CHAPTER 193: UNTIL MY LAST BREATH.

Augustine’s breath hitched as he moved without thinking, his hands instinctively reaching for Charles’ face, pulling him closer.

Their lips met in a rush, the kiss deep and hungry, as if they were both starved for this connection.

"Hmm," Charles moaned in between the kiss as he tiled his head backwards.

Charles melted into the kiss, his body relaxing against Augustine’s as the world outside of them seemed to disappear.

Augustine could taste the delicious sweetness of the ice cream clinging to Charles’ lips, and as he plunged his tongue deeper into the wet warmth of Charles’ mouth, a shiver of pleasure ran through him.

The mix of sugar and desire overwhelmed his senses, making him feel like he had just stepped into heaven itself.

"Ummm," Augustine purred in between the kiss.

The sweet taste of ice cream lingered between them, fueling the desire that had been building inside the resolve of Augustine Wales.

Every touch, every press of their lips against each other, seemed to set fire to the calm Augustine had tried to maintain.

Seconds later, Charles slowly pulled away from the kiss, his eyes fluttering open as he fixed his gaze on Augustine.

Augustine smiled, his tongue gliding over his lips to savor every trace of Charles’ lingering sweetness.

For a brief moment, neither of them uttered a word, both lost in the rhythm of their unsteady breaths.

"Pfttt!" Charles sighed, finally breaking the silence as he released a long, breathy exhale.

Augustine swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly before he fluttered his lashes slowly, his body still tingling from the kiss.

"So, how was it, babe?" Charles asked in a low, teasing voice.

Augustine gave a quick nod. "It was... well, I think I’ve forgotten the taste of the ice cream on your lips. So if you don’t mind, I’d appreciate another kiss to savour it properly."

Charles chuckled at Augustine’s words, rolling his eyes. "You’re ridiculous," he purred, shifting his gaze back to the bowl of ice cream.

"Umm... I think I should place an order so you can get something nice to eat," Augustine whispered, his voice low and velvety.

Charles didn’t say a word—he just nodded, his eyes still fixed on Augustine.

He gently set the bowl of ice cream aside, grabbed the pizza box, and placed it on his lap.

With a tempting smirk tugging at his lips, he pulled out a slice and took a slow, deliberate bite—moaning softly as the flavor hit his tongue.

"Would you be going to work today?" he inquired, and Augustine slowly shook his head.

Charles frowned, his brows knitting together. "But just yesterday, you told me you had piles of work waiting for you. So why are you skipping?" he asked, eyeing Augustine with suspicion.

Before Augustine could open his mouth to explain, Charles hit him with another question.

"Are you feeling tired because of what we did last night?" he questioned, the frown on his face softening into a look of genuine concern.

Augustine shook his head sideways. "I’m not tired due to what happened last night." He warmly stated, placing his right hand on Charles hair which he gave a messy caressed. "I’m simply... I don’t really know how to explain it, but right now, I don’t think I can bring myself to leave your presence."

"Babe... what are you trying to say? You’re making me worried and confused."

Augustine sighed, his shoulders sagging in exhaustion.

"You’re too precious to me, Pookie," he murmured softly. "And last night, when you gave yourself to me... it just made me feel like we’re one now. I... I guess I’m just feeling too clingy to leave your side." Augustine explained sincerely, gently tucking a strand of hair behind Charles’s ear.

Slowly, Augustine pulled his hand from Charles’s hair, his fingers tracing down to cup his face, gently pinching his cheek. "Every day, I keep falling deeper in love with you," he purred, his voice thick with sincerity, his eyes never straying from Charles’s gaze.

Charles blushed, biting his lower lip, before setting the pizza box aside, his hands trembling slightly as he placed it back on the bed.

"Babe," Charles called out, his heart pounding faster as he reached out, wanting their hands to intertwine.

Just as he hoped, Augustine stretched his hand toward Charles, their fingers locking together.

Augustine inhaled deeply, feeling the connection between them.

"Augustine, I never imagined I’d fall for a guy," Charles began, his voice soft, but his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "After what Anna did to me, I swore I’d never love again. She’s the reason I ended up in this contract marriage with you..."

"What... I thought you took the contract deal to get some relief from your endless work schedule?" Augustine asked, his voice tinged with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

He had done a quick background check on Charles before offering the contract marriage, discovering just how many jobs Charles juggled to keep things afloat.

Although, Augustine had always suspected that Charles took the job to ease his financial burden, to treat his girlfriend better with the money he’d earn.

But the raw truth hit harder than he ever anticipated—Charles had accepted the marriage contract solemnly because of Anna.

"Anna was my first crush, okay?" Charles whispered, his lips pouting just enough to stir Augustine’s attention. "She wanted me to get her a diamond ring, you know, to show we were in a relationship. But the catch? It wasn’t an engagement ring or a promise ring or anything of the sort."

Augustine’s jaw tightened as he processed the words, his mind reeling from the implications of Charles’s confession.

"I wanted to prove to Anna that I was the man for her, so I accepted this marriage contract of yours," Charles continued, his voice thick with regret. "But after I bought her a diamond ring, a diamond necklace, a bouquet of flowers, even a cake... I went to her house to surprise her. Only to be the one surprised when I found her with another man. In that rage, I ended up at that gay bar... where I almost got raped."

As the last phrase rolled off Charles’s lips, he couldn’t help but chuckle, the sound rich with irony.

Augustine, still processing the gravity of the moment, found himself chuckling too, though it was more of a quiet, knowing laugh, as if they both understood the absurdity of life’s twists.

Augustine’s expression softened, a flicker of sympathy crossing his features as he absorbed the weight of Charles’s confession.

Charles inhaled!

"Back then, I swore never to fall for anyone again. Even when you confessed your love for me... I shoved you aside and built a wall around my heart," Charles said softly, his voice trembling with emotion.

He paused, then gently lifted Augustine’s hand to his lips, brushing a tender kiss across his knuckles while his eyes stayed locked on Augustine’s. "But you... you’ve shown me that love isn’t something to fear. You’ve made me believe that I’m actually worthy of being loved."

Charles pressed another soft kiss to Augustine’s hand before slowly pulling away, his eyes dark with emotion. "I love you, Augustine Wales," he murmured seductively, "and I’ll keep loving you... until my very last breath."

The way he uttered last breath sent a faint ripple through Augustine’s chest, causing his brows to twitch slightly, but that fleeting tension melted into a smile as Charles kissed his hand once more, slower this time—lingering like a vow etched into his skin.

"Don’t say last breath like you’re planning on dying," Augustine said, his tone laced with unease.

Charles scoffed softly, though the smile on his lips didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I’m not planning on dying, but..."

The pause in his sentence made Augustine’s brows furrow deeper. "But what, Pookie?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Charles swallowed hard, his throat bobbing visibly. "You know... one can never be too prepared for what the future might bring."

The sudden seriousness in Charles’s tone carved a deep frown onto Augustine’s face.

His heart thudded louder, his voice edged with concern.

"Yo... are you alright?" Augustine asked, eyes searching Charles’s face. "Did I hurt you in some way last night?"

His voice was softer now, layered with worry, his fingers tightening slightly around Charles’s hand as if anchoring himself to the answer.

Charles quickly shook his head, his lips tugging into a faint smile. "You didn’t hurt me, babe. And I didn’t mean those words literally," he said, his tone now lighter, almost playful.

"I’m just messing around, so you don’t have to worry," he added with a teasing wink. "I’m not going to take my last breath any moment from now."

Silence...

Augustine frown deepen just by the words of Charles.

"Babe... stop frowning okay. Besides, you are the only one who can take my breath away." Charles uttered playfully but even as the words left Charles’s mouth, a tight knot coiled in Augustine’s chest.

Something in Charles’s eyes—just a flicker of it—made him feel like there was more left unsaid.