Buggered if I know, I'm just following the rest of the sheep ...................... hope there's no cliffs ahead !
My dear, whatever circles do you tootle about in? Does one not find "sweetikins", "cutie-chops" or "your loveliness" more customary? Though with its connotations of bestial copulation, one supposes "mate" must be allowed a certain rugged ambivalence that might charm some.