"To us," House echoed, then guzzled his champagne. "Damn, this stuff is good." He wasted no time in refilling his crystal glass to the brim.
"Take it easy," Cuddy mockingly admonished with a smile while peering over the rim of her glass.
"This stuff is really, really good." The truthfulness of that statement bounced off the walls. House had a found a new favorite drink.
"No need to get yourself smashed so early."
"I get smashed on scotch. I get inebriated on fine champagne such as this."
"We still have the whole day ahead of us, Greg. Remember? Do you remember what today is?"
"Like I would forget that. Give me a little credit here, Lisa."
"I'll give you full credit when you put down your drink and remember why I came over here."
"Point taken, boss," he said, unable to keep a trace of regret from sneaking in under the radar. After a long swallow, he corked the bottle and stuffed it into the fridge. "All better now?"
"Yes." She drained her champagne and carefully set the glass out of reach on the counter so it wouldn't get knocked over.
"I'm sure we'll find something to celebrate later," the diagnostician remarked, returning his attention back to the wonderful champagne. If she really paid five hundred dollars for it, it wasn't nearly enough.
"Maybe one or two things."
"I like the way you think, Lisa," he said, then finished his drink and set the glass down next its twin; glittering like fine jewels even under the less-than-flattering kitchen lights. Thinking about how much those glasses must have cost was enough to make his fillings ache. His leg was enough of an irritating distraction, he didn't need another one. Not today.
"It's only ten o'clock, Dr. House. However shall we fill our time?"
"We could play checkers," he teased as a crooked grin played along his unshaven face. Somehow he made that innocent sentence sound positively vulgar. The salaciousness of his words made Cuddy blush. Even now he could make her feel like a teenager getting ready for her first date. A maddening itch between her shoulders and tingling in her scalp only added to that perplexing feeling.
"Oh, goody. Maybe after that we could play 'Spin the Bottle'."
As they continued their verbal foreplay, Cuddy inched her way carefully towards her lover. Though the day was dark and gloomy, House's eyes possessed a fierceness that was all but hypnotic. They glowed with a greedy intensity that cut through the dreary morning light and right down to the bone. He was the hunter and she was the prey. She could only guess at what he was thinking, at what he had planned, and if she was even half right, the thoughts made her shiver with a greedy intensity all her own.
"'Spin the Bottle' requires many participants if it's to be any fun. Right now we don't want any company crashing our private party."
"You're right about that," she smiled and brushed a well-manicured hand along his stubbly chin. Her clothes suddenly felt too warm and restrictive, even in the cool kitchen.
"It only takes two to tango, dear Lisa. Care to dance?"
"Do you have to ask?"
She pulled on his shoulders, intending to pull his mouth to hers. She was a more than a little surprised when he didn't respond, instead holding her shoulders and keeping her still.
"Is something wrong?" she frowned.
"No. Everything's fine, believe me," he assured her, his voice suddenly smooth and soothing, like warm honey dripping from a spoon. Her knees threatened to buckle before he was finished. "Before we commence with the activities, there's something I need you to know and understand." The crooked grin returned, but a strange seriousness undercut his words and got Cuddy's full undivided attention. The timing was so weird and so off-the-wall, it had to be something he was entirely serious about and wouldn't be happy until she heard it.
"What is it?" she asked, honestly puzzled. What could he possible have to say now that couldn't wait?
"Right here, right now, and for as long as you are in my apartment today," House began as his long fingers slowly moved down to the front of her blouse and began to undo the buttons,"you are not The Dean of Medicine at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. You are not my boss. You aren't even a doctor. You are my lover, in my kitchen, soon to be in my bedroom. My dear lover, standing here before me, went through a lot of trouble to arrange this very special day, therefore, I intend to make it a day she will never ever forget. Do I make myself clear, lover?" His fingers stopped and he glanced down at the progress made on the buttons, grinning at lacy white bra now showing from under soft lavender fabric of Cuddy's blouse.
The sheer thrill of anticipation and the soft brush of his fingers across her chest made her heart pound in a way that almost scared her. Her last ounce of self-control slipped away and fell with a whisper to the floor.
"Absolutely." She yanked on his shirt and this time he offered no resistance. His mouth crashed into hers, and stirred up all the furious passion and desire and lust that threatened to overwhelm her. The heat of his body mixed with hers, entwined and enveloping them until they no longer noticed or cared that the heat blazed into one fiery white-hot sun. They stumbled clumsily to the bedroom, leaving a trail of carelessly tossed clothes along the way. She wished for nothing more than to feel his rough hands all over her skin and his kisses on her lips. Her wish was granted, and soon the rest of world retreated into a gorgeous oblivion.
