The Gilded Cage by Lauren Smith Page B

his family. Instead he’d been hurt, taken from his home and raised by a stranger, one who hadn’t really been a father to him. He had struggled every day of his new life.
    Hayden reached over and touched his forearm again and the muscles beneath his skin jumped, but then the rigidity that rolled off him in an almost tangible waves finally released.
    “So Emery likes Kansas, huh?” he asked, a little smile curving his lips.
    “Yeah. He also doesn’t like crusts on his sandwiches. His favorite beer is Boulevard Wheat—Oh, and he likes to spank women, too.”
    The truck fishtailed on the road, creating a vast cloud of dust behind them as the tires swerved across the ground.
    Hayden flashed him a Cheshire cat grin.
    He cocked a brow at her in challenge.
    “I’m just saying you guys have a lot in common. I wonder if it’s a twin thing.”
    “It’s not a twin thing. I like what I like, and that happens to be tying a woman down to my bed to pleasure her over and over again until she can’t walk. I like it rough.” He winked at her.
    “You ought to join a BDSM club or something.”
    “How do you know what a BDSM club is?” he demanded.
    “I’m a member of one back home. A submissive, of course,” she added. It wasn’t something she would normally broadcast, but now she wanted to tell Fenn and see how he would react to it. If he was a natural dom, he might respond to her declaration of being a submissive. She could hope.
    He burst out laughing. “You’re a submissive? Like hell, that mouth of yours is way too brazen.”
    “Hey!” She punched his shoulder, but without any real force.
    “Well, it’s true. No wonder I couldn’t resist spanking you.”
    Hayden blushed. What would it feel like if he spanked her during sex, like really spanked her? Oh God . Her thighs clenched as a flood of wet heat pooled there. She couldn’t get the image out of her head—her bare bottom lifted up, his hand striking her skin, heating it up until she was begging to be fucked hard…She hastily looked out the window, hoping he couldn’t see how red her face was. He’d know exactly what she was thinking about.
    They turned onto a main road and left the ranch lands and scattered woods behind them. The landscape beneath the distant mountains seemed to unfold and reveal a pocket of civilization. The town of Walnut Springs was well off the beaten path for most travelers, but it was a popular destination for skiers and summer vacationers. While the residents lived as a small, close-knit community, they seemed well used to strangers. Hayden had been more than surprised to see a number of luxury condominiums and homes on the outskirts of the town as they drove in.
    It was only eight in the morning, but Walnut Springs was alive with pedestrians and vehicular traffic. No doubt some of this was the remnants of the crowd from the rodeo last night, out and about doing some last-minute touring.
    “We’re stopping here for breakfast. I know a great diner. You’ll love it.”
    “Sounds good.” Her stomach gave a low gurgle of agreement and she rubbed it out of habit. She’d had to abandon the plate of pancakes and toast Callie had given her when Jim had told her to go with Fenn.
    Fenn pulled his truck into the last remaining empty space in front of the diner. Hayden had barely gotten herself unbuckled before he was there opening the door for her. He leaned against the open frame and offered her a hand, which she took without thinking. A little electric pulse jumped beneath her skin at the contact.
    “Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome,” his low rumbling reply only added to her awareness of him.
    As they entered the diner and took a booth by the window, a middle-aged woman with full curves and silver threading through her dark hair strolled over, handing Hayden a laminated menu and flashing a warm smile at Fenn.
    “We were all wondering when you’d roll in this morning. Bad ride last night, hon. Best to just shrug it off. Breakfast