It's better to leave it for tomorrow, she repeated to herself, almost like a mantra, as she reached her door.
After all, it's just an attendance list ... There shouldn't be anything strange on a list of names … right?
The question lingered unanswered in the quiet air of her room as she let herself fall onto the bed, too tired to even fully undress.
And then sleep claimed Reiko quickly, but not before that final doubt—small and sharp like a thorn—lodged itself at the edge of her consciousness.
…
…
…
Sunlight filtered softly through the window, gently caressing Mara's face and slowly pulling her out of the deep sleep she had been immersed in.
She cracked her eyes open, still unfocused from rest, and the first thing she saw was the familiar wooden ceiling of the inn.
That ceiling which, over time, had become a comforting sight—a reminder that she had a place where she felt at ease.
Mara yawned lightly as she stretched in bed, feeling her muscles respond, a little sluggish but pleasantly satisfied.
When she turned her head to the left, she made out the naked back of a blonde woman sleeping on her side, breathing calmly.
Meanwhile, draped across her chest rested the arm of another woman—this one a redhead, with hair a vivid shade of red that wasn't Alice's, but just as striking—sleeping to her right.
Mara smiled inwardly at the sight.
Carefully, she withdrew the arm resting on her and began to slip out of bed, moving with the quiet discretion of someone who doesn't want to disturb the shared peace of dawn.
What a great night, she thought as she stood up, stretching once more and letting out another silent yawn.
Noticing she was completely naked, Mara let her gaze wander around the bedroom.
Her clothes, as was customary after nights like that one, were scattered across the floor.
Calmly, she began picking them up with slow movements, still slightly drowsy, enjoying the softness of the fabric between her fingers.
Once she had gathered everything, she sat on the edge of the bed and let her gaze rest on the floor for a moment.
She wasn't thinking about anything in particular—just savoring that morning tranquility, that intimate silence that always followed wild nights.
And so Mara spent a few minutes enjoying that calm.
Then she started getting dressed, thinking about heading downstairs to the dining area to find Alice for breakfast.
But the sweat from the night before—the lingering intensity of everything she had experienced—reminded her of the familiar stickiness on her skin.
I think… it'd be best to take a shower first, she decided.
Having chosen a bath over food, Mara stood up and quietly made her way toward the bathroom.
The distance was short—just a few steps across the room—but in that brief walk, her mind began to wander.
As she moved, she couldn't help reflecting on everything her life had become.
This new routine—waking up beside someone, attending to clients who requested her "special service," taking a shower, sharing the day with Alice, dealing with Beckie's outbursts—had become so natural she barely questioned it anymore.
Mara had grown accustomed to it, in a way she never would have believed possible just weeks ago.
Frankly, she didn't need much more.
The contrast with her previous life was staggering.
She remembered those gray mornings, waking up alone in her old room, working in complete silence in front of a screen, with no company but her own thoughts and the bluish glow of the monitor.
A monotonous, flat existence where days blurred together without leaving a trace.
But now everything was different.
Everything was … lively.
Loud? Yes—but also full of touch, voices, glances, warmth.
Even moments of exhaustion or confusion had texture, flavor, presence—things that had been denied to her before.
That moment of reflection came to a halt when Mara reached the bathroom door and opened it gently.
Upon stepping inside, she realized someone was already there.
It was Beckie.
The woman stood completely naked beneath the stream of water, sliding a bar of soap over her bare torso with slow, almost provocative movements.
When she noticed Mara standing in the doorway, she simply flashed a knowing smile and tilted her head, offering a clear, carefree invitation for her to join.
Mara didn't hesitate.
With a quick motion, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world, she obeyed the gesture, closed the door behind her, and stepped into the bathroom.
Once inside, she began removing her clothes at an unhurried pace, letting each piece fall one by one onto the damp floor.
The air smelled of fresh soap and warm steam, and the sound of water striking the tiles created a soothing rhythm.
That was when Beckie decided to speak.
"Hey, Mara, hurry up… You're not going to leave me wanting, are you?" Beckie said in a seductive whisper.
As she spoke, Beckie continued rubbing her body with the soap in a deliberately slow, teasing manner with one hand.
With the other, she brushed her long purple hair aside, pressing it against her wet neck and shoulders in a gesture that left no doubt about her intentions.
Even without any explicit confirmation, Mara could guess why Beckie had always been so provocative with her since their very first encounter—one that Beckie, drunk as she had been, clearly remembered perfectly.
And that reason was probably that Mara reminded her of Alice.
Obviously, Mara didn't have the same lush curves—she was relatively flat compared to Alice.
But her hair, that intense orange shade like a sunset, and above all, the way Beckie looked at her—with the same mixture of intensity and attraction she reserved for the innkeeper—gave her a clear clue.
Without a doubt, she reminded her of Alice, and that, somehow, must excite Beckie.
Hehe… I love this routine, Mara thought, finishing removing the last piece of clothing and stepping forward, now completely naked, toward Beckie.