‘It’s just the onion,’ Jude sobbed, knowing frustration was as much to blame.

Ash didn’t seem to be listening anyway.

The weekend was turning out far less dirty than Jude had hoped. Ash’s appetite had never exactly been voracious, but when a ‘special’ anniversary trip to a cabin in the middle of nowhere was suggested, it felt like an open goal… or hole. There wasn’t even a TV. But Ash had somehow managed to show even less interest in getting down to it than usual.

Jude tried everything.

Running fingers up Ash’s thigh on the drive over elicited only an uncomfortable cough and hand-hold that ended abruptly at the next gear change.

Lying invitingly on the bed when they arrived had prompted an impatient, ‘Why don’t you make coffee while I put things away?’ The following squabble was about the hassle of boiling water without electricity. The tepid mugs of mud eventually served said something else.

After a platonic first night, which Ash had irritatingly called romantic several times, Jude was determined to make the most of trekking in the woods. While Ash’s outfit suggested they might somehow stumble across a cute little café, Jude opted for nothing but a jumpsuit. At the hilltop lookout, while Ash rummaged clumsily in the bag, Jude deftly released buttons until the one-piece fell to the floor.

There’d been a moment of optimism when the nakedness prompted an intake of breath, but it dissolved as the air was released in nothing more than a nervous giggle. Re-dressing in the wild is rarely dignified, but while two people doing it hurriedly can be a thrill, one party dragging clothing over themselves while the other checks a map is humbling at best.

Jude hadn’t expected the suggestion of skinny-dipping on the way back to be met with enthusiasm. But the furtive ‘you go, I’ll watch the bags’ response was the opposite of sexy.

‘I’m going for a bath while this cooks,’ Jude announced, throwing carrots into the stew.

Ash stayed focused on stacking firewood over the kindling.

‘Join me if you want,’ Jude mumbled, barely audible over the simmering pot.

The free-standing tub shared the same space as the fireplace and the hob. While it filled, Jude stripped in a style as spiteful as it was seductive. The splash on entry was intended to attract Ash’s attention, even if it came as a scolding for the mess. It didn’t work.

Light flickered across the book in Ash’s lap. By the time it reached Jude, it was shadow.

Flushed by the heat, Jude brushed fingers across flesh, letting a resigned thought bubble up.

If you want something doing… do it yourself.

A shallow groan formed one final invitation. Ash remained unmoved.

Jude stood, stepped from the bath, and moved wordlessly to the bedroom.

When the door clicked shut, Ash sighed and removed the ring from the place it lingered, beside the words ‘because my equal is here’ in a first edition of Jude’s favourite book.

‘Maybe tomorrow.’