#text is from Queen of Nothing by The Crane Wives

[artificialqueens]

Beauty in the Sheets - Chapter 1 - (Branjie) - Thankyoumissvanjie

A/N Welcome to my take at a lesbian AU. Comments and questions are welcome. ;)

“Boo, she ain’t for you,”

“Wanna bet?”

“Sure hoe. You get her to go home with you, and I’ll buy you all shades that RiRi has ever made of them Fenty lipsticks,”

“All of them?”

“Every goddamn one, Mary. But if yo sad ass walking home alone? You be taking all my weekends for the next three months,”

Welcome to the Beauty floor of Bloomingdales in NYC. There’s drama, there’s bitchin’ and there’s a whole lotta sex.

LINK TO AO3

Working on the beauty floor of Bloomingdales sometimes made high school movies seem like a walk in the park.

It was cut-throat, deeply divided and very competitive.

Not only were all the stands and brands trying to lure in the same men and women, who cared enough about their self-image to want to spend thousands of dollars on lipsticks, skincare and eye shadow, but you were also trying to convey the fantasy of being above it all.

You were untouchable.

Your clothes, your face and your persona were out of this world.

Every single person working on this floor was trying to show the world that beauty mattered.

You had your classic beauties. The forty-something ladies, who worked for legendary brands such as Dior, Tom Ford and Chanel. The grey-haired women, who hadn’t aged since the ’90s. With or without botox.

You had the clinical and uptight blondes of skincare - women so flawless that you didn’t feel worthy in their presence. Their pencil skirts, pretentious lab coats and unclockable skin made them look like queens.

And then you had the makeup artists that worked for the younger brands. Urban decay, Mac, and Nars. Brands that forced you to think big and bold. These men and women all had large and in charge personalities.

Their counters always held a special energy, all the makeup artists looking like they were having the time of their life with green eyeliners and black lipsticks.

It’s not that they didn’t mingle or talk with each other. It was just more that everyone had a group, a place and a certain box that they fit into.

And these barriers were difficult to wipe out.

Which was why Nina West, long-suffering floor manager, had decided that she would take them all on a retreat.

The music was loud. There were people everywhere, grinding, moving and dancing.

Sweat was clinging to overheated skin, as the temperature of the room was making everything damp and hot.

The dance floor seemed to almost be a portal to a different part of the world.

A place where nothing was wrong and everything was allowed.

And there in the middle of the floor, she was dancing.

Her short black dress sticking to her body, sinfully hugging her curves as her hands ran all over herself.

Her long blonde hair was everywhere, sticking to her skin in odd places. She was glistening, sweat drops running down her neck and creating a perfect path down to her cleavage. The deep cut of the dress toeing that difficult line between sexy and sinful.

The six-inch black heels made her tower over everyone.

She was a beauty.

Angelic and yet devilishly sinful.

Vanjie didn’t care.

She needed to have her.

“Why are we going on a retreat again? Talk me through your process once more.” They were both sitting in her office for their usual 10 am coffee break. How Brooke and Nina had ended up working at the same place, given that they had both gone separate ways in college was a difficult and long story.

But here they were. The best of friends since high school, and somehow coworkers.

“B. You’re going.” Nina was slurping on her caramel soy latte, giving her the patented “I am your boss, deal” look. A look that was very close to her “I am your best friend and it is now time for tough love” stare.

Both were looks that she gave Brooke weekly.

If not daily.

“Bitch, I know, but could you tell me why?” Brooke was on the day’s third cup of black coffee. Being a morning person was something she had forced herself to be - coffee and cigarettes were the vices that helped her keep up that particular appearance.

Her long blonde hair was slicked back into a tight bun. The skin was clear and makeup minimal. She wore the standard uniform of a black pencil skirt, white shirt, high heels and lab coat.

She looked professional.

Nina was always amazed at how different work Brooke looked in comparison to the one she saw outside of this little micro cosmos that they worked in.

She knew why that difference was created, but yet, it still boggled her mind.

“To help create and strengthen-

“Bonds between the different counters and coworkers, yes yes. You’ve said that ten times now, but WHY are you forcing us to do this by going to some fancy-ass country club in fucking Albany? Why not just take us out to Olive Garden or something and call it a day?” The fact that Brooke didn’t want to go had more to do with the fact that she was leaving town, something that she didn’t do anymore.

But she didn’t want to tell Nina that, knowing how her loving and way too accommodating friend would try to figure something out, a way to make it work.

And well. She hadn’t heard from Patrick in weeks. It would be fine.

She would be fine.

“Because you wouldn’t be caught dead in an Olive Garden, Brooke.” Which was true. She had expensive taste and she wasn’t afraid of flaunting that.

“Well no. But I don’t need to create bonds with my coworkers. I have you,” She said it with conviction, hoping that Nina believed her.

The real reason she didn’t want to create more bonds, was because she didn’t have room in her life for friends. It was way too messy for that.

“Uh-uh. And I say you need to speak with someone who is not me, Shuga, Katya, Detox or Chad.” The raised eyebrow left no room for discussion, and Brooke tried to cover the pit in her stomach with a smile.

“I hate you.”

She really didn’t.

“You love me.”

“I hope you’ll talk with Ru about giving me that raise after this,” She said it jokingly, needing to distract Nina, so she wouldn’t catch on to the fact that Brooke was starting to panic a bit.

“B… You are not getting a raise for going on a three-day paid leave with the rest of your colleagues.”

“Why the hell not, I am sacrificing my sanity for this. I bet that I could sue for emotional distress,”

“I hate that your ex is a lawyer,”

Their laughter could be heard outside in the hallway, making people stop and roll their eyes.

She was standing at the bar, all by herself, not noticing and not caring that everyone was eyeing her up and down.

Every man and woman at the club was vying for her attention,

But every person who had approached this goddess had all been rebuked with a single raised eyebrow and a tiny shake of her head.

Vanessa wanted to try.

Needed to.

Gulping down the rest of her drink, she squared her shoulders and looked at Silky.

“Right ho, imma go and do it,”

“Boo, she ain’t for you,” She laughed at her, having seen the blonde on the dance floor and how she had hypnotised Vanjie. That woman was out of everyone’s league.

Even Vanessa Vanjie Mateo’s.

“Wanna bet?”

“Sure hoe. You get her to go home with you, and I’ll buy you all shades that RiRi has ever made of them Fenty lipsticks,”

“All of them?”

“Every goddamn one, Mary. But if yo sad ass walking home alone? You be taking all my weekends for the next three months,” Silky could already feel her weekends clearing up, which made her dream of all that good dick she could be getting herself.

“Bitch? You’re on.” The determined look in the small Latina’s eyes did nothing to discourage her.

That blonde bitch would never deign to spend time with that small bundle of crazy that was Vanjie.

“I cannot believe that Miss Nina is making us do this,” Silky had been complaining ever since they had gotten on the bus.

The idea of spending a weekend with her Mac hoes seemed amazing, but the uptight bitches of counters A through G? Not so much.

“Come on Silk, Miss Congeniality just want all us bitches to be less catfigthin’ and more friendly. Ain’t nothing wrong with that, boo,” Vanjie loved Nina, they all did.

Which was probably why no one had said no to the trip, the only ones staying behind were the newcomers and those unlucky - or lucky, depending on how you felt about a weekend in Albany - to have a shift this particular weekend.

“Lil Miss Vanj, just cause you be happy that you ain’t workin’ a weekend, don’t mean you gotta be all happy ‘bout this. I had plans with my man this weekend and now I gots to do this? No, ma’am.” A’keria was sitting with her head down in her phone, probably texting her momma, to see if her son was doing okay. Her man? That was her son. The mascot of the Mac counter and better at applying a winged eyeliner than any 5-year-old had any right to be.

“Kiki, we going to a resort. There be drinks, hot trophy wives and spa - why that givin’ you a long face? Mama Kiki be taking care of our lil dude. Time for you to let loose!” Vanjie was ready. She hadn’t partied for a while. Not since… Her.

“Trophy wives? You forgotten all about Miss ‘best night of my life’ already?” Trust Silky to bring that up… Again.

“She ain’t called me back, Mary. And I ain’t waiting for no hoe. Not even her.”

“Listen, my friend over there bet me that I couldn’t make you go home with me. And I gots the next three months of weekend shifts on the line mama, and I ain’t about to lose to big Silk,” Vanjie had always jumped straight into all situations, not caring if she seemed crass or dumb.

She decided that the only tactic she had was honesty. The tall goddess in front of her deserved it.

“That one is new,” The music was deafening, but somehow, the blonde managed to cut through all the noise without yelling.

“So whaddya say?” Vanjie did her signature pretty smile, the one that usually made a no turn into a yes.

“Hmmm… I’m thinking no,” But not this one.

“You sure ‘bout that, boo? I got a prepo-prepar… I gots an offer for you, you wanna hear it?” She walked closer, her neck craning as she kept on looking into those perfect smokey eyes.

“Sure…” She tried to feign disinterest, but Vanjie clocked the excitement in those big blue eyes.

She had her. Miss Vanjie still got it.

“You lemme buy you one of them fancy pink cocktails, and then I get the time it takes you to drink it to convince you that you need the full Vanessa experience,” Their chests were touching, eyes locked, breaths in sync.

“You seem very sure that you’ll be able to do that?” An eyebrow was raised in a challenge. But Alexis Mateo raised no fool, Vanjie knew how to play.

“I ain’t just sure. Bitch, I know.” Her hip was cocked, eyes wide and a smirk on her lip. She wasn’t scared of a 6-foot tall incarnation of aphrodite.

For a second they stared at each other, the music deep and loud around them.

And then.

“Make it a martini. Extra Olives. You get ten minutes.”

“Perfecto, Mami,”

“Listen up, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for coming-” Nina was standing in front of all of them. She looked like a glamorous kindergarten teacher, trying to keep everyone in sight, while also knowing that it was an impossible task.

“Why does she have to sound like this isn’t mandatory,” Brooke was standing in the back, smoking a cigarette and already regretting that she hadn’t kicked up a fuss about being here. She felt angsty, fearing that her phone could ring at any moment and bring her back to reality.

“Mama, she is your good Judy, if you don’t know, then none of us does,” Katya shrugged at her taking a deep drag from her cigarette. If you didn’t know any better you would think that the two of them were twins. Both in black clothes, their blonde hair in perfect buns, and glasses perched on their noses.

Despite their dry sense of humour and ability to run on coffee and smokes for hours, they shared no genes, and the only other thing they really had in common was the fact that they both worked at the same Khiel’s counter. Day in and day out.

“Now I know that you have all probably already thought of how you will group together in the rooms, but to facilitate new friendships across counters and brands, I have made sure that you will all room with colleagues that you don’t work with on a day to day basis,” Nina’s words hit Brooke, and it made her heart sink.

Fuck, she had to deal with someone new.

“Shit.”

“Come on Brooke, teamwork. Yay!” Katya’s small hands waved sarcastically in the air, as she laughed in her loud and wheezing way, which always made it difficult to stay annoyed at her.

“Shut up, Katya!” She slapped her on the shoulder, trying to cover the fact that she was smiling.

“Oh Mama, seeing you talk with a new person, is going to be the highlight of my week. No. My month. I cannot wait to tell Trixie this, she will die!”

“I hate you.”

She really didn’t.

“You love me,”

“Now given the sheer number of people, some of you will room together in pairs, others in threes and a few of you in fours. I have some lists here,” As everyone went up to get the lists, Brooke hung back, she knew that someone from her team would grab a bunch.

They all knew that she hated big crowds and tight places.

And sure enough, Chad walked towards her and Katya with the lists. Scanning the pages her, she felt herself calm a bit.

“Oh, B. At least you only have to deal with one other person.” Chad was always the calm voice of reason, nothing ever faced her.

“Yeah… But I got one of the Mac girls. Vanessa, something?” The name told her nothing. All the makeup girls faded into this lump of… People.

“Oh, you got Vanjie. She is a feisty little firecracker, honey!” Katya sounded excited, which only made Brooke sigh.

Fuck, she would have to deal with a talker. Well, this would turn out to be the longest weekend.

“Yay. Great.” Just what she needed. A young party girl who probably wanted to braid her hair and talk about boys. Fuck.

“Come on Miss Hytes, get in the spirit.”

“Katya, I swear, I will kill you with my bare hands,”

“Now, if you go in help desk, you’ll get your keys and room number. I’ll see you all down here in two hours for dinner. That gives you some time to freshen up and change clothes. “

The loud bang of the door closing was followed by giggles and the sound of bodies tumbling over the wooden floor. Moans and soft whines echoed throughout the large studio apartment.

“Oh, fuck,” Vanjie whined, already too far gone. Bella had been all over her, the moment the door to the cab, Uber? Something … had closed. Kissing and biting, her hand finding its way up under her skirt. Teasing her the whole ride, but never actually touching her where she needed it the most.

“Not yet,” the breathy words made Vanjie clench her thighs. Fuck, she thought she would give the blonde the night of her life, but it quickly became clear to her that she might’ve bitten off more than she could chew.

Because Bella was not playing around.

Her lips were trailing down her neck, nipping and biting, prompting gasps and moans from Vanjie. The back of her thighs hit something solid, as she was pushed up onto the large dinner table, her t-shirt dress bunched up at her waist in the process.  

“B, I-I… Shit,” deft hands quickly made work of her dress, pushing it over her head, leaving her in black bra and panties. It made her send a small thank you to her past self that had decided to put on her only nice set of underwear for the evening.

The black bra working some magic by making her breasts look way larger than their b-cup while the thong cupped her ass perfectly.

Thank you, Miss Vanjie.

The blonde took a moment to look her over, while Vanjie did the same to her. She could feel herself getting wetter, as she gazed at the perfect curves and spotless skin. Six feet tall, all curves and muscles. How was the woman real?

Beyoncé could fuck the fuck right off, cause there was a new Queen B in town.

Vanjie couldn’t wait to get her out of that dress. To see what hid behind the black stretchy fabric.

What the fuck was she waiting for?

“Mama, let’s get you out of that dress, huh?” The raised eyebrow told her that she had other plans. She leaned closer and started kissing her way down Vanjie’s chest. Hands quickly removing the bra, throwing it somewhere in the flat.

Her lips started sucking at one of her nipples, taking her breath away with the sensation. Her hips moved at their own accord, seeking friction. She felt her nipples harden under Bella’s tongue.

Fuck, this bitch did not play around.

Her fingers started pinching the other, making her impossibly wetter, her thong soaked all the way through and probably dripping onto the table.

Her lips were softly biting the hardened nub, making her moan in that intoxicating mix of pain and pleasure.

“How do you feel about the number seven?” It took Vanjie a second to realise that the lips had left her breast and that she was once again looking at her expectantly, her fingers never stopping for a second, pinching and pulling.

“I… What?”

“I was thinking seven… Yeah, that sounds about right,”

And with that she dropped gracefully down to her knees, pulling Vanjie close to the edge of the table. Her lips were slowly kissing their way up her leg, feeling them shake with sheer anticipation.

It had been ages since a woman had gone down on Vanjie.

Fuck, she was not ready.

The blonde pulled at her thong, ripping it apart. If it had been anyone else, Vanjie would have popped off, yelling that this was her only good thong, but this blonde bitch owned her right now. The demonstration of power made her insides flutter with lust and her breath stagger.

Fucking hell.

“You smell good, baby” That voice, all low and raspy. Her hands removed the scrap of black lace that had once been a $40 thong, as her lips inched their way closer and closer.

“Please…” Her whine was high and breathy as she could feel the small puffs of air against her skin. Her closed on their own accord, the sensation too much for her.

Her hips started to push forward slightly, hoping to finally get some relief, but a hand quickly grabbed her hip, forcing her to be still.

She felt powerless. It was frightening, it was intoxication.

It was fucking hot.

The lips were so very close.

“So polite now, such a change,” the words were mumbled against her skin sending small vibrations throughout her body, she was almost shaking,

Fucking hell.

“Please,” Vanjie couldn’t recognise her own voice. The tone so high, her need so clear.

“Please what? Tell me, Vanessa. What do you want?” The way she said Vanessa, a name no one ever used, almost made her come right then and there.

If she didn’t survive this night, at least she died happily.

“I want you to lick me,” Her body was so tight, strung like a bow. her toes were curling and fists clenching. She opened her eyes, looking down at those big blue eyes that were like liquid sex.

Bella smirked at her and licked a patch of skin on her thigh, the sensation tantalising, but not what she needed.

“Like that?” Her voice was teasing.

She knew what she was doing.

“No, I-” She couldn’t think, couldn’t speak. Her body felt like it was ready to explode, to combust before they had even gotten to the good part.

“No? Then what? If you don’t use your words, then how will I know, Vanessa?” Bella made her voice high, sounding confused and so sweet, it would have worked if her eyes hadn’t glinted with mischief. She had Vanjie exactly where she wanted her.

“Fuck… Pl-please lick my pussy,” She pushed the words out, hoping that she was getting it right, hoping that Bella would just fucking do it.

And then her lips were on her. Sucking and licking her centre up to that tight bundle of nerves that made her shiver with the tantalising sensations that made her whole body shake. Vanjies hands grabbed two fistfuls of blonde hair, pushing her closer until she was almost buried in her.

It was rough but soft. Too much and not even close to being enough. Her body felt more alive than ever before, her moans getting louder as Bella’s tongue entered her.

“Shit, B… “ Her eyes were shut, as she felt herself getting closer and closer to the edge. Maybe Bella could sense it, as she abandoned her thrusts to suck her clit.

That did it.

With a silent scream, Vanjie came. Her thighs tight around the blondes face, riding out the waves of pleasure that went through her body.

She almost collapsed back onto the table, her body spent, feeling almost woozy coming down from that high.

“Holy shit, Bella,”

The blonde got up from the floor and pulled Vanjie from the table, their lips meeting in a filthy kiss, none of them minding that her juices were still on her lips.

And as Bella slowly pulled away, she looked Vanjie straight in the eye with a challenging gaze.

“One.”

“Oh Vanj, you got Miss Brooke Lynn, the Ice Queen from Khiel’s.” Silk was sniggering as she looked closer at the paper, seeing that she was rooming with some of the people from Armani and Nars.

“Why I always get the bitches?” Vanjie tried to conjure up an image of this Brooke Lynn, but all she got was one of those blondes in their lab coats, tight buns and glasses.

This weekend already seemed too long.

“Cause you like them?” Cigarette smoke was puffed against her chin, as Detox looked closer at the list.

“Don’t need your help, D!” She said playfully, bumping into her hip, sending her tumbling. Her hair was coloured in a bright neon green, which should not have worked with her bright red eye makeup and black lipstick, but Detox always seemed to be the exception to any rules made in the world of makeup.

“You sure? Cause I know B… Give her some tequila and she’ll… well, just. Trust me,” The smirk on her face told that there were countless stories to be told about her friend, but that she wasn’t going to give them up.

“Wait, so I’ve got the white girl that is uptight cause she needs a good fuck, cause her man ain’t doing it for her? I would rather talk ‘bout red lipsticks with Instagram teenagers than that - and ya’ll know my feelin’ bout that shit.” Typical, that the other got to room with lots of people and she only got one, and her nickname was Ice Queen. Jesus.

Just my fucking luck.

“Vanj. Just give it a chance,” Trust Silky to suddenly be all positive. She had seen the list, she knew that she would have the pleasure of rooming with the Armani dudes and Plastique over for Nars.

Typical.

“The shit I do for Miss West, ya’ll. Mary, pray for Miss Vanjie tonight, I might not survive rooming with the uptight sorority girl,” She grabbed her way too big for a weekend trip suitcase and made her way up to the desk to get her key.

She walked as if she was on her way towards the gallows.

“Bye girl!” Detox smiled knowingly, pretty sure that Vanjie was in for an experience.

“Fuck, I… I can’t,” Vanjie was writhing on the bed, hair twisted into a bird’s, as her hands frantically grabbed at the sheets, trying to find something to keep her grounded.

“One more, babe. I know you have one more in you,” The words were whispered against her lips, the dildo thrusting into her, filling the room with its sloppy sounds.

They had fucked on the floor.

Bella had ridden her face on the couch.

Fingered her against the wall until she came. Twice.

Ate her out again on the bed.

Then rutted against her until they both came.

And now Bella was working Vanjie towards the seventh orgasm of the night. Her body was slick with sweat, her eyes closed and head moving from side to side, as she was almost delirious on the endorphins and sensations.

Everything shook. Her body, the bed, and what seemed like the whole world, as the unrelenting pace of the dildo coupled with its vibrations slowly dragged Vanjie towards the edge one final time.

It was amazing, it was painful, it was everything.

“Oh, look at you. Fuck me, you’re hot.” She seemed to do everything at once, licking, kissing and biting. The hand not working the dildo was touching, caressing, and pinching her everywhere.

Vanjie could feel it, the way her muscles started to clench, her back tight as a bow lifting off the bed, her eyes fell close as everything because too much.

It was all sensation.

She could see the edge, so close yet so far away, she just needed that last push. That last-

“Come for me. Do it, babe.”

That.

She screamed.

Opening the door, she was met by the sight of a small brown-haired girl. She was beautiful in her skin tight jeans and crop top.

She created quite the contrast to Brooke’s pencil skirt and white shirt get-up.

If this had been a club setting, this was the type of girl, Brooke would go for.

“Hi, I’m Brooke and you must be Vanessa?” She turned around and looked her up and down, her eyes narrowing in recognition.

“You!”

#rpdr fanfiction #brooke lynn hytes #vanessa vanjie mateo #branjie #group fic #lesbian au #department store au #smut #fluff #beauty in the sheets #thankyoumissvanjie #tw power dynamics