14. Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen
S oft, bluesy music wafted through the candlelit apartment as Judas poured himself two fingers of a sixty-year-old single malt scotch. He’d settled into his spot on the overstuffed sofa and just opened his book when the light rapping happened on his door. Judas took a sip of his drink before setting the glass on the table in front of him and getting up to turn the knob. Eliza's piercing eyes stared back at him.
"I'm…sorry for barging in unannounced," she apologized.
He noticed she looked a little disheveled as though she was in quite a hurry to leave wherever she came from and her demeanor radiated anger. Judas immediately hated the idea that someone had upset her and he could guess who that person was. He knew he shouldn't, because that same person would never allow it, but Judas would do anything to be everything for this woman.
Opening the door wider, he gestured for her to come inside, "No problem."
He watched her from behind as she sloughed off her blazer. He swore after their last tryst several weeks ago that he would keep his desires for her in check, but it was hard not to imagine his fingers tracing the tattoo on her ribcage again.
"Can I get you a drink?" he shut the door.
Eliza saw the tumbler of amber liquid sitting on the glass table, "Sure…whatever that is."
A small grin pulled at the edge of Judas's mouth as he plucked a glass from the bar and handed it to her.
"Do you know what it's like to work for the most infuriating and frustrating human on the face of the planet?" She railed suddenly. "I mean…he is such an asshole. I can't believe I chose to do this job. I mean, I could go anywhere else and not deal with half the bullshit I do with him." She took a quick look around the dim apartment, "Well, apparently my father pays you what you'r e worth. Too bad I can't say that about everyone else."
Judas poured the liquid slowly into her glass, listening intently.
Eliza took a quick sip, "It's almost like he does this crap to intentionally piss me off."
Taking his glass from the table, Judas sat on the corner of the sofa's arm, "I suspect we're talking about your father."
"Who else?" Eliza sat carefully on the sofa's edge next to him, savoring the burning sensation in her chest.
"Tell me what happened."
Sipping her drink again, she shook her head, "It doesn't matter. Nothing changes with him…his way or no way."
She sat her drink on the glass coffee table, hanging her head in silence for a long moment. She was making a choice by coming to his apartment tonight. She knew how to hit her father below the belt and having a relationship with his bodyguard openly; his brown-skinned bodyguard, would be the ultimate act of rebellion. She might even be lucky enough to be disowned.
From the minute he walked into her father's office, she knew this man would change her whole world and nobody had ever made her feel the way he did. Her thighs quaked thinking about every time he had touched her. Her mind flashed to her conversation with Georgia and the immediate jealousy that roared through her at the mention of him being with anyone else. She chewed her lip, contemplating her next move. She wasn’t content with letting this go. There is no way she could let this go.
Judas leaned toward her, "Eliza, are you ok—"
Eliza pounced on him like a hungry lioness. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed his lips in frenzied passion. Running her tongue around the curve of his ear and down his neck, she struggled to untuck his shirt.
Shock pervaded Judas's brain as his lips immediately returned her affections. He wanted to feel those pillows of desire all over him again, but in the same instant, a thought crossed his mind and he pulled away. His woody eyes gazed over her. As much as he wanted this woman, and as fun as he thought the idea was in the beginning, he would be damned if she would use him as a pawn in a power struggle with her father. He found himself caring for her more than he rightfully should and she deserved more than just fun for retribution's sake. She tried to kiss him again.
"Eliza, stop. What are you doing?" he frowned, placing the drink back on the table.
Blush flooded her face, "I…uhh-"
"Look, I understand you're mad at your dad, but I don't think this is the way to get back at him. Not this time," he whispered.
Eliza stared blankly as she slowly backed away, regret filling her soul, "I should go."
"No. Don't," Judas latched onto her hand. "Look…I know you miss what we had as badly as I do. Every single day I have a hard time keeping my eyes off you or my thoughts… work-related. " He paused. "But, I want this to be right…not something we'll throw away. And not as a way to get back at him anymore. No games. Please…stay…let's just…talk. Let me know you ."
Eliza's heart lightened. A small fear had been gnawing at her that this beautiful man was going to disappear in the middle of the night only to be a memory. She knew she hated breaking their connection and she hoped he felt the same, but until now, she wasn't sure.
Her arm relaxed in his hold as she stared at her hand in his.
"What do you want to know?" her heart beat faster. She never really knew a man who took a genuine interest in her and her life.
Judas smoothed his fingers over her soft skin, and laughed nervously, "Everything. Suddenly, I'm not sure what to ask."
With no awkward transition, no uncertainty, she found herself slipping back into the ease of their relationship. Just like that, being with him felt effortless again. Eliza pursed her lips in a delicate smirk, "Have you ever played Truth or Dare?"
"No," he looked at her suspiciously.
"Seriously? Not even as a kid?"
Judas shook his head, "I had a…sheltered childhood."
Eliza shrugged, "Well, the rules are pretty simple. You ask the person if they want to answer a question truthfully or take a dare."
"What kind of dare?" he narrowed his eyes on her.
"Well…anything. Like…I could dare you to run naked in your hallway outside," she took another sip from her glass. "Here, I'll go first; truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Okay," she looked around the dim room, "What's with all the candles? Did you forget to pay your electric bill?"
Judas erupted in laughter, "No…I just…like it, I guess. It sets a mood."
It was the best he could offer. Telling her that he has spent more time without electricity than with it wasn't the conversation he was ready to have. At least, not yet, and probably never. Besides the fact he was serious; he genuinely enjoyed the feeling of candlelight.
"Sure does," she giggled. "Okay, your turn."
"Truth or dare?"
"Uhhhmmm…" she teased coyly. "Truth."
"Tell me about the tattoo," Judas's dark eyebrow arched. “The whole story.”
Eliza grinned, "Now, how did I know you would ask that?" She didn’t admit she knew because he traced it gently with his fingers every time they had been together.
He shrugged.
Relaxing against the soft back of the sofa, she took a deep breath, "I'd like to tell you one of those cool stories about how a bunch of girlfriends and I got drunk one weekend and woke up to new body art. But, like most everything else I do…it was well planned."
"Go on," he urged.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but my dad is kinda a control freak. About everything."
Judas sipped his scotch, nodding.
"Since I turned eighteen, I've done everything I could to find my own way, you know? He calls it rebellion…I call it making my own decisions." She rolled her eyes. "Something else you may have noticed about my dear dad is his radical adherence to this evangelicalism-right wing bunk. Since the day my mother died, he had me in only the most expensive private Christian schools. He was pissed when I moved to Austin for college…liberal heathens he called it."
Eliza laughed darkly, "For me, this tattoo represents something he can't take away from me…my free will. I just wish I would have remembered I had it when he wanted me to help him with this God-forsaken campaign. But, I guess I'll always be at daddy's beck and call."
Judas stared at her through flickering light. He saw so much pain in her eyes and his heart ached for her. He met a thousand men like her father; powerful, controlling, selfish. Not one of those men was as pious as they claimed. They caused misery with every word they spoke and their own actions were almost always their downfall.
He tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear gently, "I don't think that will be your fate."
His fingers brushed against her cheek and she leaned into his touch. Eliza loved the way his hands were always warm against her skin and that his dark honey eyes seemed to see into her soul; as if he had the knowledge of all the ages locked inside them.
Judas continued caressing her face. "I think it's your turn," he whispered.
"Oh…yeah, truth or dare," she was finding it more difficult to concentrate on their game. The longer he touched her, the more she felt her life force vibrating with his. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head on the back of the sofa focusing on each stroke of his fingers.
"Dare," Judas breathed.
Eliza's eyes fluttered open to find his face lying mere centimeters from hers. Licking her lips she whispered, "Kiss me."
Studying her for a moment, Judas slowly moved closer until he felt the plump flesh of her lips on his. He tenderly urged her mouth open, allowing his tongue to dance with hers. Wrapping his large hands around her face, he pulled her closer until he felt the tautness of her nipples on his chest.
Eliza's hands ran tentatively through his long hair and it felt like silk in her fingers. Judas let out a small moan of pleasure that made her smile.
"My A havah ," his voice muffled against her neck.
With a swift movement, Judas lifted her off the sofa and held her cradled in his thick arms. His stare spoke to her without words and told her that what he would do next would be because he wanted her, body and soul. It said that he would forever worship her very existence. It screamed that he loved her.
Judas carried her into his bedroom where the only light was filtered through long vertical blinds from the nearby streetlamps. As he placed her on the thick-down comforter, their eyes remained locked on one another. Eliza watched as Judas towered over her, unbuttoning his shirt and tossing it to the floor. It was then she noticed areas of stark white skin in sharp contrast to his naturally dark olive tone. They were of varying lengths and widths and were scattered like confetti. Every time they had slept together before this, it had been frantic and feverish. She had never taken the time to really see him like this.
Judas removed his belt and unzipped his dark slacks as her body throbbed with excitement. Eliza could see his hardened erection behind the cotton boxer briefs in the dappled light of the room. She felt her insides quaking with anticipation as he took her hand and slid it into his waistband to free him from the constraining fabric.
Eliza was anxious to rid herself of her own clothing, but as Judas knelt beside her, he took her hands above her head.
"Don't move," his breath was hot on her ear but sent a chill down her spine. His radiant eyes and dark lashes were seductive in their gaze.
She felt her thighs become wet as her arousal climbed to new peaks.
Slowly, Judas released each button on her linen blouse until the black lace of her bra was fully exposed. Her chest heaved steadily as he continued to work his way to her tight-fit jeans. Easily popping the button, he peeled them away to find the matching panties underneath. His fingers barely gracing her most sensitive spot, he felt what was waiting for him there and he smiled down at her.
He slid next to her as Eliza wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. Continuing to concentrate on her face, he removed her panties and held her nude body next to his. He wanted to know what every inch of her felt like on him. Their first few times together had been quick and uninhibited. He needed to take his time; to give her everything she deserved.
Judas' lips found hers before making his way to her already firm nipples. His suckling only drew them tighter and her moaning grew louder. Eliza groaned in ecstasy as Judas's fingers found her swollen center and began rubbing it gently.
"I need to know what you taste like," he begged.
Eliza purred a soft, "Yes.." as he slid down her body, gently urging her legs apart. He found he could swim in her as he buried his face in her essence. Her honey was sweet and his mouth devoured every delightful drop. He opened her folds exposing her beauty and plunged his tongue inside her. Her hips bucked and the lascivious moans emanating from her rose louder. With each thrust of his mouth, her ocean flowed and her cries of pleasure grew.
Judas was familiar with the sounds of sex, but hearing her satisfaction brought him to an almost immediate climax. Needing to give her more, he focused his attention on her swollen clitoris while he stroked her plump breasts.
"Oh, Judas…oh my God…please…don't…stop," Eliza's words were sporadic and breathless. She felt her walls vibrating as his foreplay brought her closer to ecstasy. She grabbed for his long hair and tangled her fingers in the strands, pulling and holding his mouth against her.
The feeling of her unbridled need for him sent shockwaves through him. He knew he had to have all of her right now or he might burst into flames from desire alone. Self control wrapped around him and he continued running his tongue around her most sensitive bundle of nerves until he felt the shudder of orgasm spread through her. As her body pulsated from completion, he rose to stand over her. Looking down at the heavenly woman coming undone before him was the single most gratifying sight of his long life.
Bending her knees, he buried his entire length into her before she had even finished riding the waves of her pleasure. Filling her, he stroked her pleasure center into another orgasm. Her core pulsated around his wet erection and she screamed his name with each satisfying thrust. He drove himself into her as he looked down upon her arching body.
Eliza spread her legs wider now, wrapping them and her hands around Judas' ass and hips to drive him deeper, greedy for the intensity of the pleasure he gave her.
He looked down into her eyes before clasping their lips together, "Eliza… Oh, my Eliza…" Judas' growl of climax was only drowned out by the crashing of the headboard against the wall.
Completely spent, his thrusting slowed and Judas rested his shaking body next to Eliza, both panting in unison. With a quivering hand, he stroked strands of sweat-soaked hair from her forehead, "You are a wonder to behold."
He pulled her trembling body against his as the pair drifted to sleep.