The Duke's Passion

I don't know how many times we did it. If I didn't ask him for mercy, he would continue this for an entire month. That was what he said; a month of doing nothing but that.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" he asked, snapping me out of my trance.

"No." I shook my head, resting my head on his chest, and I moved closer to him. My leg rested over him while his hand caressed my back gently. 

"What are you thinking?" 

I didn't reply immediately, biting my lower lip and drew circles on his chest. "You."

"What about me?"

My eyes softened as I smiled. What about him? Well, there was a lot to think about him, so where should I start?

"Your fingertip," I whispered, feeling his fingertips trace my spine; a habit of his. "I like how your fingertip feels against my skin. I also wonder how you have such a strong shoulder, yet my head feels more comfortable lying on it than a cushion."

"Your body too. It barely has heat, but it burns so intensely, though the irony is I only felt warm." I continued, assisting myself up by an elbow to look at him. "And when I look at those pair of crimson eyes that shine brighter than a ruby, I feel the most beautiful. It's funny when I think about how those lips spew poisons, but taste so sweet and had such a soft texture."

I studied his expression as he peered back at me, tucking the strands of my hair behind my ear. My words didn't seem to affect him, but the way the corner of his eyes moved up and how his temple wrinkled told me he was smiling inside. 

"Should I continue?" I inquired, raising my brows as the side of my lips curled up into a smile. "I have a long list."

"Let's hear it, then." 

I cleared my throat, lifting a finger, and traced his face, starting from his brows. "You know? The softest thing that I had ever seen was how your eyebrows move down when I say something so simple? It makes me think you are very easy to please. Just a few simple words and you're already happy."

"Whenever you scrunch up your nose, it's funny. But how unfair it was that you are not any less breathtaking despite that. I was always in awe whenever your jaw tightens. It means you know you wanted to say something bullshit but decided not to." A chuckle slipped past his lips as a charming smile slowly let itself known.

"You are the most charming when you smile, but also the scariest. Sometimes, I wonder how those same lips could smile so beautifully but can also give such an alarming feeling." 

"Are you alarmed now?"

I shook my head, gazing down as I reached for his hand, guiding it up. My palm carefully settled on his palm, sliding my fingers in between the gaps of his finger. 

"I had a rough hand, but it's hilarious when compared to yours. My hands feel so soft." My smile remained. 

"Are the calluses on my palms bother you?"

Again, I shook my head and set my eyes on him. "Because you have rough hands, I don't feel shame holding them."

He smiled, wrapping his fingers around mine. For a long time, I was stuck in the frigid winter. But right now, I felt warm... very warm. We went silent for the time being, just smiling at each other while our fingers play against each other.

"Lilou," he called, and I set my eyes back on him, eyebrows raised. He didn't speak immediately, peering at me.

"What?"

"You... don't believe that I am your husband."

My breath hitched for a second before forcing a chuckle out of me. "Of course, I do. You are Sam... you should be."

"You're crazy." I frowned upon hearing that blunt remark. He didn't need to tell me. I already knew something was wrong with my head.

"And you're driving me crazy." He let out a deep exhale. "I can't blame you. I put you through all this, and I don't have the right to complain. I'm sorry."

"You returned, so I've forgiven you." I smiled sweetly. "Just don't die again because if you do, I will look for ways to revive you so I can kill you the third time."

"Bad." He clicked his tongue, lifting his head, and planted a brief kiss on my lips.

"I won't die, never again." He asserted, staring straight into my eyes as if to reassure me. 

The determined glints that were flickering across his eyes felt very reassuring. So I nodded, closed-lipped.

"So." I cleared my throat. "What are you planning now?"

"What do you mean?"

"My people were looking for me and I could feel they would reach this place soon. They will kill you if they see you." 

"Why would they kill me? I am your husband." His brow arched as his eyes glistened with doubt. 

I smiled, crawling up to him. "Silly. I know you are my husband. I believe you are, but they won't."

"And you will let them?"

"Why won't I? I might need their help to stop this madness... or not." I shrugged nonchalantly. "That's why I'm telling you this. You should go and come see me at least once or twice a month."

"How frustrating... the great me, now a paramour of the Duchess of Grimsbanne, will have to die after sharing a passionate night with her. Cruel, oh, cruel love, what must I do to overcome this intolerable agony?"

I chuckled as he sang his woe, slapping his chest lightly. "Silly. I will look forward to your visits." upon saying my piece, I shook my head, clasping the sheet as I sat upright.

The second I did, his voice sounded lower and solemn. "No fucking way."

"Sam!" I turned around, displeased that he was being stubborn. That didn't faze him, raising his hand and put them under his head, eyes glued on the ceiling.

"I was wrong to keep you in the dark, just because I always believe that to fool my enemies, I have to fool the closest people around me. I realized that too late; the damages had been made and even if I try to mend it, the wounds had been too deep that it had already left a scar." He paused while I stared at him in shock, holding my breath.

"Rufus tells me I already made it this far and I should continue. However, how can I continue if my wife suffers more than a second ago? I might as well just burn the entire kingdom and forget about scheming. It's easier that way, anyway."

"You... what are you talking about?"

His languid eyes slowly drifted to me. "My death is all part of the plan. Didn't I tell you? Keep your eyes closed and mind open and don't trust me so blindly. I know you will get hurt once you figure out the entire plan Fabian and I cooked up behind everyone's back."