A/N: Okay, I know it's been so long since I updated and I sincerely apologize. Life has been...sort of a big pile of nope, but I have been thinking about this story. I have not forgotten all of the support you guys have given me for this story, and it's much appreciated. So, here's a short chapter that I wrote instead of writing for work...as a token of my gratitude. Hopefully, you enjoy.


Chapter 4

Maura's place is beautiful. Even with boxes and bags spread everywhere it is obvious that this will be a great place. Jane is already imagining all of the movie nights and talks over drinks they will have here.

Neither of them go near the bedroom, as if they both realize if they end up in there no work will get done. So they start with the living room, unpacking and stacking.

Jane follows Maura's instructions, something she does without complaint or even wanting to complain, and wonders what is so different about Maura that she doesn't mind following her lead and being told what to do.

It must be the smiles Maura throws her as they work, the occasional brushes of her fingers against Jane's back as she moves past her, the way Jane sometimes looks up to find Maura studying her instead of adhering to the task at hand.

They finally decide to pack it in around 10p.m. and order some Chinese food.

The kitchen table has a cloth over it that's somewhat dusty and Maura deems unsanitary to eat on, so they settle in the living room next to the fireplace. Jane lights a fire and they snuggle up in blankets on the floor.

Maura apologizes for the way they have to eat, but Jane could not be happier. She assures Maura with a quick kiss on the corner of her mouth, as Maura concentrates on scooping up a few noodles and a piece of chicken with her chopsticks.

At this, Maura smiles and forgets about the chicken. They are lost in each other and the food is pushed to the side.

It's something about the fire throwing light and shadows over them. Something about the way Maura's eyes glisten in the low light. Something about the way that there is just the two of them wrapped in warmth, in a night that is so quiet and peaceful, how they have previously spent the night starting to piece together a home.

And of course it's Maura and the way she puts her fingers to her lips when she's thinking really hard about something, the way a crease forms between her eyebrows when she's trying to solve a problem, the way her lips curve up in a half smile when Jane said something funny but she's trying not to laugh, the way her honey hair falls perfectly along her shoulders in curls, even though it got wet today when they were sledding. And oh, the freckles that are sprinkled across her chest…

Jane lifts up Maura's shirt and can't help but smile when she sees the freckles along her abdomen she knew would be there. As Maura lies down on the floor on her back, Jane takes off her own shirt and then her lips are gracing those freckles, working her way in between Maura's breasts and down her stomach.

Her long fingers trail down Maura's hips then gently pull off her pants. She runs her hands down Maura's thighs, then walks her fingers up, skimming the line of Maura's underwear.

She hears Maura breath hitch a little, then slides her fingers to a place that makes Maura's breathing come even faster, her heart race.

Jane smiles as she lays her head on Maura's chest, hearing her heart beat fast. She presses a kiss to Maura's breast, than takes it in her mouth, swirling her tongue and Maura moans, arches into her touch.

When Jane lifts up her head she sees Maura's face in the light of the fire. Her features look even more perfect than usual, her eyes are closed, her lips curved in pleasure. Maura opens her eyes and smiles wider at the sight of Jane, her eyes glowing from the light of the fire and from passion, from desire.

Jane picks up the pace and Maura's eyes close again, her mouth forming in the shape of an "o", her fingers grasping onto Jane's back. Jane kisses Maura's jaw, down her neck, places a few more on Maura's collarbone.

Maura tightens her hold even more on Jane, and whispers into her ear. "Jane, please. Jane."

Jane holds Maura tighter to her with her free arm.

"Do you want me?"

"Yes," Maura sounds even more desperate than before, "Oh, God, please, Jane."

She buries her face in Jane's neck, her breath coming fast and hot, making Jane shiver with anticipation and her own desire.

So many feelings.

Jane curls her finger and feels so much pleasure run through her at the sound of Maura's cry, the way she clings to Jane as she rides out her orgasm.

Usually, their love-making is slower than this, full of a little more hesitation, gentleness, especially from Jane, but there is something about the fire that sparks the desire, the yearning in both of them tonight.

It is as if they cannot get enough of each other, and there is not enough time in the world to love all of one another.

Maura is almost immediately on top of Jane as soon as she catches her breath. And just like that, all of Jane's defenses and barriers are gone—the layers that cover her skin and her heart.

Everything around her is Maura, and light, and Maura, and then Maura is inside of her and Jane can't hold Maura close enough to her.

Maura is making something similar to the feeling of electricity flow from Jane's core to the rest of her body. She pleads for Maura to get closer, to create more of this energy inside her, that makes her feel like she is so alive, that she is beautiful, that she is loved—such feelings that have only been fleeting, if she has felt them before at all. They have certain never felt so intense.

She whispers Maura's name over and over like a chant and the fire sparks and crackles like the fire inside her that Maura is fanning and making rise higher and higher.

Jane is burning from the inside and she needs to let it go, she needs let it out, oh god, she needs to.

The flame is rising too high to stay contained inside of her, but she wants Maura to always stay, to always create this feeling, this flame.

"Maura, stay. God, please, please, Maura. Stay," the words fall from her lips before they even process through her brain, fed from the flames inside of her.

"Of course, sweet girl. I'm staying," Maura whispers in Jane's ear, and with that Jane is coming undone and seeing things brighter than the fire.

"I'm staying," Maura continues to whisper to Jane as a lullaby, as she comes down from where everything is so, so bright.

"Me too," Jane says, when she can finally catch her breath.

She lifts her head from Maura's neck, looks into those beautiful hazel eyes. No words fall from Maura's mouth asking the question, but Jane can see it written in her eyes.

"I'm staying too, Maura, alright?" Jane says, as she cups Maura's face, rubs a thumb across her cheek. "I'm not going anywhere."

Oh, that smile—it is everything.


Please review if you'd like, I'd love to hear your thoughts.