Eden's Pov

I sat there in bed very aware that Lester was sitting there next to me. I felt the heat from his body warming me and I smelled the scent that is only him. My body ached being this close to him and it wanted to be in his arms like I had gotten used too. I closed my eyes to still my running emotions and felt the bed begin to shake next to me. As I turned to look, Lester pinned me against the pillows.

"Wha, What are you doing?" I got out as his body hovered over mine. My heart rate sped up and I could feel it beating through my chest.

"Eden" he said his green eyes capturing mine " I love you. I think you are beautiful and I don't want any other girl but you. I told you that even if I wasn't here on RangeMan business that I would still have came. Tell me have you figured out why?"

"Its so, its so hard to believe you" I told him and he backed up from me and sat at the foot of the bed with his back facing me. A hurt look had came across his face and I hated that it was from me it came. I rose up and sat on my knees behind him.

"I'm not a liar Eden. I'm a man of honor, a man of strength, and even though I have taken on different identities to gain info that we needed when it comes to co-workers, friends, and family I don't lie and I'd do anything to keep them safe from harm, so if I have to lie to make that happen I damn will do it" he told me. I didn't know what to say. All my life I was made fun of for my clothes, weight, and hair. I was watched how I ate and how I walked and now this man that is sitting in front of me was saying how interested he was in me, it was just unbelievable.

Lester is strong with muscles everywhere, he is so good looking all talk dark and handsome that every girl swoons and drools when he walks by. He's got these amazing emerald green eyes that sparkle when he is being mischievous and he wants me? I am overweight, dress conservatively. Keep to myself, and not very experienced in the bedroom like I'm sure Lester is. And he wants me to believe he wants me?

"Its not been easy on me too you know" he said "I have history too" When I heard him say that my eyes flicked up to the back of his head. Lester turned around to me and our eyes locked.

"Ranger and I ran the streets when we were younger. We were wise ass kids you couldn't tell nothing. We hung out with gangs, got in fights, stole, and drank, you name it we did it. Our parents didn't know what to do with us. Rangers parents finally had enough and told him either juvey or live with our Gramma in Florida.

I sat there and listened as Lester told me his story of his younger years. He told me how Ranger had come back to Jersey and how they enlisted in the army together and how they rose in the ranks and met some of their other friends there. He also told me about starting RangeMan and being looked at by everyone they meet when walking down the street. My heart went out to him, I never even thought that Lester might have had a back story as well. I was always wrapped up in my own issues I never thought he has some as well. Lester was who I had met and he was always , well Lester.

"I'm sorry" I blurted out

"For what?" he asked his eyebrows scrunching up " You haven't done anything wrong"

"Yes I did, I never even considered your past, I was and am always wrapped up in mine" I told him

"Oh Eden" he said touching my cheek "Thats all in the past, yes it is my story but being in the Army and meeting the guys I changed everything around. Now I've seen some pretty ugly stuff , but I'm not that kid that ran the streets getting into trouble anymore and thats what I want to happen for you. I want you too see you can get over your past and come out stronger than before"

I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. The moment he put his arms around me, I felt the warmth, safety, and love that I felt back in Jersey seep into me. God I wanted this so much, but could I forget the words of his co-worker and put my trust back into Lester?

"Is it really true?" I asked my head on his shoulders

"What is baby?"

"Oh Les please don't lie to me, is it true you really love me?" I asked my breathing and heart stopping.

"Yes Eden, I have fallen in love with you and I will do everything I can to prove it to you and have you believe me again" A sob tore from my throat and Lester tightened his hold on me.

"Shhhh" he crooned into my ear " Let me hold you please. Eden let me hold you just for the night. We can sort all this stuff out tomorrow, for now lets just sleep"

I pulled back from him and nodded my head. I moved back to the top of the bed and watched as Lester climbed under the covers and patted the bed by his side. I settled my back against his chest and he slid his hand over my hip. A surge of heat flew through me as I felt his hand slide over my skin on my hip. Lester's shirt I had wore had ridden up and I had exposed myself to him.

"Relax" he said feeling the tension in my body from him touching me and having his hand on my stomach "I just want to hold you, I promise nothing more"

Yea relax I thought when huge waves of desire was crashing over me.

Lester's Pov

Opening my eyes, I saw a mess of blond curls on my chest. I swept them to the side to reveal the sweet face of Eden. She was so relaxed and not a trace of worry was on her face. I always thought she was beautiful, but seeing her so comfortable with me made my heart swell.

Just like I had promised her we didn't do anything, but cuddle last night. Lord knows I want too, but I will not pressure her into having sex until she is fully ready and willing. I look over at the clock that is on the table and see that it is getting late. Eden wanted to go with me into work today and if we didn't get a move on it was going to be bad getting downtown. I easily picked her up and slid out from under her going to the bathroom.

Cracking open the door after my shower, I peeked into the room to see if Eden was still asleep or not. Seeing that she was how I had left her, I walked out into the room and went over to the dresser to dress. One I was dressed, I turned my attention to the woman in my bed. When I held her last night, it seemed like everything in my world fell into place and was just right. I loved her so much and I hope that sharing with her some of my past might just turn this relationship around.

"Eden" I said sitting on the side of the bed gently shaking her shoulder. She didn't move and I had the strong urge to just crawl back in beside her.

"Eden baby come on you have to get up, its getting late" I tell her nudging her again. Finally her eyes began to slowly open and when they did my heart was in my throat. Her eyes always got me, they were light brown and had these little gold flecks in and around them.

"Hey"

"Hey" she said stretching

"We need to get going" I told her. I hated that I had to wake her up, but I was going to have to start being serious with this RangeMan deal.

"K, give me a minute and I'll be good to go" she said flipping the covers back and going to the bathroom.

In just a few minutes, Eden came out of the bathroom all put together and awake. I don't know how she did it, but she did. As she combed through her hair and began winding it up, I walked up behind her and put my hands over hers stopping her.

"Leave it down" I whispered into her ear

"But I'm going to be meeting with the men in the building, I want to look professional"

"Trust me it wont matter"

Eden left her hair down, but she did pull up the sides. I took her hand in mine and turned her around.

"How did you sleep?" I asked her

"Honestly?" she asked her cheeks going pink as she looked from me.

"Please"

"Since coming home, it was the best sleep I've had" she confessed. I hooked my finger under her chink to make her look at me.

"Me too" I told her and she smiled at me

"ready?" she asked

"Yep, you?"

"Uhh huh"

"Lets go then" I said taking her hand and leading her out of the room

A/N I am changing the rating of this story to M for the next weekends chapter. Go to the filters button and click it and go to rating M and the Character Lester and you should find the story next weekend.

Thanks,

Karren