‘‘She’s not interested any more than I am,’’ I said, coming to Sally’s rescue. I would have added a frown at Magoth for lounging around on my bed, but the mask was now so tight that it prohibited movement . . . not to mention the fact that Magoth wasn’t in the least concerned with whether I frowned at his actions. ‘‘Did you want something in particular?’’

‘‘If I said you, would you hold it against me?’’ he asked with a waggle of his eyebrows. ‘‘And by it, I mean your delectable self. Naked? And dabbed with just a light touch of that edible jasmine oil I had made for you?’’

I crossed my arms over my chest. ‘‘Take a look at my face, Magoth. What do you see?’’

‘‘I see a woman who is trying desperately to make herself beautiful for me, and yet I already find you attractive. Did you want me to bed you wearing the facial mask? It’s rather kinky, although not nearly so kinky as having you slathered in pig’s grease and bound to that delightful little device I showed you in my playroom—’’

I held back a shudder. ‘‘Your playroom could double as a torture museum, not that I’m going to enter it again.’’

‘‘But, my sweetest of all sweet Mays, I assure you that a little tingle of electricity in clamps placed on well-oiled nipples can be stimulating in ways—’’

‘‘Will you stop?’’ I interrupted in a loud voice, not wanting to get him wound up again. ‘‘I am not going to sleep with you. Not now, not ever, and certainly not when there are pig’s grease and nipple clamps around.’’

Sally sucked in another startled breath, no doubt in response to the manner in which I had addressed Magoth. ‘‘May, my dear, you must take a smidgen of advice from one who is wiser and very, very slightly older: An attitude of respect, tinged with a tiny little morsel of humility, can go a long way when dealing with those in authority.’’

Magoth laughed, and rose from the bed, waving a hand that had his clothing melting right off his body. ‘‘Perhaps you just need to be reminded of what it is you are so callously and ignorantly spurning, my queen?’’

‘‘I’m not your queen,’’ I said evenly, holding back my temper.

‘‘Oh, my!’’ Sally’s eyes just about bugged out as she took in Magoth in all his glory. ‘‘You’re . . . er . . . aroused.’’

He leered at her as I said, ‘‘He’s always aroused.’’

‘‘My sweet one speaks the truth,’’ he said, glancing down with pride at his penis. ‘‘I have incredible sexual prowess and can give pleasure for hours on end.’’

‘‘Hours?’’ Sally asked, sounding a little breathless. Her eyes went a bit misty as she gave him a very thorough visual once-over.

‘‘His idea of pleasure isn’t the same as yours and mine,’’ I said softly, leaning in toward her.