Only when the dryness of the cave’s air enclosed me did I realize exactly how wet I was. My pants, my shoes, my coat; everything was soaked, and he didn’t look much better. While the cave was dry, it was not very deep and it did not look very convenient.
“I don’t think we can start a fire.” He said as I took off my coat.
“I don’t think so either.” I said, pretty sure there was nothing in the cave that could feed a fire for more than a minute.

As I unbuttoned my shirt, I felt his eyes fall on me.
“What are you doing?” He asked as I took it off.
“Why, take off my wet clothes, of course. Our bodies need to dry and warm up, and that won’t happen with these wet clothes. We’ll only get sick. You, undress, too.” I answered, surprised that he had not realized this. I did not feel like pneumonia. Of course, I left my underwear on, but having the wet clothes off my body already was a huge relief.

“I’ll hold you.” He said. I looked at him, surprised, not knowing what he meant. A rare smile appeared on his face. “Against the cold. We can keep ourselves warm with our body heat.” He added.
“Ah. Yes, of course.” I heard him sit down, and I made my way towards him. I sat down, too, and I realized I was sitting in front of him. I moved a bit closer to him, but I was still shocked when I felt his wet and cold skin touch mine.

I felt his arms around me, his skin touching mine, but I thought nothing of it. It was necessary, after all. For the sake of warmth, I crawled up a bit closer to him, my head resting on his naked chest as if there was no other place in the world where it possibly could be right now. My thoughts got drowned by the rain that fell without end; I began to forget that the world could also be dry.

Maybe, in the end, it took me too long to realize his arms held me a bit tighter then they had before. The fact that his head was so close to my hair did not bother me until I felt my hair warm because of his breath. I didn’t dare to look up; he might warm a part of me that had remained cold for longer than this night. I couldn’t see anything but the occasional flash of light from the lightning far away, but I knew how close he was to me.

I didn’t dare to speak; never had I imagined my body could be as paralyzed as this once I realized that our being close was more than just necessary for him. I was afraid my words would trigger some desire he would not be able to suppress. All I could do was hold myself even tighter to him, hoping that my shivering would go unnoticed.

His hand moved; I knew it before I actually felt it. I felt his muscles go tense and then relax again. His desire to touch me was no longer something my body could ignore. My heart began to beat faster, and I tried with all my might to suppress it; to fight it, because I knew out of all things in the world this was the worst thing that could happen to us.

I could feel his hand move up my back, my shoulder, my arm… His gentle strokes could not make me relax. The cold and the raid I had all but forgotten; this touch drove everything else out of my mind. I could feel his hands going up my neck and gently stroke my cheek until they arrived at my lips and I did not hesitate; slowly I kissed his hand.

I moved my own hand to hold his, and I began to kiss his fingers, one by one, until I had covered them all in sweet kisses that he would forever feel. Even though I could not see his eyes I knew I should not look up; if our eyes met the rest of our bodies would start to act on their own. Therefore, when I was done, I released his hand, and he managed to hold it down.

How long I lay there with my eyes wide open and my heart beating as if it had to catch up on something I do not recall; All I know is that at some point I woke up, and the sun was shining softly. I had fallen asleep, and when I looked up I noticed he had, too. The rain had turned the ground into one big puddle of mud, but it had ceased to rain and the clouds had all but disappeared.

“It seems like we made it.” He said without letting go of me. So I was wrong; he was still awake.
“It seems so.” I agreed. My memory failed me; what had happened last night? I felt a strange taste on my lips but I did not know whether it was his. I tried to get up, but his arms would not let me.
“Please…” I heard the word escape from his lips but whether he said it or that it was a silent cry from his body is something I will never know.

I looked at him; for the first time since we entered this cave, I dared to look at him.
“We didn’t… do anything, right?” I asked, unsure which answer I longed for. He shook his head softly.
“No.”
“Ah.” I said, “Well, that’s good then.” I reached out to my clothes, but of course they were still soaking wet. I fell down on his chest again, knowing that very soon, I would have to let go of it forever.

His arms closed around me again, and forced me to be aware of every inch of his body that touched mine.
“I know there is no other way for us to be together…” He whispered, “so please, let me enjoy this a little while longer.”