Chapter 3: Did you know you're beautiful?

That night, Lisa Cuddy lay alone in her bed in her own home. She thought about a lot of things. She wondered whether she should have kissed House. And she wondered whether he really meant it when he kissed her. It was 10 'o' clock at night and she'd decided to go to bed earlier than usual. It was probably a better time for her. But tonight she couldn't sleep at all. Her bedroom door was open, leading out into the main area of her house; and that was how she heard the knock.

It was a loud, wooden knock and it echoed around her house three times. At first she wondered whether the knocker had considered the possibility she was sleeping and how rude it was to call at a time like this. Then she wondered whether they were the kind of person who cared. This worried her. She was all alone in her house and defenseless. The next thing she realised was that she recognized the knock and she relaxed immediately; but, got out of bed, pulled on a dressing gown and walked to the front door in an annoyed huff all the same.

"House," she accused as she opened the door. He was leaning against her door frame with a self-confident expression pasted on his arrogant face and his cane swinging from his fingers. He grinned at her, roguishly and, although she hated to admit it, quite handsomely.

House shifted his cane from his left hand to his right hand and limped over the threshold so that he was directly in front of Cuddy and very close to her. She shivered at his presence and failed to keep up her annoyed composure. She even allowed herself a smile.

"Did you know," he asked. "That you are beautiful?" Cuddy closed her eyes and basked in his loving words and voice. She found it hard to breathe when he moved closer towards her, driving her backwards and pushing the door shut behind him. "And you're sexy," he said.

Cuddy sighed slowly. "You're sexy," she whispered. "And handsome. And hot–"

House cut her off with a sudden kiss that made her inhale deeply through the nose. She relished in his touch and his need. He pulled her close to him, dropping his cane again. Slowly, she led him towards her bedroom. He limped with her, holding her tightly, kissing her, loving her. At least, she hoped that was what it was.

They entered the bedroom and House threw her down on the bed, minding her and his leg as they fell. He kissed her more, feeling her body with his hands and his front. She took off his jacket and tousled his hair, pulling his face closer to hers, scratching herself on his stubble, relishing in every roughness and smoothness of his skin and the wetness and warmth of his mouth. He began to ease of her dressing gown and slip off her nightdress. She stripped him of his shirts and his trousers and he kicked off his shoes.

Moving under the covers, they kissed some more, touching and feeling each other. And in a rush and tangle of limbs, bodies and bare skin they made love. It was hard to tell who was who. He entered her and they became one. After the ecstatic orgasm, they just lay together; he held her and she fell asleep in his arms for a while.

House thought about what they had done. It had been sudden, unexpected, but wonderful. He had found a kindred spirit in Cuddy; someone to love. Did he love her? He didn't know whether he did, but part of him wanted to.

When Cuddy woke up, House was asleep, his arms wrapped loosely around her. It was still night, and her bedside light was still on. She wondered whether her liking of House had gone further. Did she love him? She wanted him; that much she knew. She wanted him a lot. Wanted to be with him? She wasn't sure, but part of her certainly did. Eventually she was just content to lie in his arms, cuddling up to him. Feeling peaceful.