Julian must have made a surprised noise.
“Yes, I know. What about the books? Well, I bring them with me, that’s what,” Rami said. They took another sip of wine.
“Right, that’s what I was worried about,” Julian drawled into his own mostly empty glass. “The books.”
“I’ve been here for about… ten years? So it’s not quite time to move on yet, but it will be soon. I can stay longer when I don’t befriend the locals.”
“But your clients…”
“Yes. Clients do complicate things. Thankfully, with hairstyles I can give them the impression of aging without ever actually doing so. Besides, most of my clients move on before they ever have time to question it.”
“Move on…?”
“They find the answers they were looking for, in therapy, and then they go live their life—you know the drill.”
Right. Definitely.
“You solve all their problems for them and then they leave? That doesn’t sound fair.”
“No, no. I don’t solve their problems,” Rami corrected, the comb sliding smoothly through Julian’s hair again. “I just teach them the tools so they can work through it themselves. Empower them to live a better life.” They paused. “It doesn’t always work.”
“What do you mean?”
Rami cleared their throat, and their voice took on thattoneagain as they said, “You can only help those that want to be helped.”
Julian wanted to ask more, but Rami sounded sosad.“So… you’renotpreaching to them during the sessions?” Julian teased instead, cocking his head to the side.
With a touch, Rami righted his head, and Julian tried not to shiver at the gentle control the angel held.
“Of course not. I’m a therapist, not a preacher.”
“Why not? You’re an angel, after all. No better person to teach God’s word, in my opinion.”
“Well, that’s very kind of you,” Rami said, and before Julian could inform them that he hadn’t meant it as a compliment, the moment passed. “People are always on their best behavior at church. In therapy, they reveal their true selves. It's personal, it's raw. I feel like I can help more that way, show them how to love themselves and live the best life they can, while they have it.”
Julian swallowed the last of his wine, wishing for another glass. He’d need it if this conversation was going to continue.
Then he heard a plop in the water. “Shit,” Rami said. “I dropped the comb. Hold on.”
And then… Julian felt the distinctive brush of a hand against his side, his lower back. “Ope, pardon me,” Rami said.
“What are you—“
“I can’t see in the foggy water, just hold still—“
He felt the comb sink to the bottom, brushing against his ass, and Julian wondered if he should warn the angel. But then he never got the chance, because Rami located the comb.
And Julian’s ass, their fingers brushing the globe of his left cheek before they caught the comb.
Julian’s cock wasveryinterested in these new events.
“Sorry about that,” Rami said, as if they hadn’t just spent about thirty seconds feeling Julian up.
“No worries,” Julian choked out, full of worries, most of them horny.
“I think we’re about done, anyway,” Rami said. “Let’s give you a rinse, then.”
Julian pressed his thighs together as Rami repeated the cup motions, the now cooling water cascading down his back.