"You have a mushroom shaped birthmark on your inner thigh." House stated as he traced his hand up and down Ariel's bare skin. She ran a finger over his arched eyebrow. He looked up at her and leaned in to kiss her mouth. She smiled once they broke apart. He turned on his side and brought the blankets up to cover them both.
"I don't usually rush in to sex. Just to let you know." Ariel said with a smirk.
"I know...but I'm glad you did this time." He said with his ever present smug gaze.
She dropped on her side and traced his prickly beard. He closed his eyes and gave in to her gentle touch.
"You really like my facial hair."
"I like it...just not in certain areas of my body." She laughed. He smirked while his eyes still remained closed.
"I don't remember much complaining."
"Well, of course in the heat of the moment it's great. However, it is the beard burn that follows that makes one reconsider the whole delicious practice."
He opened his eyes and swiftly pulled her on top of him. She squealed at the sudden action.
"I'll trim it down in that case." He said as he kissed her deeply and began to trace circles on her back. She grinned and reached her hand down between them.
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House awoke in the middle of the night to the smell of lavender. He turned on his side to reach for Ariel but found her side empty. Getting up, he threw on his robe and pulled down his cane from the wall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ariel was wearing nothing but House's rumpled pink collared shirt as she stirred her lavender tea with one hand and wrote down her newest chapter idea with the other.
"That smells good." House suddenly announced as he joined her on the sofa. She looked up from her notepad and smiled.
"Did I wake you?"
"No...I usually don't sleep straight through the night...what are you writing?" He asked as he took the mug from her hands and took a sip.
"Hmm, good. I usually hate tea."
"Glad you like it. I just had an idea for the next chapter of my book."
"You know, you never did tell me the plot."
"I have a feeling you'll be a harsh critic." She said with a knowing smile.
"What? Moi?" He asked with a 'innocent' look.
"Okay, I'll tell you. The story follows the life of this house..."
"An inanimate object?"
"Just listen. This story takes place over different generations and with different owners. It shows who they are when alone, the problems in their lives, and how this home serves as a safe haven for all their desires,miseries, dark thoughts...Some of the story is romantic and hopeful other parts are downright terrifying..."
He leaned back against his sofa cushion.
"Sounds...interesting." He said with a look of deep concentration.
"It's okay if it's not your thing, Greg."
"No. I do find it interesting...will you let me read it when it is done?" He asked in a softer tone than he intended.
She leaned back and studied his expression.
"I think I will."