Page 44 of A Mistake of Identity
Another strike. Another surge from inside. The dual sensations blurred together, pain and pleasure tangling until he couldn’t tell them apart. Gabriel kept increasing the intensity of the plug with each downward progression of the whip, until Ellis’ entire world narrowed to the points of contact—the sharp sting of leather, the relentless pulses inside him, the mahogany of the posts warm against his forehead, sweat making his skin stick slightly to the polished wood.
By the time Gabriel reached the curve of his ass, Ellis was barely coherent. Tears streaked his face, his cock achingly hard and dripping. His legs had long since given out, leaving him sagging against the post, the leather cuffs biting into his wrists as they bore most of his weight.
Each strike now pulled broken sounds from his throat, his body weakly caught between trying to escape the sting and pressing back for more. The electricity pulsing through him had his muscles clenching rhythmically, every nerve ending singing with overwhelming sensation as he hung there, suspended between pleasure and pain.
“Please,” he sobbed, though he wasn’t sure what he was begging for.
The strikes suddenly stopped. Ellis floated in a haze of sensation, muscles trembling, face wet with tears. The first thing to penetrate the fog was Gabriel’s solid warmth behind him, taking his weight as gentle fingers released his wrists. Ellis slumped back against him, whimpering as the relentless pulses inside him continued at full intensity.
Gabriel guided him forward, draping him over the bed. The pulsing abruptly ceased, leaving him gasping. When Gabriel eased the plug free, Ellis moaned, overwhelmed by the sensation. His entire body felt electrified, every nerve ending singing.
Gabriel’s heat vanished. The absence left him shivering, hyperaware of the radiating sting across his back and thighs, until those strong hands returned, pulling him up the bed, flipping him onto his back. Each welt pressed against the cool sheets sent sparks of pleasure-pain racing through him. Through heavy-lidded eyes, he found Gabriel above him, naked and gleaming with sweat.
Gabriel positioned a pillow under Ellis’ hips before draping his legs over his arms. When he finally pushed inside, Ellis’ world narrowed to that single point of connection. Gabriel took him with ruthless thrusts, and Ellis came embarrassingly fast, shouting his release after only a few deep strokes. Gabriel’s dark chuckle tickled his ear.
“That’s one.”
Ellis groaned as Gabriel continued fucking him through the oversensitive pain. One leg dropped to the bed as Gabriel reached between them, skilled fingers coaxing his sensitive cock back to hardness. Without conscious thought, he grasped Gabriel’s wrist and brought it to his throat. Gabriel’s fingers tightened, cutting off his breath. Ellis’ mind went blissfully blank as Gabriel continued his relentless pace.
His other leg dropped. A sharp crack across his cheek.
Ellis came apart again.
“That’s two. My turn.” Gabriel grunted, rhythm faltering, and Ellis felt him pulse deep inside, filling him with warmth.
“Mon précieux oiseau,” Gabriel murmured against his temple. “Si parfait pour moi.”
The French endearments washed over him like warm honey as darkness claimed him, Gabriel’s voice following him into unconsciousness.
Gabriel
Gabriel held Ellis close as his breathing steadied, noting how completely his petit oiseau had surrendered to exhaustion. The total trust in that vulnerability stirred something fierce and protective in his chest. Ellis needed looking after, especially now.
Careful not to disturb him, Gabriel retrieved a warm washcloth from the en-suite. As he gently tended to Ellis, he cataloged the marks he’d left—nothing that would raise Dr. Nguyen’s ire, but enough to remind Ellis who he belonged to. The possessive thought should have troubled him more than it did.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand. Lucas.
“Your brother has been asking questions about certain acquisitions through unofficial channels. I thought you should know.”
Gabriel’s jaw clenched. Henri’s persistent interest in Jean was becoming problematic. “Keep me informed of any developments. Also, ‘certain acquisitions?’ Why not just say, Jean?” Gabriel mocked.
On the other end, Lucas cleared his throat, and Gabriel could hear clearly as Jean shouted, “I am not a fucking acquisition!”
Gabriel snickered, hanging up as Lucas began a string of colorful French curses directed at him, Jean’s indignant protestsgrowing louder in the background. Lucas had certainly met his match in the youngest Saint-Clair.
After ending the call, he studied Ellis’ sleeping form. He laid Ellis on his stomach, mindful of the marks he’d left. His fingers traced the emerging bruises and welts, considering the jar of Smooth in the bathroom cabinet. But no—he wanted Ellis to feel these marks, shift uncomfortably during dinner, and remember who had put them there.
Something had triggered this desperate need for pain, for punishment. It wasn’t like his little bird to beg for it. Opening his messages, he quickly texted Alain: “Check the aquatic club. I want to know if anything unusual happened during Ellis’ visit.”
Alain replied immediately with a thumbs-up.
After tucking the blanket around Ellis’ shoulders, Gabriel quickly showered and changed into comfortable jeans and a soft shirt. He left the bedroom and study doors open as he settled behind his desk. Whatever had upset his petit oiseau, he’d find out soon enough.
Gabriel was reviewing the acquisition details for a promising geospatial company when movement caught his eye. Ellis padded into the study, drowning in Gabriel’s clothes, hair still mussed from sleep. Something caught in Gabriel’s chest at the sight, his petit oiseau looked impossibly young and vulnerable like this, especially with the marks peeking above his borrowed collar.
Rising from his desk, Gabriel met Ellis halfway across the room. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” Ellis’ cheeks flushed prettily. “Thank you.”
