12. Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
T aking one final look in the mirror, Eliza appraised her appearance. Her hair was down and flowing around her shoulders, it perfectly framed the ample cleavage she worked so hard to produce under her silk nightie. It had two lace panels sewn into the sides that gave just the slightest glimpse of her tattoo beneath. The mid-thigh length gown was not something she would ever wear on a regular occasion, but tonight was different.
Inviting him over felt like the most foreign concept to her and she felt awkward the entire time she was doing it. Eliza was not the kind of woman that invited coworkers over for after work shenanigans. But then again, she had been doing a lot of things that weren’t normal for her since Judas came into her life. She had never slept with someone she had known for such a short amount of time. She always waited until she knew them better. Being a woman meant never knowing if a man was trustworthy enough to be invited into your home and your bed until he had been fully vetted with dinners, drinks, and heavy online sleuthing. She just never felt the need to do that with Judas. She just felt that he had a good soul. She didn’t know how she just knew that, but her intuition told her she was right. Tonight was different for her in so many ways, but it felt right.
Tonight she wanted Judas to see her not as someone he worked with and occasionally fucked, but as a woman that needed a man in her life to fill her nights. She wanted him to see her as a woman that he wanted to fill his nights.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw a pink heat crawl up her skin as this thought crossed over from her subconscious into her reality. She exhaled a shaky laugh and couldn’t even believe this was in her mind. He would think she was completely insane if he could read her thoughts around him, but that didn’t stop her from knowing he was absolutely what she wanted.
Suddenly her doorbell sounded and she felt an intense panic take hold of her. She desperately wanted him to want her in the same way. Taking one last look in the mirror, she grabbed the silk robe that matched her nightie and made her way to the door.
She took one last steadying breath and opened the door to see the most beautiful man she had ever laid eyes on standing before her.
He sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of her, “My Eliza, you are the most heavenly creature I have ever been blessed to see.”
She knew her face was crimson from the weight of his compliment, but she managed a smile. She was certain she must look like a lovesick teenager staring back at him and it made her even more self-conscious.
Judas couldn't imagine anything more gorgeous than the glow that emanated from her. Every inch of her was perfection on a Godly level. Without hesitation, he reached for her and had his lips on hers before they had made it all the way inside. She moaned against his lips and it sent the most thrilling heat through his body.
Their tongues grazed one another while their hands explored every inch of reachable territory.
Suddenly, Eliza pulled away from him and backed up to the counter, bracing herself against its cold edge. She needed a moment of space because she feared she just might self combust. Panting with lust, she stared back at him and thrilled to see the same kind of need reflected back at her.
Looking at her, he saw her fully. Her robe came just to her mid-thigh and plunged low enough to reveal her silky gown beneath. Her hair, in tumbling waves around her shoulders, framed in the perfect curves of her breasts, heaving with her heavy breathing.
“I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything,” she admitted.
“I’m yours,” he confirmed without question.
“This thing between us…” she said, “It’s intense in ways I don’t really know how to handle. I’m not used to feeling this… unhinged.”
Judas laughed in agreement, “I completely understand.”
Biting her lip, Eliza collected her thoughts, “I want this with you, but we work together so I have to make sure that there isn’t going to be any kind of drama that might filter into the workplace. My dad is our boss and I’m afraid of how he might treat you if he finds out about us. I need to know that this isn’t just a fleeting thing if we’re going to risk that. I don’t want that to happen to you.”
Slowly approaching her, Judas locked his gaze with hers, “I’m not a fleeting thing kind of man.” He stood against her, pressing their bodies into one another, and continued, “I have learned to be very patient in this life and if the current intensity is too much…” He paused to caress her soft cheek, “I’m more than happy to take things as slowly as you need. Until I can prove myself to you.”
Leaning her face into his hand, Eliza knew that slow was not what she was aiming for. Not slow, just certain. She exhaled a shaky breath, “I’m comfortable with our i ntensity as long as I have your word that I’m not just one of many. I’m not a casual fling kind of woman.”
He smiled down at her, “I adore that about you. Your body is sinfully enticing to me, but your mind is what has me on my knees before you begging for a chance to be the kind of man you want in your life.”
Eliza smiled back, appreciation sparkling in her eyes, “Let the intensity continue.”
Judas leaned toward her and laid his lips gently against hers. The kiss was unlike anything they had shared. It was tender. It was full of promise and potential. It was more erotic than a full night between the sheets.
When he pulled away, Eliza took his hand and led him to the couch. She gestured for him to sit before straddling his lap. His hands slid up her bare thighs and he felt goosebumps spread across her skin. She stared down at him as she untied her silk robe. Letting it slide down her shoulders, she could feel his eyes on her skin. He trailed his fingers across her collarbone then let one finger glide down to her cleavage. She bit her lip, sliding the thin straps down her shoulders.
Judas pulled her toward him and planted kisses against her neck. Eliza moaned out her acceptance and let her head fall back to give him access to her throat and chest. He took the invitation and let his mouth explore every inch of her sweet skin. She could feel his erection rubbing against her as she ground into him. He freed one breast with his gentle touch and took her nipple into his mouth, rolling it across his tongue, sending shivers down her spine.
Eliza gripped his long hair in her hand and pulled his head back to look at her.
He stared into her face for a long moment, “I'm yours as long as you’ll have me.”
His words made her come unglued and she pushed her mouth to his. Never breaking the kiss, Judas gripped her thighs and rolled her body beneath his on the couch. His mouth made a trail down her form until he reached her silk thong, he gripped it with his teeth and pulled at the delicate fabric until it strained against her skin. She moaned and raised her hips toward him, arching her back and begging for more. Judas smiled up at her and began to work the silk down her body as his nails scraped delightfully against her skin.
Every sensation sent her mind further into the fog of arousal. She was so deep in this place that she didn’t even notice the sound of the frantic knocks on her front door until Judas stopped what he was doing and leaned away from her.
“Eliza, the door? Do you need to answer it?”
Eliza sat up on her elbows finally registering the sound and returning to reality. She’d never wanted to do something less than she wanted to climb out from beneath this man, but she thought of her elderly neighbor whom she’d promised to help if she ever needed it and groaned.
“Yes,” she said against her own will, “I probably should. Stay here and I’ll be right back.”
“Oh, I will be right here waiting to pick up where we left off.”
His grin was devilish and she wanted to leave his side even less. Against better judgment, Eliza stood, straightened her robe, quickly combed her fingers through her hair, and tried to appear as if she wasn’t just about to have an orgasm eaten out of her body.
Pulling the door open, Eliza’s pleasant smile slid completely off her face, “Uh, oh my God. Dad! What are you doing here?”
Paul didn’t wait for an invitation and pushed past Eliza into the apartment, but stopped in his tracks seeing Judas sitting on the couch. He stared at his bodyguard then turned to stare at his daughter before turning back to Judas.
With a scowl overtaking his face, Paul spit out, “Boy, what are you doing here?”
Judas was tempted to tell the selfish old bigot the truth, that he was about to do things to his daughter that would make the finest sex worker blush. But instead stared past Paul to the look of horror on Eliza’s face and couldn't bear what that might do to her.
He stood, bowed in greeting to this awful human, and lied, “Miss Eliza was having car trouble, sir. A flat tire. I helped her by replacing it and she invited me in to clean up.” His eyes met Eliza’s and her gratitude shone back at him, “She is a very kind woman, sir.”
Paul turned his gaze to his daughter now, glancing up and down at her scantily clad body, “Dressed a little like the whore of Babylon to be going for a drive, aren’t you?”
Eliza blinked at the absurdity of everything that came out of her father’s mouth, “I got dirty helping with the tire. I cleaned up and threw on what I intended to sleep in. Didn’t want to dirty up more clothes for no reason, but thanks for the flattering description, Dad.”
Paul still seemed dubious at first, looking back and forth between the two, but could not wrap his mind around his daughter doing anything scandalous with the help and relented, “Well, thank you, Jude. I appreciate you being there for my Betsy.”
Judas walked to meet the man’s extended hand. The men shook and Paul handed Judas a twenty dollar bill from his pocket with a wink.
Eliza rolled her eyes and moved to stand before Paul, “Why are you here, Dad?”
Paul walked to the kitchen and began pouring himself a drink, “I had some ideas about more positive exposure as you called it and needed to get my ideas out there while they're still fresh in my head.”
“Now is really not a good time,” Eliza said, her voice betraying her desperate need for her father to leave as soon as absolutely possible.
Judas could read Paul’s expression and knew that wouldn’t be happening. He turned to Eliza and smiled apologetically, “Thank you for letting me clean up, Miss Eliza. I will see myself out so that you and Mr. Arthur can speak privately.”
The look on her face was devastating. Judas wanted nothing more than to fix it, but he knew, now more than ever before, that he would not be able to do that. Maybe ever. He kissed Eliza’s hand goodbye and walked toward the door. She followed and mouthed ‘I’m sorry’ as Judas left.
Walking down the stairs to his car, Judas felt a cold dread slide over his entire being. What had he been thinking? He wanted Eliza on a pure and true level, but having her was nothing but selfishness. His presence in her life beyond anything more than her father’s security did nothing but complicate her life. He should have known better and he reprimanded himself all the way to his car.
As he slid into the driver’s seat, he looked up to her window and vowed to distance himself from the crushing need he felt for her. He owed her more than giving in to his own self-serving wants and desires. She would be upset, he was sure, but he didn’t want to make her life harder than it was. With all the stress her father put on her, she deserved to have all other stress removed.
He knew she feared the same things. She tried to tell him that tonight and he just hadn’t fully heard what she had been trying to tell him. He should’ve given more weight to her words. She deserved peace.
If that meant removing himself, Judas was willing to make that sacrifice for her. No matter how badly it would hurt him to do so.