Instead of ravishing me, however, Rhys cupped my face in his big hands, bent down, and pressed the sweetest, softest kiss to my lips. He let out a little exhalation as he released me, his breath tickling my mouth, before he straightened and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

I moved into him, slid my arms around his waist, and rested my head on his chest.

“Are you okay?”

Rhys was silent so long, I thought he might not answer.

But then, “I think I’m gonna have to fight.”

Shock rooted me in place, and I stiffened in his hold. “Rhys, please tell me you did not agree to fight?”

“Not yet.”

Oh, thank God. I pulled out of his arms and placed my hands on his chest. He looked down at me, curiosity in his expression, and then surprise when I gently pushed him backward.

He let me.

Of course he let me.

Like I could move a man his size without him letting me.

I backed him up to the bed. “Sit.”

A tired smile quirked his lips. “You got it, boss.”

How could he possibly find anything amusing right now after three hours of interrogative warfare that had clearly worked?

I studied him. We’d only just decided to explore what was between us, so pushing him to confide in me was a big risk. Yet, I knew there had to be more going on if he would agree to fight, despite his deep-seated aversion to it.

For his sake, I had to be brave. I couldn’t be selfish just because I was afraid he’d turn away from me.

“Okay … I don’t know what he said to you in the three very long hours he held you captive”—Rhys raised an eyebrow at my word choice but I pushed on—“but what is going on? Something has to be going on beyond the financial problems of the gym to make you even contemplate this fight. Did Fairchild threaten you?”

“No, but it was implied that your contract would be made permanent if I fight for him.”

I felt my fury boil down deep inside. “I can find another job. He is not manipulating you into this fight.”

He looked momentarily stunned.

Realizing what it said about my feelings—that I’d walk away from a job I loved to save Rhys from Fairchild—I blushed.

Rhys studied me intently, his expression warming by the second. “That means a damn lot to me, Parker. But we started this thing together because of how much your job means to you. I don’t want to see you lose it because of this.”

When I opened my mouth to object, he held up a hand. “There’s more. The fight is worth a lot of money.”