Ch. 2
Cuddy was the first to break away from the kiss with House first. She looked away from him, blushing. "We shouldn't be doing this."
"You don't want to kiss me?"
"No, I do…"
"What happened to you?" With a soft hand, he turns her face towards him. He rubs a smooth finger over her wounds, a genuine look of concern in his eyes. "What the hell happened? Where's your necklace? Did this jerk do something to you?"
"House, it's nothing."
"It sure as hell isn't nothing! Did he hurt you?"
Another jolt of shock seeped through Cuddy's body and a few tears escaped her eyes. "I'll never be good enough," she murmurs, without thinking.
"Cuddy…"
"You don't have to do this." She backs up, hiding the tears that are streaming faster now. "Phil left me. He hit me. He tried to force me to have sex with him. I'll never be happy, and I just have to get over that. Ugh, I can't believe I'm saying these things to you!" Hysterical with fear and with hurt, Cuddy moved far away from House. "I'll never be good enough for any man. You don't respect me and I'll never get your respect. All the men I've ever dated have hurt me in some way." She turns away from him completely, wiping her swollen eyes. "Please leave, House. I know you'll just use this against me later."
She turns around and House is right behind her. His eyebrows are knitted together with hurt. "You don't think I respect you? You don't think I care about you?"
"House, don't toy with me."
He let out an exasperated gasp.
"I know that's what you're doing!"
And he kissed her. This time the kiss was much more forceful, much more urgent and full of lust and want. He pressed her whole body against the wall, leaning against her, breathing in her scent. He was a masterful kisser. He controlled the kiss, but he was sensitive and knew when to pull back just a little bit. With one hand he wiped away her tears, and with the other he supported himself on the wall behind her.
Even though her tears were freefalling, Cuddy felt a little better. House's strong grasp comforted her and gave her a little big of peace of mind. He pulled her against the wall and wrapped his arms fully around her. "Don't make the mistake of thinking I don't care about you," he breathed into her lips. "Don't ever make that mistake."
He bit her bottom lip just barely, making her shudder. He ran his hands through her hair, and she wrapped her arms around his back. He was a wonderful kisser, and she never wanted to leave this cozy little spot of being in his arms.
"House," she murmured, pulling away. "This can't work."
"It seems to be working fine to me," he purrs, trying to kiss her again.
"No, Greg." He stops. "I'm not just some girl you can screw and forget. I'm sick of guys who think they can do that."
Again looking wounded, he steps away. "I don't want to hurt you." The honest words almost seem to hurt him, but Cuddy can tell he means it.
"We… we have to go slow, okay?"
House steps towards her again. "Okay. If you insist." And he reaches up to her face, gently wiping away the hot tears and caressing the scratches.
Cuddy allows herself to hug him. He wraps his arms around her completely, and she feels warm and even safe in his strong arms. They stand there like this for eons without him saying something stupid. She senses that he wants to say something, but he's afraid he'll screw something up by saying something insulting. She's glad he doesn't talk.
"I'm going to try to make this work," he murmurs.