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When they crossed the black river, Thorin was grateful for Bilbo's sharp eyesight and for Fili retrieving the boat. However, he was cursing himself when Bilbo asked who would go first, because the dwarf, without thinking, replied something along the lines of "you and I", which he then had to quickly cover up by naming two others to come with them. Thorin had been trying to push aside his unreasonable desire to keep Bilbo close so he could protect him, but in that moment a thoughtless comment had undone all his hard work. He simply prayed to the gods that no-one had noticed.
Anyone who would have accused Thorin of breathing a sigh of relief when the hobbit had safely disembarked from the boat would have been ridiculed for suggesting such a thing, though it is likely that Thorin would have blushed guiltily while denying it.
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A few nights later, while Bombur was still dead to the world, the company made camp on the path.
Thorin took the first watch, and the other dwarves quickly dropped off to sleep. Bilbo, however, sat with his back to a tree, thinking, and was startled when Thorin suddenly sat down next to him.
"You should sleep." Thorin said, gruffly.
"I'm thinking." Bilbo looked up, and his eyes met Thorin's. They were blue and piercing, looking straight through the hobbit and making him feel like Thorin could see his very thoughts.
The dwarf slowly leant forward, not breaking eye contact, and Bilbo shivered in anticipation. He could see a worn, handsome face underneath the beard, which roughly tickled his skin before Thorin's lips touched his own.
The kiss was gentle (very gentle, for a dwarf, thought Bilbo) and tentative, a mere brush of lips, before Thorin pulled back. His expression was unfamiliar; it was one of uncertainty and insecurity, as he searched the hobbit's face for some reassurance. Bilbo Baggins smiled, before surprising the dwarf king by leaning forward and rubbing noses with him. Thorin's expression was, of course, one of shock.
"I think I'll sleep now." Bilbo smiled.
Thorin smiled in response and opened his coat for Bilbo to share the warmth. The small hobbit tucked himself in gratefully, and soon fell asleep.
Thorin stayed awake, watching and listening (though sometimes he was watching Bilbo rather than the eyes surrounding their camp) until he woke Dwalin to take his turn as watchman. Then, he proceeded to fall asleep, his head leant back against the tree, and his arm around Bilbo.
It was a long time after before they could do anything like that again, for the next day Bombur woke, and there followed the debacle of the spiders and the wood elves.