Page 36 of Desired By Eros

It was a short flight, followed by a brief walk, and then they arrived at a quaint resort tucked among the trees.

“This place is nice,” Psyche observed, her eyes scanning the elegant surroundings as they made their way to the restaurant.

“Yeah, the restaurant’s in the back. It’s supposed to have a great view,” Eros explained, leading her to the host stand.

Once seated, Psyche glanced around the beautifully lit space and smiled. “I like this. I’m excited to see more of Denali while I’m here.”

Her enthusiasm tugged at something in him, and he was glad he didn’t have to guess whether she liked the place.

Psyche picked up the menu and began scanning it. Her eyes widened as she reached the seafood section, her fingers tracing over the listed options. “Oh, they have salmon! And scallops, too,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. “I was hoping for something fresh like this.” She glanced at Eros with a small smile.

Eros leaned back in his chair, watching her with quiet amusement. “You’re like a kid in a candy store.”

She chuckled softly, her focus still on the menu. “I can’t help it. Seafood is my favorite.”

After some deliberation, she made her decision. “I think I’ll go with the grilled salmon and vegetables. It sounds perfect.”

He raised a brow. “Perfect, huh? High praise already.”

“It’s just exciting to find a place with such a variety,” she admitted, looking up at him. “I bet it’s amazing.”

When the server came by, Psyche confidently placed her order, her tone bright and enthusiastic. Eros picked something heartier—the steak dish—and handed the menu back with a grin. “We’ll see if it lives up to your expectations,” he teased.

“I’m sure it will,” she said, her expression earnest. Eros couldn’t help but find her enthusiasm contagious, even as he made a mental note to bring her to more places like this in the future.

As they waited for their food to arrive, Eros focused on putting some of the tips he’d read into practice. He made sure his questions were clear and specific, avoiding any overly vague or figurative language.

“How was work?”

“It was good,” she replied, though her brow furrowed slightly. “But I was surprised. The site manager had an emergency, and there’s a new guy stepping in. I hope they’reeasy to work with. Rebecca was very understanding about how I like to manage my work.”

“Do you think you’ll need to explain that to him?”

“Probably,” she replied, her voice steady. “I don’t mind as long as he’s open to listening. I’ve gotten better at explaining what I need.”

“That’s good,” he said, making a mental note to encourage her confidence. “You’re great at what you do. It’s only fair they give you the space to do it your way.”

Her lips curved into a small smile. “Thanks. I think I’ll be okay. It helps to prepare for things ahead of time.”

He nodded, recognizing the truth in her words. Psyche thrived on structure and forethought, something he was beginning to appreciate more deeply.

When their meals arrived, he noticed how her green eyes sparkled with excitement. “This looks amazing,” she murmured, picking up her fork with care. She took a bite, and her expression softened. “Oh, it is perfect.”

“I’m glad you like it,” he said, smiling.

They continued eating, with Eros asking simple, direct questions to keep the conversation flowing. “What’s your favorite part of working at the site?” he asked at one point.

Psyche tilted her head thoughtfully. “I like the solitude. Not that I don’t enjoy talking to people,” she quickly added, “but there’s something calming about focusing on the work without distractions.”

“Yeah, I get that,” he said. “Sometimes being around too many people can be…a lot.”

She nodded, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “Exactly. It’s nice to be understood.”

He filed that moment away, pleased that his approach was working. When they finished dinner, she seemed genuinely atease, and he found himself quietly proud of the effort he’d put into understanding her better.

He watched her as she spoke, noting how she lit up when she talked about things she enjoyed. Eros, for his part, was more subdued, but he couldn’t help teasing her about her enthusiasm for the food, which earned him playful smirks in return.

Eros paid the bill and led Psyche out into the cool evening air. After a short flight, their steps naturally fell in sync during the walk back to her cabin, their footsteps crunching against the gravel path. Psyche tilted her head back to look at the stars scattered across the sky, a small smile tugging at her lips.

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