CHAPTER 7- LOLLIPOPS AND LIPGLOSS

How the hell did he end up here? He should be at the Clocktower thoroughly loving Chloe until they both fell into an exhausted, satisfied sleep. It took all of his self-control to exit the limousine and enter the exclusive restaurant that he had chosen for their date. Oliver castigated himself. "I should have ordered in at the Clocktower," he fumed silently. "Now, I'm here waiting for Chloe to return from the ladies' room and we haven't even ordered appetizer." Oliver was frustrated, aroused and wanted nothing more than to be alone with Chloe exploring her luscious form and finally satisfying his unfulfilled desires. "It is going to be a long evening," Oliver sighed.

What was keeping her? Oliver motioned to the hovering waiter to bring him a refill on his drink. As the waiter hurried to refill his drink, Oliver took what he hoped was a calming breath. "Patience, Ollie," he admonished himself. He was so close to achieving his goal. Oliver chuckled. So often in his life people took him at face value, never guessing that behind his smiling exterior there was a warrior driven to protect and defend. He had been underestimated so many times in his life that he used it to his advantage, allowing business rivals to believe that he was just a playboy dilettante. They learned to their detriment that Oliver was a brilliant tactician, cutting off all avenues of escape and annihilating his enemy.

He was focused, highly motivated and once he set you in his sights, his aim was unerring. Chloe was one of the few individuals who understood and accepted all sides of his personality. But even Chloe had not seen this side of his personality, the determined, undeterred lover.

She had come to mean the world to him, in fact, she was his world. A refuge from the ugliness that he encountered day after day, night after night in both the corporate and urban jungles. Her warm smile and concerned tone were a balm to his often wounded spirit. Chloe saw the hero in him even when he couldn't see it himself. She had braved the doors of hell to extricate him from its depths. He needed her both professional and personally and tonight she would be his. Chloe Sullivan was his target and everyone knew Oliver always hit his target. Oliver took a sip from his now renewed drink and thought once again: "Patience." With a small, satisfied smile on his lips, Oliver sat back in the secluded booth he had requested for their intimate dinner and waited patiently for the woman he loved to return.

Chloe regarded her reflection in the bathroom mirror. After the torrid exchange between herself and Oliver in the limo, she needed a little time to pull herself together. She had lost all sense of time in Oliver's arms. When the chauffeur had discreetly knocked on the glass panel, she realized that she had been about to succumb to Oliver's passionate kisses and caresses. This was a side of Oliver that she had not experienced before. There had always been an easy camaraderie between them from the first, that had only deepened over time. There were times when she swore that they shared one mind, during meetings, they would often look at each other and know instinctively what the other was thinking.

Lately though, there was a different quality to Oliver's glances. She would find him staring at her and slowly, over time, she felt that he was looking at her as a woman he desires. Chloe took a calming breath and rummaged in her evening bag for her new lip gloss. Oh, there it was. She need more because Oliver had kiss of the gloss she had applied earlier in the evening. She had felt like another woman entirely in that darkened car. She had reveled in Oliver's passionate kisses and the feel of his hands on her bare skin. His response to her soft touches were a revelation. She knew that Oliver was a very experienced lover with a long and varied sexual history, but he trembled at her touch. Chloe knew that everything that occurred earlier was merely the prelude to something truly explosive. She knew that there was no turning back from this moment. "Big Girl Panties," Chloe thought. She acknowledged to herself that this was what she wanted. She could no longer hide behind the pain and sorrow of the past. This was her time to walk into the sun, leaving the shadows behind. She knew that she had not emerged unscathed, but she was stronger, more durable, a survivor. The time to meet her future had arrived. Chloe took a deep breath and applied a fresh coat of her lip gloss. As she dropped her lip gloss into her bag, she didn't notice that her eyes glowed with a red intensity momentarily.

As she checked her reflection one last time before rejoining Oliver, she felt a warmth suffuse her form. Chloe smiled at her reflection, approving the wanton look the gloss gave her lips. Her lips were already swollen from Oliver's impassioned kisses but the gloss made them even more prominent.

"Damn, Chloe, you are looking might sexy tonight," she thought. Nothing helped a woman's confidence more than knowing that a man she desires, wants her in return.

Chloe felt intoxicated with the sense of her own potent sensuality, it was as if a light switch had been turned on. Her entire body felt more sensitive and aware, her skin luminous. Chloe smiled wickedly at her reflection and turned to exit the bathroom. "Mr. Queen is not going to know what hit him," she thought. The Professor was going to show him a few things.

Oliver glanced up and immediately did a double take. Chloe was a vision in her green silk dress. Her hips undulated sensually as she made her way back to their secluded table. Oliver was literally mesmerized by her. To his chagrin, Oliver became aware that his gaze was not the only one trained on Chloe. Other male patrons were watching her progress across the room with the intensity of lions stalking a gazelle.

"Damn it, if I had ordered in, I wouldn't have to watch other men ogle my woman tonight," Oliver thought. Oliver realized that he was jealous. He didn't want other men openly desiring Chloe. Oliver knew that his response to the sexual interest of the male patrons was natural, but he thought of Chloe as his own pocket treasure. He wanted to scoop her up and remove her from the restaurant somewhere where they could be alone and he could stake his claim.

Oliver continue to watch hungrily as he tracked Chloe's progress to their table. Chloe's eyes met his and she realized that Oliver's gaze was totally trained on her. She felt an inner thrill, and a heady rush of power. Oliver wanted her. She was on a "date" with one of the world's most eligible bachelors.

"Wow," Chloe marveled.

Chloe then proceeded to give Oliver a warm smile and flirtatious look as she arrived at their table.

"I hope I was worth the wait," she said.

As Chloe sat down, she leaned forward slightly and was delighted to discover that Oliver's eyes were focused on her decolletage.

"Oliver?"

Oliver quickly looked up and tried to recover his composure.

"Always," he responded.

"This place is gorgeous, Oliver." "You really know how to turn a lady's head," Chloe stated.

"Is this one of your usual seduction sites?" Chloe inquired.

Oliver frowned. "Chloe, he admonished, I have NEVER brought any other woman here before, only you." "You are special and I wanted a setting that would enhance your beauty and provide us with privacy to enjoy each other's company.

Oliver leaned forward and continued, "If you wish to go somewhere else, you have only to ask and we are out of here".

Oliver continued to stare directly into Chloe's eyes, wanting to impress upon her that she was unique and special to him.

As Chloe listened to Oliver's response to her inquiries, she saw the desire that burned in his eyes. Pleased and emboldened, she immediately got up and sat next to him. She then softly touched him on the thigh and looked into his eyes.

"Ollie…this place is beautiful, like something out of a fairytale." "Thank you."

Oliver slowly, sensually smiled and placed his large hand over Chloe's, engulfing her tiny hand. To Chloe's surprise, he raised her hand to his lips and placed a kiss in her palm, all the while gazing directly into her eyes. Chloe was mesmerized by Oliver's actions and felt her stomach flip when Oliver quickly flicked his tongue against her palm. She felt moist and her nipples hardened in response to his intimate caress. In response, Chloe leaned forward and placed her other hand on Oliver's muscular thigh and squeezed, enjoying the feel of him.

"Are you flirting with me, Mr. Queen?"

"Absolutely, Ms. Sullivan, was I being too subtle?", Oliver returned smoothly. "That seems to be a problem with us, too much subtlety."

"Us?", Chloe laughed.

"No, Ollie, subtlety has not been a big problem for us". I don't believe you can be more overt than you were on our recent limo ride.", Chloe asserted.

Oliver snorted. "I was obviously not overt enough because here we are in this restaurant and not where I prefer to be." Oliver leaned forward and gave Chloe his most sincere smile.

"Ollie, did the innocent, puppy dog eyes look work on your previous conquests?," Chloe asked raising an inquisitive eyebrow. Oliver smiled wickedly and whispered into Chloe's ear, "Does that mean that you are my current conquest?"

Chloe felt the heat emanating from Oliver's body and experienced an immediate magnetic pull towards him. She gave into her body's demand and snuggled closer to Oliver simultaneously sliding her hand higher on his thigh.

Oliver started and glanced down at Chloe's hand, enthralled by her touch.

Chloe smiled innocently and inquired "Are you ok, Oliver?" She then proceeded to squeeze his thigh once more, all the while leaning forward slightly so that Oliver could have better view of her breasts. She was so enjoying her feeling of power. Chloe was savoring his transfixed expression and the powerful emotions she was now feeling as she observed his physical reactions to the touch of her hand as it continued its path to the evidence of his excitement. As her fingers lightly brushed his erection, Oliver took Chloe's hand in his and groaned, "Chloe…don't…I'm barely maintaining control as it is."

Chloe felt an undeniable surge of excitement. It was incredibly thrilling to know that she could have such a powerful effect on such a man of the world. She removed her hand from his grasp and once more brushed her fingertips along his erection, smiling wickedly all the while.

"Lose it?" "Lose control?", she whispered seductively. "Me?"

"Chloe, don't play with me, you know you have me on edge, you may get more than you bargained for," he muttered. Oliver felt on edge due to Chloe's teasing and knew that a loss of control was inevitable should she continue in the same vein.

"Are you prepared for the consequences?", Oliver asked. "If you don't want this, say so now, Chloe". Oliver reluctantly removed Chloe's hand from his lap and placed it on top of the table.

"Behave", he admonished, "We still have to eat dinner."

"Maybe I'm not hungry for food?" Chloe teased.

"Really? "What are you hungry for?"

"You," Chloe stated blatantly.

Oliver started and looked at Chloe incredulously and immediately signaled for the waiter.

"Yes, sir?"

"Please prepare our meal to go, Santino."

"Ollie…"

"Hush, Chloe…I am going to satisfy your hunger." "Let's go…no more waiting," he stated.

Chloe opened her mouth to protest his arrogance, but quickly closed it, realizing that this was exactly what she wanted.

"Chloe…," Oliver asked inquisitively.

Chloe laughed and pulled Oliver's head down so that she could whisper in his ear. "Last one to the limo is a rotten egg," she taunted. She rose quickly and walked to restaurant's entrance.

Oliver sat transfixed for a moment by the sight of her shapely form, when he started, realizing belatedly that the waiter was waiting for his approval of the bill. Oliver scrawled his name quickly and rushed to follow Chloe, determined to make her his.

A/N: Thanks for all the encouraging words! I truly appreciate your thoughts and reviews. Please keep them coming.

Ladybelle