A/N: As I mentioned before, this is the last chapter. But don't be sad, there is another fic in the works :) And no, it's not a sequel to this one, so don't get your hopes up. :)

Lyrics are from Love Runs Out by OneRepublic

Chapter Ten

I got my mind made up and I can't let go.

I'm killing every second 'til it sees my soul.

I'll be running, I'll be running,

'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.

When Cameron awoke the next morning, House wasn't in bed next to her and she sat up. Looking around she saw some of his clothes were still on the floor and let out the breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Grabbing her robe, she went looking for him and found him standing on her patio, leaning against the railing.

"Hey, couldn't sleep?" she asked as she joined him.

"Nope. I was hungry but you don't have much in the way of breakfast stuff."

"I know. I need to go shopping. I just haven't been home much."

"We can go out," he said with a shrug as he continued to stare out at the street below. He seemed preoccupied which made her stomach twist.

"Are you okay?" she asked, even though she didn't know if she wanted to hear the answer.

"Yeah. I'm good. Better than good, actually." He turned and looked at her, giving her a sexy grin, which made her relax. "So, breakfast?"

"Yeah. The diner in town makes really great waffles. I'll just get dressed."

The diner was nearly full of families enjoying breakfast. House hung back at the door as Cameron looked for an empty booth. There wasn't one but there were two open stools at the counter.

"We can sit at the counter or get something to go," she told him.

He tapped his cane and looked around. "Yeah, I'm not so hungry any more. Let's go."

Turning, he walked out. Cameron followed him with a slight frown. As she drove back, he stared out the window and didn't speak. He still seemed preoccupied; at least she hoped that was it. When they arrived back at her apartment, he walked over to his car, got in and drove away.

Cameron shook her head and slowly crossed to her building. She turned over the events of the night before and this morning. Was it something she said? Was she too aggressive? Chase often rebuffed her sexual advances and requests for more variety in their sex life. Had her talk of bondage bothered House? She unlocked her apartment and went in. She sighed as she went into her bedroom and stripped the bed. The scent of House overwhelmed her as she bundled up the sheets. She felt tears gather in her eyes and angrily blinked them away. Maybe all House wanted was a one night stand and now that he slept with her he was bored; ready to move on. That did seem to be his modus operandi. He did it with Cuddy while they were in college. He did it with Stacy when she came back. She knew he never used the same hooker twice.

She stomped out of the bedroom with the sheets tucked under one arm. Throwing them on the floor in the hallway, she opened the hall closet where her washer and dryer were hooked up. She flung open the washer, grabbed the detergent off the shelf, pored it in and threw in the sheets. She set the wash cycle, slammed the lid shut and stalked out to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she saw the container of leftover pasta and pulled it out. Then, grabbing a fork, she went out to the living room and ate the cold pasta in front of the TV.

How could she have been so stupid? House didn't do relationships; not since his disastrous one with Stacy. Tucking her legs beneath her, she tossed the pasta container and fork on the couch. The only lasting relationship House had was with Wilson and most of the time that was nothing short of a train wreck. Why did she choose men who were so wrong for her? Looking back, all her romantic relationships failed for one reason or another but they all did because of her. With a snort of disgust, she turned the TV off and turned on her stereo. OneRepublic's Love Runs Out began to play and she turned it up. She got clean sheets out of the linen closet and went into her bedroom. Once the bed was made, she went into the bathroom and began to clean it. As she scrubbed the tub, the music stopped and she sat back on her heels. Great. Was her stereo broken?

"What are you doing?" House asked from the doorway.

Cameron gasped and jumped up, her hand on her heart. "Jesus! You scared the shit out of me!" she panted as her heart rate slowed. She frowned. "What are you doing here? Last night was a one time thing. Right?"

He looked confused and she noticed her held an overnight bag in his hand. "No," he told her. "That diner was too crowded and all I could think about was you and bondage. So, I went home to get some goodies. I also brought some stuff so I can stay here for a few days." He tilted his head. "What did you think?"

She folded her arms and looked at him. "I thought," she said in a low, quiet voice, "that last night was a one night stand for you. You didn't say anything. You just took off. What was I supposed to think?"

House knew the look on her face all too well. He rubbed his hand over his face. "How long have you known me?" he asked. "Communication isn't always my strong point. I figured after last night that you knew I'd be back." He shrugged. "My bad." Leaning forward, he looked into her eyes. "Did you know your eyes turn dark blue when you're really pissed off? It's sexy. I like it." He smiled at her. "Come on, you can't stay mad at me. You love me, remember?"

"I have to put the sheets in the dryer." She turned on her heel and left the room as House watched. He followed her and decided to go into the bedroom. Giving her space seemed like a good idea. Sitting down on the bed, he put his cane between his legs and rested his forehead on the handle. So, he screwed up. He assumed she knew he would be back. Why did she have to be so pissed off, though? It was an honest misunderstanding. Then, for a moment, he thought about how it might seem from her point of view. This was not something he did. He didn't care what other people thought of him or the things he did. Yet, he cared that Cameron got the wrong idea and thought…

"I'm an asshole," he sighed.

"Yes, you are," Cameron told him from the doorway.

She crossed the room and sat down on the bed beside him. "I'm not psychic. You will have to talk to me. Communicate."

Titling his head slightly, he looked at her. Her long blonde hair was piled on her head and a few silky tendrils framed her face. Her eyes gleamed a bright blue. He relaxed because that meant she was happy.

"I can't promise anything," he muttered. "But, I will try."

A sly smile curved her soft pink lips. "What goodies did you bring?"

He pointed to his bag with his cane. She got up and bent over to open it. House admired the view of her long slim legs and the slight curve of her ass revealed by her shorts. She stood up and held two red and black silk ties in her hands.

"Take your clothes off," she ordered.

House's eyes widened at the authoritative tone of her voice. He rose and stripped his clothes and shoes off leaving them in a heap on the floor.

"Get on the bed," she said as she advanced on him.

He got on the bed and laid back. She took his right hand and tied it to the bedpost and then did the same with his left. She arranged the pillows comfortably beneath his head and one beneath his right leg. Then she went to her dresser and opened a drawer. He strained forward but couldn't see what she pulled out. When she turned around, she held a small leather flogger. House's cock sprang to attention as she slapped it lightly against the palm of her hand. She sat beside him on the bed and smacked his belly. The leather fringes stung but in the best way possible. He groaned as fire raced through his veins. The ends of the flogger brushed against his mouth. She stood up on the bed and placed her feet on either side of his hips. His breathing quickened and sweat beaded on his skin as she slowly removed her clothes. When all her clothes joined his on the floor, she ran the whip over her breasts as she released her hair from its bun. It tumbled over her shoulders and back like a golden waterfall. She knelt down and touched her tongue to the tip of his cock while she ran the leather fringes across his balls.

"Holy fucking Christ!" he moaned.

She moved her left foot and sank down beside him. Using her mouth, tongue and the whip, she brought him to an explosive release. As he tried to catch his breath, she untied his hands and laid down beside him. She put the whip and ties on the bedside table and rested her head on his shoulder. Thanks to the endorphins from his orgasm, his leg barely twinged as he shifted and pulled her on top of his damp body. She tucked her head beneath his chin and stroked his shoulders with her fingertips. Her thighs rested on his hips while her calves and feet molded to his outer thighs. Her breasts pressed against his chest and her pelvis slid against the base of his belly. He languidly stroked her hair.

"Let me know if I'm too heavy," she breathed against his skin.

"You're just right," he assured her. "Just stay like this."

Her left hand moved down his chest and her fingers lightly rubbed his warm skin.

"So-" she began.

"I want to live with you," he interrupted. "Here, my apartment or somewhere else. I don't care. Just stay with me."

She seemed to melt against him. "For how long?"

"Until one of us is dead or you get sick of me," he told her as his fingers combed through her hair.

"Until death it is, then."

THE END