19

The photoshoot was fun for Isis, and she had a good time that morning. She loved feeling like she was an actual part of the Justice group, not just a sidekick.

Gage gave her his full attention most of the day and insisted she be next to him in the main shots to show her as more of his equal. Isis couldn’t explain it, but something in him was different, calmer.

Later, at the video shoot, things were much different. Gage had been nice to her, but a little cockier, which she didn’t mind. It excited her when his cocky, sexy side was directed toward her, rather than being combative. There was an obvious difference in the way he was treating her than girls that fawned all over him most days.

The first part of the video shoot was the group pouring out of limos, poolside at an extravagant mansion, and boarding a luxury plane. Nothing out of the ordinary for the persona of being the luxurious alliance of the hottest celebrity group in the IWX.

Later that evening, they made their way to an elite nightclub where other girls were thrown into the mix. Isis assumed it would happen, eventually. It wasn’t an issue until the producer asked her to dance around and be overtly sexy like the other women. A group of men pawing at her from all sides was unnerving. The producer asked a handsome male model to flirt with her, and he was taking it a little too seriously.

Noticing it was making her uncomfortable, Gage stepped in to stop it, insisting the man was to not touch her. He had already made comments early in the evening that Gage called him out on. He believed she didn’t need a sexual vibe connected to her. Internally, she was his, and he would not have her portrayed in that way. The producer finally scrapped the idea and made her look classier. Just the way Gage envisioned her.

She continued dancing, talking, and laughing with partygoers. It was a relief to Gage and Isis. He didn’t enjoy seeing those men touching her. He soon realized he was becoming a little jealous regarding her but did his best to push those feelings to the back of his mind.

The last scene of the video shoot was for the men of the group. They were all surrounded by women and enjoying it way too much. An image that reminded her of the night at the strip club. The girls were all acting like stereotypical groupies.

Isis sat in a director's chair watching the complete mess transpire, feeling like her stomach would turn upon seeing women touching Gage. It sickened her, seeing these women act that way. Only two of the large group of women were treating it like a job. The rest were clearly there to flirt with the famous wrestlers. Groping the men to the point, it almost became more like a porno rather than a highlight reel. The situation escalated to where booze was flowing, and the day got a little more intense than Isis had planned. It was far too real, and too much of a painful reminder of her past.

Nick was licking and sucking on a girl’s neck, and Isis just rolled her eyes. Typical. Nick was a playboy. Drake did as Isis had in her scene, just chatting it up with a girl. Flaunting money around, looking like a player but keeping it under control.

She watched intently, thinking Gage was thoroughly enjoying his women’s company. Her eyes fixated on him as her jealousy took over. She sat mortified, seeing Gage touching and caressing the women. To him, it was just part of his job. It was acting after all. To Isis, she desperately wished it were her in his arms. Unbeknownst to her, so did he.

The more she watched, the more she realized she was feeling something for the man again. She thought those feelings had long since faded. Now here she was seeing him touch, kiss, and caressing someone else, and it was burning her up inside. Even though she knew it was for the cameras, she couldn’t help but feel a hint of deep sadness. She thought she had been long past this, but clearly, her heart said otherwise.

Gage saw Isis’s eyes fixated on him. A sudden look of seduction in her eyes he had not seen before glossed over as she fantasized about him. Gage kissed the two girls on his lap, using his tongue to tease. Not taking his eyes off Isis as if it were her he had in his arms. He didn’t know what had taken over him to be so bold. It was not typical for him to take things this far with groupies or models.

She knew what he was doing. It was far too obvious not to see it. His eyes were burning into her. Her tongue moved over her top lip as if she was in his arms.

Her hand guided to her lip, smoothing over the swollen skin. Isis could feel her heartbeat race, and the growing lump in her throat blocked her airway as their eyes never dropped from each other’s gaze. She tried to catch her breath, realizing it was too painful to watch.

There it was. The truth she had been trying so desperately to conceal. She still wanted him. More than she had ever felt before. She hated herself for it but loved it just the same.

Isis got up from her seat and rushed out of the room, heading down a hallway that led to the restrooms. Gage jumped up and followed her. Pushing the models away.

“Cut, I need a break,” he yelled. “Isis! Where are you?” He roamed the halls of the empty bar that was closed for the video shoot. “Isis. Are you okay?”

He turned the corner to the hallway leading to the restrooms. There she stood, covering her face, leaning against the wall. Her breath, desperate and panting.

Isis heard his footfalls as he approached, and she leaned her back to the wall, looking in his direction. Resting her face on the cool brick wall, it felt soothing to her flush skin.

Gage stepped to her; afraid she would run. Not saying a word, he moved in to meet her body with his. His hands rested on her hips, pulling Isis’s waist into him. Leaning over her, she could feel Gage’s breath hitch as it hit the sensitive flesh on her neck, just below her earlobe.

Her arms felt like heavy weights dangling by her sides. Not enough strength to move, even though she desperately wanted to reach to touch him. Turning her face away she whimpered. Afraid if she, so much as blinked, he would leave her alone and wanting. Still facing the way he came, she held her breath. His lips moved across the soft porcelain skin of her neck, taunting the sweet spot just below her earlobe. Just grazing the surface with pleading need. He moaned into her neck, making every inch of her skin come alive.

“Why are you torturing me?” She almost didn’t even recognize her raspy voice, wanting to cry out for him to touch her.

“Submit to me. With no pain, there is no pleasure, sweet Isis.”

He bit gently on her neck, making her knees go weak. Closing her eyes, she leaned into his touch to give in for just a moment. Her will was much weaker than her desire.

“Gage. I... I can’t.”

She pushed away from him, and Gage quickly pulled her back, wrapping his arms around her. His lips were so close that she could feel them brush against hers as he spoke.

“Submit to me and I will show you what pleasure truly is.” His soft, graveled voice rumbled, giving her chills.

“Set me free. I don’t belong here,” she pleaded.

“You do. Right here. You belong to me. All you have to do is submit to me,” Gage insisted, whispering in her ear.

His warm breath sent waves of pleasure that settled between her thighs, making her needy and wanting.

Isis’ eyes went to meet his as her fingers found their way to his lips. Wanting him to kiss her, only to feel his lips on hers from a moment. Anything to stop the need just beneath the surface.

Suddenly, the vision of the other woman touching him filled her mind. She pushed from his grip, but he held her closer. She wanted this. The fight. The struggle. It was what they did so well, and it set a fire shooting through her straight to her pulsating core.

“I will never submit to you. Go… go to those… whores. That is what you want. I can’t be that for you.”

Gage rested his forehead on hers, letting out a shaking breath.

Isis could feel a tear fall to her face, only it was not her own.

Gage backed away, disappointed. Disappointed in himself. As quickly as he came, he walked back to the video set in what felt like a meaningless act now.

She wiped his tear from her face, rubbing the dampness between her fingertips, feeling more alone than she had ever felt. She looked down at the wetness on her fingers, realizing it was not her own. Her heart sank with the realization. He felt it too, and now she knew it for sure.