Page 48 of A Mistake of Identity
“If you’re still waiting for Henri to change his mind about you,” Ellis replied calmly, “don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The door slammed behind her. Ellis sagged slightly in Gabriel’s arms, then caught movement at the edge of his vision. Turning his head, he spotted Jean and Lucas peeking around the corner from the hallway leading to the entertainment room. Jean practically vibrated with contained commentary until Lucas pulled him back out of sight.
Ellis turned back to Gabriel. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I probably shouldn’t have antagonized her.”
Gabriel’s laugh rumbled through his chest. “Mon coeur, that was magnificent.” He pressed a kiss to Ellis’ temple. “Though I particularly enjoyed the career advice. Very thoughtful of you.”
Ellis turned in Gabriel’s arms, studying his face. “The names she mentioned...”
“Past relationships,” Gabriel admitted easily. “None of which lasted more than a few months.” His fingers traced Ellis’ jaw. “None of which made me feel the way you do.”
Ellis nodded, letting himself believe it. After all, none of those other men had been given a home here.
“Now then,” Gabriel’s voice dropped to a growl that made heat pool in Ellis’ belly. “I believe you were coming to see me?”
Ellis smiled. “I was going to suggest you take a break.”
“Excellent idea.” Gabriel’s kiss held possession and promise. “I think you’ve earned a reward for handling that so beautifully.”
Their “break” left Ellis deliciously sore and thoroughly claimed. Afterward, as they caught their breath, Ellis’s stomach growled loudly enough to make Gabriel laugh.
“I suppose we should feed you,” Gabriel murmured against Ellis’ temple. “Come on. Annabelle and Jacob won’t be back for hours yet. She’s having too much fun buying your wardrobe.”
Ellis rolled his eyes, secretly touched by the housekeeper’s enthusiasm. “I have plenty of clothes already. She bought out half the stores last week.”
“And the week before that,” Gabriel said, watching as Ellis deliberately ignored his own closet full of designer clothes to steal one of Gabriel’s shirts instead. Ellis pulled the soft cotton over his head, breathing in the familiar scent that always made him feel safe. He’d never had many possessions before—a few changes of clothes, some toiletries, whatever could fit in a backpack. Now he had more clothes than he could wear in a month, but he still preferred Gabriel’s well-worn shirts that smelled like home.
“She keeps buying things I don’t even know how to wear,” Ellis admitted, catching the sweats Gabriel tossed him. “Yesterday she tried to explain the difference between morning suits and dinner suits for twenty minutes. I thought Jacob was going to hurt himself trying not to laugh.”
The fond exasperation in Gabriel’s smile made Ellis’ chest tight. “You know she’ll just buy more.”
“I know.” Ellis couldn’t help smiling. No one had ever cared enough to worry about whether he had the right clothes before. Even if he didn’t understand half of what Annabelle bought, her determined mothering made him feel... cherished.
Ellis followed Gabriel down to the kitchen, his body still humming from their activities. He watched, amused, as Gabriel opened the refrigerator and stared at its contents like they might rearrange themselves into lunch.
“I can make something,” Ellis offered, but Gabriel shook his head.
“I’m perfectly capable of making sandwiches.” Gabriel started pulling out ingredients with the same precise confidence he showed in everything. “Besides, you’re still moving a bit carefully after our... break.”
Ellis felt his cheeks warm but couldn’t argue. He settled onto one of the kitchen stools, watching Gabriel methodically arrange bread, meats, and condiments on the counter. There was something endearingly domestic about seeing him perform such a mundane task.
“Gabriel?” Ellis traced a pattern on the counter’s surface. “What am I supposed to do around here?”
Gabriel looked up from where he was carefully spreading mustard. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I feel like I’m just—” Ellis struggled to find the right words. “Everyone else has a purpose. Annabelle and Jacob keep the house running. Jean, well, Jean seems happy to bedoing nothing. Well, he’s made antagonizing Peter a sport. I just... exist.”
Gabriel set down the knife, giving Ellis his full attention. “You can do whatever you’d like, mon coeur.”
“Mais c’est ça. I don’t know what that is.” Ellis’ voice got smaller. “I didn’t even finish middle school, much less high school. The union houses wouldn’t even take me without a diploma. Outside of sex work, I’m not really qualified for anything.”
Gabriel was quiet for a moment, thoughtful. “Would you like to study?”
“What?”
“There’s an equivalency test—the HiSET. Like a GED.” Gabriel moved around the counter to stand closer to Ellis. “I could hire tutors to help you prepare. You could work at your own pace, no pressure.”
Ellis stared at his hands. “You’d do that?”
