"Damn."
He let go of her and lunged for the tap.
He hit it so hard that he probably damaged it and slapped the drain lever. Water gurgled angrily. The level inside the tub dropped slowly, and the puddle on the floor stopped expanding. There was perhaps a centimeter of standing water around the base of the tub now, soaking the edge of the bathmat and creeping toward the door.
Behind him, Arezoo emitted a small, choked sound of laughter, and then broke loose into full giggles, the helpless kind that happened when she was already strung tight and got pushed past the point where holding still was possible. She was bent forward with one hand pressed to her stomach and the other braced against the vanity, and her shoulders were shaking, and Ruvon, who was standing in the puddle in his tuxedo trousers, started laughing too.
"I drew you a bath," he said, gesturing at the disaster. "Welcome home."
"It's a flood."
"I guess I over-delivered."
She wiped her eyes with the back of her wrist. "Yes, you did."
She shook her head, pushed off the vanity, and walked over to him.
Suddenly, Ruvon had trouble drawing in a breath again.
Arezoo stopped in front of him, looked at the tub, then the puddle on the floor, then looked up at him.
"Is the water still warm?" she asked.
Her hair had come loose from the elaborate wedding style, and the dark waves framed her face, cascading down over the white lace of her bra.
"I don't see why not." He bent and tested it with his hand. "It's good." He plugged the drain.
"Wonderful. I can't wait to soak in it."
She reached behind her back and undid the clasp of her bra with a quick, economical movement. As the straps slipped down her shoulders, she caught the bra with her free hand and set it on the vanity counter.
He was trying to remember how to breathe when she hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her panties, slid them off in a single motion, and stepped out of them.
While Ruvon was still crouched next to the tub, too dumbfounded to move, Arezoo straightened, gathered her hair up in both hands, and twisted it into a knot on top of her head, securing the end into the knot she'd made.
His brain had registered that his bride had just removed all her clothing in his bathroom, and his lungs were screaming for oxygen he'd forgotten how to draw.
She was?—
He didn't have words, even though he spoke five languages.
None of them was available to him in this moment.
She smiled at him, a little shyly, but without fear or hesitation in her eyes.
"Help me into the tub? I don't want to slip on the puddle."
He didn't remember deciding to move, but he was on his feet in an instant, reaching for her hand and steadying her as she stepped over the rim of the tub into the water.
Arezoo lowered herself slowly, probably because the water was still slightly too hot for her, but when her shoulders went under, she tipped her chin up and closed her eyes. The long sigh she emitted was followed by a total relaxation of her muscles and a small smile curving her lips.
"This feels so good," she murmured.
Ruvon stood beside the tub, not sure what he was supposed to do next.
She opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Will you wash me? I'm too tired to lift a finger."
He swallowed, and without the ability to make sounds, all he could do was nod.
