Lips on her neck and arms round her body, Thandi laughs as Charlie covers her in kisses.

“You scoundrel!”

She could feel his breath on her as he laughs. “Yes, and?”

“You’re rather affectionate today, aren’t you?”

“Hmm.” He sways her side to side as he always does, eyes closed as he contemplates. “Of course I am.”

The two of them twine fingers and sway quietly. They’re on watch together, and this is how they keep awake. It fills them both with a buzzing sort of energy, makes it hard to sleep, and now it’s just routine to be close like this.

“Of course you are.” Thandi wiggles out of his grip and turns to face him. His smirk plays across his face, and she can’t help it. She reaches out and strokes his cheek, enjoying the hum he makes when she touches him. “You’re darling.”

“You’re dear,” he mumbles back as he opens his arms for her. She steps into his embrace again and they dance a little, laughing at the absurdity of it. He holds her close, and she hugs him closer. “I like you so much.”

“I like you!”

His lips press to her cheek and she feels his hair tickle her as he nuzzles her. Being a panther sometimes certainly added to his library of touching; sometimes she was surprised the man himself couldn’t purr, with all the humming he does at her.

Again, lips on her neck and it’s back to work keeping each other awake.