Love Bites

Nini sat on the edge of their plush velvet sofa, her long, curly brown hair cascading over her shoulders like a dark waterfall. She was staring—perhaps a bit too intensely—at the man currently standing in the kitchen. Aleksandar Pavlović, the rising star of Bayern Munich and the man who had stolen her heart three months ago, was currently humming a tune while pouring himself a glass of dark red cherry juice.

To anyone else, he was just a talented athlete with a bright future. To Nini, he was becoming a supernatural enigma.

It had started with the teeth. Aleks had a smile that could light up the Allianz Arena, but when he laughed, she couldn't help but notice the way his canines seemed just a little bit sharper, a little more prominent than the average person’s. Then there was the physical contact. Her ex-boyfriend had been timid, almost clinical in his affection. Aleks, however, was a force of nature. He was constantly draped over her, his mouth seemingly magnetized to her skin. He didn’t just kiss her; he nipped, he sucked, and he left marks that she had to hide with high-collared sweaters.

"Aleks?" she called out, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yeah, liebling?" he replied, walking back into the living room. He moved with a predatory grace, his tall, athletic frame casting a long shadow in the dim evening light.

"Why don't we ever go to the park during the day?" she asked, testing the waters. "The weather has been beautiful lately."

Aleksandar sighed, sitting down beside her and immediately pulling her into his lap. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply. "You know how it is, Nini. Training starts at dawn, then recovery, then tactical meetings. By the time I’m done, the sun is already heading down. I just want to be in the dark with you."

In the dark. Nini swallowed hard. That was another thing. Their dates were always nocturnal—late-night dinners in private booths or movies at the back of a dark theater. And then there was the secrecy. Not a single photo on Instagram. Not a single mention to his teammates. It was as if he didn't exist in the light of day.

But the kicker—the thing that truly sent her down the rabbit hole of paranormal forums—had happened last week during her period. She had expected him to keep his distance, as most men did. Instead, Aleks had been even more attentive, even more... hungry. He hadn't flinched, hadn't hesitated. He had treated the situation with a primal intensity that left her breathless and deeply suspicious.

"I made you a snack," she said, reaching for a small plate on the coffee table. She had prepared a bruschetta, heavily—very heavily—laden with raw garlic.

Aleks looked at the bread, then back at her. He picked it up and took a massive bite, chewing thoughtfully. "This is... very flavorful, Nini. A bit much on the garlic, maybe? My breath is going to be lethal at training tomorrow."

He didn't choke. He didn't turn to ash. He didn't even look mildly nauseous.

Nini frowned. Maybe he’s a higher-class vampire. The kind that can tolerate garlic.

"Is something wrong?" Aleks asked, his hand sliding up her waist. He began to trail kisses along her jawline, his teeth grazing the soft skin just below her ear. "You've been acting quiet all evening."

"I'm fine," she squeaked, her heart hammering against her ribs. "I just... I forgot I left my silver necklace in the bathroom. I should go get it."

She scrambled away, leaving a confused Aleksandar on the sofa. She spent ten minutes in the bathroom staring at her reflection. She was petite, cute, and currently looking like she was losing her mind. She needed a definitive answer. She needed to corner him.

When she walked back out, she found him standing by the window, looking out at the moonlight reflecting off the Munich skyline. He looked so ethereal, so powerful.

"Aleks, we need to talk," Nini said, her voice gaining a sudden, desperate strength.

He turned around, his expression softening. "Okay. What's on your mind?"

"We never go out in the sun," she began, ticking points off on her fingers. "You haven't posted a single photo of us, like you're hiding me—or hiding yourself. You never let your teammates see us. You’re obsessed with my neck. You... you were totally fine with... you know... the 'red' situation last week."

Aleks blinked, his brow furrowing. "Nini, I told you, the schedule is—"

"And your teeth!" she interrupted, stepping closer and pointing at his mouth. "They’re sharp, Aleks. And you bite me! All the time! You’re always hovering over me like you’re waiting to take a literal piece out of me."

Aleksandar stared at her, his mouth slightly agape. "Nini, where is this going?"

"Are you a vampire?" she blurted out, her face flushing crimson. "Just tell me the truth. I love you, and I can handle it. I’ll even buy those synthetic blood bags if I have to. I just need to know if I'm dating a member of the undead."

The silence that followed was heavy. Aleksandar looked at her, his eyes wide, his brain clearly trying to process the words that had just come out of his girlfriend's mouth. Then, a small twitch appeared at the corner of his lips. A puff of air escaped his nose.

Suddenly, he doubled over, a loud, booming laugh erupting from his chest. He laughed so hard he had to lean against the wall for support.

"It’s not funny!" Nini cried, stomping her foot, though her resolve was crumbling. "All the signs are there!"

"A vampire?" Aleks managed to gasp out between fits of laughter. "Nini, oh my god. You think I'm a vampire?"

"Well, explain the teeth!"

He walked over to her, still chuckling, and gently took her face in his hands. He opened his mouth wide, pointing to his canines. "They’re just teeth, liebling. My dad has the same ones. It’s just genetics."

"And the sun?" she whispered.

"I'm a professional footballer in Germany in the winter," he said, wiping a tear from his eye. "I spend all day in a gym or on a pitch under gray clouds, and then I come home to you. I don't avoid the sun; the sun avoids Munich."

He pulled her closer, his arms wrapping securely around her waist. "And the social media thing... Nini, I’m twenty years old and I’m just breaking into the first team. The media in this city is brutal. If they find out I have a beautiful girlfriend, they’ll follow you everywhere. They’ll blame you if I have one bad game. I’m not hiding you because I’m a vampire; I’m protecting you because I’m a man who wants a private life."

Nini felt a wave of immense embarrassment wash over her. She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled. "And the... the biting?"

Aleksandar’s laughter died down, replaced by a low, husky growl that made her toes curl. He tilted her head back, his eyes dark with an entirely human hunger.

"That," he whispered, his breath warm against her lips, "is just because you taste better than anything else in this world. You’re soft, and you smell like vanilla, and I can't help myself. I’ve always been a bit... primal when it comes to things I want. And I really, really want you."

He leaned down, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin of her shoulder, sending a shiver of pure electricity through her body.

"So," he murmured against her skin, "no blood-sucking. No sleeping in coffins. Just a very tired, very obsessed boyfriend who happens to really like your neck."

Nini sighed, her hands moving to the back of his head, her fingers tangling in his short hair. "I feel so stupid."

"Don't," he said, pulling back to look at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "It’s actually kind of cute. Does this mean I don't have to eat that garlic bread anymore? Because that was a lot, Nini. Truly."

She giggled, the tension finally breaking. "Yeah, no more garlic tests."

Aleks grinned, showing off those sharp teeth again, but this time Nini didn't feel afraid. She felt adored.

"Good," he said, picking her up effortlessly and carrying her toward the bedroom. "Because now that we've cleared that up, I think I’m due for another bite."

Nini laughed, clinging to him as he moved through the shadows of the apartment. He might not be a vampire, but he certainly knew how to make her feel like she was the only living thing that mattered in the dark.