Drum roll please….it seems my muse had decided to stay and give me some inspiration when it comes to getting the back story more involved.

Again a huge thank you for the support from all those who have read, reviewed etc…

Enough of me talking onto the fun!

I own nothing dealing with the movie shooter, blah, blah, blah…

Enjoy!

Chapter Ten

Feeling the other mans eyes on him; the hatred that practically radiated from the seemingly calm depths Swagger tried his damndest not to shift from one foot to the other. While praise for his skills was something he was accustomed to with all the tournaments he'd won growing up it felt different coming from the woman with her hand still on his shoulder. Made a kind of warmth flow all the way down to his toes.

However he had the strange feeling it made his fellow marine have stabbity urges that he did not want to be on the receiving end of. Never one to give a damn what other people thought of him he also didn't want to be responsible for any break down in the morale. Which would surely happen if he and the young woman were anything more then friendly in front of the blonde haired man.

"Military spent a lot of time and money training me." Swagger shrugged. "Guess it wasn't a waste after all."

Chuckling at his humility; or the fact that the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife; Eden knew the man didn't like to play up the fact that he was one of the best sharpshooters the military had ever seen. Everyone in her family had medals for winning shooting tournaments but nothing compared to what the marine had gathered during his life.

Racking her brain to find a reason to send Phillip away without seeming rude Eden thanked whatever god had been watching over them tonight when Todd came up the stairs; cell phone plastered to his ear.

"Phillip I need you to come down and take over for Brock so he can head to the club to help the others." Her brother informed. "Unless Eden wants you to stay here."

"No I think that's a good idea." She agreed. "Swagger and I were with Melanie when the chaos started. It's logical she'd want us close by."

Nodding his agreements as he started speaking into the phone once again neither one of them missed the grimace that marred Phillip's movie star handsome face before he followed the other man downstairs. Breathing a sigh of relief that he didn't try to start something Eden took a moment to lean against the wall. Allowing herself to regroup and file all the events of the night into her brain.

Hairs on the back of her neck standing up she opened her eyes to see Swagger staring at her; resting against the heavy railing with his strong arms crossed over his chest. Something about the man made her able to let her guard down without worrying whether or not she'd get ambushed for doing so.

To want to tell him everything without hesitation. Knowing he wouldn't judge her for being human. No one else she worked with; no one in her family would do that either. But with him there was just something different that she couldn't explain; couldn't put a finger on. Or maybe she didn't want to because the answer would scare the living shit out of her.

Right now it was the concern pooling in his blue green depths. The same concern she'd seen when they'd been arguing at the club. It was more then that of one collogue for another but rather what a man feels for a woman he cares about. Which made no sense seems how they'd known each other less than twenty four hours; meeting as his home not counting.

It was honestly enough to make her want to burst into tears. The last week had been nothing but work overload and she'd had very little sleep. Of course the fact that she wasn't sleeping well when she got some probably had something to do with it. Trying to keep up appearances while setting up to take Johnson and his men had been no easy task for any of them. Fortunately for her brothers there were no kids to worry about; yet.

Combine lack of sleep; the nightmares she'd been plagued with as of late; work out the ass to do and incident that had happened at the club made her ready to break down into a crying, blubbering idiot.

"Something tells me I made an enemy instead of a friend tonight." Swagger finally spoke.

"Are we talking about Melanie or Phillip?" Eden grinned despite her fatigue.

"Both." Swagger offered. "More him then her though considering we work together."

"I wouldn't worry about it." Eden waved him off. "He'd just protective like the rest of the men in my family. After a while you won't even notice the way he acts."

"It's more then being protective." Swagger gently chided. "He cares about you; a lot."

"I know." Eden admitted. "At one point I thought I could return the feelings.."

"But not now?" Swagger was curious.

"No." Eden agreed. "And I told him as much; did my best not to lead him on. In the end I guess it wasn't enough."

Seeing the sorrow in her eyes for something that was out of her control Swagger didn't stop his self from moving. Within a foot of her he reached out; gently trying to remove the dirt that had smeared on her tan skin. Watching as she closed her eyes briefly at the contact before focusing them on him he felt every instinct in him go into hyper drive.

"You can't change how people feel; it is what it is." Swagger whispered. "Though I can't say I blame him."

"Blame him for being over protective?" Eden was finding it hard to think with his calloused hand against her smooth skin.

"For caring about you." Swagger informed. "It's kind of hard not to."

"You wouldn't be saying this to suck up for the fact that you took my brothers side earlier?" Eden wondered.

"Maybe." Swagger shrugged. "But more because it's true. You're an amazing woman Eden and you don't even know it."

"Swagger I…" She murmured.

Knowing what was coming next Eden didn't try to stop him. Didn't offer any protest or move her head as his leaned down to capture her lips; hand on his broad chest the only kind of opposition she'd tried to offer.

Wanting to make it nothing more then a light brush of skin on skin like back in his living room once they connected it was all out the window. Forgetting where they were; what they were suppose to be doing he inclined his head to deepen the kiss. Wrapping the hand currently on her cheek around the back of her neck.

Allowing him to take over she shivered as she felt his tongue dart into her mouth; warring with her own. Without a thought she wrapped her arms around his neck; pulling him closer. For the first time in a long time she felt normal. Like a woman who went shopping with her friends; biggest worry being to go pick up the kids on time. Not dodging bullets and kicking crack head ass.

Reigning in the fire he could feel creeping into his veins he drew back from her lips; not wanting to leave the softness they created against his own rough ones. She brought out a passion in him that he'd thought had been lost three years ago. But he didn't want to push things and honestly was expecting her to punch him in the face.

Instead she was looking at him with her head cocked; eyes searching his own for a moment. As if she wasn't sure what to do with him or about what had just happened. With every fiber of his being he prayed he hadn't just ruined the friendship they'd managed to forge.

Lips swollen from his brief assault it was hard to really continue to give a damn about that at the moment.

"I'm sorry; I shouldn't have…." Swagger started.

"Honestly it's okay." Eden gave a small smile. "At least I think it is….I don't have the urge to punch you so I guess were good."

Breathing out a sigh of relief along with a chuckle Swagger opened his mouth to say more but instantly shut it when the door next to Eden's head cracked open. Not wanting to give anyone the impression that she was being anything but professional he stepped back; arms folded across his chest once again.

Out of the small space came Melanie's head; though it was hard to tell it was her. Gobs of make up completely gone; hair drying from the shower it was still full but not poofed with so much hairspray it couldn't move.

"Um..Ms. Blackmore could I talk to you for a minute?"

Voice having come out so tiny Eden had to strain to hear it she was surprised at the young woman's request. Unsure about what she would have to say the SEAL pushed herself up from where she'd been leaning against the wall during her make out session with Swagger. Hoping her cheeks weren't turning red at the memories she tried her hardest to not look away when their eyes locked.

"Let my brother know I'm in with the client if he needs me."

"Will do." He gave a nod of the head.

Hand on the door knob she hesitated after seeing that Melanie had moved back into her room. Against her better judgment she turned back to the man who was watching her in curiosity; concern still radiating from his gaze. Stepping towards him she placed a hand on either side of his face; leaning in to place a gentle kiss on his lips.

Before he could deepen the embrace she pulled away; wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. Unable to help his self he felt the wave of protectiveness wash over him as he returned the gesture, arms wrapped around her tiny waist. This woman that was so fragile feeling yet the strongest person he knew. A woman he'd almost lost tonight.

"Thank you; for everything." She whispered.

With that she was gone from his arms before he wanted her to be; sliding in the open door of the clients room. Small smile on her face the last thing he saw. Leaning his heavy frame against the sturdy railing he tried to stop his legs from shaking. Adrenaline having left his body a while ago it'd been hard for him to keep focused while his body adjusted.

Then he had to go and make a move on Eden. Not that he regretted what had just happened between them because he didn't; never would. But the feelings he was having for her were so strong he wasn't sure how to handle them. It wasn't that he'd been a monk his entire life. He knew what it was like to be in love. To care about someone so much you'd do anything to protect them.

But it had never been this fast; this all consuming. He'd known the woman all of going on almost forty eight hours and he couldn't get enough. As sure as he'd known it when they'd been together in his apartment earlier in the day that once he crossed the line there was no going back.

Problem was he had the strange feeling Eden didn't feel the same way. There'd been no mistaking the passion he'd felt in her kiss. Or the fact that she hadn't run away from their embrace. But as sure as he'd seen the thankfulness in her depths he saw hesitation as well. Like she was unwilling to get herself hurt again.

Focusing back on the task at hand he took his post next to the door so he'd have a full view of the house below. Making a resolve to his self as well as the young SEAL that he'd take things slow but there was also no way he was going to be giving up on her. On them and what he knew was between them.

It was a spark that would never go away and he'd be damned if he'd let her run away with her tale between her legs. Knowing they might be the second chance at love that the other was looking for.