[ She runs her thumbs over his cheeks and he tilts his head towards one of her palms, eyes shutting briefly at the warmth. He'd been hesitant the first few times she'd done this but he's adjusted. Mostly. There's still a vague discomfort under his skin but he finds he can ignore it more easily. ]

Yes. If that's too much, I can find a hotel.

[ The kiss to the corner of his mouth is reassuring but the nerves are starting to show. So much he should've planned and asked before coming here. Anika and Jes and even Nina had reassured him it would be fine and that he was over thinking it.

But what if he wasn't? ]

As long as my work is turned in, they don't care. The higher ups have been considering courting a firm over here to partner with, sounds like.

[ He'll be a test run on how the timezones affect everything. Even without that though, his boss had been enormously enthusiastic. Moreso than he thought he'd be.

Somehow, he has a feeling Anika must've said something. ]