I lifted my head to watch as I plunged two fingers into Sunny's weeping cunt. Her eyes shut on a moan, and for a moment as I stroked my way inside of her, that ache vanished, replaced by a sweet and smiling relief.

"There now, petal," I murmured. "It's better now that we're together again, isn't it?"

I dipped my head to kiss her again, sweetly this time, but Sunny's fingers dug into my back, a whine rising in her throat.

The sound was pure pain, faint, but undeniably a wound.

My fingers were gliding easily inside of her, but I stilled them and searched her face.

Her eyes opened again, glittering with tears, pink lips trembling. "I can't do this, Khell."

I froze, the haze of desperate need clearing at those words. Was this a game? No, denial had never been Sunny's strong suit, and the turmoil on her face was far too real.

She'd been trying to say it—not I can't wait, but I can't do this. Impossible. She had called for me. The beast in me refused the words, refused the idea of anything but taking Sunny now, regardless of what she said. But I was not a beast, and my mate was hurting, which was unbearable.

I pulled my fingers free slowly, and Sunny sobbed, sagging forward against my chest as I sorted her panties back into place.

"Astraeya told me," she whispered, and I stiffened, trying to keep a new growl leashed. "You retired."

Oh.

I sighed, scooping Sunny up by the backs of her thighs and straightening, carrying her away from the door. "I did. But that doesn't need to worry you."

"Khell!" Sunny cried out, and then squeaked as I fell into the cushions of the blue couch with her on my lap.

"Sunny," I growled.

"You gave up this work, you can't come back for my sake," Sunny said, wrestling against me and then huffing and glaring at me. "Let me stand!"

My heart slammed in my chest. Tell her bluntly now, or try to soothe her and keep to my plan? "Sunny, petal, I want to be here with you. I came for my own sake."

That gave her pause, a little flicker of hope coloring her cheeks as she blinked back at me, but a moment later her head was shaking again, brow furrowing. "And what about…what about next time?" she whispered, stepping back, skirting out of the way of my reaching hands. "What about when you have another job or…or you meet someone?"

I scoffed. Maybe it would be better to explain everything to her now. I straightened on the couch and tried to speak, but Sunny was still going, still walking backwards away from me.

"It's not your fault, and I'm not going to ask for a refund—"

"Sunny, I don't give a fuck if you pay—"

"But I already let myself get too attached."