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Love

Velvet Ears and Golden Goals

The air in Munich had turned crisp, carrying the scent of damp leaves and the promise of a long winter. Usually, this time of year meant late-night recovery sessions and focusing on the Champions League group stages, but tonight, the atmosphere was different. Leroy Sané was throwing his annual Halloween bash, and the entire squad was expected to show up in full character.

Mimi stood in front of the full-length mirror, her heart hammering against her ribs. When Jamal had suggested they go, she’d felt a surge of boldness. She wanted to surprise him, to step out of her shy shell just for one night. Now, looking at her reflection, she wondered if she had gone too far.

The costume was classic, but on her petite frame, it was devastating. The black satin bodysuit was tight, cinching her waist and pushing up her chest in a way that made her feel exposed yet strangely powerful. A pair of sheer black tights covered her legs, ending in towering heels that made her feel much taller than her usual height. The outfit was topped off with a white fluffy tail pinned to her lower back and a pair of tall, velvet bunny ears perched atop her long brown hair.

"Mimi? You almost ready? The Uber is—"

Jamal stopped dead in the doorway. He was dressed as a high-fashion vampire, wearing a sleek black suit with a crimson silk shirt unbuttoned at the collar, but his cool persona evaporated the second his eyes landed on her. His jaw didn't literally drop, but the way his pupils dilated was enough of a reaction.

"Wow," he breathed, his voice dropping an octave. "Mimi."

She turned, feeling her cheeks heat up. "Is it too much? I can change. I have a cat ear headband in the drawer, I could just wear leggings and—"

"No," Jamal said quickly, stepping into the room. He walked toward her, his eyes roaming over the curve of her hips and the way the light caught the satin of the bodysuit. "Don't change. You look... incredible. I just didn't expect the, uh, ears."

He reached out, his fingers grazing the soft velvet of the bunny ears before sliding down to cup her cheek. His touch was warm, a stark contrast to the cool October air outside.

"You’re going to be the death of me tonight, aren't you?" he murmured, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to her lips.

"I thought it was supposed to be a fun party," Mimi teased, gaining a bit of confidence from his reaction.

"It was," Jamal muttered against her mouth. "Now it’s just going to be me making sure no one looks at you for too long."

The party was held in a sprawling villa on the outskirts of the city. The bass from the music was audible from the driveway, and the house was draped in elaborate cobwebs and flickering orange lights. As they walked in, Jamal’s hand was firmly planted on the small of Mimi’s back, right above the white fluffy tail.

The moment they entered the main hall, the attention shifted. Teammates, influencers, and friends were scattered around in various states of elaborate dress.

"Musiala! You made it!" Leroy shouted, dressed as a futuristic cyborg. He walked over, but his eyes immediately shifted to Mimi. "And Mimi! Look at you. Jamal, man, you’re punching way above your weight tonight."

Jamal offered a tight, polite smile, his arm tightening around Mimi’s waist. "Happy Halloween, Leroy. Great party."

"Glad you like it. Drinks are in the kitchen, dance floor is that way," Leroy gestured, still grinning at Mimi. "Seriously, Mimi, that costume is a ten."

"Thank you, Leroy," she said shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

As they moved through the crowd, the night became a repeat of the dinner with Michael, but intensified by a hundred. Every time a teammate came over to say hello, Jamal’s possessive streak flared up. He wasn't being rude—he was still the polite, golden boy of German football—but his body language was loud and clear.

When Alphonso Davies tried to pull Mimi into a group selfie, Jamal insisted on being in the middle, his arm draped heavily over Mimi’s shoulders, effectively shielding most of her costume from the camera's view.

"You’re doing it again," Mimi whispered into his ear as they stood by the bar, waiting for their drinks.

"Doing what?" Jamal asked, his eyes scanning the room like a hawk.

"The bodyguard routine. You’re practically growling at anyone who says hi."

Jamal looked down at her, his expression softening but his hand not budging from her hip. "I can't help it. Look at you, Mimi. You’re the most beautiful woman here, and you’re wearing... that. I feel like I need to wrap you in my coat."

"It’s a costume party, J. Everyone is dressed up," she reminded him, reaching up to adjust his velvet collar. "Besides, I’m only going home with one vampire."

He leaned in, his nose brushing hers. "You better be."

The night wore on, and the tension in Jamal’s shoulders only seemed to grow. He was constantly touching her—a hand on her neck, a thumb hooked into the strap of her bodysuit, a constant leaning into her space. When Michael Olise arrived, dressed as a low-effort "Men in Black" agent, he gave them a knowing smirk.

"Back at it, Jamal?" Michael asked, nodding toward the way Jamal was practically hovering over Mimi.

"Shut up, Michael," Jamal said, though there was a hint of a smile on his face this time.

"Nice ears, Mimi," Michael added politely. "Suits you."

"Thanks, Michael," she replied.

Jamal immediately leaned down and whispered something in her ear, a private joke that made her laugh and turn her attention back to him. Michael just shook his head and walked toward the buffet, well aware that Jamal was in full 'protection mode.'

By midnight, the heat of the party and the constant vigilance were clearly wearing on Jamal. He looked at Mimi, who was laughing at a story Serge Gnabry was telling, and he decided he had reached his limit. He didn't want to share her anymore. He didn't want to watch other men admire the way the costume fit her.

"Mimi," he said, leaning close to her ear. "We’re leaving."

"Already?" she asked, turning to him. "The party is just getting started."

"I don't care," he murmured, his voice thick with a sudden, dark intensity. "I want you to myself. Now."

The look in his eyes made Mimi’s breath hitch. The jealousy that had been simmering all night had transformed into something much more potent. She nodded, her heart racing for an entirely different reason than before.

The ride home was quiet, the air in the car charged with an electric tension. Jamal kept his hand on her thigh the entire way, his grip firm. He didn't say a word, but the way he looked at her in the dim glow of the streetlights told her everything she needed to know.

The moment the door to their apartment clicked shut, the atmosphere shifted. The "polite" Jamal was gone. He didn't even wait to take off his jacket before he pressed Mimi against the door, his hands finding her waist and lifting her up.

Mimi let out a small gasp, her legs instinctively wrapping around his hips. Her velvet bunny ears tilted back against the wood of the door.

"Jamal," she breathed, her hands clutching his shoulders.

"I’ve been wanting to do this since the second I saw you in this room," he growled, his face burying in the crook of her neck. He inhaled sharply, the scent of her perfume mixed with the faint smell of the party’s fog machine. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to watch everyone look at you tonight?"

"You were so jealous," she whispered, a small smile playing on her lips despite the intensity of the moment.

"I was," he admitted, pulling back to look her in the eyes. His dark eyes were burning. "I hated it. I hated every second someone else’s eyes were on you. But now..."

He trailed off, his gaze dropping to the black satin bodysuit. He reached down, his fingers tracing the edge of the fabric where it met her skin.

"Now you’re home. And this costume... it’s definitely for me."

He kissed her then, a deep, hungry kiss that tasted of longing and possession. It wasn't the gentle, shy Jamal she usually saw; this was the man who dominated the pitch, the one who took what he wanted with precision and passion.

He carried her toward the bedroom, not breaking the kiss for a second. He set her down on the edge of the bed, but he didn't let her go. He knelt between her legs, his hands sliding up to grasp the velvet ears on her head.

"You look so beautiful," he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "So perfect."

Mimi reached out, unbuttoning his crimson shirt, her fingers brushing against the hard muscle of his chest. "I thought you wanted me to change? You said you wanted to wrap me in your coat."

Jamal let out a low, rough laugh. "I lied. I want to see you in this. I want to take my time with you in this."

He leaned forward, his lips finding the sensitive skin of her shoulder, just below the thin strap of the bodysuit. Mimi arched her back, her fingers tangling in his dark curls. The shy girl from the beginning of the night was gone, replaced by a woman who thrived under the undivided attention of the man she loved.

"Jamal," she moaned, her head falling back.

He moved his hands down, unpinning the white fluffy tail with a smirk. "This has been bothering me all night," he muttered, tossing it onto the nightstand.

The hours that followed were a blur of heat and whispered confessions. Jamal was relentless, his touch worshipful yet demanding. Every time Mimi thought she couldn't take any more, he would whisper how much he loved her, how he never wanted to let her go, and she would find herself falling for him all over again.

As the early morning light began to bleed through the curtains, Jamal finally pulled her into his arms, both of them tangled in the sheets. The bunny ears were lying discarded on the floor, and the black bodysuit was a crumpled heap at the foot of the bed.

Mimi rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady, rhythmic beat of his heart. Jamal’s arm was draped over her, his hand resting on her hip, his thumb tracing idle patterns on her skin.

"So," Mimi said softly, her voice raspy. "Next Halloween, I’m thinking... a giant inflatable dinosaur costume? Something very un-sexy?"

Jamal chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest. He turned his head and kissed the top of her hair.

"Actually," he murmured, his eyes closing as sleep finally began to pull at him. "I think I might like the bunny. But only if we stay home next time."

Mimi smiled, snuggling closer into his warmth. "Deal."

Jamal tightened his grip, pulling her flush against him. The jealousy of the night was a distant memory, replaced by the quiet, absolute certainty that she was his, and he was hers. He had spent the night guarding her from the world, but in the silence of their room, he realized he didn't need to guard her at all. She was exactly where she wanted to be.

"I love you, Mimi," he whispered into the darkness.

"I love you too, Jamal," she replied, her voice drifting off as she finally fell into a deep, contented sleep.

Outside, the Munich streets were quiet, the Halloween festivities over. But inside, the glow of the night remained, a lingering warmth that no autumn chill could touch. Jamal Musiala might be the calmest player on the pitch, but when it came to Mimi, he was a man of fire and devotion, and he wouldn't have it any other way.