Ten minutes passed in mutual silence.

Faint noises from the party filtered back into the exam room; Cuddy rested her head back against the wall and kicked off her silver and pink ribbon adorned stilettos, sighing in blissful relief.

This turn of events was bizarre, ten minutes ago she was hosting a successful party for her beloved hospital, and now she was hiding in the clinic, with House of all people.

Cuddy was apprehensive of his plans for her, because House always had ulterior motives. There was no way he would simply sweep her off the dance floor to save her ass from being pawed by a donor, not even as a part of his costume's persona.

As heroes went, House was more of an ogre than anyone's prince charming.

But then again, Cuddy, even in her princess getup was no damsel in distress. She was never impressed by the guy claiming to save the girl, in any capacity.

She didn't need saving, except when it came to this unlikely knight. This one clumsy, misanthropic, sexy lunatic. She wasn't sure if she wanted him to save her or if she needed someone to save her from him.

House was like a super sized Oreo infused McFlurry, you know exactly how bad it is for your ass, but still you could never resist the temptation.

But he was just innocently relaxing over there, not sparing Cuddy a glance. He wasn't even trying anything! Not to mock, blackmail, or even provoke her.

Cuddy scowled sourly.

The infuriating man reclined back on the exam table, pulled a copy of the TV Guide from his coat pocket along with his reading glasses and started perusing the magazine.

The final effect of those glasses perched on his nose, along with the pressed and cleaned up look was her undoing.

Cuddy had to get her hands on him, preferably all of him.

She was tired, bored, slightly tipsy, and in all honesty, it had been way too long since she'd had any gratification where another human being was involved.

He was a human. Well, he was probably human. He was here, he was sexy as ever and he was already lying down. It made sense.

For months now, years even, the two of them have been playing their own adaptation of tug of war, a game tinged with such tension that had her going home at night frustrated and desperate for an absolving release.

It was time to stop resisting, give in to the inevitable. It was time Cuddy literally took matters into her own hands.