He replaced his thumb with his lips, pulling me into an embrace that made me sigh with happiness. ‘‘Do not fret about that, Mayling. I am not so careless that I would allow a demon lord to gain an upper hand with me. And do not despair that we will fail to find a way to free you from this bondage. I’ve been concerned with getting the phylactery and finding Maata and Tipene, but once the phylactery is in my possession, I will put the full powers of the sept at your disposal. We will free you from Magoth.’’

I leaned into him, kissing his neck as guilt pricked at me for deliberately misleading him. ‘‘I just want tonight to be over.’’

‘‘It shall be soon enough.’’ He glanced at his watch. ‘‘Savian recommended we not begin until deep night starts, when the powers of any beings guarding the vaults will be at their lowest. That gives us three hours.’’

The last sentence was spoken with his hands squeezing my behind as he rubbed suggestively against me. My body responded immediately, my breasts becoming brazen little hussies who wanted immediate access to his hands and mouth. I tugged his shirt out of his black jeans, sliding my hands up his ribs. His skin was warm, like satin over steel. ‘‘Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?’’

His smile was pure sin. ‘‘Three hours should be sufficient time to give you pleasure several times over.’’

I glanced at the house. ‘‘What about Maata and Tipene?’’

‘‘They are eating and preparing themselves for the event to come. You will have all of my attention, Mayling.’’ His smile got a whole lot more wicked. ‘‘And this time, I intend things to go differently. I will give you much pleasure before I even think of taking my own.’’

‘‘Oooh, that sounds promising,’’ I murmured, unbuttoning his shirt. ‘‘Foreplay at long last.’’

He allowed me to remove his shirt before pulling off my leather bodice, his hands immediately cupping my camisole-clad breasts. I leaned into him, breathing deeply of the delicious scent that seemed to cling to his skin. ‘‘Shall I tell you what I will do to you?’’ he murmured, his lips busily nibbling on my ear as he peeled my shirt off.

‘‘Oh, please, yes,’’ I said breathlessly as his fingers slipped the front hook of my bra open, revealing my eager breasts.

‘‘First I shall torment these lovely, plump morsels of delight. I shall taste their silky smoothness, suckling the delectable rosy tips until you scream with pleasure.’’ He traced lazy patterns on the underside, making me shiver as he circled my breasts, avoiding my sensitive nipples until I couldn’t stand it any longer, and bit his shoulder.