"There's a compliment if ever I heard one," he laughed. As her fingers crept up his side he shifted his arms, wrapping them both around her, hands on her back. There was a lot to be said for having another, warm, presence in the bed on cold nights like this one.
He might have felt it, and she might have known he did, but he doubted he could say it with her looking up at him so expectantly. Sliding a hand up to her hair once more he coaxed her to lay her head back down. Eyes on the wall in front of him, he was able to muster some courage, as ridiculous as it was that it took that. "Yeah," he finally answered her. Was his voice really that hoarse? "I know you already know. But I love you, Heather."