Compared to the last time they spent together by a fire pit, Harker and Joan barely exchanged any words with each other.
But it didn't feel awkward. In fact, to Harker, it felt rather comforting.
Just being in the presence of each other, not needing to break the silence with empty words. Eventually, exhaustion had come to Joan and she prepared her bedding. Harker watched her calm movements and the neutral expression in her face as she did it.
He tested the waters and moved closer. She did not make any abrupt reactions. So far, so good.
But she never gave permission to sleep beside each other yet either.
Harker thought maybe it wasn't clear to her what it meant. Sleeping by her side could have meant just sleeping inside the cave. Sleeping by her side could be sleeping 1 meter apart. But what he meant by that was of course….
To sleep right next to each other, skin to skin.
