14

Gage allowed Isis to keep her distance those next few days leading up to the next show. The next week would be promo events and photoshoots for the Justice team, and he would make sure she was close. He planned to make her keep her promise to stay near him. He had already wasted almost over a week of her three-week trial period. After his body reaction to her a few days before, he wanted to keep his distance. The more he thought about her body the first time he had seen her, the more frustrated he became with himself.

“Get it together, Gage. What? Do you think this girl is something special? Are you going back to being, Mister Nice Guy? Do you want to be her knight in shining armor? Or are you going to show her who the boss is in the IWX? Maybe you would rather be weak and let another woman control you? Or maybe... maybe you’re losing control of yourself.”

***

Isis sat in the locker room, alone. She had worked on her new look all day. After changing several times, she finally settled on a sexy business style. She wanted to show Gage she wasn’t what he thought of her. She was a classy, smart, and talented woman. Also, she was independent and not going to let him tell her who to be or how to dress.

She wore her hair up in a beautiful ballroom dance style updo with ruby red lips and sexy smokey eyes. Isis chose a high fashion silk white suit with no top under showing a low-cut v neck and white stiletto heels. Complete with a sexy lace bra top peeking out under her suit jacket, just to prove she wasn’t caving. She put on matching white frame sunglasses, hoping Gage would not make her cry again. If he did, she could conceal it. She’d not let that man see her cry again tonight.

All four men entered the room, and Gage was the last to walk in while messing with his phone.

Isis sat quietly with her legs crossed on the couch in the dressing room, tapping her nails on the leather seat cushion. Her head lightly rested on her other hand as her fingertips grazed the side of her lips. She bit down on her fingernail, trying to control her instant disdain. She let out a frustrated breath, already annoyed by Gage and his brooding presence. In nervous irritation, she spun the ring on her finger around, waiting for his inevitable snide comments.

How dare he walk in the room looking completely handsome with his black dress shirt slightly unbuttoned showing off his glorious chest? And those tight dress slacks, allowing his firm backside to look more amazing than ever. How dare he.

As he leaned over, putting down his gym bag. His glutes flexed in that amazing way that made a woman want to touch what was under that restrictive fabric. How could he? The nerve of this man to look so amazing.

Gage turned back to look at his protégé, asking, “You were supposed to arrive here with us. Where were you?”

“I came early. I needed time to myself,” Isis quipped as she stared at him.

Drake threw his bag next to the wall. “Just great. Here we go again. Can we get through one day without you two having an attitude?” he mumbled under his breath.

Gage leaned over her with hands on both sides, resting on the back of the couch by her shoulders. “You are to be by my side at all times unless I tell you otherwise. Understood? I was lax on that rule recently. I think you need a little reminder. I won’t have trouble out of you today, will I? I’m not in the mood for your sassy mouth. Is that clear?”

Gage looked down over her voluptuous breast and smelled her sweet vanilla scent. He couldn’t understand why she drove him so insane. But here they were, having one more pissing contest over dominance.

Pushing her glasses down to look him in the eyes, she gave a defiant smirk. She waited for him to look back up to meet her gaze before she said, “Crystal clear, Mister Stone.”

Gage stood back up and smiled, thinking he won. “Good girl.”

“Hey, Isis, you look nice. You look like a supermodel. Sexy businesswoman. I like it. But you always look hot.” Nick said, flopping down next to her as he patted her leg.

Nike gave a big, bright smile. He was always a cheerful guy, and not even Gage could deny his positive attitude was infectious.

“Thank you. Nice of you to notice. I wouldn’t want to offend anyone with my body.” She turned her head to direct her point to Gage.

Having his back turned to her, he continued rummaging through his bag, grumbling something under his breath. Isis knew she probably set a fire going again, but she didn’t care. She wouldn’t let that man get to her tonight.

Jacob noticed Gage’s rough demeanor. Knowing it was going to be another awkward night between the two, he tried to calm the fire. “Well, Isis, you look like a million bucks. I like your other outfits too, but you do like nice tonight. Sexy and sophisticated, all in one. Very pretty.”

Gage looked over at Jacob. “She doesn’t need you guys boosting her ego. She has enough all on her own. But Isis... you do look nice.”

It surprised her. He approved. What a shock.

“Thank you, Gage.”

She fidgeted with her ring and took off her glasses. His words somehow calmed her nerves, surprising even her. She had to stop herself from feeling flattered. He was the enemy. She didn’t need his approval.

Gage sat in the chair across the room, staring her down. While the guys chatted up their matches that night, he just wanted the night to be over so he could relax. It would be Isis’s first time walking out with them to the ring, and his focus was off.

Gage couldn’t keep his eyes off her. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind since he held her in his arms that day ringside, and it was affecting him.

Even though he was being a misogynist jerk, he felt something brewing inside him when she was near. Something needy. He thought maybe Isis had to feel it, too. He saw the way her body responded to him, even when she was trying to fight it.

He got a sly grin on his face, thinking about how she touched her body when they were at the club. When she noticed his erection, there was a hint of desire there. He tilted his head, looking her over and rubbing his chin, getting lost in his erotic thoughts of her.

Thinking of what he would like to do to that beautiful dancer's body while bound to his bed, he bit his lip, narrowing his brow in concentration. Pictures of her body arching in pleasure as he buried himself inside her flooded his thoughts. Images of her begging for more with every virile thrust of his hips made a bead of sweat drip from his brow. Wiping it away, he accounted for the fact the room’s air wasn’t working normally; knowing full well it was his dirty mind working overtime that had him overheated.

Isis, as always, was sitting quietly reading, still the bookworm at heart. She looked up from the book, seeing the guys chatting. She found it amusing how they were always boosting each other’s egos up before a show.

Her eyes rested on Gage, who was watching her in a daze. The look of lust, written across his face. She had seen that look before in bars in her wilder days. When guys across the room were thinking of a way to hit on her. Those days had been long gone. He noticed she was watching and smiled his sexy Gage thousand-watt smile. She quickly looked away when his eyes met hers. Why was he torturing her this way?

“Isis, stop! Stop thinking what you're thinking. So yeah. He’s still as gorgeous as always, but he’s a jackass. He treats you like you’re a cheap whore and now basically his property. Is that what you want? Some man to dominate you. To... control you... to... make you submit. To… no. Stop.” Her eyes went back to him, thinking, “Two can play this game.”