"Yes," came the sinfully breathless response of the woman Oliver had not been able to get out of his mind. The one word made him forget every fear and insecurity he had had about going to her. It also made him think of what sighs of pleasure would sound like on her lips.
She was even more beautiful with her hair down in waves. She wore brown frame glasses that made the blue of her eyes stand out even more and a pretty summer dress that floated over her knees as she walked behind him. Gone was her work persona and in its place was a woman who playfully asked him for help against the avalanche of male testosterone that filled the bar.
She'd accepted his "help" and his hand. Oliver nervously rubbed the fingers of his left hand together as he led her to the dance floor with his right. She made him nervous. She excited him.
She went easily into the loose circle of his arms as he turned and pulled her near. Even with her wedge heels on, the top of her head only came up to his chin.
"Hello," their eyes met as they swayed to the reggae music playing on the jukebox.
"Hello,"
"I'm Oliver. Oliver Queen,"
"Felicity, Felicity Smoak,"
"I know,"
"You know?"
Oliver couldn't help but smile at her question and he had to fight the urge to smooth away the adorable furrow of confusion on her forehead.
"You introduced yourself during the presentation,"
"Oh, yes, I did didn't I," she chuckled. "I'm sorry, I'm a bit...nervous,"
At her refreshing candor Oliver admitted, "Me too."
"You are?"
"I'm a bit rusty...talking to a beautiful woman," Oliver watched mesmerized as a shade of light pink bloomed on her cheeks at his words.
"I'll try to be gentle," she replied with a soft, beguiling smile that was all kinds of attractive. God, the last thing he wanted was gentle as he watched her nibble on her plump lower lip. Glistening cherry red lips that tempted him to have a taste.
Who was this woman who made his body hard and ready and his heart want to take chances? He didn't know what he could offer her when so many shadows haunted him. But she made him want to try.
"Wanna get out of here? Go for a drive?"
"Okay,"
#####
Before they left the bar, Felicity made sure the ladies had a way home and that they knew she was leaving with Oliver. They cruised for a little bit listening to music as Oliver drove his jeep to the beach where they parked in a quiet, empty public parking lot.
The nearby waves glistened gray under the moon as they took part in a symphony of sounds that made for a beautiful night.
They talked for hours and found they had a lot in common. Not just the understanding of military life and its pressures, but also the fact that coffee could be a delicacy and that Peyton Manning was one of the great quarterbacks of their generation.
"I've really enjoyed tonight," Felicity said, and she found she really had. She had never felt as comfortable with a person so quickly. Oliver Queen wasn't just a fascinating, handsome man, he was also a mystery...a bit of a puzzle. She had always enjoyed a mystery.
He had steered most of their conversation towards getting to know her. Felicity certainly enjoyed being with a man who wanted to know about her, but...she sometimes caught a glimpse of sadness behind his gorgeous eyes. When they had talked about Felicity's brother and the sacrifice he had made in the line of duty, it hit Oliver harder than she expected. Of course, a fellow soldier would understand and feel for another, but she sensed there was so much more...to the impact it had on him. Something, painful. She had to bite her tongue each time she wanted to ask him, deeper, more personal questions.
"Me too. Felicity, would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow?"
"I would love to," Felicity grinned, a huge smile taking over her face. He wanted to see her again and that made her want to do a happy dance.
"Good," he replied as he grinned back at her. "I'll cook."
"You cook?" Felicity asked as her jaw dropped open. Could this man be anymore perfect? She would and could burn everything she touched in a kitchen. Give her a rifle and she could hit a target at 800 meters, but give her a pan and a stove...nope.
"I cook," Oliver laughed at her amazement.
His laughter was sexy and contagious. It cocooned her in its warmth and sensuality. She loved the fact that she could make him happy. And it also scared her how much she wanted to keep any sadness from touching him ever again.
#####
Oliver's thumb hovered over the screen of his iphone before he pressed the lock screen and slipped it into the back pocket of his jeans. He had almost called Felicity and cancelled their dinner several times during the day after he woke to another nightmare that morning.
He had been feeling so light and...happy, last night with her, that he had asked to see her again. He hadn't laughed and smiled so much in so very long. She was extremely attractive, funny, and intelligent. She made him feel...good. He almost felt like his old self.
Almost. Till he woke from a dream full of pain. He was such a fool to bring her into his darkness. She made him forget himself. She made him forget that he didn't deserve to feel light and happy.
His friends were dead. Elizabeth Lance was dead.
He would ensure Felicity had a nice evening and then….then he would need to let her go. He didn't want to hurt her and the more time he spent with her...he knew he would end up hurting her.
#####
"Hi," Felicity said, as she kissed Oliver on the cheek when he greeted her at his front door. He looked scrumptious in a navy blue t-shirt and faded jeans. The scent of the ocean, coconut sunscreen and man surrounded her as Oliver's eyes traced her face and lingered on her lips. Lips that still tingled from the feel of his sexy, late afternoon scruff. "Um, you have a beautiful home. I'm so envious you live on the beach."
"Thanks! And thank you," he replied as she handed him a chilled six pack of her favorite Mexican beer and he turned and led her into the beach style bungalow house. "I've only just started to settle in more...when I was...on call with my team, I would be gone a lot."
The catch in his voice as he talked about his team didn't go unnoticed by Felicity, but she let it go. Maybe he missed being in the field or maybe there was more to it. She could wait. They were getting to know each other and it was a part of the puzzle of Oliver Queen that she looked forward to unraveling.
Felicity liked the open floor plan of the living room that shared the space with a very modern kitchen. The room's simple white walls, dark wood tables and cabinets and sage green couch and matching recliners was clean and crisp.
"I thought I'd barbeque some marinated chicken and vegetables out on the patio grill,"
"Sounds perfect. Can I help open a bottle of beer for you, while you be master chef?"
"That would be great," he chuckled.
Conversation and laughter flowed easily and Oliver tantalized Felicity's taste buds in more ways than one. Dinner was delicious, but so was the way Oliver moved in his worn in jeans. She took another sip of her negra modelo to cover her moan as she watched him, from where she sat on the wooden picnic table, as he leaned over to shut off the gas for the grill. His muscles rippled under his clothes when he moved and all she wanted to do was see them unhindered. Touch them with her hands and her mouth. Who would have thought clothing could be so irritating? In fact her own shorts and gray t-shirt were starting to feel tight and restrictive against her heated skin.
"Ready for dessert?" Oliver asked with a twinkle in his eye. He couldn't know how much she wanted to jump him, could he? Naw, she thought. She was just projecting her own wants. "I have dark chocolate or mint chocolate chip ice cream,"
"Seriously? You have mint chocolate chip ice cream?"
"I gather I chose right. I'll get you some and bring it out here,"
Oliver came back out with two small bowls and spoons and handed one to her. He then sat down beside her on the top of the wooden picnic table. They both ate their ice cream and watched the beginning of the evening's sunset over the horizon.
Felicity felt so relaxed and safe and a big reason for that, was the man beside her. Everything felt...right. He felt...right.
The wind whipped tendrils of her hair loose from her ponytail and she suddenly felt Oliver's fingers slid them behind her ear.
Time seemed to stop as heat seared where he touched her. She watched, transfixed by the turmoil of emotions that flickered in his eyes. Her mysterious Seal.
"Why were you rusty?"
"What?" Oliver asked.
"You told me the other night...you felt rusty talking to a woman,"
He didn't reply. Instead he turned his head back towards the brilliant streaks of color in the sky.
As he remained silent she watched all the openness and light dim from his face. A small shiver traveled down her back as she felt him close himself off from her. It hurt as she felt the acute loss of him.
"I'm sorry, I di,"
"Please don't apologize, Felicity," Oliver said, cutting her off and holding her gaze once again. "You don't have anything to apologize for."
"Then what did I say that upset you?"
"I...carry a lot of baggage. I shouldn't have asked you to dinner,"
Felicity stilled at his words, but then she set down her bowl and shifted closer to him. Just close enough so only their shoulders met. A small connection so he knew she was with him. That he wasn't alone.
"What happened?" she gently whispered, willing and wanting to be a friend.
"My issues...you don't deserve having to deal with them,"
"Perhaps you should let me decide that," she said quietly.
He shut his eyes...and when he met her eyes again...he was hurting. He no longer hid it from her. The intensity of his gaze was almost too overwhelming to hold.
"I, I couldn't keep my men safe. On my last mission I failed them. Three of my best friends and a young woman died. I was wounded and I...I can't seem to forgive myself for what happened."
As Oliver told her about the bomb, the explosion and the months and months of rehab and rebuilding of his life, Felicity's heart reached out to him. It was such a profound trauma and loss that only he could find his way through. If there was one thing she learned from her brother's journey was that no matter how much you loved your loved one, all you could do for them was be there. Let them know they weren't alone. Other than that, the journey had to be made by them.
She rested her head against his shoulder and after his words ended and his breathing calmed he laid his head on top of hers. They sat there, not really seeing the sun set or hearing the world move on around them. They sat there, taking what they needed from each other.
Night drifted in around them and the patio's automatic fairy lights blinked on and they were bathed under their whimsicalness.
"On their last visit my dad strung those up here for my mom,"
Oliver lifted his head as she moved hers to look up at him, "They're beautiful,"
"You're beautiful,"
Felicity nudged his shoulder for making her blush.
"Thank you, Felicity. For listening. For not judging. For being a friend,"
"You're welcome. And, Oliver?"
"Hmm,"
"I would still like to get to know you better. Go on another date and hopefully, more?" She knew she was moving fast. Perhaps being forward, but there was just something about him. She felt connected to Oliver on so many levels.
She could tell her words surprised him. She just hoped they tempted him too, because she wanted him in her life. She wanted this man who valued his friendships, his family and his country.