Hot
A.N. Heavy petting ahead.
House crashed into his office, Cameron following a couple of seconds behind. The former bent double, taking in huge gulps of air, feeling the burning in his calves and quads; the latter flopped into the easy chair, chest heaving. Neither uttered anything for a couple of minutes while they recovered. Only after some time had passed did she speak up, watching as House retrieved a water bottle from under his desk. "You're pretty fit, boss. I'll grant you that".
The other grinned but didn't reply, instead taking a long swig. Cameron noticed how his tanned skin had become flush with the exertion; how his dark, slightly greying hair had become messy during their race, beads of sweat trailing steadily down his face, through his stubble, before disappearing beneath his open collar. Thirst quenched, House offered her the bottle. She took it, drinking deeply and sensing his gaze on her body.
Her blouse clung to her skin. As she drank, she pulled it away slightly, fanning herself a little, pretending to be unaware that the motion gave him a clear view down her top and to the white lace bra underneath. House always seemed to love it when she played innocent, as if completely oblivious to her own appeal. Though she'd not yet had time to think on the matter too deeply, she supposed that it came down to the belief that, for him, she was innocent, in a way: her youth and kindness defining features of the woman he knew at PPTH. Except that, as he had learnt on Friday, she wasn't innocent. Cameron suspected that it was this double aspect that most turned him on. And she was going to play it for all she was worth.
"I'm warm". Cameron shrugged out of her white coat and lay it on the easy chair by the door. After a few more fans she handed the bottle back, raising an eyebrow. "What are you looking at?".
"You". House took the bottle and finished it off, gazing at her over the rim.
She smirked. "You think you can just turn those blue eyes on me and I'll fall into your arms like a lovestruck teenager?".
After placing the empty bottle on the desk and scanning a piece of paper which lay on its surface, the familiar blue eyes looked up. "Yes", he replied simply, walking forwards.
Cameron had a sudden vision of the evening she had mentioned to Foreman yesterday; the moment she and House had first kissed. Then, it had been she who had approached him in this office. The woman backed away. "You're pretty confident in yourself, aren't you?".
"Yeah".
"Well, it isn't going to work". She continued to withdraw. Unfortunately, her heart quickened and she tried desperately to slow it, unwilling to acknowledge the effect he was having.
"Is that so?". Now it was House's turn to raise an eyebrow. Still, he walked towards her.
"You think you're the first to do this? Many guys have tried to seduce me". Cameron had backed up to the glass wall.
House smiled mirthlessly. "I'm sure many guys have". He stood before her, blue looking into green. "But…", he began, "…I'm not 'many guys'. I have never been refused by a woman. I don't think you're gonna be the one to refuse me now".
"You think so?", she croaked.
"I know so". House reached out to the side and began to draw the blinds across the glass wall of his office, shielding them from passers-by in the corridor.
Despite herself, she leant forwards a touch, allowing them to slide behind her. "We can't. Chase and Foreman are right next door".
House jerked his head towards the conference room. "Really? Are you sure about that?".
Cameron tore her eyes from his and scanned the adjoining room. It was deserted and the lights were off. They must have gone to the clinic or something. "We can't", she tried again, eyes returning to his, "it's…it's the middle of the day. We're at work…anyone could…come".
He leant across and locked the door. "Yes, we're at work".
Cameron could smell his distinctive musk and the faint tang of his sweat. "We're still...sticky".
A telephone rang in the distance. Muffled voices could be heard through the glass as doctors and patients went about their day.
House planted a hand on the wall either side, blocking her in. "Yes, we are".
"So…we're not going to have sex". Although intended as a statement, it emerged more as a question. In any other circumstance, the intensity of his expression would have been frightening.
"No, we are not going to have sex", the other agreed, though he remained close, eyes boring into her own. "I'm not ready to bend you over my desk quite yet".
At his words, which were an allusion to the fantasy she had shared with him the previous Friday, disappointment flashed through her system. "So, what are we going to do?".
"We have a couple of options". House brought his lips to the woman's right ear. "Option number one", he whispered, "we make out like no tomorrow".
"I like that option", she replied immediately, bringing a hand up to brush his cheek. There was no point fighting it anymore.
"Wait for the others", he murmured, trailing his lips across her forehead on his journey to her left ear. "Option number two: we watch Real Hospitals of Los Angeles together—it begins in…", he glanced down to his watch, "…five minutes".
Cameron diverted his mouth to hers and smiled. "Wow, that's a big step forward in our relationship. Are you sure you're ready to do that with me?".
"There's only one way to find out", he winked, tilting her chin up with his thumb.
"And the third option?", she breathed.
"…is not suitable for work, even with the shades drawn".
Cameron nodded. "How about you whisper it, and I can judge for myself?".
The man did as instructed, bringing his lips once more to her ear.
As he spoke, Cameron's heart began to race and her breathing became shallow. She moved her hands to his hips and squeezed tightly, feeling warmth spread through her core. "Why didn't you start with that option?".
"I told you. It's not suitable for work". House mirrored the position of Cameron's hands by placing his own at her waist. "Or maybe I wanted to save the best 'til last".
"You're a bad man, Gregory House". Cameron bit his neck, tasting sweat on her tongue. "It makes me so hot".
"That's why I want to lick you". His hands found their way under the woman's blouse, lacing around the small of her back. He had decided that he loved the feel of her skin; loved not only how it seemed so smooth against the weathered quality of his own, but also how its paleness stood against his tanned complexion. It reminded him of those statues of Greek goddesses he had read about but never seen.
Cameron kissed along his jaw, murmuring as she progressed. "I don't want you to do it here; I want to enjoy it under my own roof, in my own bed. Or your bed. Either is fine".
"Alright…so which option are you going for?".
"Hmm". She placed both hands on his chest. "When does your show start?".
"Three minutes".
"How about we have two minutes and fifty seconds of kissing and/or heavy petting, followed by TV?". House laughed at this, causing her to raise an eyebrow inquiringly. "What?".
"Nothing", he replied, kissing her nose, which she wrinkled automatically.
"No. I want to know".
House looked at his companion for a few moments, blue eyes scanning her face. The woman remained quiet, allowing him time to complete whatever internal discussion was occurring behind the scenes. Finally, he tilted his head, as if coming to a decision. "I was just trying to decide whether or not you're too good to be true, or whether I'm missing something".
Cameron swallowed. This was the first time House had confessed the depth of his feelings. Sure, he'd told her she was beautiful; they'd had sex. But that was all physical stuff. It was stuff which, though obviously nice to hear (with respect to the first) and great to experience (with respect to the second), need not mean anything. Now, however, he was admitting his desire for her as a person. She would not claim this to be love. But it was something. It was all the more touching that he had phrased it in such an idiosyncratic way: not for House was the grand declaration. Instead, it was as if he had somehow missed an aspect of her personality, an unpleasant reality, that had remained hidden despite all they had done. "I…I'm not sure what to say to that", she managed, looking up at his eyes.
House grinned. "Yeah, bit of a bombshell, I'll admit. You wanna make out? We've got a solid two minutes left; maybe even-".
Cameron surged forwards, pulling his lips to hers, both hands on his face, bucking her hips into his groin as her tongue burst into his mouth. House overcame his initial surprise and released a throaty growl. His hands had been laced around her back and he used them to pick her up and hold her against the wall, the sudden movement drawing a gasp from the woman, who kissed him as hard as she could. Cameron at once hooked her legs against his hips, frantically running both hands under his shirt, trying to feel as much of him as possible. She dug her nails in hard, loving how the muscles scarcely seemed to yield. "You and your big mouth", she whimpered. "You…you always know what to say…I fucking hate it".
House didn't reply, instead hugging her tightly to his body, feeling her nipples through the thin weave of his shirt. His hands continued to caress her back, in spite of the awkward position, running over the strap of her bra. "I was doing fine 'til I met you, House…I was a good girl. And now all I can think of when I see you is sex…". She brought a hand up to his hair and held it firmly, keeping his mouth in place. The other she used to roam his flanks, leaving marks in his skin, loving his growled responses.
House kept one arm around her waist, but the other he rested under her butt, feeling the outline of her underwear as he kissed back forcefully, allowing her hair to tangle in his face, smelling pineapple. Cameron tilted her head to the side and he needed no second invitation to lick and bite along her jaw and throat, snagging the silver necklace in his teeth for a moment, before returning to the woman's mouth, which was open as she took in shallow breaths. "You're so yummy", he muttered.
"It's for you, House. It's always been for you".
The shades crinkled and twisted as he manipulated her body, opening up different areas of her flesh to his roving tongue. She hiked her blouse up so that it rested under her chin, and he dipped his head, lapping vigorously at the spots he could reach. Though it would be easy to toss the shirt and bra, neither felt like breaking apart even for a moment. There was something powerfully erotic about giving in to their desire while still fully clothed, as if the act signalled how far they had come. So many times they had stood in this office as colleagues—but now they were something more. Cameron glanced across at her white lab coat resting on the chair, felt House's stubble and tongue, and held him even tighter.
After a few moments, House strode over to the desk, still holding his lover firmly against his chest, still meeting her passionate kisses. Without a word he rested her on the glass surface, pushing aside the papers and keyboard. The balls tumbled to the floor. His hands skimmed up the other's back, pinching the skin, feeling its warmth. "Cameron", he breathed, "are you sure I can't eat you? I can be quick. No one has to know".
"You think I don't want that, House? You think I haven't dreamt of your head between my legs for two fucking years?". Cameron bit his lip hard, causing him to exhale sharply. He pushed forwards, forcing the woman to lie back. This angle opened up her breasts, and he wasted no time in planting frenzied kisses down her throat and upper chest, roughly caressing her, forgetting all finesse.
Cameron ran her hands though his hair, guiding each movement as best she could, loving each instinctive reaction. "Kiss me again, House".
The other followed the instruction, gently returning her to a sitting position on the edge of the desk. They kissed tenderly for a few moments. Only when the passion was completely spent did the pair finally break apart, breathing heavily.
Cameron nuzzled his nose. "That was pretty hot".
"Agreed", he grinned, helping her hop from the desk. Both brushed down their crumpled clothing. "When you talk to me like that…it's dangerous".
"Why do you think I do it, huh?", she winked at him. House's strength was thoughtfulness and rationality—though not unique to him, of course, it was a significant aspect of who he was. But she was beginning to learn that there were ways to disrupt his usually measured approach, if only for a brief time. It made her feel incredibly powerful and helped offset the man's formidable effect on her own self-control.
"I know exactly why you do it".
"Of course you do. You're a smart dude. Doesn't mean you can resist me".
House suddenly pulled her close again. "I can't resist you, Cameron. That's the problem".
"Well, where you see a problem…", the woman tapped his nose with a finger, "…I see an opportunity". House grunted at this, though released her after a final peck on the lips. "Hey, where did Foreman and Chase get to?", she asked, head tilted.
He picked up a piece of paper from the floor and gestured towards it. "Wilson left a note saying he'd borrowed them. I knew we'd be alone".
Cameron smiled. "Funny how things work out, ain't it?".
"Yep. Anyway, move over. I wasn't kidding about Real Hospitals. We've probably missed the first few minutes but it's still salvageable". House yanked over the easy chair, unlocking the door and sliding the blinds back at the same time.
"Roger that". Each took a seat while House switched over to the right channel, quickly explaining the main characters. Cameron kept her questions to herself. There would be another time for in-depth plot breakdowns.
Wilson found them like this half an hour later. He had entered through the office door, eyebrow raised at the scene. "I'm glad you guys are working hard".
House replied without looking at his friend. "I checked with mom. She said it was fine".
"Uhuh". Wilson walked forwards, brushing against a baseball, which he picked up. "What's this doing over here?".
House and Cameron looked at each other quickly. "Er, probably just dislodged somehow. Hard to say. Any ideas, Dr. Cameron?".
She shrugged, a picture of innocence. "Nope, no clue sorry, Dr. House".
Wilson sighed, walking over to replace the ball on the desk. "You two aren't half as adorable as you seem to think you are".
"We disagree". House reached out with his fist, bumping it against Cameron's. "If you're gonna stay, you'll need to be quiet. Carletta's thinking about finally leaving Paul, even after he chose her over Alice".
"And what do we think about that?", asked Cameron, glancing at her boss.
"We're in favour. Paul is toxic. Carletta belongs with Trey", he replied.
Once again, the oncologist sighed. Nevertheless, he perched on the edge of the desk, resigned to sharing in just one more of his genius friend's utterly mundane hobbies.