Fade to Red

He looked down at her lips and subconsciously licked his lower lip. When the taxi driver asked for his fare, Beckham was startled.

“Yeah, thanks, here you go. Come on, let’s get you people some food,” he yelled.

“Wow!” Leo said over and over as he ran through the suite.

It was gorgeous. She should have known it would be. This was the kind of room she used to imagine Beckham in, back when she thought about him all the time, and okay, even this morning. Royal blue and red with lime green touches decorated the room and it just felt good in there. Cozy and cheerful.

“Ooo, I love that!” She pointed up at the mahogany ceiling.

Beckham nodded. “Me too. Here, stretch out on this bed. I’ll grab the menu for you.”

“Thanks.” She sat on the bed and leaned back. “Ahhh,” she groaned, “a feather bed. I just thought I was tired of my bunk.” She laughed. “I could get used to this!”

He walked into the other room and she heard him showing Leo how to start the video games.

“No shoes on the couch, Leo!” she called out.

“They’re off, Mom!” he called back and she giggled.

Beckham stopped mid-stride on his way back to her. He saw her watching him and seemed to snap out of it. He came the rest of the way, sitting down beside her. Her hair was fa

Without thinking it through, she reached up and touched his lower lip. She couldn’t seem to stop herself—her eyes were always drawn to his mouth. She wanted to sink into those lips and bite …

She yanked her hand away.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I-”

He took her hand and put her fingers back on his lips. “Don’t stop.” His eyes crinkled up when he smiled.

Those chameleon eyes. They looked dark grey and smoky at the moment.

He was sexy as hell. And apparently he would always be her downfall.

Her fingers swept across his upper lip, following the curve and then feeling bolder, she pressed down on his lower lip until he opened his mouth.

His grin was mischievous as he let her touch and then when she was least expecting it, his tongue came out and circled around her finger. She went completely still. He teased her finger a little more, waiting to see what she would do, and then without warning, he leaned down and…

“Beck? My game stopped working. Can you turn it back on?” Leo asked softly. His eyes veered between the two of them. “Whatcha doin’?”

“Oh just making sure your mom … feels better.” Beckham’s eyes widened at Roxie, but she didn’t try to help him out. He stood up. “What’s going on with that game?” They walked out of the room with Leo telling him in great detail how he’d tried to get it working.

Roxie turned on the side that didn’t feel as bruised and willed her heart to calm down. She was playing a dangerous game, one where she and Leo would be devastated, but today, the pull to Beckham felt stronger than her anger and self-control. She closed her eyes and imagined the kiss he would have given her if Leo hadn’t walked in, and fell asleep.

She woke up to voices in the other room. It sounded like Sierra with Leo. She sat up and forced herself to get out of bed.

Leo, Sierra, and Beckham looked up from the couch when she walked in the room.

“Hi, Mama!” Leo said, taking a bite of a hot fudge sundae.

Beckham and Sierra had ice cream too. He looked guiltily at Roxie as he took a bite. “Come here, we’ll share. And we can order you one too. Were we too loud?” he asked, bopping Sierra with a throw pillow. “It’s her fault!”

“No, it’s fine … I can’t believe I fell asleep!” Roxie said sheepishly. “You act like me and Chloe … I need to check on her, by the way.”

“Hey, Sleeping Beauty,” Sierra said, shyly, silently offering up her own truce. “Chloe was having her own fun with Taz. She’s fine, trust me.” She smiled.

“Looks like I’m missing a party in here,” Roxie said with a grin. “I’m not usually around you both at the same time.”

“I know! My brother’s been hogging you and Leo!” Sierra pinched Beckham. “I was go

“I’m so sore,” Roxie admitted.

“Beckham texted me and I picked up some Motrin on the way over…” Sierra pointed at the bag of medicine.

“Thanks! Perfect timing.” She opened the bottle.

Beckham handed her a bottle of water.

“You guys are quite the team,” she said.

Beckham and Sierra looked at each other.

“We’ve fooled another one,” Sierra said.

“Come on, you know you love me.” Beckham got in her face. “Come on, say it, say you love me!” Sierra was about to take a bite of ice cream and bumped the spoon so it landed on her chin.

Leo laughed his belly laugh and had to set his ice cream down so it wouldn’t spill.

“Oh, you’ve got someone on your side now, don’t you?” Sierra said, laughing. She put a big dollop of ice cream in Beckham’s hair.

Leo’s eyes got huge and then his laugh took over. He stood up and tried to catch his breath but couldn’t stop laughing.

“Wait. Stop! Stop. Can’t breathe. Oh my goodness. They’re crazy, Mama!”

Roxie was laughing almost as hard. “I know it!”

Beckham stood up. “Oh, you think we’re crazy, huh?” He put the whipped cream on Leo’s nose. There was so much that the cherry stayed upright in the whipped cream.

Leo started the duck dance, trying to keep the cherry on his nose.

They all lost it then.

Sierra and Leo were playing Mario Kart and Leo kept wi

“Are you feeling okay?” he asked.

She nodded. “I’m feeling better.”

“Good. I’ve gotta get ready to go see Fallon in just a little bit here, but I’m wondering … would you want to come with me? I’d love for you to meet Jimmy. He’s great. Leo’s good here with Sierra. She mentioned earlier she was free to watch him, if we wanted. Or if you don’t feel like getting out, would you … stay … here? With me? I’ll be late, but we can watch a movie when I get back or something.”

“I don’t know, Beckham. This is … weird. I probably shouldn’t. Things are still not resolved with us, you know…”

“I know. I know.” He rubbed his hand over his head, making his hair go every which way. “I promised myself I wouldn’t let myself get sucked in by you today, but I just can’t … stop.” He shut the door and pulled her against it. He rested his hands against the wall and pressed his body against hers. “I’ve stopped thinking rationally,” he said. “I just … as much as I try to fight it, I need you, Roxie. I need to touch you. I need to be with you. I just want you in my space, making yourself at home with my things.” His mouth was an inch from hers. “I want to eat your lips. They drive me insane. That thing you do with your hair when you get nervous and you tug on it. I can’t take it anymore. And I know, believe me, I know we have a lot of issues to deal with, but when I’m with you, it just all fades away…”

He leaned back to look in her eyes and she couldn’t take it anymore either. She wanted to stay angry at him, but she just couldn’t. She grabbed his face and brought his mouth to hers. When his tongue touched hers, she moaned and then prayed to God that Leo and Sierra hadn’t heard her. She pulled back.

“No, please don’t stop. Please,” Beckham whispered, kissing her neck.

He went back for her mouth, kissing everywhere but right on her lips. For such sweet kisses, it was so intense. Like drowning without fighting to break the surface again.

Sink, sink, sink.

Let me drown if it means this.

She lived for more and when his mouth teased her lips, she stopped fighting it and kissed him with every shred of attraction, anger, and lust she felt for him.