CHAPTER 6

House went to Cuddy's presentation, then wandered the hotel and returned to the room while she attended other segments. House tried his best to get her to play hookie, but she wanted to make the most of the conference. Plus, she and House had tagged a couple more days onto the trip, so they could make the most of Vegas. When she came back that evening House was soaking in the giant bathtub, playing his handheld videogame.

"Hey!" he said. "I won 200 bucks! We're going out for an expensive dinner."

"Really?" She asked. "Playing what?"

"Not really," he said. "I lost 100 and have been soaking in here for too long, waiting for you to come back and join me. But now I'm pruned. We can still go to an expensive dinner though. My boss pays me a lot of money."

Cuddy laughed and House tossed his video game aside. "How was the rest of it?" he asked.

"Pretty useless," she admitted.

"Told you," he reminded her. "You run the best teaching hospital there is, so you don't actually get to learn anything from these people. They just learn from your brilliance. It's very frustrating being the best – I know."

"How do you think I did?" she asked.

"Perfect! As always," he answered.

"Do you think my point about the benefits of a cohort structure was clear enough?" she asked. House looked at her and blinked.

"Did you even pay attention, House?" she asked.

"I tried!" he said, "But when the lights were on you I could sort of see your bra through your shirt and then I couldn't concentrate!"

"What? You could?" she cried. "Oh my God, that's so embarrassing! Why didn't you do something?"

"It wasn't a bad thing, Cuddy," he explained. "You had everyone's rapt attention. And anyway, what could I do?" Cuddy sat on the side of the tub, mulling over her whole presentation again. She kicked off her shoes and starting pulling her thigh highs down her legs. House just watched her. She glanced over at him. "See? Rapt," he said, never looking up from her legs. "Get in here with me," he pleaded.

"You know you're going to have to deal with Bauer when we get home," she cautioned. She was in her daily routine of reviewing the day's events mentally as she switched into "home" mode. She was unzipping her skirt now and sliding it off.

"Bauer's not a problem," House assured her. "Come on, get in," he nagged.

"You don't think so, but sometimes you mess with the wrong people, House," she insisted, unbuttoning her shirt.

"I can't even hear what you're saying, Cuddy," House said, staring at her body slowly being revealed as she shrugged her shirt off. "Come here!"

"I thought you're getting prune-y," she reminded him, unhooking her bra and letting it drop to the floor.

"Just my toes," he said, staring at her breasts. "My fingers have been on my video game. Get in, get in, get in!"

"Who says I want prune toes all over me?" she asked, sliding her panties down her legs.

"Scratch prune," he replied, "Dried plums. More appetizing. Now come on, Cuddy. I'll leave my fuckin' toes on the edge if it gets you in this tub!"

Cuddy stepped over the ledge and sat down in the massive tub, leaning against the other wall and facing House, smiling seductively. She slunk down and dunked her head under water, then came back to the surface, sweeping her wet hair back off her face. He just watched her. Everything she did – every sentence, every gesture, every smile – was just completely flawless. "You were great today," he told her. "I comprehended some of it despite having an erection. And it was good."

She cracked up. "You should write reviews!" she suggested.

House found her foot under the water and started rubbing it. "Did you see Wilson? Was he okay?"

"He's a little terrified of Bauer, but I assured him that he would have his sights set on you," she explained. House nodded. "I think he's really happy actually," she added. "I think he's really proud of that work and it was killing him that someone else – an ass at that – was going to present it. You done good, Dr. House." She crawled across the tub and straddled him, a drop of water falling from the tip of her nose onto his. He wrapped his arms around her. She could feel him below her, already totally ready to go. "You guys are so weird," she commented, moving her pelvis over him a little. "You have this big obvious thing happen when you want sex."

"And you don't?" he asked. One of his hands moved down her side to her entrance. "You're soaking wet, Cuddy," he accused, kissing her lips lightly.

"Funny, that happens when one is submerged in water," she observed, leaning her head back while he kissed from her chin down her neck.

"And to horny women being felt up by their boy-toys," he mumbled, kissing her chest and moving his hands to her hips.

Cuddy felt the hot water on her legs, his hot mouth alternating between her lips and her neck, and his wet hands sliding up and down her back. She could feel his breath getting heavy as she slid her body near his, his hands more insistently pulling her against him. His fingers grazed over her slit, opening her. His mouth was everywhere – tugging at her lips, kissing her chin, licking her shoulder. She lifted herself up and as she lowered herself onto him she felt his warm breath come out in a satisfied sigh against the hollow of her neck. His hands were in her wet hair now, his thumbs running back and forth over her cheeks while they kissed. The kisses were slow and wet and insistent.

Cuddy's body felt so good around him. Her legs pressed firmly against his hips, her arms draped lazily around his neck, her lips and neck against his mouth. He felt every point of contact to his core. As she moved on top of him, her tightness sliding around him, he could hear his pulse in his head and his breath alternating between rapid and passionate and being held in with tension. She pressed her forehead against his and drops from her wet hair slid down the side of his face. Every tiny moan she released echoed off the tiled walls, driving him crazy with wanting for her.

"Cuddy," he whispered, involuntarily verbalizing the fixation of his mind. Her hands moved to his shoulders, bracing herself as she began riding him faster. He put his hands on her pelvis and leaned his head back against the tile, trying to just lose himself in the sensation. He moved his thumb over her clit as he gripped her hips.

"House, look at me," she told him. He opened his eyes and met hers, as clear and deep and blue as any ocean. He felt hypnotized. Cuddy was right there on the edge and he felt her core tightening around him. She was looking at him, her pupils dilated, her mouth slightly open, her wet hair clinging to her shoulders. He sucked in his breath, feeling his own rising peak. He saw her bite her lip, her eyes starting to squint shut. Her hands moved from his shoulders to the side of the tub. Water was sloshing around and the steam was making them both a little light-headed in their passion. He rose up to meet her downward pushes and in moments they were both overtaken with their simultaneous orgasms, the sound of every appreciative word and frenzied breath filling their ears as they ricocheted off the walls.

She collapsed against him, her hair clinging to his bare chest that was rising and falling, gradually slowing. He lifted little cupfuls of water in one hand and let them pour down her back.

"You're a good friend," Cuddy murmured against him.

"Are you breaking up with me?" he joked.

"I just think you deserve your recognition too," she said.

"Thanks," he said, kissing her head.

"Let's order room service again and watch tv," she suggested, standing up and stepping out of the tub. "Then I'll recognize you again in the other bed." She handed him a towel.

"I think this is the first time you've ever rewarded me with sex for a scheme like this," he observed.

"This was for Wilson," she explained.

"The sex was for Wilson?" he protested. "Cuz I'm not passing that along, Cuddy." She sighed.

"You're annoying," she informed him.

"That's just my masculine wiles," he explained.