My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 147: Barely In Control

Chapter 147: Barely In Control

"I’m not finished with you, yet," she admitted, glancing away from him, though her hand remained on his tunic, which she had pulled on to stop him before he could escape.

Desmond didn’t know if she knew how suggestive her words sounded. However, he knew he was alone in his thoughts.

"I ought to bathe first," he said quietly so the rough edge of his voice would lessen. "I’ll return in more comfortable clothing."

"Then I’ll do the same," Leonor agreed.

Even though she didn’t want to part with him, she had gotten hot while riding that day and there was likely dust all over her from when they made it back to the dirt road.

Desmond left her in her room and she summoned a maid to help her wash and dry her hair quickly. She dealt with washing her body on her own.

For a couple of minutes after the maid had left, Leonor looked at her naked body, partially poking out of the water and she began to feel nervous in a way she never had before.

Had she been too forward with her request? There was only innocence in her intentions but it might not have seemed that way to Desmond.

The entire day she had been behaving in unexpected ways. Perhaps he thought this was normal suggestive behavior for her and she felt a bit horrified.

Leonor washed soap off of herself before stepping out of the tub and drying her body off the rest of the way. She put a bit of oil in her mostly dried hair and brushed it out so it wouldn’t get tangled while she slept.

As she put herself in a light purple nightgown, she realized her hands were shaking in anticipation.

Perhaps she was the one who was overreacting, but there was no harm in coming to terms with the fact that Desmond might be ready to take their physical relationship to the next level. She simply needed more convincing. The thought of being responsible for someone else in such a way was a burden.

After giving herself a once over in a large mirror that stood in her bathroom, she felt she looked decent enough to sleep at Desmond’s side in more desirable circumstances than the last time they shared a bed.

However, the moment she stepped into her room and saw Desmond walking in wearing comfortable sleep clothing, she felt as if she were wearing nothing at all. His gaze fell on her and she felt the material was too thin and she was somehow being suggestive by picking that nightgown to wear.

Resisting the urge to cross her arms over her chest, she forced herself to walk forward and reach for his hand.

"Feeling better?" she asked.

"I certainly am," he said.

He allowed her to lead him to her bed but he was firm in sleeping closer to the door. Just as in his bedroom, he felt responsible for protecting her. His good side would be towards the door where he could see and hear perfectly.

Once Leonor was beside him, occupying her own pillow, Desmond did what he always wanted to do and he pulled the bedding over her before he could lay down himself. He adjusted her pillow for her and made sure she was warm.

At first, he lay down on his own pillow and faced her. She rolled to her side and faced him as well.

A small smile pulled at her lips but her mouth was covered by soft blankets. He only knew she was smiling because of the crinkle in the outer corner of her eyes.

"The bed is large, but I was hoping you’d want to sleep closer," she admitted. "Is that alright?"

"More than alright," he said

Desmond opened his arms for Leonor and he witnessed her scoot towards him underneath the blankets. She settled in his arms, facing him as she looked up at him. His shoulder was her pillow.

Leonor’s right arm hung over Desmond and she gently held him as she got comfortable. Each bit of affection they shared came naturally.

The duke’s arms enveloped her but, the most surprising part for Leonor was when he pulled her even closer until their bodies met each other and her chin was pressed against his well-built chest. He buried his nose in her freshly washed hair and inhaled as if she were his lifeline of air.

They both stayed there quietly, simply breathing each other in for a few moments.

Leonor noticed his familiar masculine scent along with some sort of soap that was lightly herbed and fresh-smelling. It was a mixture that struck her to her core and gave her butterflies. She wanted to smell it every night.

Feelings started slowly but since they were out in the open, they seemed to pick up speed unbelievably fast.

As Leonor cuddled with the man who haunted her for years, she had more than enough, yet she would be disappointed if she didn’t get more. She couldn’t find the balance between going at a pace that was suitable for her or barelling forward blindly.

He was making it hard for her to reason. Her thoughts were full of entirely him.

They were silent for a while but Leonor couldn’t hold back a yawn.

"I’m feeling tired," she admitted.

As disappointed as she was that he didn’t push for more, she was strangely relieved at the same time. Her thoughts and feelings were in a conundrum and she didn’t know how to escape.

"Sleep," Desmond insisted. "I won’t leave."

Leonor nodded and she rolled over to face the other way and get comfortable on a pillow. Even in her tired haze, she was considerate of Desmond and not wanting to overwhelm him.

Despite that, she felt his arm slide underneath her pillow and the other goes around her waist as he willed her to sleep.

The tiredness seemed to momentarily leave when she felt his body against the back of hers. From her feet to her head, each part was pressed against Desmond. She was hyper-aware of him.

It took a few moments to calm herself down and a sense of security took over.

Desmond was as still as a statue as he waited for Leonor’s breathing to slow down.

When he knew she was no longer a part of the world of the awake, the hand that once lay innocently on the bed moved to her waist then her hips. He gripped her soft skin through her nightgown.

He had been feeling desperate since they lay in bed with each other and he wondered how long he could resist asking for more.

Without her knowledge, he leaned into her and his lips found her neck. His hips adjusted at the feeling of her backside pressed firmly against a part of him feeling particularly neglected.

He wished he had more control but he was reacting to being entirely engulfed by her scent and her warm body in his grasp. However, knowing he would much prefer her awake to see each reaction as he curiously explored her was enough for him to put a lid on his desire. Perhaps one day he would have the confidence to

With these thoughts in mind, he went to sleep.

Leonor woke up first as the sun peeked over the horizon. For the first time in her life, she noticed something pressed against her backside as she woke up and she sprung away.

Men were beyond her realm of understanding, but her racing heart made her want to explore that thread further. She wanted to explore the unexplored so badly.

It was terrifying to accept these new thoughts and not shying away. She had been told her entire life she must not be immoral and give in to desire yet it came so naturally when she was close to Desmond.

She didn’t know how to approach the subject with him.