Somewhat sheepishly, he laughs as he reaches to pluck a few more from her skin in an effort to 'help' remove them.

"Perhaps they have interpreted our bond a bit more...vigorously...than other parts of my being," he suggests.

(If this had even happened a few weeks ago, he would be apologizing here before her for making a 'mess'. But now...he does not even really consider it, and can even laugh as he 'cleans'.)