Bondage and Marriage - 82

82

“It’s been so long.”

James spread his arms wide, approaching with a big smile and hugged Noah tightly as if he could crush him. James was quite handsome with a likable face, and his skin was tanned to a healthy brown. And seeing that, Ian’s smile turned slightly crooked. Noah, not expecting to see James here, asked with a bewildered face.

“No… why are you here?”

“Huh? Well… I have some reasons I can’t go home. I told your dad, and he kindly said I could stay here.”

James laughed, using a familiar term for Tanner. Ian realized that James wasn’t just a friend but someone close to the family. James’s casual and intimate approach to Noah definitely didn’t sit well with Ian. There was no doubt that Tanner had deliberately invited this ‘friend’ here. If Tanner’s purpose was to annoy him, he had already succeeded.

“And this is…?”

Late to notice Ian, James smiled and offered a handshake. His friendly demeanor could win over anyone, but Ian gave him a blank stare, making James feel a bit awkward before shaking the offered hand with a smile.

“I’m Ian Miller. Nice to meet you.”

“Ah, nice to meet you too. I’m James Frenet.”

Ian, deliberately squeezing the hand painfully, wrapped his arm around Noah’s waist as if to show off. James looked at Ian and Noah with a slightly confused face and made an ‘oh’ sound. Whether it was just his mood, it sounded like, ‘You’re an Alpha?’ which made Ian very displeased. He just didn’t like James at all.

“Then, I’ll show Ian around the mansion.”

“Alright, I’ll call you for dinner.”

Tanner, looking very pleased, said generously. Although Ian’s expression didn’t change much, Tanner easily sensed that Ian must be in a bad mood. Why wouldn’t he know? From experience, Tanner knew what situations most irritated an Alpha. Whether Ian only liked Noah for marriage or genuinely married Noah, either way, it was beneficial for Tanner. If the former, it would be suitable to drive a wedge between them, and if the latter, it would be appropriate to annoy Ian…

Amelia, you’d call me childish. Tanner muttered to his deceased wife inwardly. But even if dirt gets in my eyes, I won’t stand for that young punk hitting me from behind and then enjoying himself alone! Tanner ground his teeth as he watched Ian and Noah go upstairs to their room.

“This is my room.”

Noah opened the door to show Ian. Although it had been a long time since Noah last visited, the room was still kept clean as before, only the bed was much larger than it used to be. After looking around, Ian took off his coat and questioned Noah.

“Why is that friend here?”

“James’s family is very close to ours.”

Noah, also taking off his coat, explained while glancing at something in the room.

“If James didn’t go on trips, he would attend almost every party with us…”

“But he just happens to return to the country the week before I come to your house and decides to spend the New Year’s party here? Very coincidentally?”

“Uh… and a bit of my dad’s mischief too…”

“A bit? It’s far beyond just a bit. And why do you keep looking over there?”

Ian raised an eyebrow and walked to where Noah had been glancing. While Noah hesitated to answer, Ian checked the wall, even lifting picture frames, and then tapped on a wooden display case with a doubtful look. It made a solid sound.

“Did you hide it here?”

“Because it shouldn’t be seen by others.”

Noah approached and pressed a nearly invisible small button on the display case, and a door opened. Inside, there were large boxes undoubtedly made by Tear, each one different in color, perhaps collected from when Noah started going to clubs. Ian took down the box from the top shelf, opened it, and inside…

“This isn’t sold by Tear.”

Ian muttered, picking up something that looked exactly like an eel, the only part not eel-like being a faint hairline crack at the tail. Looking at Noah for an answer, Noah avoided his gaze. Ah, so you put items from other stores in a Tear box.

“These seem like things you treasure, why didn’t you bring them when you got married?”

“Because when I got married, I thought we’d divorce soon…”

“Oh, really?”

Sensing something ominous from Ian’s tone, Noah rushed over, but Ian had already tightened his grip on the eel. With a snap, something broke, and Noah cried out, “No!” while holding the eel, now bent at a 90-degree angle.

“This is a limited edition, they don’t sell it anymore…”

Ignoring Noah’s words, Ian didn’t respond, so Noah, feeling his personality was really bad, started to tear up. Goodbye, eel… Noah sadly moved the eel that once gave him joy to the bottom box. Next, what Ian held was an oddly shaped object. It looked like a thick, ridged rubber dildo but was transparent, showing a hollow inside. When he pushed a finger in, it stretched elastically to easily take in his hand, and there was a wire with a button attached, indicating it functioned somehow.

“Did you know how to use this when you bought it? This isn’t something you can use alone.”

Noah, who had just lost his precious treasure number one and was in despair, looked at what Ian was holding with a gloomy face.

“It’s not for use alone?”

“Yeah. It’s quite a specialized item… Want me to teach you how to use it?”

Ian’s teasing tone, while tickling Noah’s chin, suggested a fun time tonight, and Noah’s eyes sparkled, momentarily forgetting his gloom. Yes, I want to know how to use it! However, despite Noah’s eager nod, Ian shrugged and put the item back down.

“But I’m too mean to teach you how to use it.”

He was being petty, reminding Noah of the comment about having a bad personality, but Noah, enchanted by the temptation before him, sold his pride.

“Who said that? Ian’s personality is so good.”

Noah lied without even wetting his lips. If he had a tail, it would be wagging furiously behind him as he stared at Ian. Ian smirked and moved his hand from Noah’s chin to press his thumb down on Noah’s tongue. As Noah’s Adam’s apple bobbed in excitement, there was a knock on the door. It was the servant announcing dinner.

James Frenet irritated Ian more than he had expected, and when paired with Tanner, it doubled the annoyance.

“Of course, I remember, sir. How much fun we had that time. Noah, you remember, right? That woman on the Nice beach in France.”

So, is this what they call feeling left out? Ian thought. For him, it was closer to irritation than feeling left out. While the family chatted about things Ian didn’t know, he kept smiling as he watched Noah put his hand on James’s shoulder in a friendly manner. Noah… Noah, …let’s see tonight.

“By the way, are you getting along well with Ian?”

Tanner asked, pretending to be very considerate to his son-in-law, but he was asking Noah, not Ian. Only then did Noah notice Ian’s bright smile, and feeling anxious about the night’s play, he sided with Ian. Though it was quite late support.

“Of course, just three days ago we were going to have dinner and go to the movies for a date…”

Noah said shyly, as he rarely mentioned the word ‘date’. Then, feeling the need to add something, he continued.

“Unfortunately, there was an issue at Ian’s company the day before, so we planned to go later. Now that work is wrapping up…”

For some reason, when Noah mentioned ‘date,’ he seemed unusually embarrassed, and Ian felt something, looking at him intently. Then, Tanner laughed heartily at the atmosphere and threw something very unpleasant at Ian.

“Then, since it’s the New Year’s party, how about watching a movie together as a family for the first time in a while?”

“Huh?”

“There’s a screening room in the mansion, so we just need to get the film from the movie company.”

“I love movies!”

The niece, who usually couldn’t watch movies or animations because of her education, shouted excitedly. Uh… this isn’t right… Noah thought he could bet all the precious boxes in that display cabinet that Ian would not enjoy watching a movie with his young niece, the family… and James.

“It would be nice to watch a movie, Melody.”

“I’m not Melody…”

“Oh, sorry. Amanda? Alice?”

James, trying to speak to his niece with a big smile, got her name wrong and fumbled. James had always struggled with remembering names or details about people around him. Especially with girlfriends, he often mixed up their information with past ones, which had led to him being slapped several times. Noah whispered the correct name to James with a laugh.

“It’s Lily, Lily. Why do you always get our Lily’s name wrong?”

“Oh, Lily. Sorry, Uncle got confused for a moment.”

After calming down the grumpy niece, James thanked Noah for the secret tip and put his arm around Noah’s shoulder. Noah, laughing at him to remember names better, was startled by the intense gaze he felt… turning his head, he saw Ian giving him a smile while sipping wine gracefully. Somehow, that smile reminded Noah of the smile Ian had on the night all truths were revealed…

“Ahhh…”

Noah rubbed his eyes in front of the mirror, looking at the mottled marks covering his neck and shoulders, his face tired. It was Ian’s first night staying at Noah’s mansion, and he said they couldn’t have a normal night, promising to make it an unforgettable one… and it truly was unforgettable in many ways.

Noah still felt his lower body melting, making a sad face. I was so excited for last night because he said he would show me the proper way to use it… but what proper way? Ian didn’t use the tool even once last night. Unfortunately for Noah, the only things Ian used properly were his mouth, fingers, and his magnificent tool, and that alone was enough to make Noah cry in agony throughout the night.

Learning a very important lesson not to make Ian jealous especially during dinner time, Noah finished his shower and came out, still staggering because his legs were weak. Ian, already dressed neatly, approached Noah with a very satisfied look, kindly handing him clothes.

“On second thought, showing you being close with your friend in front of the Alpha you married isn’t so bad.”

No, it’s very… bad. Noah mumbled as he dressed. At least there was no need to go out today, which was fortunate. Today, since everyone would be together, he decided not to sit anywhere near James. He would sit next to Lily or Olivia or Benjamin. Noah resolved.

Strangely, the mansion was unusually quiet today. Wondering if everyone had gone to the screening room already, Noah and Ian came downstairs to find James pacing in the first-floor hall. Ian’s eyebrows raised. James saw Noah and approached with a bright smile.

“Ah, Noah. Perfect timing. I was wondering when you’d come down.”

“What’s going on? What about Dad and the others?”

Noah asked in confusion, and James shrugged. Noah sensed a foreboding feeling from James’s appearance, and those forebodings were never wrong.

“Strangely, everyone had something come up and can’t watch the movie. Instead, your dad apologizes and booked the movie for us to watch. Want to go out for once in a while?”

James waved three movie tickets in front of Ian and Noah with an especially bright smile.