"Do you mind if I finish up the dishes?" Augustine asked, his voice unexpectedly calm.
Charles blinked, momentarily stunned, his eyes wide in disbelief.
He had braced himself for some flirtatious remark or a suggestive tease, but instead, Augustine's offer caught him completely off guard.
"Why do you look so shocked? Don't you want me to help?" Augustine asked softly, tilting his head as his fingers brushed lightly against Charles's knee.
Charles swallowed hard, feeling his heartbeat quicken.
He fluttered his lashes, struggling to steady his breath. "I… I just thought you'd say something else," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, eyes flickering with an emotion he couldn't quite name.
Augustine chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "So, Pookie… you were expecting me to say something dirty, weren't you?" he teased, leaning in as his voice dropped lower.