Snow on Christmas

Between us

About half an hour later, they found themselves on the stone beach, the sea stretching endlessly before them. Liora had brought along a couple of towels, clearly intent on convincing Ash to join her for a swim.

Ash stood at the edge of the shore, soaking in the view. "There are a lot of stone beaches here, aren't there?", she said, her voice light. Turning back, she froze mid-step. Liora had already shed her clothes, now standing in her swimsuit with an effortless confidence.

The asymmetrical design hugged her frame, its vibrant turquoise and lavender tones gleaming against her tanned skin, the lavender part matching with her new bracelet. The one-shoulder top wrapped elegantly around her frame, secured by a playful tie, while the high-waisted bottoms with soft lavender accents drew attention to her hips and the curve of her figure.

Ash blinked, realizing too late that she'd been staring, her mouth slightly open. Liora caught the look and chuckled softly but said nothing.

"You... you look gorgeous," Ash stammered, still trying to collect herself.

"Thank you," Liora replied, her smile widening. "Are you planning to swim in your clothes, or...?

"Oh yeah, sure," Ash said as she caught herself. She started pulling off her clothes until she was down to her white sports bra and slip, not having expected to go swimming in December.

The chilly wind bit at her exposed skin, and she shivered, glancing enviously at Liora, who seemed completely unfazed by the cold. Ash ran her hands through her hair, gathering the long blonde strands into a high bun. Her fingers moved deftly, twisting and securing it in place.

Liora's breath got caught in her throat. At first, it was the familiar cascade of long blonde strands, something she'd seen a hundred times before. But then, her eyes widened. Beneath the glossy waves was an undercut, sharp and daring, shaved close against her head. She hadn't expected that, not at all.

It was like seeing a whole new side of Ash, one she hadn't known existed. Bold. Edgy. Unapologetic. The contrast between the soft, flowing hair and the striking undercut left her momentarily stunned, her heart skipping in a way she couldn't explain. She couldn't tear her eyes away, tracing the clean lines and the way it seemed to frame Ash's face, making every feature sharper, more striking.

Ash turned back to Liora, unaware of the storm of thoughts brewing behind her gaze. "So", she said, breaking the silence, "how cold is this water, really?"

Liora smirked, tilting her head playfully. "Let's just say... it'll wake you up." Without waiting for a response, she darted toward the sea, stepping confidently across the uneven rocks. With a graceful movement, she jumped headfirst into the deep blue waves, disappearing for a moment before reemerging with a laugh.

Ash lingered at the edge, her toes curling against the cool, solid rocks beneath her feet. She watched as Liora ran her fingers through her short hair, the droplets catching the sunlight and making her look almost unreal, like she belonged to the sea itself.

"Come on, Ash!", Liora called, flicking water toward her with a grin. "You didn't take off your clothes just to stand there and stare at me, did you?"

Ash froze, caught off guard by the teasing. "Maybe I did", she muttered, her voice quieter than she intended.

Liora's laughter faltered, her cheeks flushing a soft pink as she glanced away for a moment. "You're impossible", she replied, her tone lighter now, though her voice wavered slightly.

Ash exhaled, gathering her courage and stepping carefully onto the slick rocks leading into the water. "Fine", she said, adjusting the bun she'd tied earlier to keep her hair dry. "But I'm not diving in like you."