Ok. Good.
Request for a new fluoroscope to the left. Above that, application forms of potential assistants. Invitation to Kelly's birthday on Saturday right in from. Right next to it staff meeting with head nurses. Above that, slightly to the left complaint from Gyn about construction site right outside delivery room. In front, on a chair, grinning imbecile, disguised as a 47 year old. Which one to deal with first? Slowly, Cuddy let her eyes linger on the pieces of paper. What had he said? She realised, with sudden surprise, that House had not said a single word. Either that or she was going deaf. No, most unlikely. She looked up at him.
"No!" – "No?" –"No!" -"You don't even know what I want!" –"Do I have to? It doesn't matter what it is, the answer is no!"
The grin changed. For a second, he thought about his tactics. Feign indifference or try a pout? He went for the pout. It was better, the ladies liked it. Most of them.
Suddenly, Cuddy pressed her lips together, took a breath and looked at him like she had just noticed he was in the room. She smiled.
"Dr. House. What can I do for you?"
It wasn't really worth trying to ignore him or boss him out of the office. If she wanted to be left in peace fast, she'd have to deal with him and his boredom. She was pretty sure that's what had brought him here. No case. For two weeks. So let him talk, she thought, pretend you care and send him to clinic. He'll try to avoid it but at least outside this office.
"You sure didn't come here without intention so is there anything I can help you with?"
Preferrably get you out of here, she added mentally. Her smile never faded.
"If you care to ask, there are a couple of things I could use your help with but most of those would need some preparations on your part. Clotheswise."
Now he was smiling as well. And waggling his eyebrows.
Cuddy wasn't sure what to do. Inside her, anger and desperation started raging. She so wanted to have at least one nice, slow day, without fuss and certainly without House bugging her. She felt the tension creeping up her neck. Today, she wasn't in the mood to cope with him. Not enough sleep, burnt tongue from coffee, no lunch, paperwork.
Strangely that was the point where some part of her brain started working independently. If asked later, she could not explain her actions otherwise. She slowly got up, went around the desk towards the door and locked it. She did not turn her head when she let the blinds down but she heard some rustling behind her. Was he interested?
As she turned back towards her diagnostician she saw him craning his neck to look at what she was doing.
So, you want to play dirty, she thought. Well, wo can play that game. With a smile like a Chesire cat she made her way over to him. He turned slightly to face her again. His expression was intrigued but he tried to hide it. What on earth was she up to now?
"You know, if you are going to beat me up, just putting down the blinds won't work."
His smile faltered a little. Confusion set in. And with every step she took in his direction his confusion grew.
He laughed, almost nervously.
"I'll scream, I swear! Beating up a cripple is a serious crime and a new low, even for you!"
"Oh, I don't need to beat you to make you scream now, do I?"
She reached him and bent down to him. Her knee came up and pressed between his thighs. He leaned back unintentionally. Her hands covered his on the armrests and she slid them up his arms lightly. Her face was but an inch away from his and her voice was barely above a whisper.
"What preparations?" –"P-p-preparations?"
He had absolutely no idea what she was talking about but she was definitely too close for his liking. He could feel her breath, brazenly sweet in his face and the soft rise and fall of her chest was tremendously tempting. He swallowed and hoped she didn't notice.
"Yes, you said to help you it would need preparations. Clotheswise. Come on House. Just cut the crap. No more 'Do you like me' and that shit. Let's be honest."
He started to shiver. First it was only where her hands were still gliding over his arms, then it went to his chest and finally down to his legs. He clenched his teeth and willed himself to stop. Too close. Too warm. Too much shivering starting to affect his nether regions.
And she knew. He tried so hard to calm his breathing, he was almost panting from the sheer effort.
She applied just a tad more pressure to her knee between his legs and liked her lips. Deliberately.
"Do you want to do me?"
He barely supressed a groan but he felt it deep in his throat. Her eyes dropped to his lips and back up to his eyes. She raised her eyebrows. He desperately needed to get out of there. That was not how it was supposed to go. He made an insinuating comment – she rolled her eyes and dismissed him. She wasn't supposed to take it as an offer.
She had seldom felt so powerful in his presence. House usually had a way of getting to her but this was the other way around. He was squirming and visibly uncomfortable. Very good.
He opened his mouth only to notice that he had forgotten what he wanted to say. Heat was rushing to his face. Face was good. Stay there. No, don't go lower. The heat spread throughout and went lower. His chest, his stomach.
"Greeeg."
She dragged the name out. And she leant even closer. Her lips were brushing his and he momentarily forgot to breathe. She took the breath for him, sensually.
"Do.You.Want.To.Do.Me?"
Time stood still for a second. He swore he could hear crackling in the air.
Cuddy cocked her head. She smiled. She knew she had won. Only seconds now.
"House?" –"No!"
He growled and pushed her back. He stumbled from his chair, somehow managing to grab his cane and not trip and was at the door, unlocking it in panic and shuffling out of her office as fast as anybody with barely one leg to stand on could.
Cuddy stood in the middle of her office and looked extremely pleased. A giggle came forward, followed by another one and finally laughter bubbled out of her mouth. She got him. That would, for now, put an end to his comments. She let out a deep breath turned around and sat back down at her desk.
Now, fluoroscope, assistant, birthday, meeting, complaint. Which one? Somewhere in the back of her mind she convinced herself that the warmth she felt in her stomach and the slight wobbling of her knees were solely due to the excitement of her plan and the fact that it worked. It had nothing to do with the heat House had been emenating or the way his pupils had dialated when she asked him if he wanted her.
Because he didn't. He couldn't.