Page 22 of A Mistake of Identity
Ellis used it quickly, not bothering with the inner door. Who was going to see him in here, anyway? The relief was so intense it made him a little dizzy. He shuffled over to one of thesinks afterward, and that’s when he caught his reflection in the mirror. The sight stopped him cold. The bruises that should have been dark purple were already fading to yellow at the edges. His split lip was nearly healed, just a faint line where it had been cracked and swollen.
Something wasn’t adding up. He’d been beaten black and blue yesterday, but his body looked like it was a week into healing.
He shuffled back to the door on shaky legs, pulling it open to find Jean right where he promised he’d be. “How long have I been here?”
“Just over a day,” Jean said, helping Ellis limp back to the bed. “You slept through most of it, which is probably good, considering. Plus, you know—” he gestured vaguely at Ellis’s healing bruises, “—the magic of Smooth.”
Ellis sank into the mattress, his head spinning. “Smooth?”
“Yeah, the good doctor’s been applying it every few hours while you were out. The prescription strength stuff, not the watered-down crap they sell at pharmacies. Must be nice having a Rohan’s private physician looking after you.” Jean paused, picking at a loose thread on his sleeve. “Though fair warning—Gabriel’s taking over that duty from now on. Dr. Nguyen showed him how this morning.”
Something warm curled in Ellis’s stomach at that thought. He should have been uncomfortable with the idea of Gabriel applying the medication, but instead, he found himself anticipating those careful touches. He pushed that feeling aside, focusing on his healing body. Just how much money had Gabriel spent on him already? “What happened? I remember Donovan putting me in the Display Case, and then...”
Jean perched on the edge of the bed, his face going hard. “Your knight in expensive armor showed up. Never seenanything like it, Gabriel just walked right in and...” He described how Gabriel had beaten Donovan bloody. His voice caught between admiration and fear. “Didn’t even mess up his suit doing it.”
“Oh god.” Ellis’ stomach dropped out. How was he going to make this up to Donovan? He’d never be able to pay back what he would owe for a client smashing the proprietor’s face in on his behalf, not if he worked every night for the next—
“Stop that.” Jean poked his arm. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop. Neither of us is going back to Heart Court.” He said it like it was a simple fact but wouldn’t meet Ellis’ eyes when Ellis tried to ask what he meant.
The bedroom door opened, and Gabriel filled the frame, still in his work suit. Ellis’ heart stuttered, his body instinctively relaxing at the man’s presence
Jean rolled his eyes. “Ah, the conquering hero returns.”
“Get out.” Gabriel’s voice was low and dangerous. Ellis shivered at the tone.
“No.” Jean lifted his chin. “I’m not leaving him alone with—”
Lucas appeared behind Gabriel like a shadow. “Come on, my feisty kitten. Time for your dinner.” He walked over to the bed and hauled Jean out, ignoring the stream of creative curses that followed.
Ellis started to get up—Jean had helped him, he should do something—but Gabriel was already moving to sit beside him on the bed, his weight making the mattress dip. Ellis found himself swaying toward that solid presence before he could catch himself.
“How are you feeling, mon coeur?” The anger that had edged his voice with Jean was gone, replaced by something soft that tightened Ellis’ chest. The endearment shouldn’t have affected him so strongly—he’d been called worse, better, athousand variations by countless clients. But something about the way Gabriel said it...
Ellis let out a soft laugh to cover his confusion. “Big leap from ‘little bird’ to ‘my heart,’ don’t you think?”
Gabriel just stared at him.
Ellis blew out a breath. “I’m fine, sore, but fine. Jean said you bashed Donovan’s face in and that I can’t return to Heart Court. Where am I supposed to work after—”
“You aren’t leaving.” Gabriel’s voice was firm, brooking no argument.
“Excuse me?”
“There is no ‘after,’ Ellis. You’re staying here.” Gabriel gripped the back of Ellis’ neck, pulling him in for a hard kiss. “You are mine.”
Ellis stared at him, caught between wanting to argue and wanting to surrender. “You cannot just own people.”
“I can.” Gabriel shifted his weight to blanket Ellis, pressing him into the mattress. He kissed Ellis again, softer this time. “Now, tell me. How are you feeling?”
Heat buzzed through Ellis’ body, making his cock twitch. He swallowed hard, watching Gabriel’s eyes follow the movement. His body was already responding, already yielding, and he couldn’t bring himself to fight it. “Sore in places I didn’t know existed. Everything’s stiff. Tired.” Ellis reached up and ran a hand through Gabriel’s perfectly styled hair, allowing himself this small liberty. “And... if I’m being honest, relieved. Donovan was so angry.” His body shuddered at the memory, but Gabriel’s weight anchored him.
“I never would have let you return to him if I knew how he would treat you.” Gabriel brushed his lips up Ellis’ neck, then pulled back. “But first, we need to take care of those injuries. Turn over for me, little bird.”
Ellis complied without hesitation, surprising himself with how naturally he followed Gabriel’s command. He heard Gabriel moving, then the distinctive click of the Smooth container opening. The sound shouldn’t have made his pulse quicken, but it did.
“This might be cold,” Gabriel warned, but his hands were warm as they began spreading the cream over Ellis’s bruised back. His touch was firm but careful, working the medication into the worst of the marks with a precision that made Ellis wonder how many times Dr. Nguyen had demonstrated the technique. When Gabriel’s thumbs found a particularly tight knot, Ellis couldn’t help the soft moan that escaped.
Gabriel’s palms glided over Ellis’ shoulders, the expensive cream providing a cool contrast to the heat building within him. “Good boy,” he murmured, working his way lower. “Let me know if anything hurts.”
