Second contract proposal.

His cheek.

"Augustine!" Charles yelled at the top of his voice while shoving Augustine's face away from his. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" He inquired with a furious tone.

Scoffed.

Augustine scoffed as he withdrew his hands from Charles's neck before placing it above his thigh.

For a minute, he kept quiet, trying to compose himself. "I… I didn't mean to kiss you," he suddenly apologised, earning a questionable gaze from Charles.

"Your intentions were transparent from the beginning," Charles hissed, rolling his eyes in disdain. "Why this pretence? And what was the point of bringing me to this forest?" He inquired, sounding frustrated.

Augustine lifted his head, looking up at the leaves around them. He seemed lost in thought, his face expressionless, like he didn't care about the conversation.

"This is...where I come when I need to think," Augustine muttered, his voice faltering as he spoke. His words, once confident and persuasive, seemed to stumble over themselves.

He sighed, taking in a deep breath as he shut his eyes closed. "I know that I seem like someone who has everything figured out, but in reality, I am a confused man who is scared of being vulnerable to the public." He purred, his voice low and husky.

As if in response to his revelation, a gentle breeze stirred his hair, caressing it like a lover's hand.

Charles's hair also swayed in the breeze, mirroring the motion of the leaves overhead.

The entire tree seemed to dance to the rhythm of the wind, its branches swirling together in a hypnotic display.

Despite the fact that Augustine was being vulnerable, Charles still finds it a bit unsettling. "Do you mind if I ask the reason why you are telling this to me?"

Augustine chuckled, slowly opening his eyes as he inhaled deeply. "For reasons I can't quite put my finger on, I feel at ease around you," Augustine said, his smile both genuine and enigmatic.

He shifted his gaze to Charles, his eyes meeting that of Charles with an intensity that seemed to suggest a deep familiarity. "It's like we've known each other for a lifetime."

Pfft!

"Oh, please," Charles scoffed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You feel that way because I'm the only one who dares to challenge you. I'm not afraid to speak my mind, even if it means crossing a powerful man like yourself."

Augustine chuckled, and once more he averted his gaze towards the sky.

The chirping of birds and the rhythmic sounds of crickets filled the air, their melody melding harmoniously with the rustling of leaves and branches.

Augustine felt a sense of serenity wash over him, as if he and the forest had become one.

"Charles," Augustine purred, calling out the name of Charles who arched his brows in response. "Do… do you mind if I propose another contract?"

"What?"

Augustine's breath quickened as he wet his lips with a deliberate flick of his tongue, his gaze now smoldering with desire. "I want you," he whispered, his voice low and seductive. "I want to make you mine, to use you as I please."

"Augustine I don't understand what you are trying to say."

Augustine smirk. "Charles, I want you to be my sex toy."

"Se-Sex toy?"

"I'll pay you to pleasure me in bed," Augustine stated, his voice brimming with confidence. "In return, I'll ensure our arrangement remains confidential. No one needs to know."

Charles's mouth formed a circle as he breathed out in astonishment.

'Is he mentally unstable?' He inquired within himself as he took in a deep breath. "I need to get down from this tree," Charles coldly spat, ignoring the words of Augustine.

"But you haven't replied to my proposal…"

"Get away from me!" Charles bellowed, his voice piercing the tranquil forest air.

His outburst caught Augustine off guard, his unfinished phrase dying on his lips as he stared at Charles in shock.

Augustine blinked rapidly, his eyes struggling to adjust to the unexpected shift in Charles' demeanor. "I need an answer before I let you down from this tree," he said, his voice wavering slightly.

"Fine!" Charles exclaimed and within the blink of an eye, he leapt from the tree, hitting the ground hard on his face while lying flat on the forest ground.

Unprepared for Charles' sudden move, Augustine scrambled down the tree with practised ease.

He rushed over to Charles, squatting down on the floor. With a concerned expression, he gently placed his hand on the back of Charles. "Hey," Augustine murmured, his voice gentle as he shook Charles' back lightly, coaxing him to rise from the ground.

But Charles remained motionless, his body rigid against the sandy forest ground.

"Charles, stop acting like a child and get up," Augustine said, his voice tinged with impatience as he tried once more to rouse the motionless man. But Charles remained stubbornly silent, his body unresponsive.

With a heavy sigh, Augustine realized he had no other option. He gently rolled Charles onto his back, exposing his face to the twilight sky above.

"Now that we are both staring at each other, can you please give me an answer to my question?" He probed.

Silence…

Silence followed suit, prompting a chuckle to escape Augustine's mouth, a wicked grin curling his lips. "If you continue to be silent, I'm going to kiss you," he teased, his voice dripping with playful promise.

Once more, Augustine was met with absolute silence which made him to arched his brows. "Why are you trying to scare me?" Charles asked, his voice betraying a hint of how scared he feels.

Quickly, he pulled his phone from his pocket and activated its flashlight, pointing it on the face of Charles.

And behold…

Charles's entire face was covered in a pool of…