There were many different kinds of cruelty. In this case, Marek didn't intend to cause her any pain, though he already knew that she wasn't opposed to that in the bedroom, at least when it was inflicted by tree bark. He did not always have enormous amounts of willpower in the bedroom, but he got so much out of the idea of driving her crazy with wanting him that he was fairly sure he could hold out long enough to succeed.
Because, fuck, the way she said it- he wanted that too. He knew enough about how she reacted to his touch that he could imagine it, clear as day, and he groaned softly at that mental image. It took him a moment to realize that the gondola had pulled over to the side, and then he took her hand, preparing to stand. He didn't have the faintest idea where they were going now, or precisely what he was going to do when they got there, but he knew that he wanted to be somewhere that they wouldn't be disturbed until they were done.