Dauntless Desires

2

Max led me down the hall to Eric's office. He knocked twice on the door before walking in and holding his hands behind his back. "your new assistant, sir, Tris Prior."

He wasn't alone in the room; there were two other men present who were seated in front of his desk. Tris watched with interest as Eric stood from his chair and strode around his desk to where she stood.

"We've met," Eric said with a smug grin on his face. With that Max walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Tris almost rocked on her heels as her surroundings suddenly faded to the background. Having to finally face him again head on, she was struck by just how much she'd underestimated his physical charms before.

"Eric had to be at least six two, with compelling pale grey eyes and inked skin. There was nothing out of sync, everything so well placed he looked almost too perfect. Except for the cold, mocking glint in his gaze that had her back stiffening. His frame was not too broad or too lean, with just the right amount of musculature to make his shirt seem like it was airbrushed on.

"Tris."

She snapped to attention as he stood before her, even more devastating up close. Before she could speak, he added briskly, "I'm not sure what you heard about what you are taking on, but this is far from a frivolous position."

Tris almost couldn't hear the words spoken in that voice of his that was all timber and gravel. She was busy staring at his mouth, the form enticing and almost sinfully sexy in the fullness of the bottom lip. She had never looked this closely at his features. She was always to scared to look at him in the eye during initiation.

Damn, he's hot.

I still don't trust him though. In fact, I hate him.

He was glaring at her impatiently, and she drew in a deep breath as she searched for a suitable response.

"I'm not afraid of hard work, Eric. In fact, I thrive on it. I look forward to my new role and for the record, I don't do frivolous."

He raked his eyes over her from head to foot, and she made sure not to squirm. She was conscious now of the other people waiting at his desk, obviously part of the meeting he'd been having before she appeared. Feeling like she could easily dissolve into a puddle and disappear, Tris decided to endure his somewhat scathing scrutiny before he huffed and turned away, dismissing her.

Tris returned to her newly appointed office with burning cheeks. She was right; this was a great job indeed but after what she just went through, it had better be worth her resisting the urge to knee Eric in the balls for all his attitude.

She just had to get through it one day at a time.