Ellis
padded down the hallway, leaving behind the increasingly heated sounds coming from the entertainment room. There were only so many times he could watch Jean “accidentally” drop things and bend over to retrieve them while Lucas pretended not to notice. Then they got shandy on the couch, and had given up trying to play video games altogether.
He was happy for Jean and Lucas. He was, he just also wished they would stop it with public displays.
decided to check on Gabriel. He had been working for hours since breakfast; maybe he could convince him to take a break and have lunch with him.
The doorbell’s chime echoed through the empty foyer. hesitated—usually Jacob or Annabelle handled visitors, but they were out shopping for the week’s groceries. With the influx of people, the quantity of things Annabelle needed required a second pair of hands. When the bell rang again, more insistently, sighed and changed course.
He opened the heavy door to find a striking woman in her early twenties on the doorstep. Her cream designer suit probably cost more than used to make in a year, and her jewelry sparkled with obvious wealth. Her professionally styled blonde hair framed a face that might have been beautiful if not for the hint of cruelty around her mouth.
“Yes?” asked politely.
She barely glanced at him. “I’m here to see Henri Rohan. I know he’s been spotted here.”
“I’m sorry, but Henri isn’t here. We haven’t seen him in several days.”
Her perfectly manicured hand shot out, shoving the door wider as she brushed past into the foyer. “I’ll wait.”
“Excuse me,” said, letting his anger sharpen his voice. “You can’t just—”
She turned, really looking at him for the first time. Her eyes widened slightly before her lips curved into a cruel smile. “Ah. You must be the little whore everyone’s talking about. , isn’t it?”
felt heat climb his cheeks but kept his voice steady. “I’m sorry, who are you?”
Her perfectly painted lips parted in shock. “You don’t—” She recovered quickly, lips curling into a sneer. “I suppose a gutter rat wouldn’t recognize refinement if it walked up and introduced itself. I am élise Dubrule, Henri Rohan’s fiancée.”
“Funny,” said. “I didn’t think Henri had a fiancée.”
Her smile went razor-sharp. “Of course we’re engaged. There was just some unpleasantness with the papers. Though I suppose someone of your background wouldn’t keep up with society news.”
Color flooded her cheeks. “Now, where is Henri? I know he’s been seen here.”
“Like I said, he’s not here. And you need to leave.”
“How dare you? Do you have any idea who I am? Who my family is?”
“Do you have any idea how little I care?” crossed his arms. “Henri isn’t here. You need to leave.”
She laughed, the sound like breaking glass. “Oh, that’s adorable. The little prostitute playing at being lady of the house. Tell me, does Gabriel make you answer the door often? Or were all the real servants too busy to do their jobs?”
“I’m not playing at anything,” said quietly. “This is my home. Gabriel is my partner. And you are trespassing.”
“Partner?” She practically purred the word. “Is that what you think you are? Oh, you poor thing. I suppose no one’s told you about Gabriel’s history with pretty little diversions like yourself.” She stepped closer, voice dropping to a mock whisper. “Did you know about Christian? Or Thomas? What about dear sweet Jamie? They all thought they were special too.”
felt a sting in his chest, but he refused to let it show. “I know exactly who I am to Gabriel. And I know exactly where I stand in this house.” He lifted his chin. “Which is why I can tell you to get the fuck out and know that Gabriel will back me up completely.”
“Such language,” she tsked. “Though I suppose we can’t expect better from someone of your profession. Does it bother you, knowing that everyone who sees you with Gabriel knows exactly what you are? What you’ve done? The society papers have been having quite a field day with your history.”
“You seem very interested in my profession,” said sweetly. “Are you looking for career advice? Because honestly, from what I hear about your social climbing attempts, you might actually make more money on your back than you do trying to marry up.”
Her hand shot up, but before she could slap him, another voice cut through the foyer.
“I wouldn’t.” Gabriel’s quiet warning carried clearly from the stairs. “Not if you ever want to show your face in PDC society again.”
hadn’t heard Gabriel approach, but he felt the warm press of his body as Gabriel descended the stairs and moved to stand beside him. Gabriel’s arm slipped possessively around ’ waist.
“Gabriel.” élise’s voice dripped honey. “I was just looking for Henri. I heard he’d been seen here.”
“And informed you that Henri isn’t here,” Gabriel said coldly. “Yet you chose to enter my home uninvited and insult someone under my protection.”
“Protection?” She laughed. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“We’re calling it exactly what it is,” Gabriel’s voice carried dangerous quiet. “ is my partner. He lives here. This is his home. And you have exactly thirty seconds to leave it before I call the police and have you charged with trespassing.”
She opened her mouth, probably to argue, but something in Gabriel’s expression made her think better of it. With a sharp laugh, she turned on her heel and strode toward the door. At the threshold, she paused.
“When he gets bored of you,” she said to , “don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“If you’re still waiting for Henri to change his mind about you,” replied calmly, “don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The door slammed behind her. 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.
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 ’ temple. “Though I particularly enjoyed the career advice. Very thoughtful of you.”
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 ’ jaw. “None of which made me feel the way you do.”
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 ’ belly. “I believe you were coming to see me?”
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 deliciously sore and thoroughly claimed. Afterward, as they caught their breath, ’s stomach growled loudly enough to make Gabriel laugh.
“I suppose we should feed you,” Gabriel murmured against ’ temple. “Come on. Annabelle and Jacob won’t be back for hours yet. She’s having too much fun buying your wardrobe.”
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 deliberately ignored his own closet full of designer clothes to steal one of Gabriel’s shirts instead. 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,” 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 ’ chest tight. “You know she’ll just buy more.”
“I know.” 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.
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,” 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.”
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?” 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—” struggled to find the right words. “Everyone else has a purpose. Annabelle and Jacob keep the house running. Jean, well, Jean seems happy to be doing nothing. Well, he’s made antagonizing Peter a sport. I just... exist.”
Gabriel set down the knife, giving his full attention. “You can do whatever you’d like, mon coeur.”
“Mais c’est ca. I don’t know what that is.” ’ 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 . “I could hire tutors to help you prepare. You could work at your own pace, no pressure.”
stared at his hands. “You’d do that?”
“Of course.” Gabriel’s fingers caught his chin, tilting his face up. “I want you to feel confident in yourself, . If education would help with that, then we’ll make it happen.”
felt hope flutter in his chest, even as an unwanted thought tried to surface—even if Gabriel eventually tired of him, a diploma would give him more options. He pushed the doubt away, focusing instead on Gabriel’s warm eyes.
“I think... I think I’d like that,” said softly. “It would be nice to not feel so... ignorant all the time.”
“You’re not ignorant,” Gabriel corrected firmly. “You’re self-taught under difficult circumstances. There’s a difference.” He pressed a kiss to ’ forehead. “We can look into tutors later this week. For now, how about lunch?”
smiled, watching Gabriel return to his sandwich-making with the same focus he gave everything else. This was what security felt like, he realized. Not just the promise of education or the luxury surrounding him, but this—being supported, being seen as someone worth investing in.
Gabriel slid a plate in front of him, the sandwich cut into triangles. Such a simple thing, but it made ’ chest tight with emotion. He was more than just a pretty distraction or a charity case. Gabriel saw him, really saw him, and wanted to help him grow.
“Thank you,” said, meaning far more than just the sandwich.
Gabriel’s smile suggested he understood. “Anything for you, mon coeur.”
And believed him.