Chapter 25

House sat on the sofa his legs propped up on the coffee table reading the paper. Every once in a while he'd flipped the corner down when he heard her over at the window again. Flipping the corner back up he'd smile behind the cover of the paper enjoying her excitement. After a few minutes of silence, he realized she hadn't moved from the window. "What's it doing, tricks?"

Cameron came over to the sofa and sat next to him curling her legs up under her. "No," she said. "Have I said thank you for making sure she's not a lemon."

He glanced over at her, "Only about a hundred times," he said looking back at the paper. "Named Her yet?" he asked.

"No," she said poking her head under his arm resting her head on his leg between the paper and his body. "Want to help?"

"Comfortable?" he asked looking down at her.

She turned on her side facing him, pulled up her knees. "Cold," she said reaching up and dragging the blanket off the back of the sofa. It piled on top of her. She gave him an imploring look. Sighing loudly, he closed the paper putting it on the armrest, and took the blanket and opened it tossing it down the sofa covering her with it.

He reached over and picked the paper up again. Snapping it open he frowned down at her, "May I?" he asked nodding towards the paper.

"Sure she said cuddling up to him and closing her eyes, unless you want to help name her."

He scoffed. "How about sputter, she'll eventually be able to say her name."

"Ha. Ha," she said nudging him against the side of his thigh with her shoulder. "I think I'll handle the naming myself."

He had a sudden flash of the dream he had while she was in surgery. "Alright I'll help, but you can't tell anyone," he said closing the paper.

"Don't worry I'll never reveal you have one of these," she said placing her hand over his heart. She smirked at the grouchy look he gave her. Dropping her hand from his chest, she curled it under her chin and closed her eyes again. She waited a second, popped her eyes open, and caught the look of affection he was giving her. It immediately changed back to grouchy, and he put his hand over her eyes. Giggling she said, "Ok my eyes are closed you can remove your hand and still look lovingly at me."

He rolled his eyes and removed his hand. Her eyes were shut, but she had a knowing smile on her face. Placing a finger gently over each eye he pulled the lids open, "Brat," he said letting go.

"I'll take that as a complement coming from you," she said grinning up at him.

"You would," he said staring down at her.

"I was thinking… she said ignoring his eye rolling Jilly."

"I was thinking Jalopy."

"Or… she said continuing, Sally."

"Or… Jally, he said short for Jalopy."

Turning over on her back she said, "You're really not going to be helpful are you?"

"Mm, he said nodding doesn't appear that way." Slinging his arm over the back of the sofa, he leaned over her grinning.

"And I'm the brat," she said.

"Glad we agree," he said touching the tip of her nose with his finger. She tried to bite his finger, but he yanked it back in time. "Testy," he said looking thoughtful. "Maybe I was off by a couple of days, craving chocolate yet?"

She looked at him shocked. "No… Hey… How do you…?"

"I'm observant. I'd think you'd know that about me," he said tapping his finger on the back of the sofa as he stared off into the room. On cue, she reached up and pulled his hand off the back of the sofa stopping the noise. He chuckled looking back down at her annoyed face and said, "See… he pointed at her face, that annoyed look is the same one I get every 28 days or so when I make repetitive noises." He held up his hand as she opened her mouth to say something, "Not finished," he said holding his finger to his lips. "Then… after about a week that stops, you look a little pale for a day or two but your mood is better and you periodically flinch touching your abdomen. I always wondered, why don't you take something for that?"

"You've always wondered?" He shrugged. Turning back on her side she said, "It's not really that bad."

"Bad enough you flinch." He brushed her hair off her forehead.

"It makes me drowsy."

"So?"

"Sorry let me correct that, drowsy isn't the right the word. It knocks me on my butt. You going to let me take a little nap in the afternoon because of a few cramps?"

"Yes," he said seriously.

"Let me rephrase that, would you've let me take a nap for a few cramps, a week ago? Or mock me for letting a few cramps get in the way of doing my job?"

"That's not a fair question."

"It is you just don't want to answer it, even though we both know the answer."

"Tomato. Tomato."

She kissed the palm of his hand and set it back on her hip. "Doesn't matter, you let me take a nap in the afternoon now and everyone will know about us. It would be strange for the average boss to let an employee nap in the afternoon, let alone a hard-ass like you."

"True," he said falling silent, his hand absently rubbing her hip.

She'd become good at reading his silences and could tell there was something else on his mind. Knowing better then to push him, she remained quiet letting him work it out on his own.

Finally, he said, "We were invited to dinner on Sunday."

"Oh?"

"My uncle invited us."

She sat up. Leaning across him, she put her hand on the armrest propping herself up, her hip pressed against his thigh, her legs curled under her. He brushed her hair off her shoulder and tucked a few loose strands behind her ear. Smiling at him, she ran the tips of her fingers over his temple, back behind his ear and down to the base of his neck. Massaging gently he closed his eyes leaning into her hand. She could see he was uncomfortable with the thought of going to dinner, but she felt him begin to relax under her hand. Leaning in she kissed him lightly on the lips. His eyes fluttered open as she drew back. Smiling softly she asked, "Am I too busy for Sunday?"

He wrapped his hand around her forearm, and pulled her against his chest. "Do you want to go with me?"

She nuzzled against his neck. "Yes… but…"

"But what?" he asked stroking her hair.

Leaning back, she searched his face. "I don't want to push into your life."

Smiling he said, "Oh yeah? How do you think we got here?"

"I stopped pushing," she said.

"Maybe… he said pausing, it was a little of both."

Putting her head back on his shoulder she said, "There was a lot of pushing going on. I was trying to push in you were pushing me out. I don't want that."

"I know Baby," he said hugging her closer hearing the catch in her voice. "I don't want that either." He felt her arms tighten around his neck. Quietly he said, "We're going to be alright." Her silence was making him nervous until he felt her fingers pull his shirt into her fists and she pressed her forehead into his neck. Putting his hands under her arms, he pulled her off his shoulder. She smiled weakly. He kissed her lightly, not liking the way she was trying to hide her feelings from him. "Stop that," he said holding her chin.

"Stop what," she asked a confused look on her face.

He touched her lips. "That forced smile you were giving me. What are you trying to do, give me the creeps?" he asked slipping his hands over her arms and around to her back.

"Of course not she said I know you prefer seduction."

"Oh yeah, you trying to get me to do something?"

"I'm a woman you know were always trying to get you men to do stuff."

"You're not a woman, you're my woman and my woman isn't manipulative."

"She sounds too good to be true."

"Funny, I thought the same thing until just recently, but surprisingly it's true."

Her eyes dropped to his chest, and she wondered if he realized what he'd just admitted. Smoothing out the wrinkles in his tee shirt she fought back tears, hating how she kept crying around him. She saw a tear drop on his tee shirt and tried to wipe it away before he noticed.

He felt her body temperature rising, under his hands. "You love me the way I am?" She nodded but didn't look up. He put his finger under her chin and raised her face up. "I feel the same for you. Don't hide from me it's not necessary." He closed her eyes pressing lightly on her eyelids releasing the tears. Pulling her against him, he felt her gripped his shirt. He put his hand on her head holding her against him, "What a cry baby."

She smacked his chest laughing and crying at the same time. "Watch it or I'll blow my nose on your Rolling Stones tee shirt."

He grabbed her by the arms and tossed her onto the other end of the sofa. Looking down at his shirt, he patted it, "It's ok the mean lady can't hurt you she's gone." He could see her out of the corner of his eye curled up giggling, wiping her cheeks. She started to crawl back to him but he stretched his arm and put his hand on her head stopping her. "Sorry this is the snot free sector of the sofa, you'll need to stay back." She butted her head against his hand, but he held her back easily.

Sitting back, she knelt on the other side of the sofa frowning at him. He looked at her and shook his head waving her away. "Mean," she said, sticking her bottom lip out as far as she could.

Pointing down the hallway he said, "Tissues are in the bathroom, go away."

Huffing she got off the sofa and mumbled, "He makes me cry, and I have to go get the tissues, what a gentleman."

He grinned and called down the hall after her, "You said you don't like gentlemen."

"I think I specified the preference was in the bedroom."

"Wouldn't know, at the time you were making most of the blood I had pool into an area not conducive for thinking."

She walked back into the living room and said, "Really?"

He turned and brought his legs up on the sofa, his shoulder resting against the back. "You know you did," he said raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms over his chest. The smile she gave him confirmed his suspicions. "Do you know how hard it was for me to keep my hands to myself when you pushed me into that chair and straddled me? I almost passed out from lack of blood flow."

She came over to the sofa and looked down at him. "Do you know how frustrating it was when you refused to touch me?"

Smirking he said, "Which time are you talking about?"

Putting her hands on her hips, she leaned over him and said, "Funny man… We both know you knew this morning." Swatting his hand away from her nose she said, "Hey."

"Just checking," he said smiling. He moved over and nodded for her to climb over. She did pinching him on the arm as she settled against him. "Nice… Cuddle and pinch at the same time. You know that's how masochists are born."

She rolled her eyes at him and nestled her head against his chest. "I think you're a little too old to be influenced by such things." Raising her head she looked up at him and said, "On second thought you do act like a child… You might be right."

"See if you just started out with that mind set it would save us a lot of time."

"Uh huh," she said unconvinced putting her head back down.

Reaching behind him, he grabbed the remote off the end table and turned the TV on. As he flipped through the stations he said, "We should think about dinner."

"We still have the food Jim brought over? In the mood for a little Chicken Marcella?"

"I'm too tired to cook."

"You know I'm not going to make you cook dinner, she said hugging him, so stop your whining."

"Just wanted to clarify the situation," he said settling on ESPN.

"I know caveman."

He beat his chest with his free hand and grunted, "Hungry feed me."

"Ok," she said her hand running over the front of his jeans.

"What are you…" his voice trailed off as she firmly cupped him in her hand and began massaging. Groaning he shifted her slightly pulling her more on top of him. Swinging her leg over his body, she kissed his neck and then swung her other leg over standing up.

"Ok, I'm going to start dinner."

"Oh no you don't," he said trying to grab her.

She moved just out of his reached. "What?" she asked grinning at him.

He watched her turn and walk to the kitchen. "Tease," he yelled.

"You should know," she called back.

"Fine, I'll just go take care of it myself and then you won't get any lovin later."

She stepped out of the kitchen. Leaning against the doorframe she ran her hand over her stomach and popped the top button of her jeans. Hooking her thumb in the waist band she said, "Fine with me, I did the same thing in the Jeep while following you back home."

"No you didn't."

She shrugged and returned to the kitchen.

"I don't believe it he called out."

She stuck her head back out of the kitchen and smiled sweetly at him. "You may not believe it, but do you know for sure?" Raising an eyebrow she said, "Hmm…" and disappeared back into the kitchen. Grinning she pulled a can of tomatoes out of the cupboard. She knew she had him, aroused both mentally and physically, and wondered which would drive him crazier.

Turning the TV off, he eased up off the sofa and made his way to the kitchen. She was putting a large pot of water on the stove. Quietly he came up behind her, and waited for her to turn around.

"Hi honey, what can I do for you," she asked turning the burner on.

"How'd you…"

Turning around she looked up at him smiling. "This time I could feel the heat of your body on my back."

"This time?"

Shrugging she tried to move around him. He stepped with her pinning her against the counter. "Care to explain?" he asked picking her up and putting her on the counter. Moving between her legs, he slipped his hands under her knees and yanked her forward as he stepped into her. Brushing her hair back, he pressed his face against her neck. "Well?" he asked slowly sinking his teeth into her neck.

"Not fair, she breathed.

"Neither was leaving me on the sofa like that, but I'll forgive you." Both hands ran up her neck and into her hair. Cupping the back of her head, he placed his thumbs under her jaw and tilted her face up. Brushing his lips over hers he whispered, "Tell." He felt her lips parting against his own, and ran the tip of his tongue along her bottom lip.

"You… should not have this kind of control," she said closing her eyes her hands slipping under his tee shirt. Raking her fingernails down his chest, she heard him hiss and felt the rush of air as he exhaled into her mouth.

He pushed his tongue into her mouth. The moan he pulled from her shot straight to his groin. Pulling back from her, he looked at the stove. The water was just starting to boil. Flipping the burner off, he dragged her off the counter and into the dinning room. Yanking the chair away, he set her on the edge of the table. She laid back and fumbled with the buttons of her jeans. He hit her hands away and swiftly unbuttoned her pants. "Up," he said gruffly. She lifted her hips and he yanked her pants off, tossing them on the floor. When he had stripped her down, he stepped back quickly ridding himself of his clothes, his jeans landing in a pile next to hers. He reached down and pulled her leg up pressing her knee into the crook of his arm, pressing his other hand on the table next to her hip, he thrust into her.

The table shook as her hands slapped flat against the table. She gasped as he hit the right angle a wave of pleasure rushing through her. Pushing up off the table with her arms, she arched her back lifting all but her head and shoulders off the table.

Releasing her knee, he slipped his hands under her hips just as she began to sink back on the table. He jerked her back up holding her firmly, his fingers digging into her skin. He watched her eyes close and her lips parted as he thrust deeper rocking her back up on her shoulders.

Pushing her knee into his shoulder, she used the leverage to overtake the rhythm. She felt him ease into her motion allowing her the control. When she felt the first spasm hit, she tipped her head back closing her eyes. Biting her lip, she tried to keep the rhythm but her body began to loose control. She could feel him helping her but not taking over. "Greg," she gasped banging her hand on the table in frustration

"Ok, Baby," he said softly hearing the frustration in her voice. He lowered her, placing his hands on the table snug against her hips picking up the rhythm. Her body immediately responded to him, he felt a sharp contraction hit her and then another. She arched slightly growling his name. He tried to ignore it but a moment later, she cried out and pressed her hands over his. The additional contact was more then he could handle, his jaw clenched, every muscle in his body tensed as his body jerked forward pushing deeply into her. Groaning loudly, he pushed his hands up her sides falling down on his forearms, pressing his face into her chest, he let the shocks overtake him.

She slipped her knee down from his shoulder and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer. Stroking her hands through his hair, she closed her eyes, as her body sent a few weak pulses through her.

He turned his head, "You're going to kill me you know that right?"

"Me, you're the one that dragged me off the counter and tossed me on the dinning room table. I was just trying to cook dinner."

He pushed himself up on his hands. Looking down at her he said, "That is not quite the way I remember it." Kissing her stomach, he stood up. Pain shot through his leg, grimacing he grabbed the nearest chair and sat down stretching his leg out. Rubbing his thigh, he looked around for his jeans.

Slipping off the table, she grabbed his jeans and pulled his pills out. Handing them to him she said, "I'm going to take a shower."

"Food," he said shaking a pill into his hand.

"Shower first, then you get food, unless you want to make it yourself," she said leaving the room.

"Yeah right, he called out sex gods don't have to make dinner."

"Is that why Wilson was so willing to cook you dinner the other night?"

"Good thing I'm secure in my masculinity."

"You should be," she yelled down the hall.

He heard the bathroom door shut, grinning he grabbed his boxers off the floor. Slipping them on, he looked longingly at the sofa. Next time we stay on the sofa he thought leaning forward and picking his cane off the floor. Rubbing his thigh he decided his nap would have to wait until the spasm in his leg stopped and the pill started to take effect. Leaning his head against the back of the chair, he closed his eyes listening to the water rush through the pipes.