17. Necromancer
"Can I touch your breasts just one more time?"
"……?!"
Regina's mind went blank white at Ian's words, delivered with a sly grin. Her face flushed crimson, as if her blood might burst forth, her body heating up with shame and embarrassment until it felt scorching hot.
She recalled what had just happened—how, flustered while wiping her saliva from his hand, she'd lunged at him, only for him to end up groping her breasts. That secret place no other hand had ever touched. How utterly thrown off she'd been by his kneading fingers...
Her ass had been grabbed a few times, sure. But that was fair—she'd touched his cock, after all. She could understand that much.
Still, something about it...
It wasn't that she hated him groping her breasts. If he wanted them, fine...
Just... a little embarrassing.
Startled, she'd pulled away from him at a distance, and he'd asked why with an innocently clueless face. So she'd thought he didn't know, that she was the one overreacting...
She hadn't wanted to fluster him. Acting like it was nothing, like she was fine, she'd approached again—only for his arm to drape over her shoulder with a whisper in her ear. Betrayal hit her like a slap.
He knew! He played innocent on purpose!
He knew I let him grope them and still pretended not to notice...!
And now he had the gall to say it outright...!
"U, uuuh..."
Her eyes grew moist. Why did this sting of betrayal summon echoes of past treachery?
Deceived...?
Those who'd called themselves family, sworn to protect her—only to vilely betray her. The scum who'd sold her off and fled with their own safety.
Grrr...!
She glared at him. Her mind blanked white again. Her throat burned. Deeply etched memories resurfaced.
Shivering, trembling uncontrollably, Regina felt goosebumps prickling across her skin.
Ian's deceiving me too.
She'd started seeing him in a good light. She'd been warming up to him, bit by bit. It had begun embarrassingly enough with the pheromonal scent from his cock that seduced her like nothing else.
Then getting close with Jubi. His efforts to communicate despite her voicelessness. The smile as he said he understood her resentment, even after kidnapping her.
......
As she quietly reflected on Ian, her anger slowly ebbed. The traumatic memories faded away.
In that moment, his concerned face drew near, seeing her silence.
"What's wrong, Regina? Did I upset you?"
Whoosh—his stimulating scent flooded her nose as he approached. Regina felt her face burn red for an entirely different reason.
"U, ugh..."
"Sorry, you looked so tense, so I was just teasing... Did it bother you?"
"Ah, auu..."
Regina shook her head halfway, then nodded, then shook it again. No, it wasn't that... Or yes, but...
Thinking back, hadn't it started with her mistake? Licking his fingers while he slept, drooling all over them? And she'd been the one to grab his hand.
He'd just teased her back, so why had she overreacted so much?
......That sense of betrayal.
......The act of someone deceiving her.
It was probably because the thorn buried deep in her heart from the past had grown into a massive tree. Ever since that day, she'd lost her voice. Victimhood had taken root.
......I almost messed up.
After her self-reflection, Regina let out a deep internal sigh. She turned her gaze to Ian.
"Regina?"
His puzzled eyes stared at her stillness. Regina scrutinized his face intently.
Not handsome, not ugly. Just... ordinarily average. His body was solidly trained and firm, though the lack of mana was a slight flaw.
But that scent wafting from him was incredibly stimulating. It numbed her reason, urging her instincts wildly.
His personality had some playfulness, but plenty of consideration too. She listed his merits one by one from their time together.
The biggest draw was that pheromonal scent stirring her instincts, but anyway.
This man.
Ian.
He wouldn't betray her.
"......Ua."
Then it was fine. They'd already done that anyway. Even if three females' scents clung thickly to him.
Beastkin were polygamous by nature. Superior males claiming females was the norm.
Regina shifted onto Ian's lap.
"Huu..."
"Regina...? Wait a sec."
Ian called her name in surprise at the sudden move. Ignoring him, she lightly draped her arms over his shoulders and settled her ass softly on his lap.
"......Au, ah."
"No, I mean... it was just a joke? Regina, um..."
......No point stopping her now. They'd already gone that far.
Half-lidded eyes as she listened to his mutterings. She leaned slowly toward his face.
His face filled her vision more and more.
And then.
Boop.
"Heehee..."
"Wha, whaa...?"
Their noses touched tip-to-tip, and she let out a soft giggle. Ian's face went blank with shock.
Gazing at his comically stunned expression, Regina lightly hopped off him.
Not yet, though.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
She'd just been sitting on me, then got up and headed to the window. I stared blankly at her back until she slipped out.
Unthinkingly touching my nose.
"Auu."
She glanced back with a slight bend at the waist, waving her hand and tail playfully. It snapped me out of my daze a bit.
"Uh, yeah... Take care."
Regina vanished through the window. I saw her off and flopped onto the bed.
Man.
Feels kinda awkward? Ticklish? Her actions filled my head, mixing embarrassment with something else.
Regina was a black panther beastkin. Panthers were felines.
What did it mean when cats rubbed noses? I didn't know exactly, but I'd heard somewhere it was friendly.
"......Affection, huh."
We'd gotten pretty close. Hell, she'd even jerked me off—stranger if we weren't close.
Though the reason was her liking my cum's scent.
Wait, is that weird?
Either way, it was a relief she felt affection toward me.
Truth be told, I'd been playing it cool. Trapped here...
Kidnapped and confined—no way I wasn't anxious. The first day with Regina and Jubi had been somewhat comforting, but after full lockdown...
Just three meals a day and occasional check-ins from Bella or Cheong-ah every day or two. I hadn't shown it, but I'd been pretty lonely and on edge.
"......Guess I'll sleep."
……
……
……
After that day.
A new routine added to my boring confinement life.
Nothing much, just...
"......Ua?"
"Ah, sorry. Sorry."
Playing with the big black cat who visited every night.
No fuss or noise. When Regina laid her head on my lap, I'd rub her belly or stroke her hair.
Now, as I paused rubbing her belly, she grabbed my hand, tilting her head as if demanding more.
I quickly resumed stroking.
"Uhh..."
Swish swish.
Her tail peeked from under her skirt, swaying lightly. She seemed pleased.
Gazing at her, I asked what'd been bugging me.
"Hey, Regina."
"Ua?"
Her outfit.
"......That, uh, clothes."
"Au?"
I nodded toward it, and she gave a questioning look.
"Why're you wearing a maid outfit?"
"......Ah."
Yeah. Regina's current getup matched the castle maids'. Reflecting Soboro Count's pervy tastes, no less.
Skirt so short it bared nearly all her thighs, yet tight enough panties barely peeked. Top cropped short with a deep back cut, cleavage fully on display. Even her midriff exposed.
Practically sexwear, lewd as hell.
So my hand was rubbing her bare skin right now. Firm yet soft, springy and warm—felt damn good, sure.
"Why wear this of all things?"
Regina gestured emphatically in response.
"Ua,"
"So, wearing this won't make you look suspicious?"
Nod.
"......And before yesterday?"
"Au."
"Ah, it was fine until yesterday, but today's the issue?"
Nod.
......What kinda logic is that?
At my dumbfounded look, she pouted slightly.
"Auu?"
"No, it's good. I'm a guy too."
"Heehee."
She gestured like that settled it and smiled faintly. I chuckled back, then glanced at the moonlit window.
......Wonder when I can go back.