"Hn." He still doesn't sound entirely convinced. 'Puts his lips beneath her ear. "I'm going to clean up," he says, "stay right here." He slides to the edge of the mattress and steels himself for a couple of seconds before getting to his feet, trying to keep as much distance as he can between himself and the cold floorboards.

He doesn't bother turning on the light in the bathroom, but he has to wait in the dark while the water in the sink heats up. While he waits he catches his reflection in the mirror above the basin; moonlight and shadow throw strange shapes across his cheeks. He's smiling.

When he returns, he makes a beeline dive for the bed, tossing the covers up over them both. "Your apartment is fuh-huh-huh-reezing. I think I ran into the remainder of Shackelton's lost crew out in the hallway." He pushes his chilly hands between her thighs to warm them.