Cooking for two
A.N. In season 6, House becomes a brilliant cook for an episode. I've borrowed the recipes he employs for this chapter. Interestingly, in season 1 he admits to a patient that he only ever uses microwaves. I've tried to resolve these apparent contradictions.
This and the next chapters belong together, but the titles are different to represent each phase of the date.
Cameron pulled up to House's apartment block and killed the engine, allowing the silence to wash over her as she leant back in the seat and took a few deep breaths. The nerves settled somewhat, though she could still feel them in the pit of her stomach. This whole phase had strengthened the conviction that she and House belonged together, the time spent in each other's company a sheer delight.
To be sure, there was still much to learn about him, and it was something that made her excited for the future. And yet, now that she was here, fully aware what the night would bring and how it would end, she couldn't shake her nerves. It was House. The man she had wanted for so long. This was only their third date and she knew she was falling for him. The thought caused a flash of adrenaline to surge through her body. Easy, girl.
Cameron had no idea if House felt as strongly for her as she did for him. He was a man who hid his emotions well when it was necessary, though she still remembered the look of love he had given Stacy outside her husband's hospital room. Cameron had yet to experience that from him, and it drove her on, made her hungry. This is what Chase hadn't understood at Café Spoleto—he believed her to be infatuated with their boss, like a schoolgirl with a boyband. But it wasn't infatuation. It was everything: sexual desire and lust, yes, but also a yearning for his companionship, his friendship; she wanted to understand and be understood, to learn and to teach. She wanted him to be as comfortable with her as he was with Wilson and Cuddy, and she wanted him to lose control and treat her like a woman.
The immunologist closed her eyes briefly, shutting off these thoughts. She needed to be calm. You can do this. With a final nod, she checked her face in the mirror, pulled her cardigan over her shoulders, grabbed her bag, and locked the car. As she crossed the lobby and entered his corridor, the most amazing smell wafted through the air. Somebody somewhere was cooking up a storm and it made her a little envious. House was no doubt collecting all his takeout menus and preparing to make the case for Thai over Indian. The thought caused a smile.
But as she approached his end, the smells intensified. Doors went by and still she walked on, led as much by her nose as her feet. Finally, she reached his apartment and, with a feeling of disbelief, knocked on the door.
House opened it, wearing a Pink Floyd apron. His jaw dropped and a selection of words came out. "You, er-, you, ahem, you look, yes, excellent, very nice".
Cameron smiled under his gaze and self-consciously brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Though she had thought about wearing both the black and red dresses she had decided on neither. Instead she had opted for an asymmetrically strapped navy blue evening dress which reached the floor and had a slit to just above the knee. The silver necklace, which she had decided brought her luck, shimmered against her skin and her hair, which she had straightened for a change, hung loosely around her shoulders.
"Thank you. Nice apron. Pink Floyd, eh?".
House kissed her on the lips and accepted the bottle of wine she offered. "Yep. I don't wear it much, but when in Rome and all that. You a Floydy, then?".
Cameron slipped out of her heels and placed them by the door. "I wouldn't say I'm a massive fan, though I still pull out my DVD of the Pulse concert and watch it on full blast when I've had a little too much to drink".
House tilted his head and viewed the woman before him with a new appreciation, still holding the bottle of wine. "1994. Earl's Court, London".
"The very one", she nodded, facing him.
"What's your favourite song?".
"Wish You Were Here. You?". House opened his mouth to answer but Cameron held up a hand. "Let me guess…Comfortably Numb".
"What makes you say that?", he smirked.
"Are you kidding? It's about drugs, and Gilmour's guitar solo at the end is insane".
Now it was House's turn to nod. "Am I really that transparent?".
Cameron walked up to the other and, as she had done so many times over these last few weeks, met his blue eyes and placed her hands on his face. "Sometimes you are", she conceded. "But sometimes I have absolutely no idea what you're thinking".
"And what about now?", House asked, brushing her cheek with a thumb.
She raised an eyebrow. "Now? Now I think you're thinking about kissing me".
"Wrong. I'm thinking I have to get back to the stove else my ragoût will burn".
She laughed and followed him into the kitchen. "So. You cook". It was a statement of fact rather than a question because the smells emanating from the man's apartment had dispelled any doubts as to his culinary skill.
House bustled around the bubbling pots on the stove. "I am cooking, but I tend not to—bites into my TV and porn time too much to be a consistent thing. Besides, my efforts are wasted on Wilson. He has the palate of a wet rag".
Cameron leant against the counter and watched him work for a few moments, thoroughly impressed. "It smells incredible. What is it?".
"Ragoût with pork sausage, beef thigh, full cream. And behind door number two there'll be star anise with caramelised onions. The sulphur compounds bring out the meat flavour. We're having it with white rice and steamed vegetables, to avoid taste clashes. And for dessert we have sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce".
"Wow. And to start?".
"Prawn cocktail. Quick to make, quick to eat". House looked up. "What?".
"House, I…this is amazing. I can't believe you've done all this".
"Yeah, well", he smiled but looked down, suddenly bashful, "I wanted to make something nice".
Cameron's heart melted at his awkwardness. "Well, this is very nice. I bet it tastes great".
"Why wait? Here. I could use a taster, anyway". House picked up the wooden spoon and dipped it in the stew, being careful to take from the cooler surface. He held it towards the other, placing his hand under her chin to catch drippage. "Wait. You aren't allergic to anything are you?".
She placed her hand over his on the handle and winked suggestively. "Nope. I eat everything".
"Excellent. Verdict?", he asked expectantly.
Cameron said nothing for a few moments, savouring the flavours. "I think that this is the best thing I've ever put in my mouth. And, yes, I'm including what you're thinking of now".
House held his hands up in mock innocence.
"Anyway", he said while surveying the scene before them, "I hope you're hungry. I may have made too much".
"Well, maybe we can have the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. If you want, that is". Cameron moved over to stand next to the other at the stove.
House looked at her and grinned. "Sounds like a plan".
"Now that that's sorted, let me help you finish this up. Have you got a spare apron?".
"You don't have to help".
"I want to. Apron?". Cameron stood with hands on hips. House gestured behind her and she located a flowery number which she tied over her dress.
"Well, don't you look like a veritable Martha Stewart". An appreciative tilt of the head.
"So, what needs doing, boss?", she laughed.
"We need wine. Bottle opener is in that drawer, and the glasses are over there".
She did as instructed and poured them red wine, handing him one before they clinked glasses and took a healthy glug. "Cheers. Now what?".
House considered the state of the pots. "Time to put the rice on, I reckon".
"I've never been able to master rice, to be honest".
"It's the easiest thing. I'll show you how". House poured some water in the kettle and put it on to boil. "While that's going, hop over here and give the ragoût a stir while I prepare the onions".
Cameron took up the wooden spoon and set about stirring the pot while her companion retrieved the onions, a knife, and a chopping board.
"Put your back into it, woman. Like this". House stood behind her and placed his hand over hers on the spoon, looking over her shoulder as he guided their movements. Since Cameron had removed her shoes and was walking around in bare feet, her head was level with his eyes, and the aroma of her shampoo filled his nostrils. "There, back and forth", he muttered, voice suddenly thick. "Make sure you get the sides so none of it burns".
The feel of House's form behind her, and his head so close to her own, had caused Cameron to turn towards him. "You're not looking at the ragoût", he observed.
"No, I'm not", she whispered.
House could resist no longer and met her gaze. Cameron reached around with her spare hand and pulled him to her lips, which tasted of raspberry lip gloss and the fruitiness of the red wine. While Cameron's hand tousled his hair, his own journeyed down her body, brushing the sides of her breasts, and kneaded her ass.
"Underwear?".
"That's for me to know, Dr. House, and you to find out", she smiled into his mouth.
House growled and dropped the wooden spoon so that it rested against the side of the pot. Now with both hands free he wrapped them around Cameron, ensuring that the force of his passion didn't push her against the simmering pans accidentally. This meant that her front was now accessible, and he wasted no time in running a hand up to her breasts and caressing them through the apron, while his other arm remained firmly around her waist, keeping her safely in place.
Cameron exhaled and leant back into her boss, pushing her butt against his groin, which elicited another growl. She bit his lip, before tilting her head back and forcing him to give attention to her neck, which he did, leaving little bites and marks in the smooth, pale skin before once again returning to her mouth. Only the sound of the kettle bubbling aggressively caused them to break apart slowly.
House spoke first. "I find you incredibly attractive, miss".
"The feeling is mutual, mister".
"Mmm. Well, let's finish this off first, shall we?". House cleared his throat and turned to retrieve the rice and another pan, while Cameron took a deep breath and composed herself. "OK, now listen carefully", he said with mock sternness.
She saluted in response and took up position, ready to follow his instructions.
"You fill a cup three quarters with rice. This is a single portion, so let's just call it even and fill the pan with two cups' worth". House stood behind the other, his arms still around her, and watched.
As she moved, he brought his lips to her bare collarbone and kissed her softly. "Done", she replied, pretending that she was unaware and unaffected by his attentions.
"Now pour boiling water in, ensuring that it covers the rice. You want a depth at the top of roughly the length of the top joint of your index finger".
House kissed along her shoulder until he met the straps of her dress. Rather than move on, however, he took hold of the strap and pulled it down slightly, giving him complete access to her skin.
Cameron sighed softly. "OK. What's next?".
"Put the lid back on, turn the heat up to full, and wait 'til you see the first few bubbles".
Now, House pulled the strap down even further, brushing her hair to the side and trailing kisses along the nape of her neck. Cameron closed her eyes briefly, delighting in the coarseness of his stubble.
"No", he whispered. "Keep your eyes on the pot. Tell me when it starts bubbling. That's all you have to do".
She opened her eyes unwillingly and leant further back into his chest. "Nothing yet".
The man didn't reply. Instead he carefully replaced the strap and moved to her other shoulder, repeating the treatment, allowing her hair to tangle in his face.
When Cameron attempted to take matters into her own hands and shimmy out of the dress, he stopped her with a rumble, nicking her ear lightly with his teeth: "I said no".
Cameron's breathing was shallow, amazed at her own sensitivity. "It's hot. I mean…there, there are bubbles".
"Good". House replaced the dress strap and ran his hands down her arms. "Now, turn the heat down to one and let it simmer for twenty minutes. Meanwhile I'll whip up the prawn cocktail, caramelise the onions, steam the greens, and we should be good to plate up". House moved away with a final kiss to her jaw.
Cameron exhaled and reached out to touch the counter, locating the wine glass and taking a fortifying sip, the alcohol's warmth mingling with that already spreading through her body. The date had barely started and House was already beginning to press buttons.
This was going to be fun.