Chloe stared at her image in the mirror of the walk-in. Her lips were swollen, her cheeks flushed and her eyes even brighter than normal. If she'd ever wondered what looking "sexed up" meant, now she had a clear picture of it.
Oliver placed his hands on her hips, pulling her into his chest as he dropped a kiss on her shoulder. "You're sure you're all right?"
Chloe turned to loop both arms around his neck. "Are you fishing for compliments?"
"I wasn't but if you insist…"
His smirk made her legs wobble so she leaned on him. Oliver's expression darkened when she did. He tilted her head back so he could peer into her eyes, searching for something. What, she wasn't sure. "Oliver, I'm not going to break because of a bout of rough sex against the wall…" There was no way she was telling him how amazing she felt knowing she could shatter his control like this, or how she'd enjoyed the results. "I'm fine… You didn't hurt me, or the baby."
"It's not that." His hold around her waist tightened a bit. "Well, not only that."
"What then?"
Oliver took her hand to guide them to the bed, then seat, cradling her on his lap. "I… Are you sure you want this? With me? You're so young and I'm not… I come with a lot of baggage. I've had exactly one relationship in my life, and I screwed it up royally. The tabloids are going to drag you through Hell and back. They'll call you a whore, a gold digger, I don't know what else. They'll dig every single piece they can find and twist it."
He didn't mention Lionel, but the shadow of her personal demon loomed over them.
"I don't care." Chloe took his face in her hands. "I told you before, Oliver. I know you're not perfect. I'm not either."
"You don't believe me."
"I do. I just…"
The dark stare lost in hers was troubled, as if he was already bracing for the pain of losing something he truly wanted. "Better walk away early from a good thing than lose it further down the road" seemed to be a motto Oliver lived by… Chloe looked away, hating herself for the lie she prepared to serve him to shake him out of his funk.
"Well, it goes both ways." If he ever walked away, it would destroy her. "If somewhere down the road you realize we aren't enough, and you want out, I'll understand. It was an accident and you don't have to—"
"What? No! I have you now and I am keeping you. You're stuck with me, Sidekick. You're better getting used to the idea."
She hid her face in his neck. A small part of her had been terrified he took her up on the offer, as improbable as it sounded. She clung to him. "A dreadful perspective, really. What am I going to do with you, I wonder."
"I can supply a few ideas."
He tickled her sides, brushing her breasts as if in passing. Chloe squirmed and giggled. "Someone wants to end up on Santa's naughty list."
Oliver grew serious again. "You already gave me the best present I could ever hope for, Chloe."
He sounded so wistful she pulled his head down for a kiss. The embrace dragged on, not as urgent as before, but somehow more intoxicating. When she had to come up for air, Chloe bumped her nose to him. He looked delicious, rumpled with his hair spiked from her fingers and his dress shirt opened. God knew the look appealed to her on all sorts of levels.
She nestled against him once more, content and warm. "Is Emil waiting for our call? It's getting really late."
"I texted him. We'll go and see him tomorrow." She yawned and nodded, too comfortable to move.
"You can't sleep in your dress, Sidekick, and if you make me take it off for you, I guaranty you won't get any sleep any time soon."
Another beguiling idea, if only she hadn't been so tired suddenly. Chloe mumbled, the words incomprehensible even to her. Oliver put her off his lap and on her feet gently. "Bathroo. Pajamas. And then bed."
Chloe obeyed in a daze. Minutes later when she crawled under the covers, Oliver tugged her so she curled into his side, one foot between his calves for warmth. He slanted one arm protectively around her waist, their linked hands resting between them. She fell asleep instantly.
The next time she woke up was less pretty. She dashed to the bathroom as soon as the smell of eggs hit her nose, and sent the breakfast tray Oliver had brought her flying. He rescued the tea but the rest ended up decorating the bed sheets.
"Sorry…"
"Not your fault. It'll get better once you'll have your prenatal pills and vitamins," Oliver said, pushing hair off her sweaty forehead so he could press a kiss on her temple. She recoiled to the touch, feeling as appealing as an old rag.
Chloe grouched, "Aren't you a well of knowledge this morning" and tried not to hold it against him when he grinned.
"Google is my new best friend."
She closed her eyes when his hand cradled her cheek, thumb brushing gently over her skin. "Feeling better?"
"Yes. I think I'm good now."
All she wanted was a shower and crawled back into bed for an eon or two. Oliver hovered close-by but let her stand by herself, which she appreciated. When they were both certain she was not going to keel over, he rested one hip against the door as she grabbed her toothpaste on the vanity.
"Do you want some toasts?"
Chloe thought about food working down her still raw throat and shook her head. "Not hungry."
Oliver looked like he wanted to insist. Chloe crooked a daring eyebrow, arms crossed over her chest, glaring at his reflection in the mirror. Considering she was still in her pajamas, disheveled from sleep and her morning sickness, she probably looked like a pouting munchkin. Oliver seemed to concur as his expression switched from concern to amused. "Already practising the mom's look, Sidekick? It's cute… All right. Just tea. For now. Call if you want me to scrub your back."
He ducked out of the bathroom just in time to avoid the tube of toothpaste.
By the time she made it to the kitchen, her empty stomach was making itself known, and the idea of something more solid than tea was finally appealing.
"Hey Gorgeous."
"Morning Hal…"
"Morning? Try afternoon Blondie," the brunette chuckled.
"Afternoon? Oliver!"
How could he let her waste half a day like this? The blonde offered a steaming mug. "You needed your rest. Hal is coming with us to see Emil."
The tea scalded her tongue, but its honeyed taste hinted of caramel and vanilla. Chloe sighed in pleasure.
"Good?"
Oliver smiled down at her, one hand running small eight figures in the small of her back.
"Heaven."
Hal cleared his throat. "Huh, before you start on the next round of PDA, can I give the baby mama a hug?"
Chloe glanced at Oliver' sheepish face. "I blame the ring?"
"Right. Blame the alien for prattling like an excited baboon. Come here you." Hal engulfed her in a bear hug, mindful of her full mug and the narrowed glare of his best friend on his back. His murmur in her ear "I'm glad it's you" almost brought her to tears which thankfully Oliver didn't see before she managed to swallow them. Really, the mood swings were going to be hell.
Once free to seat, Chloe squirmed on her chair to find a comfortable position and sipped more of her tea. A whiff of buttery bakeries teased her nostrils. "Muffins?"
Oliver put one on a plate with pieces of watermelon and mangos. "Here you go. Hal, let's allow Chloe to eat in peace and—"
"Oliver." The way he cringed told her she'd read him right. He had things he wanted to tell Hal, and had tried to go the secretive slash overprotective road again. To her utter surprise, Hal stepped in when she opened her mouth to scold Oliver further. "It was my idea to try and keep you off the loop, Kiddo."
"I told you it wouldn't work," Oliver added.
Chloe washed a mouthful of muffin with tea. "Didn't stop you from trying did it?"
Oliver winced again, then apparently decided the best way to placate her was to dive right into work. "This is what we know. Chloe please pitch in if I am forgetting something. The drug is a mix of steroids and some meteoritic mineral they need diamonds to grind. Emil will tell us more about it later, I hope. It's either produced or distributed by the Bratva. I suspected Werner Zlythe— you know him as The Count— to be involved in the creation of the substance. I recognized him at the Duma last month, and I am pretty sure he saw me too then. We are not sure where the drug is actually put together, but one of the places we explored a couple of weeks ago lead back to Councilman Byers."
Hal rubbed his chin. "Tess spends a lot of time complaining about him. Apparently, he is making some noise about the land development you blocked near her place in Salinas Point."
Chloe saw Oliver considered that bit of information. She wasn't sure where it fit in the whole picture. Oliver voiced her own thoughts. "I don't know if his deal with those developers is part of the drug ring, or just a coincidence."
"How do you want to play this?"
"The Green Arrow cannot take on the Bratva by himself. So we gather evidence, help Emil work on an antidote, and hand everything over to the police."
"Okay. Count me in. You're feeling good, Chlo? You still look a little pale."
She nodded very carefully, her stomach twisted into knots once more. "All good. I'll brush my teeth then I am ready to go."
She managed somehow to escape the kitchen without Oliver noticing she was about to cast her insides again.
