Disclaimer: Ran is going to OOC in this one.

Femme Fatale

The hot stream of water hit his bare form as he opened the shower in his bathroom.

Returning from his three and a half hour long soccer practice session, he'd figured a nice warm drawn-out shower would help him relax and rejuvenate, since it was only 11 AM and he needed to recharge to go about the rest of the day. It wasn't like he had the liberty to throw himself on the bed and not wake up for the rest of the afternoon; atleast Ran wouldn't allow him to do so. He'd promised her a date today. It will be a simple, classic lunch plus movie date. Nothing extravagant. Because that's what Ran usually preferred. Ran had figured he'd be starving after his practice, so they'd decided to have an early lunch, followed by the movie. And since the movie is post-lunch, he's pretty sure he's going to doze off in the hall, with how exhausted he is right now.

Speaking of Ran, there's something…..different about her lately, he has noticed. She has changed. The way she acts around him these days is somewhat atypical of her. He squeezed some shampoo in his palm and started working it into his roots, as his mind went back to several instances in the last few weeks that led him to this conclusion.

Lately, during their study dates, on more than one occasion he'd caught her staring at him when she thought he wasn't looking, and when he pointed it out to her, she would turn away, with her cheeks acquiring a healthy shade of red. She also didn't refrain from holding his hand in public anymore, even though she would blush to her roots when he did that before. And not just that; much to his marvel, she'd started kissing him goodbye every time he dropped her back to her apartment after school or their dates.

But most importantly, she didn't complain or chide him anymore whenever their study sessions morphed into episodes of impassioned kissing and cuddling, infact much to his wonderment, she was the one initiating them nowadays. They'd been dating for a year now, but this had never happened! He'd never thought he'd see this day! Ran, who usually berated him for being distracted during classes and goofing around during their study sessions, was actually putting aside her books and drawing his attention to her on purpose! The first time it happened- he was for once engrossed in integrating a convoluted equation so he completely missed the way she stealthily slithered to his end of the chabudai, and before he knew or had any time to react, she was using her forefinger and thumb to tilt his chin towards her and sealing his mouth with hers. For a few seconds, his eyes went wide, staring at her closed ones, while his mind tried to switch from calculus to kissing. And then he reacted. And he reacted strongly because one minute they were kissing and the next minute they were sprawled on the floor- him on top of her, full on making out. That day was still vivid in his memory. And apparently, this became rather regular since that day. Which amazed him, because now he was starting to see a whole new side of her previously latent personality! Fourteen years of knowing her, and she continues to baffle him with new revelations every day. And he isn't complaining either.

I mean, sure he knew that she has always been the literal embodiment of the 'actions speak louder than words' adage, but this was still new to him. He was so used to the shy, tip-toeing Ran that this sudden change was baffling him. But he would never protest. If anything, he was loving this new, bolder version of her. The one who doesn't hold back anymore. It was nice that she was getting more honest and forthright vis-à-vis showing her affection towards him. Her actions translated to just one inference - she wanted to admit to the world that they're dating and he's hers only. And frankly, it was more than welcome to him. Just the fact that Ran was getting possessive of him was enough to swell up his chest with emotion and make him giddy. A full grin broke out on his face, and when white foam entered his mouth, he realized he was still in the middle of washing his hair and the shampoo's lather was frothing from his head and dripping down to his face and shoulders and travelling further south. He proceeded to wash himself quickly and shut the water off once he was done.

It was when he reached out for his towels; he realized he'd left them lying on his bed. He didn't think much about it then, which he would realize retrospectively, that he should've, and opened the bathroom door to retrieve them from his bedroom.

And that was the biggest mistake he made. But how was he supposed to know that he should've knocked before entering his own bedroom!?

He didn't realize until he'd reached the foot of his bed that Ran was infact, inside the bedroom, standing beside the ajar bedroom door, watching him wide-eyed with her mouth hung open.

The moment his eyes fell on her shocked form, he went scarlet. He was standing there, stark naked, in front of his girlfriend. His girlfriend, who was pretty much seeing everything right now. He watched as her hand flew to cover her agape mouth.

Aghast, he immediately grabbed the towels and fumbled to wrap them around his waist quickly, trying to save some decency while he still could.

"I'm so sorry!" She finally spoke, panicked. "I thought you were still in the shower!" Her eyes nervously flitted across the room, trying to look anywhere but at him in order to give him some space to get his towels in place.

"You should've still knocked, barou!" Shinichi spat aggravated. He was still very red from the exposé, quite literally.

She sputtered between apologizing and trying to explain her presence as her face grew redder by the second.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Shinichi interrupted with his trademark half-lidded gaze, though his flustered face betrayed his poorly-constructed mask.

Trying to gain her composure, she supplied "I'd come to pick you up when Yukiko-san asked me to bring these clothes you'd sent to the laundry yesterday, to your room in case you might need them." She said gesturing to the bundle of clothes she was holding in her right arm, her left hand still clutching the doorknob.

"Then just leave them here and go! I need to get dressed!" He said, irritation lacing his voice. The state of his undress was making him extremely conscious of Ran's piercing gaze. He wanted her to leave immediately.

That snapped something in Ran. He was sure getting angry now that she had seen him naked. What about her? What about all those times he'd seen her naked, and that too without her consent? When she'd been furious at him about this after his big reveal; he, albeit apologetic, had said she was overreacting after she didn't relent. Although, she'd made him regret saying that for the next one month, but what was with this double-standard? Isn't he the one overreacting now?

That's it. Now was her chance. She suddenly found the bravado she'd been spontaneously experiencing from time-to-time in the last few weeks returning to her. This was payback time and she was gonna make sure she fully enjoys it. Donning an uncharacteristic Cheshire grin, one that could rival even Kaito Kid's, she locked the door behind her and slowly made her way inside the room.

Seeing her confidently move towards him, Shinichi broke into cold sweat. This didn't look good, atleast not for him. Did he say something wrong?

"W-what are you doing, R-Ran!?" He tried to demand authoritatively, but failed miserably. "G-Go away! I need to change!" Blushing profusely as she drew gradually drew near him.

"Then change already." Ran stated, her smirk not faltering one bit as she glided across the room towards him. "What's the problem? It's not anything I haven't already seen."

"Huh!?" Shinichi was utterly confused and embarrassed.

"I saw you naked several times as Conan, remember?" She stated in a matter-of-fact manner.

"B-barou! That doesn't count! I was in a kid's body!" He exclaimed, his face slowly growing vermillion from red, as she inched closer to him with every step she took.

"So what?" She asserted with confidence. "Besides, I always kept thinking about how you saw me naked countless times without my consent, so now you can consider this as a payback!" She retorted, stopping inches away from him, the only shield between her and his naked body being the towel sloppily wrapped around his waist.

"Huh!?" Shinichi looked at her in disbelief. She's got to be kidding him. He instinctively clutched his towel harder just to make sure it stays in place.

"You're still fixated on that! I've already apologized for it multiple times now!" He blurted, trying to control the blood from rushing to his head. It didn't help that he was still wet from the shower, and he could feel her body heat due to her proximity to him. He was starting to regret her newfound confidence.

"Apologizing doesn't change what happened. I'm gonna give you a taste of your own medicine." She smirked coquettishly.

A shiver ran down his spine. This wasn't gonna end well for him. Gosh, he hated her guts right now, and yet a part of him was also getting excited for God knows whatever reason. He didn't want to dwell on it, not when he was standing barely clad inches away from her.

"B-barou! Just leave already! This is outright harassment!" Already flushed, he tried to throw a fit, to which she just responded with a chuckle.

"Really now? But I'm rather enjoying it" She smiled airily, completely aware of his uneasiness and tizzy.

He watched with bated breath as his girlfriend extended her arm to reach out for the spare towel lying on his bed, picked it up and slowly brought it towards his torso. Without warning, she started wiping down his still-wet chest with expert ease, as if it was something she did on a regular basis.

Shinichi stood there stunned, unable to comprehend what was happening right now.

"Gosh! When did you find the time to get jacked, Shinichi?" Ran's unprompted bold compliment for his physique ripped him out of his little reverie. Today was proving to be a day filled with surprises.

He stared at her spellbound, unable to formulate any response, as she stepped closer until he could feel her warm breaths caressing his wet skin and face. She proceeded to glide the towel upwards, leisurely wiping his shoulders and neck. By now his face was scorching, probably emanating a thousand degrees of heat. He was on the verge of a proper meltdown. If he didn't take action now, it wouldn't be long before the heat becomes southbound. He couldn't let that happen, he'd already faced enough humiliation to last him the entire day, perhaps even more.

This was really getting out of hand. This naughty little vixen was taking advantage of him!

All of a sudden, he had his eureka! moment. She was manipulating him because he was letting her. Ran knew she had a power over him, that she could hold his attention and make him squirm when she wanted to, and she knew exactly what would put him on edge. All he had to do was turn this game on her.

Just like she had a power over him, he had a power over her too! And there couldn't be a better chance to use it. Two could play this game of seduction. He was going to teach her a lesson today. Now was his time to shine.

Smirking, Shinichi wrapped an arm around Ran's waist and sturdily pulled her to his form with a swift tug. Caught utterly off-guard, Ran's eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights. Her palms instinctively came to rest on top of his now-dry shoulders and her cheeks turned pink due to their abrupt unanticipated proximity.

"I rejoined the soccer club, remember?" Shinichi spoke huskily, gazing into her eyes with unadulterated cockiness. Ran bloomed as she belatedly realized he was answering her compliment-cum-question she'd posed him earlier.

It was her turn to panic now. This wasn't part of the plan! All she wanted was to tease him a little in order to get her revenge! She hadn't anticipated him to come back at her!

Ran tried to slide down her hands from his shoulders to his chest in order to enable some distance between their bodies, but what she was met with made her hot all over.

Taut muscles rippling through the entire expanse of his chest, carving his body into an immaculate angular sculpture. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. She had to resist the urge to roam her hands over his entire torso to feel every inch, every peak and trough formed by his muscles.

Damn. She's so glad he rejoined the soccer club.

No, no, no! This is not how this was supposed to go! The goal was to sway him, not the other way round! She wasn't going to let him win this. This was her chance at getting revenge. She wouldn't let him outdo her again. She needed to do something quick, before the tables turn on her completely.

She had an epiphany. Maybe she should act on her urges.

Ran smiled and started using her fingers on his chest to trace patterns along his skin, deliberately going lower every other second only to withdraw briskly in the very next. She was instantly rewarded when she noticed Shinichi's breathing hitch, and goosebumps rise on his skin in response.

"Soccer sure has done you good, Shinichi". Ran said, dropping her voice by a few octaves.

Shinichi's face bled red and started radiating heat. Damn, she was good.

But he wasn't anything but competitive.

Lowering his other arm to the small of her back, he circled both his arms around her, locking her between his strong biceps and pulled her closer to him, leaving no space between their torsos.

Ran blushed as she felt the taut muscles in his bare chest brush against her soft, smooth bosom.

Being caged by his body also made her finally acknowledge something. Something rather important she had been ignoring for awhile now, or atleast trying to, in order to not daunt her painstakingly-acquired confidence in this situation.

The fact that he was wearing just a towel.

Their current position made it all the more tangible. The fact that the only barrier between their lower bodies was just a piece of flimsy cloth, made the sensation more amplified.

Although this level of intimacy wasn't novel to them. Whenever they made out on his couch during their study sessions, or on other occasions when he had his body pressed against her; they had been really close, however there was never just a towel separating their lower bodies.

It didn't help that she had managed to sneak a peek earlier before Shinichi snatched the towels. She was shocked and pleasantly surprised. She had tried to push it to the back of her mind to ponder on later; but feeling him up close right now was bringing back the vivid memory from a few minutes ago.

Shinichi shifted slightly, leading to their bodies fitting together and Ran's eyes widened in response as liquid fire surged through her veins. All she wanted to do was run away and bury her face into a bunch of pillows. She could feel her flamboyance rapidly chipping away. She was immobilized on her spot.

On the other hand, Shinichi remained blissfully unaware of Ran's less-than-innocent thoughts and was instead, experiencing a meltdown of his own fueled by Ran's proximity.

Even though he was the one who got them into this gridlock, having Ran so close to him in his au naturel state was starting to affect him.

Her face was practically inches away from his and the air was filled with the strong & sweet scent of her distinct lavender-jasmine perfume. Her petite soft chest fit perfectly into his hard planes. He could feel the silk of her hair flowing down and brushing against his forearms resting on the small of her back. Her lilac eyes, currently wide with wonderment, were drawing him in, teasing him shut them in the sexiest way possible. And her luscious plump lips, which on close observation, were laced with a pink lip-balm – most probably strawberry flavoured, were so enticing, he was tempted to have a taste in order to validate his deduction. A tug is all it would take to close the distan-

Suddenly, Ran moved. Using her arms wrapped around his neck as leverage, she pulled herself closer to his face. His eyes zeroed in on her lips.

She was millimeters away from touching his lips and Shinichi's eyes closed instinctively. He was waiting for the soft brush of her lips against his. Every second felt like eternity. He could feel her warm breath on his cheeks as she gravitated towards him with deliberate slowness.

But instead of meeting his lips, Ran's mouth went sideways towards his ear and before he could have an inkling of what happened, he heard her sultry voice whisper in his ear –

"I'm still in the saddle, Shinichi"

Hair stood up on the back of his neck as his eyes snapped open just in time to catch his cheating girlfriend's retreating face. The mischievous enchantress was smiling smugly at him! She had somehow managed to one up him again!

This is it! Enough of these little games! He's not gonna dance around anymore and show her that he can run the show too if he so intends to. Now he's not just gonna wipe that grin off her face, he's also gonna make sure she remembers the ramifications of messing with him. Has she forgotten she's currently trapped between his arms in his room? Is she challenging him despite knowing this? She may be the karate queen, but he's nonetheless competitive. If he can dodge her kicks, he can definitely pin her dow-

"Ran-chan! You still in there?" Yukiko's timbre crescendoed through the hallway.

Both kids jumped out of their skin upon hearing Yukiko's clarion call. Shinichi swore his heart stopped for a second there. His mother was the last person he was expecting right now. They were so engrossed in their little game of one-upmanship, they'd failed to hear Yukiko's approaching footsteps towards his bedroom.

The former actress' footsteps started nearing the bedroom door, and Shinichi's mind went into a tailspin. He hysterically snatched his arms away from their interlock around Ran's waist. Ran recovered sooner and just as Shinichi was about to make a break towards his washroom, Ran caught his arm and clamped her palm above his mouth to prevent the litany of protests she knew were about to pour.

"Yes Yukiko-san, I'm in here. Shinichi's still in the bathroom, I'm just fixing his wardrobe". Ran said calmly, while looking at the wide-eyed Shinichi – who was staring at her incredulously by now – with an all-knowing look – something which was typical to him, not her.

"It's a mess" She stated nonchalantly, all the while smirking at Shinichi, who immediately recognized the double-entendre but stood there transfixed, unable to process what had just happened.

Some squealing and giggling could be heard from across the door, followed by some muffled words which suspiciously sounded something along the lines of "caring daughter-in-law" and "lucky Shin-chan 3", post which Yukiko thankfully left without further inquiry, or worse, offer to help her with it.

Once she left, Ran let go of her brace from Shinichi's mouth and he hunched over immediately, trying to catch his breath after what felt like an eternity. Before he could fully regain his bearings, Ran spoke up once again.

"Alright then Shinichi, I'll leave you to get dressed." He looked up at her, trying to formulate a response. He wanted to know what just happened, he wanted to complain, he wanted to ask what had gotten into her. But just as he was about to open his mouth to voice his befuddlement, Ran continued in the same heartbeat –

"Or, do you want me to help you with it?" The temptress said, her lips curling into a playful smile.

Shinichi's jaw dropped and he looked at her just horrified, unable to believe she was still on with it.

Ran just chuckled at his instantaneous reaction and left the room after giving him a last wink.

Once the door slammed shut, Shinichi released a breath he didn't realize he had been holding for a while now. It had been sometime since Ran had him this tongue-tied.

Gosh. He stared at the now closed door of his bedroom red-faced. This girl will be the end of me.

A/N: It's been awhile since I updated! I hope you guys enjoyed this instalment! Next, I'll probably update BR. Please look forward to it!