Her protest melted away when he gathered her up against him. This was so much better; this was what she really wanted. For how long? She realized she'd wanted just exactly this for a while -- she just didn't have the language or understanding to tell him, until now.
Some of the desperation left her, too. She felt safe, and she felt cared for. She wasn't afraid that he'd leave her without kissing her well enough to get the aching out of her. Already, she felt more settled.
This kissing thing... She'd thought it was a simple affair. It wasn't. And so, with the curiosity that marked her, she pursued learning as much about it as she could. And she was a very quick learner indeed.