Chapter 6: Again

That day they made love several times. Both were completely sober this time and so they payed much more attention to detail.

Cuddy undressed House slowly; trailing kisses from his mouth to across his jaw line and down his neck. In a frenzy, she nipped at his skin, bruising and breaking it. He gasped and squeezed a handful of her dark hair, bringing it up to touch it to his lips. She trailed her tongue down his shoulder and his chest. She pushed him onto the bed and launched herself next to him where she set to work on his fly, running teasing fingers over the material of his crotch.

"God!" he gasped. Cuddy smiled. She pulled his jeans down until he was only in his boxer briefs. Then she let him undress her, more patient this time than the last. As he reached towards her blouse, she noticed the ugly scar on his thigh; the one she had put there. And yet, here he was, about to make adoring love to her, the woman who'd crippled him. Pangs of guilt hit her, but she decided to drown them in passion. For each button he undid, House kissed Cuddy's chest. He buried his face in her breasts while he slipped off her bra and then keeled over, on top of her, cupping each one with a hand. "Love your funbags," he noted. Cuddy rolled her eyes and took his face between her hands, pulling his eyes up to hers.

"My face is up here," she said and kissed him roughly and repeatedly. They rolled over and House pulled off her skirt. He then pulled the covers over them and they discarded their underwear, making lots of love for hours.

Tiring eventually, they lay in silence, holding one another.

"Do you think we should have done it?" Cuddy asked.

"You mean, do I think we should have had lots of varying, delicious, wild and passionate sex?" he asked. He thought for a moment, one eyebrow up. "Well, I enjoyed it, if that's what you mean."

"Well, so did I. But that's not what I mean, no."

"In that case, I don't know."

"It was great though. And when you… Because I… That was amazing."

"Thank you. It's my speciality. I save it only for the best."

"Did you ever do it with Stacy?"

"I would not usually answer such a personal question, but… no. I lie; it's not special, it was a fluke. A fluke just for you. Feel privileged." He kissed the top of her head. She was drawing a circle on his chest with her finger. He ducked down and enclosed it in his mouth, sucking the tip. "Did I ever tell you you have an extremely feminine body, Dr. Cuddy?"

"I believe so. Many times. Unless I'm getting mixed signals."

"Good. Because you should know how utterly desirable and delectable it is."

"Why thank you, Dr. House. Maybe you should have another professional look at it tomorrow."

"I think I will most definitely have to."

She rested her head on his shoulder and he rested his on her head. They slowly drifted off to sleep. House dozed off first, leaving Cuddy pressed up against his warm body, listening to him breathe. She was smiling as she fell asleep too.

House woke up first. It was still very early. The curtains glowed with pre-dawn light and a few birds had started singing. His clock showed 4:47am in green numbers. He reached down and massaged his bad leg. Cuddy was on the other side of the bed, curled up, her back to him. He smiled. But then his smile turned into a frown. He got out of bed and limped to the bathroom. He turned on the shower and stepped under the hot stream of water. He lathered himself with soap and put his head under the water, eyes closed. His hair flattened down and dripped onto his face. Turning off the tap, he stepped out again and pressed his face into a towel. House dried himself and wrapped it around his waist, re-entering the bedroom.

Cuddy was awake when he limped out of the bathroom. She propped herself up on one elbow, the doona pulled up to her armpits.

"Good morning," she smiled. House sat down on the side of the bed. He leaned over his shoulder, resting on his arm.

"Morning." He gestured towards the door he had come through. "Wanna use my bathroom?"

She nodded and noted, "I didn't bring a towel or anything."

"You can use one of mine. And you can use my soap too, if you're man enough."

"I think that may be the problem, not the solution. Do you have manly man soap?"

"Nah, it won't matter. It's not that bad. Now, hurry up or I might have to lick you clean like a cat."

"Cats don't lick each other."

"Humans don't lick at all. Unless they get… particularly excited."

"OK. Could you look away for a second?" House chuckled.

"I have seen you naked, you know."

"Just do it. Or… I'll tell Foreman what your favourite movie is." House glared at her.

"You'd have to explain to him how you know something as… personal as that first. Oh, all right." He looked out the window. Cuddy slipped out of bed and towards the shower. While she had a long, long shower… House's mind strayed towards his water bill… he made break fast for them both. Cuddy ate with him and then she left. He timidly kissed her goodbye as if he thought that maybe he shouldn't have. It was still early and she was aiming on getting home to sort herself out before she went to work.