Page 25 of How Not to Date an Angel

He turned toward Rami on his knees and laid his head on his arm along the back of the couch, even though it clearly hurt to do so. His breath was pinched.

A lock of his hair fell in Julian’s face and he blew it out of his eyes unsuccessfully. Rami swallowed, but before they could manage to reply, Julian wrinkled his nose, pressed to the fabric of his sleeve.

“I appreciated the bath last night, but I would’ve preferred to smell like something besides a little treat. I mean, you could’ve at least gone with some floral shit, but no—“

Amusement trickled through Rami. “Does that mean you think I smell like a little treat?”

Julian snatched his head up off his arm. “What? I—no, I’m just saying—why are you smiling like that—don’t!”

Rami chuckled, laughing at the demon despite his protests.

“Are you saying you’d like another bath?” Rami teased, but eased their smile as they saw the demon hesitate. “You’re of course welcome to it.”

“Might be,” Julian muttered, combing his hair back from his face with one hand, and wincing before lowering his arm. Rami noticed the sheen of his locks.

“Do you need assistance with your hair?” Rami frowned. “I should’ve asked last night.”

“What? No, it’s—” Julian lifted a hand and tugged at a piece of hair, rubbing his fingers together. “I dunked my head last night, but with my horn…”

With all of that blood in the water? Rami pursed their lips in distaste.

It wasn’t exactly their problem whether Julian could keep his hair clean or not, but… well, there was something selfish in the idea ofletting him suffer just because the act might make Rami a bit uncomfortable.

Something in them didn’t like being selfish.

“Well, that settles it. I’ll wash your hair. Should we open another bottle of wine?”

“Another?” Julian asked with an arch of his brow, before holding out his empty glass. “I like the way you think.”

Rami made their way into the kitchen and pulled the fridge open. Their fingers hovered over the different bottles beneath the light. “Go ahead and get the bath started. I’ll knock before I come in.”

Theyfeltthe demon pause before they heard hesitant steps climbing to the loft bedroom.

Rami’s lips threatened to curl as they trailed into the kitchen and topped Julian’s glass off with the last bit of wine from the cold bottle before opening another.

Rami was trying not to think about the fact that the demon would benudewhen they found him.

Maybe they could drape a towel over the edges of the tub, hide his most private parts.

Oh, heavens, what had they just signed up for? Rami sipped their wine again before simply deciding tocatch up,as the humans called it.

Then they poured themself another glass from the fresh bottle.

After selecting a rather large collectible cup from some random event in their life, Rami ascended the stairs.

The water was running, the background noise growing louder as they stopped outside the bathroom door.

They knocked softly, and held their breath.

Julian

Julian sat up when he heard the knock, the water sloshing around him. It was full enough, surely.

“Come in,” he called out, trying to pat the bubbles into place with his hands.

Yes, bubbles.

Julian had never possessed less dignity.

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