Dear Readers, I am going away from Wednesday, February 26th to March 4th to a film festival in Columbia, MO. I may not be able to post every day during that time (although I am taking my laptop with me.) If you want to know when I do post, please mark the author alert at the drop down window. This is a longer post for you because I'm going to be busy most of the day and night. Please leave a comment, it's always nice to hear from readers. Thanks, Gorblimey2

Chapter 9

One Foot Forward

Around 6:30 pm they got up and watched television. The shooting was the lead story on the news. Apparently, the man behind her was Leonard Yost, a retired professor from Princeton. He and his wife of 36 years had been shopping when they stopped in for a bite to eat. The police had a few leads on the car, which had been stolen. But it hadn't been found. The weapon used had been a semi-automatic. The newscasters played up the shooting, but had no real information other than what had been reported in the first three minutes of the broadcast.

Around 10:00 pm House looked at Maia, "I think we've answered the question about who gets the bed. Are you ready?"

She nodded, "I am tired, but I want a shower."

He showed her where the towels were, then looked at her, "I think I need a shower too."

"Yeah, I don't know if I want you in there with me; I know you're just going to be thinking of that girl you had shower sex with…"

He chuckled, "I'm so tired, I don't think I'm going to be thinking of much."

Maia pretended to pout, "Gee, thanks."

They ran the shower and took turns soaping each other. There was no sex, just gentle touching and caressing. House thought that if she had pushed it, he could have performed, but he was glad that she had jumped out of the shower just when it was getting heated and things were beginning to stir. He really wanted to go to sleep.

She went over to his linen closet and grabbed some sheets, announcing matter of factly, "Your sheets need changing. When did you change them last?"

He answered defensively, "A week ago, maybe ten days, no more than twelve."

She chuckled, "You're so…butch."

He furred his brow, "Thanks, I think."

They changed the sheets. Maia went out to the living room to retrieve her things, dressing in her shortie pajamas. She came back with a bottle of water, brushed her teeth and climbed in bed with the very naked House. He was going to say something about her attire, but decided it wasn't worth it. If he wanted her naked, he'd just ask. House turned on his stomach with an arm across her tummy. He leaned over, kissed her on her lips and then reached up, turning off the light.

"Greg?"

"Hmmm?"

"How long have you known that I was Cali?"

"When I found the pear wrapper. I also found your index box."

"Were you disappointed?"

He knew this wasn't one of those times he needed to be completely truthful. Truth in moderation would work here, "I never really expected you to look like the photo, so I wasn't surprised." He didn't tell her that he had secretly hoped that the woman on the other end was a brunette with eyes like Stacy's. He had been disappointed that she was a blonde, freckled and short. It wasn't that he found her unattractive; it was just that he had paid for a certain image and found the wizard behind the curtain to be someone completely different.

"Why did you keep calling?"

He wished she'd just go to sleep, but knew that she would be offended if he suggested they revisit the subject in the morning. "I called because you were the hooker with the big heart and I was attracted to your flaws. You were so truthful and unvarnished, I like that."

He rubbed her tummy, "Goodnight?"

"Goodnight."

He wasn't sure where the melody was coming from, but he felt the bed move and knew she had jumped up. She grabbed something from the night stand and ran out of the room,as she did the melody followed her. He realized it must be her cell phone. He sat up, worried that it was something to do with the shooting. He sauntered out to the living room and saw her profile as she sat on the couch.

"…$3.95 a minute. This will be recorded until you press the star button indicating that you accept these terms for my services." Maia looked up at House, who was clearly unhappy at the turn of events. She covered the receiver and mouthed, "Go back to bed."

House stomped off down the hall, climbing in bed. He switched the light on and put his arms up on the pillow, supporting his head. He waited, thinking through the day's events. He didn't want to share her with anyone, even a voice on the other end of a telephone.

When she appeared in the doorway an hour later, he looked at her without saying anything. She could see he was annoyed. She put the phone on the night stand and crawled in next to him. She smiled down on him, "Sorry."

"An hour?" he said.

"Drunk. Took awhile to get him off."

House flinched.

Maia was shocked. Phil hadn't cared what she did; he knew she needed the money. Phil had known how far she had fallen, what she had given up and, what her fall had done to her. She needed the money to dig herself out of her hole. House just saw that it was taking her away from him.

"It's my job. You didn't seem to care when it was you on the other end of the phone."

He said nothing at first. He couldn't take it, "Why do you need to do it now?"

"Do it now? I lost everything. They came in and auctioned off my pans, my scissors, my photo frames, my t-shirts, hats, purses, screw drivers, even the little picture hangers in the walls. I got to keep two suitcases full of clothes and four boxes of photos, documents, CD's and a back pack of odds and ends. I thought I couldn't fall any further. I rented that apartment with Phil's help. I thought I'd never have to go through that again. And then I got sick. I moved into that little hotel and had to leave my used pots and pans, my Salvation Army couch, bed, chest of drawers, mix-matched silverware and plates behind. And now you ask me if I really need to keep doing the only thing that has consistently made me money?"

"Oh, boo hoo. How much do you make doing it?

"I make about $1200 a month."

"I'll pay you $1200 to make me dinner or clean my apartment or be my girlfriend."

She giggled and tickled him on the sides, "You'd pay me to be your girlfriend?"

He brushed her hair back and reached around her to hold her. "Why not?"

She kissed his cheek, "Maybe because I'm willing to give you the milk for free."

"Well, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep you from getting up at 2:00 am to have phone sex with someone else, at least when you're with me."

"I tell you what; I get Tuesdays and Wednesdays off. I'll start putting my voice mail on those days. But that 's the best I can do. I can't take your money and I want to save up to get a condo or something."

"You want to buy property on a waitress salary?"

"I'm not going to be a waitress for the rest of my life. Besides, I'm also making money from my phone operation. And I'm writing a book."

"A book?"

"About what happened. Let's go back to sleep, okay?"

He felt her curves beneath the shortie pajamas and almost suggested they make love. But he decided that they could have plenty in the morning. He kept his mouth shut and gave her a kiss on the mouth, one on her forehead and one on the tip of her nose. Within minutes they were both asleep.

House was surprised to find that she was still asleep when he woke up. He turned to look at her, on her side, rolled up in a ball. Her eyelashes laying lightly on her cheeks, her hair messy. She looked very peaceful, relaxed and content. He scooted over and kissed her cheek. She opened one eye and smiled at him, crinkling her nose.

"Morning." House said.

"What time is it?"

House turned and looked at the clock, "9:50."

She jerked her head up to look at the clock herself, "I slept that long? I haven't slept like that in years!" She chuckled. "Must have been the sex."

He pulled her into him. She smiled when she felt the push of his hard-on against her leg.

"It might just be a morning woody, but I figure we could take it out for a spin."

"I'll be right back, I gotta pee first."

She went into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, grabbed a washcloth and cleaned up. House came in behind her, peed and brushed his teeth too.

"Damn, there goes that woody." House turned around and wiggled his eyebrows, "You mind giving a guy a hand?"

"I think I can manage it."

House slipped his arm around her and they walked into the bedroom. Maia jumped on the bed and quickly removed her top, freeing her breasts to the delight of House. He climbed onto the bed. "Women have such an advantage. Show us your breasts and we're like deer in headlights. You could grab us by the ear and lead us anywhere."

Maia grabbed him by the ear, pulling him down on the bed. She slipped her hand down from his abdomen to the thicker patch of hair. Wrapping her hand around the base of his penis, she stroked slowly and deliberately until he was hard as granite. She squeezed him just slightly and then started an even stroke up his shaft, stopping to play just under the rim. She leaned into his should, nipping him as she continued to pump her hand up and down in a steady rhythm. She could hear the unevenness of his breathing. He'd stop and start whenever she stopped to play with the tip of his erection.

He kissed her, tasting the toothpaste. He wanted to enter her, but not just yet. He placed his palm under her breast, feeling the soft weight of the round flesh in his hand as he brushed her nipples, pinching them softly. She took her hand and traced his spine down to the curve of his back and down his butt. He could feel the goosebumps from the tickling sensation in the small of his back. He took her nipple in between his teeth and gently tickled it with his tongue and then twisted it.

Maia was rubbing her groin up again his erection and thigh, the softness of her pubic hair sending waves of throbbing through his organ. He continued to suck hard on her nipples as he reached down to find the folds between her legs. Her smooth body and soft, sensual musk was making it hard to stay focused. Her continued grinding against him was causing him to throb hard and strong.

His breath was labored, coming out in short gasps when she grabbed his shaft and pumped. It was becoming too much, "I'm going to come all over you and the bed if you don't back off."

"Where's the condom?"

House rolled over, grabbed a condom as she continued to pump him. He turned back while Maia dipped down and covered him with her mouth. Her lips massaging as her wet tongue sopped up the leakage of semen on the tip of his head.

House started to push her away, "No, I want to be inside you."

Maia pushed up and smiled, staring happily into his eyes. His desire to be connected with her when he came excited her even more. She grabbed the condom, dressed him and the quickly straddled him. She grabbed his shaft and wiggled around until he was pushing again her clit. She used him to play with herself until she could take no more.

House was enjoying the sight of her pleasuring herself. That along with her perky breasts, the hard pink nipples and soft abdomen sent jolts to his groin of electrical pleasure. He reached up, grabbing both of her breasts in his hands, squeezing the plump beauties as she continued to rub his tip against the slick warmth between her legs. House looked down again at what she was doing. He could feel the tingling pressure in his balls and knew he needed to get inside quickly. He could feel the entrance as she continued to rub, in one quick movement he penetrated her as deep as he could go. His shaft disappeared inside of her as Maia squealed in delight.

"Greg! Oh God, oh God, I'm coming."

He could feel the pulsing strength of her orgasm grip him over and over. The tightness in his balls released up through his shaft like a hose under pressure. His body was no longer his own, he was bucking uncontrollably as she bounced with each thrust. Her breath came out with short bursts, punctuating each squirt with a scream of pleasure. Her screams, the bouncing breasts, the bucking, all made him dizzy with pleasure. He could barely see, the feeling so overwhelming.

She fell on top of him, completely spent. The two held each other as they tried to ease their breathing. House started to move, but Maia pinned him down. She didn't want him to pull out. She wanted to stay connected.

"No, don't. I want you to stay inside, just a little longer." She squeezed her muscles around his slowly deflating penis.

He chuckled, the sensation sent a feeling like when you hit your funny bone. He kissed her face. She responded my hugging him tightly. Within a few minutes, nature took its course and she could no longer keep him inside. She rolled off to the side.

Maia looked up, staring into the air above her. I'm happy. For the first time in years, I'm happy. I can't trust this feeling. I've felt and lost this before. The pain will outweigh this. I'll lose this again, I know I will. It will go bad and I'll be further down the hole.

Holding her in his arms, House felt her go rigid. He looked down and saw that 'far-away look' that told him she was thinking and they weren't happy thoughts. "Hey, stop making yourself miserable."

She tried to smile, "I've had so much crap happen in the last two years, I can't believe that I can be happy again. Can you understand that…why I mistrust these feelings?"

"Try five years and yes, I understand. What are you afraid of?"

She chortled, "You're joking, right? I'm afraid we'll really discover we hate each other. I'm afraid you'll grow tired of me and dump me. I'm afraid I'll grow tired of you. I'm afraid that this isn't real."

He tickled her gently, "Uh, grow tired? You're not going to grow tired of me, missy."

She laughed and playfully slapped his chest.

"God woman, you need to relax and just let go. Haven't you learned by now that you can't control everything?" He kissed the top of her head again, "Only I can do that."

They laughed together and then she slipped out of bed, into her panties, shorts and tank top. She went into the kitchen and yelled back to the bedroom, "I'm hungry, feed me Seymour!"

House grabbed his shorts and a t-shirt, put them on and then made his way out to the kitchen. He looked at her butt sticking out of the refrigerator as she moved things around on the shelves. He walked up and playfully put his hands on her butt, giving her a quick swat.

"You want me to feed you?" he rubbed her cheeks, "This is where your misery starts. I'm going to have to burst your bubble. I don't cook, especially not for women. I figure I make up for it in the bedroom."

She turned and looked up at him, smirking. "Just point me to where the cereal is."

He continued to rub her butt as she straightened up. "Nice ass."

"Cereal?"

He shook his head. "I ran out. There's bananas on the counter." He rubbed his head and sighed. "How about I take you out for breakfast?"

"It's Wednesday. Why aren't you at work?"

"I just called in, no patients, I'm okay."

"Okay, we'll go out for breakfast."

They hopped in the car and drove to one of House's favorite coffee shops. While sitting and reading the menus, Maia looked up and saw someone staring at them. It was a blonde guy with his mouth wide open.

Maia leaned into House, "Greg, do you know that guy?"

He didn't even bother to look up, "Yes, he's a surgeon at the hospital and one of my former Fellows. His name is Chase. In a second he'll be joined by the doctor who treated you in the emergency room, Cameron."

Maia watched as the doctor who treated her joined Chase. He nodded in their direction and the woman looked over with great curiosity. She almost ran across the restaurant, arriving at their booth and standing in awe.

"House? Ms. …I'm sorry, I've forgotten your name."

"Connelly. Dr. Cameron, right?"

She nodded. "I didn't know you were seeing each other."

"Does it shock your conscience? The fact that a woman might want to be with me just the way I am?"

She smiled, "House, I'm just shocked that you look so…content. I wanted to know if you wanted to join us at our table?"

"I prefer this booth. But if you two want to come over and join us, I guess we'll accommodate the happy couple."

Within minutes Cameron and Chase were opposite House and Maia. Chase was smiling and shaking his head. Cameron simply asked questions.

"What do you do for a living Maia?"

House grabbed Maia's hand and leaned forward, "She gives phone sex. Great phone sex."

Cameron's jaw dropped, "Really? How does that work?"

Maia was a little taken aback by her inference. "I put an ad in the paper with a photo of a beautiful coed, they call me through a 900 number. I charge by the minute. I pay a monthly fee to the telephone service and a percentage of my profits to the model to license the photo.

"And then you talk dirty to the men who call?" she asked, with a tone that sounded judgmental.

"That's usually what they pay me for, but sometimes they just want to talk." Maia turned and smiled up at House, indicating that House was one of those that liked to talk.

Cameron caught the smile, "House… you spend money just to talk to a woman?"

House sneered, "I'd pay to speak to Maia. I certainly wouldn't pay to just to speak to you. You'd have to do more to earn my money."

Cameron gave him a snarl.

Chase changed the subject, bringing up movies. Maia couldn't talk about any of the recent movies, but when the subject turned to older movies, Maia piped up. They sat and talked for an hour while eating their breakfast.

House squinted his eyes, "Why aren't you two at work?"

Chase put an arm around Cameron, "We're catching a plane this afternoon for the Virgin Islands, a week vacation."

Maia jerked and grinned, "Oh wow, you'll have to go to this restaurant and ask for Jaques. Tell him Maia sent you and he'll set you up. You'll love it. Great French food. "

Chase thanked Maia and, after paying the bill, they went their separate ways. Maia and House rode back to the apartment, turned on the tv and sat down on the couch. They had the obligatory talk about previous relationships, Maia finding out about Stacy and Maggie. House found out about Maia's string of twelve month relationships, "It was if they went out with the old calendar and in came someone new."

Maia laid her head in House's lap as he sat watching the television and petting her hair from time to time. After watching Blade Runner, House looked down at the sweet face, soundly asleep, in his lap. He remembered afternoons like this with Stacy and realized just how much he missed a quiet day passing mundanely with someone you enjoyed. As if his thoughts had stirred her, she opened her eyes and smiled up at him.

"How long was I out?"

"An hour."

She sat up, "An hour? Wow, gosh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you.'

He shrugged his shoulders, "It's okay, Rutger Hower still dies in the end."

"Ah, bummer."

She stretched, "I need to get some more clothes from the bakery or I'm going to be smelling pretty ripe soon."

When they got to the bakery, House and Maia were holding hands as they walked to the back of the restaurant. Bear approached them and chuckled when he saw their demonstration of affection. "Hey Doc, you're holding hands with my girlfriend you know."

"Sorry Bear, but she's rather fickle, today is my turn. I think you get her back on Saturdays."

Bear looked down, "Maia, that detective, Smithers, stopped by. She asked that you call her, no emergency, she just wants to make sure you're alright."

"Thanks Bear."

They went upstairs and House sat on the futon while Maia packed a case full of things. While bent over, getting some things out of the bottom drawer, House couldn't help but admire Maia's nicely shaped ass. He walked over and put his hand s on the sides of her hips and rested his groin up against her.

She stopped what she was doing and chuckled. "Did you have something to tell me other than you've got a banana in your pocket?"

He pushed up against her, rubbing his rapidly engorging erection against her cheeks. Maia was still bent over and holding on to the open drawer to keep her balance. He lifted the skirt she had put on, slipped her panties down and felt her cheeks with the palms of his hand. He reached around and rubbed her clit generously. She had to admit she was getting turned on.

Maia heard the zip of his trousers and realized he was so turned on he was going take her, right there, right then. She didn't bother to say anything. He pushed her legs apart and found her wet and warm. Bending his knees slightly, House thrust up, penetrating her up to his balls. Maia gasped. She could feel him, unsheathed and pumping hard, fast. She was trying to hold onto the open drawer but the whole dresser was shaking from his thrusting. It wasn't long before he grunted, collapsed on her back and semen ran down her leg. House was bent over, a hand out supporting him against the chest of drawers as he withdrew. Maia began to straighten up.

She turned, "Well, I usually offer my guests something to eat or drink, but I guess that will have to do."

He positioned himself and zipped up. "It looked like an invitation to me."

"Yes, well, I'll have to watch out for that in the future. I don't know who wrote, "fuck me" on my back, but thanks for letting me know." She nodded to him, "Hand me a Kleenex."

He grabbed a few so that she could mop up her leg. The white creamy semen was more than she had expected, "You're rather productive aren't you?"

He winced, "Yeah, about that…maybe I should get you the morning after pill tomorrow?"

"Is this your idea of birth control? I get to take a pill and have a period each time we screw?"

"Well, why don't you go on the pill?"

She pulled up her panties, "Migranes. I get them occasionally. When I take the pill, I have them all the time."

He frowned. "Okay, I'll make sure I put on an overcoat before going down the tunnel."

"Deal."

He smiled devilishly at her and kissed her lips, "But it sure felt hot. You're so tight and warm. I'm hoping for a little action closer to your period so we can go commando again."

"Well, my period is a moving target when I'm under stress. And with people shooting at me, I'm a little stressed out; so don't expect my period to behave."

She went into the bathroom to clean up a little and gather some more toiletries. They grabbed sandwiches from downstairs and took them back to the apartment to eat for dinner. When the finally went to bed Maia rolled over and pulled on his chest hair.

She stared willfully into his eyes, "You know, you owe me an orgasm."

"Would you like it now?" he asked.

She thought for a second, "No, I'm too tired, maybe tomorrow. Are you going to give me a ride to work in the morning?"

He nodded, "But are you sure you should go in? What if they know where you work?"

"I have to make a living."

He squeezed her chin with his long fingers, "No you don't. At least not right now. Bear will understand. You can stay here and I'll make sure you have pocket money." He made it sound like he was doing her a favor, but she could tell he really just wanted her to be there when he got home.

"I've never been a kept woman." She reached up and found his lips, kissing him softly, "And I'm not starting now. I can take care of myself."

"May I point out that for the last few years you haven't been doing a very good job?"

She snickered, "Hey, you're how old? Fiftyish, no girlfriend, no family photos, you've been popping Vicodin and you've got a bum leg. Now kettle are you calling me black?"

His voice sounded sarcastic, "Okay, I'll give you a ride in the morning, now go to sleep."

She woke him at 4:30 am. His body hardly moved as she buzzed around putting clothes on her showered body. She looked down at him, saw his eyes were still closed so started pushing on his arm.

Maia was annoyed, "Come on Greg, you need to get up. I have to be to work by five thirty. Just slip on some pants and let's go!"

He moaned and lifted his head a few inches. "Take the car. The keys are on my desk."

She tilted her head, "Don't you need it?"

He turned his head away from the bathroom light, "I'll take the motorcycle."

"Motorcycle?"

"Uh, huh. Oh, the keys to the apartment are on the ring. Now let me get my beauty-sleep or Wilson won't buy me lunch."

She felt strange taking his car after one day of them hooking up. But, it didn't seem like he cared. She had to admit she didn't understand why a doctor lived like he did. He has to be taking down 15-20 grand a month and he rents an apartment, drives a beat up car and watches an old television. Is he frugal or lazy? Or is he broke from other habits…like calling me?

She worked her shift and was pleased to report to House, who called her at his apartment around 4:00 pm, that nothing had happened. She was sitting down, reading the newspaper, her tired, bare feet balanced on the edge of the ottoman, when the phone rang. It was House calling her for the third time.

Maia twisted in her seat to get comfortable, "If you go to the grocery store on the way home, I'll fix dinner."

He thought about it, "Too much trouble. I'll pick something up on the way home. Tomorrow you can go grocery shopping."

She smiled, "Oh, I can, can I? What about you?"

"You fly, I buy. Simple. I like spicy foods to go with my spicy, exotic women."

"Exotic?"

"Yeah, I thought I was buying exotic if you remember. I bought the tanned and leggy Cali. I got the freckled albino with the snow problem. I can't help it if the goods are different from what was advertised."

She smiled, "Would you like a refund?"

"No, but I'll take some free accessories."

"Sorry, the warranty is good for thirty days. You can exchange me for a full refund, minus shipping and handling. After thirty days you accept me and the sex as they are."

"Then I better get a lot of use out of you over the next thirty days to see if I want to keep you."

"You're not satisfied so far?"

"Yeah, but this is the teaser period when I get excited just having a naked woman within one hundred yards of my bed. Talking about periods, did you get my message?"

"Yes, I picked up the pills during my break and took the first one. I'll take the second one before I go to bed. This is the last time I do this. I have a diaphragm, you have condoms. You just need to make sure you have one with you at all times."

"Yes, dear. I'll be home around six, unless the patient takes a nose dive. Bye."

"Bye."