For Richer or Poorer - NC17 - Chloe/Oliver - Part Five
Title: For Richer or Poorer
Category: Smallville
Genre: Romance/Drama/Humor/Action
Ship: Chloe/Oliver
Rating: NC17
Spoiler(s): Season 6 - Arrow
Word Count: 6,364
Summary: (AU) Oliver Queen, former journalist and current computer specialist, has met his match in Chloe Sullivan, billionaire CEO and secret leather-wearing vigilante.
Previous: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four,
dhfreak
V.
Bart was hungry and Chloe was fairly sure he'd already finished off what was left in her fridge. "It's a good thing there were hors d'oeuvres at the party, Bart. Or I'd be wrangling that Thai food out of your hands right now," she told him, eyes narrowed.
Mouth full, he hugged the cardboard box closer to his chest and frowned at her. "s'good," she mumbled.
She laughed. "I know."
Victor played with the necklace over his knuckles. "What are the odds that the one night we want to break in, Luthor decides to let his date play dress-up?" He shook his head, frowning. "I feel like this was a set-up."
"Contrary to your suspicious streak, coincidence happens… Besides, with all the robberies lately, he probably thought having it close by and with all those Safetex guards on hand, nobody would try their hand at it…" AC grinned, reaching over to playfully shove Chloe's shoulder. "Except our girl."
"What happened to taking a night off anyway?" Victor turned to her, frowning. "We had it handled. Or at least when you called, you could've sent Bart in and kept up the charade…"
She pursed her lips. "I know… To be honest, I didn't think of it until after. Oliver pointed out Martha and I spotted the necklace and after that it was just… Opportunity."
They stared at her, gazes narrowed, even Bart stopped eating to peer at her.
She looked between them. "What?"
"Oliver," they all repeated.
Her brows furrowed. She hadn't meant to mention him by name. In fact, though Victor knew, she was kind of hoping to keep him as just a mysterious male presence in her life when she spilled her guts and asked their input. "Uh, he's-"
"Save it," Victor interrupted. "You might as well just come clean…"
Sighing, her shoulders slumped. "He's just a guy… A very nice, very handsome guy who happens to be a family friend of Senator Kent's…" Her eyes fell to stare at the couch where she absently drew shapes along the fabric with her finger. For the first time in her entire life, she rather felt like a teenager explaining to her father(s) about the boy in her life. Which was incredibly weird considering she always felt like she was the most parental of the group, mothering the three men since she'd met them. If this was what they felt whenever she pulled one of her maternal trips on them then she applauded them, because she was stuck somewhere between flustered irritation and warm appreciation. "It's nothing."
"But you want it to be something."
She glared up at Victor. "I don't-I don't know!" She groaned, throwing her head back against the couch. "Our life doesn't exactly leave space for this kind of thing."
"Doesn't mean it shouldn't," AC interceded. He waited until she looked up at him before he smiled. "What you're doing for the world is great, Chlo. Admirable. But there's no law somewhere that says you have to sacrifice yourself to be this hero… We all lead double identities, maybe one or even both of yours have room for some expansion."
"Expansion?" She snorted. "More like lobotomy…" She shook her head. "My whole life I've either been about dad's business or saving the world… And nowhere in that plan does it say I will meet a tall, dark stranger and throw common sense out the window!" She stood up to pace, wringing her hands. "And none of you can preach about dating when the only one who gets any action is Bart and he speeds off before they even wake up in the morning!"
Bart frowned. "Way to make me sound like a player, 'Licious! You know the only woman in my heart is you!" He held a hand to his chest, oblivious to the egg noodle hanging off his finger. Until he spotted and ate it, quickly distracted.
Victor rolled his eyes. "You realize if she ever actually did anything with you it'd be like statutory rape, right? You're a kid!"
He scoffed, smirking. "I'm totally willing."
"Anyway…" AC sighed. "Victor had Katherine, and even though that seems like a bad comparison since it didn't end well, for awhile at least he was seeing someone he loved and who loved him back… As it turned out, she couldn't handle what happened to him and maybe he couldn't yet either. It's all about timing, right? You meet the right person at the right time and you do something about it…" He shrugged. "Or you let it pass you by and you regret it. But…" He cocked a brow at her seriously. "If you can leap off tall buildings with nothing but a zip-line to keep you safe, I'm pretty sure you can tread the waters of dating."
She chewed her lip. "What if he's not the right guy or this isn't the right time?" She shook her head. "Or what if I spill all my secrets and he picks the pen back up and totally screws me over by letting the world know I have a leather fetish and like to save people who stupidly walk down dark, dangerous alleys?"
"Chloe," Victor muttered. "If he screws you over, we'll personally take care of him and then we'll..." He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned, "figure out the rest then… But you can't base everything you do on whether or not somebody is going to figure you out. There's a price to living the life we do, but it isn't sacrificing your heart."
She sniffled to herself, overwhelmed by their support. "You guys all just went seriously soft on me…"
Bart sidled up to her and threw an arm around her shoulders. "Listen mamacita, I've been listening to what these saps have been saying and, yeah, I think they're totally lame and probably always will be, but…" He looked up at her. "You're awesome and maybe we shouldn't be the only guys who know that, right?" He shrugged slightly, half-smiling. "Whoever this dude is, he's lucky… And he'll be even luckier if you give him a chance."
She smiled at him widely before leaning over and kissing his cheek. Looking back at the guys, she raised a brow. "So that's the consensus then? Chloe Sullivan should date?"
"Yes!" they all cried out, exasperated.
She laughed happily, feeling lighthearted and thankful. "Okay, okay, I heard you…" She wrapped an arm around Bart and squeezed. "Now how about we forget about all this love business and get down to something more serious…" She narrowed her eyes at them. "I picked up The King of Fighters and my PS2's already hooked up…" She grinned. "So line up boys, you're all going down!"
Shoving one another to the front, AC was the first to pick up the controller next to her as she stood in front of her widescreen TV.
"You ready?" he asked, brows quirked.
She grinned. "Bring it."
She played for an hour before letting the boys take over and sprawling on the couch to watch fondly as they smack talked each other and had a blast. Their laughter and playful insults made her smile; this was home, she decided. It wasn't Star City but wherever her team was. It was camaraderie and friendship and the knowledge that these three guys would do anything for her just like she would for them. AC took a seat at the end of the couch next to her feet, resting his elbows on his knees. She dragged her gaze from Victor and Bart, who were hopping all over and moving their controllers around aggressively along with their game, to look at the thoughtful sandy-blonde ocean lover before her.
"So, on a scale of one to ten… how much do you like this guy?" he wondered, peering over at her.
She smiled. "Twelve."
He chuckled. "That much, huh?"
She bit her lip, eyes falling. "I'm in over my head."
"Maybe it's where you're supposed to be." He shrugged. "I think when it hits you, when you've got something really good staring you in the face, you shouldn't let it just walk away." He shook his head. "It's why me and Vic and Bart knew taking up with you was right… Because walking away meant giving up something incredible. It was insane, mind you," he laughed, "but we all made the right choice when we became your crime-fighting team." He stared at her thoughtfully. "Maybe this Oliver guy is your life changer."
"I thought the whole hero thing was pretty life changing," she reminded wryly.
"If you came up with the idea, it wasn't really a choice, Chlo. A calling, maybe. But not a choice." He shook his head. "But now you've got this guy who's either going to threaten what you've put together or maybe he'll add to it, I don't know… I know that I trust you and your instincts and maybe you just need to trust yourself a little bit. 'Cause if this guy is really a twelve on the Chloe scale," His brows raised meaningfully, "then he's gotta be worth it, right?"
She blew out a long breath. "I think so… Or I think I'd like to find out." She smiled.
"Aww man! Chloe, C-3PO is totally cheating!" Bart cried out, repeatedly pushing the same button as his man was getting his ass kicked.
She laughed. "And how do you figure that?"
"Uh, hello!" He rolled his eyes, scoffing, "I'm boss at this game! There's no way he'll-"
"Suck it, Shrimp! You lose!" Victor cheered, doing a little victory dance as the game announced his win.
"Cheater!"
Reaching over, Victor shoved Bart's shoulder. "Prove it."
AC pinched his nose and exhaled deeply. "If you guys don't stop it, right now… I'm taking you home." When they didn't listen, he turned back to Chloe and shook his head. "They're probably overtired. And we should be getting out of here anyway. Vic's gotta get back to Sullivan Inc headquarters for tomorrow and I've got a protest on 7th and Sunset." He patted her leg before standing up. "All right guys, break it up. We're going home!"
"What? But we just got here!" Bart whined, stomping his foot.
Victor rubbed his eyes and frowned. "We didn't even get any details on the heist."
"I'll email you," Chloe promised, rolling to a sitting position before she rose to her feet. "I want hugs goodbye, promises you'll all be good, and Bart - you better leave that last container of Thai food!" she called, seeing his blur approach the kitchen.
"'Licious… All that gaming worked up an appetite!" he pouted.
Victor scoffed. "You moved your thumbs around and snapped your gums, Pipsqueak!"
"And it took a lot of energy to smack-talk you, Old Man."
With narrowed eyes, Victor moved to go after him but Chloe stepped in front, hand on his chest to keep him back. Admittedly, she knew that if Victor really wanted to, he could easily get past her, but he had too much respect to simply shove past her or push her out of the way. "Bart, drop the food!" she demanded over her shoulder. After he listened and they all turned to look at her, she sighed. "Now, as much as I'm missing your childlike tantrums around each other, it's nearly eleven and I've still gotta shower and probably patrol, so…" She raised her brows. "Say goodbye and get a move on!"
Frowning, Victor nodded, pulling her in for a hug. "Be careful," he ordered, squeezing her.
"I will," she promised.
As he stepped back, AC moved in, lifting her right off her feet with his hug. "Stop worrying so much and just go with the flow," he told her, smiling.
She smiled, nodding into his embrace.
And finally, Bart came running in behind her, twirling her around before wrapping her up in his hug and resting his chin on her shoulder. "Since I'm your favorite," She just knew he was sticking his tongue out at the other two men, "you know you've got my blessing to rock this dude's world, 'kay?" He looked up at her. "I can wait for you to get over Prince Charming and realize I'm your soul mate."
She laughed, leaning in to kiss his forehead in a very sisterly/motherly fashion. "Some girl is going to be very lucky to have you, Bart."
He winked before speeding back over to stand with the guys, silently elbowing Victor obnoxiously.
Sadly, she smiled at them. "Okay, so keep me updated, call me often, get home safely," she told them.
As they filed out, she sighed, missing them already. But there was a thrum of hope stirring inside her. She had their blessing to do what she couldn't do on her own… open herself up to the possibilities Oliver Queen temptingly offered. She just hoped she didn't sabotage herself again.
…
Oliver found her penthouse address through a little creative hacking. Getting inside took some smooth talking, especially since it was nearly midnight and she didn't strike him as much of a late-night pizza eater. Standing in the elevator as it rose to the top of Sullivan Tower, he fidgeted, wondering exactly how he was supposed to break the news to her that she'd been figured out and how to get that necklace out of her hands and back to Martha. When the elevator came to a stop but the door didn't open, he frowned, reaching over and pushing the button in hopes that it would spur into action.
"Cute… But no matter how many times you push the button, my security doesn't let you in until I give the go-ahead," Chloe's voice filtered out of a speaker in the top left corner of the elevator.
He grinned up at the camera. "You left before all the action…"
"And you dropped in to give me the scoop?" she returned, amused.
"Something like that." He arched his brows at the door. "You gonna let me in?"
"It's late… What's my incentive?"
He held up the box. "Besides lukewarm pizza?" Her scoff made him smile. He shrugged, it was worth a try. "Given you might be the next on this vigilante's hit list, I thought you'd be interested in what I found out…"
"So you're helping the rich now?"
He smirked, chuckling under his breath. "You'll have to let me in and see."
There was a pause, complete silence, before suddenly the door opened.
Pushing back the cage door, he stepped into her foyer office, looking around at the steel décor and green clock face behind her. He arched a brow. "You really like green." He crossed the room, dropping the greasy box of pizza on the desk top.
"Favorite color," she mused. "So? I was promised a scoop on this vigilante…" She circled to sit at the edge of her desk, close enough that he could smell the lingering scent of jasmine. He wondered if it was shampoo or body lotion. He noticed she'd recently showered, or at least scrubbed her face of the previous makeup, and all the expensive jewelry and the fancy up-do had been discarded too. Her dress had been exchanged for a silk robe. A long moment passed in which he was thoroughly distracted by the slit that showed off her impossibly long legs.
He swallowed tightly. "Uh…" He scratched his temple, clearing his throat. Scattered thoughts tried desperately to rearrange themselves into something coherent. He had to cut through the repetitive voice in his head, Wow, she is just… Wow, and earch out the point of his late-night visit. "Right. Green Arrow-"
"Green Arrow," she repeated, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "I like it."
He half-smiled. "I thought you would…"
She eyed him generously, her lips tilted, not the least bit worried. "You picked up the proverbial pen again, Oliver? Returning to journalism with this vigilante story?"
"No…" He tucked his hands in his pants pockets and rocked back on his heels. "See, I've been doing some digging around…" He took a step back, more because standing so close to her made his head spin than anything else. "Green Arrow originally appeared in Star City, where she was hailed for her generosity…" he told her, trying his damndest to keep his eyes on hers rather than roam the enticing package. He shrugged. "A bit of a Robin Hood type, excusing the gender swap, and she's got stealing from the rich and giving to the poor down pat…" He raised a brow. "Funny, she appeared here in Metropolis about the time, well, you did."
Chloe stared back with an impressive poker-face. "An interesting coincidence…" she mused, nodding. "Although, from what I've read, this Green Arrow hasn't been sighted until just tonight… Every other unfortunate robbery has no suspects in mind." She shrugged lightly and the silk of her robe slipped from her arm, falling low and revealing a creamy bare shoulder that had his throat dry in seconds. "So one could argue that she showed up just tonight, while I come and go from Metropolis monthly… A bit of a shaky lead, but I'll bite." She waved a hand, leaning back slightly and resting her head against her naked shoulder. "Go on."
He smirked, a heat burning low in his body that began to hum and spread. While games weren't his usual thing, he found chasing her, bantering with her, to be a whole new level of interesting. But he wanted answers and he needed to get that necklace back. He stared at her searchingly. "You know, in all our philosophical conversations about money and human decency, I almost believed you were just a bleeding heart liberal… out to help the world, even if it meant spending every last dime of her money."
"And what gave you that idea, Oliver?" She narrowed her eyes, looking almost annoyed for the first time. "Did I ever say that? Or did you come up with it all on your own?"
His smile faded. "What you're doing… Somehow, I don't think the world is going to clap for you…" His jaw ticked and a wave of protectiveness flooded him. "It's far too cynical and every big spender out there is going to want your head… They have a lot more pull than the little guy!"
"I'm not looking for anyone's approval…" She rose then, hopping down from her seat and crossing to stand just a few feet from him. "That necklace and every other artifact that Green Arrow stole, they were off the black market… Pre-stolen and due to be returned to their rightful owners; museums where they can be properly appreciated," she argued stubbornly. "The Luthors take from whoever they want, any time they want, and nobody holds them accountable. You think by taking a personal stance against anybody with money you're doing the world a favor?" She shook her head. "There is a time to listen and a time to fight… Some of us have been standing idly by, allowing these things to happen all around them, and others are picking up the pen or the sword and doing something about it." Taking a deep breath, she stared up at him thoughtfully. "If you really think I was wrong, why are you here, talking to me, and not out there letting the world know that a billionaire is stealing from her fellow tax bracket?"
His eyes darted away before returning to hers. Some of the fight had drained out of him; now that he knew the necklace was stolen, he didn't feel like it was his mission to get it back. He had to think about it. But that wasn't the only part of this whole equation that they needed to discuss. "Because I thought I saw something in you… Something better than I expected."
She frowned. "And what's changed?"
"Besides the fact that I now know you have a green leather fetish?"
She laughed softly. "It's easier to move in than you'd expect."
His brows lifted. Unable to help himself, he reached out and traced her cheek with his thumb. "I'll take your word on that."
She grinned, looking him up and down. "I dunno… You might look good in leather."
"I have a green jacket at home that says you're right," he returned, smirking.
She ducked her head, nodding. Good mood fading, she looked back up at him. "I like you, Oliver… I like that you're honest and you don't take things as they are but go digging around for answers…"
"I sense a but coming…" he murmured, frowning.
"But… I'm not your average girl." She shook her head seriously. "I run a billion dollar company by day and I parade around at night with a bow and arrow."
"And tights," he nodded. "Have I mentioned you have gorgeous legs?"
She half-rolled her eyes. "One, they aren't tights, and two… No." She stuck her leg out, a long naked limb that made his every muscle clench appreciatively, and looked down at them. "How nice?" she teased.
He grinned. "Worship nice."
Shaking her head at him, blonde waves slipping over her shoulders, she smiled warmly. "You make me feel normal… without having to pretend I really am."
"Trust me, normal's overrated… After a life in Smallville, anything with less than a meteor-freak a week and I'm bored."
Her brows furrowed. "Meteor freak? Is that what you call your weekly run-ins with the deranged and homicidal?"
"Been doing a little digging yourself?" He smirked proudly. "Probably a good idea if we're really going to have a go at this…"
"This?" Her lips twitched. "And what is this?"
He bit his lip, reaching out and taking her hand, drawing her in close to him. As her body pressed in tight, soft curves and firm breasts, he had to take a breath to steady himself. "I'm willing to dispel a few misjudgments if you are…" He stared into her eyes. "Like maybe every billionaire out there isn't out to mold the world to their liking but save it as best they can in the only way they can…" His gaze lightened with teasing, "In a really hot leather outfit."
She laughed thickly. "Okay… And maybe my duo life has room in it for a little fun, and romance, and a tech-geek that could quite possibly model for GQ."
His grin widened. "I told Clark I could get that modeling job!"
She chuckled softly. "Definitely." Reaching up, she dragged her fingers down the silk of his tie. "So if you don't mind my asking… How is it you figured me out?" She raised a curious brow.
He smirked. "I'm better with a computer than most… And I've been doing research most of my life. I guess when I had the right target in mind I wasn't willing to stop until I knew everything." He shrugged. "Maybe I dug a little deeper than expected, but I don't know that it turned me off…" He stared at her, brows furrowed. "I was right when I said you were an enigma, Chloe. You're nothing like what I expected."
"And that's a good thing?" she wondered, a hint of insecurity shining through. "Because I've grown up in a world where I'm meant to be exactly what I portray and I know how easily it is to get sucked into society norms or to want the image rather than the real package…"
"I can't say that my first choice would be to date somebody who's so far out of my tax bracket I feel like a pauper and knowing that you're a self-made hero is a little bit daunting, but…" He tucked her hair behind her ear, tracing the shell with his thumb. "I've never been more intrigued by a person in my life and I've never felt this drawn to anybody before…" He shook his head, his face wide with honesty, "So I don't know where this is headed or what it means, but I'd like, if you'd give me a chance, to figure it out."
She smiled up at him. "Since you went through all the trouble of stalking me and all…"
He laughed. "I take my job seriously," he joked. "Although I think Victor might give me a run for my money."
Her brows lifted high, for the first time showing real shock. He found himself liking how he could surprise her, how her carefully put together mask of knowing was slipping before his eyes.
"You know about Victor?"
"I've met Victor. Awhile ago, through Clark…" He frowned. "And a lot of misfortune that Lex Luthor took to his advantage."
Chloe pursed her lips thoughtfully. "You have history with Lex."
"Probably not the same as yours, but yeah…" He tipped his head, eyes narrowing some. "Let's just say that he started out as a friend and then his true colors came through with some pretty negative results…"
She nodded slowly. "The Luthors have a way of presenting themselves one way and being entirely other, and not at all good, people…" She stared up at him. "What I said about fighting, I meant… And Luthorcorp holds a strong position as my number one villain."
"And just how do you plan on taking out one of the largest companies in America?" he wondered, quirking his head.
She smirked slowly. "Bit by bit." She tugged on his tie. "We have a lot to talk about… A lot I should definitely not be sharing with a guy too familiar with curiosity's deathly attraction…"
He wrapped his fingers deftly around her tiny wrist, his thumb smoothing over delicate bones and soft skin, feeling the hammering of a pulse there. "And why are you?" He shook his head. "You could've kicked me out at any time… Walked away and left me with a whole lot of questions. Not like you don't have the money or means to disappear if you wanted to…"
Her eyes narrowed but the quirk of her lips let him know she wasn't upset. "Of everything you've learned, you'd think you'd know that I'm nothing if not a fighter… Running away is not my forte…" She licked her lips, eyes darting away. "As for letting you in on this girl-hero's cheat codes…?" Her gaze fell to his chest. "You might have something against money and privilege but there's something noble about you, Oliver…" She smiled cheekily. "And maybe I spent a little too much time researching you and The Torch, but I think you're accustomed to the weird and unexplainable… I deal with that, often." She chuckled breathily before letting her eyes wander up to him. "And maybe I thought I'd found a kindred spirit that night…" Her smile softened. "You're the first person I think I've ever met that walked up to me and didn't try to charm me… In fact, I think you were trying to goad me into some kind of brush-off."
He grinned widely. "I made a bet with Martha, actually… That she couldn't point out one billionaire in the room that wasn't only looking out for themselves…" He shook his head. "Just my luck that she picks out the only leather-toting vigilante of the bunch."
She shrugged. "You win some, you lose some."
"I think this loss turned out pretty well," he admitted.
"Is that right?"
He nodded, letting his hands fall to her waist, gathering the silk of her robe at her hips. "I might've lost the bet with Martha, but I think I won something a lot more important…"
"And what's that?"
"Clarity… Understanding… Hopefully a chance with a very intriguing and incredible woman…" He smirked slowly. "And if I play my cards right, I'm hoping I might be able to offer something to her group of heroes… If she's willing to let my try out, that is."
She eyed him thoughtfully. "I think you have what it takes, Oliver… But I'm not a one-woman show, so this golden ticket isn't just mine to offer…"
"I'm willing to meet with your merry men and pledge my case any time… As long as the cause is true and I'm putting a lot on the hope that it is, then I'd like to be a part of it… I'd like to be a part of everything that makes youtick."
"I was right before…" She raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck. "You are a lady killer."
He grinned, ducking his head slightly. "I've got my eyes set on one lady… And I'm really hoping she's looking back."
"She's looking…" She quirked her head to one side. "She likes what she sees."
"Mm…" He leaned toward her. "Visual's not bad on my end either," he murmured, before his lips settled across hers. He could feel her smile, her joy, before he was swept up in the heat of her tongue and the complete embrace of her mouth and body. For a moment, it was like he was weightless; like every muscle in his body went limp. Breaths intermingling, tongues tangling, teeth nipping and nibbling, they became a mass of wandering hands and entwined bodies and breathless, desperate, lingering kisses. Heat swept across his skin, whether from the lack of air that made his lungs burn and his skin warm with exertion, or because her every touch was like fire, every sweep of her tongue like tasting passion at its hottest, he couldn't tell. He wasn't sure he cared. Air was the last thing on his mind when tasting her was so beyond anything else.
They backed up, feet stumbling over each other, and she bumped into the desk before he lifted her up, hands smoothing along the backs of her creamy, bare thighs, only to laugh as he dropped her to sit atop the pizza box.
"Somehow that crushed meat lover's just became a real mood killer," she muttered.
Grinning, he rested his forehead against hers. "Forgot the beer anyway."
She smiled softly, cupping his face. "Rain-check then… You bring another pizza, preferably not one I've sat on, and I'll provide the beer."
He kissed her again, slowly, lingeringly, and then nodded, panting a little against her mouth. "You so sure you can let me walk out that door, knowing all your secrets like I do?"
She stared up at him. "I think you've known awhile…" Her smile lengthened before she shrugged. "And you haven't gone running to the Inquisitor yet."
He winced. "Have I mentioned my cousin works there?"
A chuckle bubbled out of her. "Lois Lane, right?"
He blinked. "You really have been doing a little digging around, huh?"
"Most of my acquaintances thought you were a gigolo, it pays to do a little research," she teased.
He smirked, winking at her. "From what I can tell, I would make a killing in the escort business."
She threw her head back to laugh and he grinned in reply, there was something completely honest about her reactions, how freely she acted with him, that made him undeniably happy.
When he spotted the time behind her, he started drawing away. He still had a drive back to Smallville to look forward to and while he and Chloe had somewhat cemented something together, he wasn't about to ask to sleep on her couch. And getting into her bed too early might give her the wrong idea; he wanted to do this right. Regardless of the fact that very little about this was normal. Digging around in his pocket, he pulled out his phone. "Since I can probably hack it, this is me being polite. Can I get your number so I can take you up on that pizza and beer sometime soon?"
She grinned and listed her digits. He took a moment to take a picture of her - her lips still swollen from his kiss and her hair a mess, dark green gaze hooded - and then set it against her number. He pressed send and listened for her cell to ring, they both turned when a tune filled the air. "There… Now you got mine." Tucking his cell away, he reached up and stroked her cheek delicately. "I should go…"
She nodded, but leaned into his touch all the same. "I'll walk you to the elevator," she finally said, hopping down from the desk and sliding her body down his sinfully slowly until her feet touched the floor. She stood still, her every inch and curve pressed against him. His jaw ticked and for a moment he seriously considered forgetting the wait, the rain-check, all of it. What he wanted to do was get lost in kissing her, in exploring what was on under that silk robe, of tasting her skin and seeing if it was half as good as she smelled. Instead, he walked with her to the elevator and lingered at her side before climbing on. She smiled at him as the doors closed.
A pang in his chest told him he was in way too deep, that this could only end badly.
But when he was walking through the lobby of Sullivan Tower and his cell beeped with a text from her - You're a Budweiser fan, right? - he knew it was all worth it.
…
Chloe took a deep breath and forced her trembling legs to move. With her security back in place and the elevator locked up, Oliver likely on his way back to Smallville now, she couldn't help the grin that overtook her face. A laugh bubbled in her throat and though she lifted a hand to cover her mouth, it escaped. She bounced a little on the tips of her toes and twirled. If the boys could see her now… It only made her laugh harder. Chloe Sullivan, vigilante hero that stole from the rich and kicked bad-guy ass, felt like she was floating. Her skin flushed with warmth as she remembered his kiss, how his mouth settled across hers so firmly, all encompassing. Her fingers stroked her lips, still full and swollen, the taste of him lingering on her tongue. She felt more woman than she ever had in her life.
Oliver Queen was the only man to kiss her. She hardly counted the sloppy kisses the boy she'd lost her virginity to at Excelsior to be worthy of listing. He'd been all saliva and tongue and the awkwardness scale had tipped right over then. But with Oliver she felt like her hands and her mouth, her very body, had moved all on its own, answering his movements, reacting and flowing in sync with him. Once more she thought those stupid romance books her Excelsior roommate had read and dreamed of living out herself weren't entirely wrong. Yes, they were overdramatic and full of nonsense and there was little chance some burly hero with bulging biceps was going to come running in and save her damsel in distress. Especially since she was more the hero-type, but the passion the books had spoken of, the intimacy of just a kiss - like fireworks going off beneath her skin - that had been real. That she had experience first hand.
As she moved through the apartment, her every step felt like she was dancing. Excitement welled deep in her stomach, reaching up and exploding in her chest. For the first time in a long time she wished she had a female friend so she could call and gossip and go over every single detail of what had happened. Because she'd kissed Oliver Queen. Chloe had kissed him. Not the billionaire or the vigilante, but the woman. A woman with little to no secrets kept from him, because… He knew. She smiled brighter. He knew and he still liked her. He didn't think she was crazy, he wasn't outing her to the world, he even seemed to somewhat applaud her. She hadn't thought about that outcome, really. Maybe some deep, dark, unexplored part of her feelings and fears had let her wonder… What if she could be accepted for all of her? What if this guy, this man that had caught her attention like no other, what if he was the one who didn't want the money or the fame, but the woman behind it? What if he could believe in what she was doing as much as she did? And maybe he could, maybe he did.
They would talk, they would figure this out. Over pizza and beer.
She grinned, sweeping through her apartment on a buzz of happiness. It didn't matter that the only sound was her bare feet on the floor or the echo of her laughter through hollow halls. It didn't matter that her team was on their way back home, far, far away, or that Oliver was long gone, because tonight she was not lonely. For the first time in a very long time, the cold feeling of loneliness didn't creep in and settle darkly in her body, weighing her down. For this moment, she could be free of it. Free of loss and insecurity and confusion. Free to dance and laugh and enjoy this brief moment in time.
Tomorrow, it was back to business. Back to stealing from the rich and playing nice with those same people in board meetings. Back to looking the picture of poised perfect, not a hair out of place or a chuckle to be heard. Tomorrow her mask would return, but for tonight she could smile until her cheeks hurt. And she did, even as she slept, dreaming of blonde hair and brown eyes and a crooked grin that sent her heart fluttering. Maybe things really could be better, maybe there was space in this complicated life of hers for something, or someone, who wouldn't otherwise fit. And if it didn't, she would just have to make it. Fierce and stubborn, she decided that she was tired of letting what she wanted fall to the wayside. She had lived her life for others, doing for them or living up to their image, and while it created a great business and even better team of heroes, there were aspects of her life that had gone ignored too long. Well no more.
No more.
[Next: Part VI.]