Swiftcurrent Creek you aren't the kind of boy who should be marrying the wrong girl

How unfortunate for you, was his glib reply, and yet so very fortunate for him. Her breath brushed against his whiskers—idly, he wondered if he licked his lips, would he taste her there…

… and so another smile curled to his lips. He would do this the proper way—if that was where this was going—and took a sidestep, cheek just barely grazing to her ears before he gave a rumbling croon. Guess we can start preparations now, he offered, amusement pulling at his tones. Screw chivalry and all that… But we’d best move on to something, or else I’m going to try to steal a kiss from you, Eshe. 

He wanted to give her space to consider it—to remember that not only did he come with a ton of emotional baggage that she hadn’t even heard of, but three small kids to boot.