"Puppy eyes!?" he explained with feigned hurt. "There's not one thing about me that's like a puppy! I was trying my hand at kitten eyes, but apparently that doesn't work either," he resigned with a sigh and smile. On one hand it was nice to hear her speak of such things like she was, but on the other it was concerning for him, in his arrogance and childishness, to think about the idea of his partner possibly becoming better than him. No, that just wouldn't do. Not yet, at least. In his eyes he was the king, and quite used to that idea and didn't really want to change anything about that particular ideal.
"Believe me, love, I would love nothing more than to fill your life with happiness and fulfillment, but I think it would be unfair to say you have "catching up" to do," Caden tried to explain. "Your life has been different from my own. There are things I could say the exact same thing about for myself, but these things take time. I won't argue, though, that that is my job from now on. In any way you need."
His smile now had grown warm and affectionate as he thought of what he hoped their lives would hold for them someday. Petting her hair, his attention was drawn to the hearth again. "You know... If you really want to try I wouldn't mind watching the fire. If it's small. It has to be, I don't want you getting hurt or burning the house down. Or the bed."