Crowley held perfectly still for one moment, then another as he watched Thea very closely looking for any slight trace of deception. Her green eyes were wide with the depth of emotions that she was struggling to keep controlled. No lies there, if only people knew how right the saying was that the eyes are the window to the soul. Finding nothing that led him to believe that she was anything less than committed to the course she had chosen, he stepped back.
Turning his back to her, he went over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself another glass of whiskey. Leaning back against the smooth wood, he went back to watching Thea.
"So kitten, are you ready to seal this deal."
Nodding slowly, Thea moved forward towards the center of the room. Licking her lips and swallowing nervously, she slowly made her way to Crowley. Unable to conceal the shaking in her hands, she brushed a lock of hair out of her face.
"Stop." She froze. "Why are you so afraid?" He softened his voice to a low purr. He needed her totally committed with no reservations. This wouldn't work if she left room for second thoughts.
"What?" Thea questioned. "I don't understand."
"It's a simple question. What are you so afraid of? You are getting your deal, keeping your soul." Crowley watched Thea struggle to appear calm. Giving up, she turned her back on him and he could see her tense up. He allowed her the time to regain her emotional balance.
When she turned back around, he saw the fire that he needed to see. He just needed to get rid of the other baggage first and she would be ready. Slowly sipping his drink, he just waited.
"You are so...so frustrating, you know that? Are all demons this bi-polar or is it just you?" Thea erupted. "One minute you are all but ripping my clothes off, the next you have your hands on my throat, then you are pretending like you couldn't care less." Taking a step towards Crowley, she continued. "Oh, please. Don't act surprised. You are not the only one who can read people."Crowley raised a single eyebrow. "Yes, I was fooled by Gaven, but no one's perfect. You want to know what I'm afraid of, why so you can add that to your list of ways to manipulate me? Not a chance in Hell." Thea stopped abruptly as she realized what she had said. "Oh crap." She muttered under her breath.
He set his drink down and clapped slowly. "Bravo my dear, bravo. Not many people are brave enough to tell me what they really think anymore. I think I just made a brilliant investment." Struggling to comprehend yet another of Crowley's mood swings, Thea's eyes narrowed. "Don't be so hard on yourself, I've not gotten where I am without a little planning. That's neither here nor there though. Back to the matter at hand..."
"No." Thea interrupted. "You are hiding something about this deal. I want to know what it is before we go any farther." Crowley's look darkened. "Oh please, you've been a little too smooth on this. You want this deal as much as I do. I want to know why."
"Bullocks. Alright then. I could use someone with your...talents." Thea raised an eyebrow. "However, there is a catch to this deal. Without the soul, we have to be a bit …..alternative in our sealing of the deal. You have to be committed with no reservations."
"Okay...cryptic much?"
Crowley returned her look with a matching eyebrow. Moving forward, he removed his black suit jacket and carefully folded it before laying over the back of a nearby chair.
"Uh huh, say I believe you. I still think you are not telling me something."
"Ducky, it's almost midnight, we need to finish this."
Sighing, Thea motioned for Crowley to continue.
Snapping his fingers, Crowley moved them both to the large kitchen in the back of the house. Moving with some urgency as their negotiations had eaten away most of the night, he soon had all the ingredients needed. Thea just sat out of the way at the breakfast bar watching. Most of the ingredients she recognized, some she thought she would no want to know. He worked with speed as the clocked ticked closer to midnight.
With complete concentration, Crowley added the components of the spell to a copper mixing bowl that he found in the kitchen. Looking up, he gestured for her to join him at the butcher block island in the center. As she approached, he moved his hand over the bowl and the contents were consumed by flames. When she reached him, he moved to behind her. "Trust me." He whispered. Thea nodded.
Moving her right hand over the bowl, he placed it against wicked looking dagger with one of the blades against her skin. Covering the dagger with his left hand and grasping the handle with the other he began to chant in Latin.
"In fides, per is cruor ego operor redimio. Insquequo infractus is link vadum exsisto. May vinculum exsisto ut validus ut nex, ut fragilis ut vita, per umbra quod lux lucis, ferus ut incendia, firmus ut glacies." As the last word was said and the flames turned from orange to red, he pulled the dagger upwards swiftly and together their blood dripped into the flames. Tightening his grip, Crowley held their hands together until the flames turned white and with a surge of power went out.
The surge knocked out the lights and pushed them away from the bowl and across the kitchen. Crowley landed with a thud against the stove and slid down to the floor in a stunned sprawl. Thea hit the floor first and slid into Crowley knocking him back into the cabinets again. For several moments they just lay there.
"What was that?" Thea was the first to speak, looking up at Crowley.
Meeting her gaze, Crowley smiled. "That, Kitten, was a blood binding spell. You are now bound to me."
Thea licked her lips. She was hoping Crowley didn't notice, but they had landed in a bit of a heap. Her skirt was bunched up to mid thigh and the darker line at the top of her stockings was showing as she slowly moved her feet underneath her. One of his hands was on her back and she could feel the heat through the material of her shirt. Shifting her weight, she brushed against his stomach. His hand tensed every so slightly on her back.
Determined not to let him know how much she was hyper-aware of his proximity, she continued to shift her weight until her feet were underneath her. The movement turned her so that she was facing him. Glancing up, she was captured by the image of his face in the moonlight.
Unconsciously, she placed her hands on his chest. Gazes locked, she felt his hand move up her back to her neck and he pulled her closer. Their lips met in a clash of teeth and tongue. He tasted like the scotch that he had been drinking all night. Leaning forward on her knees, she felt his other hand on her thigh just below her skirt.
Feeling her blood rush and her heart start to race, Thea froze for a second, then pushed him away. Rocking back on her toes, she stood and quickly walked away. Leaning on the counter next to the sink, she tried to absorb what just happened. She didn't turn when she heard him get up and step toward her. She heard a metallic scraping and knew he must have picked up the dagger that had fallen to the floor in the the shock wave.
Taking a second to evaluate what just happened, Crowley turned over the dagger in his hands, the blood staining it glistening black in the moonlight. With a thought he vanished the dagger and the remaining components to the spell. Inhaling deeply, he could smell Thea's scent. She had her back to him, but he could still feel the softness of her lips and the silk covered thigh that was his just a second ago. Halting that train of thought for the moment, he looked down at his hands and noticed that his palm was healed. Looking closer, he caught the edges of something black on his inside wrist.
Unbuttoning his cuff, he slid down his left sleeve to reveal an intricate knotted symbol tattooed there. He would be willing to bet that Thea had one to match on her right wrist. He cocked his head to the side, this was...unexpected. Closing his eyes, he reached out with his magic to explore the bond that had been created between them. Smirking slightly, when he opened them, he wondered how long it would be before Thea figured out how they were connected.
"Thea, look at me." His voice was soft. She straightened slowly and turned. He noticed that her face still had a bit of a flush and her lips were ever so slightly swollen. Able to resist everything except for temptation, he was in front of her in a flash. Putting a foot on either side of hers, he leaned in. Weaving his hand in her hair, he claimed her lips again. Wrapping his arm around her back he pulled her in close before she had a chance to resist.
He nibbled her lips and up her jaw line until she opened her mouth in surrender. Moving back up to her mouth he kissed her hard leaving her with do doubts about where he was leading them. Eventually, her hands left the counter behind her and she wrapped them around his neck. Without breaking the kiss, he moved his arms down and lifted her onto the counter. Moving down to her exposed collarbone he nipped from one side to the other then up the side of her neck. As he was almost to her ear, when he became aware of pounding. He felt her stiffen and knew that she heard it too.
Resting his forehead on her shoulder, he sighed.
"I don't suppose they will go away?" he asked.
"I doubt it. I'd better go see who it is." Thea took a couple of deep breaths. Crowley took a few of his own and stepped back to give her room. Slipping off of the counter, Thea straightened her shirt and skirt. Walking quickly out of the kitchen toward the front of the house, she worked to appear calm. She knew that she was flushed, and hoped that she could pull off that she had to run to the door. As she got closer to the door she hear someone calling her name. Taking a second to recognize the voices at the door, she swallowed hard.
Glancing behind her to see if Crowley was following her yet, she wondered how she was going to pull this off. Grasping the handle of the door she opened it quickly. There standing in the doorway, hand raised in mid-pound was Bobby Singer. Behind him, supporting a trench-coated man between them was Sam and Dean Winchester.
"Well, its about damn time, Thea. I thought I was going to have to kick the door in." Bobby growled.
"Bobby? You're..."
"Yeah, I'm out of the chair, but we can talk later..."
"Of, course. Come in." Thea moved to the side to allow them in. "Move him into the kitchen." Thea started to lead the way, then stopped. "Wait, shit, the lights are not working there. Ummm, lets go to the..."
"Lights are working now." Crowley said, standing in the doorway. Thea stiffened and heard all three hunters behind her curse. Thea closed her eyes in exasperation. Hoping that the hunters would help their friend first and give her the third degree later, she nodded and without another word continued past Crowley into the kitchen.
Sure enough, the lights were on and there was not a trace of there recent activities. Thea thanked God for small favors. Pointing to the island in the kitchen, she quickly moved to the pantry where the first aid supplies were kept. Moving quickly, she gathered bandages, antiseptic and her stitching supplies.
Turning back to the kitchen, she saw Crowley smirking from across the room and glanced away quickly. Focusing instead on the bleeding man on the island, she pushed in between Sam and Bobby and set the supplies on the free space between them.
"What happened?"
"Long story." Dean said from across the table. His tone was curt and she knew she would be hearing it later.
About an hour later, they had patched the man up and the boys were moving him to one of the spare bedrooms. Thea was watching the blood off of her hands and arms when she saw a mark on her right wrist. It was a elaborate knotted symbol. Drying her hands, she made a mental note to try to research it later. At some point while everyone was busy, Crowley had left the room.
Walking to the foyer, Thea heard hushed voices arguing. Entering the room, Thea saw Bobby, Sam and Dean arguing. As soon as they noticed her they stopped. Thea said nothing and passed them on the way to the library. Feeling three pairs of eyes burning into her back, she walked quickly knowing that they were following her.
Crossing the room and pouring herself the last of the bottle she turned and glared at Crowley. He gave her a smirk and a shrug as he lifted his glass in a mock toast. Grabbing another bottle, she poured three more drinks and watched as the guys took them with small looks of gratitude. Taking chairs as far away from Crowley as possible they collapsed with groans of exhaustion.
"Ok, so what the hell happened?" Thea and Dean spoke simultaneously.
Taking a drink, Thea motioned for Dean to go first. With a glare at Crowley and a searching look at Thea he told them about their latest hunt. Thea learned that their friend Castiel was an angel, and that some rogue angels had gotten the drop on him. Her place was the closest place they could get to. Thea kept darting looks over to Crowley and saw that he was trying to appear disinterested, but was actually listening to every word.
By the time Dean was done talking, everyone had finished their drinks and so Thea busied herself with refilling glasses.
"Alright Thea, let's hear it." Bobby cut in. "What did you do?"
"It's not what you think..." Thea started. Bobby crossed his arms and gave her a look of disbelief. Dean and Sam shared a look. "What, its not."
Crowley spoke for the first time. "Not that you all will believe me, but she is telling the truth."
"We didn't ask you, Chuckles." Dean cut in.
"Dean..." Sam warned.
"Don't need your help Moose." Crowley sneered, enjoying how easily he could push the denim duo's buttons.
"Damn it, will everyone just shut-up!" Thea shouted. Three pairs of angry eyes and one pair of amused ones turned to look at her. "I've had just about all I can take tonight." Pacing back and forth, Thea tried to slow down her breathing.
"Thea, calm down." Bobby said, in a softer voice than before.
"Just give me a minute." Taking a few more minutes to think she slowly calmed down.
Taking a seat midway between Crowley and the hunters, Thea took one last deep breath and told a very heavily edited version of the last month.
In case you were wondering what Crowley was chanting, here's the English translation:
In trust, with this blood I do bind. Until broken this link shall be. May the bond be as strong as death, as fragile as life, with shadows and light, fierce as fire, solid as ice.