Page 15 of Judas

Her silence seemed weighted and it frightened Judas. He was terrified she was about to say they could never do that again, hewas certain it might actually break his heart. He leaned forward with a solemn expression on his face, “It’s just… what?”

Eliza set down her coffee, moving closer to him, whispering, “It’s just that I can’t focus on a goddamn thing and all I can do is picture you naked every single time I look at you!”

Letting it sink in, Judas burst out with bellowing laughter. That’s it? He could definitely work with that.

Eliza shushed him, “It’s not funny, Judas! I am about to meet with my father, probably with you standing right behind him and I can’t concentrate on anything but having sex with you!”

“If it makes you feel any better, seeing you naked is quite a distraction as well,” he replied, calming his laughter. His eyes scanned her body and he could feel his own respond to her instantly.

Eliza dropped her head in a sigh, “Thank you, but I don’t think that is going to help me make it through the day.”

“I was worried,” he admitted.

She looked back at him, seeing the serious expression that had overtaken his features, “Worried about what?”

“When you very abruptly kicked me out of your apartment the other night, I was afraid you would want nothing to do with me,” he said.

Eliza felt a wave of warmth wash over her. She hadn’t meant to kick him out, she just needed to process what just happened, not that the time helped at all. Not feeling the need to hide anything from him, she tried to explain, “What we did felt like some kind of religious experience. That’s how good it was. I needed time to process all that and there was no way I was going to be able to process jackshit with your body in the same space as mine. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

Judas smiled, “A religious experience?”

She glared at him playfully, “It’s the only thing I could think of to describe it.”

“I think that’s a perfect description,” he said, moving to the other side of the desk. Sitting on the edge, he was so close to her that their legs brushed, “I look forward to continued worship of you, if you’ll have me.”

She felt flames burst to life within her and she wanted to answer, but the words just wouldn’t come to her. She fiddled with her watch instead and noticed the time. Panic set in as she jumped to her feet, “I would love to continue this conversation later, but my dad will be walking through that door at any moment and I think it will look a whole lot better if he walks in to you sitting on that side of the desk.” She gestured to the chair he just vacated, praising the universe when he obeyed.

And just in time.

Not more than two seconds after Judas seated himself a respectable proximity away from her, Paul burst through the door without even a warning knock.

“Good morning, Betsy! Jude, fancy seeing you here,” Paul nearly shouted in his exuberance.

Judas nodded, “Yes, we were just discussing how well security handled the event, sir.”

Paul smiled widely, “Good, good! It was a hell of a night, wasn’t it? We raised a boatload!”

Judas turned to Eliza with a grin from ear to ear, “It was, indeed, a truly incredible night.”

Eliza bit her cheek to avoid returning his smile, trying her best to ignore her newly acquired paramour. Turning her attention to her father instead, she found it easier than she had thought it would be to focus on the conversation she needed to have with him, “Dad, we need to talk. Judas, would you excuse us?”

Paul cringed at the mention of his real name, but from her lips, Judas never loved a word more dearly. He nodded and stepped outside. Taking up a post outside the door, he could hear their conversation.

Eliza's voice started calm and cool and her words were muffled through the door, but her volume rose which triggered Paul’s to rise as well. Before long there was a full on screaming match behind Eliza’s closed door. After the many interactions he had been privy to, Judas had his money on Eliza winning this one for sure.

He took pleasure in listening to her completely eviscerate her father. She told him he was a petulant child. She told him he was going to get himself sued. She set the clear boundary that he needed to get his act together right then and there or he was going to ruin any chance he may have had at the election. She told him, plain and simple, he must treat this staff with respect and civility or she planned to walk out the door to let him fend for himself.

Once she got going, Paul was mostly silent and let her rant. When she was finished, Paul walked out of the office looking like a scolded child leaving the principal’s office. He was feeling the wrath of her words fully and looked to be taking them seriously. Judas dutifully followed behind Paul as he made his way to his office, but all he could think about was Eliza.

She was a force to be reckoned with; full of power and bravery even in the face of the man that raised her. Judas swelled with pride in knowing this incredible woman. He made a mental note to show her just how much the next chance he got.

***

Finally, Eliza reached the end of her day. She let out a heavy sigh as she walked down the hallway toward the exit. Others were still working into the night to make plans for an upcoming rally, but she was leaving and was beyond ready. Walking past each empty office, she let her thoughts drift back to where they were this morning. She smiled to herself as she recalled Judasasking to worship her. She thought he was crazy. It should be her worshipping him. His intense, honey eyes that saw into her soul. His broad chest. His olive skin. But she was happy to let him be the worshipper, either way.

As she approached the elevators and passed the very last doorway on her way out, a strong arm reached out into the hall and wrapped itself around her waist. She squealed out in alarm but calmed the second she saw it was the very subject of her current daydreams.

Snatching her away from the open hallway and into darkness, Judas caged her against the wall. His entire body pressed into her and they both felt their pulses quicken with the contact.

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