Page 11 of Judas

Judas smiled back and she could read his expression through his piercing honey brown eyes. She was certain she could see a whole world in them and she very much wanted to explore that world. She could not be more grateful to the man in the driver’s seat. He was a complete stranger just days ago and now she knew she wanted him to be a part of her life. Being drawn to him was an understatement. She was completely trapped in his gravitational pull in ways she loved tremendously.

Settling back into their seats the three rode in silence for several minutes until Paul began to recognize his own gated neighborhood.

“Oh, no,” he said bitterly, “No, no, no. This is all wrong. This isn’t where we were going. I’m ready for the dinner party you promised me. I won’t be going home right now. Turn the car around.” With every word, Paul became more angry.

Judas and Eliza both ignored his rising outburst like they would a tantrum throwing toddler. The car pulled up the long driveway and Judas parked in front of the columned entryway. Paul continued to protest loudly and Eliza wasn't sure how they would ever get him out of the car.

Without missing a single beat, Judas exited the vehicle and walked to Paul’s car door. Opening the door to a grumbling Paul, he leaned in, and grabbed hold of the ranting old man. Judas picked Paul up and easily tossed him over his shoulder. Paul’s eyes grew large with shock and his protests stopped instantly. Eliza watched in astonishment as Judas carried her father up the sidewalk and to the front door effortlessly.

Judas turned to her, “Where to?”

Eliza scrambled out of the car and led Judas inside and to Paul’s bedroom. Judas deposited a stunned Paul onto the edge of his bed before turning to Eliza.

“What else can I do?” he asked.

Eliza, blown away by the ease and grace with which he handled this whole debacle, smiled up at him and touched her palm to his cheek. Judas leaned into her touch and closed his eyes. Eliza would normally be worried about her father seeing this moment of intimacy between his daughter and a stranger, but she was certain Paul would remember very little of this evening in the morning.

“I can handle it from here,” she assured Judas letting her hand fall to her side. “Would you mind giving me a ride home, though?”

Judas broke into a wide grin, “It would be my pleasure, Eliza.”

He loved the feel of her name on his mouth. For a brief moment, he allowed himself the privilege of imagining how sweet her skin would taste on his lips as well but quickly dashed away the thought with another mental round of curses to the heavens. He quickly turned to leave the room.

“Judas,” Eliza called out.

He turned back to face her and felt nearly weak in the knees seeing her in the soft light before him.

She smiled at him, “You were my hero tonight.”

Her words filled him with a warmth that he couldn’t fully explain or comprehend. Without another word, Judas left the room heading back toward the car. He spent the entire walk recalling how her hand on his cheek had been the most electrifying touch of his entire life.

Chapter seven

With her father safely tucked into his bed and a raging hangover waiting for him in the morning, Eliza returned to the car and slid into the passenger seat. Judas watched her intently as she sat still and silent, staring out at the cloudy skies through the windshield. He wondered what she was thinking, but didn’t have long to contemplate what was going through her mind.

Without warning, Eliza howled out her frustration in a bellowing cry. Clenching her fists, she pushed her tight palms into her eyes and laid her head against the headrest of the passenger seat. Judas didn’t react and didn't ask questions. Five minutes spent with Paul was more than enough to make him want to scream as well. Eliza had been doing this her entire life. He was amazed by her patience but did wonder why she wasn’t always screaming at the top of her lungs in absolute disgust at the man-child who raised her.

Forever thinking of the part she played in her father’s world was exhausting for her. Taking a moment to fully express herfeverish disgust was therapeutic. When she was finished, she took a steadying breath. She pursed her lips, closed her eyes, and seemed to completely recompose herself. It was like magic how she was able to just let it all slide off her and return to the prim and proper lady her father expected from her, so instantaneously. Judas was certain he’d never been so fascinated by another living creature in all the years he'd lived. Eliza was a puzzle and, though he knew he shouldn’t, he desperately wanted to put all her pieces together to see her as the full masterpiece he already knew she was. He wanted her in ways he had never dared to want another person. He was more and more certain with every passing moment that he had to have her, consequences be damned.

She looked over at him sitting behind the wheel watching her. She noticed while he waited for her to return, he had removed his jacket and rolled the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows. The muscles of his forearm flexed as his fingers traced the stitching of the steering wheel. Their eyes locked and a spark of attraction flickered again.

The interior of the car suddenly grew very warm and he wanted to reach out and touch her. He didn’t. But he wanted to.

Eliza wanted his touch, as well. She felt exposed and vulnerable after letting a stranger see into her imperfect world. She worked so hard to keep their family dysfunction quiet. She was constantly on the defense, fighting off compromising situations her very public father always wound up in. She was tired and the way his eyes looked into her made her want to give up the whole charade and let him hold her until it all went away. She didn’t even know him, yet she wanted to lay herself bare for him. Tell him all her secrets.

“I’m sorry,” she offered. She could only imagine what he was thinking after her outburst. She was certain he thought her out of her mind.

“You’re allowed to express any feelings you have,” Judas told her with as much sincerity as he could fill his words with hoping she knew and believed him.

It worked and his tenor filled her with warmth. Suddenly, the confines of her alter ego were suffocating. She clawed at her now too tight updo until every tendril of blonde hair was free around her shoulders. She began to tear at her lacy top, desperately needing to be free of its confines. She sat quietly in just in her tank top and pants, feeling a little more like herself.

Judas even more enraptured to see her morph into a truer version of herself, couldn't help but run his eyes over every inch of her exposed skin. His eyes came to an abrupt stop on a sliver of color not quite hidden beneath her skimpy top. He was surprised to find the brilliant green of what looked like a snake.

“Do you have a tattoo?” he smirked.

Eliza blushed, instinctively pulling her shirt down to cover the evidence, “My secret rebellion against dear old dad.”

Judas laughed, “You are a constant surprise, Eliza.”

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