The call ended.
Ruvon took the mug of coffee he had not drunk yet and headed back to the bedroom.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he put his hand on Arezoo's forehead again and registered no change. If anything, it had gone a fraction higher.
"Sweetheart," he said softly.
She didn't respond.
"Arezoo."
A small movement. The barest twitch of her eyelashes.
"Mm."
"Doctor Julian is coming. He'll be here in a few minutes."
"Mm."
She turned on her side, and as the duvet shifted, revealing a shapely backside, he was reminded that she was naked under there, and realized that he should put some clothes on her before Julian arrived.
Arezoo would be embarrassed. Even half-conscious and feverish, she wouldn't want to be examined by a male while she was completely naked. Especially given her history.
Ruvon stood and went to the closet.
He pulled out the things he thought she would have chosen to wear herself. A pair of gray cotton pants and a loose long-sleeved T-shirt that she liked to wear around the house while lounging in front of the television. He found her underwear in the second drawer and chose a plain pair of white panties and a matching white bra. It was the kind that did not fasten with a hook.
He carried the clothes back to the bed and sat on the edge.
"Sweetheart."
"Mm."
"I am going to put some clothes on you. Doctor Julian is coming."
"Mm."
"You will be embarrassed if he sees you like this."
"Mm."
He wasn't sure she was registering anything he was saying.
He drew the duvet down to her waist, but the loss of the warm blanket did not even produce the small reflexive shiver of a sleeping body losing its covering. He noted this as something he needed to tell Julian.
He worked the bra around her with as much care as he could muster, but it was not a graceful operation. She was limp in his hands, and he had no experience dressing a woman, responsive or otherwise.
He apologized softly each time he had to move her.
She murmured something that sounded distinctly likeazizam, which was a Farsi endearment he did know.
"Yes, my love. I am here. I am sorry. I am almost done."
"Mm."
He got the bra on.
He pulled the T-shirt down over her head, carefully working her arms through the sleeves. He paused twice to apologize for jostling her. He paused once to readjust her hair, which had become tangled in the collar.
