Mila couldn’t help but smirk as the girl turned away to hide that rose-colored blush on her cheeks. She was so adorably self-conscious. It didn’t matter of course that her face was hidden; the vampire was all too aware of the sudden rush of blood in her prey. She could sense it from across the room - warm and sweet and enticing. It was enough to spark that temptation again, that irresistible desire to move forward and taste that warmth for herself. 

[i]‘But that will come soon enough,’[/i] she thought pleasantly to herself as the girl hurried off to her room to fetch something for her to sleep in. In the meantime, it would be fun to see how often she could coax that delicious shade of red back into her new roommate’s cheeks. Mila moved a little to make room for Charlie as the girl sat down next to her. 

“Thanks, those will be perfect,” she said, taking the shirt and shorts appreciatively. “Mind if I just slip into these now?” She had noticed with delight Charlie’s subtle reaction to the unbuttoned blouse. It was just too much fun to see how far she could play with her. She casually began changing without really waiting for a response, still seated. 

“Wow, so you’re a musician? That’s amazing.” Mila undid the rest of the buttons and slipped off the blouse to reveal a lacy black bra. “I’ll have to come watch you perform sometime.” She slipped the t-shirt over her head and began tugging her skirt down. “Better yet, it’d be great if you could sing for me sometime.” Mila gave a her a teasing grin, just as she began slowly stripping her thigh high stockings from each long, slender leg. “You must be really good.” 

Despite thoroughly enjoying her little strip tease, part of her was musing about how much the world had changed in some ways. The society she had been born and raised in had been much more strict, not to mention in regards toward women and their freedoms. ‘Isn’t it wonderful that women can pursue a career such as yours? A musician: previously a male domain,’ was what she would have liked to say. But Mila had long since discovered that saying those kinds of things any more was considered a bit odd in recent decades. It was taken for granted now that men and women were more or less equal in the arts, sciences, politics. 

“I think your career path is inspiring,” she said matter-of-factly. “My job is the one that’s lame by comparison. Actually, there’s not much to say. I’ve been doing it for a while and it pays the bills, especially a high-end company like Avon. To be honest, my parents were very, ah, conservative…especially for today’s standards. I went to a finishing school, instead of a university, if you can believe it,” she chuckled. “As a girl, I could have never imagined myself taking on such a skilled profession as yours. But I think I could do more… In this day in age, I should do more. Well, I’m still young. I have time to try something else.” She looked suddenly contemplative, but at the same time there was a flippancy about her, as if changing careers were as trivial as changing one’s outfit. 

And for someone destined to live for eternity, it might as well have been. Everything she had told Charlie about her childhood had been true – she’d just omitted the small detail of it all taking place in late 17th century. That and the fact that working as a secretary had its practicalities for her unusual, nomadic lifestyle. It was never difficult for someone like her to apply, she could find a position in any city she came to, and it wasn’t something she had to be entrenched in to make money. No need to network with other professionals, or have her name known. Until Mila could find a relatively long-term living situation, she simply wouldn’t be able to move up the corporate ladder. Perhaps, that was about to change, if she played her cards right.

She pulled the loose shorts on and adjusted herself so that she was sitting with her legs tucked underneath her, that action bringing her just a touch closer to Charlie. “Your hair looks cute like this, by the way,” she said with a careless smile. The older woman reached out to take the ends of her ponytail between her fingers and twist it playfully. It was difficult not to let her fingertips continue down to the girl’s neck. The smooth skin there just begged to be caressed. “Sheesh, cute and talented. I’m sure you must have a dozen secret admirers in your audiences. Come on, the guys aren’t falling out their seats for you? And maybe some of the girls too?” She laughed lightly and readjusted herself again, and now her knee was just barely touching Charlie’s thigh, although she didn’t seem to notice. “And waitressing. How’s that?”