8. Chapter 8
Chapter eight
E liza was called a workaholic on more than one occasion and it had been an issue with every partner Eliza had even attempted to have a relationship with. They would always want her to drop everything for them on a whim and all she wanted to do was work on research for her next big case. She loved her job and that had always been priority one for her. Plain and simple.
While working for her father had not been the same kind of obsession as her own personal work, Eliza could never be considered a lackluster employee. Doing her job and doing it well was something Eliza held near and dear. Being presented as an above and beyond employee was something she had never been willing to compromise.
Until this morning.
Nearly 48 hours passed since Judas rocked her body fully, but she hadn’t stopped thinking about it for even one second. Sitting at her desk with Monday’s to-do list staring up at her did nothing to correct that either. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him standing over her, heard him claiming her as his, and felt him touching parts of her soul she didn’t know existed. Recalling it in that moment, sent shivers down her spine in delicious ways. She cradled her head in her hands and wondered how she would ever make it through the day. Especially once he arrived.
Shaking her head to try and hold off the flashing images of his divine body, Eliza trudged through the office to make a cup of coffee. Coffee tended to at least slightly calm her nerves and bring peace to her mind. This morning, though, it seemed it would be served with a side of Judas Christian and that would do nothing to take him off of her mind.
He was in the kitchen pouring himself a cup as Eliza stood frozen in the doorway staring at him. She saw him naked not two days ago and that was all she could see when she looked at him. Wanting to enjoy the view, she took in the sight of him as long as she could without getting caught. Unfortunately, she’d underestimated how long that was and she was sure he saw her out of the corner of his eye as he turned toward her. Without waiting to find out, Eliza whipped on her heel, marching away from the kitchen as if she never intended to go there in the first place.
As she spun, Lydia smiled at her in that conspiratorial way that said she knew exactly what Eliza was just doing.
Walking past her at lightning speed, Eliza muttered, “Shut up, Lydia.”
The woman’s laugh followed her as she hid behind her office door.
Meanwhile, Judas, having immensely enjoyed catching her staring at him as he poured his morning brew, slowly sauntered behind her as she ran away. He nodded cooly as he passed Lydia’s desk.
“Good morning, Mr. Christian,” Lydia said with a smile.
He paused to be polite and offered his own greeting, “Good morning, Lydia.”
The woman continued smiling up at him with a twinkle in her eye, “Seems our Eliza is quite distracted this morning.”
Judas hated that he felt a warm heat flood his cheeks and feigned ignorance, “I’m sure she is. She’s a busy woman.”
Lydia winked at him now, “I’m sure she is. Have a great day, Mr. Christian. Tell Eliza she forgot to get her coffee, would you?”
Judas laughed, unable to contain himself, “How about I just bring her one myself?” He walked back into the kitchen and poured a cup for Eliza before heading to her office. Lydia smirked as he walked by.
Shaking his head, Judas knocked on Eliza’s door. There was no response but he knew she was hidden away inside. He cracked open the door and held the cup of coffee through the opening. From directly behind the door, Eliza’s hand shot out and snatched the cup away.
“Thank you,” she mumbled.
He chuckled, pushing the door open further, and with it, her body away from the doorway. He peeked around and saw Eliza sipping her coffee in hiding. “Can I come in?” he asked.
Eliza’s face burned bright red but she nodded her head.
Walking inside, Judas took a seat at her desk. He looked over his shoulder and gestured toward another chair, “Join me.”
Swallowing a large gulp of coffee, she crossed the room to sit across from the most sexually gifted man she ever met. They stared at one another for a full three minutes of complete silence.
Judas cracked first, “Are we good? I’m sorry if I crossed boundaries I shouldn’t have.”
“Sir, you have not crossed any boundaries. I gave willing consent and active participation. It’s just…” she let out a hysterical cackle before falling quiet.
Her silence seemed weighted and it frightened Judas. He was terrified she was about to say they could never do that again, he was 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 Judas asking 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.
Judas leaned in almost close enough to taste, “You are the grandest surprise of my life. You're strong. You're intelligent beyond words. You're capable and kind. You're good, through and through. I’m thankful to know you.”
He pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that stole away her breath. She moaned into him and pressed herself against him. But then he ended the kiss too quickly for them both. Gazing longingly down at her as she panted beneath the weight of his body and of his words, he traced a finger across her lips and smiled.
“Until next time, my Eliza,” he whispered before walking away into the darkness.