Liz Talley - A Wrong Bed Christmas - Ignited

Erik had mentioned his younger sister was living with him for the time being while she finished her master’s degree, but he hadn’t mentioned anything about the woman being a live wire.

Erik also hadn’t mentioned anything about how gorgeous his sister was.

That part shouldn’t matter, he reminded his randy self as he closed his eyes against the pain. Sexy and crazy were a bad combination—like pickles and eggs on a peanut butter sandwich or Tabasco sauce on chocolate. All sorts of bad and bound to give you indigestion.

But even as he knew it was better to just go to sleep and forget all about Alexis Matheson...how was he supposed to forget the memory of that hot woman writhing in his arms, her mouth on his? Guilt nudged at him. If Erik knew where Layton’s mouth had been, Layton would have more than an aching dome to contend with. But damn, if she’d been that hot asleep, what was she like when she was awake?

Those kinds of thoughts were not helpful, he told himself.

Neither was the fact that when she’d leaped from the bed wearing next to nothing, he’d gotten an eyeful of rounded, feminine hips and a rack that wouldn’t quit. A nice, generous handful for sure. And that thin silky chemise hadn’t given much coverage. He was pretty sure he’d caught a tantalizing view of her breasts—and what his eyes had only caught a glimpse of, his hands had touched, albeit without his conscious knowledge, and he couldn’t stop replaying the memory.

Aaaannnnd cue the boner.

Goddamn.

Erik would set him on fire if he knew what kind of thoughts he was having about his little sister.

Hey, it’s not as if she’s a kid , a voice protested in his head. Likely the same part of his brain in charge of his downstairs region. Layton pushed at his growing erection with irritation and an increasing sense of frustration. He wasn’t going to jerk off on his buddy’s couch. Just go to sleep . Tomorrow would come soon enough and he could bail. Right about now he wished he’d just ignored Erik’s offer to stay and taken his chances on the road.

Erik was his buddy, a good man and a better firefighter. They shared the same shift and looked out for one another and that meant he couldn’t start looking cross-eyed at the guy’s sister.

Layton tossed back the blankets and climbed from the couch, needing aspirin for his head. Padding quietly into the kitchen, he began opening cabinets in search of a painkiller when a voice at his back made him turn.

“Okay, I’m willing to overlook the fact that you climbed into my bed without asking, but now you’re rummaging through my cabinets? Should I be worried? If I find you going through my underwear drawer next, we’re not going to be friends.”

Alexis stood there, wrapped in a filmy robe that wasn’t much more coverage than the shirt and panties she’d been sporting earlier, and he wondered what he’d done in a past life to deserve such a test. He also noticed she was still favoring her right foot.

“Just looking for aspirin. Someone hit me in the head with a shoe,” he responded, trying to keep his eyes from straying. “You really did a number on that ankle. You ought to have it checked out.”

“It’s nothing. I twisted it a little when I was chasing after you. It’ll be fine by morning.”

“Are you sure? Sprains can do some damage.”

“I’ll take that under consideration.” Alexis limped in his direction and went to the last cabinet to retrieve some aspirin. She tossed the bottle his way and he caught it with a small smile.

“Thanks,” he said.

“Sure.” She waited as he shook out two. “So...sorry about the shoe. It was the first thing I could grab and I thought you might be a murderer.”

“How many murderers stop to take a snooze before they do their murdering?” he asked, tossing back the aspirin with a swig of water straight from the tap. He wiped his mouth. “I mean, if you really think about it, highly unlikely that I was a murderer.”

“Logic and reason don’t play when you’re jolted out of a dead sleep.”

“Okay, I’ll give you that,” he conceded, wondering if she was going to mention the other thing that happened. What was the protocol on something like this? Should they pretend they hadn’t been wrapped in each other’s arms, about to do the deed if they hadn’t woken up? Sobering thought, even if she was sexy as hell. “So why are you up?”

“Funny thing about getting an adrenaline shot laced with pure survival instinct...hard to sleep after that.”

“Sorry,” he said. “I should feel guilty, right?”

“A little.”

“I do feel bad,” he admitted. “I mean... I didn’t know you were in the bed. I’m not that kind of guy.”

She nodded, accepting his apology, and they both knew he wasn’t only talking about the mishap with her ankle.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve done worse and been just fine. Thanks for caring.” A small smile played on those luscious, pouty lips and he had to remind himself that she was off limits. But he couldn’t seem to stop himself from thinking about things that were better kicked to the curb. Alexis limped to the fridge. “However, when I can’t sleep, I drink warm milk. Want some?”

Yuck. “Not since I was a toddler,” he quipped. “But by all means, help yourself. Don’t let me get in the way.”

“I won’t.” Alexis grinned more broadly. Yeah, firecracker was right. This gal was all sass and vinegar wrapped in a sizzling package of hips and luscious breasts. Thank God he was leaving in the morning or he might be sorely tempted to see if she tasted just as good when he was awake as when he was dreaming. Alexis poured a mugful and stuck it in the microwave. “So, how long have you and Erik been friends?”

“Awhile. Same shift. Makes for tight friendships under the right circumstances. He’s a cool dude.”

“He is a very cool dude, but then I’m biased.”

The microwave dinged and she retrieved her mug of milk. “You’re really going to drink that?” he asked, grimacing.

“Every drop.”

“All right then.” He watched her leave and damn if his eyes didn’t go straight to her ass. Yeah...it was definitely a good thing he was leaving as soon as the roads were clear. He was only human and he really didn’t want to lose Erik as a friend.

But Alexis Matheson was going to haunt his dreams.

3

ALEXIS WOKE EARLY in spite of the night’s events, but mostly because Emma was already up and showered, anxious to hit the road.

“Aren’t you a bowl of sunshine?” Alexis said, yawning. “Did you sleep okay? I mean, after everything?”

“Slept fine. But I’m sad to report that you still steal the covers. If I hadn’t wrapped myself up like a burrito, you’d have left me with nothing.”

Alexis laughed softly. “Bad habits are hard to break. Sorry.”

“It’s okay, I still love you, but I feel bad for whoever you marry. It’s always going to be a battle for the bedding.”

“True story.” Alexis climbed from the bed, stiff, and still not quite awake. She needed coffee and quick. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, but as soon as she put pressure on her right foot, she nearly yelped from the shock of pain. Well, if that isn’t a fine way to wake up . She lifted her ankle and grimaced at the black-and-blue bruising and swelling. Crap , this doesn’t bode well . Alexis tried to put some pressure on her ankle, but it was a no go. She bit her lip. “Em? We have a problem.”

Emma plainly hadn’t heard Alexis. “Can you be ready to hit the road in about an hour? I think the roads should be open by then,” Emma called out from the bathroom where she was doing her hair.

“Em? Come here a minute,” Alexis said, sinking back down on the bed. When Emma appeared with a concerned frown, Alexis said flatly, “Houston, we have a problem.”