Bondage and Marriage - 85

85

Having been so aroused, Noah reached another high, panting heavily, unsure if it was ejaculation or not. His behind felt completely wet and squishy. If this wasn’t outside, he would do breeding, Ian murmured while licking the ear he had bitten painfully.

“The movie must have started a while ago.”

Looking at his wristwatch, Ian spoke, but Noah, having had such an amazing time, didn’t care whether the movie had started or not. Ian tore off some toilet paper to roughly clean the fluids from Noah’s behind and then slowly massaged his buttocks, which were red and hot.

“Want some ointment?”

“Mm… no…”

Noah mumbled, enjoying the stinging sensation every time Ian massaged his buttocks. He just wanted to collapse into bed and sleep soundly… With his body exhausted from climaxing multiple times, Noah glanced with regret at the trash can. The onahole, which could have been reused if cleaned, was discarded without a second thought by Ian, which was a pity. Well, I can just buy another one.

“Since we’ve already missed the start, how about we just go home.”

“James must be waiting inside.”

Although Noah also felt his body was worn out and wanted to go home for a meal and a light nap as Ian suggested, he refused, remembering that James was watching the movie alone inside. But then Ian said,

“He’s not waiting, so don’t worry. He told me to hurry back since you’re not feeling well.”

No… when did that happen? Ian and Noah had never left the bathroom, and James hadn’t come back. There was no time to contact… Oh, he must have contacted during that so-called reflection time.

“It’s a shame. If your friend wasn’t here, we would have done something else.”

While Noah was carefully pulling his pants up over his swollen, red buttocks, Ian, with arms crossed, watched him adjust his clothes, speaking with a tone of regret.

“Something else… what?”

“Well, something you can do while watching a movie?”

What could you do while watching a movie…? Noah looked very curious, but Ian seemed unwilling to answer. Noah subtly tried to probe Ian.

“I wouldn’t mind watching the movie from the middle…”

But it was to no avail.

“If you want to watch from the beginning, tell your friend to leave.”

Washing his hands at the sink, Ian raised an eyebrow and looked back at Noah with an expression full of discontent.

“Frankly, does your friend have any sense at all?”

“Um…”

Honestly, as Ian said, Noah couldn’t say James had much sense. More than that, James was very indifferent to his surroundings, which is why he was bad at remembering people’s names.

If James was interested in anything, it would be… an unexplored wilderness or a safari full of wild animals…? He could distinguish even the hyenas that were hard to tell apart by gender… Since he usually didn’t return for at least a year once he left, it was surprising that he returned so suddenly and visited Noah’s house.

“Anyway, remember this. I really don’t like your friend. Your father is one thing since he’s family, but that guy, no.”

“But he’s been like family since we were kids, so I can’t just not see him.”

For some reason, the atmosphere turned into one where Noah was being scolded, and he tried to protest, but it was useless. Under Ian’s cold gaze, Noah felt a bit wronged. When did Ian start scolding me? Someone once said that in a marriage, both husband and wife are equals…

“Who said not to meet your friend? I just said no unnecessary contact. Are you aware that we’re married? If he has no sense, you should take care of it. Am I wrong?”

Well, he’s right… but was my interaction with James that excessive? Noah tried to recall past interactions. They just hugged because they hadn’t seen each other in a while, patted each other’s shoulders… that’s not usually considered excessive contact… But given Ian’s mood and the fact that what he said made sense, Noah could only nod in agreement.

“No, you’re right…”

“From now on, every time your friend touches you, it’s one fingering.”

Noah, who had been nodding compliantly, looked up sharply, wondering what that meant. But Ian wasn’t done speaking.

“One touch by hand, one…”

Ian menacingly wiggled his index and middle fingers. Noah opened his mouth slightly.

“And if there’s more contact than that, I’ll make it really fun for you, so look forward to it.”

“Is there such a thing? How can I interact with a friend without touching at all?”

Noah, who knew all too well how skillful Ian was with his fingers, challenged him in confusion. Ian scoffed with laughter. You should have read the contract carefully.

“When we get home, read the contract again. It’s all written there about infidelity. I’ll overlook a handshake when parting or meeting. Or just don’t let me see you two fooling around.”

Was that written in the contract? Noah, who had skimmed through it at the time, couldn’t remember any such clause. But what could he do, he had just overlooked it and signed… Still, thinking it over, Ian’s standards seemed too harsh, and Noah called out, “Ian,” in a firm tone. Ian frowned slightly, looking at him… and Noah pleaded earnestly.

“Can’t you overlook it if we accidentally touch about five times…?”

After much argument, they finally agreed on overlooking three accidental touches. They then returned to the mansion. On the way back, they stopped at a favorite dessert shop where they bought desserts Ian had previously teased Noah about but hadn’t let him eat. Feeling very happy, Noah opened the door to find the family members who supposedly had things to do.

“Oh, you came back early, young master. Where’s James?”

Olivia asked while soothing the sleepy Lily, and Ian, instead of Noah, stepped forward with a displeased face, crossing his arms to speak loudly enough for Tanner to hear.

“We were going to watch the movie, but Noah wasn’t feeling well, so we came back early. Frenet said he would finish watching the movie and come back.”

Noah’s smile, which had been bright from carrying bags full of desserts, awkwardly faded at Ian’s mention of him not feeling well. Despite looking too healthy for someone supposedly unwell, all eyes turned to Ian. However, Ian continued with a shameless yet gentlemanly and elegant attitude.

“I apologize, father-in-law, for not taking advantage of the movie tickets you personally booked.”

Ian’s words were polite but had a sting to them, and it seemed like one could hear Tanner grinding his teeth. Seeing Noah limp slightly, Tanner’s face turned red with anger. This wasn’t what Tanner had envisioned for Noah, Ian, and James’s movie outing…

“Um, then… Ian and I will go upstairs first.”

Trying to prevent any clash between Ian and Tanner in this tense atmosphere, Noah suggested, but Tanner raised his hand sharply.

“No, you go up and rest first. I have something to discuss with him alone.”

With Tanner determined for a one-on-one confrontation, Ian’s eyes lit up. Noah looked at them both with concern. Tanner was known to lose his temper and throw things or raise his hand even when Benjamin was just teasing. The idea of Tanner and Ian clashing alone was worrisome. But Benjamin, watching with interest, spoke up.

“Should I call the doctor in advance, father?”

“Benjamin!”

Tanner, trying to act gentlemanly like Ian but failing due to Benjamin’s interruption, stood up abruptly. It looked like he might need a doctor, father, your bl00d pressure recently… Before he could finish, Tanner looked around for something to hit, and only then did Benjamin quickly leave the room.

“Then… I’ll go up first, father.”

Olivia left with her half-asleep daughter, laughing, and finally, Noah also went upstairs after looking at both with concern, leaving only Tanner and Ian. If stares could burn, the path of Tanner’s gaze on Ian would be aflame.

“What exactly are you trying to do here?”

“What exactly are you referring to…”

Ian sat down on the sofa before being invited, speaking leisurely.

“Are you talking about how I thwarted your attempt to split up a married couple, or about selling all your subsidiary’s stocks? Oh, I heard you suffered quite a loss.”

Tanner’s gaze quickly grew fierce at those words. However, unlike Noah’s worries or Benjamin’s provocations, Tanner didn’t go mad with rage. Instead, he was somewhat cold towards Ian.

“Both, I suppose. Yes, I admit I was being mischievous. But regarding the latter, I believe I have something to say.”

At Tanner’s words, Ian hummed and then, after a brief silence, crossed his legs arrogantly, looking at Tanner who was glaring at him.

“Let me be honest. Initially, I didn’t like the marriage proposal at all. Even when I first met Noah, or afterwards, I didn’t marry him because I liked him.”

At the mention of Noah, Tanner’s previously cold eyes turned fierce. What’s that supposed to mean?, his eyes seemed to shout.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean I feel the same way now, so please consider Noah separate from this matter. ……I sold the subsidiary because I didn’t want to be swayed by the Frost family anymore.”

“So, you didn’t want me to control your company?”

Tanner’s tone softened a bit, his eyebrows furrowed, but the atmosphere was still hostile. Ian didn’t even blink.

“Yes. Honestly, if your financial support wasn’t crucial at the time, I wouldn’t have married. Anyway, since I am married now, even if that was in the past… I want to make the company entirely mine from now on. I appreciate the help you’ve given so far. But I no longer need your assistance.”

Tanner, who usually appreciated an Alpha acting like an Alpha, confident, selfish, and acting according to his principles, found Ian’s response quite pleasing. Although Tanner’s mood had lightened a bit, the mention of Noah earlier left him with a hard expression.

“…I’ll let this slide. I can understand wanting independence as an Alpha. But I can’t easily overlook the matter with Noah. I never thought you married him out of love or affection. Where’s the place for such emotions in a marriage of convenience?”

But remember, Tanner sent a fierce look. That goes for Noah too. Did you think Noah married you out of love? Ian’s eyebrows twitched slightly at Tanner’s words, but Tanner didn’t notice this.

“So, always be cautious. That kid is gentle and follows people easily, but maybe because he didn’t receive much affection from his mother, he doesn’t give love easily. Even when the cat we raised for 14 years died, he didn’t shed a single tear. If you think Noah will easily like you, you’re greatly mistaken.”

Tanner’s deep love for his youngest son, Noah, was well-known, but by hitting at the very points Ian was concerned about, repeatedly saying ‘Noah doesn’t like people easily’ or ‘maybe he won’t like you for years’, Ian’s forehead started to show veins, despite his intention to keep things amicable for Noah’s sake. This old man, really…

Finally, when Tanner said, “In fact, Noah’s taste isn’t your type of personality,” Ian could no longer hold back and gave a smooth smile.

“By the way, I forgot to mention, there was another reason for selling that subsidiary.”

“What other reason?”

With Tanner raising his eyebrows in confusion, Ian gave an even deeper smile, thoroughly scratching at Tanner’s patience.

“The biggest reason was to annoy you, sir.”

The conversation between Tanner and Ian ended with Tanner’s bl00d pressure rising to the point where he had to call for his doctor. Their relationship, which seemed to have improved for a moment, became even worse than before. Moreover, Benjamin had called the doctor in advance, expecting this, which further irritated Tanner to the point where he lay down.

What? Noah’s taste isn’t me? Ian was also getting more annoyed, mulling over Tanner’s words. What’s wrong with me? My face and body are quite good, my wealth and social status are excellent among men my age, aren’t they? And my personality isn’t that bad either. Above all, don’t Noah and I match well? We match very well.

But the ‘taste’ Tanner referred to must not have been that kind of taste. That’s why Ian couldn’t stand Tanner’s words. Ian had been wondering recently if Noah would ever like him. This thought came after he looked into the data about Alex.

Even though Mikhail was somewhat eccentric, his investigation was thorough, and the data indicated that Alex had known Noah for years and ‘liked him.’ It also noted that Noah was aware of Alex’s feelings, but there was no record of them ever dating. They had maintained only a partnership for years. And before that, Noah hadn’t had any significant lovers, so it wasn’t something to be completely happy about.

Even though Ian had been very busy with work, he had tried dating occasionally, and there had been someone he sincerely cared for, even if briefly. But Noah had never experienced that.

As Tanner had said, Noah followed others because he was gentle, but there was a big difference between following someone and liking or giving them affection. After all the facts came out, when Ian realized that Noah was often indifferent to him…

Ian, lost in deep thought, headed towards the dining room with the intention of getting some water to calm his troubled mind. He stopped mid-step because he heard voices – James and Noah. Is he with that James again? Ian frowned. His dislike for James wasn’t just because Tanner used him to sabotage him and Noah, but also because he noticed how much affection Noah had for James, who was like family to him.

Ian, momentarily gritting his teeth, made his face calm before entering the dining room but stopped again. He couldn’t help but pause when he heard what James was saying to Noah.

“…So, Noah, are you serious with that Ian Miller?”

Ian, frowning slightly, turned a bit to hide himself from their view. Serious relationship? After marriage, why would he ask if it’s a serious relationship? While thinking this, Ian listened for Noah’s response. And he was deeply disappointed by Noah’s answer after a moment of hesitation.

“No, it’s not that serious…”

Tanner’s words about how Noah doesn’t easily like or give affection to others came back to him. But that doesn’t mean he absolutely doesn’t like anyone, right? Ian tried to reassure himself, but his body stiffened at James’s next words.

“If it’s not that serious, then, Noah… would you marry me?”

Ian doubted his ears for a moment. What is he talking about now? His belief that James was just a simple friend to Noah crumbled. Recalling how happy Noah looked when seeing James, or the expression on his face when he talked about being like family, Ian couldn’t wait for Noah’s answer any longer and left the scene immediately.