Page 9 of Betrayed

Meanwhile, he’s still petting my cat.

“You know, guys in prison would love to have a pet like this,” he murmurs, straightening up.MissSassycontinues the love fest—winding her way around and between his legs, purring up a storm. “Ieven knew a few who tried keeping bugs or mice as pets in their cells—just anything at all that they could love.”

His words bring a lump to my throat and it’s brought home to me, all over again, how terribly lonely he must have been all those years on the inside.I’veread a few books and articles about helping ex-cons re-acclimate to the outside world and that’s one of the things they all mentioned—the emotional isolation of prison.

“That’s sosad,”Iwhisper.Impulsively,Iwrap my arms around his waist and hug him.

He doesn’t seem to know what to do at first…but then he slowly puts his arms around me and gives me a careful squeeze, as thoughImight break.

“I hope you don’t mind,”Isay, looking up at him—Ihave a long way to look because he’s so tall. “I’ma hugger and it seemed to me that you could use a hug just now.”

The uncertain look on his face fades and he gives me a smile—it’s little more than one corner of his mouth crooking up, but it counts as far asI’mconcerned.

“Well, thank you, baby.That’ssweet of you.”

I like the sweet nickname.Inhis letters to me, he always called me “baby sis” which is nice too.Igive him a squeeze and reluctantly let go.I’mwondering again what cologne he wears—whatever it is, it’s the best thingI’veever smelled.It’skind of woodsy and wild with a dark, dangerous spice as the under-note.

“Okay, well…let me give you the tour of the house,”Itell him.Itake his hand and tug. “Comeon—this way.”

7

CONNOR

Bemused,IallowSunnyto lead me around the oldVictorianmansion.Thehouse has good bones butIsee several places where the wood is getting rotten and areas where it’s been chipped or broken.

I could fix that,Ithink and catch myself wondering ifSunnyhas access to any tools.ThenIremind myselfI’monly here for a quick house tour and thenI’llbe on my way again.Afterall,Ihave to get back toBransonlikeIpromised sometime, right?

Sunny takes me all over the house—well, the downstairs, anyway.Theupstairs is shut off because, as she explains, it costs too much to heat and cool it.Andsince she’s the only one living here and she has her bedroom on the bottom floor, why should she pay money to heat or cool empty rooms?

She shows me an old-fashioned kitchen with a gas stove and a pea-green refrigerator.

“The same one ourNanbought when she first moved in here whenMommawas just a little girl,” she said proudly, patting the ancient but still humming appliance.Thenshe puts a hand over her mouth. “Oh,I’msorry—do you rememberMommaorNanat all?Youwere so young when your dad took you away…”

“No, afraid not,”Isay, truthfully enough, shaking my head.

Sunny gets a sad look in her pretty amber eyes.

“Momma never got over losing you, you know,” she tells me. “Sheused to cry for you sometimes—Iremember wondering why she was so sad whenIwas little.”

I’m not sure what to say to this.It’sa sad story but not an unusual one in theWereworld.Whentwo people split, the maleWerealmost always keeps any sons while his mate gets the daughters.

“What about your father?”Iask, to change the subject.

“Oh, he died beforeMommadid.”Shesounds sad. “Ilost all of them in the space of three years—firstNan, thenDaddy, thenMomma.That’swhyIwas so thrilled when you finally wrote me back.Itmade me feel so good to have family in my life again.”

I feel kind of bad, continuing to deceive her like this.Butit’s clear she needs a big brother andI’mhappyIcan fill the role.

“I was glad too,”Itell her truthfully. “Youknow, your letters got me through some really dark times.WheneverIread one, it felt like a ray of sunshine was coming right into my cell.”

Sunny breaks into a smile.

“Oh,Kane—that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.Thankyou!”

She hugs me again and this timeIhug her back with less trepidation.Ilove how warm and soft she feels in my arms—Ihaven’t been this close to a woman in years.Infact, living inCellblockC,Ibarely evensawany women since they didn’t allow any female guards around theRogueAlphas.

I’d forgotten how soft and sweet women can be—how warm and gentle and loving.It’snice to be reminded.

But her soft body against mine produces an unintended effect.Asher full breasts rub against my abs,Ican feel my cock getting hard.Hastily,Ishuffle back a bit, putting some distance between us.Ican’t be getting a hard-on with my own little sister!Evenif she isn’t really my sister at all,Istill don’t want to offend her.

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