Apologies for the long wait but unfortunately reality gets in the way of fantasy, haha!

I've had fun writing this one so I hope you enjoy reading it. Also, you can tell where this is heading and I'd like to be tasteful - but it's up to you guys...smutty or tame? Hmmm, let me know. ;)

Chapter 3

She shifted her body weight away from his bad leg and looked at him, perplexed.

She enquired his protest with an inquisitive glance.

''He wants me to stay here, on his lap...." She smiled inwardly.

He didn't respond, at least not with words. Instead, he squirmed under her, averting his eyes over her shoulder to the TV screen.

''Commercial break. Damn it - there's no excuse to be more interested in TV as opposed to Lisa Cuddy perched on my lap''.

''Toothpaste,'' He nodded his head toward the TV set, "I just had to hear about that 4 stripe version.'' He replied. Watching 'Aquagate' or 'Colfresh' or whoever they were, proclaiming a break through in tooth cleaning technology.

''I'm sure; riveting stuff. Especially seeing as you're a dentist and everything.'' She mocked, realising he was suddenly uncomfortable with the fact he'd briefly opened up to her, now he had to joke.

Before she could quiz him further he was gently pushing her away and hobbling away from the sofa.

''Nooooo!'' She inwardly cried. So close but so far.

She likened him to soap at that precise moment. You think you've got it safely in your grip and then it flies away; completely unpredictable. But what can you do? You need the soap! So you'll just have to keep playing cat and mouse with it until it's yours.

Shower gel just won't do. Soap is familiar and musky, it's dependable. It's always been around.

Shower gel is unfamiliar, it tries too hard, and it's too easy. Where's the fun in that? Soap is more interesting, not to mention - it lasts longer.

''Hang on.'' She thought. ''That's a bit of a tangent; 'lasts longer?!' Gees, take a cold shower or something Cuddy... with soap. Damn it! There we go again...''

She mentally slapped herself and walked into the kitchen to find him twiddling with an egg slicer, plucking at the wires and deadening their cries as if he was playing harmonics on a guitar.

Ping, ping, ping, ping.

House could feel her eyes burning into him. Suddenly tonight didn't feel so relaxed anymore, he should have kept his mouth shut, he thought to himself. How could one tiny mono syllabic word, bring about a stomach plummeting shyness - was it shyness? Was it defence, embarrassment, fear? Was it all of the aforementioned?

'No.'

The tiny word which denied her to leave him.

Why had he said it at all? He shouldn't have let his heart rush ahead of his head. They could have watched monster trucks and ate pizza quite contentedly. Now they were both stood in silence staring an egg slicer.

Thrilling.

She reached out and pried the slicer from his hands, ''You want cheese string for fingers?'' She questioned.

''No''. He replied, taking her by the waist.

''Phew I caught the soap, I caught the soap...''.She felt like she was walking on a tightrope. No, she felt like she was walking on a tightrope, juggling whilst reciting Latin text. House was difficult work.

He stared into her eyes looking for any signs that she would stop him dead in his tracks. She stared back, seeing the concentration in his blue orbs, she had the best poker face - he couldn't possibly begin to imagine what was going through her mind.

''She wants this as much as I do.'' He concluded to himself.

''He knows.'' She saw the glint in his eyes.

She couldn't help but grin as the realisation dawned on them simultaneously.

He pressed his lips against her neck, smelling her perfume as he did, wanting to take her in through all of his senses.

His stubble skimmed across her skin as he trailed his lips up toward her jaw line, nipping at her tenderly as he went.

Cuddy let out a breath, she didn't know herself whether it was from relief or pleasure, or both.

Cupping his face in her hands she guided him towards her own lips, feeling his warm damp breath grace her cheeks.

BANG, BANGBANGBANG.

''That would be Wilson.'' He whispered against her face.

''Are you going to answer it?'

''Beer or sex, beer or sex?" He teased.