Getting close to you know what guy's :D ... I think the rest of the story should just be about them making luuvve...haha DOH!

Chapter Sixty

Jane resumed her stretched out position on the lounge and sighed shakily, her body still humming with desire for Maura, who was sitting close beside her, close enough her soft thigh touched her own muscled one. She placed a gentle hand on the said thigh making Jane flinch, for even her hand there was distracting. Maura waited patiently for Jane to speak, for she yearned to know every little thing she could about her but she could no longer deny to herself that she was placated being in Jane's presence without being able to touch her in some way or another.

All the tentative and bolder touches that had been shared throughout the weeks were leading the two of them up to this point where neither could possibly deny their attraction to the other, for it was ever present in the exciting and restless undertone that simmered between their bodies and minds. It was ever present in their arguments and anger, their fear and confusion, their smiles and modest conversations. It swirled through kisses and dances, being close through nightmares, healing wounds and in dangerous situations. And although they sensed the strong current of awareness between them that was there even from the beginning, they were unable to put a name to it until now.

Now there was no refuting they craved each other, not only physically but also mentally.

"Ye be right when ye said I be havin' kissed many lasses," Jane said suddenly and instantly Maura squeezed the dense rectus femoris muscle of her thigh in encouragement to continue.

"I`ve kissed an' bedded so many lasses they all blur together into a mass o' hazy faces without names, wi' only th' exception o' a couple." She rasped quietly.

Maura somehow sensed Jane was seeking an avenue to unburden some of her troubling thoughts and experiences and her heart constricted with compassion for the rough pirate before her. She shifted ever closer to Jane and lent her head on her shoulder, for she may not be great with words but she was a wonderful listener.

"You can tell me anything Jane," she whispered softly.

Jane stiffened momentarily before expelling another shaky breath, "I ain`t ever opened up t' anyone fer years Maura, 'tis weak an' I canna afford t' be weak."

Maura's stomach lurched at her admission and she sat up straighter and took Jane's face in her hands, "Oh darling is that what you really believe?"

Jane grunted at the endearment coming from her mouth for it filled her with warmth. Maura's compassion and caring nature had been Jane's constant throughout these weeks and unknowingly she had come to rely on it desperately for she had never known tenderness and kindness like this since her parents had died.

Maura however was lost in her own thoughts for the present, very embarrassed she had let the word darling slip even though it felt completely right rolling off her tongue for Jane.

"Aye that's what I believe," she said gazing into Maura's soft eyes, wanting to just lose herself in them, in all of Maura. There was a strong urge to hide herself away in her comforting embrace and never leave and frightened and flustered by it Jane got up and did all she knew to do, pace.

Maura watched her walk the same path back and forth until she could not take it anymore, "Jane please come and sit back down you're stressed and limping."

Jane only glanced at her before continuing her marching.

"Jane? "

"No Maura I canna."

"Why? Why can't you?"

"Cause!"

"Jane that isn't a valid reason, please come here if you don't want to talk then I shall."

Jane eyed her hesitantly before nodding and returning to the lounge, her leg throbbing and feet aching. Leaning down she pulled off a boot and tossed it aside and was about to take the other off when she felt Maura's had on her thigh once more.

"Let me Jane, your leg is sore," and before Jane could say otherwise Maura bent down and grabbed her booted foot and began lifting it up towards her.

"Maura what ye…"

"Put your feet on my lap Jane."

Jane did so, and Maura gently pried her boot from her foot and set it down beside the lounge, leaving her bare feet resting snugly in her lap.

Jane watched with a nervousness tingling in her stomach as Maura picked up one of her feet and sunk her long tapered fingers into the heel and arch simultaneously and Jane grunted low for she was not expecting this.

"You are very tense Jane you need to take better care of yourself."
"Don`t be havin' time fer that," she grated as her head began to loll back against the armrest.

"Well you need to make time, it's important," Maura said emphatically as she continued to massage the stress from Jane's foot with sure movements.

"God that be good," Jane moaned after a while and Maura watched her with heavy eyes as she relaxed fully into the lounge and her chocolate eyes fluttered closed, leaving her thick eyelashes fanning across her cheeks.

Oh, Jane you are so handsomely stunning it hurts me to look at you.

Maura continued for quite some time learning what Jane appreciated by the sound of her soft grunts and moans, fully enraptured in the act of caring for her.

"Jane?"

"Mmph."

"What you said before about it being weak to open yourself up to someone…I don't think that's true at all, in my opinion opening up to someone takes a lot of bravery and courage. And you aren't a weak, sometimes your intensity frightens me but then you fascinate me just the same."

Maura finished massaging her foot and placed in back in her lap before picking up the other to give it the same treatment. She worked on it with contended pleasure listening to the popping and crackling from the fire as she waited for Jane to respond if and when she wanted to.

Jane was battling with her heart and her head and since she rarely listened to her heart, it felt abnormal to do so now. However, it was telling her to give Maura a chance where as her mind was telling her to be wary in case this was a trap. She opened her sleepy eyes and studied the soft glow of Maura's profile as she massaged her foot. There was a hint of a smile on her pink lips; her eyes held a dreamy sheen to them and her cheek was colored slightly from the heat of the fire, she looked serene and innocent and Jane's heart cramped because of it.

How could I be havin' ever said an' thought such harsh things about ye?

Jane took a large intake of breath, "I dasn't think I truly ever kissed someone until I kissed ye Maura," she whispered roughly, watching Maura's eye widen perceptibly, hearing her sharp intake of breath.

And there it was she had said it. Jane waited with baited breath for what she was not sure, but she had never said something so sentimental and did not know if she had used the right words.

Maura turned to took down at her wistfully, almost sadly, "I may not have kissed a lot or have any…much experience but I…I feel the same way Jane. And not just with the kissing, but with you in general, I…oh God I've never felt like this before about anyone and it scares me."

"What about ye`re fiance?" Jane raised a questioning eyebrow.

Maura smiled sadly and shook her head as tears fell from her eyes, "No…not even with him," she whispered.

"I feel as ye feel Maura, an' ye may nay think anythin' scares me but this...this whatere'tis between us does as well as th' thought o' anythin' happenin' t' ye. I ain`t used t' 't."

"Oh Jane it makes me feel so wonderful all over to hear you say that but I don't know what to do, I have man at home who loves me!"

Jane's jaw bunched tightly and shifted one of her legs until it was behind Maura, as she looked down at her in confusion.

"Come Maura, lie down on me," she held out a calloused hand and Maura slipped her delicate one snugly into it and carefully shifted until she was lying stomach to stomach with Jane. Automatically she tucked her head under Jane's strong chin and Jane enveloped her with her arms.

Encouraged they were still talking and Maura had not pushed her away Jane spoke up once more,

"I dasn't think either o' us be expectin' somethin' like this Maura, I know I surely wasn`t," she gruffed into her soft hair, enjoying the way it tickled her nose.

Maura sighed as Jane began stroking her hair and they remained that way until dusk, the fire having reduced itself to smoldering coals, both trying to come to terms with the fact they felt the same way about each other, whatever those feelings may mean.

"If thar be anythin' ye want me t' do, whatere'tis I will do it," Jane suddenly whispered quietly into Maura's thick waves, completely content being with her in this way, never perceiving a woman could bring her such peace.

"Just don't leave me," Maura whispered into her warm neck, kissing it softly between words, "You make me feel so safe Jane."

"Maura please dasn't kiss me like that, I ain`t made o' stone," she rasped.

"Sorry," Maura suddenly giggled softly.

"Ye think 'tis funny what ye do t' me huh?"

"It's just the way you say things, I think what we do to each other is actually quite amazing."

"Oh aye," Jane said making Maura giggle once more.

"Really?" she gruffed.

"Yes really," and Maura couldn't help herself, she reached up and planted a few lingering kisses on Jane's cleft chin.

"Maura," Jane warned playfully.

"Yes Jane," she replied sweetly, excited by the fact she had Jane under her touch and she seemed to be enjoying it as much as she herself was.

"I think yer bein' a tease," she said gruffly, the hint of a smirk on her lips.

"How could you think such a thing," she said between nips and licks to her chin, emboldened by Jane's low growl and the fact she unconsciously tilted her head back exposing the strong shaft of her neck to Maura's eyes, both of them savoring this new experience.

Slowly Maura bent her head and touched her soft open lips to Jane's warm skin, and curiously, she tasted it moaning softly at the combination of saltiness and natural oils that transferred to her tongue. Roused at the taste of her Maura began stroking her tongue more firmly against her neck, heating up as Jane's grunts and shifting body beneath her let Maura know she was pleasuring her.

"Mmph...," Jane rasped, "Ye be definitely a tease."

Maura removed her searching lips suddenly a little ashamed she was teasing Jane so much.

"Sorry Jane….this…you…well I'm finding it harder to keep myself from kissing you and…and touching you," she said flushing lightly, earning Jane's heated gaze, "Is that so?" her own teasing eyebrow slanting impossibly, "Well I be pretty good lookin' I must admit."

"Oh Jane you're impossible," she slapped her lightly on the arm making Jane chuckle deeply.

"I feel th' same way about ye lass."

"You do?" Maura was surprised.

"Aye o' course, yer th' most beautiful lass I've ever seen an' ever will see," she said seriously, "I want t' touch every inch o' ye, but nay until ye be ready if that`s what ye want."

Maura blushed hotly and nuzzled her face back into Jane's neck, not accustomed to hearing such words, and coming from Jane, it made her body ache ardently.

"I don't know…what to say," She breathed close to Jane's left ear.

"Ye dasn't be havin' t' say anythin', I know this be new fer ye Maura and I will wait fer ye."

Little did Jane know that she would not be waiting all that long.

Maura lifted her head and softly kissed Jane's lips, "Thank you for being so understanding darling."

"Ye dasn't need t' thank me an' I could get used t' ye callin' me that."

"Mmm me too."

Jane was the most placid she had ever been lying under Maura and didn't want to move but her stomach had other plans, for it had been rumbling for a few minutes now, alerting her ever impatiently that it wanted to be fed, and it was at that precise moment it rumbled loud enough for Maura to hear, making her laugh.

"I think your stomach wants your attention."

"Aye 't has bad timin'," she grumbled before stretching under Maura and yawning.

"I will make us dinner," Maura said before removing herself from Jane's warmth. Jane followed her limping beside her into the dining room.

"I will help ye," she said simply, Maura smiled and nodded, and together they went to the kitchen fully satisfied in one another's presence despite their troubles.

After dinner, Jane retired to her bed early after bathing and having Maura tend to her leg afterward. She added more timber to the fireplace and stoked it until it was roaring pleasantly before lying down beside Maura. She had been reading happily for a while and as Jane lay down beside her, pulling up the covers and turning to face her, Maura bookmarked her reading material before reaching down to kiss her forehead softly, very much enjoying being able to kiss her so freely.

"Goodnight Jane," she said tenderly into her curls and Jane sighed before searching for Maura's hand and intertwining their fingers.

"Nite Maura."

Maura smiled into her soft hair before returning to her reading, able to tell of the exact moment Jane fell asleep.