Page 117 of How Not to Date an Angel

“I wouldn’t say that,” Julian murmured, letting out an emphasized scoff. “But no one deserves that.”

“What?” Rami questioned further.

“To be…” Julian’s hands lifted from the counter to fill the space between them, motioning as if he couldn’t grasp the words he needed. “Hurt. By someone you love,” he finally said. “That’s terrible. No one deserves that.”

Rami hummed. So he did care. At the very least, he wanted to avenge her, which was a form of caring, they supposed.

“It felt good to protect her,” Rami admitted. “I wish I had done it twenty lifetimes ago.”

Julian’s expression softened. “For Atticus?”

Rami nodded, throat sticking with a swell of emotion. “Yeah,” they croaked. “I wish I had saved him.”

Julian leaned forward, wrapping his arms around Rami, and they sank into it, breathing deep of the delicious, cocoa smell of this demon. Their arms circled his waist, and they held him close.

A few moments passed as Rami collected themself, mourning a friend and hoping that friend had forgiven them by now.

Finally, when their voice wouldn’t betray them, Rami said, “I think you care more than you want me to believe.”

“And why’s that?” Julian asked, voice muffled in Rami’s shoulder.

“You tell me.”

To protect himself? From what?

Rami wasn’t going to hurt him—

Ah. But maybe Rami had the power to. Because Julian did care. About Rami.

And that scared Julian.

They softened, leaning back, lifting a hand to cup the very cheek they’d kissed earlier. Their silver skin was starkly colored againstJulian’s human one, and they found themself wondering what it would look like against Julian’s demon skin. Gold and silver.

“That was a very sweet thing you did, borrowing clothes from your sister,” they said.

Julian’s lips quirked, but his eyes were wide as he stared at Rami. “Yeah. Well, she won’t be needing them anytime soon.”

“I guess she’d need to exist for that, hm?” Rami asked.

“Probably,” Julian muttered, gaze dipping to Rami’s lips, leaning into their palm.

Maybe a few days ago, the suggestion would’ve scandalized Rami. Maybe a few days ago, Rami wouldn’t have been the one doing the suggesting.

But Julian wasgood. And after a night like tonight, Rami thought they might like the idea of seeking comfort in another person.

Especially if Julian was that person.

They leaned in and kissed him. Julian made the cutest surprised noise in response before melting against them.

His hands lifted from the counter to frame Rami’s face, sliding over his shoulders before brushing—

“Your wings,” Julian murmured into the kiss and pulled back.

Rami had forgotten. “Sorry, I’ll—”

“No!” Julian gasped, and laid a hand against their chest. “I’ve never seen an angel’s wings before. I didn’t know they were so…”

“So…?”

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