House Rules

"How about some house rules?" Blaze asked, shuffling the cards. "Make the game a little more interesting."

"What did you have in mind?" Lois hedged, still staring at her breasts. She was already formulating an explanation for these mammoth mammaries back at the office...a weak of sick leave followed by a diagnosis of gigantomastia would be serviceable...especially if she got some kind of a binder, stretched it out a little instead of showing up suddenly so busty all at once.

"This back-and-forth can last all night," Blaze said. "So instead of the normal sequence of betting, we'll play each hand for a single soul. No raising or doubling."

Lois worked the odds in her mind. Fewer transformations seemed like a good idea right now. "Agreed," she said.

"But there'll be a point system. The higher your hand, the more points. The more points you have at the end, the bigger your breasts grow...one point equals one cup size."

The demon snapped her fingers, and a little table appeared on the felt.

One pair - 1 point

Two pair - 2 points

Three of a kind - 3 points

Straight - 4 points

Flush - 5 points

Full house - 6 points

Four of a kind - 7 points

Straight flush - 8 points

Royal Flush - 20 points

There was a little counter on the top of the board, labeled Current Breast Size. Lois noticed without surprise that it was currently marked M.

An M-cup, she thought, feeling the felt warm and soft against her underboob. I didn't know they even made M-cups.

Lois Lane set her mouth in a line. She knew the demon was baiting her...but she could live with bigger breasts, and the possibility of getting those women's souls back was crucial.

"All right. Mind if I suggest one?" The reporter asked. "Wildcards. Dealer names one with each hand."

Blaze raised an eyebrow. It was a dangerous rule for Lois—bigger hands meant more points, but she was feeling lucky, and might need the edge.

"Interesting. Very well." She snapped her fingers, and all the chips disappeared from the board...except for the five soul-chips, four representing the missing one, and one representing Lois Lane's. The demon moved the chip labeled Jenny Dunlap the center of the table.

"Deal," Lois said.

Blaze dealt.

"Five card draw," she announced. "Deuces wild."

The reporter looked at her hand.

Q♠ A♥ 6♦ K♦ 2♥

She repressed a smile. There was a bit of the old Lane luck. The smart play would be to keep the ace and the deuce, and hope to pick up more...guaranteed high pair, maybe trips or four-of-a-kind. Alternately, she could discard the six and hope for a Jack or a Ten...go for a straight. Lois debated which way she might play.