by Celia Crown
The man laughs, as condescending as a reporter can be.
“He told other news sources about it, that makes it a public matter. Please answer the question, Mr. Novak. What were the pictures?”
James nods, he’s completely not entertained by the clown as he answers with the truth. He has many facial expressions, and the one on his face currently is the face of truth where he’s not holding anything back.
“Those photos are taken on private property, he wanted to use them for personal gain, and the court has ruled that his trespassing can lead to potential defamation to Marionette and future business sales. All I can say is that he chose to surrender all the evidence and leave Mari alone.”
The relentless reporter challenges, “After you threatened him?”
“With lawsuits,” James answers with a straight face.
There’re no memories of that incident in her head, James never told her that. Piecing together the details in her mind is difficult when she’s missing so many facts. The dates, the media rampage, and the paperwork for lawsuits. None of that was ever brought up to her, James never lets her near any harm.
Perceived or real.
Those two words are tied together, in James’ mind, harm is harm.
“Next!” one of the lawyers leans into her microphone at the end of the table.
The reporter is forced to hand off the device with a grumble.
“Can you tell us something about Miss. Collins? We all know that there are women and men out there who would love to be your significant other, yet you choose the Marionette—one of the most controversial figures in modern society. Why is she so special?”
At least this reporter is polite, so Mr. Novak indulges in the curiosity.
“I’ve come across death, seen betrayal, and heard lies when I was still in the army. There were dark times and I wonder what would happen if I stopped caring, would it ease my conscience with bloody hands or would it destroy another piece in me? Then, I saw Mari. She became everything to me.”
A wave of gasps and giggles flow in the room. Mari flushes as her ankles shift with her knees knocking together. Her green eyes reflect the same amount of warmth in his eyes when he turns to her.
“I want to marry you.”
Her cheeks stretch wide, little tingles in her muscles aches as she giggles. James presses his lips to hers, a wisp of her name breathes on her lips.
“Really?” a consuming air of giddiness eats away their awareness to the prying eyes of individuals.
He growls in agreement, “Since day one, little doll.”
“Me too.” she nods quickly, her cheeks can’t stop pulling. “I don’t think I can love anyone else.”
“You won’t,” James promises, and Mari wishes to leave this conference and forget about this whole thing. She craves to have his hands on her body, taking her submission to satisfy his dominance, and fill her drenched cunt with his thick cock.
His eyes darken as she fidgets, a sweet blush splashing over her cheeks.
“Dirty girl,” he murmurs.
Their conversation is too quiet to be heard by the people around them, but that doesn’t stop reporters from staring or camera lenses from zooming in on their moment.
“I have a plane fueled up, and we’ll go wherever you want,” he said.
Mari finally caught on, Mr. Novak never had the intention of finishing this conference. It’s only a formality to answer questions, but now that the last question had been answered, there’s no reason to stay. Any additional questions would be routed to his lawyers.
“Anywhere?” she quips.
He nods.
The world is a scary place, there’s not a truly safe spot where they can drop their guard. Other than his home, it’s a fortress.
“Can we go swimming?” she bats her lashes.
He pauses with bewildered dark eyes and chuckles at her. His voice is velvety, and a shiver runs down her spine as he curls his hand around her neck.
“Of all things,” he interrupts himself and a laugh stumbles out, “You are a strange girl, Mari.”
She blinks owlishly.
“We’ll go swimming, we’ll do everything you want.”
Mari shakes her head, “Only if you want to too.”
“I’m content on watching you.”
Then, he whisks her away.
Chapter Ten
James
Oh, he whisked her away, alright.
Onto his private plane, across the oceans, and into one of the most popular destinations in the world.
The Cayman Islands.
They settled in the Grand Cayman with him setting a border around the private estate with the beach at the back just for their viewing.
The vacation home is ginormous with glamorous marbled flooring, fancy furniture, and peculiar artwork hanging on the wall.
James is an art gallery owner, he knows his way around artwork and the pieces hanging on the walls of a vacation home he ordered from a friend of his is a weird sight. Art is subjective, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
He’s just not sure about it matching the rest of the house.
Whatever, he’s not here to judge art.
When he first parked the car, he surveyed the area for any potential dangers even if it was swept by a security guard and the alarm hasn’t been triggered. Better safe than sorry. He would have left Mari in the car and checked out the area himself, but he didn’t want to leave her to herself at an unfamiliar place.
The safest place for her is right beside him, this way he can protect her and take a look around the house for any hidden surprises.
It is deemed safe for Mari to roam around and take in the beauty of the gorgeous structures, she’s fascinated by the littlest things and James loves that childish beam on her face.
She opens every door and peers into the rooms with the curiosity of a cat, somewhat vigilant yet the possibilities of new discovery are greater than inhibitions. She would stick her head in and turns her eyes all over the room before gazing up at him with such awe that he’s starstruck at how much his heart is beating.
The excitement rolls off her smaller body, forcing him to not devour her in a kiss. Affecting her happiness with his selfishness is not permitted, he wants to bathe in her admiration because in her eyes, he’s her hero and guardian.
He’d fight monsters for her.
The only monster he sees is the reflection of the same man turning into a ravaging animal in the vanity mirror.
Her small feet paddling towards the row of glass windows with a sliding door locked in place, but then her steps falter and she turns around and runs back to him. Once again, she stops and hesitates with her body torn between looking towards the clear ocean blues or asking him for assistance.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
She stammers, a whine readily there at her disposal. “I don’t know what to do! I want to swim, but that market we passed—”
James presses a finger to her lips, successfully shushing her. “Why don’t we explore the market first?”
She nods vigorously, taking his hand and rushing him to the door with what little physical strength she has, but he allows her to drag him.
Mari has changed. Before her twenty-first birthday, she was shy and awkward around him. Now, she’s more cheerful and confident. Taking charge of things when he doesn’t say anything, it usually means that it won’t hurt to let her be herself without fear of consequences.
No one will wrong her, not when he’s there.
“Quickly, quickly!” she ushers him, yanking him out the door.
“Sweetheart,” he calls, and she stops straightaway.
Good girl, he purrs inwardly.
“The car is in the garage.”
She huffs with puffy cheeks and is about to open her mouth when he stares intensely into her green eyes, she clamps her mouth shut.
“We have time, there’s no need to rush.”
She tugs on his hand, big eyes beggi
ng him. “But—”
“Don’t talk back.” James grunts, his voice drops an octave.
Mari purses her lips, but her defiant eyes flash at him.
Is that it, he muses. His little doll is stepping out of her comfort zone and she’s getting too bold, James needs to teach her a lesson. He glances at the time on his watch and sets his gaze into a mean glare, her shoulders draw up in preservation as she cast her eyes away.
She’s going to be upset if she misses the experience of going to a market, James makes his plan known as she shifts her weight with her gorgeous light hair falling like graceful waves.
“You’re being a bad girl, and I intend to spank that little ass of yours. Mark my word, you will feel it.”
Arousal, timidity, and excitement flashing messily in her eyes as she bites her lips erotically.
“I’m sorry, sir.” she squeaks when he brings his hand down on her ass, it’s a warning for what’s to come later.
His hand flips her dress and grazes his finger firmly on her slits, nudging the pulsing little button. Her throat bobs as he rubs furiously, her knees buckle as she clings onto his arms.
Just as fast, he steals her pleasure away with his retreating hand.
“Sir,” she whimpers pathetically.
Mari is defiant, and he can’t let her know that her little transgression will be looked away just because she’s thrilled to see new places and is momentarily forgotten her place. She didn’t earn the right for his hands to touch her soft little cunt, only a teaser through her panties remind her what she will miss if she keeps up with that manner.
“Don’t you want to see the market?” James gives her a wicked grin and she looks so torn.
“It can wait?” pink lips wobble in desire, she feels the firmness from his pants and presses closer against it.
“It can’t.” he’s mean, but it’s fun to watch her hiccup and struggle to not rub her thighs together.
That little bit of dignity is useless.
He pats himself on the back for not throwing her against the wall and fuck the spoiled attitude out of her. He only has himself to blame because he’s the one who let her indulge on being in charge, but he will never limit her need to be a free spirit.
Tough decision, but in the end, he’s still the domineering man who craves her obedience.
“Get your pretty little ass outside.” he nudges her trembling body and tips his chin towards the door.
James watch her stumble to the door and cracks the lock open before sliding out, she glances back and sees him standing there with his imposing body in the middle of the hall. He belongs here, in a luxurious space that matches his status and she rakes her eyes over him in appreciation.
When he trudges down the stairs, he turns and speed walks down the hall and into another door that leads to the garage. The dark and beautifully sleek car waits for his hands, he doesn’t take the time to admire the flawless surface as he jumps in the car with the garage door clinking open.
A bright light chases away the darkness as he drives out to the front where Mari stands. She gets distracted by the unbelievably dark color of his car, and she flops herself down on the cushion.
The car is not new, but the smell of leather still lingers whenever he drives this particular vehicle. Mari doesn’t speak, her lips opening in awe as he zooms down the street with the gate closing behind him. Their vacation home is located on the beach, the estates are spread out sparsely as her green eyes dart from one new thing to another.
James chuckles quietly to himself, one hand on the wheel and the other on his lap twitches to touch her. She has her hands on the glass window, smudging fingerprints on the clarity of it, and her breath leaves a cloudy aftermath as she breathes in amazement.
The view is spectacular; a stretch of clear ocean water with the bright sun taking a spot in the cloudless blue skies, and a ting of salt fills his nose when he rolls down the window for her.
He turns down the street as she giggles when a thick lock of platinum hair hits her face, she shakes her head with a curl of her fingers around the edge of the door. The hues in her green eyes lighten from the sunlight, and he’s enthralled by her young beauty.
When they enter into a busier area with tourists and locals bustling around the market, he scans the area for a place to park and sees the street parking space filled with cars. He opts towards the parking lot building across the street and the shadows swallow their view of cerulean skies, James sweeps his eyes around and notices a parking space near the entrance.
James glances at Mari as she bounces in the car with her little sundress shifting tantalizingly, her anticipation is barely contained when he turns the engine off. She swings the door open and runs out with her leaping towards the driver side as he steps out calmly.
“Settle down, sweetheart. It won’t close for another three hours,” he said, but she shakes her head.
“Hold my hand.” James extends his hand out and she takes it without complaint and they embrace the natural daylight on their skin.
The soft breeze brushes their skin as the warmth from the sun hits his exposed arms, the white button-up shirt rolls up to his elbows as the tattoos reflect the contrast of colors. From his side view, Mari ignores the heat that rushes down her skin as she struggles to pay attention to one thing, her senses are overloading with new aromas and lively people around them as they step into the market.
The entire street is occupied with vendors and tourists picking out souvenirs while the locals blend into the mass of people. James keeps his guard up as Mari tightens her fingers around him, she giddily goes over to a vendor with jars of honey. The signs claim they are all organic and pure, it could be the truth, but James is too cautious for that.
A little cup is handed to Mari by a kind lady with wrinkles crinkling in laughter as Mari takes a bite out of it. Her green eyes brighten, the flavor must be great for her as she hums happily.
“We’ll come back for it,” he comments offhandedly when she turns to him with hopeful eyes.
She nods strongly at the vendor woman who gladly takes the empty cup and tosses to the bin by the table leg.
As they go from vendor to vendor, Mari still has so much energy by the time two hours had passed. She doesn’t seem to notice the tiredness from her dainty little feet, but James does, and he suggests they take a break at a local restaurant. She crinkles her nose, she’s still not satisfied yet, however, she nods nonetheless, and he steers her to a restaurant closest to them.
He doesn’t care what he eats, he only needs it to be clean and good for Mari. She’s not a picky eater, James notices long ago. There are some types of food she doesn’t gravitate towards and he makes sure he never orders them when they have their meals.
A young boy comes up to them, takes a look at Mari with his brows knotted, as if he recognizes her from somewhere but can’t put his tongue on where. He blinks away and seats them by the window which Mari appreciates with a big smile, the boy blushes and hands them the menu with a stutter of asking them what they would like to drink.
“Water,” James answers for the both of them.
The boy scribbles their order down when Mari speaks up. One thing James know about Mari when it comes to food is that she’ll order anything that captures her attention, it doesn’t matter how bad the reviews are.
So, he’s not even the slightest surprised when she orders a rainbow grill cheese sandwich. He kind of expected it since it is at the front cover of the menu. He orders a steak for protein and hands back the menu to the boy who takes another look at Mari.
Marionette is a big name and even a bigger phenomenon in the world, he’s waiting for the young boy to put the pieces together. They’re lucky to not be recognized when they’re here or else it would dampen Mari’s mood, she’s having too much freedom to give it up for signatures and photos.
At the same time, no one dares to approach them when James doesn’t exactly have the friendliest aura around him. His face has edginess writte
n all over it and those who looked at him immediately reverted their gaze somewhere else.
He keeps his eyes on Mari as she chats animatedly in front of him, recounting all the trinkets and homemade things she’s come across. She loses her breath a couple of times and it’s the most endearing thing he’s seen yet, James listens with his undivided attention.
“Here’s your order!” the waiter exclaims with a pitch too high and James snaps his eyes to him, the boy gulps audibly when he opens his mouth, but he sees the warning glare in James’ direction.
James knows that the boy remembers where he’s seen Mari and he wants an autograph or some sort of proof that he’s met the Marionette. James is not going to allow that, he narrows his eyes with darkening intentions if the boy doesn’t back away from his little doll.
The boy, knowing what’s good for him, scurries away.
A noise catches his attention, his eyes feast on a sight that makes him chuckle.
Her two hands hold the grilled cheese sandwich and pull the bitten piece of bread away from her mouth as a rainbow of colorful cheese stretches. Her green eyes curve in pure bliss as she wiggles in the chair.
Many would think that a rich man must take his woman to a high-class restaurant to show his love, but it’s these little dates that remind him that Mari is a normal girl.
There will be more casual dates if it makes her this happy.
Chapter Eleven
Mari
After a long afternoon of browsing around the market, she’s starting to feel the soreness on the bottom of her feet when they drove back into the vacation home.
The sun is beginning to set, but it’s nowhere close to the horizontal line yet. Mari indulged in many different snacks from local sellers, her strict diet is the last thing on her mind when everything looked so good. If James hasn’t said anything about her intake on a higher calorie meal, then Mari won’t say anything.
Why ruin a good day with nagging restrictions?
Nothing too special happened when they drove through the gate of the estate or into the driveway to park the car, but when Mari makes her way into the house, she’s met with the wide windows that remind her of her desire to step into the clear waters.