"My turn," she whispered.
She took the sponge.
She washed my chest. She washed my shoulders. She paid special attention to my arms.
"Your turn to relax," she commanded softly.
We stood there under the water, washing each other, holding each other.
"You are beautiful," I whispered, pushing wet hair out of her eyes.
"You are biased," she smiled.
"I am correct," I insisted.
We finished washing. I turned off the water.
"Stay here," I said. "Don't move. It's cold out there."
I stepped out quickly, grabbing the large bath sheets from the warmer.
"Okay," I said, opening the door. "Come out."
She stepped out onto the mat.
I wrapped the towel around her instantly, cocooning her.
"Dry?" I asked.
"Getting there," she shivered.
I grabbed another towel.
"Sit," I said, pointing to the closed toilet lid.
She sat.
I stood behind her. I draped the towel over her wet head.
I began to dry her hair.
I rubbed gently. I squeezed the water out of the ends. I massaged her scalp through the terry cloth.
She closed her eyes, leaning back against my legs.
"That feels... nice," she murmured.
"I told you," I said. "Full service."
I dried her hair until it was just damp. I combed it out with my fingers.
She stood up. She took the towel from my hand.
"Sit," she commanded.
I sat.
She dried my hair. She was rougher than I was, more playful. She ruffled it up until I probably looked like a static shock victim.
"There," she said, pulling the towel away. "Handsome."
I looked in the mirror. My hair was sticking up in every direction.
"I look like a mad scientist," I noted.
"A handsome mad scientist," she corrected.
We stood there, wrapped in towels, skin damp and warm.
"Okay," I said. "Now comes the hard part."
"The hard part?"
"Getting dressed. It means covering all this up."
She laughed, poking my chest. "We cannot walk around naked, Aryan. Mrs. Higgins might look through the window."
"Mrs. Higgins needs a hobby," I grumbled.
We walked out of the bathroom and into my bedroom.
[Perspective: Wanda Maximoff]
The bedroom was bright with mid morning light.
Wanda clutched her towel tighter.
"I need to go to my room," she said. "To get clothes."
Aryan was standing by his dresser, pulling out boxers.
He paused. He turned to look at her.
"Wanda," he said.
"Yes?"
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why go to your room?"
He walked over to her. He took her hands.
"Look," he said. "We slept here two nights in a row. You have a toothbrush here. You have... me here."
He took a deep breath. He looked nervous.
"Why don't you just... move in?" he asked. "Officially. Into this room."
"Move in?" she repeated.
"Yeah. I mean, think about the logistics," he started, his voice picking up speed as he went into explanation mode. "It saves heating. We don't have to heat two rooms. It saves laundry… one hamper. It saves time walking across the hallway. It's... efficient."
She watched him ramble. He was making excuses. Silly excuses to cover up the fact that he just wanted her there.
She loved him for it.
"And," he added, looking down at his feet. "I sleep better when you're here."
Wanda squeezed his hands.
"I sleep better too," she whispered.
"So?" he looked up, hopeful. "Is that a yes? To the consolidation of assets?"
"Yes," she smiled. "It is a yes."
He grinned. It was a happy grin.
"Okay! Great. Awesome." He clapped his hands. "So, today's mission: The Great Migration. We move your clothes. We merge the closets."
"My clothes will take up a lot of space," she warned.
"I'll purge," he promised. "I'll throw away my old socks. I'll make room."
"Good," she said.
"But first," he said. "You need something to wear now."
"I will go get… "
"No," he stopped her. "I'll get it."
"You?"
"I'll be your personal shopper. You stay here. I'll bring the options."
He scooped her up again.
"Aryan!" she laughed. "I can walk!"
"Not today!" he declared. "Today is Princess Protocol."
He carried her to the bed and deposited her on the mattress.
"Stay," he commanded. "I will return with bounty."
He marched out of the room, towel wrapped around his waist, looking ridiculous and wonderful.
Wanda sat on the bed, hugging her knees. She looked around the room.
My room, she thought. Our room.
A few minutes later, Aryan returned. He was carrying a stack of clothes that was taller than his head.
"I wasn't sure what the vibe was," he panted, dumping the pile on the foot of the bed. "So I brought... everything."
Wanda laughed. "Everything?"
"Jeans. Leggings. That dress. And..." he pulled something from the bottom. "A few sweaters..."
She sorted through the pile.
"This," she decided, pulling out a pair of soft grey joggers and a fitted white t-shirt. "And... a cardigan."
"Comfort chic," he nodded approval. "Excellent choice."
She stood up. She dropped her towel.
She pulled on the joggers. She pulled on the t-shirt.
"Well?" she asked, doing a little spin. "Does it look good?"
"You look..." he whispered. "You look like the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."
"It is just sweatpants, Aryan," she teased softly.
"It's you," he said. "It's you in my room. Wearing my favorite color."
"White is your favorite color?"
"It is now."
She looked up at him. The love in his eyes was overwhelming.
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Is that so?" she whispered.
"That is so."
He leaned down.
He kissed her.
It was a passionate kiss that tasted of mint and promise.
She melted into him. She felt his hands on her waist, pulling her closer. She felt the beat of his heart against hers.
They stood there for a long time, lost in each other.
Finally, they broke apart, breathless.
"Lunch," Aryan gasped. "We need lunch. Before we faint."
"Yes," Wanda agreed, smoothing her hair. "Lunch."
"I'll help you," he said. "With the... buttons."
He reached for her cardigan. He helped her put it on. He buttoned it up, his fingers lingering on each button.
"There," he said. "Dressed."
"Now you," she said.
She went to his dresser. She pulled out a fresh t-shirt and boxers.
"Here," she said.
He took them. He dropped his towel.
Wanda watched him dress.
He pulled on the boxers. He pulled on the shirt.
"Enjoying the view?" he teased, catching her staring.
"Very much," she admitted shamelessly.
He laughed, grabbing her hand.
"Come on," he said. "Let's go feed the machine."
PS: There are 30+ Advance chapters available on the Patreon for those who want to read ahead. www.patreon. com/Drrajnovel