After he closed the door in Stacy's face House had felt somewhat relieved, so relieved that a tired sigh actually made it past his lips. Angered beyond believe, he questioned her sanity until he remembered what he had been like when Stacy had returned the first time, married and trying to safe her guy and her marriage. House knew he hadn't been better then.

He had tried his hardest to make her break it with Mark and get her back. Being the winner hadn't been a good time though because it made him painfully aware that Stacy had only wanted him back because she wanted to get rid of crippled Mark, just like she had gotten rid of him when he had been crippled.

'Are you coming? The water will turn cold Greg.'

A smile, more the simple raise of one corner of his mouth, eyes sparkling again at the promise of a bath with his lover and his thoughts went flying. The world and Stacy could wait until tomorrow. Tonight was about them, her, Lisa, trying to show her he would stay this time, he'd wait.

Hand swirling in the water, she sat on the edge of the tub, cheekbones high, proud nose, dark curly hair in a knot, and her robe slipped off one of her shoulders making Lisa Cuddy seem like an ancient Greek Goddess. She would have been Helena, wars breaking out for her. Strong and proud man, warriors, dying in her name, screaming it when blades were thrust into their chests.

Yet here she was, waiting for him, Greg House, misanthrope cripple, the Minotaur. Waiting that he would join her, snuggle her against his chest, hold her and kiss her. She could have anyone she wanted but she wanted him.

'Why?'

House needed to know what made him seem attracting to her, what was it he had that guys like Wilson or Chase didn't possess?

'Why the water is turning cold?'

A confused stare told him he should clear things up, for she couldn't comprehend the jumps his mind took.

'Why me? Why not this dude from the café, Wilson or any other guy?'

Cuddy held her soft hand out, grabbed his and pulled him towards her, making him stand between her legs. The position almost made him lose his mind, with a half groan he pulled himself together though.

'Don't you think that the time isn't the best?'

She didn't look up while swiftly unbuttoning his shirt with her fast fingers. Oh, she had the most talented fingers and hands he had ever had the pleasure of feeling on his body. Still he tried hard to concentrate on the task at hand.

'Please, I need to know.'

Another breathless moan as Lisa pulled his belt open as if she never had done anything else in her life, one push, one pull, his pants dropped. House briefly wondered where she had learned to unbuckle a guy so fast, then decided not to travel those waters of thought. His hand tangled in her hair and he pulled softly to make her look up.

'Lisa...please, when you do that my concentration isn't the best.'

It drew a smirk from her lips. Cuddy licked them and then nodded, her hands leaving his thighs. He undressed then and let her help him get into the tub first, steadying her as she slipped into the water between his spread legs.

Cuddy leaned back against his chiseled chest and sighed with bliss. Warm water surrounding their heated bodies, slick skin pressing and sliding in all the right places. His arms and hands laid on the rim of the tub, the cool surface sending chills through him but the goosebumps only started forming when her warm hands stroked from his elbow down to the back of his own hands, tangling her fingers with his.

'Why would you ask me?'

she was close to whispering, not wanting to break the mood they were in, candles glimmering around them, aroma's from distant worlds wafting around the room like dancing to an unheard melody.

House shrugged, water sloshing around him.

'I ... just wondered.'

He didn't sound unsure. He sounded very sure of himself, too sure, smug. Lisa turned halfway in her sitting position, turning her head to him.

'If you start to believe in what she says then this will end soon Greg. I will not live next to her in your life.'

'Its not about something she said to me. I couldn't give more of a rats ass, be sure of that. Look, we might not function without glitches, but that actually makes part of the package, we're both damaged, bitchy most of the time, but we work well together. Our lows, Lisa, define our highs. Its a feeling I have, that somehow you get someone beautiful, with a beautiful job and a charming house and I wonder that you want to spend your time with me, the one that dealt you the ultimate betrayal.'

Everything went silent around the couple, she sank lower in his arms, taking everything in. he waited, for any reply.

'It hurt, it still stings. I guess I'll always have my insecurity Greg. But we were so young back then, the world was still open to us, standing still meant being old. Now we are here, we celebrated, had a lot of friends, stress. Now we live just to find our goal, not life itself. It will never be easy between us, I know that but for me this means it'll never get boring. Just, give me a chance to be with you, or tell me if you still have any interest in Stacy, so I can leave the field. As I said, I can't and I won't watch again.'

Resignation strung in Cuddy's voice and once more he was aware of the wound he left.

Greg's arms wound around her body, his face pressed against her shoulder. He knew he couldn't ask that she forgave him, he would never deserve that, but he hoped she would believe in him.

'Lets...just not talk about this tonight Greg. I just want to be with you, here, now.'

Lisa turned then and and kissed him deeply and he was content just to reply, let her and her taste wash over him like the water. His hands walked over her flat abdomen, dipping between breasts before laying on them, drawing a moan from her.

House was sitting on the edge of the bed, towel around his shoulders, hair dripping, his face a hard mask. His was desperately massaging his bad thigh, then smirked remembering what brought the tightness and accompanying pain.

When he looked up he saw Lisa sashaying towards him, gloriously nude, towel drying her hair. As she came close House pulled her down next to him, rolling onto her and pressing his lips against hers.

'mmhh...Greg...'

Chuckling she pressed against his chest.

'Let me guess, I won't get sleep tonight?'

He bellowed out a laugh, he was content, he was feeling carefree, he was in her bed, in her arms, he had what he thought he needed.

'I'm intent on making you skip tomorrow.'

Just as Cuddy was about to protest his weight pressed her into the mattress and his hard and hot length between her thighs made her forget her arguments.