The reviews have been lovely. If you've took the time to review, I thank you so much, they really perk me up. Thank you :)

Haha, I got a lovely review referencing the movie Swordfish, I watched the movie and i'm happy to say Chloe's job is not as... ummm, what's the word... deathly? dangerous? twisted in secrets and lies? (The ending to Swordfish was amazing!- thank you for the movie reference Hildolfr, I enjoyed it).

I enjoy posting weekly, I shall try my best to keep to this. It makes my tuesday inbox a very nice place to be :)

Previously; Chloe went to Ollie's apartment, they had a little fighting session. She realised she loves him and that he shares a LOT of traits with GA :O But then, as they were leaving his apartment, there he was :O (It was Victor in make-up/costume incase you got curious. He's the only one with the aim to pull it off).

Now; Chloe's off to help some criminals for cash :)

Chapter Twenty One; The House Always Wins

'The heart has a way of clouding one's better judgement'- Lex Luthor. (Season Five, Episode Cyborg)

It had been years, but she knew her way like it was only days. Then again, it wasn't hard to find places like these, you just followed the fear and headed the direction you wanted to run from. But Chloe felt no fear, felt no dread. For her, it felt like she belonged, like coming home. There was an odd sense of comfort in the air of the dark streets on Metropolis, especially in the back alleys. Her mind drifted to Arrow, she wondered what he was doing. But guilt seemed to grip her heart, what would Oliver think about her time with Arrow? Her steps sped up. It didn't matter what he thought, right? They were both the job! Besides, right now that wasn't an issue, she could get some time away from both of them for now.

The heels slowed as she came closer to her target door, scanning the street up and down. Finding herself entirely alone again, she stopped by the old green door labelled Warehouse 23. The actual building had long been emptied, as was the standard for meetings like this. Mr Chan had a very important friend in real estate, he could point him towards to empty buildings so he could store his 'merchandise' ready for sale.

Chloe rolled her eyes. Though the city was corrupt in so many ways, she had no problem with this.

She knocked trice and stepped back. The door was as old as the warehouse, paint chipping off, black grunge that was once oil caking the hinges and old newspapers lining the floor as a tramp's ex-bed and now doormat.

"Aye-aye." The grumble came to the door.

It was always disappointing to not hear Alfie's voice on the other side. But he'd stopped working for Chan after his knee gave in. Besides, he was a bit too grumpy. A lot of folks who came for the game re-thought their entrance after seeing him. He was bad for business, but good for security.

"It's cold." she spoke back as the locks and bolts turned. A chuckle came with the next deadlock being drawn and the door opening. The hinges creaked as it opened, an aged wrinkled face came to the gap. It smiled at her. A feint stench of cigars and cigarettes came to her nose; she was in the right place.

"Didn't expect you." he spoke. But let her in and re-sealed the door. "Here, I'll take your coat." Chloe smiled, shuffling herself from the warmth and handing it over to the old man. She followed his shuffle into what was the manager's office of the warehouse. He'd set himself up with a television and some old comedy film playing on it. She smiled at him as he folded her coat onto the spare chair and lowered himself into the lounger with great effort. "Suppose you're not here to play this time." he noted at the outfit. Chloe wore a simple white blouse and black pencil skirt, the usual Mr Chan ordered for his 'waitresses'.

"Work actually." she answered, watching his eyebrows raise. Eyebrows that were far too long to suggest he had control over them as they covered his sunken eyes.

"Go on then." He waved a hand towards the other door and she walked her way towards it, the heels constantly speaking of her movement.

The smell of cigars significantly increased as she entered the main room, following the few steps onto the warehouse floor.

The poker tables sat a comfortable distance apart, Mr Chan taking his usual place with the big fish, grumbling to another 'waitress' he'd hired about a customer. A few nervous eyes scanned her and she easily labelled the new faces. It seemed Mr Chan had been making friends. A lot of friends

"Nice of you to show up." There, wrapped in his own branded smoke was Mr Slick and Greasy, her party pal. She found his scent rather pleasing to the overpowering range of cigars the high rollers smoked.

"Ah!" Mr Chan's exclamation came across the room to her, as he turned and laid eyes on her form.

"Had to shake a tail." she muttered to her slick friend, answering his unasked question and stepping from his space to greet Mr Chan halfway. Well, a little less than halfway as he barrelled towards her with great big strides.

Her greeting came as a half handshake, half hug.

"It's been a long while. I hope your skills are still sharp."

"As good as ever." she replied, accepting his embrace.

Mr Chan was a large man to say the least, he liked pale coloured suits, generally in the cream style he wore now, and liked to wear the same type of crisp black shirt under them. He liked to look good. He liked to change his facial hair too.

"I like the moustache." Chloe complimented and he laughed the laugh of a larger man with full effect.

"Yes, I find it gives me a dash of interest to more adventures." Chloe smiled at the Japanese accent in his every word, as confusing as they sometimes were.

"I imagine you want the same deal as usual?" she enquired, accepting his arm as he led her around the tables.

"Hmmm, I need some little extra at the end. A few financial matters need attention." She doubted the financial matters would be anything like Lex's usual requests, but it didn't matter.

"Anything for you." Chloe beamed up at him and they walked on as he introduced a few big fish and slimy characters for her to keep an eye on as they roamed the room. The games hadn't begun yet, they wouldn't until Mr Chan gave the word.

The poker match was his way of checking his distributions went accordingly. That his product was selling.

Drugs?

Arms?

Chloe didn't care.

He paid and she needed the money. Besides, what people decided to do with his goods was their decision. He may put murder weapon in murderer's hands, but he wasn't pulling the trigger for them. They did that all by themselves.

Chloe was paid to arrange drinks, from their makeshift bar to the hands of players. No, that wasn't her main wage. Her cut came from the snooping on the side, she'd feedback to Mr Chan who was cheating in his game. Of course anyone who had the money was free to play, he didn't limit it to his employees. It didn't matter, the house would take the majority of money. Sometimes he wanted her as dealer, to play snoop for a certain table. Men who tangled with the dark underbelly of the law usually weren't opposed to cheating at a poker match, but Mr Chan, however, was.

Still, it was a break from thinking about her current jobs. Or, at least, it was… until Mr Chan took her arm and turned her to the door, where tall, blonde and handsome walked in.

Chloe's stomach flip-flopped, her heart pounded three beats too fast for logic and then she froze, her eyes on the blonde man who shook hands with another rich idiot.

"Mr Queen." Chan labelled the blonde fish to join the pond, though he needed no introduction. She was torn between being happy he was here, and being angry that… well, that he was here. "Lots of money, bad game of poker." Chan whispered with a chuckle.

"He's not on your payroll is he?" The dread would consume her if she didn't know.

"No. I just enjoy taking his money." he laughed. "You know him?"

"Slightly." she lied, the weight lifting from her somewhat. Why, oh why, were the butterflies swimming again?! She'd done nothing more than look at him across a room. What was wrong with her?!

"Well, he just made it in time." Mr Chan turned to the room, a smile on his face. His hand took a steel rod from the side of the room and tapped it several times to the stone ground, the equivalent of tapping the side of a champagne flute surely. Either way, the eyes came flooding to them.

Chloe targeted Oliver, watching his eyes go wide as he recognised her. Clearly both had expected indulging in a secret hobby tonight.

"Welcome all. It's great to have you here." Chan's booming voice came over what was left of the chitter chatter. "Everyone knows the rules. Play well, play fair and win big!" he laughed as he spoke and walked to the centre of the room. "No chips, just money. Once you've lost it, you've lost it." he announced, walking around the tables as the selected 'waitresses' took to their places as dealers. "Don't try to bribe the dealers, they are mine and there will be consequences. No weapons at the table." Chloe rose her eyebrows at that one. That was a new rule. Before it was obvious, but to need to be said… something must have happened. "If you fight, you'll be escorted elsewhere by my friends." Several men dressed in all black by the doors were waved over by Chan. "Be nice to the waitresses, they're here to serve alcohol and something pretty to look at rather than the ugly mugs of you all." Again his laugher came clear across the room. Chloe smiled for the audience turning their eyes to her. Choosing not to look at Queen, she walked from the middle of the tables to the bar while Chan finished with his rules and information delivery.

Finally, the men took their seats, only three competing women in the entire warehouse, all at the lower betting tables. Chloe stood with Mr Chan for the first five minutes of the games. He pointed to a few of the men, talked about the game. Generic things.

Then Chloe started her rounds of the tables. It was strange system. To enable Chloe to view all of the tables and men, she'd take the drink orders and just feed them back to the two women at the bar who would pour and deliver them. But it worked. In 10 minutes, she was standing by the table where Queen sat, her notepad in hand, prepared to write drinks by the seat numbers of the table.

"What can I get you kind gentlemen this evening?" she purred, ignoring the way Oliver seemed to grip his cards tighter. She knew how to work men, she knew these crooked males were no different.

"An hour of your time tonight!" One brave fellow spoke to her left his arm coming around her waist, tugging her closer to him and earning a righteous laugh from the group. All except Oliver, who seemed to want to strangle him. Chloe let out a giggle for her proposing suitor, flirting back.

"If you win, I'll consider." she spoke, the same answer she'd given all the brave and idiotic men in the room.

"I'll take that challenge." He grinned, taking his hand back to his cards.

"And for drinks?" she asked the same man.

"Bourbon love, and keep it coming all night." Chloe inclined her head in a short motion, writing the word bourbon with a star next to his number. The star her short hand for the other waitresses to know he wanted refills.

Chloe turned her eyes to the rest of the table.

"Whiskey. Dry." Another replied, giving her a grin with 2 missing teeth. She noted and turned to the next man. She watched him rub his shaggy, brown hair as he answered.

"Ummm, any beer is good for me Doll." he decided. She sure hoped he was better at concealing his poker face than his nerves. Her mind labelled him as Chan's payroll rather than a voluntary player. Shame, he wasn't too bad looking either. Nothing on Queen though. And the blonde of her attentions sat two chairs away, his eyes tracking her as she moved. She ignored him, hoping the urge to touch him would fade.

The other men gave their orders as she rounded the table. But Oliver caught her before she could ask for his order. Leaning back on his chair, his arm reached out to stop her and wrap her in his grasp. She stopped, but dodged his hand.

"For you sir?" she asked, keeping her appearance up. But the other men were consumed by the game.

"Anything you don't do?" Oliver asked, his voice quiet and harsh. She grinned.

"Belly dancing." she wittily replied. "Entirely beyond me." She side stepped to keep walking.

"Scotch!" he called after her. Chloe waved her hand, accepting the order and moved to the bar with a smile on her lips.

Things moved as they should. Empty pocketed players left with miserable looks. Dealers and bar-staff bid their goodbyes to Mr Chan as each table emptied, the winners moving onto a bigger one. Just Chloe and another woman remained. She was dealing for the last table, Chloe was drifting around the men, topping up drinks and keeping an eye out. So far she'd been responsible for kicking out six players. Two who thought counting cards would go un-noticed. Two for signalling each other their cards. Another who tried to bribe a dealer under the table. And another who had been a bit too drunk to get the no sign from his waitress.

Mr Chan smiled at her as she approached his seat on an empty table. The cash in his hands being sorted into piles for easy counting.

"I appreciate this." he started, his fingers pausing the counting. "I don't know how you do it, but you make me a lot of money." he praised with a toothy grin, nudging out the chair next to him with his foot. She sat.

"The last table is pretty fair. None of them have cheated before, I don't see why they would now. Besides, Maria will be able to see that." She had a quick eye and had above average intelligence compared to the other women he hired.

"And Oliver Queen?"

"What about him?" Her eyes cast over to the blonde turning his cards in his hand. Horizontal, vertical. Horizontal, vertical. Like watching a broken windmill trying to turn. But he did it a lot. One of those habits people pick up. Overall, he was a good poker player, he didn't care about the money and he was clever enough to pull off a good bluff. But there was the other side of that coin, not caring about winning or losing didn't give you enough of a push to raise big or play fast. He thought more than acted on impulse.

Mr Chan wasn't entirely wrong about his skill. Chloe could tell he wouldn't win. Her bet, if she was to make one, would go to the larger man two places to Queen's right. He had a tendency to rub his thumb against his pointer fingers whenever he placed a bet. Chloe had thought it could be a signal to start with, or a really bad player's give away. But as others tried to figure it out and bet according to his thumbs, she realised the real truth. The man had recent light burns on the tips of his pointer fingers. He was probably just trying to sooth the hurt from touching cards or placing money. But others still were kept guessing by his motions, and this was why she thought he'd win. People were looking for signals from him that didn't exist.

"He's been giving you looks all night." Chan spoke.

"He's not the only one." She tried to pass it off as usual behaviour. But Chan didn't buy it.

"Other players say he's been asking questions."

"What kind of questions?" Now she was curious.

"If they'd seen you before." he answered, turning in his seat closer to her. "One was stupid enough to say you'd worked for me years before… I had him escorted out."

"I appreciate it." She didn't smile though. "But Queen's not trouble."

"If you insist."

"I do." she replied this time adding her usual smile. "Are you ready for me to work your finances?"

"In the back. Come with me."

Chan grinned, piling his money back into the lock box and taking it under his arm.

Oliver stood, finishing his game. Shaking hands with the man to his left; he was a good competitor.

He shoved his arms in the jacket that had hung over his chair. It wasn't a complete loss today. Sure, he wasn't going to win, but he'd walked away with some more information. Chloe Maine may have been travelling the world and working for Lex, but unless Chloe Maine had spent a year in the slums dealing in everything illegal, this wasn't Chloe Maine.

He stuffed his fingers in his pockets, and made his way to leave. Another man met him on his exit. His jet black hair glued down with gel, a cloud of cigarette smoke lingering over him.

"Good game Queen." he congratulated. "Didn't expect you to make it this far."

"Luck." Oliver simple answered.

"And the look between you and the blonde waitress, luck too?"

"She's a friend." Oliver followed, trying to step around the guy. He didn't allow it.

"Seem awfully inquisitive about her for a friend…" he noted, drawing a cigarette from his pocket.

Oliver narrowed his eyes at the man. What was his angle?

"What do you want?"

"For the right price-" He flickered a lighter to life, took a drag of the lit smoke almost instantly. "I'll tell you everything you want to know about her." he propositioned. "Interested?"

Oliver was most definitely interested.

There was one reason he came to these poker matches; information. Crooked men discussed business over cards. Sometimes it was relevant to his business decision, sometimes it was relevant to Arrow's hobbies, but now it was providing information for Oliver's social life too. It certainly was the right place to be, the price of entry was just keeping your mouth shut and not asking questions.

But this man, he seemed to want to sell answers.

"How much?" Oliver asked.

The stick thin man smiled around his cigarette.

"We can talk in the back." Oliver followed the man with the answers through a back room, along a corridor and into an empty area boasting nothing more than a metal table and chair. As Oliver stood, hands in pocket, awaiting a price to be spoken to him, the man grinned and slammed the door shut, sliding a lock and sealing Oliver alone inside.

"If you need anything more you know my number." Chloe spoke, rubbing the back of her neck and rolling it slowly to ease the cramps of sitting. She'd spent the last half hour chasing down one of Chan's employees who'd ran off with some merchandise, and adding some extra protection to his new system.

"I do. But hopefully we shall part ways for a long time. You're expensive." But he handed the silver briefcase of her money over happily.

"Feel free to use the police next time." she joked, lifting the case's lid and slipping her tech into the nest of money. Her smile grew. One step further from the Luthor grasp. Chan held out her coat, ever the gentleman.

"You're wonderful. Simply wonderful." he praised. "There's always a more permanent spot on my team if you want." He smoothed the material down her arms as she accepted the coat gratefully. "And always one on my arm if you ever change your mind."

She grinned and sealed the case, lifting it from the table.

"If you don't find him from the information I've given-"

"Call you." he finished for her. "I'll have someone drop you home, it's late." he insisted.

She accepted gracefully and took her way down the hall with him following. Everything was perfect until she heard a chair slam into the wall of a room.

"You still working with the cheaters?" she enquired and made the mistake of stepping onto her tiptoes to view through the small slit of a window in the door. "What the hell!" She turned back to Chan. "I told you he wasn't trouble!"

Chan stepped to the window, seeing what she had before. Queen tied to a thrown chair, a bust lip and cut above his eyebrow.

"I was told he was asking too many questions." he spoke solemnly, knowing her reaction would not be positive. "You know the rules."

"And I told you he's nothing to bother with!" she hissed.

"Chloe." His hand touched to her shoulder. "It's the rules." She nudged it off.

"There's a rule of protection too."

"This is to protect you. If he knows too mu-"

"He's my job!" she hissed. Chan stopped. "I'm getting paid to work with him." It was close to the truth.

"And I get paid to keep my work secret." he argued, but his temper was not there.

"Fine. I'll buy him." She shoved the briefcase into his chest, knowing the only other part of Chan's decision making process. Money. "Keep this and let Queen go."

"Chloe, this is for your wo-" he protested

"This is for Queen. Now. Let him go and he won't breathe a word about you."

"He won't be coming back to these if I let him go." he warned.

"I'll lose my job if you beat him within an inch of his life." she snapped. "Take the money and let him leave."

"Very well." Chan accepted and knocked twice on the door. A brute stepped out. "Queen is to be let go. Unharmed. Let him know he cannot return." The brute nodded and stepped back inside.

Chloe took her steps down the corridor before Oliver could see her. He'd lost her her escape fund now. The bastard was messing with her life more than she had even scratched on his. Thing would change!

Chan tried to call her, his voice apologetic. She ignored it, ignored the thought of her tech still inside his briefcase, ignored the tear that stung her eyes. She dismissed her offered ride and stormed down the alley in the cold air, hugging her coat closer to her.

But then she stopped, and slipped around a corner, watching the door she had just left.

If he wasn't out in 4 minutes she'd have a new enemy. And Chan was a lovely person, when rules didn't get in his way. Rules were the only reason he was still in business.

Just as Chloe was losing faith in her deal, Oliver stumbled through the door. Her held breath rushed from her.

"You're lucky you're walking." Chloe watched Chan stand in the doorway. "Speak of anything or come back again and that luck of yours will die." Oliver walked off, offering no reply. Chan slammed the door closed and Chloe watched the limp grow more pronounced as he tried to walk it off.

She had to leave.

As much as she wanted to go to him, to hold him, to tell him she was sorry this had happened…

But at the same moment, she wanted to yell at him, scream for him taking her reward. Why was he here, why was he poking his nose where he didn't belong?
That gorgeous nose… She sighed and rested herself against the wall, watching him close in on his car. It was surprising it even still stood to be honest, considering Metropolis had the highest theft rate in the US. Then again, with all big shot criminals inside the poker hall, maybe it was a vacation day for thieves. That, or it was too risky to take a car that could belong to another crime boss.

Should he even be driving? She asked herself, drawing her form further around the wall. Maybe she should offer to drive him home?

No. She hadn't intervened, she hadn't even done anything more than waitress an event. And Oliver had just been playing poker. That was where she'd draw the line.

Why hadn't the car moved? she fumed, starting to worry a little.

Her phone vibrated on her hip, she ignored it, watching the car still. Lex would wait. Besides, it was… she didn't even know the time. But at a guess it was late. 4am maybe.

She dug out her phone, regretfully. It was probably important if Lex was texting at this time. 3:53am she read. And then she read another piece of information that had her lifting her head back to the car.

Text, from Oliver Queen. She listened to the engine start up and the BMW drive from view.

With a calming breath she turned her attention to the phone.

'Do I even want to know what you were doing there?'

Chloe smiled, starting her tired feet on the walk back as she typed.

'Back at you.'

She tapped back the reply and shoved the phone and hands in her pocket, knowing his response would not come while he was driving.

And then something struck her. He'd been drinking most of the night. Should he REALLY be driving? If only she'd thought of this sooner she would have marched up to the car and insisted upon driving him back. But, he didn't look drunk. She cast her mind to the many articles on Queen. He could hold his liquor well, and he'd had plenty of practice at it. She rolled her eyes and pulled her coat tighter away from the winter's breeze.

She'd managed half a block when her phone vibrated again against her cold hand. He couldn't have driven home by now. She scoffed, clearly he valued the law against using mobile while driving as he did drunk driving. But she pulled the phone out anyway.

'You're a mysterious woman. Am I ever going to figure you out?'

No, she instantly thought in reply.

Instead she chose:

'Says the only man in America to insist upon romance.'

She wanted so bad to pull him up on his driving etiquette, but if he'd known she'd seen her, his thought process would never reach satisfaction tonight.

'You can pretend like you don't like it. But I know better.'

His reply came swift. She rolled her eyes at it.

There was one thing she loved about Metropolis, besides the crime and number of crowds to get lost in. It was nothing on Las Vegas, or the Big Apple, but 4am was not a strange time for people to be out walking. Dog walkers, men kicked out of their girlfriends, nightshift workers and the odd criminal or two.

Chloe turned left from the alleys onto the pavement of a main road. Criminals stuck to back streets at this time. There was car traffic that would see them here. Even at 4am, there was car traffic. Chloe grinned, thinking over her reply.

'Did you walk away a winner?'

Her question kept with her identity of who she wanted Oliver to see, rather than what she actually knew and did.

Again, his reply was quick. She hoped it wasn't because he'd caused a pile up and was sitting in the ambulance texting.

Yes, she admitted to herself, she liked him. She wouldn't admit any further. But she didn't want anything to befall the man. He was sweet, he understood her humour, he seemed like everything she'd wanted… and he was sexier than any actor she'd fawned over previously. He was difficult too, which she supposed drew her interest. He had that dark side, mingling with criminals late at night to play poker. He was the bad boy her body craved and the soft romantic her heart begged her for.

She liked him and would be upset if he was injured. But that was where she drew the line. None of this love business her brain's chemicals seemed to want to delude her with. He was just really good company.

Good company like Bart was… and that had no choice but to grow to love. Chloe rarely hated the way her brain thought, but when it added in things like that against her will, it really started to grate on her.

'Not exactly'

She looked down at the text. How could he be so… intriguing? All she wanted was to be with him. It felt so wrong to her though. She never wanted like this. And it was all his fault.

Yes, she praised herself, work up her anger against him. She could never love a man she was angry at… not that she loved Oliver, she reminded herself.

It was his fault she'd lost her money tonight. His fault she was feeling like this. His fault she was lusting after him. His fault Lex had even hired her for this and she'd met him. His fault for dragging her out onto that damn balcony. His fault for stopping that damn pervert hitting on her in the bar.

Her cold fingers jabbed at the keys, feeling stiff in the cold but heated from her forced mood.

'Too bad. Guess I should say good night now then. It's late and you probably need your beauty sleep.'

Though Chloe herself was feeling the pull of the night on her. She stifled a yawn and pressed on down the street, her heels not as painful as she'd expected considering she'd been on them all night. The phone came alive in her hand again and she caught herself smiling.

'I do have a business meeting tomorrow. What about you?'

Her answer came short.

'Nothing.'

The man clearly didn't value the driving laws. But her mind was too occupied on what her plans for tomorrow were. She needed to finish the check on the martial arts places. Possibly start thinking about archery ranges after feeding back to Lex. Then again, she'd been working most of the week. This was her day off. Maybe she'd watch some movies, paint her toenails, lounge around in her pyjamas and refuse to get dressed. Oh, she melted at the thought.

But, she supposed she did need to keep Queen busy tomorrow, and she knew exactly where he'd be. She quickly accessed Milly's bakery website. It was the only bakery within 3 miles that accepted overnight orders and let you pay online. She grinned to herself, ignoring the next text that had come in as she placed an order to Queen Industries.

Her grin as she finished the transaction had killed all of her anger towards Queen in one shot blast.

'Maybe I can stop by and see you then.'

She scoffed and laughed aloud.

'No free dates Mr Queen. Goodnight.'

Besides, it was her own day, no men. Not that Arrow was going to get that message. She could only hope he was busy.

'Goodnight sweetness. Dream of me. xxx'

Usually she would have fired out a reply about it being a nightmare if she did. But… she rather liked the idea. She left the conversation and her smile lasted the walk home As she drifted to sleep in the comfort of her bed, the smile still lay on her face.

"Chloe!" Lex's hands slammed down on the desk, her small frame recoiling from the sound into the chair. "I know you're lying!" His voice thundered, terrifying her. "Now tell me, who is Green Arrow?"

Chloe met eyes that screamed for honesty. But, she could never tell him.

"It's… it's…"

"Let her go Lex!" The doors burst open and Oliver appeared in the doorway. He was dressed smart, the black tie hanging loose around his neck.

"Oliver?" Chloe gasped.

"Queen…" Lex seethed. "Leave, or my security will force you to." he warned.

"I'm not leaving without Chloe." he stated.

"Oliver, I can't. I told you, I have a contract."

"And so do I!" He marched across the room, slapping the paper from his hand onto Lex's desk.

"What is this Queen?" Lex asked, but picked up the paper anyway. "Some desperate attempt to humour me?" But as he kept reading things seemed less humorous.

"That's right Lex. She's mine."

"Oliver. What's going on?" Chloe stood, flashing her glance between the two men.

"We're married. It's legal, it's binding, and it destroys everything that previous agreement ties you to." Lex's paling expression confirmed Oliver's words.

"Married? But… I didn't sign anything."

"It doesn't matter. You love me don't you?" His eyes. Those expressive eyes took her down and the truth tumbled free.

"Yes."

"Then we're married." he announced.

"But…" Where her brain didn't follow her body did, taking Oliver's hand.

"Chloe… where will you go?" Lex called, frozen where he stood, contract in hand certifying a marriage.

"With her husband." Oliver answered for her. "On our honeymoon." The words addressed her and she felt her stomach fly with butterflies again.

"I love you." Was her simple reply. He swept down, taking her lips in the most passionate kiss she'd ever felt. Her toes tingled, her head swam, her skin felt warm again. He was perfect.

"I love you too. My wife." In awe of the words he kissed her again, before lifting her into his arms and running from the Luthor castle and into the car. He didn't set her down until she was in the seat, and then it was only seconds before they were speeding along the back roads of metropolis.

"How did you know? How is this even possible?" she asked, oblivious to the speedometer ticking over 200mph, his control was as good as it was at 10mph.

"Everything is possible. For you." He turned her way, smiling. They locked that way for a while, his hands turning the wheel without any input from his eyes. "You're special Chloe. You can change the world." She smiled brightly, believing his words. "You definitely changed mine."

"But the contract?"

"Love is much more powerful that an agreement Chloe." His words whispered into her ear.

The drive was over faster than she'd noticed and he was there again, lifting her from the car, insisting to take her over the threshold. Chloe looked around.

"Where are we?"

"Home." he answered, setting her bare feet on the wood, a white dress cascading around her though she didn't recall changing clothes at all. She didn't seem to care, just ran her fingers over the walls and broke into a run through the house. It was huge. Finally, her run finished on the top floor, a warm glow shone from room before her, the door ajar.

"Oliver?" she called, pushing open the door. There he was, laid across the bed in all his naked glory, the sheet barely covering his essentials as he lounged between pillows.

"Yes Mrs Queen?" Her head went dizzy at the name, her skin chilled in ecstasy, her blood heated and wetness pooled between her legs. Mrs Queen. Oh, it was something of an aphrodisiac. He noticed. "Yes. You're my Queen now. You're mine and I'm yours." He sat up, the sheet slipping from its previous position, a proud erection waiting for her. "Mrs Queen." he purred and she crept closer, the name calling to her inner most desire. "Come to bed with your husband." The words were melodic to her, drawing her closer and closer.

There she stood, white dress the only thing she wore, stood between the legs of a naked man as he perched the edge of the bed. "Tonight is all about you my beautiful bride." he spoke like a lullaby. His hands ran along her arms, her own vision distracted by the ring on her finger as he pulled the lace from behind her, the bodice loosening and coming away with his hands. "Anything you want, everything you want. I will happily give." She was hypnotised by the diamond and his words. Another tug and her dress parted, slipping smoothly like water over her curves. "You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." The compliment reached her with the ring of truth. She took his hand, allowing him to ease her to the bed. He laid her out. "I can't decide what I like more." he continued. "The gorgeous legs you showcase in your heels." His hands ghost over her legs. "The curve of your hips." Fingers rolled over the hips. "The insatiable appetite." With a melodic laugh he pressed his lips to her stomach, his eyes always on hers. "The beautiful breasts I can't help but dream about." Hands caressed the soft skin, teasing the nipples with quick strokes.

"Oliver." she moaned his name, calling to his need.

"Soon my love." he soothed. A kiss to her collarbone. "Then there's your neck, always decorated with something sparkly, always holding your head so high, such a pleasure to kiss, to drive you wild." And he descended his lips to flutter affection to her throat, knowing how it drove her insane.

"Oh Oliver, please." she mewled, fisting the sheets beneath her.

"Or maybe your lips. They tease me so much. The way you bite them, the way you run that temptress tongue over them when you know I'm looking. So sensitive, so tender, so… loving." His lips pressed ever so soft to hers, barely taking her breath before retreating. "But your eyes. They see so much I don't. They speak of the hurt you've felt, but they mask it so easily too. Such skilful eyes."

"I don't care about my eyes. Oliver, please!"

"Hush my love. Your eyes are magnificent." His hand brushed her hair from her features again, the look he gave was sheer love.

"Oliver." she tried again. "You can tell me everything you like later, but, please. I need you."

"If you need me, then I suppose I should skip right to the end. I have two other contenders that I find compellingly loveable." he began again, this time his eyes showed lust though. "Your nipples Chloe." Her stomach tightened at the mere word. "So responsive to even the lightest of touches." To prove his point he blew across the peaked buds and her head dropped back, her eyes fluttering closed. His lips followed his breath, sucking at one nipple while his fingers rolled the other.

Her moans coated the walls of the room, the sounds crying for him to continue. To finish. "Patience." he reprimanded softly, pulling from her breasts and sliding his hands further down her body. "We haven't even spoken about the last thing I love." Her eyes lifted, begging him for what she needed.

"Oliver."

"I'll make you feel better." he swore, his hands slipping between her open thighs, finding her wet and wanting. "Always ready for me." The words parted the air for a mere second before he traced the pool of wetness to its source. His finger dove in, easily finding her g-spot and teasing it like he intended to drive her past sanity. Her back arched from the bed, her fists clenched the sheets again, the cries of pleasure calling for more. Oliver slipped another finger into her heat, circling her nerves in a way he knew would stir her tension higher and higher, until she thought she would explode. Everything in her body tensed, soon. So soon. And he gave into her mercifully, ducking his head and sucking on her throbbing clit. She came instantly, calling out his name. His grin was powerful. Her body a shimmer of sweat and pleasure.

He withdrew his fingers to slip them into his mouth, tasting her sweetness and savouring the taste. "That's just the start." And the promise held an air of danger she couldn't help but love. "Should I finish naming the thing I adore now?" he questioned with humour.

"Oliver!" She swatted her hand at him, her impatience to have him overflowing. "I need you!" His smirk earned him another slap, and exasperated cry of his name. "Oliver!"

Oliver woke suddenly, his heart racing, his hands amiss of her body, his thoughts swimming the leftover cloud of the dream, desperate for it to remain. He pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes tight in an effort to absorb the remnants of his dream again, but the throb of his erection was becoming harder to ignore. She was breaking through his defences. He doubted he would be able to keep his hands from her now.

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Poor Ollie. :(

Poor me too. I haven't been writing for an entire week in an attempt to fix my head. You have no idea of the withdrawals I'm suffering!
But, when I finally sit down again, I shall be unstoppable!
Xx