It wasn't what you said, it was how. I saw it, don't tell me I didn't.
[The more she denied it the more frustrated he got, and the more tightly he latched onto his convictions. It wasn't about the act itself anymore, or not entirely, it was about being right, and the result was little more than a grown man's equivalent of a tantrum. He didn't advance further (fortunately), but that was probably only because he knew she'd take off if he did and then he'd never win this.]
Spam!
[The more she denied it the more frustrated he got, and the more tightly he latched onto his convictions. It wasn't about the act itself anymore, or not entirely, it was about being right, and the result was little more than a grown man's equivalent of a tantrum. He didn't advance further (fortunately), but that was probably only because he knew she'd take off if he did and then he'd never win this.]