Page 127 of How Not to Date an Angel

“I took the assignment because I wanted to experience Earth. I didn’t think I’d meetyou.”

“What does that mean?” Rami bit out.

“Someone so infuriatingly good. Untemptable,” Julian said, lips quirking. “I wanted to tell you yesterday because the deadline ends tonight. If I don’t complete the assignment, they’re going to take me back. So I wanted to tell you I was leaving. I didn’tintendto finish the assignment. To hell with it.”

Rami couldn’t even appreciate the humor in the moment.

“But you tried anyway. The final temptation,” Rami muttered.

“Yes,” Julian whined, running his hands through his hair. His voice cracked on the word and Rami’s heart thumped. “I did. Because I’mselfish.One last try, because I want to stay here. With you.”

“Even if it meant I killed someone?” Rami snapped.

Julian’s expression softened. “You weren’t going to kill him, Feathers.”

“But you didn’t know that.”

“Yes, I did.”

“How?!” Rami shouted, and stood.

“Because you’reyou!You wouldn’t hurt a fucking fly,” Julian told him.

“Well, it’s a good thing you just know me so fucking well!” Rami said, shaking their head. “Then why did you imply it? All your nonsense about making sure he never hurts her again?”

“I…” Julian gnashed his teeth. “I did imply it, fuck. I know I did. I guess because, even if by some miracle the selfishness won and youdidhurt him, at least…”

“Your assignment would’ve been complete. You would’ve got what you wanted.”

No matter the cost.

Rami sat back down, the fight going out of them.

“What did you think would happen?” Rami asked.

Julian shook his head. “I don’t know. I hadn’t figured that out yet. I told myself... maybe you never had to know.”

“You hoped you could just stay and play house with me forever?”

Julian chewed on a lip. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

“You wanted to build a fake life on a lie?” Rami asked.

“When you put it like that, it—” He shook his head.

“Like what?” Rami bit out. “Like the truth? You showed up here under false pretenses and then tried at every turn to—“

“It was myjob. What else was I supposed to do?”

“Be a goodperson!” Rami snapped. “Like I thought you were.”

“I stillamthat person. Yes, when I arrived, it was with the intent to tempt you, but you’re just… not temptable!”

“What about the sex? Was that another temptation?” Rami finally asked, dreading the answer.

Julian rounded the desk and sank to his knees, finding Rami’s gaze and refusing to release it.

“When I took you to the sex shop, I was trying to get a rise out of you, yes. Trying to, I don’t know, frustrate you, or piss you off. But using sex to tempt you was never and will never be part of the plan.”

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