AN: This is my first story, so please R&R.

The Bar

Vera sighed and looked out the window. It was a gorgeous spring evening. The sun was softly fading, streaks of light were pouring into the bar and reflecting off of her glass. This was a new place and very fancy, considering the area. This was Huntington West Virginia's first and only wine bar. She had driven here from the small town in Kentucky she called home, just for the occasion.

Vera had a deep fascination for wines and a taste for the finer things in general. But it's hard to afford the finer things on a bank teller's salary of course. Time passed slowly as she nursed her glass of Moscato d'Asti, but eventually the sunlight vanished and was replaced by a star lit night. The bar was open late so Vera did not worry about the time. She liked the new wine bar very much. Wine could be ordered in flights, which consisted of three small glasses of different wines grouped together by similar characteristics. She was currently sampling their "sparkling whites" flight when she was startled out of her inspection of the world beyond the window.

"This seat taken?" the voice was smooth and delightfully accented.

"N-no." Vera managed to stammer out. The man pulled out the chair directly opposite from her at the small high top table. He was a little on the short side, but incredibly handsome. His dark, well-tailored suit practically screamed wealth and success. He had a neatly trimmed beard and intelligent brown eyes. Vera had often prided herself on her ability to gain accurate first impressions. This man was undoubtedly very clever and very dangerous.

"You all alone Darling?" he said with a grin. Looking back later Vera would be sure she had said something smooth like "not anymore" but in reality she merely shook her head rapidly up and down.

British. The accent was certainly British. She hated to admit what it was doing to her. It didn't seem to be so much what he was saying, as how he was saying it. Vera was certain he was twice her age but somehow that didn't matter in the slightest. Vera blinked rapidly trying to force her brain to work correctly. She blushed when she realized she had been staring.

"I-I'm Vera." She said trying her best to put on a pretty smile.

"Name's Crowley." He smiled back.

"Oh" Vera said with a laugh. "Mister Crowley?"

The remark earned a raised eyebrow from the man opposite her.

"You know, like the song." She insisted. "Miiister Crowleeeyyy..." she held the tune surprisingly well.

"Oh that one." He said laughing.

"Aleister Crowley was very interesting." Vera supplied with a nod. "I read a book the other day-"

"You've read about Aleister Crowley?" he interrupted

"Yeah?" hasn't everyone? Her tone seemed to say.

"Oh, most people don't get the connection is all."

She was really liking the deep tones in his voice. But, summoning her will power, she went on.

"Hey," she grinned "what do I care if you give girls at bars your nickname."

Crowley frowned and Vera thought she saw anger flash across his face briefly, but the expression was replaced in a second with a charming smile.

"You're from Kentucky." He said matter-of-factly.

"And you're not from around here either." She shot back with a laugh.

"What gave me away?" He raised both eye brows innocently.

"The same thing that gave me away I guess. Although I really hope my accent's not too bad." She glanced into her glass of wine, feeling more self-conscious than she would ever openly admit to.

"Not at all." The stranger said gently."It's rather adorable. Very southern."

Vera knew she was blushing and continued to stare into her glass.

"You could tell the difference between my accent and the West Virginian accent?"

"Regional accents are a hobby." Vera looked at him dubiously but he seemed very serious.

Vera was surprised she had actually been able to hold a decent conversation with the highly attractive man across from her. It had been some time since she had been a part of the dating scene. She was only twenty five but had never had any luck at all with men. She had not intended to receive any male attention tonight, but was exceedingly glad she had chosen to dress up anyway. Her makeup was soft and natural and her dress was a pale blue. She had felt damn good when she left the house and was thankful, now that a handsome man was sitting near her.

"Let me buy you some wine, Love." Crowley offered.

"Oh, no." Vera's giggle was a bit more high pitched than she would have cared for. "I'm a very modern woman." She laughed

"Well, I'm afraid I'm a bit old fashioned." He replied sternly.

"You really don't have to-"

"Miss!" Crowley cut across her.

The blonde waitress came over with a smile. Vera looked at the tall skinny woman with a small amount of disdain. Vera had always seen herself as too short and too round, long and lean women like this made her feel a bit more angry than was probably rational.

"What can I get you sir?" She flashed a large, strangely genuine smile.

"A flight of sweet reds. And one of dessert wines." He said, winking in Vera's direction.

"And the ice cream." Vera added quickly.

The waitress smiled again and left. As soon as she was gone Crowley began laughing.

"I thought you were a modern woman?"

"Meh." Vera shrugged. "Besides I've always been told if someone offers you something, give them two chances to back out. If they don't take them then the offer is genuine and something they really want to do."

"I didn't offer you ice cream." He leaned a little closer to her. "I like a little bit of greed in my associates, though."

Vera couldn't tell if he was serious. But she could tell that, once again, she was blushing like no tomorrow.

The wine and ice cream were presented and quickly consumed. The glasses were only 2.5 ounces each so it did not take long to drink almost all of them. Crowley kept the conversation light and interesting. He asked about her job and her background and she was happy to tell him. It had become clear to her that this was a real date, an impromptu one, but a date none the less.

"How did you know I only like sweet wines?" she asked.

"I could just tell." He did not say any more.

"I told you where I work. What about you?"

Crowley's grin seemed very smug when he replied.

"I'm a stock broker."

"Oh come on." Vera protested. "Not around here."

"You have already pointed out I'm not from around here." Crowley said sharply. Vera still looked skeptical.

As proof Crowley slid off the jacket of his suit and handed it to her. The label very clearly said Gucci. Even Vera could see the high quality stitching that had gone into the garment. She had also noted the scent of heavenly cologne radiating off of the item in her hands. There was a strong hit of musk mingled with a hint of whiskey, and the strangest, barely detectable undertone, almost like smoke.

"It could be a fake…" she said very quietly as she handed the garment back to its owner. Or I could be dreaming, she thought. There was no way a hot, insanely rich British guy was into her. She was sure that at any moment he was going to get up laughing and say it had been fun to spend an evening with the common folk.

"I don't buy fake things." His voice had a hard edge to it that very couldn't help but find arousing.

"Sorry." She muttered, hoping she hadn't really made him mad. She was feeling a little pathetic sitting near him with her southern accent and J.C. Penny's dress. As if he could read her mind Crowley leaned in a little closer and whispered.

"That's a beautiful dress, Vera." A mix of the complement and hearing her own name come from him made her blush and look away demurely.

"Thanks."

"I bet you'd look even better out of it."

His grin was sharp and predatory and Vera knew she should be offended by such words coming from a man she had never met before, but she wasn't. Something in his grin told her that he would know exactly how to do certain things. She was suddenly nervous that he had guessed the kind of things she would like. The things she had never told anyone.

Crowley slid a still partially full glass of wine towards her.

"Drink this."

"Oh, I think I've had-"

"Now." He interrupted firmly.

Vera felt her body's reaction to his commanding tone and took the glass without another word. She drank it all. It was several moments before she could force the shame she was feeling down enough to look him in the eye. His face was pleasant but there was no mistake. He knew.

"I think we could have a lot of fun." Crowley said with a grin.

"It's like those stupid fucking books." The expletive fell from her mouth before she could stop it. She really hated those books, though. She was even more furious when they had become insanely popular. He chuckled lightly.

"Oh, there will be fucking, but it will not be like those stupid books." Hearing him use such language was almost enough to have her ready to go right then. But Vera was a very sensible girl and she knew that this was too good to be true.

"I'm sorry, but we are closing soon." The happy blonde lady said. With the tension of the moment broken Vera let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Crowley handed the lady some money and Vera noticed that he didn't even bother counting it. He stood and did the classic "ladies first" gesture while holding the door open.

The night air was warm and very pleasant. The delicious sent of flowers wafted on the steady breeze. This part of the city was deliberately kept clean and pretty. Many other parts of town she would not want to be in at night.

"I'll walk you to your car." Even though her car was almost within sight of the wine bar Vera did not protest. They walked in silence.

"Do you have children?" Crowley said with some surprise.

"What?" Vera was startled. "Oh, no." she said with realization.

He was staring at the purple Dodge Caravan that was clearly hers. There were no other cars on the street. She giggled self-consciously.

"I know, it seats six but there's only ever me." Crowley seemed to be regarding the car with suspicion.

"My dad owns a used car lot. Basically I drive whatever didn't sell fast enough. Until it dies of course. This year's model is a van. Last year was a crappy little two door."

Crowley smiled, satisfied with the answer.

"For a minute there, I thought my Intel was wrong." He seemed relieved.

"You're what?" Vera wasn't sure she had heard him right.

"My intuition." He said nonchalantly."I was afraid my intuition had been wrong. I have very keen instincts. I can read people." He leaned his face in close to hers and even though Vera had been about to protest that that was not the word he had said, she suddenly could say nothing.

Her heart was racing in her chest. Crowley continued to step toward her and Vera retreated instinctually, until she felt cool metal against her skin. She was suddenly afraid. Her mind was screaming to her that this man was dangerous but her body would not respond. Crowley closed the distance and with an unnecessary amount of force brought their lips together. The kiss was rough. Crowley dragged his hands down Vera's spine and she gasped in spite of herself. He didn't touch any part of her that would have scared her off immediately, instead keeping one hand on the small of her back and the other rested at the base of her neck. He radiated power and Vera felt she could taste it. He was domination incarnate.

When she finally broke the kiss for air Crowley tugged sharply on the hair that he had skillfully wound around his fingers. The pain was followed quickly by a rush of pure pleasure and Vera moaned in a very un-lady like manner. Crowley smiled broadly before capturing her lips again. He pressed their bodies together, pinning her against the cold vehicle. She felt a rush of nerves and pleasure when she realized exactly what was digging into the sensitive skin of her stomach.

"You are going to be so much fun, Darling." He whispered viciously into her ear. The harsh tones made her weak in the knees.

"Let me see your phone." He had pulled away and stretched his hand out expectantly. Vera stood blinking for several moments. Crowley looked as though nothing had happened but she knew she did not look so collected. She didn't even consider refusing him. She removed her phone from the small green purse she was carrying.

"What is this?" he asked wrinkling up his nose.

"What?" she said hotly. "It's a Five C."

"Your phone is too old, Pet."

Vera huffed indignantly, refusing to acknowledge what he had called her and what it did to her.

"We can't all be stock brokers." She said impatiently, trying to smooth her hair back into place.

Crowley grinned and continued to tap away on the phone.

"I'll get you a new one sometime."

Vera rolled her eyes, knowing there was no way he could be serious. He handed her back her "old" phone.

"There. Now you have my number."

"Hey!" she said realizing. "I have a pass code on there!"

But Crowley would only grin. With an exasperated sigh Vera looked down at the number he had added as "that charming Devil from the bar" the title barely fit. She raised an eye brow at him. Then looked at the number and felt her blood boiling.

"Seriously!" she practically shouted."If you were going to give me a fake number you could have at least made it believable!"

The phone read 666. No one's number could be that short, and even if it could, surely that was not a number that would be assigned. Crowley was unaffected by her violent emotions.

"Call it." He said simply.

"Fine!" Vera hit call and was startled when it actually began to ring. Crowley's jacket pocket buzzed and for proof he took his, top of the line, cell phone out and showed it to her. Her own number flashed across the screen. She hit end call.

"Uhh sorry." She was trying not to wonder why his number was what it was.

"No worries, Love." He said pouring on the charm. "And now I have your number." He winked.

Vera smiled and looked down at her phone before carefully tucking it into her purse.

"So I'll see you-"she stopped dead. The man was gone. She looked timidly around the other side of her van, and even peered into her own back seat. He had completely vanished. I guess besides fancy suits and custom phone numbers, apparently money also gives you the ability to teleport she thought angrily. She felt more than a little uneasy as she got into her van and drove away.