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“Just like that, keep your hand still,”
Madeleine tightened her grip on Claudia’s delicate fingers, careful not to hurt her. They had been sitting in the cozy corner of Madeleine's store, only the dim light of the lamps keeping them company. Nobody came to the shop this late at night.
Ever since the young girl entered this place, Madeleine felt that there was something extraordinary about her. She had never seen eyes as beautiful - the gaze as piercing and the lashes as long. Every part of her outfit was flawless and calculated, not a single thing out of place. She had instantly thought of a perfect fit of a dress she could project just for the girl’s slim frame.
“I’d like that. I'd like that very much.” the girl had answered, although not a word was said out loud.
Madeleine was too stunned to speak.
“ My name is Claudia” she reached out her hand, the fine white gloves covering the skin.
Madeleine shuddered at the sensation of the material against her fingers. “ I’m Madeleine.”
“So, what project do you have in mind?” Claudia asked, sending her a warm smile that showed a glimpse of the sharp fangs, just slightly.
“Don’t move Claudia, or I’ll mess it up!”
Claudia murmured apologetically before looking up at her lover - admiring the focus on her face. Ah yes, Claudia had known just what she wanted when she entered this store. She liked to play with her food before killing it - just like her father - she realized dismally. When she saw the ginger woman of the most exquisite beauty by the window, she could not resist herself. But as their meeting grew longer and longer, Claudia had started thinking more and more of keeping her forever, rather than dry her dead from all the blood - as sweet as the temptation of her lover’s blood sounded.
But soon Claudia realized she can have both - Madeleine, though a little intimidated at first - had let her drink her blood for the first time after a month of their every night’s little trysts. The woman felt loosened up after downing a bottle of fine wine she pulled out from her cabinet to celebrate their tiny anniversary.
Her cheeks were unnaturally scarlet from the alcohol, contrasting against her red hair. She looked so human, so full of rushing blood and life. Claudia, although she had fed not long before that moment, had to really control herself, fighting not to bare her fangs ( even if Madeleine was very fond of the sight of them.)
“Why do you never bite me?” the ginger asked, swooning to the music that wasn’t playing.
“I don’t wanna hurt you, love,” Claudia answered, holding onto the woman’s waist - they’ve been spinning like this for quite a while.
“What if I want you to hurt me? Have you ever thought of that?”
Madeleine stopped moving to face the dark-haired woman, a woman in a teenage body. Her eyes looked more serious suddenly. Claudia usually tried not to read her lover’s mind, simply out of respect, but now she couldn’t stop herself as she dipped into Madeleine’s head, hearing only the voice of Bite me, please.
Claudia looked deeply into the woman’s eyes, looking for any hesitation.
“You’re drunk, Madeleine.”
“And don’t you wanna taste the sweet wine in my veins?”
Claudia was really fighting herself now, but the red-haired woman only nodded and whispered softly. “Do it, chérie.”
So she did. She leaned over to her lover’s neck, And she has never in her quite long life felt anything like this. Not even with Charlie. The taste was unimaginable, so much better than the nameless strangers she hunted in the dark alleys of Paris. The blood felt so sweet from the wine, the thick liquid sent ripples of pleasure down her spine. She heard the soft sighs of Madeleine, felt her pleasure, and that just made everything even better. Closing her eyes in contentment, she took a deeper sip, savoring each drop as it slid down her throat. Soon she pulled away from the skin, reminding herself not to repeat the mistake she had made with Charlie.
She pulled back to look at her lover’s face, her mouth opened wide in pleasure and shock. Claudia had never felt so good in her entire life. She supported Madeleine’s weight, just in case she fainted.
“Are you okay?”
The redhead looked into the vampire's eyes and smiled warmly. “I’ve never been better.”
“Okay, almost done.”
Madeleine has always been fascinated with Claudia’s nails. She found them ghastly, yet so stunningly beautiful. She loved the little dangerous feeling of them scraping against her scalp when they kissed, a reminder of the creature Claudia was. She hated when the girl wore gloves, no matter how lovely they were.
“Can vampires paint their nails?” she asked one day.
Claudia curiously looked up at her from her book. They were both quietly doing their own thing at the opposites of the room - Madeleine was hunched above her desk, working on a new dress for the vampire - she had in mind something red and long, made out of the most luxurious fabric she owned. - while Claudia was enjoying a good book on the armchair.
“Don’t know, never tried.”
Madelaine hummed in interest. “ I think it would complement the dress pretty well.”
“You think?”
This is how the pair ended up together on the sofa, with a bottle of red nail polish on the table and Madeleine’s hands carefully grasping the vampire’s palm. Madeleine stroked the brush over one nail, testing the waters, but the bright color stayed on the nail like on a human.
She repeated the motion on the other nail, careful to cover the whole surface, stunned with the results. The unusually long, strong nails looked magnificent covered in scarlet. Claudia gasped quietly.
“Do you like them? Should I keep going?”
The vampire nodded, her eyes still fixed on the color of her painted nails. Madeleine continued her work, moving the brush attentively, stopping occasionally to blow on each fingernail to help them dry faster. Claudia couldn't tear her eyes away from the woman, mesmerized by the precision she displayed.
“Alright, one last left.”
After Madeleine finished the final coat of nail polish, Claudia looked down at her hands, marveling at the deep red color that looked stunning against her skin. The crimson color enhanced the abnormal beauty of the vampire's nails.
“Gorgeous,” Madeleine announced after putting aside the bottle and moving closer to admire her work. “You look wonderful, chérie.”
Claudia straightened out her hands, studying the color under different lighting and perspectives. “They’re exquisite.” she squeaked. “Thank you, Madeleine.”
Claudia kissed the woman’s cheek in adoration then pressed her now flashy palms on the sides of redhead’s face.
“Do you like the color?” Madeleine asked.
Claudia giggled at that. She thought about the “fake” blood they used in théâtre de vampires and how the nails would suit the scarlet dripping from her hands. The way these would blur, making the effect even more dramatic. God, how she couldn’t wait for that!
“Can I… you know?” Claudia inquired, nudging her mouth over her lover’s throat.
“Of course, dear.”
After the permission Claudia quickly sank her teeth in the flesh, savoring the taste of the woman. But after a moment, she pulled away with a groan and let a little blood run down Madeleine’s neck, contrasting against her pale complexion. The sight was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The crimson was even richer on her lover’s skin.
Claudia ran her fingers through the mess and compared the color of her nails to the thick liquid. It was familiar, yet not exactly identical. Still, she couldn’t take her eyes off the effect it gave together.
“It’s almost the same shade.” she whispered quietly.
Madeleine nodded, only the pleasure showing on her face. The sight was doing something to her as well, she had to admit.
“Next time we'll find the same tone.”