Alex knocked gently on Becca's door while balancing a plate of grilled cheese sandwich and a glass of milk between his hands. "Becca?" he called out softly. His younger sister had been in her room most of the day, for the past couple days actually, and the few times she had come out she hadn't looked well at all, saying something about cramps and a fever the last time he'd asked.
Since their parents divorce years ago, when he was 15 and she was 8, each parent had taken a kid and they hadn't seen much of each other at all- and visits every other weekend had turned into every other month and then barely just on holidays, though they had still talked every night. Then he'd gone away to college and it had turned into years without a visit, even after their dad died. But when their mom got sick too he'd taken a break from college to help care for them both and they were as close as ever.
When nobody answered, he opened the door carefully and peered inside. The room was cloaked in darkness, except for a portion of the room near his sisters' bed where moonlight streamed through the window. Alex shut the door with his foot and called out softly. "Becca?" Becca stirred from a light sleep at the sound of her brothers' voice. If she thought sleep would make the cramps go away, well she was wrong. It still hurt. At least her head had ceased throbbing. She curled even tighter on her side. "Go away, Alex," she muttered, her voice muffled by the pillow. "I'm not fit for company. Just leave me to my misery."
Alex placed the plate and the glass on a bedside table and turned on the lamp. "I won't. Get up, Becca. You need to eat."
"I don't want to eat. I just want to die," she groaned pitifully. Alex sat on one side of the bed which had Becca sitting up sluggishly, reaching for the sheets. "Alex, I'm not exactly dressed for company."
"I'm not company, I'm your brother," he said, rolling his eyes. But as she straightened he suddenly became aware of what Becca was wearing to bed. She only a small white tank top this time and a pair of high-cut white briefs, the top ending just above her belly button and clinging to her, showing off her chest. Alex was clearly shaken but trying to cover it. This was his sister! "Jesus, Becca! Is that what you wear to bed?" His tone was shocked and a bit angry but he couldn't help it. It was criminal, the way she looked.
Her long, thick hair fell in sultry disarray about her shoulder, her beautiful breasts beckoning to him- and damned if her nipples weren't hard. Alex's gaze was transfixed at her long and smooth legs and he swallowed hard. Suddenly visions of those legs wrapped around his waist... or astride his thighs flooded his mind. 'Dangerous territory, Alex. Behave yourself. She's your sister, your flesh and blood. This is wrong. Just don't think about how badly you want to jump her right nowβ¦.' He shook his head, trying to clear the images away and control his body's reaction.
Becca, now conscious of her state of undress, gathered the light sheet to her chest. "It's hot!" she replied almost defensively, a hint of anger in her own tone. "I can't bear wearing pjs in the summer. And I told you I wasn't exactly dressed for visiting. How was I supposed to know you were going to come traipsing in here in the middle of the night!"
"I did *not* traipse in here. And it's only 8 pm, for God's sake! It's not like I'm interrupting your beauty sleep!" Alex retaliated.
"Grrr, whatever!" He rolled his eyes, taking the pillows and arranging them against the headboard. "Get comfy, Becca and eat." "But I don't-"
"Eat. Now!" Becca snatched up the plate from the table and leaned back against the pillows. "All right, all right! Geez, Alex, you're such a bully," she said as she bit into her sandwich.
"And you're a stubborn kid."
"I'm not-" Chew, chew. "-a-" Swallow. "-kid!"
The sheet had slipped to Becca's waist and Alex looked pointedly at the exposed skin of her chest and hard nipples. "Hmm, you're right. I stand corrected." He couldn't help but tease. She blushed charmingly when she realized where he was looking. Alex just grinned maddeningly at her. She stuck her tongue at him before stuffing more sandwich into her mouth.
Alex surveyed her room for a moment, giving her time to finish her food. He noted the very feminine pieces of furniture and the frilly curtains on the windows. His gaze settled on her dressing table where six slim colored bottles that served as candleholders were displayed. Then he remembered another kind of bottle. "Cramps still paining you, kid?" he asked, not bothering to conceal the concern in his voice. Becca finished her milk before grimacing.
"Yeah. I've always had cramps ever since I got my first period. I always try to avoid socializing with people before and during the first two days 'cause that's when the cramps are really bad and I get irrational and cranky."
Alex smirked. "So I noticed."
"Shut up!"