Open the door Who: Kaialani and Whisper When: Later at night Where: Ad Gustum Warning: Not exactly NSFW, it just toes the line a touch.
It was a slow night for Kaia at Ad Gustum; with no regulars scheduled and no appointments on her calendar, she'd planned on a quiet evening. Perhaps changing the polish on her fingernails in preparation for the charity event (for which she'd already found her dress, she felt quite accomplished for having done so before the day of the party), or watching a movie. She was on call, which meant she was ready for any walk-ins who might want her. Eschewing the polish idea for a little later, Kaia dressed herself - dark blue skinny jeans and a lace-edged silk camisole in a deep purple that glowed against her skin, paired with dark grey heels and a charcoal-colored blazer, sleeves rolled to her elbows. In lieu of silver jewelry she wore a long string of tiny jet beads and matching studs in her ears.
Appropriately dressed and out of reasons to stay in her room, Kaia put the DVD idea off in favor of doing a little reading in one of the front sitting rooms. Picking up her book, she settled herself down in one of the rooms off the front foyer and entryway, legs slung casually over the arm of her chair, and settled down to read.
After running into that strange Emory vampire, Whisper had recalled something she had heard from some vampire whose name she could not remember about a place called Ad Gustum. As hungry as she was - really, she had to remember to never, ever allow herself to choose a companion who had an incompatible blood type. "Now," she said, stopping in front of the front doors of the rather impressive mansion - even by her standards - she had been looking for. She did not even smile when she looked at Jerold, seeing the sullen look on his face, but she placed a hand on his chest. "I want you to go home."
"But you're going in there," he said, the sullen look on his face emphasized in his voice. "Why can't I come play too?" Whisper did not even dignify that with a verbal response. Her nails dug into his skin through his shirt, causing him to let out a hiss. When she released him, the blood-witch stumbled a little and nodded. "I'll see you when you get home." This time Whisper did smile, waiting until he had turned back up the street before pushing the door open. This was not the sort of place where she would be the one drawing all of the attention, a feeling which caused a knot in her stomach, but she still walked as though every eye would be on her. It should be.
Unused to coming into a place like this, but intrigued nonetheless, Whisper approached what looked like the front desk. After an extremely polite greeting she was asked what she wanted. "I've heard that one can purchase services... blood among other things. If you have a woman with B+ then that would be absolutely delightful. Money isn't really an issue." That was one of the nice things about being in the world of fashion, money was no object. Especially if she wanted something. And oh, she did.
Kaia heard voices in the entryway; she typically tuned such things out unless she was called, but in this case she distinctly heard 'woman' and 'B-positive.' If that wasn't her cue, she didn't know what was. Marking her place in her book, she rose and made her way to the reception area, heels clicking softly on the floor. She flashed a smile as she came into sight; her makeup was tasteful, all dark lashes, warm blushes, and pink lips, and her long hair was styled in loose curls - which she tossed over her shoulder with an artless flick of her head. She took in her potential client with a quick, discreet once-over, the result of long practice at sizing up johns. Or Janes, in this case.
"I think that would be me," she said warmly as she stepped up, giving the receptionist a friendly wink in greeting. "I'm Kaialani," she introduced herself, holding out a hand. "Both a lady and b-positive, at your service." And then some. "If I suit, of course," she added with a flirtatious little smile.
Before the one behind the desk could say anything, a woman came into the room, drawing the attention of the receptionist and Whisper both. One of the vampire's eyebrows arched when she took the woman - Kaialani - in, noting first that she carried herself quite well and second that her clothes were more than suitable. She knows how to dress herself, very good. That was almost as important as the fact that she had exactly the right blood type. And she's a flirt... perfect.
"Delightful," Whisper said aloud with a slow smile, accepting the warm hand in her own. She was not unused to the warmth, due to Jerold, but it was still nice to feel every now and again with soft skin instead of rough that was interlaced with self-imposed cuts for blood magic. "I think that you'll do just fine, Kaialani." Surely someone like this would not come cheap... but then, steep prices made for the best service. "My name is Whisper Charlton." She was always willing to throw her full name out wherever she was able. It usually brought in at least some degree of recognition from somewhere.
Kaia had been trying to place the familiar face as the woman took her hand, but the name sealed it for her. She was a fashion designer - Kaia even had a few of her pieces from past collections. This wasn't her first celebrity client, however, and they usually hated if people fawned all over them. So Kaia played it cool. "I love your work," she said with a smile as they shook hands, but didn't take it any further than that.
"If you'd like to come with me," she said politely, gesturing with her free hand, "my room is this way. Although if you had a different setting in mind, we can be quite accommodating." Her tone was warm, playfully hinting without getting too suggestive. Men generally liked blatant invitations and vulgarity, but women tended to be more refined. At least at first.
A smile and a singular compliment; Whisper felt a slight blow to her ego at that. As confident as she was wont to act and think she was, the vampire actually had a problem when it came to that. Not right now, she told herself, just resisting the urge to wrap her arms around herself. There's a very good meal right here and attention, exactly right and just because of one little comment... doesn't matter. Whisper had to tell herself that several times before she was able to respond without her teeth showing in a grin that would not have counted as anything pleasant.
"I'm sure your room is perfectly suitable," Whisper said. "If you'll lead the way then I'd love to be somewhere more... comfortable." It had been quite a long time since she had seen any room other than her own, but judging by what Kaialani was wearing, hers should be more than acceptable for a time. Besides, Whisper approved of the woman's attitude, not too forward and yet not completely lacking invitation.
"Wonderful," Kaia said warmly, adjusting her grip on Whisper's hand so that her fingers slid easily between those of the vampire's, leading the way to her room. The bedroom was tastefully appointed with understated luxury, decorated in a sort of romantic contemporary style reminiscent of an Italian villa. The walls were a buttery gold, textured like stonework, with dark wood furniture and a large, insanely comfortable four-poster bed. Purples dominated her color scheme, chiffon hangings from the bedposts, a plum down comforter, and large pillows that could be placed on the bed or around the room for floor cushions. The fabrics were sumptuous, silks and satins, anything that felt good against her skin. There was a small sitting area, a low coffee table with fresh fruit on a platter and two thickly-cushioned chairs, and that was where Kaia led Whisper after closing the door behind them.
"Now," she murmured, the faint hint of a purr in her voice, "tell me exactly what you're looking for tonight."
It felt so strange to have smooth skin against her hand again as opposed to the more marked one of Jerold. No, let's not ruin the night with those thoughts. Whisper allowed herself to be led away, admiring the building as they went. It seemed like whoever was in charge of it had very good taste. Though the room that Kaialani led her into was practically perfect in every way. From the Italian like feel to the purple coloring... nothing at all that made her feel even the slightest uncomfortable.
The vampire sank into the chair she was directed towards with a sigh; it was so nice to feel comfortable after having spent the night out walking. The question was greeted with a quiet laugh, and Whisper raised one hand to brush against the woman's neck, stopping at where she could feel her pulse, licking her lips unconsciously. "Your blood, darling," Whisper informed her in a low voice. "I'm extremely picky and haven't been able to have what I prefer as often as I would like. But before we must talk, perhaps be close." Her teeth flashed in a smile. "I like playing with my food."
Kaia didn't think it was all that hot to be referred to in the same way one might talk about a hamburger, but she was used to vampires trying to do the whole 'dark, sexy creature of the night' thing. Thankfully, this one actually was sexy, which made it easier to keep a smile on her face without batting a lash. Though she did hope Whisper came from a Family whose bite didn't hurt too badly.
"Tell me all about it," she encouraged, lounging indolently in her chair. She liked to let her clients lead (except for that one regular who wasn't happy unless he was chained from the ceiling being ordered to lick her boots.) "Busy with work, perhaps? No time to seek out that special someone?" She smiled coquettishly. "I'm glad, if it brought you here."
Propping her elbow on the side of the chair, Whisper leaned her chin on her palm, slipping her heels off as she drew her feet up underneath her. It felt nice to know that she was being listened to, more than nice actually, the attention was as sweet to her as blood. "My special someone hasn't found me again yet," Whisper smiled, wondering if Karine actually had any idea at all of where she was. "And the one whose replaced her is rather... how you'd say ineffective." A roll of her eyes at the thought of Jerold and his scarred hands and that damnable cat, he was lucky he loved her or else his use would have been much shorter-lived.
"That, and his blood isn't my type at all." Whisper's nose wrinkled at just the memory of the scent of it, something she was more familiar with than she cared to be. Blood witches always had the scent of blood clinging to them... here there was no such scent, Whisper could breathe deeply if she wished and was only greeted with pleasant scents. "My last assistant proved ineffective and had to be dispatched, and blood banks are so... impersonal. And they don't listen near so well." Her dark eyes trailed over the curves of Kaialani's body and a different smile than before curved her lips. "Nor are they so lovely to look at."
"It's so hard to find good help these days," Kaia agreed. "Though I'm sure your special someone will find you soon. You seem like a hard lady to resist for long." Kaia watched Whisper's eyes trail over her and her answering smile was slow-blooming and positively steamy. She nonchalantly stretched, a long, luxurious catlike undulation from head to toe, the comparison enhanced by her flexible contortionist's body. "You can see more anytime you like," she purred, green-gold eyes hooded and sleepy.
Normally Whisper loved to let her thoughts drift off to Karine, a much more pleasant place than wherever she was. Her mind was moving steadily in that direction until Kaia stretched out and purred that she could see more. I like this one, the vampire decided. "Show me more," Whisper told her, leaning forward in her chair while one hand went out to trail along Kaia's jean-covered thigh. It was lovely to feel a softer, smaller leg instead of what she had grown used to, and to feel like she was being tempted instead of an outright attempt. "I like a teasing show now and again."
If it was teasing she wanted, teasing she would get. Kaia slid off her chair to face Whisper, finger tips dragging lightly over her collarbones before grasping the edge of her blazer. She slowly pulled the lapels apart, revealing tanned skin and deep purple silk and lace. Turning so her back was to Whisper, she let the charcoal blazer slip ever so slowly down her arms, long, dark hair pulled over one shoulder to leave her back bare. The camisole was split down the back, a band of material just below her shoulderblades holding it together while the rest let teasing hints of her lower back show, including the tribal butterfly tattoo just above her tailbone. When the blazer slipped free of her arms, she tossed it onto her dresser and tossed a playful little glance over her shoulder at Whisper. "Enough?" she asked, lips curving just slightly.
Whisper's eyes were glued on Kaia unabashedly, elbows on her knees now as she leaned forward, bottom lip caught between her teeth as she watched. Soft, tanned skin with no scars for blood rituals, unmarred from what she could see past one of those tattoos that was so popular these days caused a bit of a hitch. That neck was going to be so refreshing... "You could continue a little bit," the vampire encouraged. She was a fashion designer, yes, but there were times when she appreciated a lack of clothes so much more. "Then come over here..." Whisper pouted a little bit. "Else I'll start feeling lonely."
Kaia lived for that look in her clients, when it seemed as if they forgot everything in the room except what she was doing. She considered the next piece to remove as she slowly toed off her shoes, then slid her fingertips under the waistband of her jeans. A quick twist and the button was free, zipper following shortly thereafter. The jeans were tight, and Kaia played up their removal with a few sexy little hip wiggles, and bent over slowly to remove them, tossing them after her blazer. She turned, left in her silk camisole and a pair of lacy black bikini underwear that rode low on her hips.
"We can't have you feeling lonely now," she said with a sympathetic little pout. Gliding forward, she slid her hands over Whisper's shoulders and stepped close. Light pressure urged her to sit back, and Kaia took advantage to straddle her lap. "Close enough for you?" she teased with a little smirk, mouth close to Whisper's ear.
As much as Whisper enjoyed watching Kaia's little show - and she felt herself beginning to stir when the jeans were gone - the vampire was also starting to feel the effects of not being the center of attention. The fact that this was all for her did not even... Whisper's thoughts scattered when Kaia encouraged her to lean back before straddling her. "Much better," she agreed, one hand coming up to push Kaia's dark locks aside. Her head turned slightly so that her cool lips brushed again Kaia's neck, getting just a taste for later. It felt so good, the blood rushing beneath the skin and the hot body on top of her.
Whisper's free hand slid along Kaia's thigh, eyes fluttering at the smoothness. Just like Karine... too hot, but so close. "Delicious little thing," Whisper accused, just grazing her teeth against Kaia's neck, not hard enough to damage the skin. An attention-hungry woman by nature, Whisper had found over the years that death had done nothing but increase all her desires. "You've got me craving more than blood."
Once again, Kaia found herself hoping Whisper's bite wasn't going to be too painful; it was kind of hard to keep up the sexy vibe when her neck was throbbing and she was wondering about infection. Not from vamps, of course, but a wound was a wound. She pushed those thoughts away and slid her hands down Whisper's arms, fingertips questing lightly under the hem of the vampire's shirt. She tilted her head to make access to her neck even easier, dark hair sliding over her other shoulder in a heavy mass. "Then take what you want," she purred softly. "Anything."
Warm fingers just under her shirt and purred permission to take what she wanted... Whisper smiled against Kaia's neck, letting her fingers trail down along the other woman's neck and arm to trace over the silk covering her breasts. "Think I will," she murmured, never one to be silent, lips pressed beneath Kaia's ear, "it's been... months since I had a woman." Longer since a living one, but her mind was not going to focus on that. At any moment she expected the gasp that she had grown used to from humans, shock at the cold of her skin, but she continued. The hand that had been resting on Kaia's thigh slid up so that she could toy with the lacy underwear, a finger slipping beneath the side.
Other mortal women might have recoiled from the cold, undead body, but this was Ad Gustum. They catered to vampires, and companions who had problems with sleeping with vampires obviously didn't last long. Kaia prided herself on her professionalism (which, in this case, consisted mostly of looking hot and making everyone she was with think they were equally hot regardless of actual physical status), so there would be no flinching. "Months too long, then," she murmured with the hint of a laugh in her tone, sliding her hands up Whisper's back and bending her head a little to nibble at the vampire's earlobe.
Having not judged time with any true caring since her death, Whisper sometimes had problems knowing how long passed when she got into something. So she had no idea of how long she'd actually been in the brothel when she stretched out, feeling better than she had in quite awhile. Except for one thing. The vampire was now most definitely hungry, and her very favorite type was lying right there. "Come here, Kaia," Whisper murmured as she sat up. "I know you probably aren't looking forward to this, but I promise it's not that bad. I would know, I've been bitten."
Half of Kaia's job was up, and quite pleasantly so for both of them, unless she'd misread the look in Whisper's eyes when it was revealed just how flexible Kaia was. She'd been surprised when Whisper hadn't taken her blood earlier; most vampires who came to Ad Gustum liked to combine the two activities. It seemed that Whisper enjoyed having more attention paid to her than one could reasonably be expected to pay while having one's blood taken, and Kaia had been fine with lavishing all the attention the vampire could handle. But now it seemed she was hungry, and after this Kaia could be paid and maybe get back to her book. So when Whisper spoke, she sat up with a laugh and curled up in the taller vampire's lap. "I'm not worried," she said with a purring chuckle. "I'm no stranger to bites."
Smiling, it was always so much better when the person did not fight or sulk or any of that, Whisper brushed Kaia's thick hair off of her neck before sliding around to take a light, but firm, grasp on the other side, more to steady Kaia than anything else. Her other hand rested on the woman's hip as she bent in and let her teeth sink into the very best spot. Whisper's eyes drifted closed as the warm, delicious blood spilled into her mouth and down her throat, soothing the burn that had started. A quiet moan slipped out as well, and not only because this blood was her type, oh no, there was something infinitely richer about it than any other she had ever tasted. It took all of her will to pull away after she had taken enough, lapping at the twin puncture marks she had left to get just a few more drops.
"What are you?" Whisper asked Kaia, still savoring the taste in her mouth. "You taste... different."
It was a question Kaia fielded quite often - while certain other blood types had similar effects, no one else but a dream eater would make a vampire feel like she'd gotten a full night's rest. She'd kept her muscles loose, posture relaxed during the more or less uncomfortable feeding, and turned now to give a rather secretive, feline smile to the vampire. "A girl's got to keep some secrets to herself," she said, though teasingly to soften any rebuke. "You'll just have to keep coming to see me until you guess." She'd only rarely come across any vampires that knew, and she wasn't in the habit of telling someone upon first meeting.
A question to ponder, well, Whisper could appreciate that occasionally. Such as when it came with the opportunity to have further guesses. "You can count on me being back," Whisper informed Kaia with a sultry smile. She rubbed her fingers over the smooth, warm skin one more time. "But there's the matter of payment to be dealt with now. Tell me, how much do you usually earn?" Perhaps surprisingly, the vampire had never been to a place like this, though now that she had been she would definitely be making more visits. Especially if Karine did not show up soon. "If you're one of the best I imagine high and if not... well, I could always find that out." Though the vampire doubted she would find blood like that somewhere else.
Kaia laughed softly, leaning over to give Whisper a warm, lingering kiss. "They'll handle that up front," she murmured when she pulled away, pulling out a discreet bandage to cover the tiny punctures until they healed. "At the risk of sounding conceited, I'd say I'm one of the best." In terms of rarity, of course, she blew the rest of them away. Sirens, some psychics, elementals, weres... they had nothing on her. "Come back and see me again," she said with a flirtatious little smile.
Ahh, of course, the desk where she had come in at. That made sense. Whisper accepted the kiss before standing and sliding into her clothes, fastening her necklace back where it had been, running her fingers through her hair and glancing at her reflection to ensure it looked relatively alright. "Oh I will," Whisper assured the woman. Her services and her blood had been the best she could recall in quite awhile, leaving her calm and completely herself. "Have a good evening, Kaia." Trilling her fingers lightly, the vampire turned and walked out, smiling to herself.