"I just need a little moment." My voice is shaking. The good thing is that this time I can really blame the temperatures. The little voice inside me telling me that's not just the reason, I just kick down. At least I'm trying. But Zaret seems to have other plans. Instead of continuing to hold the strand, he runs his fingers down my neck. He barely touches my skin and yet I can hear the warmth from him. And now it's not me more possible to negate its effect on me. My heart is racing and I should take a step away from Zaret. It would be easy. Just sidestep a bit. But I don't move. Can only exhale shakily. "What are you doing?" A stupid question. What Zaret is doing? Intimidate me. Show me how nice it is when he is well disposed towards me. And then he snatches it from me again. As so often but I can't help but feel a sudden warmth filling my insides, a really nice change from the cold out here. And while I'm trying to sort my sensations out somehow, Zaret's fingers have reached my shoulder. Scratches my skin with his fingernails and that's exactly how he finally brings me down to earth a bit. I shouldn't be fooled so easily. So I take a step forward. At least it should be one. Instead I stumble innocently into the water. But I can't resist it. Zaret's proximity has turned my knees to jelly. Cold drops hit me and increase the feeling of freezing to death, but I don't pay any attention to that either. I immediately turn to Zaret. Interesting that he seems to pose more danger than the torrential water masses behind me. Somehow to bring order to my sensations, Zaret has reached my shoulder with his fingers. Scratches my skin with his fingernails and that's exactly how he finally brings me down to earth a bit. I shouldn't be fooled so easily. So I take a step forward. At least it should be one. Instead I stumble innocently into the water. But I can't resist it. Zaret's proximity has turned my knees to jelly. Cold drops hit me and increase the feeling of freezing to death, but I don't pay any attention to that either. I immediately turn to Zaret. Interesting that he seems to pose more danger than the torrential water masses behind me. Somehow to bring order to my sensations, Zaret has reached my shoulder with his fingers. Scratches my skin with his fingernails and that's exactly how he finally brings me down to earth a bit. I shouldn't be fooled so easily. So I take a step forward. At least it should be one. Instead I stumble innocently into the water. But I can't resist it. Zaret's proximity has turned my knees to jelly. Cold drops hit me and increase the feeling of freezing to death, but I don't pay any attention to that either. I immediately turn to Zaret. Interesting that he seems to pose more danger than the torrential water masses behind me. Scratches my skin with his fingernails and that's exactly how he finally brings me down to earth a bit. I shouldn't be fooled so easily. So I take a step forward. At least it should be one. Instead I stumble innocently into the water. But I can't resist it. Zaret's proximity has turned my knees to jelly. Cold drops hit me and increase the feeling of freezing to death, but I don't pay any attention to that either. I immediately turn to Zaret. Interesting that he seems to pose more danger than the torrential water masses behind me. Scratches my skin with his fingernails and that's exactly how he finally brings me down to earth a bit. I shouldn't be fooled so easily. So I take a step forward. At least it should be one. Instead I stumble innocently into the water. But I can't resist it. Zaret's proximity has turned my knees to jelly. Cold drops hit me and increase the feeling of freezing to death, but I don't pay any attention to that either. I immediately turn to Zaret. Interesting that he seems to pose more danger than the torrential water masses behind me. So I take a step forward. At least it should be one. Instead I stumble innocently into the water. But I can't resist it. Zaret's proximity has turned my knees to jelly. Cold drops hit me and increase the feeling of freezing to death, but I don't pay any attention to that either. I immediately turn to Zaret. Interesting that he seems to pose more danger than the torrential water masses behind me. So I take a step forward. At least it should be one. Instead I stumble innocently into the water. But I can't resist it. Zaret's proximity has turned my knees to jelly. Cold drops hit me and increase the feeling of freezing to death, but I don't pay any attention to that either. I immediately turn to Zaret. Interesting that he seems to pose more danger than the torrential water masses behind me. But Zaret does nothing. He's still standing in the same place and even if I can't see the little things in his facial expressions, Zaret seems thoughtful. The strong up and down of his upper body only confirms this assumption. "Let's get started then," he grumbles, and now he's getting into the river too. But unlike me, Zaret doesn't seem to have any problems with the cold. He doesn't even falter when he approaches me. I stiffen for that. And that's it this cramping of the muscles is enough for me to feel the familiar pain again. I gasp softly, but nevertheless the protesting of my wounds seems the lesser evil at this moment. I just can't stand being near Zaret. He already has it so much too easy, me upset, but right now there doesn't seem to be a bit of resistance. I clearly lack the strength to rebel against Zaret. Or rather against his touch. Against the tenderness that lies in it. I do not like it. Not at all. So I take a small step back when he's with me and run my fingers through the water for distraction. Watch how small waves are created and I have to tremble again. This short time alone is enough to let the cold penetrate into my core. My skin tingles. Watch how small waves are created and I have to tremble again. This short time alone is enough to let the cold penetrate into my core. My skin tingles. Watch how small waves are created and I have to tremble again. This short time alone is enough to let the cold penetrate into my core. My skin tingles. "Turn around." He waves his hand to underscore his request and I nod weakly. God, how I would like to clean myself up. But even I know that's impossible. How am I supposed to get to the wounds? So fight "I go against my own instincts and turn my back on Zaret. It's almost interesting that this time it's harder than when he's trying to hit me. And even as I try to steady my stance a little, he grabs my pelvis and pushes me further into the river. Immediately I want to wriggle out of his grasp. Grab his arms and want to push them away. Of course it doesn't help. Only the soft laughter sounds from him and I can really imagine how much he feels about the situation enjoy. "Keep calm." There's the thunder again, only adding to the goosebumps, and I immediately stop my efforts. Let Zaret push me a little more into the river until my hips are covered. Already, I can feel the power of feel the water. How it flows around my legs and really wants to pull me away. Nevertheless, my entire focus is on Zaret's hands. I suddenly notice how big they are. Strong. That I only notice it in this situation and not when his fist hit me, however, I have no idea. Zaret snorts annoyed and I look over my shoulder at him. But he ignores me. Just look at my back and only after a while does he look up. "It doesn't work that way." It sounds like a statement. And that makes it difficult for me to swallow. After all, that means nothing other than that I have to put my upper body in the water. And just as I'm about to gather up the courage to crouch, Zaret twists me around with a jerk. I cry out and the wounds make themselves felt again. Make me whimper and get my full attention. God it hurts. But Zaret ignores my outcry. Doesn't see my face contorted with pain. Instead he grabs my thigh and lifts me up. He touches the cut and I tense up a bit, unable to suppress another gasp. And that's what keeps me just acting. Zaret pulls me towards him and automatically I wrap my legs around his waist. Grab him by the shoulders. And despite the torment, I feel its soothing warmth. How this lays on my skin. But Zaret snatches this thought away as well, as he goes deeper into the river. The noise gets louder and the cold seems to want to eat me up. It feels like there's ice on me. Wants to freeze myself so I can finally never feel anything like heat again. And with that, all bodily functions seem to go haywire. Immediately my heart starts to pump faster and the adrenaline shoots through my bloodstream. It seems like my body is trying to fight the temperature. But it doesn't help. I am immediately trembling and can only catch my breath in fits and starts. And since Zaret is the only source of warmth, I press myself close to him. I really snuggle up to him. Exactly what I wanted to prevent is now happening. I want to be close to him. "It'll get better in a minute," he murmurs, exhaling heavily. Turns so the rushing water hits my back directly. I know that might be effective in cleaning my wounds, but that's me in this one Never mind. I want to get out of here. So this time, I'm the one to lean in and levitate our faces in front of each other. "Zaret, please." My voice is way too quiet. As if the cold is paralyzing my vocal cords. Nevertheless, the pleading undertone resonates clearly and I cannot prevent another strong tremor. Just clutch Zaret tighter and put all my desperation in my eyes. God, if he doesn't get back on shore right away, I'm really going to freeze to death. The tingling is getting worse and I already know that my skin must be red all over. But Zaret makes no move to comply with my request. Instead he growls softly and buries his face in the crook of my neck. His stubble scratches my skin and this time it's not comfortable. No security that is feigned by it. But Zaret is right. My heart is racing and the blood is pounding in my ears, but the initial shock wears off. The tingling doesn't decrease, but it becomes bearable. At least somehow. But what doesn't go away is the shaking. I can't get that under control. Zaret grumbles again in annoyance and presses his face even harder into the crook of my neck. Again I hear his heavy breathing, but this time I put it down to the temperatures. After all, Zaret also has to suffer from the cold. Even if he doesn't show it. Even my most intimate zone warms up. And with that, the last remnant of the cold disappears. Rather, the water seems to be too warm all of a sudden. Nevertheless, I try to suppress the tremor. It works so semi well. But that seems to be enough for Zaret. His lips curl into a grin, but he doesn't move away. Instead, blows a kiss on my cheek and thereby manages to shake up everything inside me. "It's better that way," he mutters, and his upper body vibrates with every word. And this vibration seems to go to my core. Makes my heartbeat even faster. Zaret has to notice. He has to feel the strong throbbing. Eventually "My chest is pressed against him. And it's absolutely despairing. He can't see what's happening right now. That would be my downfall. But too late. He blows a kiss on my cheek again, only to walk a little further. Closer to my mouth. Everything inside me is tense. It's so incredibly difficult for me not to turn to him. Pressing my lips to his. And I'm so busy defying the urge that I can't take my head off it. I let Zaret do it - let him feel his way closer to my mouth millimeter by millimeter. There's still a smile on his lips. Shows his arrogance. I do not care. And when it's at the corner of my mouth, my heart just seems to want to jump out of my chest. It's so incredibly difficult for me not to turn to him. Pressing my lips to his. And I'm so busy defying the urge that I can't take my head off it. I let Zaret do it - let him feel his way closer to my mouth millimeter by millimeter. There's still a smile on his lips. Shows his arrogance. I do not care. And when it's at the corner of my mouth, my heart just seems to want to jump out of my chest. It's so incredibly difficult for me not to turn to him. Pressing my lips to his. And I'm so busy defying the urge that I can't take my head off it. I let Zaret do it - let him feel his way closer to my mouth millimeter by millimeter. There's still a smile on his lips. Shows his arrogance. I do not care. And when it's at the corner of my mouth, my heart just seems to want to jump out of my chest. Shows his arrogance. I do not care. And when it's at the corner of my mouth, my heart just seems to want to jump out of my chest. Shows his arrogance. I do not care. And when it's at the corner of my mouth, my heart just seems to want to jump out of my chest. And as paradoxical as it is, he is doing exactly the right thing. No joke at my expense. No stupid saying. This awakens something like well-being in me again. That he really doesn't mean to be mean this time. "Why are you kind to me," I whisper, not even knowing why I'm asking that. Why can't I just enjoy this fact? But now it's out not to snuggle up to Zaret He's so seductively warm Almost hot compared to the ice around me. Zaret shrugs his shoulders and gives him a slight smile. "I wanted to try something new." It sounds matter-of-fact. Almost like he's painted his cabin and wants to explain to someone why it's that color. But that's good. It doesn't strike me as a It was a mistake to ask him that. Again he gives me security. But this time not through his body - he doesn't reduce my fear of external influences - in that moment I feel like I can speak freely. And I already have I haven't had it for far too long. So a small smile creeps onto my lips too. "And? Do you like it?" Zaret immediately snorts and wrinkles his nose. Appears to be disgusted. But it seems staged. I don't know how I know for sure that Zaret doesn't think being nice is such a bad thing. Maybe the slight shine in your eyes? The relaxed attitude? It could be anything or a simple imagination because I would like to have this Zaret with me more often. "Let's just say don't get used to it." And if he managed to project any resentment until just now, that's over now. The corners of his mouth twitch slightly and I just can't help it. God, it It's so easy right now. The way life is supposed to be. At least for the most part. And since I don't want to spoil this moment, I won't say anything for a moment. Just look into the eyes, which reflect the starry sky and are only more inviting at this moment And without my doing the next words come from me: "It's too late for that." And now Zaret is losing the fight against his grin. He laughs softly and yet he manages to maintain the lightness. Even the fact that he leans forward and his lips come much too close to mine doesn't change this feeling. "Well then we have a problem, don't we?"