A date. Now that was something Liliene had never done. Meeting outside, strolling, having a drink somewhere, maybe giggling while trying on clothes. What else do they do in books? They also kiss at the end. Well, she had already kissed Laura. And more.
Liliene sat on a bench outside the inn, having fun tossing her parasol a little way up with a twirl and watching it drift back down. She wasn’t sure what physics was at play, or if it even was. Luna had tried teaching her physics, but she gave up at anything more complicated than conservation of energy. She still paid attention during fluid mechanics and states of matter, because it affected her power directly.
Now, why was she outside, pondering the depth of her education while playing with her parasol? Because they had to meet outside for a date, it was just one of those general truths.
The inn door opened, revealing Laura in the same ‘fancy’ dress she wore the night they reunited. The white one with blue birds embroidered on it. She wore her hair in two braids meeting behind her head, with some left free in a controlled cascade down her back. Laura was breathtaking, and she was all hers.
“Lili!” Laura walked timidly to her lover and fiddled with her sleeve. “Did you wait long?”
“No. I just got there,” she answered.
She stood up, offered Laura her arm, and strolled away. That was a perfect, textbook start.
“Where are you taking me today?” Laura asked, resting her head against Liliene’s shoulder.
That was the million-coin question. Liliene had taken enough money with her to live comfortably for a while; surely it would be enough for an afternoon.
“I heard about a shop. Café, I think it’s called. You have cozy private rooms and drink tea while eating pastries.”
“Aren’t they crazy expensive?”
“I didn’t take anything from our haul. Only from what your mom gave us. You can still pay your tuition only with what we made yesterday. But for the rest… let me pamper you today.”
To reach the café, they still had to climb, as it sat in the noble part of the city, located in its middle. Anything above that was either religious or institutional. They walked from their inn, near the bottom, past dirty, dark alleys, ignoring poor people begging for a coin.
No. Just because she couldn't help everyone didn't mean she should help no one. It wouldn't make a noticeable difference, but Liliene approached the closest beggar. He sat at the alley entrance, a wooden bowl in front of him. His eyes were cast on the ground in defeat. He waited for hope, yet expected none.
Liliene stood before him, stepping into the shadows to drop a single coin.
"God bless you, Milady," the man said.
She barely registered his voice. Her attention was on the alley. Three other men were lying on the ground and waiting for death to take them. She couldn't see them, yet she knew; she felt them.
Maybe she was tired and imagined things. She was on a date, not here to ponder poverty. The couple resumed their stroll and climbed. With each layer they passed, the streets grew cleaner and less smelly, and a few gates later, the humans around them wore fancier dresses than they did. Well, they didn’t all wear dresses, but Liliene had very little interest in men.
Her red dress was fancy by her own standards, but it fell far short of current fashion. The ladies around them wore tight corsets with flashy gold or silver embroidery. It didn’t look comfortable, but it showed more décolletage than Liliene was used to seeing. Some plunged even quite deep and—
“Can you not ogle the other girls?” Laura asked, tightening her grip on Liliene’s arm. She even punctuated her plea with a weak slap on the shoulder.
“Oh. Sorry… I was just studying the fashion.”
“The fashion…” Laura repeated, narrowing her eyes. “Lili… Do you like breasts?” Laura asked in a soft voice.
Admittedly, Liliene hadn’t seen many men’s torsos in her life. But between breasts and no breasts…
“Yeah. I think I like breasts. I mean, isn’t the figure just better with breasts?”
“But mine aren’t that big.”
What was she even on about?
“Don’t you have the biggest from our group? Besides, if you take after your mom, I don’t think you’ll have a problem.”
From the few times she'd seen Nex in her bath, she was all… compact and muscle. Liliene herself had a body that seemed to have forgotten it could grow in other directions and only went up. It left Laura as the only one with a conventional feminine figure. Soft, with curves.
“My mom only got curves after having me.”
“Then maybe after we have a baby.”
Liliene expected Laura to blush, stutter, and turn all cute. Not that almost pitiful look she was giving her.
“Lili… we’re both girls.”
“I know that much!” She wasn’t the vampire with the sharpest canines, but still. “But if magic allows a man to turn his body into lightning… What’s the limit?”
Now that Liliene was saying it like that, it made some sense. While most magic out there was something racial, like succubus charm or Nex’s shadow walk, humans had an unpredictable range of abilities for some reason. For all they knew, something existed somewhere.
“That’s still a bit too soon to think about that.”
Here was the long-awaited blush. The sight warmed Liliene’s heart.
The café was a whole new universe. One step inside, and Liliene knew it would be her next favorite place. It smelled fabulous, sugary, with the trail leading her to a chocolate cake cut in half over a counter, with a hint of herbs, a mix of them she experienced for the first time.
“Welcome,” A lady wearing an apron greeted them from behind the counter.
“Hi!” She waved back. “How does that work here? We would like some private time, if possible,” Liliene said, wrapping an arm around her girlfriend’s waist.
“Not a problem. We have private booths upstairs,” the lady said, pointing to a staircase. “The staff will knock and wait for you to open the door.” She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially. “We do have our share of important people coming here to discuss. Discretion is our motto.”
“Perfect. We’d like a private room, please. And cake!”
A servant guided them silently to an unused room upstairs and closed the door behind her.
“That’s… unique,” Laura commented when seeing the room.
“I like it,” Liliene said and sat on a cushion.
There were no chairs. Only a low table surrounded by a pile of cushions. It gave the room a very cozy feeling. Just what Liliene had wanted.
Laura timidly joined her, perfectly unused to that ambiance. Sitting didn’t last for Liliene; it was too comfortable. She slid into her best starfish impersonation, with her legs straightened under the table.
“I want to live here.”
“I don’t think we have enough money to buy the shop,” Laura answered with a small smile.
Seeing her lover relaxed and happy with something as simple as a comfy room let her put some of her recent worries behind her. For a time at least, she would only enjoy their moment.
A knock broke the peace instantly.
“I’ll get it,” Laura said and stood, wanting her lover to keep her blissful state.
A servant carried a tray with two very generous slices of the chocolate cake, two cups, and a teapot.
“I’d suggest removing the tea basket after letting it infuse for three to four minutes, or the tea risks becoming very strong,” the servant lady said. “Please enjoy your stay.” She retreated with a polite bow and closed the door behind her.
Laura sat and stared wide-eyed at what was on their table.
“That’s going to cost a fortune…”
Liliene proudly put a fist against her chest. “Imha noblhu ladu, I cun ufordm thut muchu!” This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
Though she would probably sound more convincing with less cake already in her mouth.
“Lili… That’s hardly noble lady-like.”
Liliene gobbled everything, wiped her mouth with her hand, and licked it to make sure nothing was wasted. The height of politeness, really. Then she sipped on her tea.
“I like it. It goes very well with the sugar! What is it?”
Laura smelled it first, then took a small sip.
“Tastes like smoked tea to me. Lapsang Souchong, most likely.”
“How do you know that?” Liliene asked, impressed.
“We’re merchants by trade. Mostly artifacts, but we saw a lot of products come and go. I also know it’s expensive.”
“Mm,” Liliene pouted and brought her girlfriend closer. “Stop worrying about the money. Just… let me offer you something.”
Laura sighed and relaxed against Liliene, resting her head on Liliene's shoulder.
“You’re right, sorry.”
They stayed like this, just cuddling in silence for a moment, before Liliene took another sip of her beverage.
“Say… can I do something stupid?”
“You don’t usually ask…”
What a mean girlfriend she had today. She turned her face away and said nothing.
“Are you pouting?”
“Hmpf.”
Laura giggled.
“You tease me all the time, but you’re surprisingly weak at being teased yourself.”
“I don’t tease you that much.”
“You love embarrassing me. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”
“That’s…”
She had a point. Blushing Laura was a very cute Laura indeed. It went well with her hair.
“So. What was it you wanted to do?”
“Just… tell me if I can.”
“Sure,” Laura acquiesced with a little shrug, curious.
Liliene grinned and shifted closer to Laura, then kissed her neck. Her fang pierced her skin next. Barely. Only a single skin-deep point. It still elicited an airy whimper from Laura.
Liliene let a few drops of blood gather on her fingers. Then she brought her hand over her cup and let the blood gather in a single drop at the end of her fingertip. It fell and mixed in her tea.
“What am I? Sugar?”
“You do taste like honey.”
“Really?”
Laura put a finger over the bite mark and put that finger in her mouth. She didn’t taste like honey at all.
“What did Nex taste like?”
Liliene froze. The memories of everything she had done came crashing all at once. Biting Nex, undressing in front of her, flirting with her. She stared at a point on the table and pursed her lips.
“It-It was during a fight. It doesn’t mean—”
“I know, Lili.” Laura sighed. “I can’t blame you for nourishing yourself. I trust you.” The word "trust" pierced Liliene’s heart. “You probably needed it. But you didn’t answer the question.”
She had needed it to heal. That much was true. It didn’t excuse the rest.
“Lemon juice…” she answered, her voice small as a whisper.
“What tastes better? Lemon juice? Or honey?”
Liliene, in all her newfound greed, only thought one thing: they would probably go very well together.
Now, despite Liliene’s challenged understanding of relationships, she still knew she couldn’t admit her last thought. But how could she compare honey to lemon juice? On what basis?
“I don’t think they’re comparable,” she prudently answered. “Like, do you prefer tomatoes or carrots?”
“Tomatoes,” Laura answered immediately.
Change of plans it is, then.
“Lemon juice is strong, you know? It’s really addictive once you start drinking it, but every day would be too much. But honey is the stuff you want to eat every day."
Laura sagged against Liliene. “You’re terrible, but… you pass.”
Liliene tightened her grip on her girlfriend’s waist and pulled her closer. She couldn’t yet talk about Nex, for her heart itself was too confused to know how to voice her feelings. But she was certain of one thing, at the very least.
“Laura. I love you. I need you.”
“Mm. I love you too, Lili.”
Laura’s spot in her heart wouldn’t change. It wouldn’t shrink. It wouldn’t morph. She would let her heart grow big enough for another spot, just as big as Laura’s, and she would put her big sister in there, and everyone would be happy.
“Lili. Do you need more blood than what I alone can give you?” Laura asked without lifting her head from Liliene’s shoulder.
Liliene was pretty sure she didn’t. She had survived almost twenty years without drinking any. But since she had started indulging… She was growing stronger, but also hungrier. And well… maybe also hornier. She couldn’t guarantee that last part was linked, though.
“I don’t think I need it. But the more blood I drink, the more blood I want.”
Liliene extended her arm and opened her hand, palm up. A pointy tip pierced her skin, then a ball of blood gathered and hovered above her palm. It morphed into a figure of Laura with incredible details, down to the dress she wore, which seemed to float in the wind. Find the original chapter at novelping(.)com.
“Told you I’d make a better one someday.”
That’s so pretty,” Laura said, bringing her finger a hair short of touching the blood statue.
“I feel so strong recently. Like I can do anything.”
As if to prove her point, Liliene blew air onto Laura’s statue. Her dress flared up as if caught in a burst of wind.
“Lili!” Laura weakly slapped Liliene’s arm. “Gosh. Is it the only thing on your mind?”
“No?” Liliene lied.
She pulled back the blood inside her and now remembered she had a honeyed tea to taste. She brought the cup to her lips. The liquid was still lukewarm, and it tasted like Laura. She set the cup back on the table and scooted closer, wrapping her other arm around Laura to pin her in a hug. She was her Laura. Her taste, her smell, her warmth, it was all hers, and she would never have enough.
Laura reciprocated and melted against Liliene. Her worries weren’t exactly lifted, but the way Liliene acted with her left her with one certainty: Liliene loved her, desired her, deeply. And for now, it was enough. Her grip around Liliene’s neck tightened when she felt a hand caress her thigh. Her lips parted to let out a long exhale. A warmth spread through her, and her thighs parted without a conscious thought.
“Here?” Laura asked, keeping her voice low.
Liliene’s hand kept caressing Laura’s soft skin, digging deeper under Laura’s dress. The soft skin she touched grew hotter and hotter as she trailed higher. She felt a small bump under her fingers, a mole that served as a landmark during her explorations. She was on track, close to her destination. Her hand reached the hem of Laura’s panties and traced it, her fingers scratching against a few hairs overtaking its sides.
“Privacy is their motto, right?” Liliene grinned at Laura and kissed her temple. “Why do you think I wanted a private booth?”
“So I walked right into your trap?”
“Exactly,” Liliene said, teasing Laura by trailing a single finger along her inner thigh. “You’re my prisoner.”
“Mm.” Laura let out an embarrassed little moan. “Will you kiss your prisoner?”
Liliene obliged and kept the kiss tender, just a dance of caresses and wet lips. They pressed close together, lips unwilling to separate while Liliene’s hand fondled and squeezed the soft skin of Laura’s thighs, slowly sneaking higher and higher.
Laura spread her legs and angled her hips to get Liliene to touch her where she wanted to be touched, but her lover’s fingers kept tracing the hem of her panties, refusing to press against her heating sex.
“Lili… Please.”
Liliene slid a single finger under the side of Laura’s panties, creeping closer but still refusing to give the touch she was eager for.
“Please what? I won’t know if you don’t tell me.”
Laura’s cheeks were burning. She hid her face tightly against Liliene’s chest, her words muffled by her dress.
“Touch me…”
“But I am touching you,” Liliene said, keeping her caress tantalizingly close to Laura’s core. “Where exactly do you want me to touch you, Laura?” Liliene whispered, her breath tickling Laura’s ear.
Laura’s body jolted against Liliene, but she never stopped the movements of her hips to entice Liliene to finally touch her. Heat flooded Laura’s cheeks, a blush that spread down her neck, but beneath it was a thrilling current that made her toes curl in her shoes. Being made to do or say stuff, being at the mercy of her lover’s touch. Liliene was a real princess. It was normal for Laura to be obedient, right?
“My…” Laura bit her lip and pulled back from Liliene’s chest, just enough to look up at her with big, teary eyes. “Down there… Please… Touch my… my pu-place.” She tried, but she couldn’t say the word she knew her girlfriend wanted to hear.
Liliene had to swallow a lump at that scene. The mere sight of her lover’s flushed face was enough to ignite a fire in her belly. A fire that, ironically, was making her very wet. If they weren’t in a café, she would have stripped Laura of all her clothes and devoured her on the spot.
“Damn. You’re ravishing.”
Liliene leaned in to capture Laura’s lips, hungrier this time. Then her hand gave her lover what she wanted. She grabbed the front of Laura’s panties and pulled it down enough to expose her lover’s cute bush.
Keeping her gaze firmly locked on Laura’s, Liliene brought two fingers to her mouth and sucked on them to moisten them. Then she dived her hand in Laura’s pubes, slowly dug lower, tracing Laura’s slit a few times. Her finger found her target, the little clit poking from its hood, and gently caressed it.
“Ah…”
Laura exhaled languidly, then relaxed deeper into the cushions. Her panties dug into her thighs as she tried to open them wider.
“You can’t move too much,” Laura whispered, keeping a slow, torturous rhythm with her fingers. “You’re my prisoner, remember?”
“Mm.” Laura nodded obediently, but couldn’t suppress her hips from bucking in search of stimulation.
Seeing Laura melt under her touch was euphoric and filled Liliene’s heart with a surge of power; she wanted to give her the pleasure she deserved and desperately needed. She stopped her ministrations on Laura’s pearl for just a moment, slid her hand lower, and gently played with Laura’s opening until her fingers slid without any effort. Then she found Laura’s clit again, this time stimulating it faster.
Laura’s hands flew above her head and grabbed a cushion, pulling on it so hard Liliene thought she might have split it in half.
“Laura… Show me your breasts,” Liliene asked in a gentle voice. “I want to see them.”
Laura’s gaze flew to the locked door, and she tensed for a fraction. But she let go of her cushion and pulled on the front of her dress. Her eyes were locked with Liliene’s as she lowered the fabric, chewing ravishingly on her lower lip.
“They’re yours, Lili. To touch or just… Mm... admire.”
And admire them, Liliene did. Her arm burned with the strain of maintaining the rhythm, but she wouldn’t stop, not with Laura writhing like this. Her lover was craving, and it was her role to provide. Laura’s breasts, now free, bounced with every spasm of pleasure, accompanying every gasp with a sinuous dance of her whole body.
Laura was losing control of her limbs. She kicked the table’s leg, making the cups clink.
“Lili, I… I’m—“
Liliene leaned in and captured Laura’s mouth in hers to help her muffle her moans. Laura reciprocated, pushing her tongue against Liliene in pure instinct. By now, she had completely lost control of her body, her limbs tensing and flailing as she neared her peak.
The kiss broke, and for a breath, Laura let out a keening scream that resonated through the entire building while her juices soaked the cushion she was sitting on. Liliene was quick to recapture her mouth and silence her.
She kept the circle of her finger around Laura's clit until the spasms receded, and gradually slowed down, letting Laura ride her orgasm, to enjoy the residual afterglow.
“I love you… Lili, I love you so much…” Laura said, her eyes hooded and wearing an almost passed-out smile.
Liliene nibbled on Laura’s mouth, enjoying the way her canines pulled on her lover’s lips.
“I love you, too. You’re my Laura… My lover…”
Laura only gave a timid yet happy nod.
“Yours…”
The sight of Laura, heaving heavily against the cushions, tempted Liliene too much. It would be a shame to have her lover’s breasts out and only admire them. Her hand closed around a soft mound of flesh and deeply massaged it while Laura kept catching her breath.
After catching their breath and doing their very best to hide any trace of what transpired there, they went down to pay for the cake and tea.
“I hope you had a pleasant time, dear customers.” The lady behind the counter wore a perfectly crafted smile and pushed a note across the counter. On it… Numbers. With too many zeros.
The lady leaned in to whisper to Liliene, “Next time, ask for the rooms on the last floor. They’re even better soundproofed.” She winked.
Laura’s ears rang; her gaze was vacant. She barely heard the lady wishing them a good day and had no idea what she had just told Liliene. Laura simply let Liliene guide her outside while her mind reeled. Her mother gave enough for a few months, sure, but that was multiple days of work. For a slice of cake and a cup of tea each. If they came here every day, they’d hit the street in a week.