Marken felt her soft skin in his hand, and he instinctively wrapped his fingers around her own, enjoying the feeling of her hand in his own. His face turned red for the briefest of moments when he realized what he had done, allowing her hand to slip out of his. He felt larger compared to her, more assertive. But, considering her reactions, he also felt a need to be protective.

"My first kiss wasn't exactly my choice. Call it a surprise birthday present." He remembered some random nobleman's daughter kissing him, he'd been shocked, everyone had been. He didn't see much more of her later, she seemed to avoid him from then on, and now Marken simply didn't see her at all. "I did like you, three days ago, before you threatened my life and tried to steal from my family..." At this point, his tone held no accusing words, just simple truth.

Suddenly, her face was buried in his chest. Without thinking, Marken pulled his arms around her, in what he guessed was his attempt at a comforting embrace. "It'll be fine..." He honestly didn't know what else to do, so instead he just held her to him until she wanted to pull herself away.