AN- I am without internet at home (accept on my IPhone) so I have problems answering all your reviews and it is slowing me down for updating. I am going to try to update every other day. So thank you to everyone for all your reviews and encouragement. By the way JE owns all characters. I just enjoy living out a little fantasy with them.

Last Time:

I shuffled Tank to the door giving him a chaste kiss good bye.

"Big Bear you go home and do what you have to do. What time should I be ready?" Tank looked at the clock before answering.

"One hour and pack a bag Little One we are staying overnight."

I watched Tank walk away while licking my lips. Yummmmm.

SPOV- Continued

Tank picked me up for our date exactly one hour after he left and boy did he look hot. We headed to the SUV and Tank opened the hood and did some tinkering, then under the back bumper before he finally got into the car.

"Little one please open the glove compartment and flip the switch in there." I did what he asked and looked at him questionably.

"I just shut off all the GPS trackers so if you have any on you lets leave them here." I picked up my purse and handed it to Tank without saying a word. Tank took his time and pulled out a pen, compact and barrette.

"Big Bear are you kidding me? I knew about the pen but the compact I got from Ella and the barrette's were a gift from Lester." I trailed off as I realized what I said.

"I can't believe this. I mean why would they lie to me or give me fake gifts?" I started tearing up and Tank pulled me closer to him tucking me into his chest and running his hands through my hair. For some reason this always calmed me and I realized that this was not the first occasion that he had done this. I realized that Tank was showing me how he loved me in little ways over the past year. I stopped crying and just inhaled his scent. The SUV had a bench seat so Tank buckled me in the middle seat and started the car before tucking me back in and pulling out of the parking lot. After driving about five minutes Tank began to talk.

"Little one, they meant no harm and the gifts were not fake they were given out of love and concern for your safety. Lester is your best friend and would be lost without you and Ella has adopted you and thinks of you as her own child." I tilted my head and looked at Tank. He had a point. Ella really had replaced my mom. My mom didn't even talk anymore. Ever since Joe and I declared a moratorium on our relationship Helen Plum had decided that I was not good enough to be her daughter. Oh that made me think of my dad.

"Big Bear, Can I use your phone to call my dad? I need to let him know I am offline and out of contact." Tank chuckled.

"Already done Little one. Your dad and I have become quite close in the past year and he know how much I care about you and I quote "you have permission to court my little girl but if you hurt her I will kill you". Your dad is quite the character and we meet for lunch at least once a week at his club which he sponsored me into." Wow my dad never offered to sponsor Joe and Joe really wanted into the club as that is what you did in the Burg.

"Wow, you really must have impressed my dad." I then curled into Tank and promptly dropped off.

I awoke when we parked. I picked my head off of Tank's chest and looked out the window. We were at Seaside Heights. This is the place that Tank said he began to fall in love with me and I was glad that he wanted to take me here after he become honest with his feelings for me. Tank got out of the car and came over to the other side. We checked into one room in the Aztec hotel. I walked out to our verandah and was watching the water when Tank came up and wrapped his arms around me.

"C'mon Little one, let's change and hit the beach." I turned in Tanks arms and gave him a quick kiss.

"Alright Big Bear, let's go." I wriggled out of Tanks arms and grabbed my bag. Once in the bathroom I pulled out my little bikini that I had bought at Wet Seal. This was the smallest bikini I had ever bought and I hoped Mary Lou was right about how good I looked in it. Tank had yelled that he was finished changing in the room and I could come out. I slowly opened the door and walked into the room. Tank was staggered.

"Little one, Steph, is that the only suit you brought with?" I knew Mare was wrong. I looked like crap. Shit I said that out loud.

"No baby, as a matter of fact Little one I am afraid to take you on the beach because I will undoubtedly allow my jealousy to get me into a fight. No one should be able to look at my woman dressed like you are." I started giggling. I couldn't help it.

"Big Bear, do you know that I feel the same way and just think you are topless?" Tank actually blushed. He didn't say anything. Tank grabbed the beach towels and a bottle of Sunblock and off we went. The hotel was located right on the boardwalk and a beach entrance. Once on the beach Tank pulled me too a spot away from people and out of the sun in the shade of the amusement pier. We laid our towels out and I asked Tank to rub some lotion on my back.

"Sure Little one, then I am going to swim some laps." I smirked.

"Listen Big Bear I wasn't born yesterday and I know they do not drain the ocean every night so you cannot make me believe you swim the length of the ocean." Tank started full out laughing.

"No Stephy, when I say swim laps I mean I will swim from the pier to the end of the boardwalk and back."

"You are serious aren't you?" Tank was still laughing as I questioned him.

"Yes Little one, now turn over and lay down." I hastily did as instructed and Tank started to rub lotion on my shoulders and back gently kneading my muscles. As he started down my legs my suit grew damp with arousal and I couldn't help but moan. I turned my head and looked at Tank. Inside I was dancing. Tank's erection was practically sticking out of his swim shorts and his face looked pained. I turned back and laid down again.

"OK Baby, I am going for a swim." Tank's voice sounded so strained I was struggling not to laugh.

I must have fallen into a dream like state and when I awoke I felt like someone was watching me. I was still on my stomach and I turned my head to Tank's towel but it was empty. I was very close to being under the pier giving the illusion of being dark and scary. Ah hell it was dark and scary under the pier and as kids we were always warned of the danger of being under the pier. Being this close to the pier was making my spidey sense go crazy. I chuckled to myself "Crazy woman, always feeling scared when no one is around." It was at that second that I felt a presence behind me and I quickly turned over and scooted into a sitting position. There were three rather large men watching me. I say rather large because after being around the merry men it really took a lot to impress me. They were arranged with one in the front and then the other two flanked him. You could easily tell who the leader was and who the followers were.

The one in the center moved closer to my towel and tried to intimidate me. He was towering over me and had a vicious look on his face.

"Hey Mami, we are having a party and you are going to be my date?" The other two seemed almost bored.

"Um I have a boyfriend and even if I didn't there was no way I would date you." The guy started turning red and looking pissed. He turned to his friends and nodded and they moved to stand around me. I was starting to get worried and I had seen the merry men do this during distractions and FTA apprehensions. This scenario could go two ways. Hopefully someone will notice what was going on but I doubted it. I could sense the two guys getting closer to the back of me while I was trying to watch the one in the front. All of a sudden the two behind me grabbed my arms and started to pull me to my feet. I struggled and kicked. As soon as the leader got close enough I kicked him in the balls. He screamed and went down only to be picked up by his throat. I started crying as I realized Tank was here. It took just one hit and the leader was down. The two holding me let me go and decided to run but tripped over me when I fell. Tank was on them in a second and finally someone noticed and came running over. I quickly yelled to the lifeguard that the three were trying to kidnap me and Tank was trying to protect me. Next came the police. By the time all was said and done the three would be kidnappers were handcuffed and I was on Tanks lap crying. The detective that showed up to interview me stated that the men fit the description of men that raped a woman last night after drugging her drink. Tank finally got us released and he carried me to our room sitting me in the bathroom. He started the water in the tub and turned to me. He hugged me close and untied my top and bottoms standing me and letting the suit fall off. Tank lifted me into the up and grabbed a cup gently washing my hair and body. When he went over my arms where the men had grabbed me he tensed and I could fill the anger rolling off him.

I started crying and I couldn't stop. I didn't like that Tank was mad at me. I really didn't do anything this time but fall asleep on the beach. How many women do this on a daily basis? I mean how can I be such a danger magnet. Tank lifted me out of the tub and wrapped me is a fluffy towel before carrying me into the room and gently laying me on the bed.

"Tank I am so sorry. Please don't be mad. I didn't mean for this to happen. I was only sleeping." Tank gathered me in his arms and held me close. He still smelled like the ocean. I liked it.

"Baby, Little one, I am not mad at you. I am mad that I was not there to protect you. I am mad that I was unaware of my surroundings." I sighed into Tank's chest and snuggled closer. My adrenaline from the situation had left and I was quickly falling asleep.

"Sleep Little one. I will wake you in time to go to dinner. I have something very special planned." I fell asleep wondering what Tank had planned.

I woke to Tank gently shaking my shoulder and kissing my far head. It was a wonderful way to wake up.

"Stephy, get in the shower and dress casual. I am starved." I jumped out of bed and grabbed my bag heading into the bathroom. I didn't need a shower since I had already had a bath so I just dressed and then tried to tame my hair. Well after throwing my mess of a mane into a ponytail I kept my sun kissed face makeup free. I walked out of the bathroom and into a solid wall known as Tank. Tank looked great. It was very unusual for me to see any of the merry men dressed in black but seeing Tank dressed in khaki's and a turquoise polo was a sight to behold. My panties were already getting damp.

I twirled around to see if Tank liked my short little skirt and open back top. Tank whistled and took a second to run his hands down my arms checking the little bruises that the would be kidnappers had left. I lightly smacked him in the chest.

"C'mon Big Bear, let's go feed the beast." Tank grabbed my hand and after pocketing the key and grabbing my purse out the door we went. We strolled hand in hand down the boardwalk before stopping at the end of the boardwalk.

"C'mon Little one, we are going just a little further." I followed Tank onto the sidewalk and on the beach. We came to a little trail of lined by luminaries which we followed to a blanket down by the water. The blanket was set with a beautiful array of food and drinks. Tank sat me down and then sat down next to me stretching out and grabbing a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. He scooped a strawberry out dipping it in the cream and held it to my lips. I licked the cream before taking the whole strawberry out of Tanks fingers gently taking his fingers into my mouth with the strawberry and lightly sucking on them. Tank hissed.

"Big Bear, stop messing around and feed me. I am sure you have more plans for me tonight." Tank wasted no time putting together a plate for me. Tank and I finished dinner and walked back towards the room shoeless and aimless dipping our feet in the gently lapping waves. It was the most beautifully romantic evening I had ever spent. When we arrived at the room we entered and Tank pushed me against the door taking my mouth with a passionate tenderness that I had never felt before.

"Baby, tell me if you want me to stop." Tank said in between kisses.

"Never stop Big Bear, never stop." I threw my legs around his waist and held on as he turned and carried me to the bed. Tank lay me down and worshipped every part of my body with his lips. Our clothes mysteriously disappeared and we revered each other until we were both sated and sleepy. We cuddled into each other and fell asleep.