[Saying no to that invitation would require a thousandfold more willpower than he has in this moment. His lips turn toward hers, careful at least that his sharp hair doesn't brush her face as he commits himself to another kiss and all the rushing warmth and nagging confusion that accompany it.]
[Where that first kiss had been almost urgent this one is slower, his mind attending not just to her physical safety but how he wants her to feel -- beautiful and wanted and incredible, because unbelievably she's made him feel just a little of those things too and he'd needed that tremendously.]
[His arms tighten by slow centimeters around her slender waist and it won't be him that pulls back this time; as long as she wants to continue, he'll do what he can to show her what she's done for him. And pretend that there's only one blonde woman on his mind, because Raven deserves that and so does he.]