Chapter Two
Authors note: To my dear reviewers; none of you seem to be giving poor old House much credit... Probably for a good reason.-evil grin- Well, this one's got a bit lessthinking and abit more doing. I hope you all enjoy it. Specfically- Angel,your syntax and grammar really don't seem too bad. And you know, the only way tofix stuff like that is practise... -cough cough, hint hint- tranquil-eyes, I know it's a little, OK, a lot out of the blue, but honestly, we all know House would never do this unless he'd had a severe concussion or was very drunk the annoying man. So I tried to get him to do it in the most House-like way as possible. I hope it'll suffice. dormouse, just for you, I've decided to add another chapter of 'stringing' into this. Enjoy.
OK, for all of you that want story, not ramblings, starting reading here.
Anyone that clinked on the link accidentally, you should probably take this time to leave.
A week and half a day later, House was again sitting at that desk. For once, his thoughts were not circling around Cameron's extremely fine legs. Their patient was rapidly circling the drain, and there was no way he would be able to sleep anyway, so he had opted to stay back late, searching through online medical catalogues for a set of completely incongruous symptoms. It was only the start of his watch, and the sounds of the hospital shutting down for the night could be still heard out in the corridors.
Focused on the screen, he didn't hear the door to his office open. It was the soft footfalls that registered. Turning his head, he blinked for a second to clear the afterimage of the screen, only to see Cameron moving sexily to stand just before his desk. Not interested he reminded himself firmly, yet was unable to stop the head to toe assessment he gave her, finding her body, as always, to be more than just acceptable.
Reaching for his cane, he stood and ambled around to stand eye to eye with her so only empty air separated them. That she was here at all would be a win for him if he could play his cards right. She may have told herself that she'd only came to tease him that much further and reinforce her point that she could hold off, but that she was here at all indicated some crumbling of her will.
'To what do I owe the pleasure of your gracious presence?' He asked poetically, making her smile, which was the intended effect.
'I thought you might want to talk.' She replied calmly, making him shift his weight so he was leaning more heavily on his cane. His elbow was slightly damaged from years of cane usage, and the dull throb of pain it sent him helped him keep his focus.
'That's the point of this whole pony show is it not? I'm really less interested in the talking.'
She shook her head, expression mildly disappointed in him, something that had never affected him so before. 'I don't know you like I should House, because you don't let anyone in, but I know you'll make this twisted and painful if you can, because that's what you do.'
The blow had been rather direct, but House let it glance off him, well used to slurs on his character. 'I beg to differ,' he replied placidly. 'It's your way that always seem to lead to messy and painful incidents. Relationships with lots of feeling involved equal almost certain heartache.' On the guise of shifting his weight to accommodate his damaged leg, he moved slightly closer to her, knowing the proximity couldn't hurt his cause. Sure enough he saw her take a slightly deeper breath, drawing his scent into her.
'Are you listening to your own words?' She asked incredulously, seeming not to notice his ploy.
'I believe that's an obligatory part of talking.' Switching his cane in front of him, he leaned on it with both hands.
'You know what I mean. Sure, you've got some emotional scarring…' He gave her a pointed look at that, but Cameron ignored it, continuing. 'But not ever letting yourself feel again really won't help.'
'Oh yeah?' House's tone was dry, but it didn't slow her down.
'Yes. You want to just cut yourself off, inevitably ending up more bitter and alone, because you're too afraid to commit.'
'We're talking about committal now?' House let amusement into his tone, somehow enjoying watching Cameron grow more frustrated with as she tried to make him face a point that he was purposefully avoiding. She let out a small sound of pure annoyance, and he took the chance to shuffle another step closer. This time she did notice, but a look flickered briefly across her features that made him slightly uneasy.
'My point is,' she started coyly, sliding forwards to close yet more of the gap between them. House watched her very closely, intrigued by this turn of conversation. 'you, are selfish.'
'Am I just?' He raised an eyebrow. 'That's coming from the girl who was moaning up against a wall a couple of weeks ago, leaving me to take cold showers every morning.'
'Exactly,' replied Cameron, barely blushing at his reminder. 'Anything that might break your iron self control is forbidden, whatever the cost to anyone else.' Half-way through the sentence, she revealed her ploy, reaching down with one hot little hand to cup him, giving a light squeeze to accentuate her point. House's pupils dilated and he let out a rapid exhalation, but otherwise managed to keep his cool. He had been so focused on her words and the warm puppy eyes she had been giving him, he had not noticed her hand move.
She didn't change her position as he stared down at her, momentarily shocked into wordlessness. She returned his look innocently, then massaged him with her hand, and for a moment, House doubted the capabilities of his knees to hold him. He blinked, swallowing, knowing his expression would be saying all sort of things it shouldn't have been.
With some effort, he kicked his mind back in gear, realising he had to take control of the situation, else all would be lost. He let the cane drop to the carpeted floor without a sound, and made to close the last of the gap between them. If he could make contact with her, he would have control- he knew she wouldn't resist his skilled hands. Unfortunately, she was far more alert than him at that moment, and moved her hand from his groin to his chest, stopping him in his tracks. House gave her an appealing look, but her expression was resolute, telling his he'd failed unless he could think of something cleverer.
'Like I said. Selfish.' Cameron kept her hand splayed on his chest, the warmth of her fingers soaking through his shirt. Somehow, she had managed to completely take control of the situation, and House wasn't even sure when it had happened. Still lost for words, he cocked his head on one side, considering her. She pointedly returned his stare for a moment, then glanced at her hand where it rested, a half-smile floating across her face. 'What do you know. Human.'
House realised she was referring the heartbeat under her fingertips. The heart. Romantic symbol. This is where you will end up if you let her have her way. His scathing inner voice sharply reminded him who he was, and at the same time, provided him with an idea. She saw the change in his expression, and returned his look warily.
Slowly, so she could see it coming, he reached up with one hand to take the hand that was on his chest, gently cradling it as he removed it so he could lean forwards, finally closing the gap between them. His gentle movements and soft expression stopped any protest she would otherwise have made as he captured her lips, kissing her sweetly.
Cameron responded readily, opening her mouth to him to give entrance to his teasing tongue. Triumph flowered in House's chest as he finally achieved the intimacy that meant Cameron was now powerless to resist. Not breaking the kiss as it grew more heated, he took one final step closer, bringing their bodies together and bringing his hands into play.
She realised what he'd done as warm fingers crept under her shirt, but was simply unable to stop, with the drugging intensity of being kissed by House. He had started a rhythm with his hips, grinding slowly against her, further reducing cognitive functions. Before, when their eyes had remained locked as he was the one to render her incoherent, at least some small part of her mind had remained, alongside the slight separation. Now, she was completely lost in him, electricity crackling up and down her spine. His fingers were running through her silken locks, messing up hair that had taken half an hour that morning, but she simply couldn't bring herself to care. Instinctively, she reached for him, trying to return some of the pleasure he was bringing to her with his tongue and hands.
It was her intuitive response that saved her, as he paused at her touch, breaking the kiss. As his blue eyes connected with hers, reason sharply reasserted itself. Breathing heavily she pulled away, collecting herself. Cold soaked into her skin where moments before, he had been connected warmly to her.
'That's cheating,' she accused House, glaring at him. She couldn't help thinking at how it had been her touch that had stopped him. The feel of his fingers were still fizzing across his skin.
'Didn't realise there were rules,' he replied in amusement, regarding her mussed hair and flushed features. He longed for his cane to lean on, but it was on the floor, and he was not bending to pick it up right then. Even more, he longed to continue what he had been doing, seconds before, but there was no way she'd let him get away with that trick twice.
'There's one way, and one way only that's going to happen OK? The sooner you realise that…' She left the sentence hanging, snatching up his cane and thrusting it at him before stalking out, spine stiff and dignified. House watched her leave morosely, mentally cursing himself.
To be continued…