by J. Judkins
Chapter Twenty-Five
The nights were getting more twisted.
Kim sat on the chair by her bedside with her book in her hand, studiously trying to ignore her so-called girlfriend without being obvious about it. She was certain Angel was just as intently doing her best to attract her attention while also trying not to be obvious about it. The difference was, Angel was using lingerie to do it.
This underhanded scheme was a lot more blatant than Angel’s usual underhanded schemes. After selecting what she wanted to wear, Angel would dress herself, but do so slooowly, taking ten times longer than any normal person would to do it.
Despite minor setbacks that “forced” Angel to take everything off and start over from the beginning, eventually she would succeed. Angel would then stand in front of the mirror and pose. There wasn’t any other word to describe it. She acted as if she were out in front of an audience, fully expecting to be photographed.
Doubtless, an audience receptive to her beauty would have found Angel’s actions sexy and provocative as hell, but as Kim constantly reminded herself, this did not include her.
After several minutes of posing, something about the outfit would be found to dissatisfy her. Angel would then remove her clothing piece by piece, taking slightly less time undressing than she used getting dressed the first place. She would then compare the remaining outfits against her naked body one by one and the process would begin all over again. Each cycle took roughly ten minutes, give or take.
Kim glared at her book. Three times. She wasn’t counting, as she didn’t care, but it was difficult not to count to three. Angel had done this three times now, and showed no signs of stopping. Perfection continued to elude her.
Kim hadn't read a new page in ten minutes, but she was very familiar with the page she was on.
As far as she knew, lingerie wasn't supposed to serve as a substitute for pajamas. Didn't women only bother wearing it to stir up the passions of their partners? In truth, Kim had no idea if lingerie was meant to be slept in or meant to be cast aside by an impatient lover and left all but forgotten on the bedroom floor. She considered asking Angel about the matter directly, but didn’t dare. Asking implied interest.
Besides, she was too absorbed with her page.
Angel was in the middle of her latest posing session when Kim’s patience finally reached its end. “Enough already, you look beautiful!” she cried, not even looking up.
Sensing a change in demeanor on Angel’s part, Kim glanced up, but only for an instant. She was quick not to notice Angel dressed in a matching set of bra and panties, an outfit that probably bore an elaborate French name which translated to bra and panties.
Probably transparent, too, but she refused to look again to see.
"Do you really think so?" asked Angel.
Another involuntary glance and Kim hid her face behind her book again.
Oh, yeah. Definitely transparent.
"Based on the intensity of your blush, I'd give it a nine out of ten. Good enough."
Kim blinked.
Her blushing was a scale, now?
Seeing as Kim was back to ignoring her, Angel tapped the top of her book. Kim braced herself and met Angel's eyes.
"What is it?" she snapped.
"Good night kiss," Angel told her. "I want one."
Kim hesitated.
"If you'd rather wait until after we were in bed, we could--"
"No, let's do it now!"
Angel smiled, and Kim wanted to kick herself.
What’s the matter with you? You sound enthusiastic. Stop volunteering!
Kim had placed her chair against the wall, a location picked precisely because it wouldn’t allow Angel to sneak up on her. She discovered to her consternation that rather than protecting her, it instead cut off all avenues of escape, making it easy for Angel to pin Kim in place and kiss her as much as she wanted. Which happened to be a lot.
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Tonight’s kiss felt just as intense as the one from that morning, the one Kim couldn't stop thinking about for the entire day no matter how much she tried to suppress it. Her mind went through the standard denials, telling herself it was just a kiss and she wasn't enjoying it, but all too soon the litany faded. This time, it happened a lot faster than before.
No matter how she tried to rationalize it, she couldn't convincingly lie to herself while it was happening. That simple defense was beyond her. She wasn’t in control of the situation. She wondered if she ever had control. It was all she could do to keep herself from making humiliating encouraging noises.
Save the denials for after it's over, she told herself.
After it ended, Kim did her best to calm herself and marginalize her reactions, rationalizing what she’d felt as nothing more than an unexpected unusual feeling. No attempts were made to define it further. What she’d felt defied explanation, and not simply because she refused to define it.
It couldn’t possibly be desire she felt. Or passion. What she’d experienced was... something else.
When Angel kissed her that morning in front of someone she knew, it embarrassed her. That was why the effect lingered throughout the day. It wasn’t because of the passion of the kiss itself. In fact, the event only stuck in her mind because Angel was completely naked at the time.
Logic reared its ugly head. So why did the kiss tonight feel just as good, if not better?
Kim considered the facts. Angel had been naked the first time. It made the event stand out more. But tonight when she’d kissed her, she’d kept her clothes on. Her being naked the first time enhanced the experience.
Intensified, not enhanced. Intensified!
So if she hadn’t been thinking about Angel being naked, why was tonight’s just as good?
Well, now she was thinking about it. In vivid detail, no less!
What about Angel dressing and undressing right in front of me for the past thirty freaking minutes? That might have been a factor.
Then another explanation came to her which made sense. Kim happened to be susceptible to the physical side of things. She’d simply never realized it before now.
That made sense. Doubtless this was a common vulnerability most people shared, a part of the transition period between inexperienced and experienced. That meant this was all on Kim. It had nothing to do with Angel’s physical beauty, so Kim should stop thinking about it.
Everyone knew vulnerabilities aren’t a weakness, Kim thought, then she frowned to herself. Okay, maybe vulnerabilities are a weakness by definition, but they aren’t a ‘character flaw’ weakness. In fact, vulnerabilities and susceptibilities are common for super-powered heroes in comic books.
Having a weakness wasn’t bad, in and of itself. Certainly nothing to worry about.
Disadvantages defined a person’s personality. They made an individual unique and special. If Kim herself were a playable character in a roleplaying game, those disadvantages would even be worth points. Passion itself was her weakness. It was her kryptonite.
Only not as fatal.
And with a lot more kissing.
Kim took a moment to congratulate herself for figuring it out. In less than five minutes, she’d effectively wrapped up all of her character flaws into one manageable package. Everything fell into place. Now she knew, and knowing was half the battle. She’d discovered she was susceptible to passion, and subconsciously yearned for Angel to be naked. Kissing gave rise to the passion, and she should avoid that because--
Wait a second...
That isn’t good at all. That means I’m susceptible to Angel herself.
And that means...that means...
Kim swallowed against the lump in her throat.
That means my logic is flawed, and I should worry about this later.
Yes. Later is good.
With the disturbing thought suppressed for now, Kim came back to her surroundings. Angel lay stretched out on the bed, lying on her stomach with her head resting on her
hands. She was watching Kim with a bemused expression.
"What?" Kim asked, annoyed at the scrutiny.
"You fascinate me,” said Angel. “I’ve been watching the play of emotions across your face. Longing. Anger. Frustration, I think? Embarrassment, determination, and desire at least a couple of times. Then fear. What were you thinking about, I wonder?"
Kim glowered at her. "You...” she seethed, then threw up her hands in frustration. “Just go to bed, Angel."
"I am in bed," Angel pointed out. "You come to bed, too."
Kim gave Angel one final glare before rising and turning off the light. She slid into bed and pulled the covers up, doing her best to ignore Angel shifting on her side.
"I want another goodnight kiss,” Angel told her.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm sure."
There was a moment’s pause.
"You're thinking about it, aren't you?" asked Angel.
“Only because you keep talking about it.”
“Since you are thinking about it, then maybe we--”
"Will kissing you shut you up?"
"...Yes."
Kim smirked. "Still no."
Angel hit her in the face with her pillow. The attack came without warning and was delivered with uncanny accuracy considering the darkness of the room. "That isn’t fair! You've got me all worked up!" she cried.
Kim held up her hands to defend herself against another attack which didn’t manifest. "I'm not kissing you after what almost happened last night."
"Hmm..." Angel fell silent.
Nearly a minute went past.
"You're still thinking about it. I can tell," Angel ventured.
"You are so frustrating sometimes..."
"Ha! It was frustration I saw. I was right!"
"Go to sleep, Angel."
"Sexual frustration?"
"No, just frustration in general. And anger, too, remember?"
"Yes, I remember. I also remember seeing desire at least twice."
"Go to sleep!"
Angel turned away. Presumably to sleep, but Kim had her doubts.
“Or would it be sexual tension?” Angel mused. “Sexual frustration implies a lack of sexual activity leading to an overall bad mood, and doesn’t really apply in our situation.”
“And sexual tension does?”
“Can’t you feel it, Kim? A certain anticipation? Wondering to yourself when it’s going to happen? What it’s going to be like when it does?”
Kim’s mouth went dry. “That isn’t anticipation. I’d call that one fear.”
“We’ll compromise. Let me kiss you goodnight and I’ll leave you alone,” Angel promised her.
“No. We’re not kissing in bed. You just want to try again.”
“You're referring to what almost happened last night?”
“Yes. That.”
“Is this not proper behavior? We’re in a relationship-”
Kim shifted to her side, turning to face Angel. “Maybe if we were totally into each other?” she interrupted, “and maybe, after weeks or even months getting to know each other? Then sure, why not? But it's too soon. We've barely known each other for a week. Besides, what's your hurry?"
“How could I be hurrying? You first anticipated I would seduce you within days.”
“I only thought you’d try. I certainly didn’t think you’d actually succeed at it. There's a difference.”
"You want me to try," Angel insisted. "You enjoy what I do, being sought after and desired. I've seen it. It’s in your nature.”
Kim didn’t answer. Angel had a point. She did relish the challenge even if it did scare the hell out of her. But while there was a chance Angel was right, Kim would never admit it. Angel had enough ideas in her head already, thank you very much.
“If you succeeded tonight, it would be over. Chase complete,” Kim pointed out.
“If I succeeded tonight, tonight would be just getting started,” Angel whispered fervently, her words heated yet still sending a chill up Kim’s spine.
For a long moment, Kim couldn’t reply. This was a dangerous game she was playing, and she had to be careful. Angel came close to winning everything last night. Kim hadn’t realized going in she had no defense against it.
She needed to slow Angel down. There had to be a defense out there, some way to resist. She just needed time to find it.
Kim spoke again, trying to keep her voice nonchalant. "Again, what's your hurry? Why not savor the experience? I for one wouldn't want it to be over so quickly," she said, hoping Angel would take the bait.
Angel didn’t reply.
Kim peered through the darkness, trying to gauge her reaction, but all she could see were shadows.
Is she buying this?
Undeterred, she continued. "If you succeeded tonight, where's the thrill of the chase? The anticipation? A relationship only has one first-time experience, after all, and then it’s over. You would have wasted it, and both of us will end up disappointed.”
Still, Angel said nothing.
“Don't settle for the quick victory. Be creative, but keep in mind that I'm kind of new at this too. Don't rush me and don't try to pressure me. Your ‘minor victories’ strategy is a good example."
“I was not aware of my ‘minor victories’ strategy,” Angel replied at last.
“Oh, don't pretend you don't know,” Kim half sat up on one elbow. “Since our first kiss, you've kissed me more times than I can remember."
Again, Angel chose not to answer, and Kim wondered if she'd gone too far. She already had to deal with goodnight kisses she didn't want, she didn’t need more. Angel might start hello kisses, kisses because Kim looked happy, kisses because she looked sad, and kisses because it'd been thirty minutes since the last kiss. The list was endless.
"All I'm saying,” said Kim, “is you should make it as drawn out and complex as possible. Make it elaborate, something I wouldn't or couldn't expect. We could even make a game out of it. I'll resist with all my heart, and you do your best to trap me.”
“Trap you?”
“Emotionally. Not physically."
Kim suppressed the self-doubt that rose up unbidden at her words. Her strategy was a sound one. The more complex a trap, the more things that could go wrong with it.
Yet even that undeniable fact failed to completely reassure her. She was playing with fire, challenging Angel like this. Angel had tricked her before. More than once. She’d tricked her and made it look easy.
No. She wanted this. She relished the challenge. The thought of losing because she gave in to mindless pleasure from an extended goodnight kiss was abhorrent to her. If she was going to be trapped, let it be a masterwork of a seduction that left no doubt in anyone’s mind that she'd been caught. Irrevocably! Fair and square!
Angel was devious and clever, but not that devious and clever. Kim had her pride, borne out of never having been defeated.
A distant memory nagged at her at that thought. Kim ignored it.
The past is passed, she reminded herself, and it’s time to concentrate on the here and now.
Angel couldn’t win. She had natural talent, but natural talent only went so far. In contrast, Kim’s ability was honed out of countless hours sitting in front of a screen playing video games with single-minded intensity. Angel couldn’t boast a tenth of her hard-won experience.
Angel was no match for her.
Feeling brave, Kim ventured, "So how about that second goodnight kiss?"
Then, feeling stupid, she wondered, What the hell am I doing?
But it was too late to take back the words. Angel had already left the bed. Kim could see the shadow of her passing silhouette in the darkness, a sinister dark portent of impending doom coming to claim her.
Kim couldn’t climb out fast enough. She’d barely set her feet on the floor before Angel’s warm arms wrapped around her to keep her from escaping. Kim’s hands slid to Angel’s back in return, but in her case it was
more of a literal last second defensive action to control the situation than anything else.
Even though she knew what to expect from Angel, she couldn't fully dismiss how her breath quickened and how swiftly she fell victim to the rush of sensation when Angel's lips met hers.
Kissing Angel felt deliciously wonderful. The mysterious emotion which Kim refused to identify flared up once again.
This was a mistake, Kim realized. A horrible mistake. They’d barely gotten started, and already she could feel her resistance crumbling away to nothing.
Previous encounters had taught her valuable lessons on what to do and what not to do. Had she heeded those lessons? Did she take them to heart? No, she ignored those lessons and threw herself into danger, anyway. Like an idiot, she had to tempt fate, and now she was paying the price for her arrogance and foolishness.
Angel drew her closer still, obviously hoping to escalate the situation. Their bodies gently touched and then Kim found herself pressing into Angel, holding her tightly as the rush of sensation gave rise to genuine passion.
But only for an instant.
As they touched, there was an extra sensation Kim didn’t anticipate. The realization gave her the strength she needed to resist, and with that, the spell was broken. The fog lifted from Kim’s mind. Her willpower was once again her own. Lady Luck herself had saved her.
Kim broke the kiss and pulled away. "Angel, why aren't you wearing your bra?"
"I took it off. It was confining my breasts."
"They're supposed to confine your breasts. That's what they’re for."
"I thought they were meant to enhance them for the viewing pleasure of others. I took it off because it was dark and I didn’t need it anymore."
"And your panties?"
"Oh, I'm still wearing them," Angel found Kim’s left hand and slid it down her back to demonstrate the truth of her words. "Feel?"
Kim froze. Her hand told her the truth she didn’t want to know.
"Oh!” gasped Angel. “Weren't we going to wait? You should probably take your hand out."
"You're holding it there," Kim accused.
"No, I'm not."
Kim spread out her fingers. It was true. Angel wasn’t holding her hand in place.
She’d just assumed...