Drama ahead! :D

And I edited the last chapter, it's not a big change. Instead of going to the amusement park, they're going to the beach which I found easier to write!

PS. The cover was made by KaraRobinson so THANK YOU! :) It's awesome!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was already in bed by the time Cash came home from work. He had been gone for way longer than necessary. I had woken up and he wasn't here and he'd only come back for a quick lunch. Now it was ten and I was lying in bed, wide awake, wondering what I had done wrong, why Cash was so distant lately.

Tanner was already two months and Cash barely even paid any attention to him. There were only a few days when Cash came home in a happy mood and picked up Tanner and gave him the affection he deserved. I didn't know what was wrong, but I desperately hoped he wasn't having an affair.

When he stripped out of his clothes and slid under the covers, I expected his arm to wrap around my waist like he usually did. It was his routine - even though he had been distant lately, he was still a passionate lover in the night. If I was already asleep, he'd kiss me awake and we'd make love and he'd shower me with the attention he failed to give me while it was light.

But this time, he just turned his back and fell asleep instantly. My lower lip wobbled without my consent. What was happening to us? Why was Cash being like this? Why was he hurting me so much? I closed my eyes and curled against the pillow, a tear silently running down my cheek.

-

Going to the beach was always one of my favorite things to do since I was young. I loved being in the water. It was so relaxing, just stroking carelessly through the water and any chance I got to go to the beach, I would. 

"You look so excited," Pierce laughed, his eyes occasionally flickering towards me. "It's like you haven't gone to the beach in forever."

I rolled my eyes and turned to him. "That's because I haven't."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Why not?"

Shrugging, I looked out the window. "Just never really had the time, you know?" I sighed. Being a housewife would've seemed like an easy job, but it wasn't. I had to be the perfect trophy wife for Cash, make friends with all his co-worker's wives, their family friends and that was harder than it sounded.

"Well, you're always going to have time now. What else did you miss out living in New York?" he asked casually.

A smile quirked my lips. "You'll have to find out by taking me out more like this," I told him teasingly.

Pierce chuckled. "That doesn't sound too bad," he admitted, then flashed me a quick look. "But remember, I'm not doing this for you. It's for the little man in the backseat," he said jokingly.

"Aw, Tanner! You're hogging all my friends," I playfully whined, turning back to look at Tanner who was trying to nom on his foot.

The rest of the ride, we just joked around and as I finally got a glimpse of the ocean, I felt myself start to jump in my seat in excitement. I wanted so badly to feel the warm sand under my toes and the cool, salty water brushing against my skin. And I wanted to to introduce Tanner to my favorite hobby of all time - swimming.

We got our things and Pierce let me to a nice spot on the beach. I spread the beach towel and lay Tanner on his back as I began to rub sunscreen lotion on his skin. As I was rubbing the sunscreen in, I felt hands on my shoulders and then Pierce's breath was right over my neck. Goosegumps rose all over my skin. 

"Would you like me to put suncreen on your back, Tessa?" he whispered.

I bit my lips, his husky voice sending a shiver rippling through me. How did Pierce already manage to affect me so much? "Okay," I murmured, trying to calm my racing heart.

I finished with Tanner and then shyly stepped out of my shorts and top. Even though the bikini was modest, it did show skin that nobody else had actually seen since I'd been with Cash. I felt a little uncomfortable with my body. I wasn't as slender as before and I had a couple faint stretch marks that never did go away from my pregnancy. And my breasts weren't perfectly perky either.

Pierce ran his hand over my arms. I could imagine him just trying to resist kissing me below the ear, like he used to do when he was holding me from behind. "You're more beautiful than I remembered." My face flushed and my breathing became erratic. I tried to remind myself that this was a public beach and there were people here. Not to mention Tanner was lying right in front of me. 

"Pierce..." I murmured. "Stop it. We're in public."

"I'm not doing anything." His fingers played with the bikini strap. "Do I make you uncomfortable, Tessa?"

I shook my head. He made me hot not uncomfortable. I wasn't ashamed to admit it. I might have gotten divorced only a month ago, but Cash had no problem with moving on from me fast. Why should I hold out on him? He didn't love me - he never had. I was just his ticket to his inheritance from his rich grandmother. 

"Lay down on your stomach," he ordered softly and I did, resting my head on my arms. This wasn't the first time Pierce was rubbing sunscreen on my back, but it had been six years since he had really actually touched me like that. I was suddenly shy again, lying on the blanket in the middle of the meadow as Pierce introduced me to the world of passion a man and woman shared.

Tanner chewed on his left fist as his other hand explored the sand. There was a seashell right beside the blanket and he picked it up, staring at it with curious eyes until he finally decided to test his luck and put it in his mouth. I stopped him in time though.

That's when Pierce's palm suddenly came down on my back. I lost my breath as he rubbed the sunscreen sensually over my skin. How did something so innocent become so erotic? My heart tripled in speed and the sensations made me close my eyes and revel in his touch. 

I wanted him.

The thought made me abruptly sit up. My face felt flushed and Pierce was looking at me strangely. I tried to control my breathing, but I was embarrassed at my thoughts even though Pierce had no way of knowing what was running through my mind. I was shocked at myself for already craving Pierce. I had only seen him three times, including today, since Springfield. 

It had to be because of our past. He had taken my virginity, so deep inside, I probably had still loved him all this time. And that love was what made me lust him so easily. 

"Tessa, you okay?" he asked, concern flashing through his gorgeous features.

I nodded and smiled at him reassuringly. "Yeah, sorry." I bit my lip and looked away from him as I finished putting on sunscreen. Pierce kept staring at him for a few more seconds before he finally relented. He didn't ask me to put on suncreen for him - I was both glad and dissapointed. I wanted to know how it'd feel touching those rippling muscles on his back. 

"I'm going to get us some icecream and drinks, 'kay?" he asked. I smiled and agreed and watched him walk away, the sun kissing his bare tan torso. He had removed his tee shirt and was only sporting plain, navy blue swim trunks. It made me green with jealousy when I saw women stare at him. But I was both a little smug, too - he was here with me, not them.

I picked up Tanner and kissed him on his pretty, red lips before walking towards the water. I stopped when the water was to my ankles and sat down, holding Tanner so his feet brushed over the ocean. He squealed at the abrupt coldness of it. 

Giggling at the delight on his face, I held him a little firmer and made it so that the water now brushed his legs. He gurgled with happiness and kicked his little legs, splashing me with water. We did this for a little while, making sure that the water didn't touch anywhere above his shoulders. I wasn't willing to take a risk with Tanner. 

I didn't see Pierce, so I got up to go and find him. I wasn't really sure where we were going because the little shops were in different places than I remembered, so I was constantly looking around while holding Tanner against me, his head on my shoulder. 

My head was turned to the side, so when I accidentally bumped into a body, I was startled. Looking up, I realized it was a beautiful brunette with ivory skin and deep auburn hair, her eyes a startling green that put mine to shame. I blinked and smiled shyly. "Sorry," I said apologetically.

She was unsmiling as her eyes focused on me and Tanner in distaste. "So you're here with Pierce," she stated.

I wondered if this was one of Pierce's ex girlfriends or flings. I had been his first girlfriend since he was shy of commitment, but I wondered if having a relationship with me had opened him up to the possibilities of seeing other women. 

"Um, yes. Why is that any of your concern?" I asked, the corners of my lips turning down.

"I find it surprising how he can degrade from going out with me to...you," she said, looking me up and down.

Her words shocked me to the core. Is she serious? I couldn't believe the nerve of her. She better have been glad I was carrying a child or I would've knocked her on her ass. I wasn't the kind to start altercations, but I didn't like being disrespected. And I wasn't willing to be put down by some bitch who was mad about getting dumped.

"Maybe he wanted someone who doesn't look like she would open her legs for anyone," I said, looking over her skimpy bikini that barely covered her assets. It looked like her bikini bottoms were a thong because it was all string except a little patch covering her womanly parts.

She looked like she could kill. "If you weren't holding that kid, I would kick your ass," she hissed.

My eyes narrowed and I took a deep breath to control my growing temper, when I felt a presence behind me. Pierce. He had come just in time. I looked over my shoulder to see him staring down the redhead.

"Julia," he stated. "What's going on?"

It was amazing how fast she could transform herself from the vicious bitch to an in innocent girl who hadn't just told me she would 'kick my ass'. She batted her eyelashes at Pierce, smiling like nothing had happened. "We were just talking," she purred.

I wasn't impressed. I scowled, probably not looking very attractive and turned away from both Pierce and this Julia, ready to go back to our things. Except he grabbed my shoulder before I could leave and brought me to his chest, his hand resting over Tanner in an almost protective manner.

"Julia, if you cause problems with Tessa and Tanner again, I promise you, you will regret it," he said, his voice low. Julia's eyes widened, before she dramatically stormed off without a word. I couldn't help that shiver that ran down my spine at Pierce's serious words. When she was just a dot in the distance, Pierce faced me. "You okay?"

I smiled at him, thought it was only half-hearted. "Fine," I mumbled. "Just fine."