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Waking up next to someone is a very unique feeling, even more so if you're not used to it. First it begins with the warmth you feel next to you that isn't usual. Then the realization that you know that warmth, know the arm that surrounds you. Then the opening of eyes, sometimes disappointed that you lie with your back to the one holding you. But it's alright, the warmth is still there.

Then you truly wake and turn around.

Esmeralda.

Up close she was very pretty. I couldn't resist a simple kiss on a her lips. Waking her up and wondering if she really had slept almost twenty four hours. I glance to the door behind her told me she hadn't slept quite that long. She'd been out at least once. But that was alright.

Esmeralda spoke first. "Sleep well?"

I smiled. "Always, but waking up like this makes it nicer."

She looked at me a bit oddly. "You know, until you actually bit me, I didn't even believe it was all real. But as you bit me and when I saw you asleep so solidly in the afternoon I realized you didn't lie at all." She sighed. "I'm sorry for not trusting you."

I giggled. "It's alright. It's a bit out there, I know. Even I have trouble believing what I can do sometimes."

She leaned up on her shoulders. "Oh, tell me! What can you do! Any special vampire powers?"

I laughed a little. "Not as much as you'd think." I decided only to tell what I could do, not what I had done. Perhaps it was better that I had lost so much of my previous power. It had made me feel... inhuman.

"Tell me!"

"Well, I'm stronger and faster and I can see really well in the dark. You probably only see my silhouette now, but I can see your every freckle."

She giggled. "Like a cat! Do you see color though?"

I blinked. "What? Ooh, eh yes. I do see color."

Esmeralda pursed her lips. "Can you purr for me?"

I wasn't too good at purring, to be honest. But I could do a decent impression of a cats meow. "Mrraawwwwwrrrr."

Giggling, she curled her fingers over the little hairs in the back of my neck, quite a nice feeling. "Aw, what a cute little kitty."

I remembered what I wanted to do. "Hey, want to go shopping?"

Esmeralda looked surprised. "Sure! Now?"

I nodded. "Yep, tonight."

She looked at herself. "Can I have a shower first?"

"I'll join you." It suddenly realized on me that she might take it like I wanted to join her in the same shower cabin. But... for some reason that didn't feel good to me. It was a little too much to shower naked with her so close. A bit of intimacy that still felt a little wrong. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about her anyway. I wasn't in love with her, but she was a sort of 'easy friend'.

It just fell into place.

Esmeralda must have noticed something when I said it. "I'll get two towels. I'm sure there's plenty of cabins still free.

"Thank you."

We headed downstairs, Esmeralda went to where she was sleeping before to pick up some underwear. It occurred to me that I would have to buy a lot more of that as well. Though it was really nice to not perspire during any of my escapades. I could hardly smell myself, so neutral. I wondered if it was a defense mechanism of the olden days. So dogs would not be able to track us.

Downstairs, to our surprise, there was someone else taking a shower as well. It wasn't often that anyone at this hour felt the need to clean, but it had happened before on a few rare occasions. We took a cabin next to each other and showered. Part of me felt a little tense to shower next to Esmeralda when she was showering as well. It was very different to her just waiting for me.

"Amy?" Her echoey voice asking for me.

"Yes?" I reverbed back.

"Do you ever take too much? You know... When you drink?"

"It's not my right to take life. I've never taken that much"

"Thank you."

We finished up showering and drying ourselves in silence. I noticed that Esmeralda kept herself covered when she got back out of the shower out of a sort polite gesture. Even getting her bra and panties on without removing the towel. She didn't even look at me when she got dressed though. It was comforting to know that she respected me and didn't let my presence bother her.

With everything ready and my phone with me, just in case, we headed into town.

Never taken too much?