"How much longer?" House whined from the table. Afternoon had drained into evening. Outside, the storm continued, leaving the world every shade of grey.
"You said you wanted your steak well done," Cuddy replied, opening the cupboard and retrieving two glasses. "Unless you want your steak to moo while you eat it, I suggest you wait and let it cook."
"It's not Ossobuco, for crying out loud. How long does it take to broil a damn slab of meat?"
"Do you want some wine with your whine?" she snickered, handing him a bottle and the glasses. "Here, do something useful to pass the next ten minutes. Do you have any steak sauce?"
"In the cupboard, above the toaster." Filling his glass, he added, "Be nice or I'll revoke your pie privileges."
Cuddy turned from the cupboard with a wicked grin. "You be nice or these clothes stay on for the rest of the night. Do you get my meaning?"
"Loud and clear, boss."
"I thought so," she said, bringing the A1 Sauce to the table, then paused to pick up her wine glass. "Can you handle Round Three?"
"The question is, can you?"
" Touché. Why do you only listen to me about matters concerning sex? Selective hearing?"
"In a way. It's the only thing worth listening to," he deadpanned. "I enjoy getting laid as much as the next guy. And judging from the rather impressive display of bedroom gymnastics this afternoon, so do you."
"You weren't too bad, either," she remarked, matching his deadpan tone.
"Thank you. I loved it when you called me 'Master'."
The glass nearly slipped out of her hand, eyes as big as hubcaps. "Did I really say that?" she gasped.
"No. But you can. Really, I won't mind at all, Mistress."
With a roll of her beautiful blue eyes, Cuddy laughed quietly and got the potato salad and plates out for House while she the asparagus on the stove and steaks out of the oven. The delicious smell filled the kitchen, making her mouth salivate shamelessly. She glanced over to see House all but foaming at the mouth. Five minutes later, Texas-sized steaks and fresh green asparagus spears joined the potato salad. House drowned his plate in steak sauce, then handed her what was left of the bottle.
"Have a little steak with your sauce," she said, eyes narrowing at the lake surrounding his meal.
"It's the best part." He began to hack away at it, bringing to Cuddy's mind images of sharks at a feeding frenzy. "A steak isn't worth eating unless it has the yummy sauce. It would be like eating a cake without frosting."
"Or cookies without milk."
"Exactly. That's one thing I love about you, Lisa, you catch on so quick."
She couldn't think of a witty rejoinder, so she just settled for smiling and digging into her dinner. She couldn't remember the last time she enjoyed a rainy afternoon so much, or had seen House relax and enjoy himself the way he was now. Of course, great sex always put him in a grand mood. Damn, they were definitely going to have another special day off. It wouldn't happen for weeks or even months, but judging from last few hours it would be worth every second of the wait.
House speared a stalk of asparagus and suddenly spoke up, "I want a rematch."
"Why?" Cuddy smirked and made sure he saw it. His slight scowl filled her heart with joy. "So you can lose again?"
"I'll win this time. Just wait and see."
"That's what you said last time before I kicked your sorry ass all over the board. In record time, too, I might add."
"Hmph. That was just a warm-up. I'll win this time."
"A rematch it is. Even if you do win, you're still delivering my roses and Godivas, and serving dessert."
"I never said I wasn't, boss," he said and went back to slaughtering the steak. "Are flower shops open on Sunday? I don't think they are, unless you don't mind roses from a drug store."
"Hell no! I want real roses in a real fancy vase. Preferably a crystal vase. And the biggest box of Godivas you can find."
"Whatever the boss wants, the boss shall get. You might have to wait until Monday for your goodies. You of all people should know that patience is a virtue."
"Monday by noon."
"The perfect way to start a Monday," he mused and chuckled. "Do I even have to ask who the audience is going to be?"
"Nope."
"That's what I thought. Just do me a little favor and don't them what it's about. One of them might be smart enough to bring a camera."
