Sweet Discipline
by Bonnie Hamre

ISBN #1-4199-0016-1

Released: August, 2004

The present

         "Come out of there."
         "I'm don't like being undressed."
         "Get used to it." He paused a beat. "I'm waiting."
         She sidled out from behind the curtain, then let it drop. She couldn't let him see that she was afraid of him. Wouldn't give him the upper hand. If he got the idea that she was scared of him, he'd probably use it to bully her.
         Nix to that. She'd treat him like she would any employee at a health spa. Sexless, there to serve her, someone she'd deal with only in an impersonal manner, even as they touched and toned her body. She'd think of him as a doctor or nurse, trained to see the body as an instrument, a tool, not as a sexual being.
         That was the key. Polite, but impersonal, interested in her only as a client. Sexless. She could do that. He'd already seen all there was, much more than she'd ever allowed a man to see. If he could help her trim down, make her body seductive and sexy, he could look all he wanted.
         Think of him as sexless? Who was she kidding? If she'd met him anywhere else, at a gallery opening, a museum, the theater, she'd be all but slobbering. Sexless? That was stretching it.
         She stopped a few feet away.
         He pointed to his feet. "Here."
         Like a faithful dog? She straightened her shoulders and strode forward. "Now, see here--"
         "Look at me."
         She glanced up, a long way it seemed in her bare feet. He was much taller close up. Taller, more commanding. She saw a narrow nose and thin lips above a strong chin. His face was expressionless, his eyes dark and deep in the shadows. He looked powerful, authoritative and totally heartless. He was in absolute control of himself. Still, contained, only his chest moving with each breath he took. Norris shivered.
         "I am Adrian. While you are here, you will be mine to train. You are the client, but I am in charge. Is that understood?"
         She clamped her mouth shut. So he was the best. So she was lucky to work with him. All right. She was paying for his expertise. She nodded.
         "Understand this. We have a variety of methods to choose from, depending on the client's needs and personality. The trainer customizes the method that will get the client involved. All our methods work," he stressed, "but the client has to work, too."
         "I know about buying into and owning a project."
         "Good." His grin was unexpected, quick and gone before she had a chance to enjoy it. "Then you'll have no trouble adapting to the program I've created for you."
         A sudden shiver down her back warned her. "What kind of program?"

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