Chapter 9: Soul Mates
That night, and in fact, every night of that week, House came to Cuddy's place on his bike and they spent the night together. Most of the time they had "outrageous" sex, as House liked to call it, but some nights they just held each other in silence or talked about anything and everything, especially their work colleagues.
It was Thursday and House had his big, comfortable arm around Cuddy, protecting her from everything.
They sat together on the sofa and started conversation.
"How long have you liked me?" he asked.
"What?" said Cuddy.
"You told me that you've liked me for a long time. How long?"
Cuddy took a deep breath and sat up.
"Well," she pondered. "I liked you the moment I saw you. That changed soon after I hired you."
House laughed.
"At least," she continued. "I thought it had, up until a few months ago."
"Well, why didn't you tell me this a few months ago?"
"I didn't want you to know. I couldn't risk you turning me down. Then, that day in my office I gave in. I wanted to touch you, to kiss you, to tell you how I felt."
"Very poetic," House complimented her.
"Yes, well," agreed Cuddy.
"As poetic as your pick up line, or whatever it was. 'I know you care about your patients?'"
Cuddy looked defensive.
"I had to say something," she explained. "You do though, don't you?"
House thought for a moment.
"No," he admitted eventually. "I care about being right, doing my job, and solving the puzzle. So, sorry to disappoint you, sweetheart, but I really am a heartless Son of a Bitch."
"I should have known," confessed Cuddy. "I still got you to stay though, didn't I?"
"You sure did."
"How long have you liked me?" she asked.
"I don't like you," he said.
"Yes, you do. Now, tell me," she ordered.
"Well," thought House. "I was sexually attracted to you from the moment I saw you."
Cuddy hit him on the shoulder.
"That's not what I asked," she protested.
"OK, OK. I liked you from the moment you spoke to me. And I never stopped liking you."
Cuddy was silent. She lifted a hand and ran it through his hair.
"Well, I guess that means we're soul mates then."
He smiled gently and kissed her, adjusting himself to be on top of her.
"Should we take this to the bedroom?" she asked between kisses.
"Why?" House asked. "I think your sofa is wonderful."
