Vampire Boyfriend: Maksim (complete)

Dr. Leech’s Clinic is one of the few doctor's offices in the world I actually have enjoyed visiting. The staff is so nice, everything is comfortable, and the doctors have been nothing but respectful and actually listen to my concerns. When I was first diagnosed with anemia, I was never really listened to, let alone taken seriously. I had been feeling so exhausted and run down by even the littlest things, and I got sick easily, which made the fatigue even worse. Then what happened when I visited a doctor? They gave me a pregnancy test, even when I told them vehemently I was a virgin, and they said something stupid like, ‘it’s the flu or maybe a cold’.

It wasn’t until a friend of mine forced me to visit the infamous ‘Vampire Clinic’ I actually grew to like doctors. My first doctor there was a man named Behr. He was charming, sweet, and most importantly, attentive. He listened to me, actually listened. Even before I could finish my tale of misery and woe, he had formed an opinion: it was anemia. 

“I’m going to take a small sample,” he told me. “I can extract it with a syringe, or I can take the sample orally. Your choice.”

I was gobsmacked. “I get a choice?”

Behr’s smile could melt steel, I’m almost one hundred percent certain. “That’s kind of law here,” he chuckled.

“I don’t much like needles,” I confessed.

He then held up my hand and wiggled my middle finger. “One prick here and I’ll be able to tell if there is anything off.”

The anemia was confirmed almost instantly, and treatments began. I was transferred to Dr. Loginov, or Mariska as she preferred to be called. She put me on a new diet as well as iron supplements. 

“We’ll get to the bottom of this eventually, don’t you worry.” She was always so bright and cheerful, nothing like I had imagined vampires to be like. Mariska was beautiful too, with skin like cream and hair that had the faintest mint-blue hue to it. She also wore the most beautiful shade of red lipstick I had ever seen.

“I’m a Sephora junkie, I’ll confess,” she laughed when I asked her. “But my lipstick is my number one secret.” She winked at me.

Today I’m having my checkup with Mariska. I’ve been doing better, but I’m feeling particularly low on fuel. My period really socked it to me and I have barely been able to do any work at home. I was hoping Mariska would be able to help me.

As I walk into her office, I noticed there is a plate full of cupcakes displayed on her desk. Each one looks like a rose blossoming. The icing looks exactly like Mariska’s bright-red lipstick, too. As I stand admiring the confections, Mariska comes into the room.

“Touch those, and I’ll throw my chair at you. I don’t care whatever the hippocratic oath says.” She shuts the door behind her.

“I wasn’t gonna,” I pout. “They’re beautiful, did you make these?”

Mariska snorts and throws her head back to laugh. “I barely have good handwriting!” she giggles. “As if I could make icing do anything other than melt.” She pats her exam table for me to sit down. “Nope, my brother made those.”

I gasp softly. “Your brother?”

“Oh yeah, my twin.” She glances up at me. “He has a bakery downtown. If you want your own cupcake, go buy one from him.” She rolls up her sleeves. 

“Bakery?” I ask. “I live downtown. What bakery?”

Mariska is tying her hair back. “It’s a little hidden,” she replies. “Do you know where that creepy antique shop is? The one called Robin’s Nest or some stupid shit like that?”

“I bought a rug there,” I answer with a nod.

“It’s across the street from it.” Mariska sits down and takes my arm. She rubs her fingers up and down my wrist, then watches my veins for a moment.

“The abandoned fire station?” I squint at her. 

“Yeah!” Mariska smiles. She starts massaging my ring finger. “He’s been there for a few months now. Before that, he was working out of the house just doing wedding cakes for bridezillas who wanted to be ‘unique’.” 

“I thought that place was condemned?” I wince when she bites my finger. 

The checkup goes well, and I get fussed at for not sticking to my diet. After I leave and head home, I decide to make a quick stop. I go down the alley where the antique store is, then look up at the old fire station. It is a narrow building, all red brick, barely any windows - or rather, just the one. Now there is a huge display window allowing a view into the bakery, with the name painted on the surface: ‘Red Velvet Confections’.

I step inside, surprised by the decor. Usually, bakeries or candy shops are brightly decorated, but this place is something else. It is all red and black, featuring a gamut of Halloween decorations: tons of black birds, crystal chandeliers, twisted candelabras, and a smattering of skeletons, bones, and skulls. Then there is the main attraction, a glass case filled with all the amazing treats anyone could dream of. I see the rose cupcakes in the center.

“Good afternoon.”

“Oh, hi, uhm-” I stop when I see the man behind the counter. Mariska is a pale goddess, but this man - oh wow, this man. My palms get sweaty instantly as he smiles at me. Like Mariska, he has creamy skin, but his hair is pure white and tied back into a fishtail braid. His eyes are ultraviolet, lined with the thickest eyelashes I have ever seen. His brows are bushy and wild, and he has a five o’clock shadow of white on his jaw.

“Let me guess,” he says with a smile. “I am very good with names.” He taps his finger to his cheek. “Your name is-” He strains to come up with it. “Brigitta.”

My eyes nearly bug out of my head. “Oh, my god! How did you-”

He starts to laugh. “My sister called me.” He shakes his head. “She told me to expect a tall girl with hair too long for her own good.”

I touch my ponytail for a moment, then clear my throat. I feel breathless. Anyone would, looking at a marble statue come to life. “You must be Maksim, then.”

He shrugs. “I must.” He moves behind the display counter. “Looking for anything in particular today?” 

“I was curious, really,” I reply. “I saw the rose cupcakes your sister had, and I was floored by how beautiful they look.”

“One of my specialties, but I don’t recommend them for human consumption.” Maksim tilts his head towards his shoulder.

I furrow my brow at him. “How come?” 

“This is a vampire bakery,” he replies. “I make treats for both humans and vampires, and whatever is in between,” he chuckles. 

“Oh, so they’re made with blood?” I gasp in shock. 

Maksim clicks his tongue. “You got it. Old family secret.”

“Like your sister’s lipstick?”

Maksim shakes his head and leans towards me. “It’s just carmine. She uses a recipe that’s as old as Cleopatra.” 

“Really?” I gasp. “That’s it?”

“She thinks she’s clever,” Maksim chuckles. “I use carmine too in some of the vampire recipes. Makes for a killer icing colorant, and some vamps love the flavor. But for humans-” He reaches inside the case and takes out a tray of petits fours. “Only the best hibiscus and beet mixture I can make.”

“Really?” I take one of the tiny cakes, which are pure white with tiny red hearts on top.

“Oh yeah,” he chuckles. “It’s so easy to make natural dyes. Same as that Cleopatra lipstick my sister makes.”

I take a bite of the petit four, tasting the richest, most decadent red velvet layered with the creamiest icing I’ve ever had. “Oh, my god,” I moan.

“Red velvet is my ultimate speciality. Varieties for both humans and vampires.” Maksim says with a grin.

“It should be illegal to be this good.” I sigh, finishing off the rest in one bite.

“You’re not the first person to tell me that,” Maksim laughs. “You should try the hot chocolate, good for windy days like this.”

I nod. “Yeah, I can treat myself to that.”

“Go ahead and have a seat at one of the tables. I’ll bring it out to you.” Maksim says, turning towards the back station.

I take a table that has a bouquet of artificial black roses covered in spiderwebs. “You really leaned into the theme.”

“Have I?” Maksim feigns surprise. “I never noticed.”

“It’s cool, though. Almost all the other bakeries seem homogenized somehow.” I look around, noticing a few more cutesy touches to the place.

“Like some sort of princess dental hygienist’s office?” Maksim throws out.

“Yes!” I gasp excitedly, then start to feel dizzy. I grunt and lean back in the chair. “That’s exactly the aesthetic.”

Maksim walks out with a bowl-sized cup, topped by a mountain of whipped cream dashed with cinnamon and red sprinkles. “Anything you’d like to eat with this?”

“I wish, but I think your sister would be able to tell if I have too much sugar.” I say. “This looks divine.”

“I don’t offer divinity,” Maksim chuckles. “Just a minor distraction.”

I sip up some of the cream. The chocolate underneath is thick and glorious. “Is this habit-forming?” I ask.

Maksim grins. “I wish it was, then I might be doing better business.”

“You’re not?” I blurt.

“With vampires, I do,” he huffs. “My old business used to be wedding cakes, but now I’m having a hard time finding new customers. Vampires don’t get married,” he rolls his eyes, “so I don’t have that business.”

“Uhm-” I murmur softly. “This may be a bit of a coincidence but, I’m a wedding planner.”

Maksim’s jaw drops slightly. “No.”

“Yeah,” I chuckle. “I’ve not been taking on as many clients as I used to, but I have two right now who are nearing the wedding cake phase, and I don’t really care for the bakery I have been working with. They got a new owner, and she’s not… she’s just not.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that.” He looks so eager to, though.

“We could work out a deal,” I suggest. “Do you have a sample book?”

Maksim nods. “Upstairs. I’ll be right back!” He quickly races off, leaving me alone with the hot chocolate. When he returns, he sits beside me at the table and opens up an overstuffed three-ring binder full of wedding cake pictures.

“I like vintage-style cakes the most, but I can go modern just as easily,” he says.

“Oh, wow,” I gasp. “These are amazing!”

“I can easily put together a binder with just my best work, so you can show it to clients.” He looks at me hopefully. “I can also offer a discount for them.”

“That would be great!” I say with a grin. 

“I have a spare room in the back, too,” he motions. “Maybe you could help me set it up as a bridal suite thing. I know that’s good for business, and I could also use it to host parties if people wanted.”

“I would suggest keeping it off-theme,” I reply. “But you can always have decor at the ready for themed parties.”

Maksim grins at me. “So, we’re doing this?”

I nod. “Yeah, I think we’re in business.”

Over the next few days, between working with my clients, I go to ‘Red Velvet Confections’, where I help Maksim set up his sample portfolio and the back room. One afternoon as I am sweeping, I get overwhelmingly dizzy. I take a few breaths, trying to make it go away, but as I try to walk, I stumble. I sway and my head fills with white noise, while my body feels like static fuzz.

I wake up a moment later in the dark room, with my head resting on someone’s lap. I grunt, feeling sick to my stomach.

“You okay?” Maksim asks.

“Not sure. Did I fall?” I look up through the shadows, and see that his violet eyes are glowing dimly in the dark.

“I caught you,” Maksim replies. “What happened?”

I grumble under my breath. “I’m anemic,” I confess. “I guess I pushed myself a little too hard.” I sit up, clutching my head in my hand. 

“Let me make you something to eat,” Maksim says. “Stay here, I’ll take care of you.”

“No, no.” I sigh. “I’m fine really, just let me sit for a minute and I’ll-”

“No,” he takes hold of my hand in the dark. “Rest here. You need to eat something to get your strength back.” I can’t exactly see him, but I feel as if he is smiling. “Okay?”

I nod. “Yeah. Okay.”

Maksim stands up and turns the lights on, keeping them dim. He leaves me leaning against the wall, taking short breaths. After a few moments, he comes back in and hands me a bottle of water. “You okay?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I give him a smile. “Feeling a bit better.”

“Lunch will be ready in a few.” Maksim replies. “You really gave me a scare, you know?”

“Sorry,” I grumble. “I thought I would be okay.”

A smile spreads across Maksim’s face. “Well, now that I know, I am going to have to keep a closer eye on you.”

I giggle. “That sounds horrible.”

“Oh, it is. Being watched by a vampire?” he huffs and shakes his head. “You really don’t want that.”

I tuck a loose lock of hair behind my ear. “A vampire probably doesn’t like someone with anemia. Your sister always makes a sour face when she takes samples from me.”

“It’s not safe to take blood from someone anemic,” Maksim says with a nod. “And your blood tends to taste weak, so it’s not exactly every one’s cup of tea. But-” He laughs and shakes his head. “Never mind, let me go get your lunch.”

“But what?” I snap after him. “But what?” But he’s already leaving, and I slouch back against the wall.

When Maksim comes back, he hands me a plate with a massive sandwich loaded with meat and greens, toasted bread and melty cheese. 

“Do you just do everything well?” I ask after taking the first bite.

“Just food,” he smirks. “Savory I’m okay at. I’m better with sweets.” He sits down beside me as I eat. 

“So what were you saying before?” I ask with a smirk. “About anemic people.”

Maksim chuckles. “No, no, it’s embarrassing.”

“No, tell me.” I give him a playful shove. “We’re partners, aren’t we?”

He gives me the side-eye, then sighs. “Well,” he huffs. “You’re, uhm...For anemic people, when they-” he chuckles nervously and rubs the back of his neck. “Your menstrual flow is-”

“Period blood is extra tasty?” I ask.

Maksim sputters and slaps his hand over his face as he starts laughing.

“Your sister is a doctor! She never taught you how to talk about this sort of thing?” I tease him.

“It’s awkward for anybody!” he cackles.

“It’s natural, grow up.” I smirk at him. 

Maksim nods. “But, yes. Your menstrual flow is...very tasty.” He presses his lips tight together. 

“Good to know,” I giggle.

“Does it give you problems?” he asks.

I sigh. “Yeah. Hell, yeah,” I grunt. “I was just getting off it when I first came here,” I murmur. “I had to make a special appointment with your sister. I was feeling so out of it.”

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs.

“Don’t be. It isn’t your fault.” I give him a gentle smile. “Besides, you caught me like I was some swooning princess. Any girl would go gaga for that.”

“Even you?” Maksim asks quietly.

I glance at him. “Maybe,” I answer unsurely. 

“Does your anemia cause you to swoon?” He asks brightly. “I mean like, the whole soap opera romance novel sort of thing?”

I shake my head as I laugh. “I’m not sure. I’ve not dated since I started to get anemic.”

“So then you’re single now?” Maksim says with a smirk. “Good.” He looks at me and starts to lean in.

I close my eyes on instinct and feel his cool lips press against mine. I move towards him, placing my hands on his chest while he captures my face in his. I push him away when I start to feel dizzy again.

“Not fair,” I huff.

Maksim grins from ear to ear, showing off the sharp teeth hidden behind his lips. “That’s so cute!”

I frown at him. “You get dizzy from a good kiss and you tell me how cute it is!”

“It was good?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

I scoff and kiss him again, softly this time. “Yeah, it was.”

Maksim kisses my cheek, then runs his fingers through my hair. “I really like you, Brigitta,” he whispers. “I’ve been a bit chicken to ask you out, since we’re going to be working together. I didn’t want to make things weird.”

“I had the same thought.” I brush my fingers along his sharp jawline. “But, uhm…” I fidget in place. “I would rather try than not try. You know?”

Maksim nods. “So then,” he scoots in closer. “Tonight? Maybe?” He looks into my eyes, and I really want to kiss him again. “I’ll cook you dinner, and we can go see a movie.”

I giggle softly. “Okay, sure. I’ll meet you here?”

Maksim presses another kiss to my lips. “You want to risk dating a vampire?”

“I used to date an asshole. Should be a bit of a better experience,” I chuckle.

Maksim bites his lip and sighs, seeming to struggle with something in his mind. “Can I make a request?”

“You can make it,” I say with a nod. “Who knows if I’ll accept.”

Maksim grins. “If you don’t mind or think it’s weird,” He scratches behind his ear, “would you wear something that shows off your legs?”

“My legs?”

He nods. “I have a thing for legs and, well-” he chuckles anxiously. “You have a lovely pair.” He reaches out, brushing his hand against my leg. “If it’s too weird, then forget I said it.”

“I have a dress I never wear because I think it makes me look insane,” I giggle. “For you, I’ll risk it.”

“You may run the risk of having me go crazy,” Maksim smirks.

“I can fend for myself,” I say with a shrug. “I’m not worried. I can always give your sister a call and see what your weaknesses are.”

“Please don’t,” he whines. “She’s nice to you but she’s so mean to me.”

I lean in, kissing Maksim again. “I won’t... tonight.” I stand up with Maksim’s help. “I should head home and get ready. That dress takes some work getting into.”

“I’ll make you something worth it for dinner.” Maksim kisses my cheek as I head out the door. 

“I can’t wait,” I grin.

Maksim bites down on his thumb. “Neither can I.”

I go home and immediately hop into the shower. I had been keeping my hair tied back because I was too lazy to wash it, but tonight I have to. It will take my hair five months to dry, so I start going about my business to get ready. I search through my closet, trying to find the dress I had told Maksim about. 

The dress is one of those splurge purchases I made while hanging out with friends, feeling too good about myself, and buying something way out of my price range. I wore it once, because outside the mall’s cursed mirrors, my mirror told me I was dreaming. It is the kind of thing that would look better on a girl with more curves and less leg. It is off-the-shoulder, and while the deep green color looks amazing on me, everything else just kind of doesn’t settle right. I suppose for the evening, and as long as I stay seated, its enchanted effect will work.

Being a wedding planner, I’ve learned a thing or two about makeup. Being anemic makes me look ashy, my eyes sunken and hung with bags, and gives me a walking dead sort of vibe. So I’ve learned how to make myself and others look alive and glowing. In emergencies, I’ve saved a wedding from near disaster. I keep emergency makeup kits at all times, cobbled together from Sephora samples, travel sizes, and perfume samples bought in bulk off the internet. I’ve studied beauty gurus until they made me hate life, and then tested everything out on my own poor, unsuspecting face. But I knew how to contour with the best of them. Tonight, though, I am going subtle, something much more natural than the makeup mask I wear for my clients. I want to conceal my under-eye bags, fake a glow, then brush some mascara on like I am only going to the dollar store.

I return to the bakery that evening and go inside. One of Maksim’s employees directs me to the staircase that leads to his apartment upstairs. I climb up, fidgeting with the skirt of the dress until I reach the door, which is propped open.

“Hello?” I poke my head inside and look around. “Hello?” I sing as I let myself in. Maksim’s place is a bit minimal - in fact, it still looks like he is living out of boxes. I can smell something cooking, but I can’t exactly place what it is besides delicious. 

“Is that you?” I hear a shout from the back.

“Yeah, it’s me,” I glance down the hallway where his voice had come from. “I’m not too early, am I?”

“No, I made a mess so I had to clean up,” Maksim scoffs. He leans out of a doorway just enough I can tell he’s not wearing anything. “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll be out in a minute.” He disappears back into his room.

I giggle to myself as I take a seat on the sofa. There’s a huge book on the cushions, so I decide to look over it out of curiosity. The cover is faded, the spine is fraying, and some loose pages are tucked back into the binding, waiting to fall out again. I’m not sure what language the writing inside is in, but it fills up the pages so completely there are barely any margins.

“Sorry about that.” Maksim comes from the back, tugging down a clean shirt over his head. “I was making the sauce, and then-” he scoffs as a smile blossoms on his face. “It was a mess.”

“I’m sorry,” I chuckle. “You didn’t have to go to such trouble.”

“I wanted to show off, what can I say?” He laughs. “I’m going to go into the kitchen. Wanna join me?”

“Sure, see how the master works.” I stand up, and Maksim’s jaw drops slightly. Even the lines that split from the corners of his mouth towards the back of his head unhinge slightly. 

“What?” I tug down the hem of the skirt again.

“You look great,” Maksim whispers. He shakes his head. “I mean, uhm, you look really great tonight.”

I can’t get too excited, I’ll get dizzy again. But my face is getting hot. “Thanks. I don’t look misshapen?”

“Good shape.” Maksim’s head bobs as his eyes go down to my legs. He jerks them away. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be a pervert.”

“I’ve seen worse.” I say as I follow him into the kitchen. There is a bar with stools, so I make myself comfortable there as Maksim finishes up dinner. 

“How are you feeling?” Maksim asks. 

“Oh, I’m fine,” I chuckle. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

“I’m going to,” he grins. He pulls a pan from the oven and sets it aside. “I called Mariska to ask her what I should fix. She told me to oil up my chest and lay down for you.”

“Oh my god.” I palm my forehead. “She didn’t!”

“She said a lot more, but I will spare you for the sake of the evening.” He takes out a bowl from the fridge and removes the lid. 

“I wouldn’t even know what to do with that if I saw it,” I chuckle. 

Maksim smirks my way. “Why do you say that?”

I bite my cheek. Usually, when I admit to whoever I’m seeing that I’ve never had sex before, it’s either a mood killer or turns into an epic challenge for them. Both make me horribly uncomfortable, so I’ve gotten into the habit of not telling anybody right away.

“Brigitta?” Maksim asks with a concerned look on his face.

“Well,” I let out my breath in one slow huff. “I don’t really share this, but I’ve known you for a while now, so...” I prepare myself for the worst. “I’m a virgin.”

Maksim’s brow pinches together as he looks at me. “Good thing I didn’t do what Mariska suggested,” he grins. “As long as you’re not vegan, then I think dinner will go over well.”

“You don’t think it’s weird?” I ask.

“What’s weird?” Maksim shrugs. “So what if you haven’t had sex. Worse things in the world. You could be freebasing meth. That, I would take issue with.”

“A lot of people I date seem to think it’s weird,” I grumble. “Like there is something wrong with me, or I’m some wounded gazelle they need to hunt and bring down.”

“Ew,” Maksim looks back at me. “Just because you’ve never had sex doesn’t make you any more special or worse than people who have had sex. It’s a stupid notion.”

I feel a bit better talking to Maksim about this. “Don’t vampires prefer virgin blood?”

“That’s so stupid!” Maksim laughs loudly. “There is no difference between ‘virgin’ blood and not, literally none! Unless you’re pregnant, sex doesn’t change your blood at all!”

“Really?” I laugh.

“It’s quite possibly one of the dumbest urban myths about vampires, hands down.” Maksim shakes his head in disdain. “It’s more like bottled water. It’s all water but some people swear it tastes different and they have their preferred brands. Virgin blood was something that became popular ages and ages and ages ago. The rich vampires made ‘virgin’ blood a thing, saying it was the best and all that bullshit.” He rolls his eyes. “There was actually a business back in the day of vampires - selling knock-off virgin blood - and those idiot rich vampires would pay top dollar for it.”

“Amazing how times never really change,” I laugh.

“Exactly. Virgin blood was a fad,” Maksim sighs.

“What’s the fad today?” I ask.

“Blood-infused baked goods,” Maksim smirks. 

I giggle as Maksim places a plate before me. There are strips of juicy steak beautifully fanned out on top, next to a bean salad and a heaping offering of mashed potatoes. “I’m sure you would much prefer this.”

“Very much!” I go to take the plate from him, but Maksim yanks it away. 

Maksim clicks his tongue and wags his finger at me. “To the dining room.” He points behind me to a small hallway.

In the dining room is a small table adorned with candles. The curtains have been drawn and there is gentle music playing. Maksim sets my plate down with a glass and a bottle of wine. He then lights the candles, dimming the lights just enough that the ambiance is perfect.

“I have you a special dessert made up as well,” he says with a proud smirk.

“You really went all out,” I gasp, taking my seat.

“I’m a sho- off,” he chuckles nervously. “I want to put on a big show, impress, all that.” He pours the wine, a glass for himself and one for me.

I take my first bite of steak and let out a dreamy sigh. Maksim casts a smug glance my way. “That bad?” 

“How do you do it?” I say between bites. “How do you make something taste so good? I have tried everything and I am simply not built to be a good cook!” I take another big bite, dipping the steak into the mashed potatoes. 

“Years and years and years of practice,” Maksim sighs. Leaning back in his chair, he swirls his glass of wine before taking a gentle sip. “I’ve been around for a while.”

“How long would that be?” I ask.

Maksim is quiet for a long moment. He then casts his violet eyes up to me as he leans against the table again. “Back when an outhouse was considered a luxury.”

“No,” I gasp.

Maksim breaks into a smile at my reaction. “As I get older, I realize age doesn’t matter if you don’t learn anything.” He screws his mouth up as he looks down. “For a while, I just never grew up. I was stuck, never changing, never doing anything really. So, after a very, very hard look at myself, I decided to grow up at last.” He looks at me again with the softest smile on his face. “Mariska will tell you, I was a completely different person a long time ago. Learning to cook helped me to grow out of that.”

“So what were you before? A bad boy? A jackass? A sexpot?” I smirk at him as he starts to laugh. “You’ve got me curious.” I then motion to him. “Because honestly, as beautiful as you are, you look like you could get away with murder.”

Maksim grimaces.

“Oh god,” I drop my fork with a clatter on the plate. “You’re Jack the Ripper, aren’t you?” I clutch my chest in faux dramatics. 

Maksim bust out laughing, nearly snorting wine up his nose. “Certainly not!” He sets his glass aside. “I made a lot of mistakes. Back when vampires weren’t as careful as they are today. Back then, my sister could never have been taken seriously as a doctor.” He reaches out to me, wiping a smudge of food away from my cheek. He then licks the pad of his thumb.

I can’t get dizzy! I can’t get dizzy! “So, uhm… You never answered my question.”

“Oh right,” he murmurs. “I was a glutton,” he huffs. “Excess at all times, or I acted like a child.” He sips his drink before his eyes drift towards the candle flames. “Blood, sex, whatever, I wanted as much as I could take for as long as I could stand.”

“Oh,” I look down at my food. “So cooking solved that?”

“In a way,” he huffs. “Learning to control myself through cooking was what helped. Because you have to be precise sometimes. If you use too much, you can ruin a dish. Use too little? Same thing. You have to find a balance, and that’s what I needed.”

“That’s pretty cool,” I smile. 

“Is it?” Maksim tilts his head so his long hair falls off his shoulder. “I figured I would be boring you by now.”

I shake my head. “I’ve been dealing with picky brides lately,” I whine. “This is so much better conversation than figuring out which shade of pale blue is the palest.”

“Oh don’t say it’s so,” Maksim tuts.

“I have one bride trying to be extremely traditional, while the other is doing everything in her power to not be traditional, but her choices somehow still wind up being predictable. I know I shouldn’t make fun of this process - it’s my job - but I have seen absolutely everything!”

“Do you have a favorite, though?” Maksim asks. “Is there a wedding or a couple you look back on and compare all the others to?” He says this while swirling his hand above the table, lumping all my previous clients together. 

I nod slowly, taking up my glass of wine as I remember. “It was this older couple,” I begin. “They were childhood sweethearts, but had broken up and moved on. They’d had families of their own, grown kids, all that stuff. They reconnected and it was just-” I sit still for a moment with a big smile. “It was like, yes, all these things happened, they were different from before, but their love was still the same.” I look at Maksim and chuckle shyly. “Usually, there are things in the planning process that only one of them is there for, but they did literally everything together and never once was it not fun for them. They were so excited and sweet.” I take a drink of the wine. “I think about them a lot, how nice that must be.”

“That’s so cute,” Maksim grins. “Is that what you’re looking for?”

I glance back at him, my face turning bright red as I see the enchanted look in his eyes. “What? Me?” I laugh. I drink the rest of my wine glass dry. “I don’t know. I mean, isn’t everyone? I just-” I let out a long sigh. “Is it hot in here?”

“Just you,” Maksim winks.

I cup my hand over my cheek. “Oh, god.”

Maksim moves his chair closer to mine, then places his hand in my lap. I look away from him as his fingers run through the loose curls I put in my hair. He lays a kiss behind my ear, and I turn back to face him. My lashes flutter as our lips touch. I press my chest against his, tasting the wine we’ve both drank. I need to breathe, and I can’t lose my breath. I part my lips to gasp, and Maksim’s tongue touches mine. I moan softly, sucking his tongue as it slithers in. It’s so long! I didn’t realize vampires had such long tongues.

Maksim moans as he breaks the kiss and moves his lips down my throat. I press my palms against his chest as he kisses along my bare shoulders, then my collarbone. “Your perfume smells amazing.”

I whimper gently. “Thanks.”

Maksim looks into my eyes again. “You’re probably waiting on me to stop being weird and get that dessert I promised.”

“Aren’t you dessert?” The words tumble out before I can censor myself.

Maksim kisses me again as he laughs. “You’re so cute.” His hands wrap around my waist. “How am I supposed to keep my hands off you?” He pulls away and I try to give chase, but he bops the tip of my nose. “Let me get your dessert. It’s important that I lull you into a food coma so you’ll cuddle me later.” He winks at me as he leaves.

I clasp my hands over my face. “Oh, wow!” I take a deep breath then let it out slow. At least I didn’t get dizzy or faint this time.

Maksim returns, laying down a plate before me. On the plate is a dome-shaped confection, with a shiny bright red surface. A leaf of dark chocolate is stabbed into the top. As I slice through the creamy bubble, inside is a layer of chocolate mousse, a layer of strawberry cake, and an oozing pocket of white custard sauce.

“Holy shit,” I whisper. “This is almost too pretty to eat.”

“You have to, I didn’t make this to be pretty,” Maksim teases. 

Taking a bite is like eating a chocolate covered strawberry, only better. “This is way too good. I seriously would have been happy with a frozen cheesecake.”

“Ew, no,” Maksim scoffs. “Also, show off, remember?”

After dessert, we do end up cuddling on his couch together. I have more wine and Maksim insists I stay the night, promising it’s just to sleep, nothing else. I wash my face, then change into one of his shirts before climbing into his bed.

Maksim sets a glass of water by the bed. “Sleep well. I’ll wake you for breakfast.”

“You’re not gonna lie with me?” I ask, taking hold of his hand.

“You want me to?” Maksim seems surprised.

“You said you wanted to cuddle.” I tug him down into bed with me, kissing him softly as I curl up against his body. He’s cool to the touch, but under the warm blankets, it’s nice.

“You’re a little drunk,” Maksim sighs as I kiss his throat.

“So?” I grumble.

Maksim makes me lay down, then pulls me in so my back is against his chest. “Get some sleep, please.”

“You’re so nice,” I sigh dreamily.

“Hey, I get to have you pressed against me all night. Don’t call me nice just yet,” he chuckles. “But don’t worry, I’m just here to be a teddy bear.”

I fall asleep soon after that, and wake up in the morning with an urgent need to pee. After stepping out of the bedroom, I go into the kitchen, where Maksim is at the stove.

“It’s alive,” he grins. “Sleep well?”

I nod while yawning, and walk up to press my forehead against his back. “Your bed is so comfy.”

“Glad you enjoyed it.” Maksim turns around, kissing me.

We do this several more times throughout the month. Along with working together, I’ve started staying over at his place a lot more. We’ve gotten close, and a few times even closer. I’m coming to the edge, wanting Maksim more and more, and I don’t think I can wait any longer.

“There’s going to be a dinner at my folks’ place,” Maksim tells me.

“Huh?” I look up from the email I’m writing to a client. 

Maksim fidgets. “I’m inviting you to come meet the family,” he chuckles gently. “It’s, uhm… just a small thing. A few close family and friends. If you don’t want to, it’s-”

“No,” I gasp. “I’d like that, a lot really.” I bite my lip. I had been planning a night for Maksim and I a long time now. I even bought lingerie to seal the deal. Tonight would be a good start to getting closer to our first night together. It would have to wait - because, of course, my period has started. 

“Will Mariska be there?” I ask.

Maksim rolls his eyes. “Unfortunately.”

I giggle. “Then I would love to. I was going shopping tonight anyway. I’ll pick out a new dress and make myself presentable.”

“You’re always presentable.” Maksim eases in, kissing me as his hand slides up my skirt. “I have no worries there.”

“You’re awful! We’re both working,” I moan.

“Sorry,” he chuckles. He kisses the tip of my nose. “Later tonight, then. I’ll send you the address.”

After buying a new dress and getting a haircut, I make my way to Maksim’s parents’ house. It’s a bit out of the way, down a path in the woods that ends in a huge Victorian estate. I’m awestruck. I was prepared for a cozy brownstone, but nothing like this. I know I am a bit late, so I race up to the door and ring the bell.

Mariska answers the door, and she balks when she sees me. “Brigitta,” she gasps. “What are you doing here?”

“Didn’t Maksim say he invited me?” I ask shyly.

“Why would Maksim-” she stops. “Oh! Oh, well,” she ushers me into the house. “I’ll help you find him.” She puts her arm around me, leading me through the house. I see quite a few people here - vampires and humans mostly, although I do see a Satyr standing with a Minotaur near the back.

When we find Maksim, he has a slightly nervous look on his face. He rushes over to us, and Mariska grabs the tip of his ear between her sharp nails.

“What are you doing inviting her over tonight? She can’t be here!” she hisses.

“Wait, what?” I gasp, my eyes darting between them.

“I didn’t know this was tonight! I got confused when I invited her,” Maksim whines.

Mariska releases him. “You’d best mark your territory, or she’ll get eaten up like that.” She snaps her fingers.

“What?” I nearly yell.

Maksim huffs. “I’m so sorry, Brigitta. Tonight is a feeding party.”

“A feeding party?” I look around the room. I’ve heard of such things, but never seen one myself. Sometimes, vampires will gather a circle of friends who didn’t mind being fed from, rather than going to blood banks for their meals. This has turned into a tradition of lavish parties, with all sorts of food for the willing volunteers to partake in before they are selected by a vampire.

“Don’t worry,” Maksim reassures me. “Let’s get you some food and we’ll go upstairs and hide out. I’ll tell everyone your blood is gross, so they shouldn’t touch you,” he teases with a grin.

I frown at him. “I was looking forward to meeting your parents!”

“Not to worry. They’ll be here in the morning.” He kisses my forehead. “Come on, there’s a guest room with a massive TV and a fancy bathroom. We can veg out all night.”

I huff. “Fine. But you owe me.”

We scour around, gathering up a copious amount of food for the evening. He then takes me up to the fourth floor, where we break into a bedroom bigger than my current apartment. 

“Oh, wow, it’s beautiful. I really feel like I’m in a romance novel now.” I set down my treasure trove of food as I marvel at the wrought-iron bed. 

“I’m sorry about tonight,” Maksim sighs. “I was really looking forward to it too. I wanted my parents to meet you and see how much I loved you, and I just-”

“What?” I turn to him.

“Huh?” Maksim furrows his brow.

I shake my hands in front of me. “What you said!” I gasp. “You said that you wanted to show them how much you loved me.”

“Oh!” Maksim’s mouth gapes open for a moment. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?” He brushes my hair away from my face. “You did know that, right?”

“No!” I blurt.

Maksim kisses my ear. “Well I do. I love you, Brigitta.”

I wrap my arms around him tight. “I love you too.”

Maksim’s hand slides up my back as we kiss. I tangle my fingers in his hair, wanting him to be as close to me as possible. Maksim gently tugs at the zipper of my dress, pulling it down so my back is exposed. The room is cold, and the breeze on my back makes me shiver.

“Let’s get in the bed,” Maksim whispers into my ear.

“Wait,” I gasp. “I, uhm…” I pinch my thighs together. “I want to, but I’m… It’s sort of the middle of-” 

Maksim kisses me. “I could eat.”

“Oh!” I gasp. “Right,” I laugh anxiously.

Maksim helps me out of my dress. “You’ll be okay, right?”

I nod. “Yeah. Should be. Your cooking has helped a lot.”

Maksim eases me down onto the bed, kissing me as he rubs his hands down my body. His cool fingers slip under the cups of my bra, and his fingertips graze against my nipples. His lips trail down my chest, and soft moans escape his throat as he goes lower. His tongue licks down my belly and over the lace of my panties.

“I’ll be gentle,” he moans.

I take a slow, deep breath. “I’m not worried.”

Maksim lifts my hips as he removes my panties. He kisses my thighs, biting the soft flesh gently. “Just a pad?” he asks.

“It’s been light, so-” I mutter, embarrassed. 

Maksim kisses my mound before his tongue slips along my folds. I gasp, clutching the blankets at the sensation. His hands knead my hips, easing me forward a bit more as his tongue pushes through. It is slick and cold, squirming a bit as it finds my molten center. Maksim moans loudly as his tongue slips inside me.

I squeak, then giggle. It is the strangest sensation, but so good at the same time. His fingers brush against my clit, tapping it slowly as he licks. I squirm, feeling overwhelmed by all the sensations, but in a good way. I gasp softly, reaching down to run my fingers along Maksim’s scalp.

“It feels so good,” I moan.

Maksim’s eyes flick up towards me and he nods.

I prop myself up against the pillows, spreading my thighs a bit more. I can see that Maksim’s jaw is slightly unhinged. His tongue thrusts into me and he moans louder. His fingers rub my clit and soon my legs are quivering. My toes curl as a radiant heat travels along my spine, running to the tips of my fingers. I seize up, clamping my thighs around his head as I let out a loud yelp.

I fall back onto the bed, trying to keep myself from passing out. 

“Stay with me,” Maksim whispers in my ear. “Come on. Don’t go into the light.”

I giggle and look at him. My vision is blurry and my head is spinning. “I’m here,” I breathe.

“Good.” He kisses my hair. He lays down beside me, rubbing his hand up and down my body. “Take a few deep breaths. Get cool.”

“Is that-” I start unsurely. “Is that all?”

Maksim looks me over. “Do you want more?”

“I mean...” I sit up to look down at him. His body is so white that it almost glows in the dim light. I run my hand down his bare chest, finding flecks of my blood lingering on him. I then stop at the elastic of his underwear where his bulge is, tugging them open.

Maksim sits up. “Do you want to?”

“I had it all planned out, but-” I look into his eyes. “I really want it now.”

Maksim kisses me, laying me back down onto the bed. He hitches my legs around his waist then kicks his underwear off. “I’ll go slow,” he whispers to me.

“I’m not worried,” I whisper.

I then feel him, really feel him. His shaft slides along my slit, poking around for a second before slipping into place. As he enters me, he snarls into my ear, a sort of low, animalistic sound that makes me quiver. I tighten around him, feeling every inch of him inside me. 

I’m not sure how I survive the night. Making love to Maksim as much as I do, I feel certain I won’t make it. He feels so good and I become so greedy, demanding so much of his attention. I wake up feeling sore in a way I enjoy. Maksim is next to me, his arm serving as my pillow. His hair is splayed out like a radiant halo around him.

I kiss him awake, watching his eyes flutter open. “I was going to get a shower.”

Maksim smirks. “I’ll join you, then.” He kisses me. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “Never felt better.”