No, he won't.

But his eyes harden and his fingers curl at her waist. "I'll deal."

It doesn't mean he pulls away from her kiss, though. It means he returns it with equal aggression, his hand at her back and tugging her in close, making that kiss hard. And when they break, his brow rests against hers and he sighs.

Cynical boy, he knows for a fact that love doesn't conquer all.

But all he does is murmur, "It doesn't always work that way," and pet her back above her clothes.