So, just want to clear up some continuity here: in this fic, House and Cuddy did not first meet in a bookstore. I had written this chapter LONG BEFORE it was revealed that they in fact met for the first time in a bookstore. Also, when they talk about their college days, House and Cuddy are referring to their time as undergrads at the University of Michigan.
….and remember the bet that Foreman and Cameron placed on Wilson's sexuality, because that comes back in this chapter.
Chapter 29:
After the dessert was served, the dance floor was still open. When Louie and the band played their last song of the night, their own rendition of Donna Summers 'Last Dance', at about 2 o'clock in the morning, the room was slowly emptying out.
Cameron was sitting in an empty seat at Cuddy's table, engrossed in a conversation with Cuddy and Nurse Brenda.
"Lisa, I just can't get over how good you look," Cameron told her, with Brenda agreeing.
"Thanks," Cuddy replied warmly.
House, who was standing with Wilson and John at the bar, came over and sat down next to Cuddy and wrapped an arm around her waist.
Cuddy turned and looked at House, who had yet another drink in his hand.
"I thought I cut you off," she told him, eying the glass that he held in his hand.
House looked down at his glass and then back up at Cuddy. "You did?" he questioned.
"Don't start," she warned. "And yes, I did."
"What if..." House started to say.
"Here we go," Cameron said, rolling her eyes dramatically.
House scowled at her. 'What if," he began again, as though he had not been interrupted. "What if I said I was drinking for you?" he said, directing his attention towards Cuddy, who smirked.
"Not going to cut it," she told him.
"And besides," she continued, with a smile, "Since when do I drink scotch?"
House picked up his glass and took a sip before answering her. "Since that time at Mike Finkle's frat party senior year," he said, locking eyes with her.
She paused and brought her glass away from her lips. Cameron and Brenda stared at Cuddy with intriguing curiosity.
"I can't believe you remember that far back!" Cuddy exclaimed. "And what the hell were you doing at the Wolverines star quarterback's frat party?"
"Watching you two suck face all night. When he went for a drink, I waited and then I conquered," House said, as if it was nothing. "That's where we first met, and I swept you off your feet with my irresistible charm."
Cuddy snorted with laughter. "Don't know much about 'sweeping me off my feet with your irresistible charm', but okay," she replied.
Cameron and Brenda smirked at the banter that was going on between their two colleagues. With her elbows on the table, Cameron leaned forward and fixed House with a hungry stare. "I assume there's more," she said knowingly.
"Oh yeah," House said, "So later on, Finkle seemed to want to get her piss drunk so he can have drunken sex with her, so he brings out the Mad Dog and Johnny Walker Black. Well, Lisa 'the Tank' Cuddy starts chugging like a fish. If there's one thing she was known for was for holding her liquor."
"Gregory House, I swear to God, if you continue…" Cuddy started, in a threatening voice.
"You'll what?" House mocked, looking sideways at her with a huge smile plastered on his face.
He waited. Cuddy said nothing and just fixed him with the iciest glare she could muster. When she didn't speak, House leaned forward and captured her lips in a soft kiss.
"That's what I thought," he said, smiling.
"So anyway," he continued, "she's totally trashed, and Finkle keeps on giving her shots. She even drank him under the table! To make a long story short, he was never the one to end up with the drunken sex."
He paused for effect. Cameron smirked, knowing exactly where her boss was heading.
"I did," he finished out.
Cuddy buried her face in her hands, as she felt redness creep up on her neck and face. "I can't believe you," she muttered, embarrassed.
House scooted his chair closer to hers and put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him.
Cuddy stared at him. "You know, brown nosing is so 1990's," she said to him, unable to keep the grin from forming on her face.
"Yeah, House. I second what your girlfriend said," Brenda said.
House stared at her, appalled. 'What is this, gang up on the cripple night?" House exclaimed incredulously, "Ever hear of taking it easy on a disabled person?"
Cuddy snorted with laughter. "Now why would we do that?" she asked him, playfully. She was silent for a second, deep in thought. "Come to think of it, Mike and I had a class together. Second semester of senior year. Business Strategies II."
"Mike…Finkle?" House guessed.
"Yeah. He wouldn't talk to me after the party. Sat right behind me."
"Gee, I wonder why," House said, sarcastically, scratching his head mockingly as if deep in thought. "Couldn't possibly be the fact that you and him hooked up and then he thought he was going to get you to go out with him. But then, I came and had to ruin his whole nice plan," he said, grinning.
"God Lisa! How could you become attracted to a guy who steals other girls like it's his job?" Cameron asked her.
Cuddy shrugged. "No idea."
"Hey," House interrupted, "watch who you're talking about."
Cuddy turned her head to look at him. "Oh yea? What are you going to do about it?" she asked in a low voice with a certain twinkle in her eye.
Grinning, House leaned forward. "You just wait," he whispered, his eyes sparkling, as they penetrated through hers. He moved his hand to rest on her upper thigh, moving slowly upwards.
She smirked and moved her hand to rest on top of his, stopping his hand from moving up her thigh any further. "Wow," she said, sarcastically, "And I thought I was bad."
House scowled as he took his hand off Cuddy's thigh as Cameron and Brenda smirked. Cuddy moved to sit on his lap, and threw her arms around his neck.
"Aww, did I make poor Greggy upset?" she mocked. Cameron, who had taken a sip of her drink, almost choked with laughter.
"Not anymore," House replied, grinning. He cupped her cheek and very softly kissed her on the lips.
"Guys, get a room!"
House and Cuddy broke apart to see Wilson and John standing there. House smirked and eyed John.
"I would tell you the same thing."
Cuddy swatted him on the arm. "Greg!" she scolded.
"What? It's true," House defended.
John smirked and turned to Cameron. "So how much was the bet?"
Cameron's cheeks immediately turned a shade of crimson.
"What bet?" House asked, looking from his employee to his best friend's boyfriend.
"15," Cameron muttered, her cheeks turning a light shade of crimson.
John chuckled. "That's it?"
Cameron stared at him. She didn't know if she had heard him correctly. 'What?"
John smiled. "I'm not mad. Relax," he told her. "I thought it was pretty hilarious to tell you the truth."
"Ok could someone please tell me what's going on?" whined House, who was annoyed that someone knew something that he didn't.
Ignoring House for the moment, John addressed Cameron. "So who won?"
"Not me," Cameron mumbled.
John turned to House. "Two of your employees bet that James and I were partners."
House grinned. "Wow, Cameron. I can't believe you didn't know Wilson liked to play with Barbie's and Foreman did."
"Shut up, House," Cameron said.
"Alright," John said, "would love to stay and chat, but I gotta get someone home." He jerked his head toward Wilson, who was hanging off John's elbow, completely unaware of his surroundings due to the amount of wine that he had drunk over the course of the night.
"John, it was great to meet you," Cuddy said smiling as she stood up and embraced John in a hug. "I'm sure I'll see you around."
John grinned. "I'm sure you will. And congratulations. Pregnancy looks good on you."
Cuddy blushed. "Thanks," she said sincerely.
Not long after Wilson and John left, House and Cuddy made their exit as well.
Cameron, who walked out with them, stopped when she saw the blue convertible.
"Oh my god, Lisa. It's beautiful," she gushed, as she stared at the car.
Cuddy smiled. "Thanks. It was an early Christmas present."
"You bought this?" Cameron said to House, who grinned.
"Yup," he said, wrapping an arm around Cuddy's waist.
Cameron couldn't believe it. "Wow. You actually did something nice for someone? Who are you and what have you done with Greg House?" she joked.
"Oh shut up," House told her.
Cameron smirked and then turned to Cuddy. "Lisa, I had a great time tonight," she said as she embraced the woman in a hug. "And you look absolutely radiant!"
Cuddy beamed. "Thanks, Allison. Oh and let me know about Christmas Day, won't you?"
"Definitely," Cameron said, "I should be able to come. See you Monday, House," she said, turning to her boss.
After climbing into the Sebring, Cuddy waved to Cameron, and drove off.
About fifteen minutes later, House unlocked the door to his apartment and stepped inside. Cuddy closed the door with her foot as she wrapped both of her arms around House's neck, and kissed him hard on the mouth.
House's hands moved down Cuddy's back as he brought her closer to his body.
They moved down the hallway, their tongues exploring each other's mouths as their hands moved down each other's body, their mouths never separating.
House succeeded in unzipping Cuddy's gown. Once it fell to the floor, she stepped out of it, kicking her shoes off in the process.
Fumbling with the buttons on his crisp white shirt, House suddenly gave up and threw his tie off. Cuddy kissed his neck as she assisted him with unbuttoning his shirt. Working her hands inside, she caressed his locks of chest hair.
House hooked one arm around her bare lower back, and brought her up against the wall. Very gently, he caressed her bare protruding stomach.
Cuddy worked her lips back up to his mouth, and forced his mouth open, hearing him moan.
"Do you want me, Greg?" she breathed, feeling her arousal at his moan. Placing her hands at his belt buckle, her fingers worked diligently, undoing the buckle and pulling his pants down.
"Yes." House pressed up against her. Kicking his shoes off, he held onto Cuddy for support as he stepped out of each pant leg.
Finally maneuvering Cuddy into the bedroom, House broke away from her as he traced her facial features with his eyes. He listened to her accelerated breathing, and grinned.
"So, did I behave well enough to get my present?" he teased.
Cuddy stroked his jaw softly with her hand. "That depends. You had some slip-ups," she whispered, her eyes twinkling.
"You're enjoying this," House told her, as he swept the hair that she had let down away from her neck. He then kissed her on her neck, marking his territory.
"You know that's going to leave a mark," Cuddy said playfully as House planted a hickey on her neck.
"Who cares?" House murmured, as he made his way back up to her lips. "So, present or not?" he asked impatiently.
Cuddy smirked and took his hand, leading him towards the bed.
House grinned and shut the door behind him with his cane.
