Strange thought: I once seduced Augustine this way, pressed him to the wall of a wayside pub and ravished him. He was abandoned and gasping and so grateful to be excused the stern duty of self-control. Afterwards he dropped his head on to my shoulder and whispered that he loved me. I think it was the only time I ever saw him truly unwound. Later he would not talk about it, and after that he was careful to be dominant with me, though he repeated his declaration of love many times, and meant it, I think.