Chapter 33: A Little Distraction

Iro drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He turned to check his reflection in the mirror, inspecting his uniform. The fit was perfect, as always, and he made a mental note to compliment Aranya on her excellent tailoring.

After a final adjustment, he headed for his room’s door. His paw pads, exposed by the sturdy uniform stockings he wore, made his steps almost silent.

What wasn’t silent, however, was the soft, rhythmic tapping outside his door. It sounded like someone pacing back and forth with a firm footfall. Like Cerys. Or ~Zeltaria~.

Cautiously, Iro opened the door to find it was indeed Zeltaria, the tall, red-skinned, breathtakingly beautiful Succubus who was also his boss.

But something seemed off about her. As Iro fully opened his door and stood at attention, Zeltaria’s shoulders sagged slightly and the lines on her face softened.

“Look at you. All dressed up and ready to go. Feeling better?” Zel asked, her tone warm, almost wistful.

Iro nodded, but he was taken aback by Zeltaria’s unusual demeanor. The Succubus was typically assertive, commanding, and unyielding with her captivating personality and presence. This was different.

“I think so… It was nice seeing Beck again. And I was extra happy to see she was so well liked around here,” Iro admitted.

He had been a little worried that someone like Aranya might be off-putting to Beck or that Beck might intimidate the usually shy spider woman, but nothing negative had really happened at all.

Zeltaria smiled and took a graceful step forward, adjusting Iro’s decorative collar, even though he was sure it was perfectly straight before.

“I too was pleased. She brought a refreshing change around here, and it seems to have done some good for you and others in our home.”

Iro detected a hint of longing in Zeltaria’s voice. “~But~?”

Zeltaria’s eyes flashed as she met Iro’s gaze, her smile faltering. “But…” she hummed thoughtfully, though Iro detected a hint of regret in her voice. “But sometimes we all have bad days.”

Zeltaria fixed an intense stare at Iro. He found it hard to meet her gaze. “I would like you to spend the day with ~me~. I…need some company.”

With Zeltaria still so close from adjusting his collar, Iro could only nod meekly. He felt a wave of relief as Zeltaria’s face softened, a smile beginning to form again. “O-of course, Zel. Unless you needed me elsewhere?”

Zeltaria shook her head and finally stood back to her full height, towering over Iro. “I don’t. Everything else is taken care of and you, of course, remember that some days I just need someone to keep me company.”

The tall, voluptuous Succubus turned halfway, extending a hand to Iro. “Now, are you coming? I need a little distraction today.”

Iro took the hand offered to him and followed closely behind Zeltaria as they made their way out of the mansion through the back door, across the lawn, and to the canal at the rear of the estate.

The pair turned onto the walkway following the flow of the canal and began to walk, seemingly without a destination in mind.

About an hour later, with the sun still climbing in the sky, they arrived at a small lake nestled among weeping willow trees and tall grasses.

There didn’t seem to be much there besides the simple stone pathway circling the lake, but Zeltaria didn’t seem bothered by that.

Iro wasn’t too concerned either, because, as a fairly fit canine, he enjoyed a good walk.

Up until this point, Zeltaria hadn’t said much, pointing out the homes of fellow ambassadors or commenting on the blooming flowers.

Otherwise, the Succubus had remained distant, simply guiding Iro along their walk. Finally, now that they had arrived at this lake, Zeltaria seemed to slow down, guiding Iro to the base of one of the willow trees.

A sturdy trunk was sheltered by heavy, drooping branches that almost completely encircled the grass around the trunk.

Zeltaria let go of Iro’s hand and sat at the base of the tree, leaning back against it. She looked up at Iro and patted her soft, smooth lap.

Despite any reservations he might have had when he first started working for the demoness, Iro eagerly trotted over and carefully sat on her lap.

Leaning back so his head rested against the softness of her large yet firm breasts, Iro was sure that Zeltaria was either blessed by the gods with such a form or had altered it at some point by means of magic or science.

He guessed the former.

Silently, Zeltaria stroked the top of Iro’s head with one hand while the other lightly rested on his stomach, holding him in place.

The Succubus absently stroked and rubbed Iro’s head and ears but remained silent, just breathing and humming softly.

“Holly is dying,” Zeltaria said sadly.

Iro tried to turn his head up to face Zeltaria, but he couldn’t quite get the angle. Instead, he just lowered his hands to lightly grip the Succubus’s outer thighs to try and comfort her. “I’m sorry.”

Zeltaria hummed again. “It’s happened before, many times, but…this time is different. I haven’t had the heart to tell her, and I think that makes ~me~ the villain.”

“I don’t think that makes you a bad person…I couldn’t tell her, but then I also don’t know specifics,” Iro replied softly, unsure how to console the Succubus.

Zeltaria slumped a little bit and rested her chin on Iro’s head, still lightly scratching around his left ear.

“Usually, for the last few decades, we would purchase cadavers from morgues. The bodies weren’t being used, the souls vacant. It…it should have been fine. It should ~still~ be fine, if a little…well, ~crude~.”

Zeltaria’s body stiffened. “But ~now~…” she sighed, frustration seeping into her voice. “You were right, Iro. I ~do~ have enemies, both within and outside the council.

“And if I were to try to give my oldest friend a new body, I’m certain there would be a direct attack on my reputation and methods. A final strike against an outcast they can’t seem to shake off…”

Iro flinched as Zeltaria’s sharp nails dug into his scalp. He was about to let out a whimper when her fingers lifted, and she took a deep, steadying breath. But her voice still held a note of distress.

“I just…don’t know what to do…I needed to escape and not be alone for a while. But, I’m not sorry that I’m here with you.

“You’ve been a surprising addition to ~all~ our lives here. None of us could have seen that coming.”

Iro wasn’t sure how to respond, so he just tilted his head as far back as he could, nudging his nose against Zeltaria’s chin. “T-thank you. I’ll stay with you as long as you need, Zel.”

Zeltaria hugged him tightly, pressing the smaller canine against her body. “Thank you, pup. Let’s not talk about this anymore. We’ll worry about tomorrow’s problems tomorrow. For ~now~…”

Her voice trailed off as one hand slowly moved down Iro’s stomach and rested on his groin, separated only by his uniform.

He whimpered softly and nodded as Zeltaria’s hand began to move slowly, barely generating any pleasure, but Iro knew exactly where this was heading. Zeltaria’s other hand started to explore his torso.

It slid up the neat lines of his uniform, around the small opening in the chest of the garment, and back down to meet her other hand on his groin before switching hands and repeating the motion.

Zeltaria seemed almost unaware of her actions, simply enjoying the feel of Iro’s body.

“Z-Zel,” Iro whimpered as he felt himself finally become fully erect. It wasn’t much to build up to, but his clothes quickly became uncomfortable.

Zeltaria snapped out of her trance when she heard her name moaned out loud and realized where it had come from.

She grinned and hummed, seeming to curl around Iro, lifting her legs to wrap around his, enclosing his arms with hers, resting her chin on his head again.

“~Yes~, puppy?” she said, her voice sweet and thick like honey.

Iro whined again and tried to move, but Zeltaria’s position around him prevented any escape. Not that he wanted to ~run away~. He wanted ~more~.

“C-can’t…can’t stand being…in this… for long,” he said, lightly tugging at the fabric of his skirt and squirming in Zeltaria’s lap.

Zeltaria giggled softly and pressed just a little harder on his erection. “Then say the magic word, puppy, and let me take care of the rest.”

Iro melted at the suggestion and let out a lustful moan. “P-please…t-take me…h-however…”

“~I like~,” Zeltaria finished, lifting Iro’s legs until she held him like a nursing mother.

She stood suddenly and spun around, setting Iro on unsteady legs, but allowing him to press both of his hands into the tree as Zeltaria guided his hind paws out.

Slowly, Zeltaria lifted Iro’s skirt and gathered it around his waist, pulling his tail back through the hole in the skirt.

She let him wag it freely as Zeltaria ran her soft yet firm hands up his inner thighs and over the tight white panties hugging his hips.

“Good boy,” Zeltaria whispered. Iro shivered as the words brushed his ears in the peculiar way Zel’s words sometimes did.

He knew what was coming next. And right now, he didn’t mind one bit.