Call Her Bluff

You hold Kelly’s gaze instead of backing down. She’s close enough that you can feel each breath she takes against you, her body still pressed firmly against yours. For the last ten minutes, she’s been pushing, teasing, and waiting for you to crack first. Maybe she thinks you won’t.

“Okay,” you say.

“Okay what?” Kelly asks.

“You want to play chicken?” you ask. “Let’s play.”

Something flashes across Kelly’s face. For the first time tonight, you’ve managed to catch her slightly off guard.

“Oh?” Kelly asks.

“You keep getting closer,” you say. “You keep trying to make me look. You keep staring at my mouth.”

“I do?” Kelly asks.

“You know you do,” you reply.

Kelly’s smile returns.

“Then what are you going to do about it?” Kelly asks.

“Nothing,” you reply.

That clearly isn’t the answer she expected.

Kelly raises an eyebrow but doesn’t move away.

“Nothing?” Kelly asks.

“Calling your bluff,” you reply.

For a second, she simply studies you. Then Kelly laughs under her breath and shakes her head.

“You think I’m bluffing?” Kelly asks.

“I think you like fucking with me,” you reply.

“I do,” Kelly says.

“At least you admit it,” you say.

“Oh, I’m not denying that part,” Kelly replies.

She steps closer.

You didn’t think that was possible, but somehow she manages it. Her hips settle against yours and her chest presses more firmly into you. She watches your face for the reaction, and when you refuse to give her much of one, her smile becomes almost competitive.

“There,” Kelly says. “Still think I’m bluffing?”

“Yep,” you reply.

Kelly laughs.

“You’re stubborn,” Kelly says.

“So are you,” you reply.

“Okay,” Kelly says. “Let’s make this easier.”

She finally backs away, but only by half a step. You almost think you’ve won until her hands move to the neckline of her tank. Rather than exposing anything, she adjusts the fabric and deliberately settles her cleavage into it, then cups herself through the shirt and gives her breasts a playful squeeze.

Your eyes immediately drop.

Kelly catches you and grins.

“There he is,” Kelly says.

“That’s cheating,” you reply.

“How?” Kelly asks.

“You know how,” you say.

“Nope,” Kelly replies.

She brings her hands inward, pressing her breasts together through the tank and exaggerating the cleavage you’ve already been struggling not to stare at.

You look.

There isn’t even a point pretending you don’t.

Kelly’s smile widens.

“Still bluffing?” Kelly asks.

“You’re definitely trying really hard to prove something,” you reply.

“Maybe you’re a visual learner,” Kelly says.

You laugh and shake your head.

“You’re ridiculous,” you say.

“And you’re staring,” Kelly replies.

“You’re squeezing your boobs together right in front of me,” you say.

“I know,” Kelly replies.

The answer comes easily, but you notice what she doesn’t say. She’ll admit she knows exactly how distracting she looks. She’ll admit she enjoys making you stare. But every time you get anywhere near the reason she’s doing it, she slips sideways into another joke.

You look back at her face.

“That still doesn’t answer me,” you say.

“I didn’t realize there was a question,” Kelly replies.

“Do you actually want something to happen here?” you ask.

There it is.

For the first time, you ask her directly enough that she can’t pretend she doesn’t understand. You watch her face, waiting for the answer.

Kelly holds your gaze for perhaps two seconds.

Then she squeezes her breasts together again.

“I want to know how long I can keep making you look down,” Kelly replies.

Your eyes almost betray you on cue, but you force them to remain on hers.

“Nice try,” you say.

“What?” Kelly asks innocently.

“You dodged it,” you reply.

“I answered you,” Kelly says.

“No, you answered a different question,” you say.

Kelly laughs and finally lets go of her chest, but the amusement in her face tells you she knows you caught her.

“Maybe you asked a boring question,” Kelly replies.

“Maybe you’re scared to answer it,” you say.

That gets her.

Her eyebrows rise immediately.

“Excuse me?” Kelly asks.

“You heard me,” you reply.

“I’m scared?” Kelly asks.

“Apparently,” you say. “You’ve been all over me since I walked in here, but the second I ask you to actually admit why, suddenly you’ve got nothing.”

Kelly stares at you for a second before letting out a disbelieving laugh.

“Oh, you are feeling confident tonight,” Kelly says.

“Am I wrong?” you ask.

“Very,” Kelly replies.

“Then tell me,” you say.

“Tell you what?” Kelly asks.

You laugh.

“There it is again,” you say.

“There what is?” Kelly asks.

“You know exactly what I’m asking,” you reply.

Kelly gives you a long look. Then, instead of answering, she closes the small distance again. Her hands settle on your upper arms, and she presses her body against yours until the softness of her chest is unmistakable through the thin tank.

“Maybe I just think this is fun,” Kelly says.

“I know you think it’s fun,” you reply. “That’s still not an answer.”

“You complain a lot for someone who hasn’t moved away once,” Kelly says.

“I’m not complaining,” you reply.

“Could’ve fooled me,” Kelly says.

She shifts against you, watching closely when your attention dips toward her chest again. Her smile returns immediately.

“See?” Kelly asks. “This is way more entertaining than answering your questions.”

“Because answering means admitting I’m right,” you say.

“About what?” Kelly asks.

“That you want me too,” you reply.

That finally shuts her up.

Not for long, but long enough.

Her eyes stay on yours, and you see the teasing expression falter before she rebuilds it.

“That’s a pretty big assumption,” Kelly says.

“Then tell me I’m wrong,” you reply.

Kelly’s lips curve upward.

“Maybe I like watching you wonder,” Kelly says.

“Still not saying I’m wrong,” you reply.

“Maybe I enjoy the attention,” Kelly says.

“Still not saying it,” you reply.

“Maybe I just like teasing horny college boys,” Kelly says.

“One horny college boy,” you correct.

Kelly tries to hold back her smile.

She fails.

“Cocky little shit,” Kelly says.

“Tell me I’m wrong,” you repeat.

Instead, Kelly puts both hands against her chest again. She slowly cups herself through the fabric, gives herself another teasing squeeze, and then pushes her breasts together while holding your gaze.

“You really want me to stop doing this and have a serious conversation?” Kelly asks.

Your eyes finally drop.

She laughs immediately.

“That’s what I thought,” Kelly says.

“You’re impossible,” you reply.

“And yet here you are,” Kelly says.

She lets her hands fall and steps into you again, pressing the curves she was just playing with firmly against your chest.

“Still think I’m bluffing?” Kelly asks.

“Yes,” you reply.

That catches her completely off guard.

“Bullshit,” Kelly says.

“You keep trying to prove you can turn me on,” you reply. “Congratulations. You can. You figured that out five minutes ago.”

Her smile slowly fades as she realizes where you’re going.

“But that isn’t what I called your bluff on,” you continue. “I said you won’t admit what you want.”

Kelly studies you.

“And what exactly do you think I want?” Kelly asks.

“Me,” you reply.

The word hangs there.

Her expression barely changes, but you feel her inhale against you.

“Pretty confident answer,” Kelly says.

“Tell me I’m wrong,” you reply.

She doesn’t.

Instead, her eyes fall to your mouth again.

You catch her.

“There,” you say.

“What?” Kelly asks.

“You did it again,” you reply.

“Did what?” Kelly asks.

“Looked at my mouth,” you say.

“Maybe you have something on your lips,” Kelly replies.

“For the last ten minutes?” you ask.

You laugh despite yourself.

“You will say literally anything except the truth,” you say.

“Maybe I’m waiting for you to say it first,” Kelly replies.

That changes the game.

You look at her for a second, and she immediately seems to realize she gave you more than she intended.

“Say what first?” you ask.

Kelly smiles.

“Nice try,” Kelly replies.

“Nope,” you say. “You walked into that one.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kelly says.

“Bullshit,” you reply.

Her smile grows.

“Maybe,” Kelly says.

You could keep playing this forever. She probably would. Every time you corner her, she turns it into another joke, another touch, another deliberate press of her body against yours. The problem is that the more she avoids saying it, the more obvious it becomes that there actually is something she’s avoiding.

You decide to give her exactly what she asked for.

“Fine,” you say.

“Fine what?” Kelly asks.

“I want you,” you say.

Her teasing smile disappears.

You keep going before she can turn it into another joke.

“I’ve wanted you since pretty much the first time I met you,” you admit. “I think you’re sexy as hell. I like when you get close to me. I like when you catch me looking. And yes, when you stand there squeezing your boobs together because you know I can’t stop staring, I fucking love it.”

Kelly just looks at you.

For once, she has absolutely nothing ready.

“There,” you say. “I said it.”

A faint flush rises into her cheeks.

“You really have thought about me that long?” Kelly asks.

“You wanted the truth,” you reply.

“I did,” Kelly says.

“Your turn,” you say.

Her smile immediately returns.

“I don’t remember agreeing to that,” Kelly replies.

You laugh in disbelief.

“Are you serious?” you ask.

“Completely,” Kelly replies.

“I just gave you exactly what you wanted,” you say.

“I know,” Kelly replies. “It was cute.”

“Cute?” you ask.

“Very,” Kelly says.

“You’re unbelievable,” you reply.

Kelly laughs, but when you shake your head and start to lean away from the counter, her hands immediately tighten around your arms.

“Where are you going?” Kelly asks.

You stop.

There’s something different in her voice.

“Apparently nowhere with you,” you reply.

“Oh, shut up,” Kelly says.

“Then admit it,” you say.

She rolls her eyes.

“You really need to hear the words?” Kelly asks.

“After all this?” you ask. “Absolutely.”

Kelly stares at you.

You wait.

She opens her mouth, then closes it.

“Wow,” you say. “You really can’t do it.”

“I can do it,” Kelly replies.

“Go ahead,” you say.

“Stop rushing me,” Kelly says.

“You’ve had ten minutes,” you reply.

“You’re annoying,” Kelly says.

“And you’re stalling,” you reply.

She narrows her eyes at you.

“Fine,” Kelly says.

You wait.

“Fine,” Kelly repeats.

“That isn’t an admission,” you say.

“I know,” Kelly replies.

She takes a breath. Her hands slide from your arms to your shoulders, and when she looks at you again, most of the joking has finally disappeared.

“I like you looking at me,” Kelly says. “More than I probably should.”

You stay quiet.

She knows that isn’t enough.

“I like knowing I can get you worked up,” Kelly continues. “I like when you get close instead of backing away. And when you walked in here today looking a little more grown up and a lot more confident than the last time I saw you…”

She trails off.

“And?” you ask.

“Don’t push it,” Kelly says.

“You’re almost there,” you reply.

Kelly laughs despite herself, then shakes her head.

“And yes,” Kelly says. “I wanted you to notice me.”

“Why?” you ask.

“You are really enjoying this,” Kelly says.

“A lot,” you reply.

“Asshole,” Kelly says, smiling.

“Why?” you repeat.

She looks down for a moment. When her eyes return to yours, she finally stops trying to escape the question.

“Because I want you too, John,” Kelly says.

There it is.

The admission seems to change something in her almost immediately. Now that she has finally said it, the hesitation disappears. She steps fully against you again and wraps her arms around your shoulders.

“Happy?” Kelly asks.

“Getting there,” you reply.

“Greedy,” Kelly says.

“You started this,” you reply.

“I know,” Kelly says.

Her eyes drop to your mouth again.

This time, she doesn’t look away when you catch her.

“And for the record,” Kelly says quietly, “I wasn’t bluffing about wanting to kiss you either.”

“Good,” you reply.

“Good?” Kelly asks.

“Because neither was I,” you say.

You close the last inch between you and kiss her.

Kelly meets you halfway. Her arms tighten around your shoulders as she kisses you back, finally putting an end to the game the two of you have been playing since you walked into the kitchen.

You called her bluff.

She just made you work for the answer.