Prompt: Beginner's Luck
Word Count: 800
Genre: Humor
Rating: T
Warning: Allusions to oral gratification.
Summary: Does the playa get played?
Date Posted: 4/08/10

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Sesshoumaru's Casanova reputation caused him not the slightest twinge of guilt… a male predator in his prime naturally pursued discerning, desirable females. As a confirmed bachelor, he maintained a strict catch and release policy.

For him, high-quality feminine company was easy to come by. His status, power and money saw to that. Persuading them to bestow their favors upon him without promise of a wedding ring was the real challenge. His approach to tempt them into entering an intimate relationship was unconventional, but acceptable to a surprising number of women.

His little secret of seduction? He proposed a beguiling game with simple rules that combined skill with chance. High Stakes Strip Poker, winner-take-all.

While the objects of his desire might not possess his knowledge of the odds, identification of tells, or experience, he believed the inclusion of unpredictable events, i.e. luck, evened the playing field.

Of course he didn't propose it quite this way to his newest potential conquest, Kagome Higarashi, a few weeks after they started dating.

Kagome was anything but naïve about her rich, powerful boyfriend. She could read the tabloids as well as anyone and deductive reasoning said there must be many notches carved into his bed post. While it would be perfectly acceptable for her to decline his invitation to participate in a game of Strip Poker, she instead surprised him by agreeing.

Sesshoumaru seriously did not expect her acceptance. No one he knew had managed to pick Miss Higarashi's locks… the idea he would be the first made him giddy as a pup. He must manipulate the situation with extreme care if he wished to succeed. After all, Sesshoumaru's reputation was built on being a considerate lover, not a callous pig! It would be beneath him to pout or demanded payoff from a female who got cold feet after losing. There was no honor or sport in taking what was not freely offered.

*****

The dog knew from experience he would frighten his pretty little rabbit away by trouncing her immediately. Luring her carefully with slow progression meant there was less chance of her changing her mind about awarding him the prize. He began his 'hunt' in a nonchalant manner, imperceptibly stalking her by drawing out the hands and allowing her to win more often than he did. He intended to make his delectable prey feel confident, at ease… comfortable.

Kagome pleasantly surprised him by playing fairly well. She was nowhere near his equal, but with practice she might improve. For now, as long as she was up one more item of clothing than he was, it encouraged her false hope she might actually win.

*****

Inevitably, the score stood at two articles of clothing to one.

He preened knowing she found his bared torso attractive, with his smooth muscles rippling each time he moved. The scent of her arousal coupled with the slight hitch in her breathing told him all he needed to know. Obviously she'd been indulged with eye-candy long enough. It was time to move the game to its foregone conclusion.

Looking at his cards, he mentally licked his chops. Very few hands could beat what he held. Assured of victory, molten-amber irises shifted to Kagome and lustily drank in her demure visage.

The matching camisole and tap pants intrigued him, seductively concealing more than the usual panties and bra. Delicious anticipation teased and stoked his desire, building a longing to discover the secrets beneath the satiny folds of fabric.

Her dark hair hung in silky tendrils about her nearly-naked shoulders as she studied her hand, finally asking for one card. Mindlessly, he slipped it to her while thinking, 'In a just few more minutes, I'll be raking my claws through that ebony mass…'

Daydreaming, he vividly imagined the cool feel of it wound around his fists, entangling his fingers as he howled his first release to her talented tongue.

Sesshoumaru was jolted out of his carnal musings when her resigned voice said, "I call."

Keeping tight control over his excitement, he slowly exposed his full house, aces over kings.

"I have two pair," she sighed.

Externally, he smiled sympathetically. Internally, he smirked. Two pair was the third lowest hand. Which would she remove, top or bottoms? He hoped she chose the bottoms. Having lost his focus a few seconds ago, he feared he'd find her breasts more than a little distracting.

"See? Threes."

"And the other pair?" he politely inquired, looking at her cards.

"Oh, I have two pair of threes," she replied innocently, spreading them out.

Sesshoumaru froze. Her four of a kind just beat the pants off his full house, literally. And her tone, though sincere, was perhaps a touch too innocent…

Glancing up quickly, he caught the barest hint of a wicked gleam in her eye. She knows.

"Better luck next time," Kagome laughed, as she gathered her clothes.

*****

A/N: A 'tell' is an unconscious signal a poker player makes to indicate elation, worry or dismay. Some players fake 'tells' to mislead their opponents. This won first place! :) Thanks for reading!