The Vampire's Servant

[Veroe]

((Closed for Myself and Belvino))​

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1b/0c/45/1b0c4554dd76b56ce7c2fdba315027f7.jpg

IC: Raphael Lancaster

Sully's Bar was something of a dive. A rundown building with a neon sign that had only had the S and A lit up with a flickering R. It rested on the side of Highway 31 and was the only place to stop for miles and miles. Unfortunately, the opening of the Interstate not far from it had taken a huge percentage of its patrons from it. Now all that was left to keep Sully's doors open were the bikers that were filling it to the brim tonight.

Rafe pulled his black ferrari into the last open spot in the parking lot. His was the only car in a line of Harley Davidsons. Climbing out of the driver's side he surveyed the other buildings here. There was a shitty motel and a gas station right next door to the bar. The gas station had a mechanics shop open with an overweight man who's coveralls said his name was Earl. Inside was a cute little blue Volkswagon with its hood up and smoke pouring out of it as Earl scratched his head with one hand and his ass with the other.

Within Sully's some dated heavy metal music was blasting away at his ears from a jukebox in the corner of the bar. Between it was some chipped and tattered pool tables with some old ratty bikers glaring holes into him suspiciously.

He crossed over to the bar asking the bartender, "Are you Sully?"

"Sully left for the city years ago," He said pulling out two more slightly chilled bottles of budweiser for another biker at the bar, "I'm Joe. The bar's mine now."

He handed the two Buds to the biker then turned to Rafe, "Can I help you?"

"I'll need a proper place to stay for a day before heading off."

"Only place for miles is the motel next door," Joe shrugged, "Unless you're thirsty...can't help you with that."

"I am...but," Rafe shook his head spotting someone sitting at a table across the bar near the jukebox who like him did not belong here. There was a woman talking on a cellphone ignoring what only could be charitable to say was a hamburger and fries and fingering keys with the Volkswagon logo on it. He grew thirstier by the second. "...I'm not interested in the pisswater you sell as beers here."

He left Joe and the bar and weaved his way through the bikers to the woman sitting forlornly alone. He took the chair opposite her. "You and I are strangers in a strange land in this place. Perhaps we can share the evening to avoid being alone."

 

[Belvino]

Sophia Fischer

We are letting you go.

Years, and years of work, years and years of study and this was how it ended. How much of her life had she dedicated to this business? She felt the pit of dread settle in her stomach, felt it suck her back in her chair. Perhaps she would be stuck here and they would have to pry her body free.

You’ve let things go… your… well your work has suffered, and we can’t keep doing this.

You had your chance.

You had your chance.

How many times had she been given those? How many times had she had conversations so much like this one? How had she gone on this long? She knew what had thrown her off the wagon she knew the pain she felt consumed her. The nights she spent with her hand clutched around the neck of the bottle, waking on the floor, mouth tasting like vomit and memories of a past life swimming hazily before her eyes.

They had pushed a card across the table. She’d picked it gingerly from the desk holding it between the tips of her fingers. This was the the thing that would change her life. The golden ticket to a life of sobriety and health. She stared at it until the writing blurred, her eyes closed and she felt the heat of fresh tears spill down her cheeks. Why was it so difficult to accept this help? She had her “get out of jail free” card, and yet she felt dread and reluctance. She had never wanted to be this person, this decrepit version of herself. It took a lot more strength to admit she had a problem and needed this help.

She didn’t know how long it had taken to consider this choice. How many bottles had she burned through in the aftermath? When the well was dry she found herself in worse shape than she had been when she was drinking. She screamed herself hoarse, cried until dry tracks of tears was all that was left. Huddled on the floor with her stomach in knots, that’s when the decision came. It had taken her another day to pull herself together, to shower and pack up the last vestiges of her life in a suitcase.

She had stopped on her way out, catching her reflection in the mirror. Her face was thin she had lost some weight, but her green eyes were bright with hope and her hair flowed in a cascade of chestnut locks to the small of her back. She had changed for sure both inside and out, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Of this she was sure. Either that or she would die on this path. There was no more choices.

So she had set on her journey packing her bag in the backseat of her blue beetle. She had been on the road for several hours, windows down and hair whipping in the rush of air. It felt wonderfully freeing to have nothing between her but the open road and the promise of a new future. Bad luck had caught up with her and the beetle began making ominous noises and the temperature gauge shot up rapidly.

“No, no, no, please,” she cried banging on the steering wheel as she guided the vehicle to the side of the road. A plume of smoke snaked up from the hood of the beetle and the car made one last final lurch stopping abruptly just as she had reached the edge. She reached into her purse and was able to make a call from her cellphone with the limited service she had.

A man named Earl came to pick her up with his tow truck and drove her into the closest town which was still another fifty miles away. Earl attempted to make small talk, but Sophia was not feeling it and answered most of his questions in one word responses. Eventually the man gave up and they pulled into the town.

“Where can I get something to eat, or..” she trailed off as she was about to say drink. Her mouth has instantly watered at the thought and she resisted the sudden urge to smack her lips.

Earl glanced back at her and thumbed in the general direction behind him, “Well there is Sully’s just down yonder.”

Sophia nodded her thanks and strode away from the man. Sully’s as it turned out was not that far from the repair shop and seemed to be the local biker bar.

“Fuck,” she muttered as her eyes settled on the neon sign, and the rows of motorcycles parked just in front.

This was not the kind of place she needed to be right now. With a deep sigh she stepped forward and strode through the doors ignoring the looks that turned her way. She moved towards the bar, the glow of alcohol bottles backlit from the counter seeming to burn into her retinas.

“What can I get you?” The barkeep asked.

“Do you have a burger and fries?”

“Yeah, want anything to drink?”

Sophia hesitated her gaze scanning the bottles carefully. Could she resist? She felt like a dog salivating at the lap of their owner. Swallowing hard she eventually shook her head, “Please just some water.”

The barkeep shrugged and by the time he had returned with a plate of food for her Sophia was on the phone.

“Richard, please. The car broke,” she said.

“I can’t Sophia. Do you not remember what you did last time? You left me high and dry and took all that I had.”

Sophia’s head dropped and she didn’t notice the recent arrival in the bar nor when he strode up to the barkeep to question him.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“You had your chance.”

There it was those words again. Would they ever stop haunting her? She heard the phone click in her ear and knew that Richard had hung up on her just as the newest arrival had strode over to her. She had just laid the phone down when..

You and I are strangers in a strange land in this place. Perhaps we can share the evening to avoid being alone.

Sophia’s eyes turned quickly to the stranger. She had felt his presence before she had hung up the phone but it wasn’t until now that she was able to study this bold, and handsome man that stood before her. Her eyes studied him up and down and then flicked back over the bar. Odd.. he was very much out of place here. They both were, but here this man was very well dressed in what Sophia could guess was expensive clothes and choosing to spend his time in a biker bar in some unknown town.

Her eyebrow raised quizzically and a small chuckle escaped her.

“Strange indeed.”

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and gestured to the men behind him some of whom were eyeing the two with interest now. Perhaps they suspected these two knew one another and had chosen this out of the way place for their clandestine meeting.

“I don’t think I’m so alone,” she smiled and shook her head softly her eyes meeting the strangers, “I suppose you can join me though if you like.”

“Why not?” She laughed again and smiled over her glass as she took a sip of the water before her. Ordinarily she would have ignored him, but Sophia was feeling very much alone and the pressure of resisting a drink was beginning to become too much.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Raphael Lancaster

He left Joe and the bar and weaved his way through the bikers to the woman sitting forlornly alone. He took the chair opposite her. "You and I are strangers in a strange land in this place."

Rafe observed the woman as he said this. She was a slim woman in casual clothing for a road trip and cellphone wrapped tightly in her hand, and with a flowing waterfall of brunette hair and startling jade green eyes that focused on him, considering a response to give him. He followed her eyes back to Joe at serving beers over the bar to thirsty bikers and then back to him.

One of her eyebrows quirked up, half in amusement and half in intrigue as she said with a bubble of a chuckle under her words, "Strange indeed."

He smiled disarmingly to her, "Perhaps we can share the evening to avoid being alone together?"

She lifted a hand to brush her hair aside giving him the once over as he sat there at her table in his expensive suit and haircut appearing so very much out of place in a dive like the one they found themselves in at this very moment. Then her gaze shifted to observe several of the bikers seated around them giving them surreptitious and curious looks since the two of them stuck out like two sore thumbs here.

Finally she answered, "I don't think I'm so alone."

His smile softened and he leaned in peering into the verdant green of her eyes. "Do you wish me to leave you alone, with..." He gestured to their hairy sweaty leather clad fellow bar patrons. "...with these gentlemen?"

She shook her head softly their eyes never leaving the connection just formed, "I suppose you can join me though if you like."

He nodded to that, "Oh, I would like. I would like that very much."

"My name is Rapahael, but you may refer to me as simply Rafe." He offered her his hand to her.

When she took it Rafe held her hand in a strong grip. "Now tell me. What misfortune brings you to this..." He glanced around them and rolled his eyes before turning them back to hers then continuing, "...this establishment?"

 

[Belvino]

Sophia Fischer

“Oh, I would like that very much,” the man before her stepped closer and was sitting at her table now looking pleased. His hand extended to her and she took it within in her own.

"My name is Raphael, but you may refer to me as simply Rafe.” His grip was strong around her hand almost to the point of being uncomfortable. Sophia glanced down at their touch noticing that he seemed to make no effort in the hold. Unusually strong she thought and shrugged it off at the same time. After all she had been neglecting her own physical health and could very well be weaker than she thought.

“Please to meet you, Rafe,” she smiled, “I’m Sophia.”

"Now tell me. What misfortune brings you to this..." He glanced around them and rolled his eyes before turning them back to hers then continuing, "...this establishment?”

She met his gaze with her own, her head tilting to the side just a bit as the corner of her mouth lifted in a smirk. He had to ask the one question she was not willing to answer. She broke the moment by looking away appearing suddenly interested in the food before her, but she merely pushed the plate to the far edge of the table.

Before she could stop herself she sighed and a frown briefly flitted across her features.

“I had a change in circumstances…” she said finally, looking back at him and their eyes connected once more. The longer she looked the more aware she was becoming of something in those eyes—a depth beyond what he was showing. She felt almost as if she was falling into a pool from which she could not easily leave.

“I was driving, hoping for a fresh start, but my car had other plans,” Sophia chuckled, “It broke down just outside of town. Guess it’s been a while since she was at the shop.”

“What brings you here?” she asked.

“You don’t seem like the typical clientele..”

Raphael broke their gaze this time and Sophia felt the breath she was holding escape. Odd. She hadn’t realized she had been doing that. Even now as she shifted in her seat she noticed the tension her body held.

Well that’s interesting she thought. This man was making her nervous, almost subconsciously. Her gaze briefly focused on the bottles of liquor gleaming invitingly from the bar. Or perhaps it is that.

Just as Raphael was about to answer, Joe the barkeep strode up to their table, “Miss, are you finished with that?”

Sophia nodded, and he took the plate turning towards Raphael next. He frowned “You sure you don’t want nothing?” He hadn’t forgotten Raphael’s abrupt response earlier and it showed on his face and attitude. He liked to think he sold the good stuff here, although by the looks of it the man sitting with the young lady did not typically partake in Coors Light.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Raphael Lancaster

He nodded to that, "Oh, I would like. I would like that very much."

"My name is Raphael, but you may refer to me as simply Rafe." He offered her his hand to her.

Despite his keeping the strength of his grip under tight control she seemed to notice he was far stronger than the average human man.

"Please to meet you, Rafe," She replied politely, "My name is Sofia."

"Now tell me. What misfortune brings you to this..." He glanced around them and rolled his eyes before turning them back to hers then continuing, "...this establishment?"

Their eyes met, a verdant green and his crystal blue having their own lover's tryst, before she tilted her head and gave a half-wry and half-self-deprecating little smirk that quickly fell. Instead her green eyes abandoned the tryst with his azure blue ones and she looked down to the uneaten greasy burger and fries on the table before her and pushed it away to the edge of the table from her. Frowning a little she lifted those eyes back to his before admitting, "I had a change in circumstances..."

"That sounds very much like an understatement to me," He leaned in close his eyes never leaving hers. His thumb caressed hers as he held her hand gently. "I would like to hear more of this, Sofia."

“I was driving, hoping for a fresh start, but my car had other plans,” Sophia chuckled, “It broke down just outside of town. Guess it’s been a while since she was at the shop.”

Rafe nodded looking down at their hands, "I know well the feeling of needing to get away...to begin anew...clean...But I am grateful for your misfortune. For now, because of it I am enjoying your company tonight."

She looked inquisitively to him asking, "What brings you here?"

He leaned back in his chair and crossed his leg over the other, "Unlike you I have enjoyed my...how did you put it-'a fresh start' for many years...however my past has a very very long reach. And so, I must return home." He gestured to encompass their surroundings. "This place is just on my way there."

"You don't seem like the typical clientele." She affirmed and Rafe found his thoughts drifting to the coming gauntlet he must traverse. His eyes turned away from her looking away past the walls of this cockroach infested biker bar to a home and business left unfinished.

Then, Joe, the bartender came to them and asked if she was done with her dinner.

Rafe waited for him to leave with the unfinished meal in hands. Then to her he said, "I have a difficult ordeal to weather tomorrow...."

He looked back at her eyes reuniting with hers in a lover's embrace, "So tonight I wish to enjoy myself to the fullest. And to be honest, I intend to spend this last night of enjoyment with you, Sofia."

 

[Belvino]

Sophia Fischer

"I know well the feeling of needing to get away...to begin anew...clean...But I am grateful for your misfortune. For now, because of it I am enjoying your company tonight.”

Sophia had been resting her hand on the table when Rafe had reached out his thumb, lightly stroking the back of her hand. It had been a long time since she had anyone touch her in such a way even when it was just the barest of grazings. Perhaps it was with the way he did it, moving in close, speaking low and being very clearly flirtatious.His touch was electric and distracting. So much so she almost missed the rest of what he was saying after she had asked him why he was here.

“Unlike you I have enjoyed my...how did you put it-'a fresh start' for many years...however my past has a very very long reach. And so, I must return home." He gestured to encompass their surroundings. "This place is just on my way there.”

An engima she thought, smiling again. She did love a good puzzle.

Sophia could sense there was a lot he did not say and his far off look was intriguing. He seemed haunted. That was not hard to decipher in that moment, but as Joe interrupted their quiet time he was pulled back into the present and his eyes came back to her, and oh… there it was again. The feeling as if she was being devoured just by his look. Her skin prickled deliciously with a wave of goosebumps, and she suppressed the chill that threatened.

"I have a difficult ordeal to weather tomorrow…." He looked back at her eyes reuniting with hers in a lover's embrace, "So tonight I wish to enjoy myself to the fullest. And to be honest, I intend to spend this last night of enjoyment with you, Sofia.”

Sophia’s brow tiled and her head leaned just slightly to the side. She couldn’t help the smirk that lifted the corner of her lips. He sure was forward and wasn’t wasting anytime. All that mysterious past must really be burning a hole in him, whatever it was. She took the initiative this time to break their gaze feeling her head clear in the moment.

It was hard to think while she looked at him… something about those eyes and the feeling she had. Taking a large drink of water her eyes scanned longingly at the bottles before her. She needed to get out of here otherwise she might make the decision that would throw her off the wagon. What a better way than the alarmingly handsome, sexy and seemingly willing gentleman at her side.

She gave him a sly glance from the corner of her eyes before she pushed herself away from the table. She turned the chair so now it was directly facing his and she leaned forward enough that her hair fell over one shoulder and brushed his leg, her mouth next to his ear. She placed her hands on his thighs the better to support herself, but really she was becoming just as bold as he, and she wanted to touch him.

“And how do you like to enjoy yourself?” She whispered.

Sophia was close enough that her lips could have touched his ear if she moved ever so slightly. She had taken a breath in, and caught with it a delightful scent, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Spice, warm, and fresh all the same. She almost purred like a cat, there was something in it that stimulated her primal urges. When she pulled back a bit to watch his reaction her eyes were darker and her lashes fanned seductively.

She breathed in again wanting to experience that delight once more. His smell, god, everything was making her wild. She bit her lower lip, resisting the urge to do more. She had lost her mind.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Raphael Lancaster

Rafe waited for him to leave with the unfinished meal in hands. Then to her he said, "I have a difficult ordeal to weather tomorrow...."

He looked back at her eyes reuniting with hers in a lover's embrace, "So tonight I wish to enjoy myself to the fullest. And to be honest, I intend to spend this last night of enjoyment with you, Sofia."

Perhaps he was being too forward with her, but he had little time for subtlety tonight. He had no use for the delicate dance of courtship when he may only have one night left of freedom for himself. Just one night of an erotic fantasy with Romeo. That was all he had to offer this beautiful Juliet. All they could share before reality would tear them apart like the tragic lovers in the bard's play. Any more than that would be too much to ask from her, and would go against everything he'd come to believe in.

Her brow creased and head tilted to one side at this then breaking away from peering into his eyes a coy smirk emerging on those kissable lips. She took a moment to process before turning her gaze to meet his again.

Ah, a decision was made for her.

She moved her chair closer facing him, and then leaned in close. So close that her chestnut tresses fell between them like a curtain veiling them from the bikers' gaze in the bar room around them. He felt her hands set on his thighs as her lips came dangerously close to his ear to whisper boldly, "And how do you like to enjoy yourself?"

At this a smile quirked the corners of his mouth and he gave her a smoldering look to match hers. He lifted his hands one to take hers in his and the other to reach up and trace his thumb over the lower lips she was biting. "First, Sophia, I desire a kiss, and definitely not a chaste one. I want a kiss that leaves you breathless and floating among the clouds when it is over. Then I would enjoy spending some time dancing with you here as if we were fond lovers alone instead of surrounded by strangers in a rundown bar on the side of the road."

He was the one who leaned in dangerously close this time, eyes never leaving hers, and lips a bare decision away from giving his first desire from her. "Submit to me."

 

[Belvino]

For some time Sophia had nothing but the spice of liquor to keep her warm at night. Her only companion a long necked bottle and the sweet promises it held within. Alcoholism destroyed relationships, and she had certainly not been granted its mercy. In fact some days she fueled the fire with her own stubborn disregard for herself and others, but she had felt the test of time and had come to be shocked by the demons that haunted her life. Thus she was now on this new path, one that may be equally reckless, but oh so tempting.

The press of Rafe’s thumb across her lip was a teasing touch but made her lip tingle. She thought of taking his thumb between her teeth, tasting his flesh with the dart of her tongue. It light her eyes with a mischievous glint.

"First, Sophia, I desire a kiss, and definitely not a chaste one. I want a kiss that leaves you breathless and floating among the clouds when it is over. Then I would enjoy spending some time dancing with you here as if we were fond lovers alone instead of surrounded by strangers in a rundown bar on the side of the road.”

Sophia’s pink lips formed an ‘O’ of surprise her brows lifting and her eyes opening a bit wider. She had barely a moment to think of this when he moved closer and the scent she had smelled before filled her nose more strongly than ever. She swayed a bit, a smile teasing the corners of her lips.

"Submit to me.” He whispered.

One brow raised quizzically but she did not pull away. Instead she felt her eyes close momentarily as she attempted to focus. Her senses seemingly overwhelmed. She felt the presence of him almost like an electrical current that buzzed just outside her periphery. She felt the pressure of his hands still holding her one round her neck and the other almost absently at the edge of her lips.

When she opened her eyes again she was certain of her decision. Certain of the train she thrown herself on. One of her own hands went up to his the one around her neck and she held it tracing his fingers with her own.

“You are most intriguing Rafe, I’ve not met anyone like you before,” she paused taking a moment to breathe deep, “I’m certain I’ve never had anyone ask that.”

“I’m yours Rafe,” she whispered finally.

Sophia took his other hand and pressed his thumb back to her lips biting the pad between her teeth much as she had thought of. Her eyes never left his all the while and she winked at him, and it was in that moment that the distance between them closed.

His lips pressed against her, his hands pulling her closer making the kiss deeper. She felt her mouth open to him. Her breath sucked away by his own her tongue moved within his mouth and she felt his questing with hers. His arms wrapped lower around her back and in a moment she was in his lap her chair long forgotten. Her legs spread as she straddled his lap. She felt him touch her, felt his hands roaming, each touch spreading fire within her, head swimming in dizzying delight. His fingertips had somehow found themselves beneath her shirt skimming the soft skin at her back.

Sophia groaned audibly a delightful warmth spreading in her groin. God, she hadn’t been kissed or touched like this in so long.

She held him within her own hands fingers pressing deep into his skin almost pushing him for more. His kiss moved away from her mouth and trailed along her jaw and she let her head fall to the side, suddenly aching to feel the touch of his mouth on the tender skin of her neck. His lips were a cold fire at the warmth of her throat igniting the wanton desire within her. She moaned completely uncaring for the fact that they were very much being watched by everyone in the bar at this moment.

She felt him pull away slowly a look of restraint visible on his face. Something like concern filled her and she reached to him holding his cheek in her hand.

“Rafe,” she whispered to him her forehead pressed against his and her breath came quickly in ragged gasps as if she had been running for miles. She wondered about the look but thought perhaps he did not want to make a scene.

“I would love that dance.”

 

[Veroe]

IC: Raphael Lancaster

At this a smile quirked the corners of his mouth and he gave her a smoldering look to match hers. He lifted his hands one to take hers in his and the other to reach up and trace his thumb over the lower lips she was biting. "First, Sophia, I desire a kiss, and definitely not a chaste one. I want a kiss that leaves you breathless and floating among the clouds when it is over. Then I would enjoy spending some time dancing with you here as if we were fond lovers alone instead of surrounded by strangers in a rundown bar on the side of the road."

He definitely caught the mischievous glimmer in her eyes as he pulled his thumb away. She wanted to do something there but repressed that impulse immediately. Instead, her lips formed a surprised O at his words.

He was the one who leaned in dangerously close this time, eyes never leaving hers, and lips a bare decision away from giving his first desire from her. "Submit to me."

Her eyebrow quirked up at that, but not in revulsion. No, she seemed...intrigued, instead. She closed those brilliant eyes and took a breath. They came open and stared into his.

Decision made.

She reached up and Rafe felt her soft fingers trace over knuckles and the skin of the back of his hand.

"You are most intriguing, Rafe," She told him, low, like the sound silk made as it slithered over one's body, "I've not met anyone like you before."

She paused then closing her eyes to take a breath and steady her nerve. Rafe could've said something here, but he refrained. His fishhook was in the water now. All that remained was to see if Sophia would decide to take a bite of that juicy worm or swim on by.

Her eyes opened again, nerves settled, and she said, "I'm certain I've never had anyone ask that."

"Then other men are fools," He replied sincerely, "Looking into your eyes I can see the truth of you laid bare, Sophia. You have a soul meant for passion gone malnourished until tonight."

To that she whispered the words he'd been waiting to hear, "I'm yours Rafe."

"If you are indeed mine, Sophia," He replied simply, "Then you already know what I require you to do now."

She reached down and took his hand that was tracing hers and lifted it up. Rafe watched as she decided to follow the impulse she'd stopped before. He watched as she took his thumb to her lips again. Her eyes never wavered from his as this time those kissable lips parted. Rafe lips quirked up into an amused grin as he felt her teeth press into his thumb.

So that was what she wanted to do earlier.

His mischievous little minx. Rafe approved. He had chosen well with her.

She gave him a wink then and closed the distance between them. He smiled as she straddled his thighs to sit in his lap and leaned in to press her body against his, more importantly, her lips against his. His arms held her close like they would never let her go now. Her mouth opened and he felt her tongue slip inside his met hers and they danced a tango all their own between them. His hands roamed over her back and lower as if they belonged there. she nestled against him as they kissed feeling what effect her efforts in this kiss was producing.

He wanted more skin to skin contact so he pulled her blouse up and his hands snuck up inside to explore.

The kiss continued increasing in heat and intensity. She was putting everything into this and transporting herself out of the grind of the world around them and comitting whole-heartedly to this single moment. Rafe couldn't be more pleased. Yes, this was what he wanted.

He broke the kiss trailing more along her jaw. He delighted in the hitch in her breathing as his lips explored more of her. He heard the ragged exuberant moan she gave as he went lower down the side of her throat to the spot where he could feel the hammering of her heart's beat beneath the press of his lips. This would be where he drew sustenance from her. It would be a feast he hungered for. Her blood would be delicious gushing over his tongue as he drew upon this spot...later. Now he wanted to savor the appetizer of the banquet that was his Sophia.

He pulled away trying to maintain his ironclad control over himself meeting her eyes again. One of the biker's around them gave a catcall to her then, followed by comments from the others. Some none too complimentary to his Sophia's honor, but he let that go. Like themselves the opinions of the two of them were immaterial-happening elsewhere from the place they existed within in this single moment.

"Rafe," She whispered pressing her forehead against his panting between hot passion-heightened breaths, "I would love that dance."

He smiled pleased with her. He got up from the seat gracefully shifting her to stand beside. He took her hand the other on the small of her back pressing her soft body against the hard planes of his. They swayed to the music blaring away from the jukebox in the corner of the bar. AC-DC's Shook me all night long, wasn't really the mood he was feeling however. So, Rafe guided their dance over to it and began tapping the screen's menu. Fortunately this was one of the newer models of jukeboxes. It could stream any music from anywhere across the world over the internet. A paradox for this rundown shithole of a bar, but a welcome one.

"Something less bombastic. Something smoother, more seductive and passionate."

It was then Sophia volunteered something from some scene in a movie she'd seen. Within minutes music not heard within the walls of this bar in a very long time if ever began to play. Gotan Project's Tango Santa Maria began to play to a bar full of bewildered bikers. As the two of them looked into eachother's eyes and began to move their bodies to the music.

 

[Belvino]

Sully’s was like any bar found on the highways that intersected small towns and gathering places in the United States. That was to say it was dark, dingy, and smelled strongly of beer with a blanket of grime covering the whole interior. Of course it was often a favorite of locals and other questionable characters alike. Sully’s was no stranger to this, and while Joe had stuck with the traditions and had attempted some improvements upon acquiring the facility he couldn’t deny that the dive bar reputation had not faltered. Even so the man that had strode into the business tonight was the first ever that Joe felt something was not right.

There was a domineering air about him as if he expected the world to bend to his will, and worse so there was something darker. Joe had felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and a sense in his gut that something was very wrong with this man. He came in seeking, as if he knew all along whatever he was looking for was within the confines of these walls, but it was not the libations being served. It didn’t take him long to find the beautiful younger women sitting by herself. Joe noticed that when the man spotted her his focus was singular and he seemed to become unaware of the rest of the patrons. This man was a predator, indeed.

The young women that he had set his sights upon was equally as mismatched in this place, but perhaps not as much as she looked. Joe could sense a lost soul when he saw one and she was definitely one of them. She had been on the phone since seating herself at the small table, and she did not notice the new arrival until he came to her table. Joe did not like this at all. The young women reminded him of his daughter, and the man talking to her was certainly all kinds of trouble.

Unfortunately for Joe things were devolving quickly with those two and it wasn’t long before he, and the rest of the bar was witnessing them kiss.

“Yeah!” “Get it!” “Whore!” “Get a room!”

Joe glared at the other patrons at the bar who were a mix of cheering and yelling obscenities.

“Knock it off,” Joe yelled at the onlookers, his hands working a rag over the newly washed pints.

Sophia was completely and utterly unaware of the things the other men had said. She was completely caught up in the moment with Rafe. He had picked her up and placed her gently upon her feet as if she weighed no more than a feather. She was surprised but didn’t spend much time considering it as he whisked her off in the direction of the jukebox. It was one of the newer models with a digital selection so the songs were endless.

Rafe glanced at her then and said, "Something less bombastic. Something smoother, more seductive and passionate.”

Sophia took a moment to consider, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. She felt almost certain that Rafe would know exactly what type of dancing she was about to suggest. There was something worldly about him, she was catching the sense that he knew about a lot of things.

“I’ve always loved to dance, and I learned to tango some years ago,” she paused taping her finger on the side of her jaw in thought, “Ahh! Yes there was this movie on dancing, and one of the main scenes had this song I’ve always loved.”

She was smiling then and whispered the title to him watching as he entered her selection into the jukebox. By the time Rafe had turned back to her Sophia was no longer at his side. Instead she was standing on the middle of the floor and looking intensely back at him.

The opening notes of the song filled the bar, and the whole place grew silent. All attention was drawn to the two of them, some with very perplexed expressions. Sophia was not paying attention to any of it. Instead she let the music flow through her, allowing her body to undulate with the rhythm of it all. She stepped forward gracefully with each beat of the song her eyes never moving from Rafe who was watching her. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but he began responding to her movements and for a moment the two of them looked almost like a bullfighter and the bull, each circling one another but never breaking the eye contact.

Rafe’s arm shot out towards her and she took it just as he spun her into his zone, his free hand reaching down to her waist. He pulled her close, but then his lead indicated she should lower and her right leg pushed outwards as he dropped them both closer to the ground. They raised slowly, and Sophia came up with that same leg to wrap quickly around Rafe’s hips and he spun them both gracefully across the floor.

Sophia could feel the power of the movement, could feel the connection between the two of them. It was effortless and they each moved with each other, Rafe took moments to allow her extra flourishes and occasionally his hands would drift sensually over her curves, eliciting whistles from the crowd. Her breathing was quickened, and her skin flushed with desire. She could feel her pulse racing right a long, but it was not from the increased work of the dance. This was unlike any partnered dance she had done before.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Raphael Lancaster

“I’ve always loved to dance, and I learned to tango some years ago,” she paused taping her finger on the side of her jaw in thought, “Ahh! Yes there was this movie on dancing, and one of the main scenes had this song I’ve always loved.”

To that Rafe had cast a speculative eye towards her surprised by this knowledge, but smiled he had guessed by the shape and fitness of her legs that she was a woman who enjoyed dancing, but the Tango? It did please him immensely though. "Yes, I learned the same in Argentina years ago. That's precisely what I was looking for. I am well pleased by this choice, Sophia."

Now their dance had started. They allowed the music to transport the both of them out of this rundown shithole of a bar to another place-a place all their own-in which the only things that existed was the two of them and the sensuous flow of the music dictating their motions.

He led and like a good partner she followed perfectly in time with his movements. Their only communication was the connection between their locked eyes and the flow of the song's rhythm. It was a beautiful symbiosis, a matching of souls, between two veritable strangers. When he lowered she lowered with him. When he raised back up she followed suit with him. When he pivoted away she flowed in synchronicity along with him.

He allowed her to rejoice in the freedom with flourishes while he provided a solid center for her to revolve around. He had his hand on the small of her back holding her so close he rested his forehead against hers staring her in unblinking eye to eye in an intensely passionate but restrained embrace. The other hand out and holding hers as they moved. She spun and kicked her heels behind her.

Then he dipped deep bending her over-showing how enticingly flexible she was-so far her chestnut hair brushed the floor and she was directly looking at a Joe behind the bar watching them with disapproval. His hand was on the back of her bare thigh just under where the hem of her skirt supporting the precarious balance the move required of her. And just at the instant where the loss of eye contact was about to break the bubble and the sight of the grumpy bartender was reminding her of all the voyeurs watching Rafe pulled her back up lifting her easily in his arms spinning her 360 around and on her feet twirling away to be arrested at arm's length by the grasp of his hand on hers.

She was staring at one of the bikers that had been so rude to catcall her just moments before. Again as the spectators threatened to burst the music's bubble about them Rafe came up behind her. He pulled her close leaning against his broad lean body. The hand holding her hand lifting hers to the back of his neck as the other snuck around her to turn her head so she was not looking at their voyeurs but her lips dangerously close to his.

His hips rolled guiding hers to undulate with him in a tango much much older than the one invented in Argentina a hundred years ago. No, this more primitive tango was as old as Adam and Eve after the serpent and apple-the original sin.

From around her neck his free hand lowered down her body, down her blouse between breasts and over a heart hammering within her chest with sweet delicious blood, down over a tight stomach, and down further still. The heat of the moment-the passion between them-simmering to near a crescendo.

The biker's eyes widened as Rafe's hand lowered to the front of her skirt, then remember to breathe as it diverted and settled itself on the curve of her hip. Then he spun he pulled her away again to face him, their bubble of the song -the shared passion of their tango-unshattered.