Chapter 34. Sittin' on a Boat in the Bay

It was still dark out when Cameron nudged House in the early morning hours. "Time to rise and shine," she said. "You don't want to keep Pete waiting." She took some pleasure in his discomfort at rising so early.

"I never shine when I rise," he grumbled and pulled his pillow over his face.

"I'll make you some coffee," she offered.

"That's a bribe that only works when it's daylight," he mumbled, barely audible through said pillow.

"You're the one who agreed to this jaunt," she said, beginning to chuckle. "Don't you want to show off your new hat and boat shoes? I'm sure Pete will be impressed."

"Well, then he'll have to be impressed a little later, when it's LIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE THEM!"

Cameron couldn't stop laughing. She'd expected that it would be hard for him to get up, and so she wasn't surprised. She slipped out of bed, intent on making that coffee, but was pulled back by a hand that snaked out from beneath the covers.

"Where do you think you're going, girlie?"

"I said I was going to make coffee, and I'm not a 'girlie'," she replied, but didn't fight the pull of his hand.

"There's a better way than coffee to get me 'up', you know," he said suggestively, making her laugh again.

"Whatever gets your motor in gear," she said, ready to oblige.

But House's phone rang at that moment, breaking the mood. He tried to ignore it, even though he knew Cameron wouldn't let him. He glared at her the way he wished he could glare at the caller.

"House, I wanted to make sure you were up," Pete's voice diffused his anger.

"I'm up," House assured him. "Where should I meet you?"

"I'll come pick you up after I pick up some provisions," Pete said.

"Fine. That'll give me time to shower and dress. And other things. See you soon." House closed his phone and reached for Cameron again, only to find that she'd moved to the coffee machine and was filling it.

"I guess you've decided we don't have time, huh?" he said like the disappointed little boy he was.

Cameron turned to face him. "I just thought I'd get this started while you were on the phone. It'll save some time."

"Get back here," he ordered.

"I didn't hear a 'please'," she said with a smirk, but she was already walking closer.

House took the opportunity to examine her slim form, automatically licking his lips. "Please."

"You're really not going to get dressed until..." But she didn't finish, because he pulled her into his arms and back to the bed. Even though they knew that Pete would be there any moment, House and Cameron took their time, touching and tasting, the heat and friction building with each stroke. They easily matched rhythms and heart rates.

House waited for the moment when Cameron began to moan with pleasure. It had happened every time they made love and he'd come to expect it, to relish the thought that he could bring this woman to such a fever pitch.

Cameron relished every touch of his long fingers, his lips, his tongue. One thing was certain, he was the best lover she'd ever had.

They didn't wait as long as usual to join, but then their rhythm sped up. Cameron's moans became louder and this time House joined her with sighs of his own. They peaked almost simultaneously, and clung together to prolong the ecstasy.

Finally, they pulled apart, each still breathing hard, but smiling. "I am really going to need a shower now," House said.

By the time he'd cleaned up and dressed, Cameron had a cup of coffee ready for him. He drank more than half of it, then kissed her, grabbed his new hat and his cane, and headed upstairs.

He found Pete drinking coffee in the kitchen with Mrs. McClelland.

"I didn't want to disturb you," the older man said, then looked House over. "Well, at least you're not wearin' one of them silly hats with the fish hooks in the band." He put down the dainty coffee cup in his hand and told Mrs. McClelland, "Thanks for the cuppa, Mrs. Mac."

"Oh, anytime you're in the neighborhood, please stop by Pete," she told him.

"Let's go," Pete told House and the two men went out to the street where Pete's car, even older than House's, sat at the curb. They got in and drove to the east-west road that House was beginning to know well, turning west toward the bay.

The sun was just beginning to come up and the road was dark and almost empty. But by the time they reached the turnoff for the Chatham place it was light enough to see the narrow path that eventually led to what was left of the house.

"I hear yer innerested in buyin' that property," Pete said.

"How'd you hear that?"

"Oh, people talk," Pete said.

House hoped Cameron didn't hear any of that talk, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

Not long after they passed the cutoff, Pete pulled up at a dock and House could hear the sound of the water against the pilings. Not far from the dock was a rather modern looking house with some obvious recent repairs to shutters and shingles.

Pete pointed at the house. "I still have to paint the new shutters," he said. "But it'll wait." He led the way out on the wooden dock to a boat that was larger than House had expected. At least it wasn't a little row boat. House could tell it had a fresh coat of marine paint on it, based on the odor. It was also more modern than House expected, sleek and trim, with a small covered galley in the center and an outboard motor attached to the stern.

House hadn't really thought about the difficulty he might have getting aboard.

"Here, Doc," Pete said, sliding a gangplank between the boat and the dock. It was the type with rope strung as a rail on either side.

House walked across it, thankful for his friends thoughtfulness. The boat was rocked by slight waves, but he found he could handle that. He watched as Pete pushed the gangplank back on the dock, then turned on the engine and motored away from the dock into the bay.

"We won't have t' go too far out," Pete said. "There's a spot I know where the fishin's almost always good."

They could still see the shore when Pete stopped the motor and as the boat stilled, he handed House a rod and reel and opened a box of lures. "You have been fishin' before, haven't you?"

"Yes," House said. It had been a long time, but he remembered the basics. He selected a lure and took a worm from Pete's bucket. Once he was ready, he cast his line into the bay, then sat back on one of the two seats and prepared to wait.