Sweeping Him Off His Feet

"Fi… first date?" Charles inquired as he tried to make sure that he was hearing correctly.

Augustine nodded his head and slowly, he leaned away from Charles before winking at him. "Let's get going." Augustine purred, ignoring the questionable gaze of Charles.

Without warning, he grabbed Charles' wrist and pulled him across the road towards a white Ford car he had parked nearby.

Like a gentleman, Augustine opened the front door of the car, inviting Charles to take his seat.

With a resigned sigh, Charles slid into the car, his thoughts still reeling from the day's events.

In a swift motion, Augustine circled the car and slid into the driver's seat.

Turning to face Charles, he met the sight of the confusion and uncertainty lingering in Charles face.

"I wasn't sure what your favorite flower was, so I figured roses were a safe bet. Everyone loves roses, right?" Augustine said, a smile dancing across his lips as he reached over to secure Charles' seatbelt.

With a practiced motion, Augustine buckled Charles' seatbelt, the click echoing in the car's confines.

Charles remained still in his seat, his breath held captive by the moment, his gaze transfixed on Augustine's fingers as they worked the buckle.

"I need to make sure that you are safe," Augustine whispered but his words were still audible to the ears of Charles and following his statement, he leaned away.

Augustine fastened his seatbelt, turning on the car engine as he slowly began to drive down the road.

'Exhale!'

"Augu… Augustine," Charles called out with his words quivering one after the other. "You are making me a bit uncomfortable," Charles added, adjusting his glasses with a subtle twitch of his index finger so that it would properly sit well on his nose.

"Hahahahah!" Augustine laughed out loud at the words of Charles, his gaze still focused on the road.

After the laughter of Augustine dies down, he sniffed his nose as he smirked in delight.

After an hour of driving, Augustine averted the steering off the main road and onto a narrow, untamed path.

As the car continued to weave through the narrow road, the cityscape gradually gave way to a landscape dotted with tall, leafy trees which darkens the sky.

"Hold on," Augustine purred, pulling over his car as he hurried down from the car with hastened steps.

Swiftly, Augustine stepped out of the car and made his way around to the other side of the car.

With a courteous gesture, he opened the door for Charles, allowing him to exit the vehicle.

"I can't help but feel like you're up to something," Charles said, folding his arms across his stomach as he remained seated.

Augustine rolled his eyes, offering a hand to Charles. "I'm not planning on hurting you… not today, at least," he said, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips.

Scoffed…

Charles scoffed as he arched his gaze at Augustine. "So you are planning to hurt me someday?" He probed, his tone laced with suspicion.

Augustine opened his mouth, trying to think of a word to composed to tell Charles, but unfortunately, he couldn't bring himself to say anything.

Having no other option, Augustine grabbed the wrist of Charles's right hand as he dragged him out of the car.

At first, Charles struggled to free himself from Augustine's grip but his strength was nowhere compared to that of Augustine.

So eventually, he gave in, making sure that the rose flower bouquet was still in his grip.

Augustine led Charles with a triumphant grin towards a towering banyan tree that stood proudly on the side of the road.

Its sprawling canopy cast a patchwork of shadows on the ground, its roots thick and gnarled like an ancient being.

The tree was tall, though not overly so, its branches spreading out in all directions to form a natural shelter.

"What are we doing here-"

"Hold on," Augustine purred, cutting Charles off from completing his sentence as he rushed over to his car, before locking the doors.

With hastened steps, he rushed over back to where Charles was standing, and there, Augustine knelt over to the ground.

Stunned!

"Why… why are you kneeling?" Charles inquired with a stuttering voice because he was a bit taken aback by the sudden behaviour of Augustine.

"I am…"

Charles scoffed, cutting Augustine off from his words. "I assume this isn't some half-baked apology before you abandon me in the woods," Charles said coolly, as he backed away from the tree. "Ever since you mentioned wanting to discuss something with me, I've a feeling that you planned on harming me." Charles sincerely stated.

Augustine chucked, rising from where he had knelt. "Why do you think I plan on harming you?" He questioned in between fits of laughter.

"Because… because one minute you are being caring and the other minute, you are being like a… like a freak."

"What?" Augustine asked with a dumbfounded expression. "You think I am a freak?" He probed.

Charles gulped down his saliva as he ignored the question of Augustine.

Exhaling!

"Charles, I know our relationship has been complicated from the start," Augustine whispered, his voice level and soothing. "You're my subordinate, and yet our marriage was a business transaction. Despite this, I ask you to trust me, if only for this moment."

At first, Charles shook his head sideways in disagreement but noticing the intense pleading gaze of Augustine, Charles shrugged his shoulder as he yielded to the words of Augustine.

"Alright." He mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do whatever you wish to do to me." He added.

Augustine's smile broadened as he lowered himself down on one knee, his posture reminiscent of a servant offering a throne to his king. "Please use my shoulder as a foothold to reach that branch and climb the tree," he requested, his finger gesturing towards the sturdy limb.

"Ar… are you sure you want me to step on you?" Charles inquired, confirming if he had heard correctly.

Augustine nods, responding to the question of Charles.

Sigh!

A loud sigh escaped the mouth of Charles as he bit his lower lips. "Hold onto this," he probed, handing over the rose flower bouquet to Augustine who firmly collected it from the grip of Charles.

Charles inhaled deeply, the scent of the forest mingling with his own nervousness.

He placed a hand against the tree's trunk and, with deliberate movements, stepped up onto Augustine's sturdy shoulder.

Balanced precariously, he managed to grasp the thick branch that reached out like an invitation to the tree's canopy.

With Augustine's support, Charles pulled himself onto the branch and began his ascent.

"Please, sit on the sturdy branch to your left," Augustine called up, his voice tinged with concern.

With a combination of determination and trepidation, Charles maneuvered his way to the branch, pressing his weight into its solid form.

"Augustine, what next?" Charles inquired from above the tree.

Augustine stood up from his kneeling position, and with a practised motion, he climbed onto the banyan tree with ease, sitting beside Charles.

"Finally," Augustine purred, wrapping his hands around the waist of Charles.

"Get your hands off of me!" Charles screamed, trying to release himself from Augustine's grip.

Augustine scoffed as he withdrew his hands from Charles's waist, placing them around Charles's neck. "Charles darling." Augustine purred with a predatory intensity. "Now that we are on this tree, you need to start reconsidering your earlier statement, because right now, I am going to be a harm to you." He purred, placing his other hand on Charles's cheek as he forced him to look at him.

And then… he leaned closer to Charles and planted a kiss on his…