"

"Avery Cole," She responded,handing her ID.

The lady nodded and typed quickly, her nails clicking against the keyboard before looking up, a smile evident on her face.

“A two day stay in a deluxe ocean view suite for two.” Her gaze flickered past Avery's shoulder as if searching for something. "I guess your guest will join you later?."

"It will just be me," Avery replied, forcing a smile. She slid her credit card across the counter with a small nod and waited for the card to her room.

"Oh! Here is your card. Enjoy your stay, Miss Cole. "

She took the card from the lady, glanced at the letters and numbers etched on the card " Room 303" and made her way towards her room.

Inside, she dragged the curtain aside, revealing the ocean that stretched miles away.

The sight stole her breath, and for a moment, she forgot everything.

She let her eyes fall shut, surrendering to the rhythm of the crashing waves.

Not until the shrill ring of her phone snapped her back to reality. A familiar name lit up on the screen;Olivia–her only sister.

Avery had texted her and explained the ordeal to her last night.

“Avery! You’re still crying over him? I swear, I’ll never understand what you saw in that dumbass you called a boyfriend. Oh, right — ex-boyfriend!” she yelled into the phone, almost blowing Avery’s eardrums.

"Liv, you don't have to destroy my eardrum. You're talking to me, not passing a message in the club." Avery teased in frustration, moving her phone away from her ear.

Olive blurted, " I warned you he's an asshole. Now look at you. Practically turning into Maleficent in making.”

"Liv, please.... Don't make fun of me. It's not funny.

"Where are you? Have you made it to the resort? Are you with a man? Don't tell me you changed your mind after our texts last night." Olivia bombarded her with questions, barely letting her catch a breath.

"Ugh… one question at a time. I'm at the resort. And no, I'm not with a man." Avery paused and leaned on the chair, crossing her legs. "Lastly, do well to mind your business. "

"You’d do well to keep your business to yourself — my therapy session is officially closed." Olivia giggled, adding a hint of sarcasm to her sentence. “Go find yourself a handsome man and have fun… and keep your favourite sister in the loop. Avery! Avery! Avery! Don’t even think about gatekeeping unless you really want to welcome a zombie in your dream."

"You would have been given a degree in gossip if there was one." Avery smirked, putting an end to the call before getting flooded with another series of questions from Olivia.

It was becoming late, and Avery could see the stars shooting their way out into the sky. She picked up her coat and made her way towards the resort bar.

The bar showcased a collection of exotic wines and drinks, their bottles catching the low light. The sound of people's giggles, faint whispers, and downtempo songs with subtle vocals filled the room.

The soft mood light swayed in Avery's direction, illuminating her physique as she approached the bar man. "Two shots of Sauvignon Blanc wine, please."

The man nodded, handing it to her." Stressful day?

"Stressful year," She murmured.

"Two shots of wine wouldn't do,"

"Keep it coming," Avery responded as she settled on a cushioned bar stool. The stool was velvet draped and padded. She gulped down a glass, then another until she was down with her last glass of wine.

Her eyes travelled outside the bar, admiring the beauty of the crashing waves. The seashells and the sea glass scattered across the shore, glowing with a soft, warm beam that radiated the moonlight.

Exactly how she had imagined her proposal night would be. Avery was tipsy, and the effect could be seen on her flushed cheek.

She gulped down the last glass of wine, then made her way back to her room.

Avery dragged her feet sluggishly towards the five-star bed and lay flatly on it, staring at the ceiling. She wanted to silence her thoughts, to keep them at bay, but they stormed in anyway.

She couldn’t hold back the flood of emotions, loneliness gnawing at her.

Avery picked up her phone, her thumb aimlessly scrolling through some apps until her eyes caught the attention of something.

It was a video. A sultry video that made her pulse quickened. She almost skipped, but the fine curve, the subtle kisses, and the slow rhythm of the character on the screen held her attention. “Damn… that’s… kind of hypnotic,” she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. “Focus, Avery… focus!”

She closed her eyes, hoping to shut down this feeling that was threatening to engulf her, but instead, her breath quickened, and her body trembled by the intensity of the scene before her. Moans and groans of pleasure filled her senses.

Her fingers slowly trailed down her skin and through the curve of her body as she set the phone aside, the scene vivid in her mind.

Her hand drifted to her chest, fingers brushing over her nipple before she began to stroke it—slow, steady, deliberate. A shiver ran through her as warmth seeped through her body, a dull throb building with every teasing circle of her fingertip. Heat spread through her veins, leaving her breath uneven as her other hand tightened around the sheets.

Her mind was completely a mess.

She moved her fingers along her collarbone, down the line of her stomach, and to her thighs.

Avery let her hand wander slowly, carefully until it moved under her lacy pants and down to her clitoris, her legs trembling. She let out a soft moan, followed by a deep, quickened breath.

She began rubbing her thumb against her clitoris in a steady rhythm.

"Oh ...!fuck," she whispered, letting out another moan.

She threw her head back as the sensation ran through her body.

One hand squeezed her breast, and the other quickened between her thighs.

She was right on the edge. Her vision was hazy, and her thighs trembled with each fragile breath she drew in, but something shocking happened.

Just as she was about reaching climax, the room resonated with a bang, and she darted her eyes to the door that hung wide open, with a figure standing at the door motionlessly, watching her.