Title: For Keeps
Category: Smallville
Genre: Romance
Ship: Chloe/Oliver
Rating: PG
Challenge: Shuffle your MP3/iPod and write what fits
Song: #01 – Russian Roulette//Rihanna
Word Count: 347
Summary: She considers this a test; one she must pass.

For Keeps
-Drabble-

She takes a breath, deeply, another. Tries to calm herself, her heart, so loud and pounding he could no doubt see it beating through her chest. She's terrified but she won't leave, won't give up.

His fingers are at her temple, sliding through her hair, gentle, soft. And she relaxes into him, falls a little; she questions what the hell she's doing. Friends. Lovers. A line not to be crossed. Fun. Trust. No strings attached. It should be easy; as simple as smiling and letting it happen.

But this is him, this is Oliver. And he stands there, so at ease, so calm. And when he leans in to kiss her, he offers, "Close your eyes, sometimes it helps." She realizes all too clearly that he's used to this, has done this before; she shouldn't be surprised. She's only had one lover before him and it's laughable to think he'd be the same. She knows for a fact he was with Lois and Tess and countless others.

She considers this a test though; close her eyes, let it happen, or face it for what it really is and accept that this was a game she was walking into with all of herself well aware. His arm slides around her waist, bracing, possessive in a way she hadn't expected. And it goes unsaid but known; this is solid, this is just between them, this will keep them grounded without having to look elsewhere and risk too much.

All she has to do is pull the trigger, walk into that embrace and let herself go.

So she wraps her arms around his neck, tilts her heads, stares into those deep brown eyes that promise fun, excitement, someone she can fall back on and know will always be there to catch her. She thinks she can do this, thinks she can have this with him and walk away in tact. But when his lips meet hers, her eyes fall closed and she knows only one thing for certain.

Oliver Queen plays for keeps and now that he's got her, he won't let her go.