That makes him laugh a little; he's both relieved and saddened when she moves away. "I'm going easy on you because you're my friend and I have the utmost respect for you, and I don't want to take advantage of you. And I could, right now, just like I could have on Callisto, but I didn't do it then and I won't do it now."

Part of it is, laughably enough, that he has high moral standards. The other part is this: he really doesn't want to give Faye any cause to be angry with him. They're best friends -- or at least she's his best friend -- and he knows how that can get messy if other things are added to the mix.

"And I know you're tougher than you look, but still, Sleeping Beauty. I'm not a bad person." His smile is only a little bit tinged with regret. "But I will say this: that was nice. Thank you."