CHAPTER 16

Eileen awoke to the feel of something slightly rough on her chest, kneading her breasts. She gasped through her sleepy haze and scruff rubbed her neck.

"Hmmm…" she moaned as she snuggled deeper in House's embrace. His arms tightened around her. "…what time is it?"

House looked over her head and grumbled, "7:30 at night."

"Why so grumpy? Just because you lost…"

"You cheated."

"I did not cheat." Eileen smiled. "You came first. You just couldn't hold it. Don't worry; it's a common problem among men your age."

House growled and dove under the covers, ignoring her laughter and her efforts to push him away. Her laughter turned to moaning as he opened her legs and dove right in. "Can a regular guy do this?"

HOUSEMDHOUSEMDHOUSEMD

"Hmmmm…" Eileen moaned against his chest an hour later. "…I concede. You win now."

He grinned.

A sudden muffled rumbling filled the room and both adults giggled, Eileen hiding her face against the pillow. House's hand moved down and cupped her abdomen, his mouth nipping her earlobe. "Is someone hungry?"

"Somebody…" She turned to face him. "…wore me out this afternoon. I need to refuel…"

"…for another few rounds?"

"Oh yeah," She murmured and leaned over, her mouth greedily nibbling on his. House's hands cupped her face and he drew her closer. She reluctantly broke away and sighed. "You left because I humiliated you?"

It amazed House how a few simple words like 'left' and 'humiliated' were as effective as a bucket of ice from the ice machine down the hall. He pulled away and looked at her. "Just how much penance will I have to do?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"Will you ever say you're sorry?"

He narrowed his eyes and she knew their playful mood was gone. "No."

Eileen studied him then nodded. "I know."

"You know?"

"Of course I do. You aren't one for saying you're sorry."

"You know that love means never having to say 'I'm sorry'."

"Ah. So, if you tell me you love me that will absolve you from apologizing?" Eileen nearly laughed out loud when she saw the hopeful look on his face. "No buddy. It won't work. If you tell me you love me it will be when you mean it, not to manipulate me. I can read you better than you think." She winked. "Besides, I don't need you to apologize. I also know you better than you think I do."

"That sounds scary." He muttered, pulling her back to him and wrapping his leg around her. "Just what do you think you know about me?"

She smiled and shook her head, running her index finger along his stubble. "No. You aren't pulling me into that conversation. Let's just say I know enough never to have this conversation with you."

"And I know enough about you…" He ran his hand through her thick hair and was struck, again, at the softness of the strands. He buried his face in her neck. "…to know that you'll give me a straight answer to a straight question."

"Unlike some people I know…" She squealed as he tickled her ribs, chasing her across the bed and trapping her underneath his long, powerful limbs. Eileen sighed and settled back in his arms. "What do you want to know?"

"Why you lied on the Shoe Boards."

"What makes you think I lied?"

"Come on, I saw you, felt you, with those boots on. You've never had sex in cowboy boots."

"It sure got your attention though, didn't it?"

"You dirty minx." He pulled her closer and ravaged her neck, stealing her breath. "I have another question."

"Ask away."

"You said you couldn't get pregnant. Why?"

She suddenly turned from him. Not about to let his new plaything out of his touch, he pulled her to him and spooned her from behind. "No that's not what I said."

"Yes you did."

"No I didn't. I said I could never have children. There's a difference."

"No there…" House paused. "…fine. There is a difference."

"Greg, I married my husband when I was 21. I got pregnant five months later. Three months into the pregnancy I miscarried. After the miscarriage the doctor found out I was riddled with fibroid tumors and would never get pregnant again. They soon became such a problem I had a hysterectomy by the time I was 24 years old. So no, I could never have children and I certainly can't get pregnant now."

House was silent for a moment then said, "Well, shit. That was anticlimactic."

She shot him a look over her shoulder. "Anticlimactic?"

"Yeah. The way your face changed there, I had been expecting something much more dramatic and tear filled. What a bummer."

Eileen rolled her eyes. "You really are a prick, aren't you?"

"You've always known that but here you are."

"Yes, here I am. I'm a closet masochist." Her voice held an edge of humor. His chest rumbled with his laughter, followed by her stomach. Eileen sat up. "I'm hungry. I'm gonna get ready for dinner." She turned over her shoulder and gave him a long, lingering kiss. "I'll only be but a minute."

"Noooo…" He whined, moving to bring her back but not quite catching her. "…come baaaack…"

"Oh for heaven's sake…" Eileen rolled her eyes then stopped. "You know, I need to take a shower." She stood up and faced him, her hands on her naked hips, her hair thrown wildly over her shoulders and eyes. She looked wild and uncivilized and, to House, absolutely scrumptious. "Care to join me?"

She giggled as he suddenly found a second wind and jumped out of the bed, following her to the room's bathroom. "Mmmm…." He murmured, shutting their door behind them and pressing her against the closed bathroom door. Eileen moaned at his erection pressing into her abdomen. "…how about a bath? My ship needs sailing."

"It feels like you don't really need water for that one. Your sails are standing straight up, ready for action my Captain."

House grinned. "Is this how it's always going to be with you?"

"What?"

"Double entendres, smart ass comments and risqué behavior?"

"Define risqué."

"I will when we get in that tub."

She laughed. "And if it is always like this?"

House shrugged, trying hard to contain his pure joy. Oh, this was no longer going to be boring. He couldn't wait. "We all have to make sacrifices. I guess I'll just learn to live with it."

Eileen watched House hobble to the bathtub, find the right water temperature and start the tub filling. "We'll both manage somehow. Only…promise me one thing."

"And what is that?"

"Promise me you'll never visit The Shoe Board again?"

House smiled. "I promise you'll never visit The Shoe Board again."