Sweet Seduction by Daire St. Denis Page A

“God. I wish you were a bowl of dough.”
    â€œWhy’s that?”
    â€œBecause I’d like to punch you.”
    Jamie pushed his chair back and stood.
    Stupid man. He did that on purpose so that she’d be forced to look up at him. Why was he so tall? It wasn’t normal.
    He spread his arms wide and said, “You want to have a go at me, go right ahead.”
    What was he trying to prove? “Is this entrapment?”
    â€œNo.”
    He patted his stomach, the washboard-like part of him that Daisy was all-too intimately familiar with.
    â€œC’mon.”
    Daisy glanced around the busy bakery. “If you’re trying to get me in trouble, I’ve already got enough of that.”
    â€œI’m not trying to get you in trouble.”
    â€œThen what is this?”
    He took a step closer, so close that his appealing and unique scent wafted over her. Before she knew what she was doing, her eyes closed so she could focus on breathing him in, slowly and deeply.
    She felt him bend down to her level, followed by the tickle of her hair against her ear as he whispered, “Beating the shit out of someone can be very cathartic. However, it should be mutually agreed upon and done in a safe setting. Otherwise it’s called assault and that’s a felony.” He paused, and Daisy heard him breathe in deeply, too. What was he doing? Smelling her?
    Her stomach did a pole vault.
    â€œCome back to my gym—no one will be there—and you can hit me as hard as you like. I give you permission to beat the crap out of me.”

9
    T HIS WAS RIDICULOUS . What on earth was she doing here? She was seated on the counter in a men’s locker room, surrounded by the aroma of pine-scented Lysol, mildew and sweat, wearing an old T-shirt and a pair of shorts that belonged to Jamie, while he wound athletic tape around her right hand.
    She lifted her left shoulder to her nose and sniffed.
    Fresh laundry and Jamie. Delicious.
    No.
    Not delicious. The clothes smelled good only because they’d been laundered and anything clean would, of course, smell divine in contrast to the stink of the locker room.
    Daisy dropped her shoulder. For some reason she no longer felt angry. Was it Jamie’s touch as he taped her hand? Or maybe it was the ride on his motorbike. Why was she such a sucker for a man with a motorcycle? She really had to figure that shit out because it was becoming dangerous.
    â€œI know what you’re thinking,” she said to fill the troublesome silence.
    â€œI doubt that.”
    Did he purposefully caress the inside of her wrist or was that an accident? Daisy cleared her throat. “I’m not a violent woman.”
    Without looking up, Jamie said, “I didn’t think you were.”
    â€œI’ve never hit anyone before in my life.”
    â€œAll the more reason to hit me today.”
    She chewed on her lip. “Why are you doing this?”
    He finished taping her right hand and then moved on to her left. “Two reasons.”
    When he didn’t continue, Daisy asked, “Do you care to tell me what they are?”
    Without looking up, he said, “You’re angry with your situation and, therefore, me. You need to expel it so you can think clearly. This is the best way.”
    â€œI’m pretty sure most people would disagree with you.” Daisy held her taped hand in front of her, wiggling her fingers, testing the limited movement.
    â€œWe’ll see.”
    â€œWhat’s the second reason?”
    â€œAll women should know how to defend themselves.”
    The seriousness of his tone made her flinch.
    He caught her hand before she could tug it away. “Women are victims of violence way too often.”
    â€œSo teach women to fight?”
    â€œWhy not?” Jamie resumed taping.
    â€œIt just seems like it’s encouraging violence.”
    Jamie’s chest rose and fell in a deep breath. Like he was angry or