My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 141: Touch

Chapter 141: Touch

The closer Leonor came to him, the more Desmond internally reeled.

As if she was fire herself, his heart raced and he felt like danger was close. She had a way of igniting all of his senses.

Even from how close she sat to him, he could smell her. When her hand raised and she reached for his face, the soap she used to bathe herself that day permeated his nose. He recalled her making fun of overly perfumed women and making sure her bathroom was only stocked with light-smelling scents.

They were subtle enough not to attract unwanted attention but he could pick out that scent in a crowd with little effort.

He stared at her in horror as she got even closer and he felt his core clench when her soft hand met the scarred side of his face. It was undoubtedly illuminated by the fire.

There was especially no hiding when Leonor pushed off his hood and he had to overcome his desire to escape.

"Leonor..." he used a warning tone with her, telling her he wasn’t thrilled at being exposed in such a way.

However, her eyes only held love and not horror. His heart started racing when her thumb traced along the side of his mouth and the edge of his nose.

There was no doubt she was tracing the edge of his scar.

Where his eye once used to be was a hollow space. There was a dead eye inside of it that ruptured and his eyelid was sealed closed and cauterized from the dragon’s flame. It was a surprise to everyone that it never developed into an infection that would require further medical procedures.

Leonor had to pull herself higher onto the bench with her knees underneath her so she could further see the extent of his scarring. Since he hadn’t stopped her, she was taking full advantage.

To stabilize herself, her left hand went to his shoulder and she continued the exploration with her soft hand. It was the gentlest he had been handled since the last time she touched him.

"I wanted to be the one who held onto you when you returned from battle," she admitted quietly. "I saw reports about men returning with broken hearts and minds. I was prepared to do whatever it took to guarantee you had the best care available. I simply wanted you back."

Her hand made it to the top of his head where the scar wrapped around his skull. It was clear he was attacked from above and to the right.

There was not a bit of his golden hair left, and as much as she would miss it, she was grateful to have him there. All that mattered was that he was there and he survived.

The only downside so far was that he wasn’t entirely hers. He was still resistant, and while he stated his love, he hadn’t given in to her desire for affection.

Desmond remained silent, clearly uncomfortable with the turn of events. He hadn’t had anyone that close to him unless they were healing him. Even if he knew she wasn’t doing it to judge him, he was waiting for her to react negatively.

"Turn your head," Leonor requested.

"Leonor..." he trailed off, using a warning tone that spoke volumes of how unenthused he was with being observed in such a manner.

However, he met her blue eyes. Her dark eyebrows lowering at him told him she wasn’t interested in any more excuses.

Desmond knew if they were to ever get close to each other again, this was a hurdle he would have to clear once he got there, but it didn’t lessen the blow. The possibility of a gasp or an expression of disgust was still there.

That side of his head didn’t even have an ear any longer. They were shocked when he was still able to hear at all. While he was healing, they put a hollow ivory tube into it so it wouldn’t seal itself shut the way his armpit and eye had.

The duke knew there wasn’t any other choice and he turned his head. His heart clenched when the hand that explored his head rested on his neck while she observed what was being presented to her.

He could no longer observe her expression considering that side of himself was completely blind. All he could do was nervously wait for a response of some kind.

Leonor’s eyes widened when she saw the extent of the damage. The skin looked like raw muscle fibers and all that remained was a hole where his ear was supposed to be. It was clear that this side of his skin had blistered as well, much like the skin of his abdomen she witnessed when healing him.

After a moment, all he heard was a gasp and his head turned towards Leonor.

To his surprise, he felt her arms wrap around his head and she held him to her chest as she hugged him.

"It must have hurt so badly," she cried, her voice wavering with each word.

His head was under her chin and the side of his face was pressed against her chest. He wasn’t expecting her to react so empathetically as if the pain he went through was her own.

It took him a moment, but his arms wrapped around her in return.

That moment struck his heart more than any others. It felt like he was truly accepted by someone for once since he healed. People helped him out of pity, but Leonor’s words and actions were different from that.

She still loved him just the same. He felt so awful for denying that she could if she ever truly saw him.

"I apologize for ever doubting you," he whispered. "I shouldn’t have hidden from you."

"We can only go forward from here," she said.

To his surprise, she kissed his head and he felt a lump form in his throat.

She eventually let him go and leaned into him as the fire eventually died, but she asked Eve to bring water, and the familiar turned into a pelican who retrieved water from the pond in her mouth.

Desmond soon walked Leonor back to her room, but before she could go into her door, she turned to the duke and had a small, sly smile on her face.

"I’m looking forward to doing so much more with you," she vaguely told him.

He bid her goodnight.

Desmond departed and went to bed feeling nervous about the woman he couldn’t contain. She was more bold and more terrifying than ever before.