The soft lightning inside the restaurant gave Oliver the allure of her childhood tales of Irish fairies. Deep eyes, golden hair and heart-stopping smiles, garbed in perfect Armani black, all of him made her heart swoon and her body throb. He regaled her with stories about pranks he and Hal had played at Exelsior, funny mishaps at Queen Industries and other shenanigans, determined to steer away from world-saving duties, ancient mysteries or anything too heavy for the evening. The food was exquisite in its simplicity, and she was ready to swear the pianist played her favorite ballads one after another. If Oliver had romance in mind, he'd nailed it in one simple, amazing date.
Oliver placed his tablecloth carefully next to his place before he stood.
"Would you like to dance?"
Chloe lifted her head to meet with his offered hand then glanced past him at the lounge area. Two couples swirled gracefully near the piano. She smoothed the silk of her skirt nervously. "I don't know how to do that…"
Oliver smiled. "They're just showing off. Come on. It's a beautiful song."
The lyrics were just on the tip of her tongue, yet she couldn't remember the title. The piano put nostalgic accents to the familiar music.
Chloe placed her hand in his, allowing him to help her to her feet and onto the dance floor. Oliver's free hand settled in the small of her back as he pulled her close and started to sway.
"You look absolutely beautiful…"
His murmur ghosted over the corner of her mouth and she sighed in self-conscious pleasure.
The X-line dress had caught her eyes as soon as they'd stepped into the boutique. Its angel sleeves started at the shoulder in a sheer, almost see-through material then changed to silk at the elbow. The same lace adorned the bodice and the hem of the circle skirt at her knees. The daring decolletage made up for the demure lines with a plunging V-neck and playful tassels that crisscrossed between her breasts. She felt elegant, and sexy.
"Thank you…"
His heart under their joined hands pumped as hard as her own.
"I mean it, Chloe. It's not just the dress, though I admit it looks amazing on you. It's you. You shine, from the inside out."
The ardent reverence behind the words left her speechless. Unable to hold his gaze and the myriad of emotions swirling in its depth, Chloe rested her cheek on his shoulder. Suddenly, she wished they were back at the hotel, dancing in their room rather than at a restaurant with people watching Oliver Queen and the woman in his arms. She nuzzled his shoulder again, stepping as close to him as she dared in public. Her fingertips toyed with the hot skin of his neck inside his collar.
"You're not playing fair, Sidekick…" Oliver chided in her hair.
"Oh… Sorry?"
The only thing she felt sorry for was not being able to kiss him.
His arm tightened around her waist. The sigil on her hip burned. Chloe missed a step in their slow dance. "There's that thing they call payback, you know…"
The promise purred in her ear left her breathless and nervous and ready to combust all at once. He brushed that same spot again, his mouth teasing her ear, and her legs turned to jelly. She hooked her fingers in his jacket. "Maybe we should go back to our seats before you have to carry me there…"
Oliver's grin was so smug she wondered if her moan had been only in her head. In any case, two could play this game…
Her index found a sliver of hot skin between two buttons. Oliver swallowed. "I've heard… Their chococake— chocolate cake is…" Their bodies barely brushed, torturing them both. "is…" Chloe tiptoed to kiss his jaw. "Good. Really good. Chloe…"
Her name tumbled from his perfect lips like a curse.
Her eyes lit in pleasure. "You had me at chocolate."
The smoldering glare she got in return to the tease made her insides liquid hot. Oliver released her, putting inches between them. He flipped his wrist at a waiter who nodded before he scurried away while her prince charming guided her back to her chair.
"What did you do?" Realization dawned on her. "Oh God, they are not going to sing Happy Birthday, are they?"
Oliver laughed, deep and low. "No, that's not that kind of place. Now if you had insisted to go to a pub, I wouldn't have spared you the humiliation though."
"Hum… So I have to be grateful, then?"
His nostrils flared. "Oh yes, very, very grateful…"
The Maître d'hôtel appeared with a small dessert package. Chloe felt a blush crept up her neck when the dignified man gave her a knowing smile.
She leaned to murmur to Oliver. "So that's what this ridiculous little signal meant. Check with dessert to go."
"You caught me…"
"Mister Queen, Miss, it was a pleasure having you tonight."
"And for us, Mr. Moran."
The step they were about to make suddenly became very real. Her step faltered as Chloe allowed Oliver to place her pashmina on her shoulders. His chocolate eyes snapped up to hers. "Is everything all right?"
Chloe wet her lips. "Yes."
He brushed his nose against hers, indifferent to the shocked and/or amused smiles the tenderness collected from the few people in the street. She was all too aware of the attention and lowered her head to hide her face. The town car slid silently along the sidewalk and she climbed in as soon as Oliver opened the door for her. "If you can hold on your sweet tooth a little longer, there's something I'd like to show you."
Did he sense she was getting more and more nervous as the minutes ticked their public time away? Chloe swallowed past the growing knot in her throat. "Okay."
"Great." He nodded at the driver, who apparently had known of the plan all along. The car moved away from the curb like a sleek panther.
Chloe arranged her skirt around her. "When did you arrange all that?"
"Gentlemen don't kiss and tell…"
Oliver pressed his lips on her temple, then slanted one arm around her shoulders with a gentle tug. She curled into his side with an inaudible sigh. As anxious as she was about what they both knew was coming, Oliver's unhurried gestures soothed her nerves. Behind the expectations, the romance and the impossible situation they were in, he was still the same man. Part charmer, part cocky, incredibly cunning and annoyingly protective. Her hero in shining leather. Her friend. And yes, a gentleman if and when he wanted to be.
Chloe relaxed against his chest, wrapping his arm more tightly around her for warmth. "Where are we going?"
Oliver's chuckle tickled her cheek. "You don't seem to know the meaning of the word "surprise", Sidekick."
"In our world, surprises are rarely pleasant."
"Point." His thumb started a delicate back and forth at her elbow. "We're going up the north bank toward Whitechapel."
It was her turn to be amused. "Want to catch yourself a ripper, Hero?"
Oliver pinched her side. "Bite your tongue. We have enough on our plate without adding Saucy Jacky to the mix. Look, we're nearly there."
Chloe turned her face away from his collar toward the window.
The London Tower Bridge cut through the night in garlands of steel and light. She'd read about the bridge and the London Tower's history, the palace, the prison, the engineering feat, but everything paled in comparison to the picture it made at night.
Chloe left the comfort of Oliver's arms to glue her nose to the window. The majestic white stones reflected on the water, broken in a million pieces as if the Thames was one of those Impressionist canvas they'd admired at the National Gallery.
The car took a turn and she got a different perspective on the suspension rods anchored into the abutments. "Are we getting on it?"
Her voice vibration with excitement.
"Yes, we're crossing to get back through the South Bank."
"It's beautiful, Oliver…"
"Good surprise, then?" He asked softly.
Chloe smiled at him, unsurprised to find him close to her again. She used the proximity to answer the question with a gentle kiss to his mouth then returned to the magic spread before her eyes.
Their ride lasted another half-hour, the light traffic allowing their driver to slow down here and there so she could admire London by night. After the subdue lighting of the car, the bright lobby of the Duke Hotel cut through the dreamy, intimate veil he'd drawn over them. Her eyes watered some at the brutal lightning, or maybe the end of an enchanting evening.
Chloe breathed in relief when they stepped inside the dim, empty elevator. Oliver's free hand settled on her hip, the other occupied by their boxed dessert. Even with her heels and on tiptoe, she barely reached his chin. Chloe growled in frustration. Oliver pulled her flushed against him, lifting her an inch to give her the kiss she wanted. "I've been thinking about doing that all night…"
She had too. She wasn't nervous anymore, just impatient. Oliver coaxed her lips open for a slow, arousing kiss that scattered the few brain cells still conscious of property. Her hands flattened on his chest when he released her so she could follow his lead and relearn how to breathe. Chloe tested the muscular planes of his stomach, amazed to feel his body heat through the double layer of jacket and shirt. "Would you grab the key in my front pocket?"
Her fingers stopped their exploration somewhere around his navel. Oliver chuckled. "My jacket front pocket, Sidekick… Though it's nice to know where your head's at."
She blushed and pouted at the same time. "As if yours was anywhere else."
"Well no. But I'm a guy."
"Women are just better at keeping their wanton thoughts to themselves."
She dared look at his face. Oliver smirked. "Wanton, huh? Challenge accepted."
Chloe's eyes widened. "What? I didn't… Oli—Humph!"
He captured her lips again, and this time, there was nothing languid or easy in the way he invaded and conquered her mouth. Their tongues battled and she lost happily. Oliver pulled her even closer, and yet it wasn't enough. Her hips found his, pressed against him hard, and it still wasn't enough.
Oliver's free hand hovered near the small of her back, the tip of one finger dangerously close to her sigil. Chloe ripped her mouth free. "Ollie…"
Her heart pounded hard against her ribs, hurtful in its desire to join his.
"Come on." The hoarse need in his voice mirrored the tumult inside her, irresistible. "Come on."
Even as he urged her along the corridor toward their suite, Oliver stole kisses and caresses, and she was a willing participant. Every part of her throbbed in want.
Oliver nibbled at the bare skin of her neck, one hand on her stomach to keep her back flush against his chest. Her head lolled to the side to grant him more access, her fingers blindly looking for the handle and the key slot even as her knees buckled.
"Let me."
His other arm came around her, effectively trapping her between him and the door while he took the key from her loose fingers. A single, ridiculous thought pierced through the fog. "Where's the cake?"
Oliver laughed against the nape of her neck. "Look left."
She did, and found the small box perched on a side table by the door, safe and sound. "Oh."
The door opened under Oliver's not so gentle push. Only his arm around her waist stopped her from taking a nosedive.
All she could take was one step forward, before a soft breeze caressed her cheek.
Her body reacted before Oliver could move a muscle.
"Chloe, wait!"
