Ahhh, I have internet again. You never know how much you appreciate it until it's gone. Seriously.
Reviews have been lovely, I'm over the moon that you are liking this. Posting should resume to a chapter every Monday hopefully. I'm currently tapping out dialogue for chapter 31 and I have the editing and proofing of C25-30 to do as well. So weekly should be perfect for me, and hopefully you'll appreciate this too.
Previously; Second date. Oliver turns up after a late business meeting and sweeps our dear maiden to his castle. Little Chloe takes a snoop and uncovers something very interesting in Mr Queen's drawers. In an attempt to avoid Chloe's crazy driving, Oliver agreed to full honesty with any question Chloe chose to ask during the night. Chloe asks why Queen has this romantic play for her, Queen answers... honestly... and Chloe gets whacked by a basket of emotion.
Chapter Twenty-Four; Breaking Point
'Some people are better at leading double lives than others' – Chloe Sullivan (Season Three, Episode Extinction)
Chloe mercifully found the powder room empty and tugged herself tissues from the box, dabbing at her wet eyes. How could he read her so well? How could he speak what she didn't even know she felt herself? She was in over her head.
The woman in the mirror wasn't who she knew. That woman was a love-struck fool. That woman cried in bathrooms and felt her heart pound when the man she craved touched her. This wasn't Chloe. Her fingers raised to her cheeks, watching the reflection copy. The reflection had emotion in her eyes. Emotion; another word for weakness in Luthor thesaurus. The reflection had tears smudging her eyeliner, but… she looked alive.
The Chloe that marched into Lex's office mere weeks ago didn't suffer with emotions, she didn't cry and … she barely ever smiled unless money was in her hands.
What had Queen done?
She'd accepted the job of messing with him without a second thought, she'd used men for business before, she'd been courted and it had never affected her.
What was so special about Queen?
Either way she'd well and truly lost control now.
Chloe dotted under her eyes with the tissues, trying to stop an eyeliner disaster before it happened. She managed to pull herself together and mostly save her appearance. When she finally straightened herself up, she was looking as spectacular as she had when she'd first looked in a mirror tonight. But inside, she was a mess.
God, how much she wished she could talk to Lois right now. She could have spent the entire night up, talking about boys and setting her world back to its rightful place. Like they did when they were girls and she'd got her first crush on Peter Harrison. Lois had teased her endlessly about her youngster crush, but she'd been there when he'd ignored her and gone to talk to Sandy Richards instead. She'd been there to talk, to comfort and to pull Chloe back together.
She missed Lois.
The powder room door opened and the Mary Antoinette stepped in, passed a smile and pulled out her make-up.
Chloe took her exit, but she wasn't quite ready for some more Oliver time yet. Instead she took the opposite direction, which happened to host the bar and stood by a stone column with another champagne flute, catching the end of the speech.
"Today, you are each a part of history, history for us to learn from. Each one of you has a story of segregation, isolation, prejudice and discrimination. Each period in history has a tale of those who are different being treated different, and not one of you can tell me that this action has led to anything positive. So let's learn from history, let's stop making the same mistake and welcome those who are different!" Chloe felt like she'd be hearing these same words at some conference for UFO chasers wanting to adopt aliens. Still, the words had the desired effect and applause broke out as she rounded off her speech.
She easily located Oliver, he was scanning the floor again for her. He looked worried; a break in his usual cocky façade.
Alone time was still preferable and she passed the huge skirt of an Elizabethan costume heading for the stairs.
The stairs offered nothing more than an elegant staircase and access to the upper balcony that wrapped around the inside of the hall, boasting a few seating enclaves. Exactly where she wanted to be right now.
Chloe floated up the stairs, lifting the dress to avoid the careless trip and fall that would have otherwise occurred, and finally, she reached the top balcony. Her eyes were transfixed on the sight below. Men and women in costume, paired and chatting. Huge hats and wigs on display, rich colours twirled together. It was a magical sight. The band that stood almost directly below her started their melody and she watched wives force their husbands into a dance. Chloe smiled, leaving the view to choose one of the empty enclaves. Royal purple futons surrounded a vase of lillies. She smoothed out the dress and took a seat.
Chloe managed 15 minutes alone with her thoughts to watch the couples below but then the Crusader from the bar threw himself into the seat opposite. He smelled foul of alcohol and his expression backed up the claim of drunk.
"How much love?" Excuse me? "Com'on. I got money. Better than Queen." Okay, so now she was a whore. Well, she didn't quite know if that was an improvement from the emotionless slut that didn't hold hope for men to stay once they'd slept with her or not. She'd have to ask Oliver.
"I think you've had a little too much Crusader sir. You might want to be heading home."
"I'll go home when I want to!" He wasn't yelling yet, but he was definitely giving her a bad flashback of her first night in metropolis. The first night she'd met Oliver, as it happened to be. But this time there was no smirking blonde playing with his phone a few seats down. But Chloe had no qualms dealing with him herself this time. "Now name a price. Queen clearly isn't interested tonight."
Wow, this drunk really was putting the bow on the previously summarised life. No, Queen wasn't interested in sex tonight, that much seemed to be clear as a bell. Besides, this was only date two.
Okay, so she was a tad bitter.
But then she remembered something very sweet. He'd promised her sexual activity before midnight. What time was it anyway? Chloe opened the clutch and fished for the phone.
"Are you listening to me? I. Will. Pay."
9:50pm. She had time. "I have the money." he continued, fishing in his pockets. "So, how much?"
Chloe rolled her eyes.
"You wouldn't be able to afford me even if I were a whore." she told him, already tired with him. She'd been nice to him before, shown a courtesy she wouldn't have even thought of on Lex's arm, and this was how she was repaid?!
"Hey!" This time he did shout. Thankfully the music covered his noise for the guests below. Others on the top balcony turned heads though. "You, are just entertainment. MY entertainment."
"Christian." Chloe felt chills up her spine, Oliver's voice clearly not happy and clearly having heard a little too much to pass this off as nothing. "You're drunk." Oliver looked just about ready to draw his pretend dagger and stab the man. He was serious, threatening, and if she wasn't pissed with him, she'd admit to the dark pull this side of him had on her. But the shine in his eyes... it was deadly.
Chloe took action, wrapping an arm around her thundering warrior. The drunkard would probably not even remember this tomorrow, no need to have a mysterious broken arm and leg to add to the hangover.
"Oliver, I'm fine." she soothed, her small hands trying to still the raging breathes that tore from the heaving chest.
"Go downstairs Chloe." She stepped back in shock. Had he ordered her away? Guess the subtle Lex and Oliver differences had a limit. Chloe stepped again, the hurt clear on her face, her body positioned between the two men. Christian's eyes lit up and Oliver grabbed her swiftly from between them, putting her behind him and once again ordering her downstairs.
"Oliver, he's just drunk." she hissed. He ignored her. "Look, I know he's an old employee, so cut him some slack okay."
This time he did turn to her.
"He's an old employee because of the numerous sexual harassment charges I'd have about him over the years. The last straw was him…" he paused, puffing out another breath. "This is not the place to discuss this."
She didn't move. "Chloe. Please. Go downstairs." The please was new. "Please?" he repeated again, the order softening to a request now.
Chloe turned her back to Oliver, more from fury than compliance, walking the balcony and heading for the closest set of stairs down. Tess Mercer stood at the top of the staircase, evidently being Oliver's previous company. She met Chloe with a single step.
"I'll make sure the man walks away with some bones intact." Tess swore, but she seemed as testy as Oliver on the subject.
Chloe just nodded, storming the stairs and fading into the crowd.
She'd worked herself into a rage when he found her again. At least she pushed it down under her skin, rather that Oliver's choice of emotion, riding his frame like he was the very demon of hate himself.
"I won't apologise." he began.
"I won't ask for one then." she breathed, not bothering to face him. Her control over the anger was breaking. As usual- she scoffed internally- after all, Oliver was near. When did Chloe ever get control near him?!
"I don't regret what I did Chloe. I'd do it all over again."
"And what exactly did you do?" This time she did turn. He looked as delicious as ever, if anything, the rage behind his features was adding to the attraction ever more so. He looked like a coiled Cobra, ready to strike the next person to cross him. It did strange things to her mind, but fear was not listed.
"What I always will do; I protected you." he spoke it like she'd gone mad. But the words were the ones to snap her control entirely. He watched the flicker change her eyes into hardened jewels. She took a single step, looking like she was halfway between slapping him and walking out.
"Protect me." she repeated through clenched teeth. "Did you even think for one second that I don't need your protection?! Did I ever ask for it?!" Her voice wavered, the hot tears of anger building in her throat, but no, she would not cry. Not now. "No. And I'll tell you why. Because I can take care of myself. I always have and I always will. I'm not some fragile damsel, hell, you've fought me yourself, so I don't know where this insane idea came from, y-"
"It makes no diff-"
"Not your turn!" she shouted, slamming the heel of her foot into the ground as she did. But both arguers noticed the many eyes on them at that moment.
Temporary pause was hit for their argument and Oliver took Chloe's hand, as reluctant as she was, and led her through the crowd.
She rotated her wrist a few times, aiming for freedom, or possibly to slap him, but he held her tighter and threw her his narrowed eyes back. She stopped fighting and followed the footsteps through the crowd. He stopped before an office, halting the man in the process of locking the doors and handed him a few bills from his belt.
"Come back in 10 minutes?"
The man took the money happily, nodding as he stuffed it in his back pockets and taking his leave. Oliver pushed the door and shoved Chloe through it before closing the wood on them both. The music and gossip of the hall fell to almost silence with the door closed.
Chloe paced, then crossed the room once more and sat herself on the edge of the desk. Her temper burning beneath.
"Whether I'd fought you or not, it's the princi-" His attempt at calmly restarting the conversation flew her rage from its cage.
"The principle?!" she shouted, taking her feet back to the ground again. "Why can't you understand it's not your job to save me?!" Oliver crossed his arms over his chest, the move distracting her more than she would have thought. She slammed a fist down to the solid oak table. "God damn it! That man was no threat, and even if he was, I had every right to deal with it myself."
"He was fired for attempted rape Chloe!" Oliver snapped.
"And?" she hissed back. "What difference does that make? He's still a man, I can still take him and I can still spot the signs for danger miles away."
"Miles away? You practically sing for them and call them closer! You're a danger magnet!"
"I've lived so far without you!" She did all she could to remain stationary, knowing it was the only way she wouldn't slap him.
"Things have changed now. While you're with me, I will keep you safe."
"Why?!"
"I'd rather not have the headline read 'woman slaughters own rapist while boyfriend parties below'."
"So this is about your precious appearance?! You wonder what the newspapers will think if you didn't step in and play macho man." she seethed, her hands flying out sharp as she made her point.
"No, this is a 'you're my girlfriend and it's my job to protect you'."
"Because I'm a frail woman and can't protect myself." she mocked. "Sexism now." The false conclusion only enraging him further.
"Damn it Chloe! Do I need to spell it out for you?" He marched the floor, but still left the distance between them. An extended fist's distance. "I'd rather fight your battles for you. I'd rather you be saved than risk injury. I'd rather be hurt myself than to see you hurt. I'd rather anyone else be put in your position than you! How can you not see that the thought of you hurt breaks me apart!"
Chloe felt the anger rush out of her like a sucker punch to the gut. He was back to this L-word and its associates.
"Regardless, I wasn't in danger. I could have dealt with that myself." she stated, but Oliver heard the calming. Her posture relaxed considerably, her shoulders dropping their hackles, the cold callous tone vanished.
"If anything would have happened to you Chloe."
"I would have ripped his dick from him before he even had the chance to whip it out." she finished for him.
"He was head of security Chloe. He's not exactly the easiest of men to defend against."
"So then I'll scream and you'll come running." she replied with a humoured smile.
Silence fell. A numb silence that consumed the latent anger and replaced it with exhaustion.
"You absolutely infuriate me sometimes."
"Funny. I think the same." But her humour was dry. Regardless, he breathed a millisecond of a chuckle from his lungs.
"And yet… even screaming at me…" he reflected. "I've never wanted you more." The words were a breath from a whisper. His eyes clashed with hers and sparked a fire in both bellies. Her chest rose with her breath, she didn't know if it was the remnants of her anger or the words. He didn't wait for her to decide, just crossed the room, taking her face in his hands and pressing his lips to hers.
This was an entirely different kiss than what he'd given her before. It was needy, yes. It was consuming, yes. But, it wasn't starting a rush between her legs, it was flooding her heart instead. Every part of her seemed to tingle, the argument completely forgotten, there was peace.
Need, and yet a stable peace.
He tasted forgiveness from her eager lips. Something he had no expectations of receiving as she was shouting at him. He knew he'd done wrong, but he'd do it all over again for her. Just to have her in his arms like she was now, just to keep her kissing him like she was now.
Chloe dropped her head, her hands still on him.
"At least we've established you want me." she spoke with humour, perching back on the desk.
"I didn't realise that was at question." His brow furrowed and he stepped back a few centimetres, trying to figure her out yet again.
"When a girl has her hand on your erection and you can still say no… it doesn't exactly make her think you're head over heels."
"Trust me, whatever you were thinking, it was a lot more difficult for me that night." Oh, he remember that night very well, the ache, the desperation, the devil on his shoulder telling him to screw his plan and take her. That night came swiftly to his memory late at night when he was trying to find sleep, it came to him when he sat at his desk or drifted from attention in the board meetings. She looked so beautiful, so tempting, such a tease to his desire. It was a night for the history books.
"I shouldn't have to work this hard to get you to sleep with me… aren't you even half as horny as me?" she breathed a laugh. Oliver chuckled, lifting her chin with a hooked finger.
"There hasn't been a day I haven't woken up wanting you." he swore. "You're in my dreams every night, doing everything you've whispered in my ear and more. And then I have to take all those wonderful images and push them to the back of my mind so I don't throw you over my shoulder the second I see you." He traced a finger over her smile. "Take tonight. The main thought in my head that's remained since the moment I saw you, is to find out what the hell underwear you decided on wearing." Her eyes sparkled with laughter. "If any…" he added with a dark whisper.
"Then why resist?"
"I refuse to be what you've had before." Her eyes darkened, this time it wasn't lust. "No offence, but it's true. Isn't it?"
"I will neither confirm nor deny." He took that to be her agreement.
"We will finish our three dates Chloe. That, I promise you. So, you can stop plotting and planning. You can stop thinking up new ideas to torture me, and you can just enjoy being spoilt rotten." Chloe nodded passively, thinking it over.
"I suppose that's one option." she agreed, and slipped from the desk and against him. "But, I prefer my way. It's much more fun." She slid past him, back to the doors. "In fact, my way earned me a deal for tonight. A deal you have yet to make good on." she reminded him. He sighed but it was accepting. "If fact, my way is going to make tonight hell for you." she laughed brightly.
"I can give just as good as I get." he warned, but it did nothing to deter her.
The corners of her lips lifted sinfully. Her plotting was far from over.
"So," she began again. "Shall we dance?" Oliver wearily took her offered hand, leading her from the room again, joining the crowd.
He took her in his arms easily, as before he was still a wonderful dancer, held her with a sweet grip of control, and she didn't mind. The main reason she didn't mind, was because while he could control their dance, she would control his mind.
"Question." she began, breaking the quiet between them within the first few seconds of movement. She didn't need to think the steps, Lionel had insisted she learn to be passed as 'upper class', Lex had developed them to take her out with him as a business asset, and besides, Oliver was an excellent leader. "And remember you are answering with full honesty." Oliver met her eyes with narrowed gaze, what was coming next on the wheel of fortune? But he swept her across the room with ease, the material of her dress sweeping over his legs as he twirled her with him. "You said you dreamed about me. True?"
"Yes." he answered quick, summarising this to be a round of quick fire yes or no. He was right, well at least for the next question.
"Am I ever naked?" His pause was enough of an answer, but still his dance didn't falter.
"Yes."
"And when you dream of me," she whispered across the space, obvious to the tease she was playing. "What are you doing?" He met her gaze, looking dangerous and dark. Lust was creeping up his back.
Chloe had once read that men thought with pictures, women with words, sex drives being the same. So, Oliver could paint her a nice picture and the memory would flash back in a series of sordid photos for him to enjoy. "Honestly Oliver." she purred, seeing his deliberation.
"Honestly?" She grinned and nodded. "I'm saving you from Lex." She didn't expect that, nor the wording. But considering the last half hour, perhaps the man had a thing for playing prince charming. She darkly thought he'd probably get along well with Green Arrow.
"The last dream you had with me. Tell me what happened. Exactly as you saw it." Like sin, he was drugged, speaking before he could think.
"I'd gone to the Luthor mansion and… taken you from Lex." he edited as his brain resumed thinking again. "We spent the night together."
"Together?" she repeated, tugging herself closer to him, the full meaning of 'togetherness'. "Doing what?" Her breath tickled his ear.
"Exactly what you think we did." he answered with a strict tone to his voice. She laughed softly and let him be.
Her new position in his arms, dancing slowly pressed to each other, gave her other ideas. Her hands were leaning on his collarbone, her fingers laced behind his neck, the slower song taking them with a sweet sway. As much as she liked to dance with him, the classical music was a bit too much of Lionel's tastes for her to appreciate it to its full extent. But for now, she wouldn't break apart because of one thing and one thing alone. Positioning. His hands were linked, sitting just above the curve of her ass as they moved together. Each motion of them moved the soft silken fabric of her dress and bust against his pecks.
"If you want to know." she began, a whisper to his ear. "I could just tell you." He knew exactly what she meant with the tease. His hands came apart, flattening on her back to pull her closer still and take away her next words.
"I never should never have told you that." But he chuckled softly. She smelled so sweet, right at the nape of her neck. Perfume? Nothing he'd ever smelled before. It was a playful scent, the kind that stirs a man. It wasn't floral, it wasn't berries… then again, maybe it was a blend of the two tricking him. But in his mind he could only label it as the edge of feminine; something so definitely female, but raw and dangerous at the same time.
"Truth." she recalled to him. "Do you want me to tell you?"
"I thought those damn questions were an escape… you'll sell my soul if I answer anymore."
"That depends on what I ask. Now, do you want me to tell you?"
"Yes. You know it's a yes."
"Good." But she held her silence for a few seconds. His eyes met hers expectantly and she just laughed. "Oh, I'm not going to tell you. The only way you'll know… is if you look at them." And the seductress was back again, so quick it gave him emotional whiplash.
Her head came back to his shoulder, one of her hands slithering from his neck to under the cloak, stroking down his ribcage and then back up again to trace his hidden nipple. His own grip clasped firm on her frame for half a second before he was gone, barely daring to touch her now.
"Am I one of your precious cars now?" she spoke. The words confused him, until she follow her question. "Too special to manhandle. Too pricy to take for a real spin?" she mocked him, her lips came to his ear lobe, he felt her warm breath over the small hairs on his neck as the next words left her. "Because, you should know; I like it rough." Chloe heard the broken breath tear from his chest, felt the sharp rise under her hand and took the lobe of his ear between her teeth gently.
This time his hands weren't pulled back after a second, one fisted the material against her back, the other gripping the firm shape of her ass. Her own gasp broke and she released the bite she had on him.
"If it was just you and I here, I'd already be deep in you, and you'd be screaming my name." Though it wasn't intended as any threat, the words reverberated darkly inside her, gripping the swell of lust between her legs and squeezing it tight. Oh, how his words affected her. A sweet chill swept down her, the kind of direct lust hitting you that you feel it stream all the way from your ears to your clit. "But we're not. So either relent, or give in, because no matter what you say I'm not going to possibly get any more desperate for you tonight, and nothing you say will make me change my mind."
"Stubborn." she complimented. "But…" and then came the vixen. "I'll take that bet." Her fingers coasted through the short hairs at the nape of his neck. "See, there are things I could say. Things I could do. Which would wipe that no sex idea straight from your mind." The hand under the cloak traced a circle around his nipple, slowly and patiently, matching the stir of her words. "For instance, I could happen to mention to you that there's a hotel with vacancies two buildings to the left of this one." He gulped, knowing whatever was to follow would not be easy to cope with. "I could tell you about my latest fantasy involving you. The one where I'm under your desk at work, and while you try, so, hard-" Her finger stopped its motion and started to slide down his abs. "To concentrate on your precious meetings. I'm unzipping you, wrapping my fingers around you, taking the tip of my tongue that you love to be distracted by and finally tasting you. And you slowly unravel, unable to concentrate on anything, but the throbbing of your… cockiness." To punctuate her point, she groped him through the leather of the 'skirt'. She didn't need to feel much more than the awoken state of his second mind.
She breathed a single laugh, drawing his lusted eyes back to the present. She started again. "I could tell you that you already owe me something, in less than 1 hour, you have to deliver. I could tell you I have no problem with ditching this party, taking any room that hotel can give and letting you strip me of this dress. Not only will the mystery of my underwear be solved, but maybe you'll let me have my fantasy of tasting you tonight." Chloe felt the hands on her tighten again. She was under his skin.
"Chloe-" the warning was about to leave his lips, but the hand resting on his collarbone came to silence the words.
"Just think about it. And, since I know how determined you are, I'll even let you have that third date any way you like. And when you want sex again, you can have it your way. Rose petal and candles and everything."
"I'm not taking you in a hotel." he ground out, her hand removed for him to speak.
"Then drive me back to your place." she offered. "But all this sexual tension between you and I is creating a problem."
His breathing became the pant of a lustrous man. She let him have his thoughts. The seed had been placed, it was growing inside his mind and was about to come to fruition all on its own.
"Come with me." he snapped, a trace of anger in his tone. Had she pushed too far? His pace was fast, the dance finished for them as he stepped back, his hand almost pulling her to stumble several times as he led her to the exit. Where?
"Oliver-"
"I made a deal. And I am a man of my word Chloe."
That still didn't explain where she was going. Was the deal he referenced the one for no sex before the third date, or was it the sexual actions he intended to deliver upon? This was either going to go very well for her, or she was going to end up getting angry. Her eyes tried to figure him out as they kept moving. But they didn't stop at the valet, no. He took the streets in the direction of the hotel. She could have melted. But why did he walk so fast, she was practically running to keep with his stride.
Her head was spinning from the high of success. She'd cracked Oliver. She had her control again.
The warm air of the foyer didn't even register as warm, she hadn't felt the chill of the outside at all.
"Your best room. Now." He pulled a black credit card from somewhere. Chloe had no idea where the hell he'd hidden that. "And the faster you do it, the better."
"Of course sir-" And then the average clerk looked at the name on the card and blinked up at Oliver. "Yes Mr Queen." He literally snapped to attention before the name. His fingers sped across the keyboard and he read off a name and price for Oliver. All the while Chloe was finally getting a chance to stand still, hugging his arm if only to slow him with her weight when he took off again, trying to tow her along in heels not designed for fast movement of any kind.
The next thing Chloe locked her eyes to see, was Oliver being handed an electronic key and then she was back on the rollarcoaster high of her life, dragged to the elevator, her heels quickly and happily tapping out a dance as she stumbled her way across the hall. Some part of her alerted her to the fact she was a little tipsy, the clean fresh air of the hotel cleaning out the cobwebs of the alcohol blur.
Still, it was nothing to be concerned about and the elevator doors opened for Oliver as he approached. An old lady tottered out as he slid past and pulled Chloe fast to him. Chloe was sure the old lady would titter at them, but she didn't get the chance to find out, Oliver's lips were on hers the second she came crashing to him.
He was fast, he was needy. He was impatient and lustful.
It was the Arrow kisses again, the ones that flooded her system drugging her with his image. He didn't even wait for the elevator doors to full close before his hands were on her dress, trying to reveal her where she stood. Maybe sanity came to him of his action, or maybe she groaned a complaint against his lips, but his hands decided against the undressing idea while they still had distance to cover and instead her spun her to the wall, her back hitting the mirrors with a hard sound, she didn't even notice any pain, just the pleasure of his kiss, his tongue dancing with hers, driving her insane with each stroke. One hand came to her breast, taking the shape and weight like it was the saving antidote to a deathly poison. His thumb rolled across the fabric covering her nipple and she felt the motion even through the clothing. The other hand was in her curls keeping her to his lips like the dying man in need of water.
He was everywhere and everything she wanted.
Her eyes opened to a ping, but only after he'd pulled away. His smirk had her captivated all over again, forgetting about the speed he was going to drag her with and she almost fell out of the elevator. He managed a laugh on a single breath and pulled her to him, kissing the life from her as he walked the corridor, his hands fully prepared to lift her and carry her if she fell behind again.
Now was hardly the time to take thing slowly. He'd resisted, he'd tried. But now here she was, in his arms and he would give her what she wanted.
The clutch vibrated against her arm but she didn't give a damn, she was riding a high.
Once again, her back found a wall. No, this was a door. Oliver broke her kiss to fumble with the damn electric key. Her breath was out of control, her hair covering half her face, her mind left behind at the dance plotting out her next seduction move. But here she was, wrapped in the thrill of Oliver.
The door fell from behind her and again her feet were stumbling into another area. Oliver barely made it into the room before he slammed the door closed and had her against it, this time with no reservations about undressing her. His hands were on her dress, sliding off the straps.
"Bed." she managed to speak around his demanding lips. It must have made it to his thoughts even if he didn't acknowledge hearing it and she found herself lifted from her previous position, her legs naturally falling into place wrapped around his waist. His mouth came to her cleavage, pulling the dress down, the bra going with it and he sucked on her erect nipple, dragging an aching moan from her throat.
The small bag started to vibrate again, the only other noise but breathing in the room. Oliver must have noticed, snatching the bag and throwing it from her, the wrap following in the same direction.
His attention came back to her entirely, she was his everything. His drug, his thunder. She tasted sweet, like honey or fresh rain. She was lava and lightening in his hands. Hot, and god damn dangerous as she dragged her hips down, trying to find the release she needed in grinding him. He groaned over her nipple, her back landing on the bed as they fell together.
Her hands were all over him, pulling at the cloak, tugging it from him, the belt her next target as he swapped to the other nipple, the air hitting the previous attended one and pulling it tight. She arched her back, fingers fumbling with the costume covering his erection as she tried to find what she needed from him. Her hips were already grinding his leg, her underwear probably soaked in her own juices as she did.
"Chloe." he called her name, the situation breaking past the need barrier for him. Her eyes locked in his and this time his kiss was sweeter, slower, paced and practiced. She loved it just as much as before. Brushing her hair from her eyes he found himself locked in a new need. Loving her. He couldn't take her here, as much as he wanted to, and he did want to. Her hands stopped trying to disrobe him and rested against his naked chest, both trying to regain the oxygen they had missed. Things had sort of passed in a blur of lust for both of them.
Her phone broke the air again, the damn vibration of another call. She'd bet her life it was Lex, well he could just wait!
Oliver rested his head against the hollow of her neck, his breath as ragged as hers. "I said I wouldn't take you in a hotel, but you have no idea how hard it is to keep thinking that with you beneath me."
She smiled, arching to take his lips again, guiding him over on the bed as she straddled him, pushing her hair once again from her eyes.
"You promised me something else though."
"I don't think I can stop if I do." His honesty was alarming, he really believed in this romantic crap. He was actually pained at the thought of taking her here and now. She ran her fingers through the blonde short hairs on his head, he closed his eyes, the torment of the decision weighed on him. She lowered herself, peppering kisses from his throat down and back up again, her hands touched like that of lovers, not groping idiots driven by basic desires.
"I'll stop you." Something in her words caught him and he opened his eyes to hers. She hovered over him, her gaze on his. "You only promised me so much tonight. I'll stop you before you break your promise to yourself." And a heat flew through his heart, she was honest. "If you choose to carry on, so be it." she finished with and that was the Chloe he knew.
"You'll stop me." And her nod sealed something in him. He rose from the bed, his arms back around her like she was the world's most sacred treasure.
Lips reconnected, but with a lovers passion. Hands explored, removing clothing as much as was needed, but with a care.
Chloe groaned when the damn phone interrupting her again. She lifted herself from Oliver regretfully, the break in their lips lasted for her to speak four words before he pulled her back.
"I'll turn it off." His hands refused to let her go, crashing her back to him.
"Let it ring." he whispered against her lips, claiming her back as her own. She was delicious, she was heaven, and she was promising to be his angel for the night, obeying his line.
"They'll just keep ringing." she warned, but with his lips to her neck as they were in that moment, she couldn't really care. Her dress hung off her shoulders, her hair was messed, the curls falling free, and he still looked like a god beneath her. It wasn't fair. She bet he even woke up looking like a million dollars too. Oliver took her repose to strike and her had back under him.
The phone stopped vibrating and he smiled, their gaze holding. Seconds passed, each saving a breath.
One.
Two.
Three.
No ring. Oliver grinned, raising her an eyebrow to question all that she knew, it was something she found sinfully delicious. Their lips met for another three second and then the vibration was back again, driving them apart. "I told you." she laughed against him. He groaned and cursed but took his weight off her, turning onto his side, propped on his elbow like a fashion model turned sex god. Damn man was quite possibly perfect.
"Turn it off." he conceded, his free hand giving her a nudge up. The quicker the phone was gone, the sooner they could get down to business. She looked halfway ravaged as she stood, and he fully intended to finish that for her. She had sex hair and she looked so tempting it was a miracle he stayed where he was while she slipped soundlessly across the room to the clutch. He watched her kneel and dig through the bulging bag, but then she turned to him, chewing that damn lip.
"I have to answer it." she spoke in apology and didn't give him another second to contest her decision. "Kinda busy at the moment." she hissed to the phone, taking herself to the wall.
"I don't care. Someone's been into my files." Lex seemed mad. Understandable. As if the constant ringing hadn't tipped her off.
"It will probably wait." Besides, she was already on a job for him.
"Chloe. You will get here now, and not a second later."
"Kinda on a date." She stressed the last word knowing he would understand. He didn't seem to care.
"Queen will wait, this is more important." She sighed. His tone allowed no dispute. She wanted to shout and curse and call him every name under the sun she could think of. But she knew it would lead to nothing good. She only had one option.
"Alright. Alright. I'll be there as soon as I can. Don't touch the files that have been accessed." And she hung up.
Oliver heard the keywords of her reply and his head shot up. If she was going back now, she'd find some way to stop them from reading the files.
"You're leaving?" Sadness crossed his features. He was burning just thinking of her gone.
"…I have to." She seemed more broken than he'd seen her ever.
"You said you'd finish what you started." he replied with a smile, sitting up on the bed. Chloe bit her lip again, pushing the loose strands of hair behind her ear nervously. Oliver sighed and stood. "You don't really want to leave." he purred. "And Lex can wait." The attempt to bargain was sweet and he crossed the room to her. She shuffled, pulling back up the shoulder of her dress. "Maybe I don't get to do all the things I wanted tonight-" he laughed. "But I'm sure he'll wait a little while longer."
"I'm sorry Ollie." He grinned, it was the first time she'd given him that nickname, and he just seemed to want her more for it. He pulled her closest hand, urging her backwards with him and sat on the edge of the bed. She numbly followed her urges to comply, naturally accepted the tug onto his lap and straddled him again. Chloe closed her eyes, casting her face down from Oliver's soulful eyes. "I have to go."
"Alright. I'll let you go. But we do things my way on the third date. Romantic. Slow. No funny business from you."
Chloe groaned.
"Com'on. Considering right now, I think that's entirely not fair." she complained. "I hardly got any time. This is not my fault." she pouted. He chuckled at her cute attempt at a pout, stealing her lips and dropping them both to the bed again.
"It's not my fault. But I'm the one left wanting." His words were true, he pushed her hair behind her ears again. Just like her, it refused to be tamed.
"Then consider it payback for the first date." she whispered with a laugh and pushed herself upright.
Oliver's hands rested on her hips, keeping her where she was. A smirk plastered on his face.
"You really wanna leave?" he challenged, knowing her centre was pushed right against his erection. She knew it too.
"It's not a case of want." Her words were desperate, as she looked for a way around her situation.
"Then stay." To make his point he pulled her hips closer to him, watching her eyelids flutter closed, her hands gripping his shoulders to keep herself in control.
"I wish I could." she breathed, finding her strength again.
"You owe me."
"And you owe me for the first date." she repeated, taking his hands off her and slipping from the bed and his warm body. She felt instantly a few degrees colder from the lack of contact. "We'll call it even." she summarised, lifting her clutch from the floor again.
Oliver was right behind her, his form flush to her, his hands rolling up her thighs and sliding under the dress to the panties underneath. His fingers traced the material, finding the wet heat that soaked the centre of the underwear.
"If you stay. Things will only keep getting better." he spoke, lips to her ears, cradling her body and his pointer finger drew circles over the lace covering her clit.
Chloe lost her reply in the sensations, her balance already relying on Oliver to remain upright. "But-" and he stopped his motions, resting his fingers at the apex of her thighs. "If you need to go."
"I hate you right now." she whispered. He chuckled darkly. "I really do have to go."
"I know, I know." And his hands left her thighs, choosing instead to hold them up in the air in surrender. Chloe brushed the hair from her eyes and looked at him pained, trying to find the strength to deny Lex. He looked delicious, all she wanted was her hands back on him and to finish what he started. He chuckled, seeing her deliberation. "Just so you know, I held up my side of our deal." Chloe's mind cast back to his promise of giving her such sexual thrills by the end of the night. Yeah, he definitely held up his end. She was most definitely thrilled. Not exactly as 'sated' as she had hoped. But… there was no time.
"And there won't be any fight for the third date." she admitted. "But… something less flashy perhaps?" she smiled, letting him approach to straighten up her dress straps. She was a sexy mess, and it was all his fault. He loved the claim it gave him over her. She was his.
"How about I cook for you?" he offered, untangling the grips from her messed hair, his eyes still locked with hers.
"You cook?"
"If the need arises."
"I'd like that." Chloe smiled brightly.
"I'll warn you now. There will be candles on the table. Possibly a rose too." Chloe laughed at him. She could really see herself falling hard if she wasn't careful.
"I suppose I can stomach it."
"You deserve the romance Chloe." His hand came from her hair painlessly, with 6 grips and a small blonde coloured bobble. She hadn't even felt him remove them. She accepted the bobble alone, scraping her hair back to a ponytail quickly with a practised ease. "You need the romance." She smiled, taking the grips from his outstretched hand and dropping them in the clutch.
"I need to be moving." she corrected, "Besides, I think I've already had my yearly quote of romance from you recently." He chuckled, his hands tenderly caressing the bruised lips. "Sorry Ollie." she spoke again, realising she'd shortened his name this time. His grin told her to keep calling him it. With a kiss to his lips, hoping to give everything she wanted to say and do, she parted from him and opened the door. He watched her pause, the wrap lying limp in her hand, her posture tired and given in. She turned, leaning against the open door. "Soon?" she asked. Oliver lifted his head to her question. "I'll see you soon?" she expanded. He grinned and nodded.
"Very." And with a sad smile she walked a single step through the door, but stopped again. Oliver grinned, she had fallen deep, but even he couldn't have predicted her next words. They did funny things to his heart.
"What you said?" she started, one hand still holding open the door, she looked nervous, debating if she should speak, or just leave. But confidence won and more words tumbled free. "Were you serious?" Her eyes fluttered back to him. She was exposed, her guard entirely down, the blue in her eyes taking over. This- buried beneath layers of other identities- was the real Chloe. He could feel it. "About… after we… you won't leave?" Had she no idea just how irresistible she was? How could she put on this marvellous act for everyone, yet be hiding such a broken spirit inside. He'd heal her, he swore. He'd make sure she never doubted just how captivating she was ever again.
"I meant every word. You're special Chloe; I don't think I'll ever tire of being around you." The truth washed over her, calming the nerves that sizzled, they were the remains of the timid teenager Lionel had sealed deep down, but somehow Oliver had cracked through every other identity she had. "I promise you Chloe." His promise took a scary edge, was she ready for what this would lead to? Either way, he was truthful, she could feel it. She managed a smile and finally slipped from the room.
Oliver sat back on the bed, rubbing a hand down his features.
He took his own mobile from the floor.
'She's on her way to Lex. Delay her.'
He text quickly and sent the message to Victor.
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Usually, i'm begging for reviews in this space. As are most writers.
But for this chapter i'm jazzing it up. I'm asking you that are reading this to consider writing yourself. I know some of you have a 'I can't write' or 'I have good ideas, but then I put them down and they're terrible' or 'I don't want to get abuse if it's bad' mentality, but the thing is, you've probably read a great deal of fanfiction, you love it... and it's possible (like me) you're running out of certain fanfictions to read and you're needing more. So, i'm tell you that that small idea you had in the back of your mind while reading or watching tv or working out at the gym, it needs to be out there so people can read your genius.
So, instead of reviews, i'm asking you take 30 minutes, sit with microsoft word (or whatever your choice) and tap out some words. If you don't like what you've written, go ahead and delete it, no-one will know. But there's that good chance it's golden, there's that chance you write something and you think it's fantastic. And there will be other readers who really want to read that golden script you're working on. So i'm begging you to put words on electronic paper and give it a go. The fanfiction community needs more writers (I believe) and besides... if you can't run your fingers down Oliver's Queen's chest in real life... do it in fiction.
Honestly... you could make Oliver Queen do anything you like... anything.
;)