Another theme is sacrifice. Often, one or both of the lovers are willing to sacrifice a great deal for their love. This could be their own safety, their place in society, or even their lives. In some vampire love stories, the human lover might be willing to sacrifice their normal life to be with the vampire.
The theme of redemption can also be present. A character might be redeemed through love. For instance, a dark and brooding character might find a new purpose or a way to change for the better because of the love they have for someone else. In a way, the sweetness of the love helps to counterbalance the darkness within them.
Jealousy is a common theme. In a dark love story, characters might be overly possessive and jealous of their loved ones, which can lead to conflict. For example, in 'Wuthering Heights', Heathcliff's jealousy over Catherine's marriage drives him to seek revenge.
One common theme is obsession. In a dark love story, the characters are often obsessed with each other in an extreme way. For example, in 'Fifty Shades of Grey' (although it has some controversial aspects), Christian Grey is obsessed with Anastasia Steele, which drives many of the actions in the story. Another theme is sacrifice. A character may sacrifice their own well - being, values, or even their life for the love they feel. The third theme is secrecy. The love may be hidden due to various reasons, like in 'Romeo and Juliet' where their families' feud forces them to keep their love a secret, adding a layer of darkness to their relationship.
One common theme is the discovery of true feelings. In these stories, the characters often start with a certain level of ignorance or denial about their love for each other. As the story progresses, they gradually come to realize their true emotions.
One common theme is forbidden love. It could be love between two characters from feuding families or different species, like an angel and a demon.
Sacrifice, but in a twisted way. Sometimes in dark love stories, a character might sacrifice their own values, morals or even their life in a way that is not noble but rather a result of their dark love. For instance, a character might sacrifice their integrity to be with the one they love, even if that person is not good for them.
Isolation is a common theme. In many such stories, the lesbian characters may feel isolated from society due to their sexual orientation. This can be like looking into a 'dark mirror' where they see themselves as outsiders. Another theme is self - discovery. As they navigate their love, they also discover more about themselves, which can be a complex and sometimes painful process.
One common theme is the clash between different social classes. The CEO is at the top of the social and economic ladder, while the other main character is usually from a more ordinary background. Their love has to overcome the barriers of class differences. Another theme is the transformation of the cold - hearted CEO into a loving partner. At the start, the CEO is often portrayed as a ruthless businessperson, but through the love story, they become more caring and affectionate. There is also the theme of jealousy and rivalry, either in the business context or from other suitors, which adds drama to the sweet love story.
Self - acceptance is a common theme. In many sweet gay love stories, the characters have to first come to terms with their own sexuality before they can fully embrace their love for another man. For example, in 'Love, Simon', Simon struggles with coming out at first but then finds love.
Another theme is the power of love against all odds. Just like in straight love stories, gay love stories often show that love can overcome social barriers, prejudice, and family opposition. For instance, in some stories, the two men in love face opposition from their families or society, but their love endures. The love they share is so strong that it gives them the courage to fight for their relationship.
Miscommunication is a big one. In these novels, characters often misunderstand each other's intentions, which creates the 'mistaken' part of the story. For example, a simple gesture might be misconstrued as something else.