Her Rules

It started with a look. Not one of those smoldering, soul-piercing glances you read about. No, this was different. A quick flick of her eyes, a tilt of her head--like she knew something I didn't.

She was stretched out on the couch, her legs tucked under her. She'd taken over my hoodie again, the sleeves bunched up around her wrists.

"You're staring," she said without looking away from the TV.

"You're in my hoodie," I shot back.

She smirked. "It looks better on me."

She wasn't wrong.

She had this way of making the simplest things feel like a game. She could turn folding laundry into a competition and somehow win. And right now, I could tell she was up to something.

Her foot nudged my thigh. "You look bored."

"I'm not."

Her head tipped toward me, all fake innocence. "Oh. I thought maybe you needed some... attention."

I laughed. "Subtle."

"Who said I'm subtle?" She sat up, curling her legs beneath her. "I think I like you better when you're flustered."

"I don't get flustered."

Her brow lifted. "Is that a challenge?"

Before I could answer, she swung one leg over my lap, straddling me with her arms draped lazily around my neck. Her weight sank into me, and that familiar spark danced along my spine.

"Okay, maybe a little flustered," I admitted, sliding my hands to her hips.

She leaned in until her lips brushed my ear, her voice barely above a whisper. "Told you."

I exhaled sharply through my nose, fighting the grin tugging at my mouth. "I'm letting you win."

Her nails traced a line down the back of my neck. "That's cute. You think you're in control."

I tightened my grip on her hips in response, but she only smiled wider--like I'd fallen right into her trap.

"Poor thing," she cooed, tilting my chin up with one finger. "I should really be nicer to you."

I didn't bother answering. My hands slid under her hoodie, palms gliding up the soft skin of her back. She arched slightly at the touch, but her eyes stayed locked on mine, daring me to push further.

Her lips hovered just shy of mine, her breath warm against my skin. "Say please."

I exhaled a quiet laugh. "Not happening."

Her mouth curled in triumph as she rolled her hips--slow, deliberate.

I gritted my teeth.

"Still not flustered?" she teased.

"Fine." I leaned in, letting my lips graze the corner of her mouth. "Please."

"See?" she murmured against my skin. "That wasn't so hard."

I wasn't so sure about that.

She kissed me, slow and sweet at first. But the thing about her--she never stayed sweet for long.

And I didn't mind one bit. Her kiss deepened, but she kept it playful--pulling back just enough to make me chase her. Every time I leaned in, she'd retreat with that smug little smirk on her lips.

"You're enjoying this way too much," I muttered.

"Oh, I know." Her fingers threaded through my hair, tugging just enough to tilt my head back. "You make it too easy."

I could've flipped her right then. Pinned her under me, taken the lead. But something about the way she moved--completely unhurried, perfectly in control--made me want to let her have it.

"Relax," she whispered, her lips trailing along my jaw. "You can handle being on the back foot for once."

I dragged my hands down her sides, feeling the way her body responded under my touch. "Who says I'm on the back foot?"

She leaned back just enough to meet my gaze, her brow arching. "Aw. You really think that, huh?"

Her hips shifted again, and any semblance of control I thought I had went straight out the window.

"Thought so," she added, clearly pleased with herself.

"You're a menace," I growled, my fingers tightening around her thighs.

"And you like it."

I did. More than I'd ever admit.

Her hands slipped under my shirt, her nails grazing my skin in a way that made me exhale harder than I meant to. She caught it immediately, eyes lighting up with that dangerous glint.

"Oh, that's cute," she teased. "I barely touched you."

I could feel my pulse hammering beneath her fingertips as she dragged them higher, tracing slow circles along my chest.

"Okay," I said through clenched teeth. "Now you're just being cruel."

She tilted her head, pretending to think. "Mmm... maybe. But you're kind of fun to mess with."

Her lips brushed the side of my neck, and this time, I wasn't about to let her get away with it. I slid my hands lower, gripping the backs of her thighs and pulling her closer until there was nothing but heat between us.

She let out a soft gasp, and for just a second, I thought maybe--just maybe--I'd caught her off guard.

But then she leaned in again, lips grazing my ear. "Careful," she whispered, her voice like silk. "You might make me take this seriously."

I swallowed hard, feeling her breath hot against my neck. "Maybe I want you to."

She pulled back, just enough to meet my gaze. There was something different in her eyes now--still playful, but darker.

"Oh," she murmured, her lips brushing against mine. "Now you've done it."

I wasn't sure whether I'd won or lost, but I was more than ready to find out. Her mouth lingered over mine, close enough that I could feel the soft pull of her breath but not close enough to close the gap. She was taking her time, letting the anticipation stretch until it almost hurt.

I slid my hands beneath her hoodie, fingers gliding along the warm skin of her waist, feeling the steady rise and fall of her breath. Her body shifted against me, deliberate in a way that made it very clear she knew exactly what she was doing.

"You're quiet," she murmured, her lips brushing over my jaw. "That's not like you."

I exhaled sharply, tightening my grip on her. "You're not leaving me much room to talk."

She smiled, dragging her nails lightly down my back. "Good. I like you better when you're speechless."

Her words sent a rush straight through me, and she felt it. I knew because her hips shifted just a little more, pressing down in a way that left no doubt she was in charge of the pace.

I let my head fall back against the couch, exhaling through my nose. "You're really going all in on this, huh?"

She leaned in, her lips barely touching mine as she whispered, "I haven't even started."

And then she kissed me--slow at first, like she was testing just how far she could push before I'd crack.

I was dangerously close.

Her hands slid under my shirt, tracing the lines of my stomach with featherlight touches that sent a shiver straight through me. I shifted beneath her, but she pinned me in place with nothing but the weight of her body and the soft press of her palms against my chest.

"Easy," she said, her voice low but teasing. "You're not going anywhere."

I dragged my hands along her thighs, gripping just enough to remind her that I wasn't exactly helpless beneath her. But she wasn't fazed. If anything, the challenge only lit up that fire in her eyes.

"You can hold on all you want," she said, her lips grazing over the edge of my jaw. "But you're not calling the shots tonight."

I let out a slow breath, my fingers digging into her thighs. "I'm starting to get that."

"Good," she whispered.

She shifted again, her body pressing closer, and this time she didn't pull away. The kiss deepened, her hands tangling in my hair as her hips rocked just enough to make me forget everything but the feel of her against me.

I let her have it--let her set the rhythm, let her tease me until the tension wound so tight I thought I might snap.

"Babe," I rasped, pulling her closer.

She pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, her lips red and slightly swollen.

"Yes?" she asked, all innocence, but the glint in her eyes gave her away.

I swallowed, my pulse thrumming beneath her touch. "You're dangerous."

She grinned, leaning down until her mouth hovered just over mine.

"And you love it," she whispered. Her lips hovered just above mine, her breath warm and teasing. She was waiting, watching me with that knowing glint in her eyes--the one that said she had all the time in the world and I was the one running out of patience.

I slid my hands up her back, tracing the line of her spine beneath the soft fabric of my hoodie. She arched slightly, pressing closer, but still... not enough.

"You're making this difficult," I muttered, letting my head drop back against the couch.

She smiled, dragging her fingers down my chest, stopping just above the waistband of my jeans. "I thought you liked difficult."

"I like winning," I shot back.

Her brow arched. "Oh, honey..." she leaned in, lips grazing over mine in a whisper of a kiss that didn't last nearly long enough. "You lost the second I climbed on top of you."

I couldn't argue with that--not when she shifted again, her body pressing into mine, setting off sparks that made it hard to think straight.

I tightened my grip on her waist, pulling her fully against me. This time, she didn't stop me. Her mouth found mine again, but the teasing edge was gone, replaced by something deeper, hungrier.

The hoodie she'd stolen rode up as I slid my hands beneath it, fingers trailing over the smooth skin of her back. She hummed softly into the kiss, shifting to tug the hoodie over her head and letting it drop somewhere behind her.

Her hair tumbled over her shoulders, messy and wild, and I couldn't stop my hands from tangling in it as I pulled her down to me again.

She laughed softly against my lips, her breath hitching as my hands skimmed over the soft curve of her waist.

"Still flustered?" she whispered, her lips brushing against my jaw.

"Less talking," I muttered, tilting her chin back up to kiss her harder.

She didn't argue.

Her body melted against mine, soft and warm, her hands exploring with the same slow, deliberate pace that was driving me absolutely insane. I let her take the lead, let her set the rhythm, but every time she shifted, I made sure to drag her right back.

The soft sounds she made every time I pulled her closer were quickly becoming my new favorite thing.

Her hands fumbled with the buttons on my shirt, and I couldn't help but grin as she grew more impatient, finally tugging it loose enough to slip it off my shoulders.

I barely had time to let it drop before her lips were on my neck, trailing a slow, torturous path downward.

My head tipped back, breath coming faster as her mouth found every sensitive spot with a kind of precision that felt unfair.

"Babe," I groaned, fingers tightening in her hair.

She lifted her head, eyes dark and glittering. "Yes?"

I met her gaze, pulling her down so our lips were almost touching. "You're dangerous."

Her smile curved against my mouth as she kissed me again--slow, deep, and completely unapologetic.

And I let her have it. Her kiss slowed, but she didn't pull away. Her forehead rested lightly against mine, and I could feel her breath, soft and steady, brushing over my lips.

The teasing glint in her eyes had softened into something else--something warmer.

I traced lazy circles along the small of her back, letting the quiet settle around us. Neither of us seemed in a hurry to move.

"You're not so bad at being in charge," I murmured, tilting my head to brush my lips against her jaw.

She hummed softly, fingers trailing over my chest. "I know."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Modest."

She grinned, lifting herself just enough to meet my eyes. "I don't hear you complaining."

"Fair point."

For a long moment, she just looked at me, her fingers brushing lightly over my hair. I could feel the weight of whatever she wasn't saying.

I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my hand linger against her cheek. "You know you don't have to prove anything, right?"

Her expression softened, and she leaned into my touch. "I know."

She kissed me again, slower this time. It wasn't about winning anymore--not for her, not for me.

After a while, she shifted, curling up against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling the blanket from the back of the couch and draping it over us.

The TV flickered quietly in the background, but neither of us paid attention to it.

"You're staying over," I said, not really asking.

She let out a soft laugh. "Wasn't planning on leaving."

I smiled into her hair, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Good."

She settled closer, her hand resting lightly over my heart.

And for once, I didn't care about who had the upper hand.