Page 123 of How Not to Date an Angel

His hand rested on their back and Rami threaded their fingers through Julian’s hair, the strands like silk.

Rami listened to the steady, slowing beat of Julian’s heart through his chest.

They floated in the afterglow like this, and Rami wondered, for all intents and purposes,wasthisthe cuddling Julian really wanted that first night?

Rami liked itverymuch.

“Rami,” Julian murmured a while later, chest still shifting with each breath.

“Hm?” they asked, so sated they could barely open their eyes.

“I think I just had a religious experience.”

Rami huffed out a laugh, and Julian gasped, still inside them.

“Guess I’m not the only one havingfirststonight, then,” they retorted, heart too big for their chest.

Rami

Julian was still asleep when Rami woke, for once.

Rami was curled into him, an arm over his waist while Julian sprawled across the bed. Their wings and halo had long dissolved into Rami’s human form.

Their lips twitched at the sight of him, disheveled with sleep and twice as adorable.

Something wiggled loose in their chest.

Rami studied him in the low light, the sun barely giving the room a soft glow. It must still be so early, but Rami knew they wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep.

Not with this new feeling in their chest they were too afraid toname.

They tried to slip from the bed without disturbing Julian, and at first they thought it worked.

But just as they slid their feet to the floor, arms curled around their waist and Julian hummed.

“S’too early.”

“Go back to sleep. I think I’ll get some work done. Reply to some emails. I’ll bring you coffee in a bit, how’s that sound?”

“Okay,” Julian murmured, and gave them one last squeeze before letting them free.

Julian was already nuzzling himself back to sleep in Rami’s pillow, taking up far more of the bed than was required.

Rami smiled as they practically floated down the stairs, making quick work of their own coffee.

The morning sun was cheerful as it shone prisms through the windows, and Rami sat at their desk with a smile.

It’d only take a moment to reply to a few emails and send the automated texts to confirm the upcoming appointments.

Melissa’s emergency had only reminded Rami that the world kept moving even when they didn’t get to see their clients. They were still going about their days, and Rami needed to get back to work helping them get through it.

It was time for their little vacation to end. Even if Julian was still around, he could busy himself with something while Rami was with a client.

They spared a moment of heartache that Melissa wouldn’t be attending the sessions for a while, and made a note to themself to check in soon.

Even though they knew that damned husband wouldn’t be laying his hands on her again, Rami still worried.

Their brow was furrowed as they remembered the bruise on her cheek.

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