Kate Moss, 33, was snapped in Mexico with the muscly hunk while rocker boyfriend Jamie Hince worked on The Kills' new album in Britain. At one point her mystery man, in just trunks, draped himself over her near-naked body as she chatted on her mobile.
It's the second time in three months that Kate, who dumped Pete Doherty earlier this year, has jetted to the sun without Jamie.
This time she was staying in a L450-a-night suite at the plush Esencia Hotel in Cancun, on a break from a TopShop photoshoot.
A pal said: "Jamie is very quiet and prefers walks in the country to beach fun. Kate is over Pete but she misses the mayhem that went with him."
Only last week Jamie got upset when Pete asked Kate to go on stage with his band Babyshambles. She ended up refusing. Now it looks like he's got yet another rival for her affections.
One holidaymaker who spotted her with the muscleman said: "They were very playful and touchy-feely and seemed to be having a lot of fun."