"People like you," Krem said, contemplatively, and then dug a knuckle gently into Thomas's ribs for the self-deprecation. He wasn't going to deal with it right now. He could agree with all the rest of that--Darrow was strange, and things like this were new and strange--but he wouldn't listen to Thomas act like he didn't deserve as much kindness and gentleness as anyone else here, if not more of it.

He leaned up again and bumped a soft kiss against Thomas's neck, his chin, each cheek. It was easy to fall into showering him in affection, even if Thomas didn't think he was worth it.