"Chloe wait!"
Oliver pivoted to shield her at the same time the darts from her taser wrapped around a spiked mass. One yank and her gun tore out of her hand. He heard her gasp in pain and growled at the winged shadow. "Hey! Keep it for the bad guys, bird brain! Chloe let me see…"
She still winced when he cradled her hand in his as delicately as he could. "I'm okay… I was just surprised."
Oliver punched the light on with an elbow. The skin near her index was a little red, if unbroken. Satisfied, he turned his anger to the cause of her pain. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
Hawkman stepped away from the window further into the room. "I saw… When you failed to answer my call, I cashed in an old favor."
A second silhouette shimmered to existence, all too familiar. "It seems I'm not the first human Green Lantern after all…"
"Hal… Just fucking great. Anyone else got an invite to the party?" A neandertal dressed like an angry bird scaring—hurting— Chloe with the help of his so-called best friend was not how he envisioned the next few hours going.
Chloe offered a small apologetic smile. She had nothing to apologize for. Their two intruders however…
Oliver yanked on his tie before he unbuttoned his collar. "You worried. That's sweet, but as you can see, we're both all right, and busy. So…" Oliver trailed off, hoping they would take the hint and leave. Hal sniggered. Oliver glowered at him in turn.
"Don't get me started on how you are supposed to be in the US right now. Don't you have a redhead to tumble or I don't know, a day job?"
"What are you doing in England?" Carter interrupted. "After what happened, you should be back in Metropolis, not galivanting all around the old continent."
Oliver grinded his teeth. "We're not gallivanting, we're celebrating Chloe's birthday." Gallivanting. Ah! "But you know what, what we're doing is none of your business. You saw yourself in, you can see yourself out!"
He turned toward Chloe, determined to ignore he wasn't alone in the room with the object of his affection. He barely had his hands on her hips when Hal opened his stupid mouth again.
"Oh right! I forgot! Happy B-Day, Blondie." Chloe was ripped away from his arms and propelled into Hal's. He was going to maim his best friend. Former best friend. An arrow through each hand would do nicely. Then one straight at his…
"Thanks Hal. Ollie…"
Of course she would go and try to smooth the old bird's rumpled feathers. At least she'd extracted herself from Hal's grabbing paws. Oliver threw his jacket on the back of his sofa. "Fine. Do you want some coffee?"
Chloe's soft fingers on his arm alleviated some of his frustration. "I'll make it."
That left him with nothing to do but watch a human-size chicken pacing back and forth while Hal laughed at his irritation. The turn the evening was taking was annoying as hell.
Oliver elected to follow her instead of facing his friend, their dessert in hand. He watched while she measured the grains and added water to the reservoir. The taser gun rested on the counter next to her. "Did you carry that thing with you all day?"
"We were attacked less than 24 hours ago. Of course I did."
Oliver spun her on her heels to kiss her hard. "You're amazing. Forget about coffee, let's get rid of those clowns so I can show you how much."
She patted his chest with an indulgent smile. Oliver got the message. He'd have to wait a moment longer… He could wait. "You know we can't."
Probably. Maybe. He was strung tighter than his bow. "I know…"
He dropped his head on her shoulder, torturing himself with a whiff of her body lotion, something sweet and sunny that reminded him of California and orange blossoms. He wanted to lap her all over. Oliver forced himself to step away before the urge became irresistible.
He leaned against the bar, arms crossed over his chest to address Hawkman. "Horus is your patron, isn't he?"
The sooner they cleared the air the sooner he'd be able to taste her.
"Yes. Why?"
"Well, Chloe found a connection between Horus and a place about three hours from here called Temple Works. It was built in the nineteen century with an architecture modeled out of the Temple Complex in Edfu."
Carter stared at Chloe. "You believe the dagger is here?"
"We don't know, Carter." She bestowed one of her gentlest smiles upon the man. Oliver quietened the instinct to bare his teeth. "We have reasons to believe the father of a friend was searching for it in the 40s. He left a clue leading there."
"The Magician."
Oliver snapped. "How do you know that? Or how to call to Hal? What else are you keeping away from us?"
"I told you. I remember, life after life."
"Right." Oliver pushed away from the bar. "Well since you're here and you're all chummy with the genie of the lamp over there, why don't you go and take a look?"
"Hey!" Hal protested. "Blue balls ain't a reason for insults, Green Bean."
"Enough."
Chloe gave Oliver a push toward the sofa while she stared Hal down. "Oliver, we agreed to treat this like any other mission. Which means a timetable, a schedule and a real briefing. Besides, if you and I can't go, Carter is even more out of question."
"The Lantern ring will camouflage me."
"No."
Carter narrowed cutting blue eyes on the petite blonde who glared back.
"You can't stop me."
"I'm not trying to stop you, I'm trying to help you!"
Oliver winced at the shrill in her voice. He knew that tone. Chloe losing patience was even less on the agenda for tonight than the current stand-off. Oliver placed both hands on her shoulders to peer deeply into her eyes.
"Nobody is going anywhere until you say so, Watchtower."
Her eyes glimmered with angst and frustration alike. He squeezed her gently never staring away. "Right, Carter?"
"Humph."
Chloe inhaled sharply then gave a curt nod. He released her, unsurprised to see her move toward the desk to boot her laptop. She'd forgotten to put the coffee machine on. He did it for her.
"The building is empty at the moment but with the collapse of several structural elements in the past years, it's under constant supervision. I haven't tried to bypass the security since we were planning on a more "casual" approach. Give me…" Oliver stared at her fingers fly over the keyboard as she hacked into whatever system guard the location. "I'm in. All the cameras are oriented toward the outside. They apparently dismantled the ones inside last year when they tore it down. Whatever plans I could find would be useless…"
"Can you power down the cameras?"
Chloe shook her head, her voice low "For a short while, yes, but—"
"If there is, I'll find it." Carted patted the falcon symbol in the middle of his muscle cuirass. It glowered red for a second. Carter stepped on the balcony and spread his wings. Oliver forgot he was annoyed for a minute to wonder about the possibilities…
"Green Lantern?"
"Coming. I'll flag you when we get there, Tower. Shouldn't take more than half an hour."
Hal winked at Oliver. Then the two of them were gone in a flutter of green dust and polished metal.
"That was not subtle," Oliver grumbled.
Chloe smirked. "Hal wouldn't know subtle if it hit him on the head with an iron poker."
She stood and stretched. Oliver stared. Subtle or not, she was a vision of round curves, silk, and lace, and even if they were on the clock they still had thirty minutes to spare…
Oliver reached for her waist, drawing her slowly to him. "I may have a suggestion or two about two we can pass the time…"
"That's not subtle either, Arrow…" Chloe placed her hands behind his neck, her cheeks pink. He'd never tire of making her blush. The mix of innocence and abandon appealed to him like honey to a bear.
Oliver bumped his nose against hers. "Well… I've heard rumors about someone who must being grateful for an awesome birthday…"
He pressed his lips to her forehead, then her temple. Chloe gripped his arms when he bypassed her cheek for her earlobe. "Investigation reporters don't… oh… care about… rum… rumors."
The tiny sounds she made when he found her pulse point sent blood directly to his groin. Oliver sucked her skin gently, careful not to leave a mark. He was tempted. So very tempted when she was soft and trembling against him. Her nails racked his biceps through his shirt. He nipped her neck in retaliation. Her yip brought him back to reason.
With a groan, Oliver pulled her zipper up once more. Chloe's wide, reproachful eyes asked why he'd stopped. It took a full minute to remember the answer. "If we don't slow down, we'll be interrupted again."
Her head leaned on his chest. "When did you become the reasonable one?"
"Ten minutes ago when I managed not to break Hal's teeth for leering at your chest?"
Chloe hooted a strangle laugh. "I should go change…"
The mental picture of her sleeping shorts and tank top was salivating. "As you wish. For the record, I like the dress. I really, really like your dress…" He gave the tassel a playful flicker. Doing so, his finger grazed against her breast. They both sighed in regret. Chloe kissed his cheek. "I'll be right back."
She left the door ajar, as if to torture him further.
Oliver moved to plate their cakes when an expanse of glorious, enticing skin bared as she lowered the zipper in her back. If he stayed and ogled her any longer, he would be unable to resist the need to touch her. And if he touched her, when he'd touch her… "Two hours. I'm kicking them out in two hours if they're back here. If they're not, they can fend for themselves."
"I'll hold the door, well window." A sneaky hand wrapped around his midsection while she pressed herself against his back to peer past him. His body tightened in all the right places. "You're really full of surprises tonight, Mister Queen…"
He grinned, holding her plate to her. The candle cast a golden glow on her face. With her face fresh of makeup and her hair caught in a messy ponytail, she looked her 23 years, just. Chloe leaned forward to blow the tiny flame. She was absolutely delectable in a pair of yoga pants and an off-the shoulder tee-shirt. It was better than her mouthwatering PJs if they expected company. He welcomed—cursed— the peeking strap of a bra.
"You can change too, if you like."
"I'm fine." Since he couldn't give a piece of his mind to Hawkman in his green leathers, he'd rather do it in Armani, the armor of billionaires. "You're beautiful."
"I… You keep saying that…"
"Because you are. Happy Birthday." He offered her a bite of chocolaty heaven and they sat on the settee to wait for Hal's call.
