15
“… Two can play this game,” she thought. watching Gage eyeballing her while they waited for the cue from the staff to head to the stage.
She smiled seductively, slightly parting her lips. Using her tongue to tease across her teeth, Gage watched her every move. Her hands fell between her breasts running her fingers over the hem of her lace bra as her head slightly fell to the side.
Gage swallowed hard as he started watching her fingers tease over her breast. Taunting him. Her soft skin was begging to be kissed — ravaged. How he wanted to take her right then. He needed a release. It had been too much for one man to take. How could she not know what she was doing to him?
Isis stood and grabbed a piece of ice, trying to pretend to ignore him. “It’s hot in here. This heat is just way too much.”
She took the ice and ran it over her neck and between her breasts. By this time, every man in the room had their eyes glued to her while trying to hold their conversations. One thing she knew was men were all the same. Her little plan was working as she placed the ice between her teeth, focused on Gage. She gave the ice a flick of her tongue, giving him a low, seductive moan that caught his attention.
His eyes narrowed, and she saw as his tongue traced over his lips. Knowing she got the reaction she wanted, she discarded the ice and sat back in her spot. Her eyes glued to him, biting her lip, doing her best to seduce the man she wanted to hate with all her being. Or so she let herself believe.
A yell from the hall brought them out of the trace. “Justice! Showtime!”
They all came back down from their eroticized trance, and Jacob piped up, “Time to roll!”
Gage reached out for Isis’s hand to help her to her feet. Leaning to speak in her ear, he pulled her close. “Remember, stay close. Don’t think I don’t notice the little game you’re playing. It will take a lot more than that to get my attention. But at least you’re seeing who the man is around here.”
“Who said I did that for you?” she gloated devilishly.
Isis watched his eyes grow dark with rage. She went too far. The sting of fear crept back in. She didn’t know how to win this battle and wasn’t sure she wanted to. It had become a game. Once she was loving and hated all in the same.
Once in the hallway, Isis was walking slightly separated from the men ahead of them. Trying to get into character for the show was not as easy as she expected. It had never been so hard for her to get stage-ready as it was around Gage. He intimidated her on so many levels, in good and bad ways.
As he walked down the hall, Gage watched her hips sway, noticing Isis’s perfectly sculpted backside. Her dancer’s body was amazing, and he was fighting to not reach out and grab a little taste.
Gage’s thoughts drifted to how his mark would look upon her firm, round porcelain bottom. The sting of his hand would bring a red print that would install dominance and pleasure. She would beg for it. Long for it. He forced the thought from his mind, focusing on the job at hand. This wasn’t the time to think of such things, but it had been too long to bear this burden. Something had to give, and it had to be soon.
Once behind the curtain that led to the stage, he instructed her to come back to his side.
Jacob spoke up with a fatherly smile. “Isis, you need to show that Gage is the champ out there. Be just as interested in him as any of the girls we have had around before. Show him a little extra attention tonight. Don’t forget to show you are now the queen. This isn’t like the promo’s backstage. Out there he is the champ and the man.”
She rolled her eyes, snapping, “Gage. The man, huh? Soooo. Fake it. I think I can do that.”
When their theme music started, Gage took her arm in his. Leaning over to her, he whispered in her ear. “Trust me. You wouldn’t be faking anything. You would beg me for more.”
Her eyes grew wide and gasped.
He smirked, knowing if she was going to play games with him; he was going to show her exactly who the man was and play right back.
***
“That. Was. Amazing!” Isis declared with glee.
Isis was almost in tears of joy from the rush of being on the mainstage for the first time. She was so giddy she bounced as she walked into the locker room and flopped down on the couch. Gage smiled with pride while watching her, so happily proud of herself. It was the first time he saw her beautiful smile, and it made his heart do something he hadn’t felt in years.
“Isis, girl, you were on fire out there. Standing in the ring with Cyrus and Davis is intimidating. You didn’t miss a beat when the boss started in on you.” Jacob was fired up and gave her a big hug. “I’m so proud of you.”
Gage adjusted his title belt on his shoulder, pleased she could keep up the pace with him and Davis in a promo. Few people could go toe-to-toe with them on the mic without appearing weak.
“I agree, queenie. Good job.” Gage patted her shoulder with a smile.
It made her feel good to hear he finally approved of something she did. She didn’t for the life of her understand why, but it still made all the difference.
A knock at the dressing room door came. Drake cracked it before Cyrus pushed through, stepping in.
Isis jumped up from her seat, rushing over to hug her cousin. “Cyrus! That was so cool! I’ve wanted to be standing in that ring with you for years. I did it. I really did it!”
“It is so creepy seeing the brother’s Doom hug anyone. Are you sure he won’t take your soul or something, Isis?” Nick joked.
“Funny, Nick!” Cyrus’s gruff, gravelly voice rumbled over the room. “You did great out there, kid. I wanted to come and tell you how proud I am of you.” He pulled off his hipster-looking hat. “Guys, you better be treating her well. Gage, I need to talk with you privately.”
“Cyrus, please. No. Don’t be playing big brother figure right now. This is a good night.” Isis snuggled up to him, trying to get on his good side.
“Ice Queen. Don’t test me.”
“Ugh. That dang nickname. I hate it. You know that, right?”
He nodded and kissed her on top of the head.
Gage put down his belt. “Okay, guys, can you step out for a minute? Take the Ice Queen to grab a drink in catering. Cyrus and I need to talk.”
They all ushered her out the door, and Isis was not happy about it. She figured by now Cyrus had heard the comments Gage made to her before.
And that comment. Ice Queen? Why the hell was that coming from Gage? She was fuming. Only one person could ever call her that, and that was Cyrus. She will let that one pass... this time.
