Page 23 of The Dancer and the Dark
Gavin didn’t know what he’d been thinking except that after five years, Chloe was probably ready for a progression of their relationship. If she’d been with a human, she would expect that, wouldn’t she? He wanted her to know he was committed to her.
She hadn’t said a word since they stepped outside.
He led her to a chaise and sat across from her in a chair. “Please talk.”
She took a deep breath. “You have never brought that up before. Not once. I didn’t even know that you thought about…”
“Marriage?” He frowned. “I haven’t thought about it. Not in a detailed way.”
“So why did you bring it up?”
Now he was starting to worry. “Do you not want to get married?”
“I haven’t thought about it any more than you.”
“But I brought it up.” He sat back and frowned. “And you didn’t say yes.”
“I didn’t say no. You didn’t actually ask me to marry you. You said, ‘We should’—”
“Chloe, will you marry me?”
Her mouth fell open, and no sound escaped. Her eyes looked panicked, not thrilled.
The predator in Gavin rose to the surface. He stood and began to pace, considering his options. “You’re not prepared to give me an answer?”
“I don’t know what to say.”
She loved him. He knew she loved him. But the more she hedged around answering his question, the more he wondered: Was there something she needed that he wasn’t giving her? Was there something she wanted that he could not provide?
Chloe finally spoke. “This is something that just popped into your head, and I don’t know what to tell you. We’re together. We’re happy. I just had a… huge shock.”
He hadn’t thought about that. Or maybe he had in the back of his mind. “You’re saying it’s not a good time.”
“I’m saying… I’m asking why now? Why are you bringing this up now?”
Gavin shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Chloe had lost her father, and Gavin couldn’t be with her during most of her mourning rituals. She was completely alone during the day, and he couldn’t be there. Was he feeling insecure? Worrying that there were others who could provide her with comfort during times he could not? He’d smelled Zain on her as they danced. He knew the two were friends—knew Zain had his own romantic partner, in fact—but he also knew the human was attracted to Chloe and had been since he met her.
“Do you object to marriage?” Gavin stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
“As an institution? No.”
“If you were with a human for five years, would you be thinking about marriage?”
Silence.
Gavin swung his head toward her when she said nothing. “Would you?”
“Probably.” Her voice was small.
“But not when you’re with a vampire.”
Chloe stood. “I didn’t think marriage was important to you! I didn’t think about it because I am happy with who and what we are. That is enough for me. Is it enough for you?”
No.
Gavin caught the word before it erupted from his throat. “Why don’t you want more?”
