Lollipops and Lipgloss - Chapter 10
"This is what you get for wearing the Big Girl Panties," lamented Chloe.
"You wake up in bed with one of People Magazine's Most Beautiful People."
Chloe felt the weight of Oliver's arm around her waist as she tried to think of how to make a quick getaway without waking him up.
"Ok, Sullivan, think….think…you used to be good at that, right?"
"If I could just move his arm and make my way to the bathroom, I could…"
With that thought, a low but insistent buzzing sound occurred. Chloe froze, uncertain of its origin. Not an alarm, what was that sound?
A frantic glance around the bedroom ("Jesus, I'm in bed with a naked Ollie") revealed the culprit - her evening bag.
"Oh God, it's my phone!" she thought frantically. "Dear Lord, please don't let Oliver wake up."
Thankfully, the incessant buzzing stopped and Chloe breathed a sigh of relief.
"Chloe Sullivan…think…you need a plan of action," she admonished herself. "You need to get out of this bed, into your clothes and out of Oliver's penthouse.
Chloe took a deep breath and braced herself, ever so slowly removing Ollie's heavy arm ("Geez, what the hell was he eating?"), eased herself from the bed. Once that was accomplished, she gingerly gathered her dress, evening bag, and shoes and tip-toed to the sanctuary of his bathroom. Chloe snuck a peek back at Oliver who was still asleep, unaware of her great escape. After entering the bathroom and shutting the door, Chloe finally relaxed, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Lord, that was close, thank God he sleeps like a log," she joked to herself. "I wonder who was calling?" Chloe questioned. A quick review of her missed calls revealed that Lois had been calling her since early that morning. Chloe frowned.
"What trouble could Lois have gotten herself into now?" "Chloe, this is Lois we are talking about, trouble comes naturally to her, like breathing," she admonished herself. Chloe took a calming breath and dialed Lois' number. Lois picked up immediately.
"Chloe, where are you?" "I've been trying to reach you since late last night." "You will never believe what I am going to tell you." Chloe could hear the worry in Lois' voice and sought to reassure her.
"I'm fine, Lois." "Sorry to be late returning your calls."
"Chloe, are you sure you are ok?" "Your voice sounds different," Lois questioned. "Anyway, you're never gonna believe what I am going to tell you." "Remember the shop we visited yesterday and bought the fabulous lip glosses?" Lois barely took a breath before barreling on. "Well, the store was raided last night, seems the "secret ingredient" was Red K." "There were several reports of unusual behavior on the part of customers who had purchased their lip glosses," Lois confided. "Thank God I hadn't used mine yet."
Chloe felt her stomach drop.
"Chloe…Chloe?" "Isn't that something?" "Chloe?" "What IS going on?"
Chloe felt the walls of the bathroom closing in on her. Oh God, Red K in her lipgloss. Memories of the night before with Oliver overwhelmed her. Distracted, she glanced down and realized that Lois was still on the phone.
"Chlo…where ARE you?"
Chloe took a shaky but calming breath and tried to focus on dealing with Lois.
"Lois, I'm fine."
"Really?" "Then why haven't you answered my question?" There was a slight pause. "Are you still at Oliver's" "What happened?" "Do you want me to come get you?"
"Lo, I'm fine," Chloe said in a tone meant to soothe. "Yes, I'm still at Oliver's."
"Chlo..it's me, your loving cuz, remember?" "I can tell when you are upset," Lois continued. "Spill it!"
Chloe took a tremulous breath.
"Lo…look, I..," Chloe began.
"Chlo…stop." "You can't believe that the lipgloss is the reason you fell for Oliver's obvious charms," Lois declared in a disbelieving tone.
"Well..," Chloe hedged.
"Oh no, Chloe…that is ridiculous," Lois asserted firmly.
"Oliver has had you in his sights for quite a while now."
"This isn't some spur of the moment thing for him."
"This thing between you two has been building for quite some time now," she continued. "You need to take off your blinders off," Lois advised.
"Lo…."
"Where is Oliver, Chloe?" "What is he saying about you suddenly taking leave of your senses?"
"He is still sleeping," Chloe began glumly.
"I see, and you were hoping to sneak out while he is sleeping and obviously unaware of your descent into madness," Lois interrupted.
Chloe let out a resigned sigh. She just was not equipped to deal with this much drama without the fortification of her favorite brew.
"Not sneak, exactly," she demurred. "But I am definitely hoping to avoid the all too difficult "How are you?" after a night of abandoned debauchery," Chloe confessed.
"Night of abandoned debauchery?" "Thank you, Ms. Austen," Lois quipped. Then Lois' voice took on a serious note. "Don't sell what you and Oliver have together short," Lois admonished. "Get out of that bathroom and go talk to Oliver!" "Really, Chloe, you guys have an amazing silent communication with each other, I've seen it" "Hell, we ALL have seen it!"
"Why don't you two try some verbal communication,?" she continued.
"Lois, I don't think…,"Chloe said in a faltering tone.
"Chloe, THAT is the problem, you do entirely too much thinking on your own," Lois sighed. "How about working out what you are feeling?" Lois paused and then continued. "The key is…you need Oliver to work out the solution to this puzzle." "You can't solve it alone, as much as you might want to." "Whether you like it or not, you and Ollie are connected," Lois declared.
"Now, get out there and face Mr. Queen," Lois ordered. "Call me later, much later."
With that directive, Lois hung up leaving Chloe floundering between hopefulness and despair. Chloe felt unable to draw upon her usual snarky humor to see her through this disaster. Sarcastic words and quick quips were not going to do the trick this time. She took a deep breath with the hope of finding her "happy place". Although she knew that Lois was right and that she should discuss what happened with Oliver, the scared little girl inside of her only wanted to run. Run from the idea that Oliver would be there, that she wasn't alone, again.
It was so difficult for her to trust, to believe in anyone. To the world, Chloe was confident and assured, giving orders and managing problems and people, the ultimate fixer. In fact, she was most comfortable wearing that mask to the world. The "Go-to Gal". Oliver wouldn't be satisfied with the mask. He would demand more. He wouldn't be fobbed off with a bright smile and a quick quip. Not Oliver. The world might be fooled by his Greek God façade and smirking grin, but she knew first hand how perceptive and observant he was. Not much got past Oliver Queen.
Chloe closed her eyes to collect her thoughts. She had to get her game face on. She had to get back to the Talon and work out a solution. She would marshal her forces and be able to meet this problem head on. She could handle this. Keep things on a fun level. No need for dramatics, she could and would pretend as if he didn't turn her world totally upside down last night.
"Ok, open the bathroom door and sneak out while Ollie is sleeping," Chloe told herself. Yeah, that plan would work.
"I can't let him have a chance to use that lethal charm on me," Chloe decided. An image of Oliver as he was at the charity function flashed into Chloe's mind.
"Oh God, he is relentless." "I need time to figure this out," she fretted.
With that thought, Chloe grasped the doorknob, prepared to quietly leave Oliver's apartment.
Chloe opened the door, intent on making her great escape, only to stop abruptly.
Oliver was standing there, attired in a pair of sweatpants, arms folded over his bare chest, with a look of inquiry on his face.
"Going somewhere, Professor?" he asked.
Chloe drew herself up to her full height and lifted her chin.
"Yes, Ollie," she responded. "Home."
"Home?" Oliver probed with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, Oliver, home," Chloe snapped. "Now could you move so that I can get going, I have things to do."
Chloe took a step forward, confident that Oliver would let her pass.
"No," Oliver countered quietly. "We have some things to work out."
"There is nothing to work out, Oliver." "Everything is fine, I just have work that I have to get to," Chloe asserted in a firm tone, hoping that he would move out of the way.
"Really, Chloe," Oliver responded sarcastically. "Everything is fine?" "Is that why you have been talking to my chest?" What is that about?"
"I don't know what you are talking about," Chloe hedged, refusing to met Oliver's eyes.
Oliver sighed, placed his hands on Chloe's shoulders, drawing her out of the bathroom doorway and into the bedroom. He led her to the bed, giving her a slight push down, and sat beside her, eyes fixed on her bowed head.
"Chloe, look at me," Oliver demanded. Chloe slowly raised her eyes to meet his, disconcerted by his serious and intent gaze.
"First, I knew when you went into the bathroom that this would happen," he stated.
Chloe opened her mouth to refute Oliver's claim, but his raised eyebrow stopped her.
"Whatever little script you wrote for us in the bathroom is not going to work, Chloe," Oliver proclaimed.
"Don't bother to deny that your intent is to pretend that the last couple of days never happened." Chloe started as if to respond, but another raised eyebrow stopped her in her tracks. "I know you too well, Chloe Sullivan," he declared.
"Whatever fears you have, let's discuss them because I am NOT letting you, us, this go," Oliver said firmly.
"Ollie, really…if you would just let me explain," Chloe interjected.
"Explain?"
"Yes, I just learned that my behavior yesterday was caused by Red K infected lip gloss….so you see, I wasn't myself yesterday…last night."
Olive burst out laughing, causing Chloe to frown at him.
"Ollie…I'm serious…it's true!"
"Chloe, I believe you," Oliver conceded. "But….Red K is not the reason you behaved or responded the way you did yesterday." The Red K merely loosened your inhibitions, which, mind you, I am grateful for." Oliver smirked and stated, "Remind me to buy you a case of that lip gloss in every shade."
Chloe narrowed her eyes. "Oliver Queen, don't you dare laugh at me," she fumed. She was so upset she jumped up and made her way to the bedroom door, her intention to make a quick exit.
Oliver quickly adopted a serous mien and straightened up, gently guiding her back to the bed. Chloe continued to frown, still upset that Oliver had laughed about the situation.
Oliver paused for a moment before continuing.
"Chloe, Red K is not the reason last night happened," he stated. "Last night happened because we have a passionate, intense connection." "That connection was there before the advent of the Red K in your lip gloss and still remains." "I know that even if you choose not to acknowledge it," Oliver said in a supremely confident tone.
"Do you deny our connection?" Oliver quizzed.
"I think…" Chloe began.
"No, not what you think…what do you feel?," he asked quietly.
Oliver moved close to Chloe, and slowly caressed her arms with his fingers, causing Chloe to shiver slightly, her body predictably responding to his nearness and the wonder of his touch.
As Chloe tried to gather her thoughts, feeling terribly distracted, Oliver continued to speak.
"Do you think I am so easily distracted or deterred from my goal, Chloe?" "I know that others are fooled by my public façade, but I thought you knew me better." Chloe glanced up into Oliver's face and realized that he was slightly disappointed.
"Ollie, you don't understand, I'm not..," she began to explain.
"Chloe, do NOT finish that sentence," Oliver commanded. "My type is whomever I say it is and YOU are my type," he muttered.
"Obviously, I have been sorely remiss in convincing you of my sincerity, I will remedy that right now," he avowed.
With that pronouncement, Oliver kissed Chloe and slowly lowered her onto the mattress, intent on erasing any doubts regarding his emotions. As Oliver deepened his kiss and began to caress her, Chloe's arms encircled his neck as she responded to his slow, drugging kisses.
Oliver was determined that Chloe was not walking away from their connection. Although he realized that Chloe was frightened of being abandoned and alone, he also knew that his feelings for Chloe were not transitory. To the contrary, his emotional ties to Chloe were permanent and binding. He knew he had to convince her that Oliver Queen was in her life - to stay. Chloe's thoughts were all jumbled. Oliver's forcefulness was causing her to doubt the veracity of her previous thinking. She couldn't blame the Red K for the emotions she was experiencing at this moment. She had been so sure just a few moments ago that she should cut her losses and run, chalk up last night to experience.
As she felt herself begin to succumb to Oliver's kiss, Chloe began to struggle. She pushed lightly against Oliver's chest and he responded by lifting his head. Chloe felt branded by his hot gaze.
"Ollie, please," she implored. "I need to think about this."
Oliver sighed and shifted his weight slightly, although he kept her encircled within his arms.
"Chloe, while I have the utmost respect for your intelligence, you do over think things….why not just enjoy this?" "Why can't we live in the now?" he questioned.
Chloe gave Oliver an exasperated look and sought to extricate herself from his arms. At her attempt, Oliver tightened his arms and stared back at Chloe with a determined air.
"Really, Ollie," Chloe huffed. "Live in the moment," "How has that been working out for you?" Chloe mocked.
"I can see that being the King of Tabloids has had considerable charms for you, but I don't think that Queen of Tabloids is quite the career goal I had in mind," Chloe continued sarcastically while looking Oliver directly in the eyes.
Oliver listened to Chloe with a slight smile, when she had finished her snarky comment, he cupped her face and bestowed a quick, hard kiss to her lips before speaking.
"Professor, although I am quite sure that you can annihilate me with your arsenal of verbal missiles at any other time, it is not going to work this time," he informed her.
"Now, why don't we talk about your concerns," he continued patiently.
Chloe was confused, she didn't know how to deal with this Oliver. He was quietly determined, no sign of the playful, irreverent Ollie was evident.
"Ollie, I….," Chloe fell silent.
"Tell me, Chloe…it's me…Ollie, there is nothing that we cannot share," he coaxed.
Oliver reached up and ran a finger down Chloe's cheek. Chloe closed her eyes, reveling in the sensation. Chloe then opened her eyes and saw Oliver gazing at her calmly, awaiting her next words.
Chloe took a quick breath, and then blurted "I'm not your type, I'm not in your league." "You will tire of the novelty and move on to your next conquest, some glamorous hyphenated actress-model."
"I don't want to be known as Oliver Queen's latest castoff, an object of pity and derision," Chloe confided with a worried expression.
"We can still be friends, Ollie, we just go forward and what happened last night will be in the past, forgotten after awhile," she maintained.
Oliver stared at Chloe, his face expressionless.
At the silence lengthened, Chloe felt a sense of anxiousness rise within her.
"Chloe?" "Is there more?" Oliver inquired in a measured tone, as if he was discussing the weather. Chloe nodded cautiously, uncertain as to what Oliver was thinking.
"I think that you need to understand where I stand," Oliver began.
"First, you will never be known as Oliver Queen's castoff, because I am never letting you go," Oliver stated firmly.
"I can understand your fear, Chloe, but as I told you the other night, there is no going back."
"You are not a novelty to me, to be played with and easily discarded." You are not some casual conquest," he continued.
"Do you want to know who and what you are to me?" Oliver questioned in that still measured tone.
Slowly, hesitantly, Chloe nodded, unable to look away from the intent look in Oliver's serious brown eyes.
Oliver maintained his silence a moment longer, drinking in the sight of Chloe. As always, he was captivated and bewitched by her beauty. Oliver sensed that the next few minutes would be critical to his quest for Chloe's heart. He wasn't a praying man, but he swiftly sent a request to the relationship gods that his pursuit of his tiny Professor would be successful.
Chloe gazed intently into Oliver's eyes, and hesitantly inquired, "How do you feel about me?" "What do I mean to you, if anything?"
Oliver smiled slightly, cupping Chloe's face in his hand and gently stroking her jaw line, delighting in the softness of her skin. Oliver began speaking, never breaking eye contact with Chloe, intent on calming her fears and claiming her for his own.
"Everything, Chloe." "You mean everything to me. "No one has ever watched over me as you have." "No one has ever seen me, the real me as you have." You know everything about me, no secrets, no hiding." "No one else would have moved heaven and earth to bring me back from the brink." No one else would, but you did."
"You looked past the exterior that others are so enamored with to the man who dwells underneath." "You and you alone, brought me out of the darkness into the light." "You are there on the front lines by my side in this war we wage against crime," Oliver firmly stated.
"I want you in my life, Chloe."
"Sharing everything, nothing hidden," Oliver proclaimed.
"I need you, you are my constant amid all the chaos that surrounds me. I never thought that I would ever find anyone who fits me so perfectly as you do," he asserted.
"I want you to understand, Chloe, I will never give up." "You are who and what I want," he avowed.
As Oliver continued to share how special she was to him, Chloe felt as if there was a loosening of the tight band around her heart. She began to really believe that Oliver saw her as special and not just a good friend or another one of his numerous conquests. She acknowledged to herself what she had denied for quite some time. Ever since she had met Oliver Queen for the first time in the Kent barn, there had been this interest, in fact, fascination with him. Discovering his secret identity was just icing on the cake.
"But Oliver, what is everyone going to think?" she asked shakily.
Oliver smirked, before once more wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer.
"Who cares?" Oliver questioned. He lowered his head and began to nuzzle her neck. Chloe felt herself melt under the onslaught of Oliver's passion and she began to move restlessly, determined to maintain control.
"Ollie…," she began sternly.
"Hmmm," murmured Oliver, who never stopped kissing her neck.
"Ollie, I need to think," Chloe complained, giving his arm a little punch.
"Think, I thought that we agreed that thinking was overrated," he smirked.
"In any event, Chloe, you need to accept that we are not returning to the way that things were before…last night changed everything", Oliver announced.
"Oliver Queen, you can't just tell me what to do and what to think," Chloe complained with an exasperated look.
Oliver responded by skimming his hands over her body, delighting in the pleasure of the feel of her skin beneath his.
"God, you are so beautiful," he muttered.
"Ollie, pay attention…I am being serious," Chloe rebuked.
"Chloe, I know what my reputation is." "I cannot change the past or my previous actions or choices." I can only assure you that you and only you will be in my life for now on."
"I don't care what others think, Chloe," Oliver stated baldly. " I am only willing to keep our relationship quiet because I know you cannot handle the glare of a public spotlight right now," he continued.
"You and only you is what I want," Oliver declared. "I know that I come with a lot of baggage, I'm not exactly a prize, but I am committed to you…to us."
"Oh, Ollie, you are too much," she began overwhelmed by the thought of what he proposed.
"Not for you, Chloe, you can handle me." "Hell, we both know you handle me all the time, you will just now be handling me on a full time, permanent basis," Oliver stated in an encouraging tone.
With that statement, Oliver leaned down and kiss her softly. Chloe moaned and encircled his neck with her arms, helpless before the power of the combustible chemistry that existed between tem. Oliver deepened the kiss, unable to allure of Chloe.
"I am serious, Chloe." "I'm trying to be understanding about your concerns, but I think you are just frightened by the thought of being hurt again," he remarked.
"Maybe you need time to get used to the idea, but for me, there are no questions, no indecision," he proclaimed. "You are mine, I know it, you know it, and it is just a matter of time before everyone else knows it too," he affirmed. "We were made for each other, Chloe."
"Admit it, Chloe." "Look beyond your insecurities." Oliver took her face in his hands and continued, "You had faith in me when everyone else had given up hope." "Believe in us, I do," Oliver implored her.
"Besides, I'm no letting you out of my bed, until you agree," Oliver informed Chloe, whispering in her ear. "I will employ every Tantric skill in my arsenal until you surrender to the inevitable," Oliver said in a determined tone.
Chloe sighed, feeling herself melt in response to Oliver's impassioned declaration. What woman could resist him?
"Ollie, stop looking so satisfied with yourself," Chloe demanded in a chiding tone. "You are dangerous…"
Oliver shook his head in denial. "Only if I don't get what I want." "I am a beast when I am denied." "But you are not going to deny me, right, Chloe?" "You are going to soothe me, no more denials," he growled.
Chloe began to object and immediately stopped, seeing the intent male before her.
"Now, who do you belong to?" he demanded.
"You, Ollie," she acknowledged.
"Good." "Now, no more doubts?" "No more hiding?" Chloe shook her head no in response.
"Chloe…the words," Oliver commanded. "I want to know that you understand what you are committing to…I want there to be no misunderstanding between us."
Chloe paused, momentarily overwhelmed by Oliver's statements. He was so sure, emphatically staking a claim on her and she no longer had any more viable arguments to present.
Oliver waited quietly, displaying equal parts patience and stubbornness as he awaited her response to his demand. Chloe surrendered to the inevitable. She knew that she and Oliver, no matter how disparate they appeared on the surface, were kindred souls. They both understood what it was to be outsiders, set apart from others.
Chloe saw beyond the surface gloss to the heart of Oliver Queen, to the lonely boy that lurked beneath the outwardly gay and devil-may-care façade. She saw the wounded hero who sought to right the wrongs of the world with his bow and arrow.
Oliver realized that Chloe would try to hide from him, from her own feelings, but he knew that she was the one who understood him best. She knew him, warts and all, and accepted him. Not because of his personal fortune or obvious good looks, but because she cared for him. She had such a way of seeing into the very heart of a person and she had deemed him worth saving. When he had lost all faith, she had snatched him from the brink of self-destruction.
There was a light inside of Chloe that illuminated the dark recesses of his soul, he loved her and was determined to keep her in his life. She was his own personal miracle and he was never going to give her up.
"Yes, Ollie." "No more denials, no changing my mind…I'm yours," she confessed.
.
Oliver grinned.
"This is forever, Chloe." He leaned forward and began to kiss her hungrily. Oliver's lips trailed down to her neck, causing Chloe's stomach to flutter.
"Yes, Ollie…," she breathed.
With her assent, Oliver lightly nipped her neck, causing Chloe to gasp as an electric charge went through her body.
"Ollie, what are you doing?" Chloe demanded. "No hickeys!"
"Too late," Oliver replied in a satisfied tone. "That lets other men know that you are taken." "A man has to take drastic measures with his woman to keep the wolves away," he unabashedly continued.
Chloe gazed a Oliver, speechless. She shook her head, inwardly amused by his possessiveness, as if there were a line of men seeking her favor. She chuckled.
"What am I going to do with you, Mr. Queen?" she asked humorously.
"Love me, that is all I ask," he replied soberly, letting her see his need for her in his eyes, hiding nothing.
Chloe sobered immediately, knowing that Oliver had just given her the keys to his heart. She felt a warmth flow through her entire body as she truly acknowledged to herself what Oliver meant in her life. He had brought laughter, love and warmth to her previously barren life and she never wanted that to end. She felt alive, confident that she could give her heart into Oliver's safekeeping.
She trembled as the knowledge that she loved Oliver permeated her very soul.
"I do," Chloe responded softly. "I do love you, Ollie," she said in a stronger tone, wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing his head down to her for a torrid kiss, putting everything she had into it, striving to impress upon him her certainty, that she no longer doubted.
Oliver drew Chloe into his tight embrace, determined to show Chloe how precious she was to him.
He paused momentarily to divest himself of his sweats and slid Chloe's dress off her body, satisfied now that he could view her curvy form once again. He stared at her greedily, unable to totally fathom that she loved him. He quickly covered her body with his, inserting his leg between hers. Chloe's legs opened willingly as he began to make love to her once again, sheer delight and joy coursing through his veins.
As Oliver began to enter her, he cupped her face with his hand and declared, "I love you, Chloe Sullivan…always."
With those words, Oliver thrust deeply into Chloe, savoring her damp warmth.
Chloe inhaled sharply at the sensation of Oliver filling her with his fiery heat and she surrendered to the inevitable….the Emerald Archer had stolen her heart…forever.
THE END