Ethan's POV:

Francesca Arabella Salatino – my sexy little bitch.

She looks absolutely stunning.

I find myself subconsciously situating my black swim shorts, my eyes never leaving her body as she laughs at whatever Matt just said. She's lying down on a beach towel, her tanned legs bent at the knees slightly, catching the sun. She's wearing that Primal Scream t-shirt, but I'm still so proud of her.

"If you keep staring, she will file a restraining order against you." Felix comments, his brows raised in amusement when I look over to him.

"Shut the fuck up." I say and he grins at me. "You can't even say anything, your eyes haven't left Lauren since we came here."

"That's different." He excuses.

"How?" I ask.

"She's carrying my child." He shrugs, looking over to the ocean in front of us. We're not too far from the ocean, but it's quite the walk since the tide is out and we are very much near the house. Our towels line the hot sand, a cooler between us with drinks and snacks in.

"Is she actually pregnant? Are we one-hundred percent sure?" I have to ask, but my voice is still low, cautious of the girls and Matt merely three meters away. She hasn't taken the test but she seems to be adamant of the fact, and I just hope he's not getting ahead of himself. All I know is what Francesca has told me in the store, that Lauren's pregnant but she hasn't taken a test but it is Felix's.

"She hasn't taken a test yet because that is what makes it real, but she knows. It's pretty clear, Kane. Her emotions are all over the place. She has a bump and everything – she even felt kicks. She was distraught last night. She had this nightmare about losing the baby, and wouldn't let me go. She cried for hours. She wouldn't lie about that." He says lowly, and I shake my head at the latter.

"I wasn't insinuating she's lying, I wasn't. What I meant was- look, I'm looking out for you and I don't want you to get hurt. It's a massive thing. A baby – are you ready for that?" I ask, knowing Felix more than anyone. He likes to party, he doesn't seem to be the one to settle down. Sure, he's infatuated in Lauren right now, but I don't know about the future because all Lauren does is play with his emotions and has done from the start. I'm not saying I don't trust her because I do, she's my friend, but I'm just skeptical of this. Of course, I would love them to get together, but realistically I don't see it working for them.

"Honestly, no, neither is she. But, what else are we supposed to do? Of course, we're going to step up and become parents, but it has been a massive bombshell on us. We both had sex, this wasn't just her – for Christ's sake, she was on the pill and I wore condoms, it wasn't her fault. I always wanted children, always, and so this has come early, but that doesn't mean it's particularly a bad situation. I know we argue, but I think we'd be good parents together. I mean, we're going to have to." He mutters off at the end.

"You have our support, all of ours, and you know you're not doing this alone. I just don't like the unknown, that's the only reason why I'm like this. If she had the test and told you, then there'd be no questioning, but all I know are words." I explain myself – I've always been like this. I need proof to things for it to be real. It's more of a deep-rooted issue from when I was in care; the children would make me believe I was getting adopted, and I always fell for it – but there were never no proof, no adoption.

"I know, you've told me about your trust issues, don't worry." He assures me, and I give him a tight-lipped smile. I've tried to be more open with Felix but talking about my feelings to him even though he's my brother, makes me so uncomfortable. I'm trying though. "You know it's not like that anymore right?"

"I know, but it's stuck with me, I can't exactly forget it." I mutter, wishing I could forget everything that happened in those homes. Thinking about my past makes me feel sick.

"Well, you can trust us. Lauren; she may be a firecracker, but she never goes a night without texting me 'good night'. All you guys see is the bickering, but I assure you there's more behind the scenes than you know." He says and I give him a smile.

"I just don't want you to be hurt, it sucks." I say and he nods, sharing my smile.

"I wish I could punch the motherfuckers that broke your stupid little heart." He mutters and I laugh, shoving at his shoulder.

I wish you could too.

"Ethan, can you put some sunscreen on me?" Francesca asks, and I look over to see her still laid down, but her head is now turned towards me, her hand shadowing her eyes.

"Of course I can, come 'ere." I gesture my head over to where I'm sat, and she makes a sound of disapproval before she stands. I notice her discreetly suck in a breath, but I don't feel bad, she wanted last night to happen as much as I did – she was even prepared with that red little number on.

Last night, I honestly thought my heart was going to combust, give in and die, right there and then when she took that robe off of hers, and teased me by trailing her fingers down her cleavage.

God, she was a sight for sore eyes.

As she walks over to me, I sit up from my laid out position, creating some space for her. She gives me a sly look before stepping right on my nice clean towel with her sandy feet, and I shake my head. "You little bitch."

"You made me walk over here." She points out as if that is an excuse.

"Sure, well you just made it sandy for yourself. Sit down, and pass me the bottle." I roll my eyes, and she grins, passing me the blue bottle before getting comfortable in between my legs, despite the sand underneath her ass.

"Shit, um, my shirt." She mumbles a whisper, and I lean over her shoulder so I can look her in the eyes. "I don't know what to do, I'm a bit paranoid."

"Look around, baby, there's us, a family way down there, and some old women on deckchairs. No one is here to hurt you, and I won't let that happen." I assure her as best as I possible can. I know exactly how she's feeling, the feeling of insecurity, doubt, paranoia; looking over your shoulder twenty-four-seven. I know, and I want to help exactly how I needed to be helped – assurance.

"I'm being stupid, right?" She sighs, and I shake my head, moving her wavy hair out of the way.

"Never, baby. Remember that." I urge.

"Even when I stick my feet in your face?" She asks and I laugh, shaking my head.

"No, not even then, you're just a fucking wind up, darling. Not stupid." I continue to assure her. "You can put it back on if you want to, you don't have to keep it off."

"Um... yeah, okay, let's see how I feel." She finally answers after hesitating slightly.

Francesca's small hands come to the very bottom of her t-shirt, toying with the hems slightly, and I hear her exhale a quick breath before she lifts it above her head. She presses the clothing to her chest, and I give her a proud smile. She's doing so good.

"You okay?" I feel the need to check on her, pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder blade.

"Mhm, I'm just feeling insecure – I'll be okay though." She says through a mumble.

Not wanting to prolong how uncomfortable she feels because it's the last thing I'd want, I open the bottle of sunscreen, putting enough in the palm of my hand for her shoulders and back.

"This'll be cold." I warn her before dabbing little blobs of cream on different places of her back, and her skin rises with goosebumps.

I don't waste any time before rubbing it in, making sure to get the back of her neck since I always miss that out and it hurts like a bitch if it burns. I massage it in properly, making sure her whole shoulders and back are protected.

"That's done. Are you feeling okay?" I check, noticing she hasn't spoken a word.

"Yeah, I'm feeling... better. I want to leave my shirt off, I need to push through my insecurities, I'm just a little in my own head is all. I'm okay though." She looks back, giving me a tight-lipped smile.

"You can lay beside me if you'd like, lay on your front if that makes your feel more comfortable, catch a tan – it's a beautiful day out." I suggest, and she gives me a shy nod.

"Do you mind doing the back of my legs?" She whispers.

"Yeah, of course I will. Are you taking your shorts off?" I ask, knowing this is a massive thing for her, and she hesitates before nodding.

Pride sores within me, and I smile as she takes my hand, rising from her seat between my legs. She scans the area subconsciously and my heart aches, her shirt pressed to her chest, covering from unwanted attention.

"You're okay, I've got you." I assure her, squeezing her hand. "No one's going to bother you, I promise."

"Yeah, we'll beat them up together, Chest, don't worry about that." Felix says and she smiles over at him. I almost forgot he was there for a second, lost in our little world together.

"He's not wrong – one look, they're on the floor, baby." I assure her.

"I'd prefer you not to get in trouble." She mumbles out, and I flash her a smile.

"You're doing so good." I remind her, needing her to know that what she's done so far is amazing and that I'm proud of her. I couldn't do this.

"I'm okay, I'm just... what about my scars? They're ugly." She whispers, and I shake my head, not having this. I hook my finger through one of the belt hoops in her jeaned shorts, pulling her towards me, and I grip her hip in one hand, stilling her. She frowns down at me as I lift the material up her thigh, and I give her a smile, laying a kiss to the top of one of her scars before kissing all the way up it.

"They're not ugly, they're beautiful, darling." I whisper and she nibbles down on her lip, her eyes glazing over, tears threatening to spill. "I promise, if anyone says anything, they're on the floor."

"Like the people that look at me?" She jokes, sniffling slightly.

"Exactly that, baby." I nod.

"You're answer is always violence, it's not good, you know?" She chuckles, a beautiful smile appearing on her face, and I shrug, not particularly bothered about the fact. "Okay, I'm ready."

"You're one-hundred sure?" I check, and she nods, passing me her shirt that was once pressed to her chest, uncovering the teeny bikini top that does her figure wonders.

She takes a shallow breath before unbuttoning her shorts, and I purse my lips together feeling my cock twitch in my pants, seeing the pink straps sitting high on her hips. She doesn't hesitate, she doesn't wait, she just follows through, taking the shorts off, kicking them to the side slightly.

I stare at her, taking her in – one of my favorite tattoos is a Goddess, but I think I have the wrong person as the portrait.

"Fuck my life. Get down here, please." I beg desperately and she giggles, putting her legs either side of mine before taking a seat in my lap, straddling my waist. "So fucking gorgeous, baby."

"Thank you." She whispers, a never-ending depth to the meaning, before she kisses me, making me instantly smile against her lips. Her kisses are intoxicating – she's my breath of fresh air.

"Lovebirds, you do realize you're not alone?" Matt comments, and Francesca sticks her middle finger up before I can retaliate, nibbling on my bottom lip – a thing that makes me cave so easily to her.

"They're cute, leave them be." Hanna chimes in.

"Proud of you." I mutter to Francesca once we finally pull away from the kiss, moving her hair out of the way.

"I can't believe I'm on the beach in a bikini." Francesca murmurs to herself.

"You feel good?" I ask.

"Surprisingly... yeah, yes I do." She says with a happy smile – a genuine one, not one she uses to mask her feelings with.

"Okay, yeah, I miss my Kieran." Matt says and I move my head to see him laid out on his pink beach towel, his head towards us, wearing a smile. I squint my eyes into a line, giving him a knowing look. "Okay, maybe I have feelings for the guy."

"Fucking finally." I roll my eyes, and Francesca lays her head on my chest, getting comfortable on top of me like a koala bear. My little koala.

"Yeah, when are you going to ask the guy out?" Lauren chimes in, a frown on her face as she continues to fan herself with a magazine, her other hand holding her phone.

"He doesn't want a relationship." He excuses.

"Oh, Matty Matt Mathew, you've got it all wrong, son." Felix says with an over exaggerated sigh, sitting up from his towel, joining the conversation with his black sunglasses on. "We've known Kieran for years, he's very shy and will not be the one to tell you if he wants a relationship. Knowing you guys, you'll be fucking for years before you bring it up."

"But, I'm never the guy to ask the other guy out – ask Francesca how Kieran and I met, I beg of you." Matt says, and I frown down at my little koala.

"How?" I ask her.

"We were at the first party back to college, it was at this frat house, and we were dancing together. I caught someone looking over at us, I knew it was for him, I just knew, so I told Matt, and he... danced with me. His approach to getting a guy's attention is flirting with me and touching my ass apparently which really doesn't make any sense. He even tried to kiss me, but I sent him on his way before he fucked it all up." She tells the story, and I laugh, throwing my head back at this craziness.

"What logic do you have, Matt?" I ask and he shrugs, shaking his head.

"None." He answers plainly. "But I do like the guy – he's fucking hilarious, but we've never been... out, not really. I wouldn't even know how to act with him, all it is with us is friendship and fucking."

"That doesn't sound like a friendship." Lauren mutters, and I agree, it doesn't.

"Just talk to him." Felix suggests.

"Yeah, I'd speak to him." Francesca says against my chest, her voice in a mumble.

"Since when is relationships all we talk about?" Hanna wonders with a disgusted look on her face.

"Since you're the only one single." Matt retorts making us all laugh.

Our laughter settles down, and I feel at peace with my girl in my arms once more, the ocean waves creating a therapeutic white noise. I could lay here all day if it meant I'd never have to let go of Francesca.

When we were together – the short time that we were – we never really got to be a couple. We spent just over a month in a relationship together, only a week of that time us having 'normalcy' before everything crashed down around us like a tsunami.

We never had the date nights; the meeting of parents; surprising her at her door with flowers – we never got the happy moments. We were a short-lived passion, the pain and heartbreak following soon after.

Our bubble had broke – the bubble we created – it popped, and everything blurry around us became clear. We were two broken souls just trying to love each other.

This, this is our second chance. I want to do everything right. I want to take her out on a date, surprise her with flowers at her door, serenade her with my awful singing to Stevie.

I want to love her properly.

Francesca deserves the world, I can't give her a fraction of it, but I'm going to try – I want to try for her.

Before our worlds collided, I was... numb. My life was hitting people for a living and getting fucked every day by someone different – it's how I dealt with my past. But, Francesca snuck up on me like the little minx she is, and tossed my life upside down in the best way possible.

Before her, I believed I would never find love, that I wasn't worthy of someone's love, especially not hers, not her heart. I never thought it was possible to love someone like me – I thought no one would be able to.

But she does love me, and I do her.

Before her, I always, for some reason, didn't believe I had a family – Scar and Maria were my 'friends' that adopted me, Felix was my 'friend' that I lived with. They're not my friends, they're my family. I have a mom, I have a dad, I have two siblings and I have an uncle. They're my family, but I thought I never deserved them enough to give them their titles – they were just 'friends' before her.

My bond with my family has never been better, I've got the greatest fucking friends in the world, and it's all because of her.

All because of her – the ditsy young woman that ran into me on an early morning run.

I don't deserve her, I know that, but God, I'm thankful she's here nevertheless, because without her, I'd hate to still be who I once was.

Pulling me out of my thoughts, Francesca lifts her head up, dropping her face back down on mine, using it as a pillow which isn't comfy in the slightest.

"Babe, we still need to put cream on your legs." I remind her, not prepared to cope with a whining Francesca for the next few days because she's burnt.

"No." She mumbles her refusal, and I groan, grabbing her hips, rolling us over, so she's laid in the sand. Her whines fill my ears, shaking her head back and forth. "Ethan, my hair!"

"You're fine." I roll my eyes at the dramatic bitch which she is.

"No, I'm not! Now I have sand in my hair." She mutters with a frown, her lips into a pout, and I take this opportunity to kiss her, shutting her up momentarily.

Her right hand grasps the back of my neck, her fingers tugging at my hair, pulling me closer, opening her mouth for me – so fucking easy. I'm at least aware of our surroundings whereas she has seemed to forgotten all about them, so I pull away, pecking her lips twice, moving her hair out of the way.

"Come on, it'll take seconds." I say and she groans, lifting up from me.

I sit up, grabbing the bottle of cream as she turns around, and I don't fight the grin that makes its way to my face when I notice the handprint on her ass, my handprint.

It wasn't purposeful, it really wasn't, but God, she looks fucking good.

"Stop staring or I will put you on the floor." She threatens, sending me daggers.

"Baby, hush, your friends don't need to know about you taking me on the ground." I faux scold her, biting my lip in amusement at her annoyed facial expression.

"Wait, your other tattoo." Hanna points it out, sitting up to get a better look at it, and I bite my lip, awaiting their reactions as I start to rub sunscreen in to her legs, starting at her ankles. "That's... that's a fucking star sign! Is that... is that yours?"

She stares at me, wanting answers, and I chuckle, nodding. "I have her Virgo sign too."

"Where?!" Lauren asks, lifting up her sunglasses.

I hold up my wrist for all to see, and they all lean in a bit closer – not that it isn't big enough, it literally covers my whole wrist.

"How have I never seen that before?" She murmurs to herself.

"Wait, let's backtrack, you have matching tattoos?" Hanna asks.

"Well, yeah, it was a joke we shared when we were... friends. And anyway, I have smeraldo on my rib, and he has nirvana." Francesca points out yet another aspect to our tattoos, our hidden meanings that are no longer hidden. Not that I'm too bothered, I just kind of liked our secrecy for a while.

"We need more details on that, hun." Matt now says.

"Smeraldo is emerald in Italian, he has emerald eyes. And Nirvana is one of my favorite bands, so he got that." She chooses to keep the actual meaning a secret which has my heart swarming with the feeling that I was so consumed with yet confused by many months ago.

She's my fucking nirvana – my peace, my serenity, my whole fucking life.

"Nirvana, seriously?" Lauren screws her face up at the band, and I laugh at Francesca's facial expression. She's so over her friends and their shit music taste.

"I'm so glad I have you." Francesca mutters back to me, and I smile at her.

Everyone settles back down and I resume putting on sunscreen for her, the last part of her body being her ass, and when I'm done, I smirk to myself before landing a slap on her cheeky cheeks, which makes her jolt forward from not expecting it.

She turns around with a furious expression, and slaps me on my shoulder. "You dick!"

"Ha-ha." I grab her hips, pulling her down to me and she groans, letting me roll her over, into the sand. "No comment?"

"Nope." She purses her lips, keeping that sweet fiery side of her at bay. "How are you feeling about your match next weekend?"

I didn't expect that question to come out of her mouth, at least not right now, not on the beach. I shrug, searching for my honest truth. "I'm nervous, I won't lie. I'll be okay though, I'll win, I've been training hard. And anyhow, I'll have you screaming my name."

"Ethan." She scolds lowly, and I chuckle at her flustered state.

"What? You're not?" I gasp, bringing my hand to my heart. "I'm hurt, darling. I really am."

"You just have to make everything dirty, don't you?" She asks, shaking her head at me.

"I just think you have a dirty mind." I correct.

"Um, I've invited Hanna... we were talking yesterday at the fair, and I mentioned it. I hope that's okay." She starts to ramble, and I nod.

"More than okay. You know how I am with my big ego." I tease her, and she chuckles, settling more in my arms.

It's nothing to do with my big ego at all. When I first started fighting at thirteen, I had no one, not a single soul but the people that was making money out of me. Now, I do, now I have a whole family. She's right, it feeds my ego, but it makes me feel at home, it grounds me knowing there's people out there, even if it's just Mar- my mom and dad. I don't get lost in my head like I have done in the past, not when my people are out there watching me.

At one point in the next hour, I have to remove my arm from around Francesca because of how warm it was getting. The sun hasn't stopped shinning, and the heat is only getting more unbearable, so much so that I purposely dropped water on myself, and when no one was looking, Francesca helped lick off – yet another thing that had me adjusting my black shorts today.

She's a little minx, that's for sure.

"Okay, who's playing volleyball with me?" Felix asks, and even though it's warm, I'm so up for it, so I raise my hand slightly. "Come on, I need more than Ethan. Girls, please!"

"Babe, I can't, I'll watch though." Lauren says sadly, giving him a smile.

"Fine, I'm up for it." Hanna says.

"Matty-Matt, Frankie-Frank?" Felix looks like a child wanting to go to a park for the first time.

"Okay, yeah, sure." Matt sighs, sounding not at all interested.

"Seriously?" Francesca peeps her head out of the crook in my neck.

"Yes, come on, it's fun. Remember our promise; we'll deck any guys that come near or look at you." Felix says and I can't help the smile that comes to my face. He's so good with her.

"Fine, but I'm on Ethan's team." She says, sitting up a bit more.

That's my girl.

"Yeah, I'm on their team, too." Matt says, and Felix whines, stomping his foot into the sand.

"But that leaves just me and Hanna, how's that fair?" Felix asks with a frown.

"Felix, we're better than them – I was part of my high school volleyball team, they're going down." Hanna says, and my smile drops. Well, that's unfair.

"Huh, that I didn't know." He mutters before flashing me a grin. "You're going down, suckers!"

"Child, actual child." I mutter under my breath.

To believe that this guy is going to become a father in four to five months is terrifying, truly terrifying. I can't even begin to imagine what they will name it. Oh fuck, they have to name it.

I could sense Francesca's nerves peaking, so as everyone made their way over to the poles in the middle of the beach with a massive net to attach onto it, I check if she's okay, moving her hair out of the way. "Hey, look around, tell me what you see."

"The ocean." She says with a confused frown. "The sand, our friends... the family of five down there. Old women reading. Some surfers, but they're in the ocean."

"Exactly." I murmur, needing her to see for herself there's no one to hurt her, not here. "I know you're nervous, it's expected, but there's nothing to be scared of, nothing other than Felix's face, okay?"

"You're so mean to him." She pouts, and I chuckle – I know, but he knows I mean no harm. "But thank you, I really appreciate it. I'm nervous, you're right – all I keep thinking about is the words that... guy said, about my legs and my ass, I just can't get out of my mind to be honest. I know there's nothing to be worried about here, especially since I'm surrounded by you and everyone, but I'm still nervous because what I'm wearing is incredibly showy."

"That prick shouldn't have ever said those things to you, and I'm so sorry he did. If I could turn back time and save you sooner, way before you went to that bathroom, I would but I can't." I ramble, guilt still sitting with me from that night at the club when I left to go to the bathroom, so she did too. I wasn't there to save her. "But, we're here now. We're on a very beautiful beach, it's warm and you're looking fucking great. I won't let anyone come near you, I promise, but if it makes you feel better, you can put your clothes back on."

"I'm not going to let my thoughts win, not the ones he put in my head. I'll be okay – as soon as we start playing, I'll be fine." She assures me and I squeeze her hip, giving her a tight-lipped smile. "Speaking of – we need a strategy if we want to win Felix and Hanna. Matt and I suck."

"You don't suck." I ignore the dirty thoughts that invade my mind because now is not the time – but either way, they're not at all wrong.

"Babe, it's bad, like we will fall in the sand and lose the game for you." She says and I laugh, shaking my head at the vision.

"It's only for shit and giggles anyway, okay? We're not taking this serious." I say as I get up from the towel. I look down at my girl, who is smiling up at me, her pink bikini doing her figure wonders. "You look... wow. Yeah, maybe I'll be the one to throw the game."

"I don't look that good." She giggles, getting up, stumbling slightly on her feet and I raise my brows, grabbing her arm as a laugh splutters out. "Thank you."

"Be careful, can't have you breaking a limb on me." I say in a teasing tone.

"Oh yeah, especially my right hand, right?" She jokes and I shamelessly nod, giving her a cheeky grin. "Speaking of... fix your tent."

My smile drops and I roll my eyes, fixing my shorts while Francesca walks over to check on Lauren. She's laid back in a chair, her feet up, sunglasses on and reading a magazine – honestly, she looks like she's living her best life.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay here alone? I will gladly step out of this game and keep you company." Francesca asks Lauren, and I bite my tongue, trying not to laugh.

"Frankie, I'm totally fine, go have fun, I'm reading about the latest gossip, it's real interesting. I will be more than okay." Lauren assures her, and Francesca nods to herself before turning towards me.

"Let's go then." Francesca joins me, taking my hand in hers, and I smile, loving the simple gesture. She was right in front of me for months and I could never touch her, never compliment her like I used to. It was like we were at the start again, and I'm just glad we're back. I've missed her, I've missed this so much.

Even though it's quite a walk, I'm thankful that Felix has chosen to play volleyball closer to the ocean. That way the sand isn't too dry and hot like what we're walking on right now, and considering we're going to be playing a few rounds, I don't really want burnt feet.

"How are you doing? Still sore?" I question with genuine concern, unsure if she's walking different because of the hot sand, or our night together last night.

"Don't mock me, Ethan." She mutters out, rolling her eyes.

"No, I'm being serious." I say and she looks over at me, her face washing apologetically. "I just, I know it's been a while for you, and last night wasn't just sex. It was the first time since the club; the first time since we broke up; the first time since we told each other we love one another. I just want to know how you are regarding everything. Like, we've not spoken, it's been pretty hectic."

"Yeah, I know. And I'm okay... I'm better than okay. I was nervous beforehand, and at one point I thought I was going to ruin it all. But, it was perfect, Ethan. I couldn't have asked for anything better, baby." She says and my heart flutters at the name of adoration. "Um, you don't have to tell me, in fact it might be better if I didn't know, but because we didn't use protection, I kinda have to know in case-"

"I haven't slept with anyone, Francesca." I cut her off, guessing where this was leading. "No kisses; no foreplay; not even messages – nothing. I told you I'd wait, and I have. We may have been broken up, but in my mind, I was still with you. You're my everything, I wouldn't ruin that."

"Okay." She says to herself and then looks over at me with a shy smile. "I love you, Ethan. Thank you for waiting. It was worth it."

"It was, wasn't it?" I chuckle – trying to control my hormones, blocking out memories of last night before all my blood travels south for all to notice. I don't need that right now.

"I thought it'd be awkward." She reveals and I can't help the laugh fall.

"Have you blanked out the fact I was an awkward wreck before?" I point out. I don't know what came over me because I've never been like that. It wasn't the fact that I was awkward about us having sex because I wasn't. At that point, I honestly didn't think we'd sleep together. Of course, I knew there were a possibility, but I didn't expect it. I was awkward because I didn't want to say or do anything wrong.

"No, not that – I mean, awkward having... sex." She lowers her voice and I smile at how shy she gets by such a topic.

"I didn't." I say honestly and she raises her brows in response. "I know we didn't do much when we were together, but when we did... fuck, it was out of this world. I don't think it could get awkward with us."

"Remember when we had that conversation in the bath?" She brings up, and I nod hesitantly, unsure which conversation since we shared a few, but I'm assuming the time when we spoke about sex. "Well, I want to explore some of those with you."

"Now?" I ask, quite shocked. I expected us to slowly get back into the swing of things, but I'm not complaining about this.

"No, of course not now, stupid. We're on a beach." She gestures to our surroundings.

"You think you're so smart, darling, but I'd watch that mouth of yours, if I were you." I playfully warn, and she scrunches up her nose, squinting her eyes at me. Yeah, I love this woman. "So, what do you want to do? Is there anything you've decided 'no' on, or changed your mind?"

"Yeah, actually I have." She says, looking around anxiously, but we're still quite a walk to get to Felix. "I started reading more, like erotic books, and it opened my eyes a lot more to possibilities."

"Your book porn." I comment with a laugh, and she slaps my arm in response.

"It's not porn!" She hisses lowly.

"Believe what you like, but that shit is porn." I chuckle, and she mumbles incoherent words under her breath. "So, what've you changed your mind on?"

"Not a lot, most of my opinions are the same, but I do have a few changes." She mumbles, looking around subconsciously again. "I have a definite 'no' on gagging, that's scary – I want to be able to speak."

"Okay, but to clear things up, does that mean my cock too?" I have to ask.

"You're desperate." She points out with a smug smile.

"Is it so bad that I want to see you on your knees with my cock down your throat? It's literally a dream of mine, darling." I say and she slaps my shoulder, giggling slightly.

"Uh, with restraints, I think... I think I need my hands in front of me." She says, and my heart aches knowing exactly why.

"Okay, whatever makes you comfortable." Her being uncomfortable is the last thing I want, and she gives me a little appreciative smile.

"Um, what else... oh yes. I researched into anal more." She says, surprising me. I really didn't think she'd change her mind. I remember she was open to toys and maybe a butt plug, but not actual anal. "It's why I thought the cock ring would be a good purchase. I'm not saying I want to do it now, maybe in a few months or something. But it's something I'm interested in now."

"Okay, you apparently know a lot about cock rings, what the fuck do they do?" I have to ask – I have never used one before, or even looked into it.

"Well, the one that we got you, that vibrates, so if you wear it and fuck me, it'll stimulate my clit at the same time of giving you pleasure. It makes you last longer, and before you come at me, you're perfect as it is, but if we want to explore more in the bedroom, it could come in handy." She says and I nod, the idea of it peaking my interest more and more as she speaks. "It can get quite overwhelming though apparently – I read some blogs."

"Has anyone told you, you read a lot about sex?" I ask and she giggles to herself. "I'm not complaining though. I'm also a massive hypocrite."

"Oh, yeah?" She asks. "What've you been reading up on then?"

"Recently? Wax play." I answer honestly, and she frowns at me. "It's where I light a candle, and either you or I will drip wax on either you or me."

"Won't that burn?" She asks with a concerned frown.

"That's the point." I chuckle.

"Do you actually have a pain kink?" She asks, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Yeah, I guess, but I don't know – I mean, I've gotten hard when getting a tattoo." I tell her. It's a weird thing to be quite frank. I've always been the person in charge when it's come down to sex, so I've never put myself out there and asked someone to hurt me. But God, when Francesca's nails dug into my back last night, clinging onto me like I was going to vanish when she squirted around me – fuck, it has me adjusting my shorts once again, just thinking about it.

"No, because that's different, even I like that." She says and I raise my brows, cocking my head to the side.

"How do you know you haven't got one yourself then?" I retort.

"Might do." She shrugs, and as I'm about to response, she mimics zipping her lips, joining our friends over at the volleyball poles.

"Finally!" Felix enthuses dramatically, resting his hand on one hip. "You didn't have to take like twenty minutes to walk over here, ya know? Gossiping grandmas."

Francesca looks at me, eyes full of amusement before she finally starts laughing, raising a taunting brow at him. "Felix, we weren't even five minutes."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." He rolls his eyes.

Francesca and Matt fall into conversation, so I lend a hand to help Felix and Hanna, securing the netting properly. I'm not a stranger to volleyball, in fact, every time we come here, Felix insists on us playing – most of the time he wins because I get bored and let him, but also because he's a very sore looser and I can't tolerate his moping around.

"Okay, you all know the rules, right?" Hanna asks, throwing the ball up into the air and catching it again.

"Sure." Matt's answer couldn't convince anyone. "Okay, maybe not."

Felix makes it his mission and proceeds to tell him the rules, making sure he's got it perfectly before we start the first round. We're already breaking the rule of three players aside though. Matt and Francesca are like literal children together, so I aren't at all optimistic that we will win, even with the extra person.

I prove myself wrong though, with a smile and a quick flip of the middle finger when we win the first round, my beautiful girl winning the first point.

We originally decided to play five rounds, so, we were winning by one, so to say. But, our victory was soon taken from us, minutes later when Felix snatched it away – him and Hanna are a feisty pair of people. You'd think three against two, we'd have a good shot, but Jesus, they were all over the place.

The third 'round' as we started calling them, Hanna won a point for their team which made them in the lead, and at that point, I was ready to give up and let them, however Matt's competitive streak came out. His energy came from nowhere, and at one point hoisted Francesca into the air, to save the ball and then went on to actually making a point by doing so.

Felix was fuming, made a massive point about how it was cheating and for the final round, he played dirty. He was lying on the sand at one point to stop the ball, Hanna jumping all over the place, but we were hardly any better.

There were moments I just caught myself staring at Francesca, she was like a different person – energetic, happy and looked so care free. I've not seen her like that ever, and it, at the same time, made my heart warm and ache.

The last round was by far the longest, it was like the whole point of it being 'just for fun' went out of the window, Felix and Hanna were out for blood at that point. I simply couldn't care less, but I really don't want to let Felix win, so I do what I have to do to make sure that doesn't happen.

Before, I had only really cared about defense, making sure to get the ball back over, not really caring if it scored a point, however now, now I care. I'm tired and ready for this stupid game to end.

When Hanna hits the ball back over, practically feeding me the fucking opportunity as it makes its way towards my side, I smack it back over in Felix's direction, it most likely being a foul play if it was a professional game.

It's all in slow motion when the ball hits the sand, and before I know it, Francesca's arms are wrapping around my neck and she crashing her lips on mine in victory.

I scored, making us the winners... and him – my dick head of a brother – the loser.

Fucking finally.

"Hmm, you did it, baby." Francesca pulls away with a cheeky look on her face.

"Let me correct you, we did it." I cup her jaw, and she smiles wildly, settling back down on her feet in the sand. "Sight for sore eyes, darling, and sore cock."

"Ethan." She slaps my chest, and I chuckle at her little embarrassed reaction.

"What the fuck?! How was that fair?" Felix whines, and when I look over, he's laid in the sand, his arms in the air, defeated.

"Don't talk about fair, you were cheating the whole game!" Matt says, and Francesca nods, agreeing with him.

"Whatever." Felix mumbles to himself, and Hanna laughs, grabbing a bottle of water and unscrewing the cap. She's not even bothered about not winning... huh, surprising.

"Well, good game. I'm going to go back, and like, maybe nap and sunbathe or something." Hanna says, taking a massive step over Felix as she dismisses herself.

"Hey, wait up!" Matt calls after her, leaving Francesca and I, as well as Felix on the floor.

"Fine, leave! Let me cry in peace!" Felix says loud enough for them to hear, and I purse my lips, looking at my darling girl.

"Wanna get wet?" Francesca asks, watching my reaction at the choice of her words. I don't know how she seems to shock me still, but she does. "Come with me."

"Fuck, Francesca." She will be the death of me.

"Come." She whispers, holding out her hand for me to take, but instead I grab the back of her thighs, hoisting her up. Her legs tangle around my waist, and I suck in a breath when she tightens herself around me, her center pushing right up against my crotch. "Can feel you, Ethan, let's go cool you down."

"Darling, we're not having sex in the ocean." There's children around.

"I know." Is all she answers back.

Since she's pretty smug with her little self, teasing me like she has been doing, I give her a little payback once we get into the ocean. I act all nice, keeping her up around my waist while I walk further, until the water is flowing around my waist, and when she doesn't expect it, I grab under her armpits and throw her backwards into the water.

She gasps loudly, standing up sharply at the cold water, and she stares at me in disbelief, slowly moving her wet hair from her face. "You absolute bastard!"

She launches herself at me, making me tumble backwards as she wraps her legs and arms back around me, and in seconds we're both submerged under the cold water when I let myself fall back with her.

We come back up, a slight shiver running through me and she grins from ear-to-ear, smiling wildly. I keep my knees bent, so our bodies are submerged, and I bring my hand to her face, moving her hair out of the way for her.

"So beautiful, darling." I comment, and she shyly ducks her head into my neck. "This wet enough for you?"

"Don't know, honestly. Think I could get a bit wetter." She says, pulling back, and I curse under my breath. My little tease.

She's so effortlessly beautiful – water drops cascading slowly down her face, no makeup in sight, heightened freckles, and bright forest green eyes. My beautiful girl. I don't know how I've ended up getting so lucky with her.

"So, Francesca Arabella Salatino." I start and she smiles, raising a brow.

"Yes, Ethan Anthony Kane." She replies back with my full-name, and I fight the urge to groan. I honestly don't know why I ever admitted I had a middle name, nevertheless caved and told her it.

"Do you want to go out tonight?" I ask, hoping that she'll say yes.

"As a group?" She questions.

"No, just us." Now, I'm feeling nervous.

"Oh... like a date?" She asks, and I hesitantly nod. "Wait, are you, Ethan Anthony Kane, asking me out on a date?"

"Not if you use my full-name again, I won't." I emptily threaten, and she squeals with delight, tightening her arms around my neck.

"Yes! Yes, I'll go out with you tonight." She says quickly before crashing her lips on mine, in a breathtaking kiss.

Fuck, I'll never get used to this. I don't think I'll ever.

~~~~~

A/N

HOLA... long time, no see. Jkjk, it's been, what, a week since you last got an update?

Well, here is my time to explain. Basically my laptop full on crashed, logged me out and wouldn't let me get back in to access my unbacked up documents which had this chapter on... so I had temporarily lost it. I honestly thought I could never get this back or get back into it, but after trying for nearly a week, I did it! I'm so happy too, because there were actually 5 rewritten chapters of his little tease on there too, and honestly, I was devastated.

But I'm back, and after 3 weeks, I've finished this chapter. This took forever.

This is actually such a comfort chapter of mine, I've read it back at least four times already. I love Ethan so much, and I'm trying to open him up a little more so you guys can see into his brain, but without spoiling what happened in the past. I know I'm a pest, keeping things for you, but if I just randomly blabbed about what happened to him, it would not make sense. There's a story line to go along with, and what happened in his past is NOT passing conversation. I already know what chapters it'll be, and you're going to wait a while.

Life update: I'm so close to hitting 100K on never & forever, and I've recently hit 500K on His Little Tease which is fucking mental That's half a million reads?! Half a million. I can't comprehend that in all honesty. I love both of my babies so much, and I don't fucking deserve it, I really don't. I never expected to have an audience, I didn't expect anyone to read it nevertheless love what I wrote, and every single time I come online to see more reads. It's fucking overwhelming, and I can't put it into words. I just – thank you, thank you all so much.

Question of the chapter:

Favorite cuisine?

Italian.

I hope this chapter was okay!

Thank you for reading! Please comment your thoughts, vote by pressing the little star, and if you want, you can follow me too. I'm also on Instagram – @daisyclouds89 Xx

7765  words

~ B