Page 79 of How Not to Date an Angel

Meanwhile, Julian wiggled his fingers over the box before plucking free an eclair.

“Be careful with that,” Rami warned. “You’ll need a bath after me.”

“Maybe I like things a little messy,” Julian said, and just barely turned his head to the right and winked.

Their cheeks flushed even more, and they considered the fact that it might not be the heat of the water after all.

But instead of facing the facts like a reasonable being, Rami took a bite of the danish.

A loud moan cut through the room, and Rami startled, wine sloshing within its glass, water lapping at the edge of the tub.

“What in the—“ Rami began.

“This is so good,” Julian groaned. “I’m a genius.” He spoke around his mouthful, and Rami wrinkled their nose before they bit into their own danish again.

The blueberry was tart on their tongue and the glaze of the danish was sweet. A perfect balance.

And surprisingly, the wine Julian had magicked paired well with the sweets, too.

They finished their tarts and chatted about nothing of importance, certainly nothing so heavy as Rami’s lonely existence.

“Tell me about your house in Hell,” Rami said. “What’s it look like?”

Julian hummed, and Rami watched his side profile as he sipped wine, lips curling over the edge of the glass, horns glinting in the low light.

“It’s not very big. A bit smaller than your place. Hell is a corporation, an office. And the living areas are much the same. All sleek, sharp lines and cold steel. Surprisingly modern and minimalistic.” He glanced around the bathroom. “It’s nothing like your place.”

“You must miss it, then,” Rami said.

“Not as much as you might think,” Julian admitted. He swirled the wine in his glass and Rami sipped their own, waiting for an explanation. “It gets lonely, too.”

“No demon… fraternities to hang out with?”

Julian’s nose wrinkled, and Rami felt it like a shot through the heart. “Not so much. I mean, sure, I have acquaintances, but Hell is all about looking out for yourself. Trying to get up the ladder to have more freedom. Not too much time for palling around.”

“But then how—“ Rami snapped their mouth closed, realizing their question was severely nosey and a little too casual.

“What?”

“No, no. Nevermind. It’s none of my business.”

“Oh, come on. I’m far too curious now. Ask me.”

Ramigulped, cheeks already heating. “Well, if it’s too personal, you don’t have to answer—keep that in mind.”

“Yes, yes, go on.”

“I was just wondering, if demons aren’t very… friendly with one another, how did you become so versed in things of the, ahem, sexual nature?” Rami winced through the whole question, and finished off their glass of wine to wash down the taste of the awkwardness.

“I’ll put it like this: you take your fancy bubble baths and eat yummy pastries to de-stress, and I look for more… physical relief,” he said. “And Hell isverystressful, so I’m not the only one.”

“Ah, so you… with other demons?”

“Yeah. I didn’t exactly have the time while delivering messages to try and seduce a human.”

“And does it… work?” Rami asked, while they held out their glass, arm balanced on the side of the tub.

Julian picked up the bottle and refilled without even being asked.

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