Inari slides up behind me and wraps their arms around my waist. They perch their chin on my shoulder.

  “How about we get cleaned up?” they whisper. “I can feel sand in my pants.”

  I scoff and place a hand upon theirs. “I did not need to know that.”

  “Well, we could save water by getting washed at the same time.” It sounds very matter-of-fact but I can hear the playful smile in their voice. “But then you might have to face the sandcastle that’ll be created when I take off my clothes.”

  I think my face is perpetually flushed at this point. “M-Maybe there would be other things to give my attention to.”

  They give the back of my neck a kiss and I shiver in their arms. “Good. Let’s go upstairs.”

  They lead the way with my hand in theirs. I can’t help but stare. Bits of sand are stuck in their messy locks and their over-shirt is all wrinkled up. How is it possible to adore someone so much while they look so dishevelled? It is another thing to learn about loving someone. Aesthetics don’t always matter.

  Inari opens the bathroom door and flicks on the heating lamps and fan. They step back and gesture for me to step in first.

  “Run the water and I’ll grab some fresh towels,” they say and disappear downstairs for the linen closet.

  Being in this bathroom feels like being at the spa. There’s so much room that I could probably do a cartwheel in here if I knew how to do one of those. In an alcove along the left wall are two sinks with a shiny, full-length mirror that do even more to expand the room. The cabinets are fit with wooden panelling and the countertops are a clean, bright white. While the downstairs vanity had some travel-sized, complimentary gifts, a catalogue of expensive bottles and bars await us here, with different scent options, and considerations for sensitive skin. A bundle of hand towels are stacked upon a wooden tray with a small green potted plant on the side.

  On the right, there’s a large tub that looks like it isn’t attached to the wall—the kind that looks super luxurious in all its detachment and roundness, and also is a pain to clean.

  The star of tonight is the giant shower kitted with all the works. Not only is there enough room for a sitting bench, but an adjustable shower-head on the wall and a rainfall shower-head on the ceiling. Besides the wall shower-head are controls for a steam shower—perfect for relaxing and opening the airways.

  I look over all the knobs and handles. It isn’t my first time using the shower but I have to admit it is a little intimidating just looking at it. I choose the rainfall shower-head and let the water heat up as I start undoing the knots of my bikini top.

  Inari returns with the towels and places them on the counter. They take one from the pile and lay it on the floor.

  “Put your swimming clothes on there because I’d rather avoid leaving sand everywhere.”

  “Sand is kinda like glitter, isn’t it? It turns up everywhere even when you try to control it.”

  They chuckle as they shrug off their shirt, dropping it onto the towel. “Let me live in my fantasy world.”

  I walk up to them and rest my hands on their shoulders. “I think you do a lot of that already in your books.”

  They reach behind me and undo the last knot tied around my neck. My bikini top falls between us. I look up at them with widened eyes.

  “I suppose some things are already magical in this reality.” They give me a wolf-like grin as they run a light touch down the edge of my breasts.

  My mind goes into a flurry just by the simple touch, sending warmth between my thighs. Oh, that’s different, that’s… I bring my hands to my cheeks and close my eyes. “W-We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”

  Inari laughs and it makes things worse as I squirm on the spot, squeezing my legs together. I open one eye as they remove their swimming shorts and sand piles onto the towel, though not enough for much of a sandcastle.

  “The water must be hot enough now, if you want to get in first.” They crouch to fold their shorts.

  I nod and turn around, pulling down my bikini briefs and trying not to think too much about how close I was to naked already. I step under the stream of water, sighing as it hits my shoulders and soaks my beach-dried hair.

  I decide to look the other way as Inari takes off their binder, which seems a little weird since we’re about to shower together but it feels like the right thing to do.

  They approach the shower and I step forward to give them room under the water. When their skin next touches mine, it’s their back. I curiously look over my shoulder and they’re looking back at me.

  “Ah, so… usually if I’m showering with someone, I ask them not to touch my chest. You can lean against it and… well, yours can touch mine, but don’t use your hands, please.”

  I smile at them and their expression eases. “I understand. Thank you for sharing that with me.”

  “Is there anything I should know? Anywhere you don’t want me to touch?”

  I turn around and lean on them. With both feet grounded on the tiles, I take a deep breath. The water pours over me as I tune in to each part of my body, asking myself how I would feel if Inari touched there. I don’t have the same experience as them, as it seems they’ve done this before, but there is a first time for everything.

  Nothing particularly stands out. Nervousness and excitement are one in the same for each stretch of my skin, each edge or curve of my body, but no restrictions.

  “I can’t think of anything,” I say, running my hands down their arms. They join their hands in mine and then spin around to face me.

  “That’s okay. Just know that sometimes we don’t realise until it happens so don’t feel like you can’t tell me.”

  I kiss them on the cheek. Their kindness almost makes me want to cry because I want to give tonight, whatever happens, my best for Inari and it’s reassuring to know that they are there to remind me of my comfort.

  They squeeze some shampoo onto their hand and I relax as they massage it into my hair. It feels nice for their nails to scratch my scalp and I let any tension wash down the drain.

  I take the shampoo to clean their hair in return, determined to learn its layers, roots, and ends. There were days in the past when I would play with their hair, braiding it and unbraiding it. I was the type of student that teachers would say, “This isn’t a salon.” to. Inari never minded. They even brought me some hair clips from home one morning. “I’d never wear these at home but you can use them on me.”

  Inari rubs body wash between their hands, creating suds, and lathers them on my shoulders and down my arms. They bring their hands back up and then down my chest, stopping at my breasts and squeezing them. I let out a squeak as I finish brushing their hair back with my hands.

  Their eyes twinkle. “That’s a cute little sound.” They take a hold of my breasts and softly squeeze again as they begin to caress me in circular motions.

  I whimper and whine, shutting my eyes. The sensation of my hardening nipples rolling under their palms sends shivers down my spine and to the tip of my toes. I lean into Inari, feeling for the bottle of body wash. It smells of green tea as I apply it to Inari’s arms and stomach.

  They slide their hands around me and lean back. I open my eyes, wondering if something happened. Instead, I’m faced with a red-cheeked Inari with their eyes lowered and lips parted.

  Their mouth connects with the crook of my neck and I kiss their shoulder, holding their hips tightly.

  “Perrin,” they whisper with a husky voice before letting out a deep, hot sigh against my skin, “I’m going to pin you to the wall behind you and take your tits in my mouth now. Do you consent to this?”

  “Wha—” I stare at them, bewildered. But they lift their head, looking completely serious and waiting for an answer. “Y-Yes. Yes, I consent.”

  They press their thigh between my legs as my back hits the tiled wall. The sharp cold mixed with Inari’s burning body against mine is a whirl of sensations, quickening my heartbeat and coaxing a moan out of me.

  I cover my mouth with my hand and Inari chuckles as they bend over and flick their tongue against the bud of my breast. They start kneading the other as their hand trails up and down my side and hip.

  Their wet lips take more of my breast and suck on it as they continue to circle their tongue around the most sensitive bit. My hips roll on their own and it feels so good to rub myself against their thigh. I do it again, over and over, mewling as the heat doesn’t stop building at my core. I don’t want it to stop.

  My wetness covers their leg, mixing with the water cascading down Inari’s back. My need is dizzying, making me lift their face to mine. Their eyes are glazed over and their tongue peeks out between their lips.

  Every part of me aches for them, the air thick with heat and an intoxicating desire to know them in a way I’ve never before.

  They give me a smile and lower both of their hands to my hips, pushing me into their thigh. “You’re doing such dirty things and making such dirty sounds, my love.”

  The pet name sends another wave of arousal through me. I moan with a buck of my hips. “I don’t know what you’ve done to me, Nari, but I need more.”

  Their lips crash into mine and I kiss them back with fervour, eyes closed so that I can feel more than see. They groan into my mouth and I can’t stop my hand from moving down to between my legs.

  As I use my fingers to open myself up, Inari catches my wrist and lifts my hand away.

  “Allow me,” they say into my lips.

  Their hand travels down and teases me at the opening, from feather-light touches to dragging a single finger against my clit and then pulling away.

  “Inari…” I whine, tilting my head back. “I may as well do it myself if you’re going to—”

  They press their fingers against me and start stroking. My heart flutters and breath hitches.

  “You’ll have plenty of opportunities to touch yourself with me,” they whisper into my ear. “I’m going to make you do it while I watch you.”

  Just fantasising compels more noises out of me. They fill the air as much as the steam does. I want Inari to hear how good they’re making me feel.

  “For now,” they continue, sliding their fingers further and reaching my entrance. My back arches in anticipation. “I want you to think about me. I want you to think about how much love I have for you.”

  Ah— their love… it’s so hard to think as they slip a finger into my pussy and their thumb plays with my clit. Their love is exciting as much as it’s comfortable. It’s reliable as much as it’s spontaneous.

  They pump their finger in and out of me, and each wet press of their thumb is another gasp, another moan, another rock of my hips. They use their tongue on my breasts again and pepper kisses all over.

  It feels like I’m hyperventilating in the best way—I can’t get enough of breathing Inari in, a mix of the sandalwood that has sunken into their skin with the refreshing scents of the shampoo and body wash.

  “I love you, Inari,” I cry between moans.

  “I love you too, Perrin.” They briefly lift themself to kiss my neck. “I’m going to use another finger now, okay?”

  “Ah— okay—”

  They slide another one in and my knees buckle. Heat pulses through me as they keep me upright with just a hand.

  “I want you to come for me. I want you to feel so good.” They bury their face in the valley of my breasts and let out a long moan, igniting this deep, deep feeling that I’m going to spill all over their hand soon. “Oh gods, you’re so soft and warm.”

  I laugh at how Inari abandons their care for politeness as they thrust into me with their fingers. This feels so good, my legs are shaking. They keep going, faster— harder.

  It’s all so much—the love, the touch, the noises. I throw my head back and keen as I come with their fingers in me, trembling against them for support as stars fly in my vision. So good, so good, so good.

  My mind blanks on everything but this wonderful feeling that spreads throughout. Inari holds me steady, giving me soft kisses that feel electric.

  “So beautiful,” Inari murmurs and kisses me on the nose.

  Chapter 10

  Inari

  Sunlight filters into the room in slivers, peeking through the edges of the curtains. I wake up next to Perrin who has taken half my pillow and trapped me with an arm splayed across my body. Her hair sticks up all over the place and somehow she has taken most of the blanket as well. I roll towards her, closing my eyes and inhaling her warmth.

  What a perfect, quiet way to celebrate Christmas morning.

  As Perrin snores soundly, I reach behind me for my phone on the bedside table. My lock screen is filled with messages from friends and family wishing Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays in group chats and private messages. At the very top is a message from Leila, sent hours ago, only a few minutes after midnight.

  Oh, she was certainly going to be entertained by the situation I’ve gotten myself into. I unlock my phone and glance at Perrin. She told me years ago that she was a heavy sleeper and now it’s time to test that.

  I slowly pick up her hand, sit up, and then place her palm back down on the bed. She grumbles into the pillow but doesn’t wake. I stare at her with a smile, tracing her cheek with my finger. She looks adorable wrapped up in my bed, so I hope she’ll forgive me for letting her sleep-in.

  I step out onto the balcony as I call Leila. The morning sun greets me along with a clear, blue sky. I stretch and shake out my limbs as the phone rings. After longer than usual, the phone clicks.

  “Merry Christmas, Inari!” Leila screams into the phone.

  I pull it away from my ear and then bring it back once I’m sure she won’t scream again. “Merry Christmas to you too, my friend.”

  On the other side of the phone, I can hear Leila’s family. Indistinct, overlapping conversations make up the majority of the noise with an underlayer of children yelling about presents and having cake early because “Christmas, mum”.

  I am the luckiest enby in the world to be spending my Christmas quietly with my favourite person of many, many years.

  “It sounds… busy over there,” I say, leaning against the balcony railing and looking over the hedge garden.

  “It’s okay, you can say horrible,” Leila responds with a laugh. “I know it’s not your favourite holiday.”

  “Perhaps it’s not so much the holiday, but the way I spend it.” I peek over my shoulder and look through the glass sliding door. I can’t get over how peaceful Perrin looks and part of me wants to go back to cuddle her.

  “Now, now, what’s that meant to mean Mx. Inari Kan?”

  I whip my head back around, as if Leila can see me watching Perrin sleep. “Nothing.”

  “That’s quite possibly the worst way you could’ve answered that question.”

  Leila gets distracted by her cousins wanting her attention, and excuses herself as she finds a new place to talk. In that time, I mull over how I’m supposed to explain this to her. One moment we’re friends, the next we’re spending the night together.

  My best friend is a master at helping me see another perspective, even when she isn’t directly contributing, because I realise that the explanation wouldn’t be difficult, but dealing with her smug response about ‘foreshadowing’ my love life would be.

  “Okay, sorry, I’m back.” Leila sounds out of breath. The noise is fainter on her end now. “I just went outside. I’ll have to deal with the heat or whatever. Is it hot over there too?”

  “Leila, we’re still in the same state. It’s not like I’m catching any snow anytime soon.”

  She laughs. “You are so right. Anyway, how’s Perrin? Are you getting along for your last full day?”

  The reminder of this being our last day at the villa puts a frown on my face. One more sleep, and we’d be on our way back home. My heart weighs a little heavier in my chest though I try not to let it show in my voice.

  “Better than I expected,” I say, genuinely.

  My thoughts go to our projects. We should finish them today. I was on track to get the end of this draft down as long as I didn’t get distracted by the temptation to intimately entertain Perrin.

  “How much better?”

  “Err…” I hesitate and Leila, thankfully, waits for me to get my words together. “The best this situation could be. Perrin figured out she’s demiromantic.”

  “Wait—”

  I hear soft static on the other side for some time. I hold my breath. Should I add more details? Should I let her work it out? Was this more painful than fun to tease Leila with the truth?

  I make the mistake of having my phone too close to my ear as Leila screams again.

  “She confessed to you and I wasn’t there to see?!”

  “Why on earth would you even be there!”

  “Emotional support or something, I don’t know! But oh my god. So she likes you? Loves you? Wait, you said you moved on. Did you say no? Is she crying?”

  “What— crying? No.” I shake my head even as I smile. No wonder Leila and Perrin got along in high school—their hyperactivity tends to match each other and the way they hold conversations have too many similarities. “Listen, I can tell you the proper details when I’m back in Melbourne, but for now… I want you to know I’m planning to bring Perrin to the party next week.”

  “You better. Or else I will get Perrin to divorce you.”

  “How are you already thinking about us being married? Also, you can’t make her do that, ever.”

  Leila makes some sort of non-committal sound and I imagine her waving me off. “You’ll see. Now, you get back to your princess and I’m going to enjoy some morning cake over here.”

  We say goodbye and I sneak back inside. Perrin is awake, still in bed, and staring at the ceiling.

  “Yours is the sun.” She points at the ceiling light and I look up. Indeed, a golden ring surrounds the light with sparkles and swirls like sunlight. She lowers her arm and then looks at me with a sleepy smile. “Mine has the moon.”

  I slip into bed next to her, bringing her closer to me. She sighs with content and buries her face in my shirt.