Their group was the only people who ever did show him any respect -- and he wasn't gonna pretend it wasn't at least somewhat in part because he was a good hunter, a good fighter. That was just fine though. He was useful and that's what he wanted to be when it came to all of them.

Brace himself.

Like there was a fucking way to brace himself against what she did next. He stayed still for a moment when her lips pressed against his, not sure if he should respond at first. It ain't like it was bad or that he hadn't thought about it... but thinking and doing were two different things and he wasn't sure this was really okay.