"What in the world are you doing?" Asha asked, looking at Xarakas as if he'd grown a second head as he slipped into the bath without bothering to undress.
If he'd turned and headed right back out the passage he'd used to get here, that would've made sense. Or said something. Anything, really. But instead, he just approached her, surprising her with his kiss, then making her stomach twist up in knots when he finally did speak.
Wastes, everything about this, him, spelled trouble. But…
"You're sure?" she finally asked softly, draping her arms loosely around his neck, though after a moment, a faint smile appeared.
"You must be, because that's the first time you've ever actually used my name."
Despite the teasing words, hearing him say her name actually made her a little less nervous about everything. He'd always been so adamant about calling her Princess that some part of her had been sure he just saw her as her title.
"It's just water," Xarakas assured her quietly as they kissed, gently resting his forehead against hers when they finally parted, offering her a faint smile as she asked if he were sure. "As sure as I can be, Princess," he teased softly, making a point of using her title as she pointed out he'd used her name instead.
"I haven't had much control over my life, and for once I'd like to have some... That doesn't mean things won't be difficult, for the both of us, but I'm cautiously optimistic," he explained, looking at her with a devious smile before he proceeded to pull her into the bath with him.
"Which you could've walked around, instead of getting your clothes wet," Asha pointed out distractedly, finding herself smiling and rolling her eyes playfully at his teasing. "I'm not sure you could've made a worse choice if control is what you're looking for… but I—"
Asha was cut off with a surprised squeak as Xarakas suddenly pulled her into the bath with him. "You ass!" she sputtered in what was clearly mock outrage as she surfaced, splashing water towards him before attempting to push her hair back out of her face, laughing as she added, "This isn't a swimming pool or a clothes washbasin, you know. You're supposed to take your clothes off before you get in and use the water to get your body clean."
"This was faster," Xarakas argued with a little smile, glad to see her smiling, although as he pulled her into the water and she called him an ass he couldn't help but laugh, even as she splashed him.
"Well, perhaps I wanted the chance to wash my clothes while I was here too?" he teased, peeling his pants off before discarding his shirt as well, wringing out as much water as he could before setting them at the edge of the tub to begin to dry.
"I'm not sure I'd call this washing them, but they'll certainly smell nicer," Asha laughed, stripping out of her clothes as well and laying them on the edge of the tub, though she didn't bother attempting to wring them out.
She wouldn't be putting them back on, but even if that had been the plan, drying clothes was quick and easy thank to the power she'd inherited from her father.
Once naked, she made her way over to where she'd laid out washcloths and soap for them. "Come here," she beckoned, already soaping up her hands."Fair, but since I don't have an endless supply of clothes and servants to do my washing, I usually quick wash my clothes every few days to stretch out their use a bit longer between wash days," Xarakas chuckled, giving her a look as she beckoned him over to where she'd set up everything they'd need for a bath.
"Shouldn't I be the one offering to help you wash, Princess?" he teased as he approached.