Chapter Twelve : Under the Boardwalk

After breakfast at a diner outside of town, Greg took them to Atlantic City for the day. They played slots on the boardwalk, Poker at Trump Taj Mahal and then had dinner at one of the best steakhouses in the city.

"So do you have any idea what you're going to do about Cuddy?" Amanda inquired as they sipped their wine.

"I have a few ideas, but first, I'm curious as to why she paged you at two in the morning."

"She paged me a few more times."

He put his glass down and looked at her intently. "If the opportunity presented, you'd be willing to leave PPTH, wouldn't you?"

"Damn right I would. But would you? You have it pretty good there."

"I know, but look what happened to you and everyone else."

"What do you think she'd do if you threatened to leave?"

House grinned. "That's what we're going to find out."

Amanda laughed. "I want tickets to that action."

After dinner, they headed down to the beach. The sun was starting to set and the tide was out. Amanda took her shoes and socks off and started to run along the shoreline. Greg gave chase and eventually caught up to her, grabbing her hand and pulling her against him as they dropped to their knees in the sand. His lips crashed against hers and she fell back, pulling him on top of her.

"Mmm...Greg…"

"AJ...as sexy as this is...I don't want to give anyone a live show. Let's get out of here."

"Not just yet," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for another deep kiss. "It sounds weird but...I've wanted you this way for a long time."

"Really? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I don't know. I think because it always seemed like Jack was with me."

"I know. I felt the same when I left Michigan all those years ago. Jack was always with us."

She looked around and then smiled back at him. "I don't feel him here now."

They kissed for a few more minutes and then watched the sun go down, signifying the day was over and it was back to the grind. She drove them back to her place so Greg could get his car, but he didn't leave. "It's not that late yet," he pointed out.

"I know. I just don't want us to rush into anything."

"We're not. You said it yourself, you've felt this way for a long time, and so have I. Don't you think we should act on it?"

Amanda unlocked the back door to the house and they went inside. He was right, and she wasn't ready for the day to end. She didn't ever want it to end.

"Want me to make some coffee or…" Her words were cut of when his lips took hers in a kiss that made her melt.

"I don't want coffee," he said as he scooped her up and carried her down the hall, his lips claiming hers once more until they were in her bedroom. When he put her down, he went to the window and closed the blinds.

He returned to AJ and tugged her crop top over her head, revealing her white lace bra. He traced his finger along the tops of her breasts as they looked at each other. The only light came from the dim lamp she turned on.

"So beautiful," he said as he ran his fingers through her long blonde hair and removed the hair tie that kept it in place.

"You have no idea how much I've wanted this," she said as she pulled up on his shirt and tugged it over his head.

"Probably about as much as I have," he replied as they started walking toward the bed until she hit the edge of it and fell back on the mattress. She propped herself up on her forearms as she watched him get out of his jeans and kick them aside with his shoes, leaving only his boxers on. Then he advanced on her and lowered her against the pillows as his lips and hands began to explore her body.

Sure, he'd seen her nearly naked before but he'd never touched her like this. Her body was solid, smooth and muscular all over. As he kissed and nibbled her neck, his hand slid down and unbuttoned her shorts, slipping a hand inside to feel her warmth. She was already wet for him and he moaned in her ear as he nibbled it. She lifted her hips and he removed her shorts, taking the lacy white panties with them, and tossed them on the floor.

Her hands were exploring too, enjoying his strong body and the hair on his chest, raking her nails over his nipples as she kissed the base of his throat. He let out a soft groan which told her she was on the right track and her hand moved lower until it found and firmly grasped him.

"Jesus...AJ…"

"I love touching you…feeling your hands all over me…the way you look at me…the way you touch me. I've fantasized about this for years."

"I hope the reality is as good as the fantasy," he whispered as he rolled them over so they lay face to face, legs intertwined. She could feel his heart beating fast when she placed her hand on his chest.

"So far it's a hell of a lot better." She leaned over and they kissed again, touching and caressing each other as things quickly heated up.

"Condom?" he asked her. He really didn't like them, but at the moment, it was necessary.

"Side drawer," she murmured against his lips as she continued to stroke him. He reached across and grabbed one, but put it aside for the moment. He lowered his head and took one of her nipples into his mouth, suckling and nipping at it as she groaned and grabbed a fistful of his hair. He moved on to the other one and did the same thing while his free hand worked his magic on her core, getting her ready for him. "Oh God...Greg...please…"

He quickly dressed himself with the condom and positioned himself at her entrance while he smiled at her. She nodded and pulled him down for a deep kiss as he very carefully slid into her.

Amanda moaned and gripped his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin as he began to move, slowly at first.

Her legs wrapped around his waist to bring him even closer as she arched her back and met each of his thrusts with one of her own.

He buried his face between her breasts and his whiskers scratched her skin. She let out a deep moan when his teeth grazed her nipple and tugged on it. She threw her head back to give him access to her throat as his lips made their way to a spot behind her ear that made her gasp.

He felt like a stallion, going faster and harder while she begged him for more and repeatedly called out his name until she reached an explosive climax which had her clinging to him. When he looked down at her, and saw the loving expression in her eyes, that was his undoing. He buried his face in her neck and let the sensations take him over the edge with her.

Neither of them spoke for a few minutes. She gently stroked his sweaty hair as he stayed where he was, occasionally nibbling her neck, leaving his mark.

"Now it all makes sense," she whispered.

"What does?"

"Cuddy's obsession with you. I'd be obsessed too after that."

He laughed and then propped his chin on his hand as he looked at her. "This was soooo much better than that. But then when you love someone, it's always better."

Amanda smiled and touched his face. "You love me, huh?"

He rolled his eyes and pretended to be put out. "Well duhh. I wouldn't have just rocked your world if I didn't. What kind of man do you take me for?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?" she laughed.

"Good point." He got up to use the bathroom and then returned, gathering his clothes.

"You're leaving?" She asked, looking disappointed.

"Well...we work tomorrow and I don't have any clean clothes."

Amanda sat up against the headboard and let go of the sheet she was holding so it exposed her breasts.

"That's what I have a laundry room for. Go toss them in and they'll be clean in the morning. Problem solved."

He tossed his clothes in the washing machine in the hall and turned it on. Then he climbed back into bed with her. "How can I resist such an offer?"

"Mhm, you can't," she murmured as he returned to kissing and nibbling her neck. "You gave me a hickey, didn't you?"

"Yep."

Amanda laughed. "Cuddy is going to freak out when she sees it."

"She's going to freak out anyway. Might as well go big."

She reached under the covers to stroke him, to which he immediately sprang to attention in her hand."You do everything big, don't you?"

House hissed and closed his eyes. "God...yeah...go big or...go home." And then he pounced on her once more.