Dauntless Desires

7

Eric was waiting at the pit by six, just like he'd told Tris. She slowly made her way to the muscular blonde wearing his normal attire. Black shirt, black pants, black vest. He watched her carefully as she came to a stop in front of him. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her, she was beautiful, and dressed just as he'd desired.
"Ready," he asked her in a husky tone. He reached out and took her duffel bag from her. Surprised she only brought this for the weekend. Usually women took three or four bags or so he thought.
"Thank you," Tris murmured quietly. The events of last night still burning in her mind.
"Let's go, we need to get moving," Eric said turning on his heel and heading for the garage.

Tris made no comment, but followed him out, seeing her so down made him hurt a little more than he wanted to admit. During the ride, he noticed how distracted she seemed. Beneath the carefully applied make up, it looked like she was trying her best to hold herself together.
Before he knew what he was doing, he blurt out, "Are you okay?"

She sent him a cool glare but he was used to that. What he wasn't used to was seeing her look so cold. She was always full of spirit no matter what. Now the spirit was replaced with a frozen heart as she turned to him.

"Do I look like I'm okay, Eric?"

He couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his lips, she hadn't ever spit such cold poison towards him in a few words. Not even during her initiation.

"Anything I can do to cheer you up," he asked, almost laughing when she glared at him, ready to smack him across the face.
"Yes, you can shut up and leave me alone."

"Doesn't help to hold it in," he said coolly, speeding up the truck slightly.

She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, looking out the window.

The duo didn't speak another word until the reached Erudite. Eric parked the truck in front of the building. An erudite official greeted them at the entrance, and led them to their assigned rooms.

Before she could finally walk off to her own room without a word, he found himself gripping her arm and turning her sharply to face him. "We have to meet with Jeanine in a couple of hours and you look out of sorts. Would you at least make sure you look presentable before she arrives."

"But of course, Eric," she replied with more sarcasm than he cared for. But he did let her go, an annoyed frown on his face.

At ten, they were meeting with the leader of Erudite, Jeanine Matthews. Eric was seated at the restaurant on the top floor of the building waiting when Tris arrived."

He looked up as she approached, and alarms seemed to go off loud in his head.

Fuck. She was gorgeous.

Eric had never seen her look this way before. She had on a black dress that stopped at her knees and hugged all those damn curves. It managed to look formal yet sensual, in the best way a dress could be. The cut of the neckline merely hinted at cleavage and the way the fabric clung to her full breasts, Eric felt his mouth go dry.

Her blond hair was let down sweeping over her shoulders seductively. Her heels were at least four inches high and screamed sex.

Eric had never seen her look exactly this way before and his reaction to her appearance surprised him. He realized just how much he wanted her. Wanted to claim her till she forgot about any other man who had ever touched her.

She walked up to their table in strides that showed she was more than comfortable in her own skin. Like a female in her prime, her thickly lashed eyes seemed to gleam with a force that had Eric sitting back and viewing her with unhidden interest. He locked his gaze with hers and vowed that before the end of the night, he'd be buried as deep inside Tris as humanly possible.

Jeanine and Tris' brother Caleb were soon to follow and meet them at the dinner table to discuss matters. Jeanine stopped at the sight of Tris, her mouth agape.
"Well, Miss Prior..." She trailed off looking over her, "you've grown into a strong young woman."
Tris had a blush creeping onto her face at Jeanine's comment, before she could say anything, Jeanine turned to Eric, "you must have to beat off all the competition, Eric."
I smirked, "I would, but Tris has yet to agree to be mine."
I inwardly laughed at the icy glare from Tris and shook Caleb's hand. He had only acknowledged Tris with a slight nod, acting as if she was a dangerous animal.

Tris was fully aware of Eric's response to her get up as he made no effort to hide it. He seemed transfixed as he stared at her way more than usual all through the meeting. She could feel his eyes follow her when she had arrived, and she could feel the admiring eyes from others that passed by the meeting. But she only had eyes for Eric; the man who'd robbed her of everything and didn't even give a damn.

Tris wanted to claw his eyes out earlier when he had the audacity to show his 'concern' for her on the drive over. Damn him, he had no right. He'd cost her the love of her life and now he pretended to care? He knew for six months about Four cheating and he didn't even bother to say anything? To hell with that.

She had definitely gone all out with her look today. At least she had been able to confirm one thing, Eric was far from immune to her. His eye-fuck as she walked up to meet him would have floored a lesser woman. Tris ignored the rush of heat that spread over her from the waist down. He all but verbally stated his intent with that one look of his and yet, he was a fool if he thought she would let him touch her with a ten-foot pole.

He may want her, but he would never have her.