It's minute seven of waiting in the crêpe line and they are, of course, right on schedule to be served before minute twelve. Jane has been timing it, that is until she was distract by the couple in line in front of them. Two women, not much older than herself and Maura. Jane has been watching them, and Maura has been watching Jane.
The couple are standing in a close embrace. The shorter woman has her arms wrapped around the taller woman's waist and is listening as the taller woman speaks to her softly. The taller woman plays with the shorter woman's hair as she talks, winding auburn curls gently around her fingers. The taller woman glances briefly at Jane while she's talking. The eye contact is brief and friendly, but Jane feels like she has been caught staring at something private. She blushes and quickly looks down at her shoes.
Maura watches the exchange and it makes her smile. Jane is not usually so easily abashed. She is normally quite self-possessed. Granted, she is not always calm about her feelings, but she is definitely confident. Maura wonders to what degree Jane's reaction to the affectionate display between the two women was influenced by the evolution of their own relationship. The evolution has been subtle thus far. Maura doubts that anyone they know has noticed that anything has changed between herself and Jane. But it has changed, and every new little thing feels monumental. The looks, the touches, the flirting. These things aren't necessarily new for them, but the way they make Maura feel is. Their relationship has been tilted slightly off of it's axis and she's seeing the effects that it is having on Jane. Maura's not worried though. Sure, Jane is a complex creature, but Maura knows her well enough to know that this evolution is something that they both want.
Maura bumps her shoulder into Jane's. "It's lovely, isn't it?"
Jane looks up from her shoes. Maura is not looking at her. She follows Maura's line of sight to the women, who are now being served. The taller woman is embracing the other from behind as she places their order. Jane realizes that Maura saw her whole stupid reaction. Maura notices her more than she realizes and Jane is still figuring this fact out.
The reaction was instinctual. Jane had wanted to just smile back at the woman, then wrap Maura's arms around her and play with Maura's hair. She wanted to speak soft words to Maura and have all of Maura's attention focused solely on her. She wanted to show her love for Maura the way that the couple was showing theirs. "Yeah." Jane smiles. "Yeah, it is."
Maura looks up at Jane and their gazes meet. Jane lets out a sigh and then smiles at Maura. Maura loosens her hold on Jane's upper arm and lets her hand run down Jane's forearm to where their hands can intertwine. She squeezes Jane's hand firmly. She's not letting go.
Jane's smile brightens. She's not going to let go either.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/
"Ohhh mmhmm." Maura's moan should be rated R, restricted to persons 18 years and over. It's positively pornographic, and it is having all sorts of arousing effects on Jane. "This is devine. Possibly the best crêpe that I've had outside of France."
Maura is studying the crêpe as she chews a mouthful, all the while making little delighted humming noises. Jane is cataloging the scene studiously. Maura eating a crêpe might be her new favorite thing. "That good huh?"
Maura picks up on the signs of Jane's arousal immediately. First, the change in timbre of her voice, and then the dilated pupils. "Mmhmm." Maura licks her lips slowly, gathering all of the little granules of sugar that had stuck to her vanilla lip balm.
Jane mimics the action.
"You should have ordered one for yourself Jane, because I don't think that I'm willing to share this one." Her eyes dance with mischief.
It's a challenge and Jane knows just how to play it. She shrugs one shoulder. "S'okay, I don't care for crêpes."
"Why not?" Maura looks personally offended by Jane's statement.
"Ehh?" She looks at the crêpe in Maura's hands. "They're like diluted pancakes, never got what the fuss was about." She shrugs again.
"The fuss? This is a classic crêpe beurre-sucre, Jane! Have you ever even tried one?" She holds it up to Jane's face.
"Fine." Jane huffs and then places her hands over Maura's and brings the dessert to her lips, pulling Maura towards her in the process.
Jane keeps her eyes locked with Maura's as she wraps her lips around an obscenely large bite. The lust in Maura's eyes is breeding a swarm of butterflies in her stomach. She holds Maura there until she has swallowed.
Maura swallows too.
Jane leans in slowly towards Maura's ear and whispers. "Thanks for sharing." Jane pulls back with a smirk and winks at Maura.
"Oh you!"
Match point to Jane.
#Thank you for all the lovely reviews! Up next, TV and cuddles. Maybe. This story is writing itself! :)