Chapter 17

‘No!’ he thundered, dragging his lips away from hers. ‘I will not do this!’

Her body screaming out its protest, Pamela looked up at him in confusion. ‘Will not do what?’

‘I will not rob you of your innocence!’

She stared at him, still not understanding. ‘Why not?’

‘Are you crazy? Because a woman’s purity is her greatest gift. And it’s a one-off—you don’t get to use it again. So save it for a man who will give you more than I ever can, Pamela. Don’t throw it away on someone like me.’

For a moment he cupped her chin between his palms, looking down at her with a regret which only compounded her intense feeling of rejection. She jerked her face away—as if to allow him continued contact might in some way contaminate her.

‘Then w-would you mind moving away from me and letting me get up?’ she said, trembling hurt distorting her words.

‘I can try.’ With a grimace, he rose to his feet, the heavy throb at his groin making movement both difficult and uncomfortable.

Despite the scene he now rathe