A/N: Here's another chapter for you all :) Glad everyone is still enjoying this :) I've got a bit of writers block so I'm trying to figure out how to wrap this story up so I can move on to other things. What those things are, I don't know LOL.

Chapter Nine

It was a quiet ride back to the ranch. Nicola drove them to the house and they dressed for dinner. House tried to keep up with the conversation but Nicola was too much of a distraction. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, he planned to take her back to his room and make love to her. Nicola seemed to have the same thoughts from the intense glances she exchanged with him. When she brushed her hair away from her neck, House wanted nothing more than to kiss and nibble it. Hell, he wanted to kiss every part of her.

After dinner, Barbara excused herself and David retired for the evening, leaving House and Nicola alone at last.

"Want to have a drink in the lounge?" she asked him.

"For starters," he grinned.

"I thought we could talk some more. I'm just going to slip into something more comfortable."

"Like my sheets?" he growled in her ear as he pulled her against him and nibbled her neck. His whiskers tickled her but she loved the way his scruff felt against her neck.

"Eventually. But first, I need a drink. I'll meet you in the lounge in ten."

"'Kay."

House didn't change, but got a little more comfortable. He went to the lounge to get a fire started and make things cozy. As he snooped, he found a humidor full of fine Cuban cigars so he took one, cut the end off and lit it. Then he stretched out on the couch and waited for Nicola.

"Leave it to you to find Daddy's best cigars."

House glanced over at Nicola standing in the doorway wearing a royal blue silk robe, showing off her long, tanned, and muscular legs.

"He did say I was welcome to help myself," he said as he blew smoke rings.

Nicola admired the way House had his top two buttons undone and his sleeves rolled up, showing off his strong forearms. There was something so sexy about him sitting there, smoking the cigar, she couldn't help but smile to herself.

"It's fine, enjoy it," she said as she went over to the bar and grabbed a couple of tumblers. "What's your poison?"

"Whatever you're having."

"Grand Marnier on the rocks?"

House nodded. "Sure."

"This is quite a romantic scene you've got going here," Nicola said as she poured them each a drink and brought one to him. She placed her glass down on the side table and leaned over him.

"Isn't that what you wanted? The picnic you took me on today was romantic. I'm just returning the favor."

"Mm...sexual favor, I hope," she murmured against his lips.

"I'm sure I can accommodate you."

"Yeah? Well how about a preview of coming attractions?"

"If by coming you mean…"

Nicola laughed and kissed him again. "Yes."

The door burst open and one of the housekeepers ran in. "Madam, Doctor! Come quick, it's Senor Brown…"

Nicola and House both bolted off the couch and followed Lucy to David's bedroom. Even from the doorway, House could tell the man was gone. His face was ashen and his eyes were wide open.

"Oh no…" Nicola said as she covered her mouth with her hand and looked away while House checked David's vitals.

"He's gone. Based on the signs, I'd say an hour or so."

"I was...I was just coming in here to ask if he wanted some more tea and I found him like this...Dios mio…" Lucy said as she crossed her heart and prayed silently in the corner.

"It's okay, Lucy," Nicola assured her. "Now can you do something for me? I need you to call 9-1-1. They'll come and take him. Okay? Can you do that?"

Lucy nodded

"What's going on here?" Barbara demanded as she barged in wearing a black lace peignoir. Nicola rolled her eyes and tossed her housecoat at her. "For God's sake, what are you wearing?"

Barbara put the robe on and tied it. "I was in bed when I heard Lucy. What happened?"

"Your husband's dead," House said as he closed the man's eyes and pulled the sheet over him.

"How could you let this happen?" Barbara shouted at Nicola. "Where were you?"

"What difference does that make? He died! There was nothing anyone could have done."

Barbara turned to House. "What kind of doctor are you? Can't you save him?"

"Sorry, it's been too long. I'm sorry."

"I don't understand. He was fine at dinner…"

"When someone has congestive heart failure, there's no rhyme nor reason why the heart stops…"

"Oh, is that your expert opinion, Doctor House? If that's your real name!"

"Oh knock it off, Mother!" Nicola snapped at her.

"The police are here," Lucy informed them.

"Send them up," Nicola nodded and turned her attention back to Barbara. "Come on, let's go. They'll take it from here. I'm calling Mike."

While Nicola was on the phone to her brother, Barbara paced the floor, drink in hand as she tried to make sense of what was going on.

"Why weren't you there?" she demanded turning to look at House.

"With all due respect, Barbara, even if I had been, he's got a DNR request from his doctor," he responded, leaning heavily on his cane.

"DNR...what's DNR?"

"It means Do No Resuscitate. If I had, it would have been illegal. He knew he was dying and he made sure everything was in order."

"What's going to happen to me?"

House shrugged. "I have no idea."

Barbara all but threw herself into House's arms and grabbed his shirt. "You have to do something…"

"I can't do anything. I'm sorry."

Nicola returned and saw Barbara clinging to House. "What the hell is this?"

House extricated himself from Barbara's grasp and stepped back. "Nothing. Get a hold of your brother?"

"Yeah, he's going to fly out first thing in the morning."

"Good. Come on, let's go. I need a drink," House said as he left the paramedics to take care of David. He guided Nicola out of the room and they retired to the lounge. She flopped down on the couch and buried her face in her hands.

"I don't know what to do now. What's going to happen…"

"It'll be fine," House assured her as he fixed them both a double Scotch and brought it over to her. "Here, drink up."

With trembling hands, she takes the glass and sips. House sat down next to her and they drank in silence. Once her glass was empty, she yawned. "I should go to bed. It's going to be a crazy day tomorrow. Mike and I need to get the final arrangements set up."

"Are you close to your brother?"

"Yeah. He never agreed with what Barbara did to me. We talk at least once a week."

"That's good, then you'll have him on your side if shit goes down."

"Yeah." She got up and House followed her to her bedroom. She leaned against the doorframe and he noticed how tired she looked.

"Get some sleep."

"Sleep with me?" she whispered.

"Nicola…"

"I just want to sleep, but I'd feel better if you were with me. I don't want to be alone. Please?"

He never could say no to her and he nodded. "I'll go get changed and be back in a few minutes."

"Thank you," she said with a sigh, gave him a peck on the cheek and went into her room.

House shook his head in wonder as he went to his room, changed into a T-shirt and sleep pants, grabbed a couple of condoms, just in case, and returned to her room. She was still in the bathroom so he put the condoms in the top drawer of the side table before climbing into bed. He fluffed the pillow and propped it up as he waited for her.

She came out of the bathroom and smiled at him as she climbed into her side of the bed. "Feeling okay?" he asked her as they lay in bed facing each other.

"I am now," she smiled at him. "You know I had plans for us tonight, right?"

"I had a feeling."

"I had this total seduction all planned out in my head…"

"Yeah? Like what?"

Nicola snuggled up to him and rested her head against his chest. "Oh, you know. A little of this, a little of that. I was kinda hoping there would be sex on our picnic, today."

House yawned as he wrapped his arm around her and closed his eyes. "I'll take a raincheck," he murmured.

"Sounds good," she whispered before kissing his chest. Within minutes they were both asleep.

XXX

Nicola woke up and turned over, coming face to face with House. He was also awake and looking at her.

"Well, hello," he said in his usual deep voice.

"Morning. It's early. Why are you awake?"

He shrugged. "Why are you?"

"I have a handsome doctor in my bed."

"And I'm in bed with a sexy cop," he winked as he reached over and ran his hand over her hip.

Nicola placed her hand on his chest. "Greg," she whispered softly before leaning over and kissing him. He returned the kiss and deepened it, wrapping his arm around her to pull her even closer. "I love kissing you."

He kissed a trail from her lips down her neck and across her throat as his hand slid lower and caressed her thigh. "That feels good."

She wrapped her arms around him as they rolled across the bed and she could feel his morning wood pressing against the inside of her thigh. "Mmmm Greg, yes!" she cried out when his hand slipped down between her legs to discover she wasn't wearing panties.

"Mmm so wet," he murmured against her throat as he flicked his tongue against her skin.

Nicola closed her eyes and smiled. This was what she'd been waiting for.

"You're not going to leave, are you?" she asked him between kisses. He paused and looked down at her.

"I'll stay as long as you want me to."

"Good. I was hoping you'd say that." She tugged her shirt off and her breasts were so inviting that he buried his face between them, making her giggle as he made motorboat sounds. His scruff tickled and scratched her sensitive skin but she loved it.

His hand slid back down under the sheet and continued stroking her in quick, firm circles.

"Oh God!" she cried out and arched her back. "Greg! Oh God, I'm gonna come…"

"Good...you're too tense, Nicola. You could do with a long, slow screw."

"That sounds amazing." She closed her eyes and her orgasm washed over her. "Ohhhh...yessss…"

A knock on the bedroom door made her jump. "Don't worry, I locked the door," he whispered.

"Nicola, are you up?" Barbara's voice called out.

"Not yet. What do you want?" Nicola called back, still coming down from her orgasm.

"Your father's lawyer is here and Mike just arrived. So get dressed. We're going to have the reading of the will."

Nicola glanced over at the clock to see that it was only nine in the morning. "Now?"

"The lawyers will be here at ten."

"What the hell?" Nicola muttered as she got out of bed. Then she glanced over at House who looked incredibly sexy, smiling at her. "You need to get dressed. There's a hidden door in the closet that leads into your room."

He cocked his head to one side. "How am I just hearing about this?"

"I was going to mention it earlier but...whatever. Just get dressed. Lucy will make you some breakfast. And you can meet my brother."

He looked down at the tent in the sheet and smiled sheepishly at her. "I'll need a few minutes."

Nicola blushed and smiled back as she grabbed her clothes and went into the bathroom to get ready. When she came out, House was gone.