"I wasn't getting ideas," he snapped, clearly revealing that he was trying. Finishing off his shot, he poured another. "Yes, but it's her choice in the end. And I would hate to overwhelm or force her hand in any way." He frowned. "It's difficult to tell when people are being honest and when they are merely being polite to spare another person's feelings. I would be hurt most if she were merely telling me that she retained interest out of guilt or desire to be kind."
The thought of an instruction manual was actually a good one. "Perhaps it's a bit too intense," he said, almost smiling. "Each woman would only be allotted a certain amount of mystique. Otherwise, they become impenetrable."