He can feel Ashley relax a bit under the kiss even as Arkady tenses and this is going to be a delicate little game, he thinks, though the prize is worth the effort put into winning. Once he feels Ashley move his hands to his hips, he pushes up a little, leans forward from the touch up. It's a bit of a stretch and Arkady has to meet him halfway, but he can switch to kissing him instead, soothingly.