Again the butterflies returned as Madison's hands went to his shoulders. Something that Arc was particularly happy about with them were the surprises and the anticipation and the curiosity. It was all new territory and he didn't know what to expect really, but every drop of affection she showed him feed the seed of love inside him. It was like watching a thunderstorm inside a glass jar on the mantle, a tumultuous surge of activity inside, but beautiful and serene to watch from the outside. Madison lit a fire inside the young man that burned so intensely he wondered if it would eventually consume him, or if he would even mind if it did. Arc met her with his lips slightly parted, inhaling deeply before touching.<br/><br/>The way she kissed him opened his mind to a world previously unexplored. There was so much feeling and meaning behind it. The way he had seen lovers kiss in the past, he thought that was how all people kissed their loved ones. But Madison showed him that something as simple as a kiss could convey a mountain's worth of feelings in half a second. The groping and moaning that he'd witnessed were not required, a fact for which Arc was grateful. He wasn't an experienced kisser, but he tried to cover his inexperience by letting her set the pace and following along. He didn't know what to do with his hands, but eventually flattened his palms against her back, careful not to apply any pressure, so as not to make her feel trapped.<br/><br/>When the kiss was broken, he looked into her eyes, listening to her teasing and smiled. "You don't have to prove anything to me, Madison. But I will never turn you down for a kiss." Arc chuckled, hoping that the small joke would be well received. "And yes, there is food, and it should be just about ready now." Arc turned back toward the bubbling pot and, after wrapping his hands in thick cloth, pulled the pot off the fire where it could be properly inspected. "Can you grab a couple of bowls? They're just in that compartment there."