Bondage and Marriage - 31

Noah woke from his deep sleep due to sunlight streaming onto his face. Squinting against the brightness, he buried his face in the sheets, but once awake, sleep slipped away completely. Slowly, he opened his eyes. Turning his head toward the light, he saw a breathtaking view through the floor-to-ceiling windows—a vista that felt open and liberating.

The morning view of Cube Island was entirely different from the soft, twinkling lights that resembled stars during the previous night. Under the deep blue sky, the white sandy shores of the cubic, man-made island and the glass windows of the buildings sparkled like pearls in the sunlight. Still groggy, Noah stared blankly at people splashing about in the stream designed to flow along the cube’s edges. Stretching fully, he gradually roused his languid body.

Even after getting up, Noah lazed in bed for a while before realizing Ian wasn’t in the room. On a hunch, he checked the bathroom where they’d had a good time the night before, but Ian was nowhere to be found.

“Hmm…” Noah tilted his head in thought. Then it struck him: there was only one bed in the room. Could it be… that Ian had slept in the same bed?

“No way…”

Even back at the mansion, Noah had never once shared a bed with Ian. They didn’t just have separate beds—they used separate rooms entirely. Ian’s master bedroom and Noah’s room were located at opposite ends of the mansion, as far apart as possible.

Still, it seemed strange to book a hotel for a single night if Ian had just returned to the country. And if Ian had used another room, he would’ve made Noah move rather than change rooms himself. Could they really have shared a bed? The bed was certainly spacious enough.

“Well, if we slept together, so what?” Noah dismissed the thought of whether he and Ian had shared a bed. Considering the intense activities they engaged in regularly, sharing a bed seemed trivial. It was nearly 10 a.m., and what concerned him more was his hunger. Sitting on the bed, Noah flipped through the hotel guide to order breakfast via room service. He suddenly paused.

“Ah, so this is what Ian ordered last night.”

Toward the back of the guide, there was a section for special couple packages. Some of the listed items were:

• Pink Rose: A light and sweet set for newlyweds. Includes: condoms, gel, vibrator.
• Red Wine: Recommended for couples seeking a different ambiance. Includes: condoms, gel, vibrator, dildo.
• Blue Ride: For those who enjoy riding. Includes: condoms, gel, dildo, rocking horse (triangle horse option available).
• Black Pearl: A set for those with unique tastes. Includes: condoms, gel, extra-large vibrator, riding crop.

Other options like the “Canary Cage” and “Purple Pocket” allowed for additional devices to be added to the basic set. Noah felt a bit regretful.

“I’d have gone for Navy Blue Ride,” he mused. If he had known Ian was ordering such things, he might have subtly encouraged him to choose that set instead.

Shrugging, Noah flipped through the guide with less interest and ordered breakfast. While waiting, he took a quick shower, donned a robe, and stepped out just as there was a knock at the door. A hotel staff member entered, set a delicious-looking breakfast on the table, and left after a polite bow.

Though the meal didn’t quite match the quality of the mansion’s chef, it was satisfying enough. As Noah ate, he checked his phone and found a message from Daniel. Sent around 8 a.m., it explained that an urgent matter at the company had arisen, and since he couldn’t wake Noah early, he had no choice but to leave with the chairman. It was exactly as Noah had guessed—Ian had simply left him behind.

Unlike his temperamental employer, Daniel was kind enough to arrange another private jet for Noah. With the departure time set for the late afternoon, Noah decided to enjoy his remaining time on Cube Island at a leisurely pace.

After checking out of the hotel, Noah sent his luggage ahead and wandered around the island’s shopping mall with just his wallet and passport. He spent most of his time picking out souvenirs for the mansion staff, whom he was quite close to. Buying gifts for them had become a habit whenever he traveled. This time, it was partly out of gratitude but also a sense of guilt.

After all, how many embarrassing scenes had they unwillingly witnessed at the mansion? Unintentional public displays of… explicit behavior could still count as harassment. Though upper-class servants were expected to keep everything they saw or heard to themselves, they were still human. Even if they didn’t speak of it, it didn’t mean they could truly ignore it.

Moreover, the staff, including Hayden and Miriam, often looked after Noah in their own ways when Ian mistreated him. If Ian spitefully denied Noah meals, they secretly brought him food. Despite Noah being assigned the worst room in the mansion, they always kept it clean and comfortable. Noah couldn’t help but appreciate their kindness.

Thus, though he left the island lightly, he returned with heavy bags of souvenirs. The staff accepted the gifts with a mix of surprise and gratitude. The chef, who always prepared delicious meals, was especially touched to receive a bottle of fine wine from Noah. Overwhelmed, the chef presented him with an assortment of desserts crafted with extra care.

“I don’t think I can finish all this…” Noah remarked shyly, though his eyes sparkled as he eagerly picked up a fork.

The table was laden with sweet desserts Noah adored. He started with a cake, carefully slicing it with his fork and taking a bite. The fresh cream melted sweetly on his tongue, the strawberries were perfectly ripe, and the sponge cake was moist and soft.

Next came a slice of cheesecake that was equally divine. As Noah savored the desserts, a thought crossed his mind: could he keep the chef after divorcing Ian? He continued with his favorites—parfaits, freshly baked macarons, and cannoli—just as Ian entered the room.

Having returned to the mansion earlier, Ian seemed to have come downstairs for a walk. Spotting the delighted staff and Noah happily enjoying his desserts, Ian frowned in displeasure. His brow furrowed as he asked, “Why are you loitering around like that, making a racket?”

At Ian’s single remark, the cheerful atmosphere shattered instantly. The other employees, except for the one assigned to serve Ian and Noah, quickly grabbed their souvenirs and scattered in different directions. They always made an effort to avoid being in the same room when Ian and Noah were together. (The reason for this doesn’t need to be explained.)

Noah, who had frozen with his fork mid-air, glanced downward. Hmm… there were still two or three neatly packed gift boxes left under the table. Should he give one?

“Um, Ian…”

Feeling awkward about only giving gifts to the employees and not Ian, Noah reluctantly pulled out a gift box from under the table and held it out to him. Ian, who stepped closer, took the box indifferently. While Noah anxiously watched him, Ian barely unwrapped it before tossing it back to him with a bored expression.

“I don’t want this cheap junk.”

The nearby employee felt sorry for Noah, who was being berated yet again. But Noah, on the other hand, winced at Ian’s words. How did he know it was a bit cheap…? It wasn’t like Noah deliberately gave him something of lesser quality, but while distributing gifts to the staff, he’d accidentally left the least impressive one for Ian. Or, to be honest, Noah hadn’t bought Ian a gift at all.

Since Ian had gone to Cube Island with him, Noah didn’t think it was necessary to buy him a souvenir. Besides, Ian had visited Cube Island countless times before.

Still, Ian’s eyes wandered down to Noah’s plate, showing unexpected interest. In the center of the plate was a delicate display of beige and white macarons dusted with gold flakes. Ian reached out and grabbed one of the white macarons, causing Noah’s eyes to widen.

No… not my macaron!

Noah internally screamed, but the macaron had already left the plate and was on its way to Ian’s mouth. Noah could only watch, his face filled with sorrow, as Ian devoured the macaron in one bite and then finished off another. His heart ached. Why did I save the best for last? I should’ve eaten the macarons first…

Noah alternated between staring at the now-empty plate and glaring at Ian.

“What? Got a problem?”

“No…”

Looking extremely dejected, Noah lowered his fork. This dessert thief! No, this outright bandit! That was specially made for me by the chef…

However, instead of heading out for a walk, Ian pulled out a chair and sat directly across from Noah. Noah blinked in surprise. Ian instructed an employee nearby,

“Bring me some coffee.”

“Yes, sir.”

While mindlessly grabbing a cannoli from the table and taking a bite, Ian suddenly felt a sharp gaze. Looking up, he noticed Noah staring at the table with a pitiful expression. Not realizing it was because he had stolen Noah’s dessert, Ian assumed it was about the rejected gift. Noah’s sad expression was so pitiful that Ian stared at him for a moment before brushing it off.

When the employee returned with coffee, Ian sipped it, letting the bitter taste counteract the sweetness of the cannoli, and finally spoke.

“In three days, guests will be visiting the estate. Keep that in mind.”

“Guests…?”

Noah, still sulking, perked up a little. Guests—like Heather from before? Ian was the president of Tear, after all. The thought of Ian bringing along experienced partners for… special activities filled Noah with excitement. Maybe this time, he’d get the chance to fulfill the group play he hadn’t been able to on his birthday!

Carefully probing, Noah asked, “Are they guests like Heather?”

Ian’s expression darkened slightly as he placed his coffee cup on the table with a sharp clink. Glancing briefly at Noah, he replied in an even colder tone than usual,

“No. They’re important guests, so mind your behavior. Don’t act frivolously like you usually do.”

“Yes…”

“Frivolously,” huh? Did he mean how Noah acted with Heather or at yesterday’s social gathering? While curious, Noah figured Ian just wanted them to play the role of a harmonious couple in front of important people.

Fair enough. Noah wasn’t particularly fond of dealing with inexperienced individuals anyway. Unlike the club-goers he’d usually been introduced to, regular people didn’t know their physical limits, so there was a higher risk of them getting hurt. That’s precisely why Noah always stuck to meeting the experienced partners recommended by the club manager.

After finishing his piece, Ian polished off the last of the cannoli, leaving Noah even more disheartened, and finally went out for his walk. Noah sat at the table, staring sadly at the empty plates. Next time, I’ll never eat anything delicious in front of Ian…

Still pouting, Noah fiddled with his fork absentmindedly when something caught his attention. Among the lingering scent of desserts was a faint, unfamiliar smell. It seemed to brush against his senses, making him feel slightly tense. Was it Ian’s alpha pheromones?

Without realizing it, Noah leaned closer to the seat Ian had just vacated, trying to discern the scent more clearly. Before he could figure it out, a massive pudding appeared in front of him.

Noah’s eyes sparkled. Unlike the usual tiny servings barely the size of a child’s fist, this pudding was enormous. Looking up with shining eyes, Noah saw the employee smiling kindly.

“Apologies, sir. The kitchen forgot to bring out the last dessert.”

The thought of the pheromone scent vanished from Noah’s mind. Now, the only thing that mattered was happily savoring the sweet pudding covered in syrup.