“Ready to show me some moves?” She leaned in to his embrace as his arms circled her.

“I thought I already did the other night?” He smirked at his double entendre.

“Rory—”

“I’m kidding.” He let go of her and ushered her toward one of the smaller rings to one side of the open floor.

“Here, put your hands out,” he instructed her at the edge of the ring, next to a small station that contained gloves and other things used in the ring.

Clare did as he said, watching him bind each of her hands and wrists with a neon-green wrap before testing the resilience of his creation. Her hands felt a bit stiff, but he assured her the stiffness was normal and would loosen as she moved. He quickly did the same thing with his own hands and wrists, and then they both entered the ring, closing the cage door behind them.

“So, you think you know how to defend yourself?” he asked, challenging.

“Hopefully—I mean, Casey has taught me a lot,” she replied, and then showed him a few things she had learned. They practiced wrist locks, grappling, and more, working up quite a sweat within half an hour.

Clare was enjoying herself, loving learning something new, but also getting a chance to be up close and physical with Rory. She struggled to pay full attention to everything he said once he removed his shirt. His eyes were fierce as he concentrated on the training, his rock-solid abs glistening with sweat. Her eyes were just as fierce, except distractedly lapping up the view in front of her.

“Clare, are you even paying attention?” She snapped her head up, realizing she had just been caught ogling his pecs and perfect stomach.

“Of course I was.” She blushed as he smirked again, knowing the truth.

“Before we finish, let’s practice the arm bar I showed you earlier.”

She nodded, agreeing, but not completely focusing on the task.

He turned her so that he was behind her, placing his elbow in the crook of her arm while his other hand grabbed her wrist and pulled back. He was talking to her as he did this, but everything sounded muffled to her.

Her vision went dark and her mind reeled back.

She wasn’t with Rory anymore.

She wasn’t at Legends. She wasn’t even in New York.

—

“They left it to me—it’s mine!” she said emphatically, staring hard at the tall, lithe man before her, covered in tattoos.

“And you’re mine, making this mine, too.” He waved the contract in her face, handing her a pen as he placed it on the table next to them.

Clare stared at Travis, trying to control her breathing as anger surged through her. It had been only a few weeks since her parents had passed away, and she had nothing else to her name except the inheritance left to her.

“If I don’t?” she said quietly, almost hoping he wouldn’t hear her.

But he did.

Narrowing his coal-colored eyes, he glared at her. His jaw tightened and his nostrils flared, causing her stomach to quiver in fear. She tried to breathe, but couldn’t. The breath was caught in her throat as she waited for a reprimand that would surely come.

He quickly closed the gap between them, fury on his face as he grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her. Shoving her down onto the table in front of the contract, he locked her arm behind her back.

“Travis!” she screamed in pain as her wrist suddenly burned and throbbed.

“Sign it,” he commanded through clenched teeth.

“Travis, my wrist, please,” she cried, tears springing to her eyes.

“Don’t make me tell you again! Do you want to be punished?” He tightened his hold on her, the pain increasing immediately.

She shook her head, crying silently as teardrops cascaded down her cheeks. Her free hand grabbed the pen and awkwardly signed her name where he pointed. As she signed the last spot needed, he released her and grabbed the contract.

He walked out of the room and she said nothing.

She just stood there and watched him take the last bit of her parents from her. Watched him steal her future and replace it with his.

The thought suddenly hit her.

He was never going to let her leave.

—

“Clare? Clare!” Rory was inches from her face, his eyes full of worry.

“What?” She frowned, wondering why her head was aching.

“Are you okay?” He gave her his hand, helping her sit up slowly.

Glancing around, she realized she had been flat on the ground, and a giant knot on the back of her head was the source of the aching. Her mouth was dry, her skin cold, and she felt guilty for the apprehension on Rory’s face.

“What happened?”

“I have no idea—I think you fainted. Here, drink this.” He handed her a bottle of water, and she gulped it down gratefully.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled, embarrassed as he helped her stand up.

“Don’t be. I’m the one who should be sorry. I pushed you too hard today.” He frowned as his hands circled her waist, securing her on her feet. It was clear he was not going to let her go until he could be sure she wouldn’t fall over again.

“Come on, let’s get outside. Some fresh, cold air might help.”

She allowed him to lead her out of the ring.

Less than a minute later, they stood on the sidewalk out front, staring at each other. He pulled her to him, something she always loved. He rubbed her upper arms, using friction to warm her up, since it was a bit cold. The fresh air was definitely what she needed, though; her mind was already clearing.

“Talk to me, mhuirnín.”

She bit her lip nervously, not sure what to tell him. Her life with Travis wasn’t something she was proud of, and it wasn’t fun to think about or remember. She dropped her forehead against his chest, cuddling into him. He squeezed her tighter, enjoying the intimacy but not letting it distract him.

“I don’t know what to tell you. I just remembered something from when I was younger.” She sniffed, looking up at him. “I guess it still affects me more than I realized.”

His jaw stretched tight, and she knew that he didn’t like her answer. She wasn’t sure if it was because she was holding back a lot, or because he was feeling protective.

“Who did you think about?” he said through gritted teeth.

“What do you mean?”

“I was twisting your arm behind your back, Clare. Who did that to you?” She should have given him more credit, she realized, as he had easily put that together.

“My ex, Travis.” She wrapped her arms around Rory’s waist and pressed her cheek into his shoulder. “He could get a little rough sometimes.”

Rory exhaled slowly, and she felt his chest deflate underneath her cheek.

“Never again. No one will ever lay their hands on you again.” He finished by kissing her forehead and wrapping her even tighter into him.

—

It was days later, but Clare still felt like she was on air as she flitted around O’Leary’s in the evening, helping patrons. Over and over again, her mind kept replaying the training she’d done with Rory the last few days, how protective he had been that first day, and how powerful he had made her feel every day since as he taught her more and more.

He inspired something in her, empowered her to be someone she hadn’t known was possible. He believed in her, something no one else had done before in her life.

Aside from that, she had never before felt cared for and guarded, but with Rory she felt like she had a brand-new shield standing between her and every pain she had ever felt. Nothing could get through him to her; she was safe.

Any reluctance she had initially shown with Rory was gone—after all, it was hard to deny anything was happening when his brother had caught them naked together. She didn’t mind; she had come to terms with the fact that she did want to be with Rory. She hadn’t felt this giddy about a man since high school, and she was pretty sure that back then it had been just because someone was showing an interest in her.