Are we really doing this? I think we have to. I looked nervously at Jacob, whose expression revealed nothing but excitement. I wasn't really a polar bear plunge kind of woman, but it was the

thing people did around here in Sweden. We had only been in the country for a month after having

moved for Jacob's job, and we were really trying to acclimate. That's why, on a freezing cold Sunday morning, I found myself

holding Jacob's hand and jumping off of a dock into the frigid sea below. The cold stung at first.

It was a shock, but when I came up to the surface, I broke out into laughter at the side of

Jacob's face. He looked too stunned to speak, his teeth chattering. Come on. Let's go home. We did the thing.' I laughed. We wrapped ourselves up in our thick robes,

shoved our feet into the Ugg slippers we had brought with us, and shuffled back to our apartment

two blocks away. No sooner had Jacob walked through the door than he was headed for the shower.

Elise, you coming? The water was already a steamy cloud when I got into the bathroom.

Jacob and I had lucked out with a decently sized shower, cozy, but still roomy enough for two. I closed the glass door

behind me and stepped into the hot water. Jacob stepped aside and let me under the showerhead.

I leaned back and soaked my dark brown hair, pushing it away from my face. When I opened my eyes,

I saw that Jacob was staring at me. His gaze was on my breasts, so I decided to tease him

and squeeze them together. Are you feeling? You know, I asked. We hadn't had much sex since the move.

Everything had been too chaotic and stressful. Jacob reached for my breasts, squeezing them as he

stepped closer to me. I lifted my jaw, angling my face as we kissed.

It felt good to be close like this, our wet, warm bodies touching. I felt close to him

and excited about our new life. I think I prefer our hot water to the icy sea.

Jacob mumbled into my ear, running his tongue over my lobe.

Me too, I said happily.

Jacob gently pulled my head to the side by my hair, exposing the side of my neck.

Steam rose around us as he began to kiss me.

...