Chapter 2: Under the Influence

House and Cuddy staggered out of the taxi and hastily paid the driver. They had put their shoes back on for the walk inside, but both of them knew that they would come off again.

House unlocked his front door and gestured for Cuddy to enter before him.

"Very polite," she commented.

"I live but to serve," he recited earnestly. She giggled as he followed her in, latching the door closed behind him. "Now then," he clapped his hands together. "Shall we talk first? Or just get straight into the inevitable?"

"It's inevitable," she answered. "What's the use in stalling?"

He grinned, agreeing with her. Then he took her hand and led her to the bedroom. The minute they got through the door the kissing started again. They kissed deeper and more lasciviously. Finally, he would get to touch her body. The body he had been eyeing all night. She was thinking the same thing about him.

She ran her hands through his hair, bringing them over his shoulders and slipping off his coat and jacket in the process. He helped her get rid of it. They kicked off their shoes, she helped him with his, and then they rolled onto the bed, barefoot, coatless and kissing. Cuddy quickly unbuttoned his shirt and threw it to the side. Then he pulled his T-shirt over his head in one swift motion. He rolled onto his back and she straddled him. She placed her hands on his chest, digging her nails into him and breaking the skin. He cried out pleasurably. Then he grabbed her and rolled over onto his side where he began slowly undoing the buttons of her blouse, kissing each new area of skin that was revealed. She moaned, tensing the legs she had wrapped around him and wishing he'd hurry up.

"Patience," he whispered to her, tickling her ear with his tongue.

"Shut up and just be quick," she snapped back. He laughed at her.

"You think I don't want this just as much as you? If I have to wait, you have to wait."

"You don't have to wait," she retaliated and, catching him by surprise, she jerked over and ended up on top of him again. Then she started to undo his belt. She finally unthreaded the buckle and was able to unzip his fly.

"Hey, hang on," he protested. He crossed his hands over his groin. "We may be as drunk as hell, but we're not in some closet or office or Cadillac. We're in bed, we gotta do it properly." He reached up and pulled her down onto his chest where she shrugged off her blouse and he easily undid the clasp of her bra so that it slid off. Then he held her bare chest tightly against his and kissed her again, dragging his tongue through her mouth. He unzipped her skirt and pulled it down over her hips. Then he pulled his pants down just far enough for him to ease himself into her. He whimpered ecstatically as he finally got some relief for himself. Cuddy rolled sideways until he was on top of her and let him do his bit, driving her into the mattress of his bed with each thrust. She gasped as his body ground against hers, rocking in time. She cried out as she came and he yelled "Cuddy!" excitedly. It lasted for a long time. Afterwards they were both breathing heavily. House pulled out and rolled off Cuddy, lolling next to her. Both of them stared blankly at the ceiling.

"You're good," Cuddy noted after a while, panting. "Really good."

"You're not so bad yourself," he replied. "You know what? I'm tired... and drunk. And I'm willing to bet you are too."

"You've always been a betting man," she agreed.

He slipped off his jeans and pulled the doona over both of them. She, likewise, chucked her skirt away and snuggled down under the covers next to House. She lay right next to him and salvaged the heat of his body. Too drunk and too tired to care, House let her do so, and even wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. They fell asleep almost instantly in each other's arms.