Undeterred, he took the act still further. Pitching half to the side, Louis didn't get any closer, but he did make a show of displaying his throat and reached out with a foreleg to paw the air near her porcupined-fur.

The quiver of his tail reduced only ever so slightly, still strewn behind him. Still he grumbled with a fearless kind of playfulness, licking his lip and then yipping again. He knew she wasn't heartless. He didn't really expect to be hurt.

Even if he'd misjudged and she bit him, he'd certainly have a story to tell from it all. But he'd much rather see her smile.

There was a moment, however brief, where Louis was forced to guess whether her lunge was in earnest. But her bite was controlled, it sought no blood. No sharp fling of her jaw followed to tear fur.

She chose to play.

The knot in his chest loosened like dandelion seeds set to wind, and Louis spun his head, twisted foot and chest, but never righted himself as she circled him. Even in the narrow space, his retaliatory nips always seemed just a little too slow to actually catch her, but every now and then a paw would clip her as she darted. 

There was a special kind of thrill in the submission that followed, in letting her close to somewhere vulnerable. Licking his lips, the thought occurred to him that this was rather more exciting than kissing.

Tilting his head, he gave her a sharp, affectionate nudge with his snout and finally pitched forward, righting himself enough to aim a gentle nip at the ragged fur of her cheek. He laughed. His tail, a ceaseless indicator of his excitement, continued its rampant pace across the dirt.

He felt young and fearless, and both all the stronger in her company.

Her joy was a balm, and Louis giggled back, a mess of pitched whines and yips. Until he was well and truly out of breath, and forced to flop to the ground, tongue lolling over a forearm outstretched, hot in spite of the weather. If she pounced again, he'd admit defeat gladly.

"You're beautiful." He said, full of conviction and still wearing that bright, cheerful gaze.

((Sorry replies have been SO slow lately Dx Health hasn't been good
Heat rising to his cheeks, Louis blinked, grinning stupidly for a moment as heat spiraled out from where she'd placed her affection.

Different. She called him. Well, that was no insult! "And proud to be." He acclaimed with another hum, big ears swiveling forward eagerly. "If it wins me your favor. Or even your smile." The words might've seemed childishly adulating, but he spoke them with conviction nonetheless.

No, Louis did not seem to find them silly, and it was with earnestness that he rolled again onto his belly and waved a paw at her, inviting her to close the space again if it pleased her to do so. Whatever closeness, at whatever pace she desired, he was quite certain he wanted it, too.