At 11:30, Jane found herself at Maura's front door with an overnight bag and no Joe, who was still at her parents' house. Do I use the key or not? I always use my key, but that was before. Would it be too weird to use it now? Yes. No. Maybe? Crap, why the hell is this suddenly so complicated? Okay, Janie, just be cool. You always use your key, right? Right. So, if you always use your key, then you should use your key, right? Right. No… probably. Damn it. She took in a shuddering breath, held it, and inserted the key into the door. I refuse to be afraid of Maura. Who am I kidding? I'm terrified. We haven't so much as touched since we got back to work. What if she's changed her mind? What if she doesn't want to… no, she'sthe one who suggested I come over. Okay, I can do this. I can totally do this because I am awesome. Slowly, she turned the key and pushed the front door quietly open.
Within a few pounding heartbeats, she was inside, door closed and locked. Quiet. Something smells good, though. She stood in the entryway for time as she let her eyes adjust to the low light and tried to get the pounding in her chest to die down. I think I'm going to hyperventilate. She dropped her bag on the floor and bent over as she put her hands on her knees.
Only a few lights illuminated the Isles home: the porch light and the inside foyer light, the hall light, the kitchen light. A sticky-note on the entryway table read, "Manitaropita is in the warming drawer. Wake me either before or after you eat. I mean it, Jane, wake me. I want to see you (and here she had underlined) tonight." Sure enough, there was an individual serving of Greek mushroom and spinach pie, like spanakopita without the spinach, the phyllo dough golden brown, right inside the drawer below the oven. The kitchen island, where the two women shared their drinks and their less formal meals, was set for one, though both bar stools were present: plate, fork, glass, napkin. A pitcher of ice, a bottle of Orangina (fizzy orange juice, a European treat). She had gone to effort, making sure that not only was there food, but it would be comforting food, the right temperature, easy to get to and enjoy. There was even a tiny square chocolate truffle waiting near that plate, for a little midweek dessert.
Another light, this one in the hallway, led to Maura's room, which Jane had never seen. The light closer to Jane's usual place, the guest room, was off.
Okay, I got this/ The detective stood up and took a few shaky steps toward the kitchen. Ooohh chocolate. She reached down, popped the truffle in her mouth, and chewed on it as she read the note. Tonight, huh? Maybe I should just go find her now? Her stomach growled. Or, I could eat.
Jane took her time eating. The food was, unsurprisingly, delicious, and she was hungry enough to eat every bit of it. She skipped the orange drink, and had a couple of glasses of water. After cleaning up, she picked her bag up to head to the guest room, per her usual routine.
Um… hmm… the light's off. She stood, staring in the general direction of the room she normally occupied when at Maura's overnight. I… okay, right, she wanted me to wake her up. So, I guess that means she's probably in… Jane turned slowly around. …her…She inhaled deeply. …bedroom. She gulped. I'm going to change first… I think… yeah, that'd be good… get ready for… bed? The normally well composed detective let out a squeak as she turned to the guest bath.
Showered, teeth brushed, hair somewhat brushed, and in her night clothes, Jane excited the bathroom leaving her overnight bag where it rested on the counter there. Totally got this. She squared her shoulders as she quietly padded toward the master bedroom. Absolutely. I'm awesome. I'm all over this. She stopped short in the doorway to Maura's room. I don't got this. Oh my God, how can she be that gorgeous just sleeping? How? She stood, gasping quietly and staring as her mouth dried out and palms clamed up.
Maura's room was not that much of a revelation. The same carpet from the rest of the house was also here, though the color palette was instead soft peaches, pinks, ,browns - all flesh tones, in fact, the colors found on the human body. There was a painting above the bed, though the light was too dim to show it well, something dark and roundish. Maybe some kind of fruit. To the far side of the bed was a tall, wide chest of drawers, topped by another painting, this one of the Boston skyline, illuminated by the only light in the room. The door was on the end of the wall which was otherwise covered in closet space. Naturally.
Maura was stretched out long, careful curls messy, white silk camisole bunched a little to expose a handspan of her flat, surprisingly tan stomach. The blankets were no longer neat, and one leg was fully out of them, curled around the comforter's edge. One arm was flung out towards the empty half of the queen-sized bed, the half on which - had this not been her own bed, but the guest bed, or Jane's when she visited there - Jane would have occupied.
Right… okay… this is no big deal. I mean, this is Maura. We sleep in the same bed all the time. Be cool, Jane. She turned to shut the light off in the hallway and waited for her eyes to adjust to the now completely dark house. I wonder if Batman ever has problems walking around in the dark? Probably not. Dark Night… She chuckled quietly at her own internal rambling as she walked to the empty side of the bed. Ooooooooooooookay, here goes nothing. She pushed the covers down and climbed onto the soft mattress. Settling on her side to face Maura, one arm supporting her head, she reach forward with a shaking hand to run it along Maura's peaceful features. So beautiful. "Maura?"
The smaller woman's head moved, exposing more jawline and neck to Jane's tentative touch. Though sleepy, her voice was also a little playful as she chuckled. "I wondered if you'd take the hint." She moved languidly, rolling towards her friend, girlfriend. She was warm with fresh sleep. "Missed you."
"I missed you, too," Jane settled on her back, arm stretched out to allow Maura to settle against her comfortably. "Thanks for dinner. It was really good." She shifted nervously. "I kind of figured you wanted me in here. The lights were a dead giveaway." Like freaking runway signals.
She understood. Maura smiled as she snuggled right up, boneless in her rested state. "Greek food. Our cook taught me how to make some of my favorites, so I wouldn't starve when I moved out on my own." She pressed against Jane with one arm sneaking up that slender, long spine, and then rolled backward in a wordless 'come with me, be on me' motion.
The dark haired brunette was all too happy to comply, following the smaller woman's movements and resettling atop the curves she had come to adore so much. Always thought she'd be the one sleeping on me. I like this, though. "Yeah? Our cook taught me how to make gnocchi." She smirked. "High dollar cook, that one." I just have to know… I mean, I wonder if I can…only one way to find out. Jane pulled back to look eye-to-eye with Maura. Again, she blushed as her tongue ran over her lips and her brow knit in concentration. "Maura, can I… I mean, would it be okay if I," she chewed the corner of her lip. God, I'm such an awkward teenage boy. "Can I kiss you?" Awkward teenage boy… yup, that's me.
Maura's eyes remained half-closed, but her smile grew wider. "You never even have to ask," she murmured, but didn't let Jane kiss her after all. She did the kissing, all softness of lips and welcoming generosity. Unlike the last time, so many days ago, she was not feverish, frantic, or tense. There was affection there, desire, but no pressing need. "Mm. You're like fresh fruit."
"Cherries," Jane murmured against Maura's lips. "You taste like you." Another kiss. "I like it." Another kiss. "I like you … a lot." She grinned, eyes sparkling in the moonlight room.
"Yes," Maura agreed, sighing contentedly as she drew her hands up Jane's sides and adjusted her lying posture to accommodate the detective's slim curves a little better. "Cherry lip balm, but that's not what I meant. I meant that you remind me of lushness and plenty. Abundance." To someone so slender, the words were unfamiliar, but Maura seemed to see no incongruity to them. "Sweetness."
Jane chuckled. "I never know what you're going to say, but it's never what I expect," she resettled, face nestled in the crook of Maura's neck. "It's late, and we have to go back to work tomorrow." Letting out a heavy sigh, she slipped a hand around the doctor's waist. "Thanks for your help today. It paid off. We have a suspect now."
Maura's smile grew warmer. "I'm so glad, Jane, and so proud of you. In the morning, tell me all about how the case is coming." She shifted further, making her body a comfortable place to be, "Tonight, just be with me. I love the way you feel with me."
"Not going anywhere," came the muffled reply as the detective began to drift to sleep. "Like it here," she slurred out as sleep quickly over took her.
Morning came gently, with the gentle sounds of rushing waves and oceangoing birds and gradually increasing light levels from Maura's zen alarm clock. She stretched, found herself lying atop hard muscles relaxed into softness, and smiled. Jane. Her Jane. She rubbed her cheek lightly against the olive-skinned woman's before ever so carefully disentangling herself and making for the bathroom. If she was quiet, she could probably be fully dressed in time to wake Jane.
Brushing and flossing came first. No one wanted to kiss her with morning breath, she knew. Then the face, washed pink then moisturized until dewy soft. Her hair was surprisingly little work, because her stylist cut it in such a way as to take advantage of its natural inclinations: just a little leave-in conditioner, a brush, a quick fluff, and she felt confident. Of makeup, she did little: eye contouring, lip moisturizer with a hint of color, and that was enough. She walked back into the bedroom, about to approach the closet, when she noticed Jane stirring and abandoned her plan. Maura wanted Jane to wake up with her. She slid in next to that long, lean form and cuddled up against Jane's back.
"Maura," Jane breathed out her name as she scooted up closer to honey blonde. "Warm… don't want to go work." She reached behind her to find an arm and wrap it around herself, pulling Maura's hand into her own and cuddling their entwined hands against her chest.
Tinted lip moisturizer or not, Maura couldn't... No, she could resist kissing Jane's shoulder, but she didn't resist. The resulting faint impression of her lips made her smile as much as did the fact that she was the big spoon, not that she phrased it to herself as such. "But we must," she said with gentle regret. "You have a killer to catch and dog walkers to keep safe. I have an intern to break in, and another one who's leaving." She stretched her neck until she could inhale at the middle of Jane's neck, that beautiful Jane scent, independent of perfumes or fragranced lotions. Her hand opened up in Jane's and pressed palm to heartbeat. "If you'll get up, I'll buy you a maple glazed pastry and one of those enormous coffees that you like at the Swizzle Stick."
"Bribery will get you everywhere, Dr. Isles." Her hand is on my… hmm… did she say maple glazed donut? Reluctantly, Jane sat up and slid from the comfort of Maura's embrace and the warmth of the bed. "My stuff's in the other bathroom. Be back in a few."
True to her word, the detective took very little time going through her morning routine. She was walking from the guest bath, overnight bag in hand, before she suspected Maura was done picking what to wear. Probably wondering if she should go with the Gucci heels or the Jimmy's. "I don't know why I bother to take this home with me. This is the only place I ever take it," she said out loud to herself as she walked into the kitchen for a glass of water.
Maura didn't actually take much time to organize her outfit today, having known exactly what she wanted right away. There was a muted, smoky teal dress of silk knit, with a matching sweater that bled from that teal to a darker smoky color at the sleeve cuffs and hem, that she'd worn once before when taking Jane to meet with Garret Fairfield. She hoped to redeem the dress's history today. Jane had liked it on her, but since then, she had thought of it - and suspected Jane thought of it - as 'his' dress. This time, Maura wanted them both to know that Garrett had never been the reason she would wear that clingy, soft fabric.
Once pleased with her appearance, she walked out to the kitchen, only to hear Jane muttering to herself. "Why you take what home?" she asked, sneaking up behind Jane on one side while her hand reached around to snag a plum from the fruit bowl on the other side.
"My overnight bag," with an appreciative hum, Jane leaned back to steal a kiss. "This is the only place I ever take it, and I've got a bunch of clothes here already. You know," she turned to lean against the counter and face the doctor, "speaking of my clothes. Maybe I should take those back with me today now that I'm thinking about it. I keep meaning to, and I always forget. Where are the rest of my suits anyway? This one," she glanced down at the black suit with the freshly pressed with button down, "isn't one I remember buying, and, Maura, we all know I don't wear shirts that have to be ironed. I hate ironing." She ran her hand down a well-toned armed to the hand holding the plumb and pulled plum and hand level with their faces. "You've been shopping for me again, haven't you?" She smiled before taking a bite of the plum still in Maura's grasp.
Maura's reply was cut off by a gasp of mock-shock as plum juice dripped onto her hand and up her wrist, from Jane's lips. "That was my bite, Jane. The first bite is the best one. Do you know how my mouth yearned for that bite? Do you? I've been saving this plum until it got soft and sweet and juicy, and that was the bite I wanted!" She couldn't even think about the suits she had indeed bought for Jane to keep at her place, the toiletries she had stocked for Jane so that, if Jane had ever opened the medicine cabinet, she would have known she never needed to bring her bag unless she had something special she wanted in particular to have. She simply looked stern as she promised, "I'll make you pay for taking my bite, Jane."
"Mmmhmmm," Jane agreed lightly as she pulled Maura's hand higher up and ran her tongue from where the plumb juice was running down up the slender arm to Maura's hand. "I'm sure you will." I dare you. A mischievous look in her eyes, the detective released her hold on the delicate wrist she had been gripping.
"Ah!" Maura gasped, looking both aroused and affronted. "You... you..." she sputtered, indignant, but laughing. "You'll pay for that, too, Jane. I'm keeping a running tally now. Just you wait."
"Hey, you forget who you're talking to?" The grin grew wider. "Bring it whenever you feel like, Dr. Isles." She laughed as she pulled away from Maura to pick up her overnight bag. "Anyway, where are my clothes?"
Maura's lips pursed, but she couldn't maintain her sternness even though it really was unfair for Jane to play with her, knowing how quickly she responded. "I moved them into my room. You have the left side of the chest of drawers, and I put my off-season things in the guest room." And just like that, it was clear where she felt Jane belonged. She turned towards the fridge to get some milk to drink with her plum, and enjoyed her first - the plum's second - bite.
'I never share my bed.' That's what she said, wasn't it? 'I always go to their place.' Jane stood, staring slack jawed at the massive meaning behind what Maura had so casually stated, and even more so, what that runway of lights had meant the night before. "My clothes are…um… wow, Maura, you didn't have to do that." She shifted the bag on her shoulder, the weight clearly becoming uncomfortable. "I'm okay with sticking with the guest room. I mean, you know… my clothes don't really need special treatment. They're just… mine." She winced at the sound of insecurity in her own voice.
Maura turned around, half-gallon of milk in one hand, bitten plum in the other, looking stricken and embarrassed. "You don't... You don't want your things... Oh. I'm sorry, Jane, I'll move them back."
"No!" Jane let the bag drop as she took the milk from Maura's hand and set it on the counter. "That's not what I meant, Babe." She leaned in to give quivering lips a kiss. "I meant… I remembered what you said the other night about not letting anyone share your bed, that you always shared theirs, and I'm flattered. I feel very," swallowing down the sudden lump in her throat, she pressed on despite how uneasy she felt saying the words. "special that you shared your bed and your clothes space with me. I know it's a big deal." Huge. It's a gi-nor-mous deal. "Thank you."
Maura's arms spread out to her sides during that kiss, and when it was over, she just stood there. Eventually she moved just to set down the plum, and got a glass to pour for herself and one for Jane. "I just thought that they should be there, since you sleep there." She appeared a bit dazed and more than a little flustered. Pleased. "You do, don't you? Sleep there?"
"If you want me to be there, then that's exactly where I want to be." Jane took the glass, sipping at it as she watched her flustered girlfriend move about the kitchen. 'Girlfriend'… hmm… yeah, I'm liking the sound of that. Man, Maura's all kinds of messed up. Maybe I should cut us both some slack. Too much. Too early. Too soon. "Milk?" She glanced down at the glace with mock disgust. "I was promised maple glazed and a Rizzolified cup of coffee."
"I said I'd buy them, Jane. Milk is what I have here at the house." She took a sip from her glass. "It does a body good. Drink," she ordered, and led by example. Milk mustache and all. She licked her upper lip.
Tongue… lip… tongue…brain… mush "You um… you missed a…a… milk?" Jane blinked rapidly motioning to her face as she attempted to get a hold on her thoughts. How is it possible that I can go from straight to lez this fast? I mean… God, she's still licking her lip… I mean, there was a time when this would nothave affected me like… spot's still there... she's still licking… I can't even…
Maura smiled as she watched Jane watching her, focusing on her mouth. Her tongue. She wants me. Thank goodness, she really does want me. I wonder how long I'm not supposed to be ready for. It's not like either of us is a virgin… but now that I said out loud that I use sex the way I do, maybe she's thinking that I would be using her that way. I swear, I won't, Jane. I just want to show you my heart.
"Okay, that's it," Jane turned away from the sight of the doctor, chugged her milk, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and turned to the sink to wash the glass out. "Let's go down to the doughnut place. I'm starving for something to eat." She sidestepped toward the door, tripping over her bag that was still on the floor, and made a wild grab for Maura with her still wet hands. Crap… Chris all over again.
Fortunately Maura had finished her milk and, while Jane's back was turned, wiped her milk mustache delicately with a napkin. That worked well. She caught Jane's stumble, laughing at the wet hand prints on her dress. "You don't have to mark me, Jane," she said with a little held-back laughter in her voice. "I know I'm yours. Let's go get you that doughnut." She moved the bag aside on her way to pick up purse and keys.
"You… marked? I… wait… what…no, that's not what I… man! Maura!" Damn her, she totally did that to me on purpose. "Wait up," Jane glanced down at the bag in the floor, took a split second to consider, and left it there to follow the doctor out of the house.