Severus clenched his jaw slightly at Bellatrix's laugh and at the teasing, almost amused remark. And the look she was giving him: it was as if she was attempting to goad him.

"Would you now?" he replied, being careful to not appear too interested. He pulled his wand away from her neck and casually leaned back to place it back on the side table.

"Is that why you're in no hurry to leave?" he asked when he faced back to her. "Because you want me to strangle you?" Though he'd just removed evidence of having had his hands around her neck, he quickly dashed his hand up to snatch her throat; his thumb pressing into the underside of her chin and his fingers biting into the side of her jaw just below her ear.

"Until last night, I never pegged you for a masochist," he quietly observed, studying her eyes and her face. "Does Rodolphus know how much of a slattern for pain you are?"