It didn't take long for the tears to subside, and the shaking soon after, still holding Charles close, nodding at the reassurances until he managed to get his voice back, "I love you too, Charles, more than I can say."

Another deep breath followed, less shuddering than it had been, turning to press his face into the crook of Charles' neck again, finally beginning to settle again, letting one hand roam down Charles' side, kneading at his hip, drawing his head up to actually see Charles' face as his fingers roamed a little lower, "I can't hope to manage what you've just done." He had some trouble with it even as a ghost, too many memories of being gagged and unable to speak, and was reasonably sure it would be worse now, "But I should quite like to see what sort of reactions I can wring from you otherwise, if you're amenable."