He liked to... loosen his grip sometimes.

After everything you've been through together, he's still insanely preoccupied with you. Even being close to Lucy, he sometimes put you in her place. Who's going to stop him from thinking his own thoughts in his own head?

But there was something soothing about kneeling in front of you, his hands holding your waist and his lips kissing your hands that stroked his cheek.

Was love there? Probably yes. Somewhat diluted in all that madness and power.