//I will,// he promised, lifting a hand and running his fingers over her cheek. //I'll try not to worry you too much, luv. Shouldn't be too difficult. I'm a force to be reckoned with, after all.//

Yes, he did make a point to make absolutely certain that the ones up front couldn't hear that. He didn't need the teasing, later.

He leaned forward, just slightly. Tentatively. And then decided to hell with it and pulled her into his arms. No blistering heat, no all-swallowing flames. Just his arms around her and what was left of his cheek pressing against hers, and a hollow, unnatural sort of warmth between them otherwise.