With an expression on his face than might have been mistaken for acute pain - if Deacon hadn't known it was nothing of the kind - Charlie bit his lower lip and the muscles in his arms tensed as he locked his fingers together.
He moved under Deacon, his eyes fixed on his face, and let go of his pinched and reddened lip to whisper, "I love you" again.
Here, where it was safe, it couldn't be said often enough.