Didn't I say I wasn't ready for romance?

Chapter 1

I'm a man who can't say no…

It was about two weeks after the dinner. House was sitting in his office, trying to find an excuse to avoid clinic duty that Cuddy would buy. The ringing of his telephone interrupted his thought process. He glanced at it, annoyed, assuming it was Cuddy.

But the number was unfamiliar and he was curious enough to pick it up.

"House." He said.

There was a slight hesitation before he heard a female voice say, "Hello, Dr. House."

The voice was well-modulated and cultured. He'd heard it before, but it took him a few moments before he realized.

"Hello, Miss Marsden."

"You remembered me."

"You sort of made an unforgettable impression."

She laughed lightly. "Are you free this evening?"

"Actually, I'm always free. But if you think I'm easy – well, you'd be right then too."

She laughed again. "Would you be interested in getting together?"

"I think I could be persuaded."

"Lovely. If you could come to my home at eight."

"Sure."

She gave him the address. "The doorman will have your name. He may ask to see identification."

"No problem."

She said goodbye and hung up. House sat and stared at the telephone, wondering if the upcoming evening would be a repeat of their meeting. As he thought of that, a small smile touched his lips and sent him loose in erotic thoughts.

So much so that he didn't see Cuddy enter. As a penance for his fantasies, he spent the rest of the afternoon in the clinic. Somehow, it didn't seem as bad as usual.

When House pulled up to the high rise, he was impressed. It was a very exclusive building in a very exclusive part of town. He wondered where he should park, but after the doorman checked his identification, he directed him to the below ground parking lot. He also gave him instructions on reaching the Marsden residence.

He parked his bike and went to the elevator. The elevator operator asked him where he was going and when House told him, he used a key to take the car to the fifteenth floor. The elevator opened into a small lobby. There was only one door. House took a deep breath, wondering if he was doing the right thing. But since he was already there, he figured he would go through with it.

He rang the doorbell. It didn't buzz or ding. It made a light, musical sound. Figures, he thought.

The door was opened by a young man wearing business casual clothes. They may have been casual, but they were well-tailored and probably by some designer. House thought briefly about his own wrinkled shirt and jeans. What the hell? She didn't complain at the fundraiser. If she had complaints now, the hell with her. And, if things proceeded as he hoped, he wouldn't be wearing his clothes much longer anyway.

"Are you Dr. House?" the young man asked.

"Yes."

"Hello, I'm Nathan. I'm Victoria's assistant. Please come in. Victoria is running a little late, but she'll be right with you."

He followed him into a large living room. It was decorated in pale creams and beiges. There was a seating area with two large sofas in an L shape with a large screen plasma television on the wall.

"Sweet." House thought.

There was another smaller seating area with two chairs and a small table between them. They backed up to doors leading out to a balcony and a breathtaking view of the river. In another section of the room was a dark wood grand piano.

He wanted to saunter over there and sit down to relieve his tension, but her assistant was still there. So instead, he sat down on one of the chairs.

Once he saw that House was situated in the living room, Nathan nodded and left. A few moments later, an older woman entered.

"Hello, Dr. House," she said with a South Philadelphia accent. "I'm Anita, Victoria's housekeeper. May I get you a drink?"

"Sure. Scotch?"

"Of course. Rocks or neat?"

"Neat."

She nodded and left as well, but returned mere seconds later with a glass and a coaster. She placed it on a table.

"Would you like anything else?"

"Nope. I'm good. Thanks."

She nodded again and left.

He picked up the glass and took a sip. Ah, the good stuff. There was definitely an advantage to being in the lap of luxury. Not the least of it being the lap itself, he thought, as Victoria Marsden entered in a rush, wine glass in hand.

"I am so sorry! My last meeting was supposed to end at seven and, of course, it ran late. Did Anita get you a drink? Oh, I see that she did."

"No problems." He told her, his eyes going over her slim form in off-white slacks and creamy silk blouse.

"Well, I don't like to keep anyone waiting. It's inconsiderate. So I do apologize."

She took a seat on the other one of the comfortable chairs by the window and smiled at him.

"So, Dr. House."

"Yes, Miss Marsden?"

She chuckled. "Please call me Victoria. And your first name is Gregory, I believe?"

"Greg. Or House. Not Gregory."

She nodded and took a sip of her wine. "Well, Greg, I am sure you are wondering why I invited you here."

"I'm hoping I know." He said, smiling slightly.

She smiled as well. "Before any of that, I wish to discuss this with you."

He gave her a quizzical look. "Discuss? What? Positions?"

"No." She took a deep breath. "I'd like to explain my situation to you, so that you understand it. I am a very busy woman. My career is very important to me. I have worked very hard to attain the position I have. I have done it not because of my family name, but in spite of it. My family does not believe that women should be in positions of power. Since I disagree with that, I've had to fight them my entire life. But it's paid off, in that I have achieved a good deal of success.

"Of course, that struggle has left me little time nor inclination to develop personal relationships. Frankly, I don't see the need. I don't require a man to support me, to help me in my career or do any of the daily tasks that women ask of men. There is only one thing that I require from a man. You fulfilled that need on the night of the dinner."

He gave her an odd look. "You don't really even need a man for that. Technology hath provided."

"So true. And I do employ technology. However, I find that it is not always a satisfactory substitute. The real thing is so much better. But if I have to deal with all of the protocol of forming a relationship with someone, well, it's too exhausting. I have facilitated the process by finding interesting and attractive males to have a physical -- liaison, if you will, with."

He was shocked. "Are you saying you just want to have sex with me?"

"Yes. When I feel the need for sex, I will contact you and if you are willing and available, we can get together. And, by the same token, should you wish to contact me, you may. I can't guarantee my availability, as my career requires me to attend many events in the evening, but I would be amenable at the times I was available."

"Would you need me to go to those events with you?"

"Oh, heavens no! I am trying to make good impressions and get people to donate money and such. You don't have a reputation for tact."

"So I don't have to take you out on dates, I don't have to go to parties with you, I don't have to meet your friends? I just have to be available for booty calls."

"A colloquial way of expressing it, but essentially, yes. Oh, this is based on your performance tonight. If all is …as it should be, then yes."

"My performance at the dinner wasn't good enough?"

"Your performance at the dinner led to this meeting. But that effort was accomplished quickly and not a true measure of your abilities. Still, I have great faith in you."

"Gee thanks. No pressure though."

She smiled. "Greg, we're both busy people. I know that you have on occasion employed professionals. I don't blame you. I sometimes wish I could, but in my position if that was discovered, it would not bode well. What I am proposing would be beneficial to both of us, allowing us the release we both require, without the cumbersome trappings of a relationship."

He stared at her. Could this really be happening? Could this beautiful sexy woman really be asking him to have sex with her with no strings?

"Sounds like a win-win to me, Vic." He told her.

She raised her eyebrows at the shortened version of her name, but she didn't comment on it. "Good. Then let's move on with the rest of our evening."

She rose and started out of the room, motioning for him to follow her. He did and they continued out of the living room and down a small hallway. She finally opened the door to a room at the end of the hall.

Her bedroom was as well-decorated as the living room had been, but there was more comfort in this room. It was done in white and pastels. There was a large bay window that also looked out over the river. A dressing table was facing the window and the bed was nearby. There were comfortable sofas and chairs in a seating area. There was also an upholstered chaise by a small fireplace. His imagination immediately went to the possibilities available for that piece of furniture.

"Since this is your game, is there anything in particular you want?" he asked her.

"I prefer spontaneity and I want you to be yourself. Feel free to do what you would normally do. If there is anything I don't want, I will tell you immediately. I expect you to stop if that happens."

"No problem."

"Then, please, proceed."