Summer chewed on her lip. “It’s … you never asked. We just tumbled into this. I’m not angry. But you should’ve asked. I’m — I’m not a thing, to be owned. That way.” She took a deep breath. “That’s all.”
Victor sighed, “I’m sorry if tha’s what it sounded like but that’s not what it is, I promise. Generally speakin’, when two vampires are in a relationship they mark each other t’ tell everyone else they’re spoken for. I’m not saying tha’ I ‘own’ you, not by any means, you’re your own person. It’s basically the vampire way of announcing to everyone else tha’ we’re a couple an’ tha’ their advances wouldn’t be welcomed. If you were a vampire, you would’ve marked me as well. All it is, is to let others know that we’re in a relationship.” He watched her again, hoping that she understood.
“No, I didn’t say it right.” Frustrated, Summer sat up, fisting her hands. “Victor, what if I did welcome other advances? You never asked me. I’m not — spoken for. Because you didn’t ask.” She pushed a hand through her hair, the other one going to the ruby at her throat. “Victor, I love you, a lot, but … I can’t be — I don’t know how to say this.”
Victor regarded her carefully, he loved her with all of his being and nothing would change that. He realized, however, that this was sensitive ground and he’d have to think before he said anything. “Is it tha’ you don’t want t’ be tied down t’ jus’ one person? Or is it more because I haven’t asked an’ was jus’ assumin’?”
“The latter, mostly,” she said gratefully. “I haven’t met anyone else who even so much as hinted that they were interested in me.” Composing her hands in her lap, she looked away, embarrassed. “But if I did … well, I mean, just because I sleep with you, and I love you, doesn’t mean I can’t do so with anyone else, unless I choose that. /I/ choose it.”
Victor sighed then nodded. “I-I’m sorry tha’ I acted so presumptuously. I don’t think it’d be right t’ ask you now. But, if you’d like, I’m not rushin’ you or anythin’ but I’d like us t’ be a couple, if you want to be tha’ is. I love you with everything tha’ I am but I don’t want t’ force anythin’ on you anymore.”
“If there’d been force I’d’ve said no.” She reached out and laid a hand on Victor’s chest, stroking his breastbone. “No one ever looks at me the way you do. Now is the time to ask. I belong to you, you belong to me.”