Padraig felt like the air left him when she said she wouldn't have sex with him. He may have even whimpered, just a little bit. But she kept talking and he understood. Of course he did.
"No," he said softly, "no, that's- I couldn't do that to you. I waited until I was sure." He glanced at the bottle, but ignored it, raising his eyes to meet hers again. "I remember the look on your face the day you saw my back. When you realised why-" he grimaced and shook his head, "I never want to cause you pain like that again. And I know if I jumped the gun and did this and regretted it, it would hurt you. I can't. I won't. I'm sure."