Fondle

If you leave, I'll tell all the world you fondle me while I sleep.

Everyone knows that by far the happiest and universally enjoyable age of man is the first. What is there about babies which makes us hug and kiss and fondle them, so that even an enemy would give them help at that age?

Mothers fondle their babies.

idly fondling the cat's ears

The lovers fondled each other.

I gave the sleeping dog's ears a fondle as I walked past.