Episode 11: Be Mine, Valentine
Anna woke to sunlight blaring in the window. She looked beside her and the bedside was empty. She sighed and sat up just before the bedroom door opened and Oliver walked in wearing just jeans and carrying a tray with handles on either side. He shut the door behind him and smiled when he saw she was awake. He sat beside her on the bed and put the tray in her lap. "Good morning" he said.
"Good morning" she replied. She looked down at the tray and saw a plate of golden pancakes and a single red rose lying beside it. She looked back up at him with a smile. "What's the occasion?" she asked.
"You are," he said. "And after I tie some things up at work I thought maybe we could go out to dinner."
"Just the two of us?" Anna asked.
"Just the two of us" he said.
"You're spoiling me" Anna chuckled.
"You're worth it," he said, before kissing her forehead and standing. "I'll pick you up at seven." Anna nodded with a smile and he left the room, closing the door behind him. After eating Oliver's pancakes, showering, and getting dressed, Anna left the bedroom and walked down the stairs to the foyer. She went around the banister and to the door. Anna walked the streets to the Starling Gazette building and went up to the right floor.
She went to desk and hung her jacket on the back of her chair as she sat. She sighed and turned on her computer then started scrolling through a list of events. After a few hours of debating what to write, she finally started writing. She typed fervently on the keyboard, taking an occasional inspiration break, and then getting right back to it.
She had just started taking another inspiration break when a delivery boy holding a bouquet of red roses came to her desk. "Anastasia Rogue?" he asked.
"That's me…?" Anna said, sitting upright.
"Then these are for you" he said, handing her the roses. He turned and left and Anna put the roses on her desk next to the computer. She heard a familiar chuckle and turned to the right in her chair to glare at her desk-neighbor. "Looks like someone's desperate for your attention. Who's the mystery Valentine?" Cheryl—the woman that sits at the desk next to her—asked.
"What a second," Anna said. She turned to her calendar and searched for the date. "It' Valentine's Day?" That made Cheryl laugh. "That's just like you, to have a boyfriend and then forget when Valentine's day is" she said. Anna looked around and saw various heart shaped boxes and bouquets of flowers on desks sprinkled throughout the office. She ran a hand over her face and sighed ruefully. "So who's the boyfriend?" Cheryl asked, eyes not leaving her computer.
"Oliver Queen" Anna said, propping her elbows up on her desk.
"Whoa, your Valentine is a Queen? Lucky dog" Cheryl said. Anna shook her head and resumed typing on the keyboard. Anna always hated Valentine's Day because it just reminded her she didn't have anyone special in her life. But now that she was with Oliver she didn't know really how she felt about it. And their relationship wasn't exactly solid, to her at least.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone ringing. She sighed and pulled her phone out of her pocket. A picture of Sophia lit up the phone as it buzzed. She hit answer and put it to her ear. "Hey, Sophia" she said. She nestled the phone between her cheek and shoulder so she could continue typing. "Hi, Anna. Okay, so it's Valentine's Day, and David and I are going out tonight. And I was thinking it would be fun if you and Oliver could join us, you know, like a double-date thing" Sophia said.
Anna refrained from gagging at the thought. "Um…I don't know, I mean, I want to, I just don't know if Oliver would want to" Anna said, trying an excuse to not go. Anna glanced at Cheryl and mouthed 'help me'. Cheryl put her hands up and shrugged, mouthing 'sorry'. Anna turned back to her computer and tuned back into the conversation.
"-And so he had to go to the office on his day off for a meeting," Sophia continued, not knowing Anna didn't listen to the first half of her sentence. "And that's when he bumped into Oliver. Anyway, the two got to talking and it turns out Oliver's okay with the idea." Anna face-palmed and silently cursed. "Really? Oh, okay, that's great. I guess we'll do it then" Anna said, trying to fake her happiness.
"Great! So, dinner's at seven-thirty, at Millicent's" Sophia said.
"Cool, I'll see you there then" Anna said, again faking enthusiasm.
"See you there" Sophia said, before hanging up. Anna put her phone in her pocket and sighed exhaustively. Cheryl chuckled and got up from her desk. "Good luck" she said, passing Anna's chair. Anna finished her article and printed it then set it on Johann's desk before leaving the office.
She walked back to her house and typed in the security code before walking inside. She draped her jacket over an arm chair and went up the stairs to her room. She went into her closet and riffled through her clothes to find something to wear to dinner. She found a burgundy one-long sleeve and laid it out of the bed. she found the other pieces to her outfit and put them with the dress before getting in the shower.
She blow dried her hair and fixed her make-up to match the color scheme of her outfit. She pulled on the dress and zipped it up the back with ease. The dress hugged her curves perfectly and ended at the knee. She put on her heels then went down stairs. She put on her jacket just as a black car pulled into the driveway and parked at the door.
Diggle got out of the front and opened the back-side door as Anna shut the front door. "He's got you hard at work I see" Anna said, sliding into the car.
"I wish" Diggle said, shutting the door. Oliver was in the seat next to Anna and he smiled, looking over her outfit. "You look good" he said.
"Just…good?" Anna asked, with a sarcastic smile. Oliver chuckled and put an arm around her. they backed out of the driveway and started for Millicent's Dining Hall. They parked on the street next to the door of the restaurant and Diggle opened Anna's door. She slid out and stepped up onto the sidewalk. "Thank you, sir" she said.
"My pleasure, ma'am" he said, with a nod. Anna chuckled and Oliver joined her on the sidewalk. They walked into the restaurant and Anna scouted out Sophia and David at a table near the glass wall at the front. All the tables had red and burgundy table clothes and flowers as the center piece, surrounded by little hearts. Anna and Oliver walked to Sophia and David's table and Sophia smiled.
"Hey guys" she said, brightly. Oliver pulled out Anna's chair and helped her in. then he sat in the seat next to her and shook hands with David. "Long time no see" David joked.
"Yeah, that was like," Oliver checked his watch. "Four hours?"
"Four hours too long my friend" David said.
"So, Anna," Sophia said, changing topics. "I have some news." Anna smiled questioningly. "Really? What about?" Anna asked, sipping her water.
"I'm pregnant," Sophia said, smiling. "Isn't that crazy?" Anna nearly spit water across the table but choked it down. "Yeah that's…really crazy" Anna said, nodding.
"We checked due dates, and the baby will be born sometime around your birthday. That would be so awesome if you two shared a birthday" Sophia said. On the inside, Anna was mortified. But she smiled and nodding so she wouldn't lead onto to it. "So how have things been going with you two?" David asked, noticing Anna's uncomfortable readjusting. Anna and Oliver shared a glance, both asking 'what do we say?'. "Great" Oliver finally said, looking back to Sophia and David.
"Any marriages foreseeable in your future?" Sophia asked. That question mortified Anna even further and caused her cheeks to pinken a bit. "Sophia," David cut in. "I think you're embarrassing them."
"No, no, it's fine" Anna said. Dinner went on like that. Sophia would ask a personal question and Anna would continue to slink into her shell, her cheeks pinkening further which each one. After dinner was over, Oliver went to Anna's house, intending to drop her off and go home.
But Anna convinced Oliver to stay. "Have I told you that you look absolutely ravishing tonight?" Oliver grinned at Anna who was twirling a strand of her hair in her hand.
"Once maybe." She replied casually, beaming. "Or twice, actually."
"Well make that thrice, because you do look ravishing…as always. Yep." Oliver said smoothly.
"Oh, you flatter me, young man," Anna laughed. "But I'll bet I know what you're thinking. You think I'll look even better with this off." She winked at him, tugging at her dress.
"Ah, and smart too, young lady. You've just read my mind." Oliver grinned mischievously.
"Well," Anna shrugged, "I am a woman of many talents."
"That's just one of the many, many reasons why I love you." Oliver beamed. "I wonder if you're any good at dancing though."
"Ugh." Anna rolled her eyes. "I am a horrible dancer. You don't want to know. Trust me; it's really bad. Terrible," she made a face, shaking her head.
"On the contrary I very much want to know." Oliver countered, looking intrigued. "So, will you dance for me, gorgeous?"
"Dance FOR you, and not dance WITH you?" Anna raised one eyebrow.
"I should think not." Oliver pursed his lips. "Don't be afraid to show off your curves."
"Well I'd certainly hate to be the only one stripping. It makes me feel bad." She said as she brought her body closer to Oliver's, making him almost feel the adrenaline rushing, boiling in his veins as she began to undress him.
"Feeling better now?" Oliver murmured once Anna removed his jacket. Anna chuckled. "What am I supposed to pull you in by if you're not wearing a tie?"
"Doesn't change a thing; I still want you bad." Oliver said before firmly pressing his lips onto Anna's, kissing her fervently, and she made no effort to fight back, immersing herself in their physical contact while he undressed her. He got lost in the kiss, and his heart was racing.
His heartbeat further accelerated when she performed her signature move on him and pushed him onto the armchair, which he always thought was the very epitome of comfort, but he wouldn't just close his eyes and doze off on the armchair like he did a hundred times before, not when she was dancing seductively in front of him.
He kept his eyes wide open, staring at her hot body as she straddled him and took control by undressing him then undressing herself, but he had wicked ideas in his mind and her dominance wouldn't last very long this time, unlike the last time.
Oliver grasped Anna's thighs and lifted her up, and pushed her body against the wall, and immediately she protested, but when he began kissing the sensitive spot behind her ear, trailing his kisses all the way along her jawline down to her neck and shoulder, her protests became soft gasps and moans that were enough to set his body ablaze.
Indeed he felt as if he was on fire. Oliver really thought he had the upper hand but Anna was defiant. "Put me down, mister," she demanded. Oliver smirked at Anna. "As you wish then." He picked her up again and laid her down on the bed, and climbed atop her.
She gripped his strong arms and tried to flip him over so that she could be on top, and she was successful for a very brief moment but then he just countered the move by climbing on top of her again. "I hate you!" Anna grumbled. Oliver just chuckled. "I love you though."
"I don't believe you." Anna pouted.
Oliver smirked. "Then let me show you." And with that he thrusted into her, rocking her world and making her feel all kinds of ecstasy that she never thought existed as all sorts of glorious sounds escaped her lips. The look of bliss on her face was enough to trigger his release as she had her climax too.
Afterwards, there were bites, marks, slight scratches even, but nothing could top the pleasure they experienced when they were together as one.