The ploy is effective, to no one's surprise, because Lambert has the humor of a teenager. He shakes as he laughs and doesn't bother to hide it, because that's no doubt the intended effect, but when that dies down he turns his head to bring his mouth against Childermass's ear, feigning disappointment.

"You really think I'm that easy?" They both know he is, in fact, exactly that easy, and it's not like Lambert didn't enjoy hearing that, if the way his tail squeezes around Childermass is any indication. Right now, though, it suits him just fine to keep playing at being hard to get.

"You'll have to try harder than that if you want me to give up my virtue," he says, primly.