Unequaled

by Charity Parkerson

  “Business, business,” Drew answered drily.

  “Then Asher is cool to stay here, if that’s all right with you?”

  Drew shrugged. “Whatever you want.”

  Asher kept quiet and Rhys didn’t look over to gauge his reaction. Leaning back in his chair, Drew got straight to the point. “I’d like to hire you to teach MMA classes here.” Before Rhys had time to respond to his offer, he added, “Part of the deal would include No Rival as your sponsor for all future matches as long as you are employed here. Of course, this means you would have to move back to town.”

  At Drew’s final words, Rhys went cold. “Did one of my brothers put you up to this?” He knew as soon as the words left his mouth, he’d insulted Drew, by the way his face hardened. As crazy as it seemed, his shoulders relaxed at the knowledge.

  “First off,” Drew said, beginning to tick off fingers. “This place belongs to me. There isn’t a soul alive, besides my wife, who could convince me to put its reputation on the line just to keep you in Vegas. More importantly, you’ve earned this offer. Middleweight champion is a big deal. Of course, there is some legal stuff involved on the sponsorship end, so you might want to get a lawyer to represent you on that. This is strictly a business decision for me,” he reassured him. “I can say No Rival has helped more than one person make it all the way to the top of their weight class. On a personal note, it’s getting harder for me to handle the load of sparring match requests. I want to spend time with my wife and daughter. These men want to train against the best. What do I do? If it comes down to a choice, Aubree and Adalyn will be the winners.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Rhys saw Asher straighten in his seat at Drew’s mention of involving lawyers. Excitement coursed through his veins at the opportunity. What Drew offered was a competitor’s dream come true. A huge part of him wanted to jump on the deal before it passed him by. Another part realized Drew was right. Getting legal representation first would be in his best interest.

  Tilting his head at an angle, he brought Asher into his line of sight. He was already watching Rhys. A silent conversation passed between them. A smile so wicked, it bordered on criminal, touched Asher’s lips. Switching his attention to Drew, Asher transformed from silent companion to ruthless attorney in the blink of an eye.

  “I am the solicitor in charge of Rhys’ affairs. Have you drawn up a proposal yet on the sponsorship?”

  Drew smiled wryly. “That’s a question for my attorney. I’m not a paperwork person. As Rhys’ friend, I would never screw him over though. He can trust my word.”

  “As his attorney, I would recommend against doing such a thing. However, in this case, I was present to hear your offer, and my word carries a great deal of weight inside the courtroom. We will accept your offer, on a temporary basis, in good faith. I see no reason why Rhys couldn’t get started on any date that is mutually agreed upon.”

  “Deal,” Drew said immediately.

  Rhys wasn’t one hundred percent sure what he’d set in motion. Two things were hauntingly clear. All future matches he entered would be for No Rival. Even more importantly, he’d just agreed to stay in town. Lord help him.

  Chapter Six

  I’m here.

  Asher glanced at the words on the screen of his phone.

  The door is unlocked.

  With the message sent off, he turned his attention back to the paperwork sitting at his elbow. He did his best to concentrate. The happiness welling inside him made it impossible. Headlights flashed across the security camera drawing his gaze to the monitor hanging in the corner. With a shake of his head, Asher tried, once again, to focus. He would not watch the sexy man slipping from his truck. Work needed to be done. The numbers in each column didn’t add up. They blurred. It took Asher a moment to realize, he wasn’t seeing them at all. A shadow fell across the table. Warm lips touched the side of his neck.

  “I’ve been waiting to taste this spot all day long,” Rhys murmured against the column of this throat.

  “Anything else?” Asher barely restrained himself from telling Rhys how much he’d missed him. Gripping the edge of the table, boxing him in, Rhys dropped his chin to Asher’s shoulder.

  “That’s as far as I got.” His admission made Asher feel special. It wasn’t a sexual desire Rhys had spent his day craving. It was a longing for contact. He didn’t want to hope. Not that it stopped him. “You’re still working?”

  “If you choose to call it such.”

  “I didn’t have to come tonight.”

  “You didn’t,” Asher agreed. Picking through his words, he did his best to hide the pining behind each one. “But I want you here. There will always be more work waiting for completion than I can handle in a twenty-four hour period. I have only one of you.”

  Rhys’ knuckles whitened. His grip tightening on the wood made Asher want to sigh in frustration. He was not expressing himself as he wanted.

  “You’re damn right you have only one of me. I don’t share.” Rhys’ growled words caused Asher’s mind to go blank.

  “You misunderstand. I meant you are more important to me than this. However, now that you’ve said as much, I feel I must add, I absolutely will not allow anyone else to touch what is mine.” He turned his head, bringing Rhys into focus. He held his gaze making sure Rhys understood how serious he was. To his surprise, a smile broke out across Rhys’ face.

  “Finish whatever you need to. I’m good at keeping myself entertained.”

  He started to push away. Reaching out, Asher stopped him before he could go anywhere. “It won’t be like this every night.”

  Rhys shrugged at his promise. “So what if it is? What difference does it make if you’re concentrating on the TV or paperwork? I’m here. We’re together. More importantly,” he added, moving in closer. “I get to do this anytime I want.” Cupping his cheek, Rhys urged his head back. The gentle brush of lips against his took Asher by surprise. His tongue teased open Asher’s mouth. Instead of delving inside, Rhys paused. There was a moment where even the air seemed to hold its breath as they simply shared each other’s oxygen. Asher’s heart squeezed in his chest. He was falling. Spiraling headlong into emotions he wouldn’t be able to control. Their tongues met. It was more sensual than sexual. Everything about Rhys left him wrecked.

  Rhys leaned away, swiping his thumb over Asher’s bottom lip. The tender look in his eyes stole Asher’s voice.

  “I’ll be here when you’re done.”

  With his promise still hanging in the air between them, Rhys headed for the bedroom. Asher watched him go, still unable to say a word. The way Rhys’ cotton t-shirt stretched across his wide shoulders, Asher’s palms itched to touch him. Jeans slung low on his hips. Asher’s stomach nearly growled in his hunger for the man. It was a sickness. An obsession. He was addicted. When Rhys disappeared from view, Asher tore his gaze away from the doorway. If the stack of paperwork sitting in front of him was what stood between them, then Asher needed it gone. With a resigned sigh, he set to work.

  Two hours later, Asher pushed away from the table groaning as something popped in his back. A glimpse at the clock ruined any excitement he’d worked up over spending time with Rhys. No doubt, he had dozed off long ago. Stripping as he went, Asher slipped beneath the covers, doing his best not to disturb the man sprawled across the other side of the mattress.

  The light from the muted TV flickered across Rhys’ form. Asher spent a moment simply staring at the outline of the body beside him. It was strange to have someone next to him each night. If he lost Rhys, it was going to kill him.

  “I signed up for a match today.”

  His gaze flew to Rhys’ face. He was watching him. “Did I wake you?”

  Rhys ignored his question. “I’m a bit nervous over it.”

  Hearing Rhys confess to any vulnerability was enough to give Asher pause. “Is there a particular reason why?”

  He felt more than saw Rhys shrug. “If I fail, it will reflect on Drew. Before, it didn’t
matter if I lost. It was all on me, but now, Drew will look bad for having faith in me if I can’t win this one. I don’t want to hurt a business he’s worked hard to build.”

  Asher weighed his response before offering one. He didn’t want to make light of Rhys’ fears. In the end, he decided to be honest. “It seemed to me, when Drew made his offer he was searching for a way to spend extra time with his family more than anything else. Not that he didn’t seem thrilled with your talent,” he tacked on for good measure.

  “I guess.” Rhys didn’t sound reassured.

  “When is this match?”

  “In six weeks.”

  “So you will train hard,” Asher said trying a different tactic to soothe his fears. “You will start earlier or stay later until you feel as if you cannot lose.”

  “That would take time away from you. Think of something else.”

  His petulant tone almost caused Asher to chuckle, but he managed to hold it in. “Don’t worry over me.”

  The air left Asher’s lungs when Rhys pounced. A very pissed-off male stared down at him. “I’m not doing anything that would take time away from you so think of something else.”

  “You are nervous,” Asher calmly reminded him.

  Lowering his head, Rhys nipped at Asher’s collarbone. Goose bumps rose on Asher’s skin at the sensation. His cock lengthened.

  “No,” Rhys said against his chest before scraping his teeth over one of Asher’s nipples.

  “You need to train.” His voice had lost some of its resolve but he wasn’t giving in. He wanted to support Rhys. Rhys slid lower. His tongue traced each of Asher’s ribs. Continuing his descent, his lips touched Asher’s hipbone.

  “Ash,” he breathed. The way Rhys said his name caused Asher’s eyes to fall closed. The power of his emotions was overwhelming. It was more than adoration. His feelings for Rhys went beyond anything he’d experienced before.

  “I want to help.” The confession came out on a gasp as Rhys closed his lips around the tip of his erection and swirled his tongue around the crown. Rhys pulled away. Cool air hit his wet member.

  “You want to help. I want to fuck you. Whatever shall we do? I guess we’d better sleep on it.”

  Asher growled. He couldn’t stop it. The sound rumbled from inside him without his permission. Rhys was a tease.

  “How about I kill you instead?” Asher offered in his aggravation. “Then you won’t need to be anxious any longer.”

  A silky chuckle fell from Rhys’ lips. “If I’m dead, then I can’t do this,” he said before swallowing Asher’s dick down the back of his throat. Asher’s skin felt too tight. Everything from his navel down filled with delicious pressure before landing in his groin. His hips left the mattress, fucking Rhys’ willing mouth. Rough hands squeezed his ass. Fingers found every sensitive nerve ending. Hitting the back of Rhys’ throat, Asher moaned. The fine threads of his sheets crushed inside his clenched hands. There was no mercy. No more teasing. The pull of Rhys’ tongue, the tightening of his throat and the way Asher’s dick brushed the roof of his mouth were all setting him ablaze. Rhys set a pace guaranteed to achieve a quick result. His balls drew up tight. Rhys growled. The vibration sent Asher over the edge. Oxygen rushed from his lungs on a whoosh as an orgasm shot from his cock. Rhys kept him pinned to the bed, taking everything Asher had to give. Tiny laps of his tongue brushed away every drop of evidence. Asher ran his fingers over every spot he could touch. Rhys’ hair, his shoulders and each of his knuckles were branded into Asher’s brain with each pass. No doubt, he could pick Rhys out of a crowd of men in the dark. Lips touched his navel. Rhys’ bare hip brushed his inner thigh. Asher’s skin was one huge nerve, absorbing every brush of skin on skin. Rhys’ breath fanned across his chest a split second before his mouth opened over the spot.

  “I’ll go with you.” Rhys froze at the words. Burying his fingers in his hair, Asher tugged, urging Rhys higher. Meeting his stare, Asher added, “If you wish to train later,” he clarified. “I will go with you and we shall spend our time together there. If you can entertain yourself while I work, I can do the same for you. As you said, we’re together. It doesn’t matter where.”

  “You’d get bored.”

  “Watching you sweat?” Asher asked, unable to keep the disbelief from his voice. Running his hands up the hard planes of Rhys’ back, he swallowed down a moan. Rhys was every bit as delicious to the touch as he was a treat for the eyes. “I think boredom will be the least of my worries. You demanded I think of something that would not take away from us. This is my solution.”

  “You’re amazing.”

  The adoration in Rhys’ voice caused Asher’s heart to skip a beat. “I’m incapable of staying away.” Asher almost bit his own tongue in attempt to stop the words from falling from his lips but he couldn’t.

  “Good.” Rhys’ quick response soothed away some of Asher’s fear. He didn’t stop there. “I wouldn’t let you, even if you tried. I’m infatuated.” He touched his lips to Asher’s. “Completely hooked,” he added, tracing the lines of his mouth with the tip of his tongue. “A bit desperate to own you,” Rhys confessed, delving inside. The moment of shock Asher experienced at Rhys’ admission died a fiery death. It was carried away on the wave of overwhelming desire Rhys sent flooding through his veins.

  Chapter Seven

  Five weeks later

  I have a sparring match scheduled for tonight. Meet me at No Rival?

  Rhys sent off the text hoping Asher didn’t mind spending another night hanging out with him at work. It made sense for him to do a majority of his training during the nighttime hours. Most of the men he could spar with worked full-time day jobs, making it hard to schedule any practice time during those hours. Even knowing that, if Asher couldn’t make it, Rhys wouldn’t stay. He would not take time away from him due to a case of nerves. Asher’s immediate reply set him at ease.

  Yes. I will be there in ten.

  It amazed Rhys how his entire mood swung upward at the knowledge he would see Asher soon. Ten minutes seemed closer to twenty while Rhys worked on his abs. Of course, he’d been eyeing the clock the entire time. It seemed just as watched water wouldn’t boil, the hands of a clock didn’t move under his stare.

  There were two sparring areas inside No Rival. One resembled a regular boxing ring while the other was set to standard cage match specifications. Due to the high demand for practice time, each one had to be reserved in advance. Rhys managed to snag the boxing area for the next two hours. It helped that he was now the one in charge of keeping track of the waiting list. Finding an opponent was the easy part. It seemed everyone wanted to work with him now that he held the title. Not that Rhys was complaining. He needed to train against the best, if he hoped to stay on top. The boxing ring was his preferred zone due to the low-impact padding. He needed to stay in shape, but the last thing he wanted was an injury. The risk increased substantially inside the cage.

  Rhys suspected Brian Johnson would one day be his toughest competition. Going with his hunch, he’d accepted Brian’s practice challenge. Equally matched in height and weight, if Brian made it to the top, he’d be in the same class as Rhys. Best he should learn the man’s moves now rather than in a real bout. A motion near the front entrance caught his attention. Rhys spotted the six-foot-three, mocha-skinned Brian first. A bright smile stretched across his lips leaving Rhys frozen with shock. He couldn’t remember ever seeing the man—whose deadly stare and pierced eyebrows caused people to cross the street in order to avoid him—smile. Brian glanced in his direction, nodding, before returning his attention the person responsible for his good humor. Following the line of his gaze, Rhys caught a glimpse of Asher. He spoke animatedly holding Brian’s attention in a way Rhys had never seen before. Damn, no one was immune. Rolling to his feet, Rhys gave up on his crunches while eating up the sight of his sexy male in action.

  A maroon dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows showed off Asher’s relaxed side. The dark gray dress pa
nts proved he’d not been home yet for the evening. Turning his head, Asher noticed him watching. With a wink, he returned to listening to whatever Brian was saying. A spike of pride ran through Rhys. Everywhere Asher went gazes followed. His accent made heads turn. Anyone he spoke to wanted more of his intelligence. He belonged to Rhys.

  With a quick shake of hands, Asher headed in Rhys’ direction. Brian held up one finger before pointing toward the locker rooms. Nodding his understanding, Rhys gave Asher his full attention.

  Leaning over the ropes, a hint of teasing slipped into his tone. “I can’t let you out of my sight for a second. All these guys are just waiting to pounce the moment my back is turned.”

  Exactly as Rhys hoped, Asher’s eyes shone with humor. “Ah, you are a jealous one.”

  “I am,” he agreed immediately. “But in this case, I’ll let it slide since I happen to know Brian is as straight as they come.” Asher’s eyebrows shot up. He could see him holding back a laugh. Rhys knew right then Asher was hiding something from him. “Okay. Spill.”

  Snagging hold of the lower rope, Asher pulled while rocking back on his heels. The playfulness didn’t leave his face. Rhys almost hated that he needed to work. He wanted to go home with Asher right then. It lasted for half a minute before another thought began sneaking its way into his mind. “Wait. Are you attempting to distract me? Oh my God. You’ve dated Brian, haven’t you?” Rhys didn’t really believe it. He made sure Asher knew it by asking the question in his best is-this-a-conspiracy stage whisper.

  “Nope. It’s attorney/client privilege.” Asher glanced over Rhys’ shoulder then back to his face warning Rhys of Brian’s return.

  “I’m finding this shit out,” he promised. Taking a bit of mercy on him, Rhys held up his phone. “Will you hang onto this for me?”

  “Of course,” Asher agreed, catching it easily when Rhys tossed it down. He slipped it in his front pocket. Nodding toward a nearby metal folding chair, he added, “I’m going to hang out over there.”