Vice -- wicked conduct or habits; corruption.

Summary: Sometimes, it just feels better to give in.

Quote is from 3.19 (Act Your Age)

A/N: this one might be a little out of character towards the end....then again, I could be wrong. You be the judge. And (as always) enjoy!

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"Well, why can't it be October/October?"

"Because May is when things start to get hot."

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luxuria

She strolls into his office without preamble, ignoring his team as they scamper off, without being told, to do their (and his) clinic hours.

"Insatiable," he murmurs.

The smile she gives him is quick and short lived, but there is something about the curve of her lip that leaves him wondering about all the things that could happen if only his office wasn't encased in glass. "Not here for that. Got a case for you."

He doesn't expend the effort by trying to mask his lustful gaze as he watches her move towards him, his eyes dropping below her neck and lingering on her hips. Cuddy leans across the edge of his desk, handing over a file that he won't even bother to pretend to read. "Twenty two year old male presenting with flu-like symptoms—"

"My guess is: it's the flu."

"The ER already ruled that out. Plus, he seems to have developed this tendency to bleed from every orifice every so often. So—"

"How can you possibly expect me to concentrate on healing the sick and suffering with you… leaning like that?" He tilts his head to the side, finally bringing his eyes to hers. She's blushing; he smirks. He doesn't think he'll ever get tired of making her blush.

It's especially difficult to concentrate, he thinks, because he can still vividly recall this morning: her walking around his apartment barefoot and only in her underwear, trying to find the right shirt to cover up the evidence of his stubble-burn on her skin.

She adjusts her stance so that he no longer has an all access pass to the marvels below her neckline and puts her hand on her hip. "Better?"

"Not at all. In fact, I think it might actually be worse." He stands and she watches with an eyebrow raised in mild interest as he moves so that he's looming over her.

"Now this," he replies, with his nose inches from hers, "this is much better."

"Patient?"

"Usually, no. And at this moment, definitely not."

"I meant—"

"I know what you meant. I was skillfully trying to change the subject."

"Well, I think your skills could use a refresher. Little rusty."

"You wound me," he pouts.

"I'm sure," she whispers, her eyes are now focused on his lips and he can feel the wisp of her breath on his skin. They're close, but he knows she won't go too far with him, not here.

Doesn't mean he can't still have a little fun.

"Seriously," he pauses, watching in avid interest as she moves to stand between his feet, her chest a mere breadth away from his. "I'm not sure I'll be able to get over it."

"I don't doubt that." She's tilting her head now, purposfully bumping her nose against his, as his hand comes to rest at the small of her back. He pulls her closer, but before their mouths can actually meet, slips a lollipop from his jacket pocket and tosses it in his mouth, effectively interrupting her attempts to kiss him.

"Tease," she murmurs. Unbidden, her lips turn downward into a small pout, which he finds more than amusing.

From the doorway, Chase clears his throat, a lazy and knowing grin on his face. "House, need a consult."

"No need. We've already got a case," House states abruptly, taking the file from between Cuddy's hands. He keeps his eyes focused on hers, waiting for her to start to fidget. She's always the first to crack.

She smiles before biting her lip, slowly, then snatching the dangling lollipop from his mouth.

"Hey!"

"Pretty sure you got this from my clinic," she responds haughtily and lets him make a grab for it before promptly putting it in her own mouth. She exits his office swiftly, both Chase and House watching after her ass while she walks away.

He limps over to Chase, who still has that stupid grin on his face, and hands him the case file, glaring. "Shut up."

"I didn't say anything."

House forces his mouth into a scowl, pretending not to be elated at the idea of continuing their banter later tonight, without any interruptions. "And put your eyes back in your head."

Without intending to, they walk the difference back to the conference room side by side. House keeps his gaze straight ahead, knowing Chase's smile is still intact.

"So... you and Cuddy, huh?"

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