"Hey Maur?" You want bubbles? Cause if you do, I think you're SOL… I can't find them. Did you run out? Oh shit, I forgot Jo. I'm gonna text Frankie and see if he can drop her off. You know if Ma is asleep? I don't want his headlights to wake her up." There was a thump from the other room, and then the doorknob to the bathroom rattled. "You take forever." Maura sucked her cheek in and tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. "Uh… are those what I think they are?" Maura posed, her hands upturned on either side of her near her shoulders.
"What? You don't think I can pull them off? I love pigtails, but they're so… unprofessional. I wouldn't get any respect at work if I arrived with my hair like this."
"Yeah… yeah. You can definitely pull them off. Is that a new suit?" Jane gulped. The suit was a one piece, with a loose, low hanging neckline, and corset-like ribbons crawling up to peak mid-waist, tying at the bottom. Nodding her head, the doctor tightened her pigtails, testing the water temperature with a hand.
"Oh, I forgot you hadn't seen this one yet. I got it a few weeks ago. I love it; it's sexy, but classy. It's the perfect combination! The color is coral red, and it's really comfortable. I wanted to get a couple more in different colors, but the store was out, for some reason. You said something about calling Frankie?" Jane had to mentally slap herself, pulling her eyes away from the ribbons caressing Maura's upper thighs, her slight tan apparent against the swimsuit color.
"Hmm? Yeah, Jo's at my place, and she still needs to be walked and fed before we go to sleep. I think I'm gonna ask Frankie to drop her off, if it isn't an inconvenience to you or him? Oh, bubbles?" Neither woman had gotten into the Jacuzzi yet, waiting for it to fill. Maura fiddled with on of the ribbons, and Jane began chanting mentally DON'T STARE, DON'T STARE. Jane looked down at herself in her two-piece, thinking that she couldn't have chosen a blander style to bring over here last summer. She was wearing a simple black bikini, except there were metal rings making up a portion of the neck straps, as well as the center piece holding the cups together. Shrugging, she grabbed the bubbles from their new home on the upper shelf of the lower cupboard that Maura had opened, putting in a large amount and sending a quick text to Frankie. The tub was almost full, the bubbles beginning to form heavily. Jane could feel her muscles reacting to the anticipation of the Jacuzzi. Yeah… That's it.
"When's the last time you've relaxed? I mean, relaxed, Jane? As in 'treated yourself to candles and wine, and a bath or massage' relaxed?" Concern laced Maura's voice, worried about her friends' health. Jane's eyes glazed over, trying to remember.
"The spa day we had in the mud? When we were interrupted by the pregnancy murder. That's the last time I took time off of work to do anything like that." Gasping, Maura turned Jane around to look at her.
"Jane! That was nearly a year ago! I'm going to sign a walk-in massage for you once a month. Whether you take them or not, at least you know that they're there when and if you need them. I'll even put a good word in with my masseuse. She has magical hands, and she's close to your apartment." Looking away, Jane tried to tamp down the fluttering in her abdomen, smiling secretly at Maura's giving nature.
"Thanks Maur, I appreciate it. Tub's ready whenever you are. I'm going to put my phone on the charger, you need anything before we're both submerged?" Considering her question, the doctor nodded. "Oh, I forgot a few candles. They're on my side of the bed on the nightstand, grab them for me?" Jane gave her a thumbs-up and read the text from Frankie, saying that he'd be over soon with Jo. Thanking him, she plugged her phone in and returned with the candles to the bathroom, completely forgetting about her dog and brother when she saw Maura slowly dipping her foot into the tub, letting her body get acclimated to the temperature of the water. Not noticing her, Maura didn't realize that Jane had stopped in the doorway, finally getting her first foot to touch the bottom. Jane leaned against the doorframe, her expression going soft, admiring Maura in a relaxed state. Her other foot slipping into the water, Maura looked up just as Jane pushed off of the frame and walked into the room and smiled a 'thank you' when Jane raised the candles in her arms.
"Could you put the purple on in between the two sinks, the yellow one the left side of the Jacuzzi, and the orange on the right? Thank you." Jane did as she was asked, walking around and lighting each after they were placed.
"We good?" Nodding, Maura motioned for Jane to get into the Jacuzzi. "Yay. You know, I'm actually looking forward to this bath? It is way better than the mud. That was… a weird experience. And I'm talking before the emergency C-section." Maura laughed, sitting down on a ledge in the large tub. Jane smirked, slipping into the water slightly faster than the doctor had.
"Oh, dang it. Did you want the jets on? Speak now before I'm totally soaked." Jane tried to ignore her skin flushing at her phrasing.
"Please? Oh my, I'm afraid if we turn the jets on the bubbles will increase in size." Maura frowned, trying to figure out whether she wanted to deal with it or not.
"Wellll… While you are cautious, Dr. Isles, I am a risk-taker. I'm turning on the jets. I'll risk becoming consumed by bubbles. I can see it now; Death By Bubbles as the next front-pager." She whistled the theme to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, laughing at her own joke. Maura just smiled and shook her head, rolling her eyes playfully. Jane turned on the jets, and then settled on the ledge next to Maur, stretching her legs on the remainder of it. She grabbed one of the weird waterproof pillows that Maura had bought awhile ago on one of their shopping expeditions, setting it on the back of her neck and resting her head on it, offering the other to the doctor.
"Maura? Do you ever think about what it would be like if we never met?" Maura's pigtail hit Jane as her head spun to look at her, alarm cloaking her expression.
"I would rather not. It's… mildly depressing to think about not having you in my life. Where did that come from?" Jane pursed her lips, shrugging.
"I dunno, just thinking. It'd probably be hell. I can't think of a day I wouldn't want to at the very least see you. Ugh, terrible." Maura hummed her agreement, shifting a little to lean against Jane's side, resting her head against her shoulder, a hand resting on her forearm. Jane turned her head and placed a kiss in her hair.
"Since we're talking about us, can I ask you a question? It's… I suppose a complex question. If you don't want to answer it, that's fine, and we can pretend I never asked, but I simply would like to know. If you do answer, be straightforward; you know how literal I am." Jane's eyebrows rose, but they didn't shift.
"I… yeah. Shoot." Maura took a few minutes to gather up her nerve, but finally just blurted it out.
"Do you like me?" Jane swore her heart skipped a beat. Her entire body froze, treading carefully, she responded.
"Of course I like you. If I didn't like you, why would I be here?" Maura huffed, frustrated.
"No Jane, I meant… Do you find me attractive?" She raised her head from Jane's shoulder, as well as removing any contact between the two out of nervousness. Jane rubbed her face, taking a second to collect her thoughts.
"Maur, I love you. You know that right? You're my best friend. I don't want to lose you, and if I answer this honestly, I'm not sure if I could handle the consequences of your question." Maura's chin reached her chest, not making eye contact with Jane.
"I… I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up." Jane sat up, tipping Maura's chin to look her in the eye, pulling her into a hug after she saw the tears.
"You're beautiful. Gorgeous, actually. I find you extremely attractive, and anyone who thinks otherwise is blind. And deaf, actually." Maura sniffed, sighing.
"Really? I… would you consider…" Pulling back from the hug, Jane leaned in, kissing Maura lightly on the corner of her mouth. Maura's face went blank, eyes wide. Suddenly, there was a whoosh of water as Maura moved in to straddle Jane. Surprised, Jane leaned back, pleasantly assaulted with kisses all over her face, ending with their lips pressed together hungrily. Maura placed her hands on either side of Jane's face, the detective pressing them closer together. Maura's hands moved to Jane's hair, lightly tugging and pulling back from the kiss to catch her breath.
"Whoa."
"Wow."
Panting, the girls admired each other for a moment, and then Jane heaved a sigh, resting her forehead against Maura's shoulder.
"I… want to keep doing this. I really do. But I also want to savor you, Maur. You're… amazing. I don't want to rush into anything. What do you want from this?"
"I want everything. I want you. I want a commitment."
Hey guys! Thanks again for reading! Love y'all! I love suggestions, so come at me, bro! ;)
