Page 68 of How Not to Date an Angel

“I’m an angel,” Rami said, gaze sliding to the clerk who couldn’t care less what they were whispering about in the corner, flipping a magazine and chewing gum obnoxiously.

“So?” Julian asked. “Doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to be alittleselfish.”

It would be a gateway drug.

Julian didn’t find as much humor in the thought as he probably should have, being a selfish temptation demon, after all.

“Sex isn’tbad,” Julian said, lowering his voice. “It’s self-care. It improves your mood, just like those little truffles you love so much. And that’s science.”

The plan was revealing itself. Rami would get a taste of pleasures of the flesh, and they’d want more, and never having had it before, after all these years? They’d probably be selfish about it.

That seemed to shut Rami up, and their lips thinned into a tight line. They swallowed, gaze flicking once to the box in Julian’s hand before snapping away again.

Julian hung the box back on the wall and ignored the choked noise in Rami’s throat.

“What else can we find around here?” he murmured, and caught Rami’s wrist to pull them along.

Julian came to a stop only a few feet later, the tamer silicone calling to him. If he was selling this whole situation to a naive angel, he didn’t want to give them the wrong idea.

“Maybe something smaller to start with,” Julian murmured, just loud enough to reach Rami’s ears. “What do you think?” he asked, tapping the different box.

“Do you plan to take these back to hell, then?” Rami asked him instead of offering any thoughts.

“Aw, roomie, don’t be like that,” Julian whined quietly.

“We arenotroommates.”

“Why not?” Julian pouted. “Is it rent? I can pay rent.”

“No rent required. You’re only staying for a bit,” Rami said, as if they didn’t believe their own words.

Julian smiled. “Right. Just for a bit.”

Rami visibly relaxed, and Julian rolled his eyes. “You never answered me. Which one?” he asked, and pointed to the two boxes in question.

“I don’t have an opinion,” Rami said, head lifted as if all this was below them.

Julian hummed and let his stare trail over the wall, pausing on a totally different item. He grinned wickedly as he reached up, only wincing a bit at the stretch of his ribs before Rami made that choking noise again.

Then warmth covered his back, and an arm stretched above his, effortless and smooth, knocking the box he was after loose before a thick hand clasped it.

“Here,” Rami hissed, cheeks redder than they’d been so far as they shoved the box into Julian’s chest. “You’re insufferable.”

“Aren’t I just?” Julian asked. “Aw, come on, you like me,” Julian teased.

Rami scoffed and averted their gaze, but nowhere was safe, and it returned to the floor seconds later.

“So now the question is,” Julian continued, “do I want to be fucked or do the fucking?” he mused, holding up the tentacle and the fleshlight.

Rami’s wide, gray eyes snapped up to his, their mouth a little slack.

“W-well,” Rami began. “I suppose it depends on what you prefer.”

“Eh, moods change, you know,” Julian said, shrugging.

Rami was quiet at that, but the moment passed before Julian could question them about it.

“Oh, pretty!” Rami said, and darted away from the wall toward the side room with the lingerie.

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