My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 182: Unyielding

Chapter 182: Unyielding

After their bath, Desmond was summoned by his men to join them in one of the meeting rooms. They needed to discuss the journey forward and organization for the outpost in the coming months with winter on the horizon.

It was hard to justify separating men from their families through the winter so many would move to the practically empty township just so the men wouldn’t lose morale in the long winter without their families. Desmond provided funds easily when they ran into situations such as that.

While it was easier for single men to take over that particular outpost during winter, it wasn’t always possible. Those married and older often took the place of officers. Sacrifices were imminent.

A few heavy decisions were made, but he felt that the outcome was satisfactory enough for his men not to doubt his justification of the decisions.

He returned after Leonor had fallen asleep, feeling bad he couldn’t be with her until her final thought that day. Regardless, he hoped to be her first thought in the morning. He cuddled up to her with his head underneath her chin and had to bend his legs so they wouldn’t go off the foot of the smaller bed than what they were used to.

Even in her sleep, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed his cheek into her bosom. The closeness made it so he had to wrap his arms around her to get comfortable. Once he fell asleep, he slept like a stone. The soapy smell on Leonor’s skin was not one he was used to but because of her natural scent being mixed in, it comforted him nonetheless.

Leonor woke up first.

It was becoming easier to face Desmond after their intimate nights together. It begged the question if she was ready for even more with the man she was so incredibly taken by. For years he made her face hints of desire, but only more recently did he make her walls entirely crumble.

There was an itching for more when they were participating in such intimate actions with one another. Curiosity ate at her whenever she saw her naked body in a mirror marred with his love marks. Excitement bloomed within her. The last piece of the puzzle was figuring out how to admit these thoughts to her husband who clearly wanted more.

For a moment, the duchess watched his peaceful face as she used her arms and breasts as a pillow. The pale light of morning made his pale skin so creamy. His scarred flesh was purple and each hill or valley showed long shadows. It caused a smile to form on her lips and she couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss his forehead.

However, leaning in to kiss his forehead caused her ample chest to practically suffocate him and he was woken up in a manner most men could only dream about. She knew he was awake when his arms tightened around her.

"Good morning to you, too," he uttered when he was finally able to breathe.

"Good morning," she whispered. "I tried to wait for you but I fell asleep."

"You need your rest," he said. "As do I, but now I’m feeling refreshed."

To prove himself he rolled over so he was on top of her but he continued using her as a pillow. His head turned left and right as he made himself comfortable once more.

"I would rather stay here than travel further," he muttered. "Perhaps today is the day I finally appoint a second in command so I can let go of some responsibility. We can take baths every day and sleep as long as we want."

Leonor’s hands went to his back and she grinned.

"Yes, baths," she agreed sarcastically, knowing that wasn’t at all what he was referring to. "You will certainly make your men unwell when they catch wind of the way you take baths."

"But you like it and that’s good enough for me," he kissed one of the mounds he was resting against and a playful smirk pulled at the unscarred half of his mouth.

As comfortable as she was with him, she still got nervous at times. She had to push his shoulders away and escape him so she wouldn’t be subjected to more teasing.

Since she had spent so much time in the duke’s room since they arrived, she felt guilty wasting more time. She needed to be sharp to face the men. Desmond’s affections would make her into more of a puddle than a human if she let it go on for too long.

She walked to the trunk containing her clothing but she realized she wanted Beth to help her get ready rather than her husband who would rather leave her undressed.

"You need to get dressed so I can summon Beth to help me," she said, turning back towards him.

His eye hadn’t moved from her once. He could see the outline of her body through the nightgown since the morning light filtered through. It was an enjoyable show he didn’t want to miss a minute of.

"You’re cruel," he said, though he relented and stood up, revealing only sleeping pants covering his body. He often got warm while sleeping and took his shirt off before he climbed into bed.

Leonor had to divert her eyes. He had already got her started too much that day. She was ashamed at how out of control she felt.

Since Desmond never summoned anyone to help him dress, Leonor did the honors. Since he wore thicker, military-cut jackets to separate himself from the average officer or soldier, there were a few things to be adjusted and she made sure he looked perfect before walking towards the door.

With his hand on the doorknob, he turned back to Leonor.

"One last look," he uttered.

To his surprise, she loosened her nightgown and it fell down her shoulders, revealing the chest he had been so comfortable against before. She stopped it before it could reveal more than her olive skin and generous amounts of her decolletage.

Desmond had to grip the doorknob to will himself not to retreat into the room and go against his wife’s request.

"I will get the maid," he sighed.

"Off you go," Leonor responded.

She hid herself before the duke could open the door and escape the room.

Luckily, Beth arrived promptly and she was able to get ready decently fast. She didn’t want to hold back the travel party but she still wanted to save face for the soldiers stationed at the outpost.

Before she could be put into a dress, Beth gasped at the mark between Leonor’s shoulder and neck.

"We ought to put you in a high-neck dress, your grace," she said.

After finally getting dressed, Leonor could join the soldiers for breakfast and properly interact with them, unlike the night before when she was feeling scared and out of sorts.

However, when it was time to load into the carriage and Desmond settled into the bench across from her, she raised an eyebrow at him.

"I haven’t yet decided if I’ll be upset with you for the large mark Beth found on me while I was being dressed this morning," Leonor said.

A guilty smile spread across Desmond’s face as he recalled how appetizing her skin looked the night before.