This is a shorter chapter despite all my efforts to make it longer. It really just wouldn't have it no matter how I tried. However, the next chapter (last chapter) will be longer. I swear and promise. Thanks for the feedback, as always :o) Enjoy.
"Did I see Stacy and Mark yesterday?" Wilson asked as he approached House and Cuddy.
They were at the nurse's station in the Clinic. House was leaning in too close to Cuddy as she was trying to ignore him.
"Yes," House answered Wilson's question since Cuddy was feigning disinterest.
"That's hitting below the belt," Wilson commented, leaning against the counter on the other side of Cuddy.
"In my defense, he brought in Joe first," Cuddy replied simply.
Wilson thought a minute. "I don't think I know who Joe is."
"See?" House asked her. "That means your relationship meant practically nothing."
Cuddy turned to House. "Or you never have relationships so when there's an inkling of interest, the entire hospital has to know."
"Or Stacy and I had a relationship which lasted more than two and a half months unlike what I can say about you and Joey," House replied. "Stacy and I dated-"
"I know," Cuddy cut him off and went back to the papers in front of her.
"You're completely heartless, Dr. Cuddy," House shook his head slowly, staring her down.
Cuddy looked back at him, narrowing her eyes. "I was only trying-"
"I don't want excuses, my heart's been broken." House took off quickly, keeping up his act of his deep hurt.
Once House was out of sight, Wilson looked to Cuddy. "How long is this going to go on?"
"I haven't the slightest idea," Cuddy shook her head and scrawled her signature at the bottom of a paper.
"Given the right reasons, House's willpower can be pretty strong," Wilson said.
"I'm aware," Cuddy frowned, her concentration on her work lessening.
"Good luck," Wilson offered and then set off for a meeting with one of his patients.
"Thanks," Cuddy replied after him and tried to refocus on the papers in front of her.
Cuddy fastened the tie of her robe around her waist. She paused a moment before pulling open the front door. She frowned as House stood on her porch.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I didn't have a date tonight," Cuddy told him bitterly.
House went right to action as he placed his free hand on her her hip and forced Cuddy back into her house. He kicked the door closed as his lips landed on hers. Cuddy pulled away.
"What are you doing?" she asked him, her eyebrows drawn together.
Cuddy found herself kissing him back as he pressed her against the wall. He set his cane to the side and let his hands wander down her sides to her hips. Cuddy was the one to pull away again.
"You haven't caved?" House asked, trying to keep his breathing regulated.
"It's only been six days, House," Cuddy replied, offended that he thought she couldn't even last a week.
"And?" House kept his eyes locked on hers. She didn't give him a straight answer. "Did you?"
"No." Cuddy shook her head. "You?"
"No," House answered her honestly. "But, I was thinking... if we do it, the bet'll be a draw."
"House." Cuddy had her palms pressed against his chest as she tried to push him away. "You can't be serious."
"We both win," House offered casually.
Cuddy locked eyes with him. "We both lose."
"You're looking at the glass half empty, Cuddy," House replied.
"What would Wilson say?" Cuddy asked.
"I've got my hands on your hips," he gave a gentle squeeze, "and all you can think about is Wilson?"
Cuddy's hands lowered to his, but she couldn't make herself pull them off of her. "Someone's going to have to say they cracked first."
"You can," House told her.
"No way," Cuddy was again offended that he kept implying she would lose this bet.
House shrugged. "Well, I'm not."
"Then, we have to play this out to the end." Cuddy leaned in toward him, making sure she brought herself close to his face.
"Or..." House leaned in as well and she could smell the mint she had tasted moments ago.
"What?" she asked him cautiously.
"Wilson doesn't need to know," House said.
Cuddy drew back. "Oh right, you expect him to believe that neither of us had sex-"
"I expect him to believe in this bet until we decide who 'lost,'" House cut her off.
Cuddy broke away from the entrapment he had her in. "I'm not lying." She faced him and spoke lightly. "I want no part in your evil scheme."
House smirked. "Walking along the dangerous lines of lies is a freeing experience, Cuddy."
"You only want to do this because you can't take it," Cuddy accused.
House picked up his cane and made his way toward her. "Only because I know you can't take it."
Cuddy smiled and nodded. "I'm right. You can't take it anymore so you came up with the brilliant idea that if we sleep together, then it doesn't count. Well, I'm not going for it."
"Okay, then." House turned from her and headed for the door.
Cuddy's eyebrows drew together. "You're going?"
House faced her. "There's no reason for me to stay now. Why? Have you changed your mind?"
"No," Cuddy told him. "I just didn't think you'd give up so easily."
"Well, if I can't get any from you, I've got a big box of porn waiting for me at home," House gave an innocent shrug.
Cuddy rolled her eyes at him. "Have fun."
"I always do." He smirked in return.
House opened her front door and let himself out. He had hoped the night would have gone better than it had, but he realized it wasn't a fruitless attempt. House now knew what he had to do.
