It felt too good to be near him. Her mind against his, even these long nights... It wasn't the same as being in his arms. They'd only ever embraced a few times and it hadn't been like this, she realized, belatedly. And regretted the loss of that closeness when she had purposely pulled away to touch his face.

But her smile was too warm, too fond, to properly hide anything. Not from Kell, not today. Her fingers ghosted over his cheek, as if not believing he was real.

She tipped her head forward, impulse overtaking her. She kissed him just to one corner of his mouth, an arm around his shoulders to keep him close in an embrace.