The car ride to Felicity's apartment was quiet, but not awkwardly so. Slade rested a hand on her knee and she was immediately struck by how huge his hands were. They could easily cover her entire back, if he wanted to. She definitely wanted him to. All her feelings from outside the restaurant came flooding back.
She put her hand on top of his and moved it up a little higher to her thigh. He looked at her sideways and grinned.
"I thought you said you aren't good at doing two things at once," he teased.
Felicity bit her lip. "I'm definitely not, but I would love to try."
"How far is it to your place?"
"About three more blocks." It seemed like hours.
"I'd rather not die before we get there." Slade said. "Even if it would be worth it."
The minute she put the car in park, before she'd even taken out the keys, his huge calloused hands were on her and she maneuvered herself onto his lap. These were nothing like their earlier kisses. Before it had been fun and playful, just enjoying the novelty of kissing one another. These were heated and sloppy with the promise of leading to something more.
Felicity accidently kicked the horn and the loud honking pulled them apart. "We should get inside. I'd really hate to get kicked out of my apartment for having sex in the parking garage."
Slade gave her a gorgeous lopsided grin as he opened his door, catching her just before she fell out. When they stood up she put her back to him and he rested his hands on her hips, following behind her. In the elevator she put her hand on top of his and traced his fingers, feeling each bump and groove.
"I can't decide if my favorite thing about you is your accent or your hands," Felicity said.
She felt him shake when he laughed. "Here I thought it was my rogueish good looks that won you over."
They walked hand in hand to her door. Slade took her key from her and unlocked the door. They stepped inside and turned out the light. Felicity turned around and pushed him against the closed door.
She stopped just before her lips reached his, her hands spread over his chest. "Why do I feel safe with you, Slade? I've known you less than a day, but here we are."
"I don't know, but I'm glad that you do." He traced her jaw line with the back of his hand. "You're absolutely remarkable, Felicity."
The phrasing reminded her of Oliver, but she pushed the image aside and kissed Slade. They made out as they crossed the room. When they got to her bedroom, Slade lifted her up and put her on top of her dresser, standing in between her legs.
"I feel like the luckiest guy in the world, right now." He kissed her neck. "I've done some horrible things in my life, but somehow I was still able to find an angel."
Felicity smiled and leaned into his kisses. "I don't know about being an angel, but I'm definitely glad that you're here with me."
"Even if it's only for a week or so?"
Instead of responding, she pulled her shirt off and kissed him fiercely on the lips.
#
The next morning she woke feeling invigorated. Slade was already awake next to her and she rolled over to stare at him.
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
His face was serious. "You're not going to like it."
"Try me," she forced her voice to sound light.
"Oliver called about half an hour ago. I have to leave tonight."
She sat up, pulling the sheet up to cover her nakedness. "You said you'd be here at least a week."
"Apparently Oliver was able to get the information we needed faster than either of us anticipated." He gave her a wry smile. "I think me sleeping with his IT specialist might have given him some extra motivation."
Felicity rolled her eyes. "You'd think he'd never slept with anyone the way he's being such prudes about you and me."
"I don't think it's the sex that bothers Oliver as much as the fact that he's not the one you're having it with." Slade smiled.
"There's nothing going on between Oliver and me," she said. "If there were I wouldn't have invited you here."
He placed a hand on her shoulder and massaged it gently.
"I wish you didn't have to go." She leaned in and kissed him.
"Me neither, but this is time-sensitive and I can't let my chance slip away." He pulled her closer, his hand spanning the width of her back.
"Do you mind if we're a little late to meet Oliver and Dig?" she asked, feathering his neck with kisses.
"I'm rarely on time anyway," Slade said softly. "Might as well have a good reason."
#
Slade wasn't her soul mate, or the love of her life, or any of those clichés. He was an attractive man with a sexy body, sexy accent, and hands that gave her all kinds of fantasies. And, surprisingly, she wasn't too sad to see him go. They'd had fun, but they both knew it would never be more than that.
Still, they held hands as they entered the basement. He put a hand on the small of her back as they walked down the stairs. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before she sat down at the computer to book his flight. It all looked very couple-ish, but it was really just a way to avoid saying good-bye.
Oliver and Dig had been sparring when they came in. Dig smiled at her, but Oliver didn't even look in her direction.
"You must have had a late night, Oliver," Slade said. "You finished a week's worth of work in only a few hours."
Felicity hid her smile behind her hand.
"I didn't have anything else going on, so I figured I might as well get it done." Oliver's tone was hard.
"Yes, well thank you for not interrupting our night to help you." Slade's voice was mocking. "For once I'm grateful for your recklessness to do everything on your own."
"Learned it all from you."
Slade looked at Felicity. "What time is my flight?"
"The earliest I could get is 3:40." Felicity wasn't at all upset. "So you still have a few hours before you have to go to the airport."
"Lunch?" he asked.
She smiled. "Of course."
"I need your help here," Oliver cut in.
Felicity gave him a hard look. "Fine, but it can wait until after I drop Slade off at the airport."
Oliver opened his mouth to argue, but she cut him off, "Nothing is so important that it can't wait a couple of hours."
He finally shrugged, agreeing.
Slade took her hand and they went upstairs. Just outside the club she pulled on his hand so he'd turn to look at her.
"I had a really great time last night."
He smiled. "Me too."
"Why don't we do it again the next time you're in town?"
"I'd enjoy that." He pulled her close to him. "But I don't know how much longer you'll be single."
"What do you mean?" She shook her head in confusion.
"The second I pinned you against that wall I realized how beautiful you were."
Felicity was still confused. "And?"
"I don't think Oliver realized it until he saw the way I looked at you."
Felicity blushed. "Well, no man had ever looked at me that way before."
"Pity." Slade leaned in and gave her a big finale type kiss before they headed to lunch.