Page 63 of How Not to Date an Angel

“I suppose it is. So you’ll come upstairs, then?”

“Did you miss me?” Julian teased, and Rami caught the twinkle in his eyebeforegetting flustered.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Rami said in return.

And yet they stood, waiting for Julian to throw the blanket to the side and follow them up the stairs.

The chastity pillow still went in place. Rami still told Julian to be sure not to touch them.

Julian still had a half smile on his lips as he agreed.

And Rami fell asleep much easier that time, knowing Julian was near.

Julian

Julian woke before the angel did, and smirked as he recognized the snoring weight on his chest.

In the last twelve hours, Julian thought he’d experienced every emotion on the spectrum. Upset, anger, annoyance, shifting into disappointment as the television droned and the clock ticked by.

Even his temporary sleep had been uneasy. The cycle continued when he’d woken with the angel standing over him. Confusion, hesitation, then understanding and a little awe. Maybe even a little affection.

Julian stared down at the angel on his chest, cheek smushed against Julian’s pec, mouth slightly parted with each deep breath. He knew what that mouth felt like now.

Maybe more than a little affection…

Their silvery hair was askew, out of place, and his fingers itched to feel it.

But Julian was good, so he kept his hands to himself. The sun rose, streaking the room in golden light, and Julian was… content.

He’d been getting ahead of himself last night, in his hurt. He thought back on the whole day and cringed at himself for allowing the angel to…

To be kind?

Julian winced, rolled his eyes. Even still, part of him wondered, who did the angel think they were? Taking Julian to the aquarium like he was some… some child to entertain?

But. But Julian hadenjoyedtheir little excursion. He’d even enjoyed the grocery store, in a way. Or maybe he’d just enjoyed how Rami had come to the human’s rescue. Or how they’d given Julian their sweater.

He scowled up at the ceiling, ignoring the pinch in his chest.

He replayed Rami’s apology over and over in his head, again and again.

Julian felt… sad for the angel. Here on Earth, all alone, their own faith faltering amongst all the bad in the world. His chest ached for them. It had to be so lonely.

Gross. Feelings.

And yet, despite how Julian had forgiven the angel, the whole situation had only reminded him why he was here. He still needed to tempt them.

Nothing had worked so far, because Julian was stillhere.That’s how it worked. As soon as the temptation was successful, as soon as the angel did something irreparably selfish, Julian would materialize back in Hell for a debrief.

Andthenhe’d be allowed free reign on Earth, tempting humans and others alike to be a little more selfish.

As if they could sense his oppressive thoughts, Rami shifted, and eventually rolled away from Julian with a smack of their lips, pulling the blanket close.

Julian was left bare to the cool air of the apartment, and couldn’t help the twitch of his lips as he watched the angel bundle up in their blankets.

It made it all the easier for Julian to slip from the bed, and magic himself a new set of clothes and hair that wasn’t flattened by the pillows.

The angel didn’t stir, not even as Julian tiptoed out of the room and down to the bottom floor.

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