6. Chapter 6
Chapter six
I t took some heavy persuasion to get Paul to leave his own party, but the fraudulent promise of an after party dinner consisting of the donors with the biggest wallets did the trick.
Juda, behind the wheel, watched Paul in the backseat smiling like he’d already won the damn election. He showed no signs of understanding that he’d almost cost himself the whole race in an instant. If his pious and conservative donors had seen him lewdly groping at a young staff member, they would’ve dropped him without hesitation. Not because they hadn't done the same kinds of things all through their own lives, but because his actions did not fit the kind of image they wanted their party to portray in public. He’d become a liability.
Judas turned his gaze to Eliza sitting next to her father. Her eyes were vacant and dull. She looked like a victim trapped in her own head and he just wanted to stop the vehicle to go to her. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her until everything was okay again. He wanted all the things that he knew should be off limits. Seeing her powerful and secure made Judas lust for her, but seeing her broken makes him want to make her his. It made him want to be the one that she could depend on when she felt like she had no one. He wanted to be her someone.
‘Damn it, Yesh,’ he thought to himself. ‘ All these years of being utterly alone and now you make me want a woman that I will have to leave or watch age and die without me. Why the fuck would you do this to me? Was this a gift after all?’
Heaving a heavy sigh full of contempt, Judas turned his attention back to the road but could hear Eliza placating her father from the backseat.
“Dad, stop,” she said.
“Oh, calm down, Betsy. It’s all in good fun,” Paul slurs back at her.
Looking back in the mirror Judas saw the look of discomfort on Eliza’s face and Paul’s red-faced stare boring into her. Paul’s hand was stroking Eliza’s cheek and she was wincing away from his touch. Judas felt rage boiling up inside him to see that sleazy man lay a single finger on Eliza.
“My pretty, pretty Eliza,” Paul drawled, “So pretty and perfect like your momma.”
The remark made Eliza cringe and sent sparks of fury through Judas. He quickly slammed his foot onto the brake and jerked the steering wheel, sending Paul flying forward out of his seat until he was crumpled onto the floor of the large SUV.
“My apologies,” Judas said, “There was something in the road that I had to avoid.”
He expected Paul to be infuriated, but instead, Paul laughed as he climbed back into the seat and leaned forward, resting a hand on Judas’ shoulder.
“Thanks, my boy. You’re always looking out for me,” Paul chuckled jovially. “I really never expected you to work out so well, seeing as you're an exotic type and all, but so far you’ve been a mighty fine help.”
Judas nodded but rolled his eyes before looking into the rearview mirror again. Eliza smiled back at him and mouthed, “Thank you.”
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.