Howard tenses up a little at the touch, then puts his free hand over Cedric's. It's a hard thing, touch. It's easier to reach out and touch than accent that someone can touch you. Howard likes to have control over that part of his personal sphere, and probably would have either frozen up entirely or flailed about and smacked Cedric in the face if Cedric had tried to surprise-cuddle.

He lifts his eyes and makes eye contact. A little smile starts to creep over his face. "Yeah? I mean, um. I didn't mind it either. It was kind of nice."

He pauses. "And warm. Is your face like a space heater or something?"