Prodigal Son

Chapter 18

Oliver drew in a breath and smiled, enjoying Felicity's soft blush as she glanced back at him one last time before she slipped into her room and closed the door. Despite her insistence he didn't need to— and even shouldn't—walk her to her room, she hadn't rushed off alone even though she'd had her robe and flip flops on in less than ten seconds.

In the silent, upstairs hallway, he hadn't been able to resist pulling her to him for one last, toe curling kiss. No exaggeration involved; his toes had in fact curled into the carpet. Damn, she affected him. When they touched, she melted into him with a kind of surrender that made him want to wave the white flag. Only the bruised smudges beneath her eyes had him willing to walk away to his room across the hall. She needed more rest and if he followed her into that bedroom, neither of them would get any.

Still, as far as rain checks went, he had no complaints and all kinds of hopes of cashing it as soon as possible. Despite round two being interrupted, he felt good and that had everything to do with Felicity. The sex had been phenomenal but there was something more about Felicity that drew him to her on another level.

Brilliant, kind, loyal, generous, and fiercely brave, she brought out all his protective instincts even as he admired her independence and determination. He also appreciated her willingness to call him on his bullshit. And while she teased occasionally about his past, never with the sort of condescending judgment he'd come to expect even from himself. At the same time, she was clear what treatment she would not accept. And that included him leaving her for her own safety. So he would stay and fight beside her, whatever came next.

The knee jerk instinct to put distance between her and his mistakes was still there, but their relationship had shifted. He couldn't walk away now. Not while there was any possible danger. She was willing to accept whatever dubious protection he could offer for the next two months at least. Or had she started the countdown clock from the date of his arrival? He frowned.

Technically, she still wasn't his type. Yes, beautiful and beyond smart, and she could when called upon play the part of the cool sophisticate, but she was anything but reserved. She went into life with her heart wide open. She was far too involved with his family. Her work would always be a big priority. And her commitment to the Glades and the city made it impossible for him to imagine her leaving Starling City.

However much he enjoyed spending time with Felicity, he couldn't assume their connection was the kind of something more he was looking for, especially since she'd made it painfully clear she already had one foot out the door.

Even knowing all that, every time the word fling passed Felicity's lips, he'd ground his teeth. Being only a temporary diversion to her was galling. And given his past and how he'd treated women, he was deeply aware of the irony.

Felicity was chomping at the bit to start her real future; that damned company she was going to pour her heart into. Immediately, Alexandria Freitas and what Felicity and Curtis did popped into his mind; he let out a guilty sigh. His resentment against her company was ridiculous. She'd lived up to her promises and more. And he wasn't even going to be there when her company became her focus, a company that might honestly change the world. Felicity should be excited and proud and looking forward to her future. So why did thinking about it leave him so aggravated?

He closed the door on that train of thought; he was wasting his time worrying about the future. Two months—and dammit, he would hold her to the entire two months—was still a long time. Longer than he'd planned out any relationship in the last eight years. Immediate threats were all he should be thinking about.

A huge yawn caught him by surprise. He'd catch a few hours of sleep and then when his head was clear, pick up planning how to make sure nothing like last night ever happened again. The someone pointing a gun at Felicity part, not the hot sex by the pool part. He shook his head and finally turned away from her door; he must be more tired than he realized if he was starting to think in Felicity-like babble.