Slowly, Pim pulled away.

I expected her to stand and physically remove every part of me from her. However, her hands landed on either side of my face, her blue gaze searching mine as if hearing my grief and regret.

Her fingers were so soft they tickled as she traced my jaw. Tears fell from her eyes, an awful void inside her.

My gut spasmed. “What is it? What can I do? Name it. I’ll do whatever you need.”

Her touch turned fierce, holding me firm. Her mouth opened to speak.

To speak.

I stopped breathing, my ears throbbing to listen.

She swallowed hard, forehead furrowing with concentration. “El—”

My heart erupted. My cock doubled in size. If I hadn’t just taken her on the floor, I would’ve kissed, and fucking kissed her.

She forced past her unused voice and finished. “Elder…”

My name.

Her first word was my name.

Her voice was everything I wanted and more. Accented, pure, feminine. I needed to come. I had no doubt if she commanded me to come in her perfect, pretty voice, I would.

I inhaled to reply, but she pressed two fingers over my lips and shook her head. She coughed, her eyes tightening against pain.

I obeyed and remained silent.

She sat a little taller. Her pussy gloved my cock with furious heat, and I did my best to push such bliss away. She had no idea how fucking hard it was to stay still and not thrust when every instinct bellowed to drive deep.

Brushing away a fresh river of tears, she gasped. “You hurt me—”

Christ.

I tore my mouth away from her command to be quiet. “I know, fuck, I know. I’m so sorr—”

She clamped her hand over my lips. “I know.” She coughed and swallowed, slowly relaxing into the foreignness of speech. “You hurt me, but before that, you saved me.”

My nostrils flared, and I trembled with the need to rip her hand away and talk.

She whispered, “You saved me, and for that I’ll be for—forever grateful, but…Elder…” Her eyes latched onto mine, swimming with fresh tears. “Where were you two years ago?”

Earth collided with Mars and Venus and hurtled into my chest to annihilate my heart. Asteroids followed, ransacking my insides until all that remained was a gaping hole my dragon could never hope to guard.

Where were you two years ago?

I understood straight away.

I felt the shredding of my insides, turning into strips of bloody flesh.

Her sobs broke through her strength. Her body rocked on my cock, making love to me all while she gave me her agony.

Her hand fell from my mouth as she curled into my arms again. Her sweet, unused voice repeated into my skin, “Where were you two years ago?” Her fingernails scratched my belly. “Where were you when he killed me?” Her teeth bit my shoulder. “Where were you when he sold me?” Her hand curled into a fist and hit me.

“Where were you?” She hit again.

“Where were you?” She struck harder.

“Where were you?” She let loose and pummelled me.

“Where were you?

“Where were you!”

Where. Were. You?!”

And all I could do was sit there with my body inside hers, cold and ruined.

Answerless.

Powerless.

Destroyed.