A/N: hope your winter is as safe and happy as possible, friends. thanks for taking the time to wind down with me for a while.

Jane would've been immediately suspicious anyway if Tommy had just dropped by unannounced, but the fact that he had an open-mouthed grin and was holding a box of doughnuts when she opened the door sent off even more red flags. She was about to just shut the door in his face but Maura had seen him from the couch and offered a warm welcome, allowing him the chance to slip inside.

"What do you need, T?" Jane sighed, shutting the door.

"Nothin'! Can't I just drop in to say hi to my favorite sister and favorite, um, person my sister is dating?"

Jane braced herself for a moment, then realized Tommy's awkwardness came from fumbling over syntax, not over Maura being her girlfriend. She sat herself down on the couch and put her arm around Maura, feeling calmer when Maura touched her leg in response. Tommy sat on the coffee table opposite them, and Jane felt bad that her knee-jerk reaction to him making surprise visits was the assumption that something was wrong or he needed help.

"So I need help," he said, passing Jane a chocolate doughnut.

She sighed instead of issuing an apology for what turned out to be her justified skepticism. "What's up?" she asked, accepting the doughnut and taking a large bite of it.

"Lydia and me are getting married in two weeks and believe it or not, her friends are kinda flaky and she doesn't trust any of them to organize a bachelorette party for her. So she was okay with not havin' one, but I was all, 'babe! You gotta constitutional right to party! I'll pay for it, I'll figure it out!' But then, y'know, we got all this money out for a deejay and decorations and stuff already, and I'm so busy with work—I kinda wondered if maybe you guys would be down for helping me out? I can give you a guest list. Or you can just look at whoever Lydia's following on TikTok. I think they're all friends of hers."

He didn't seem aware that this would be a lot to process at once. "You're getting married in two weeks?!" Jane finally asked through a mouthful of doughnut she'd stopped chewing the moment Tommy had started talking.

Maura shot her a sour look for speaking with her mouth full, but Tommy didn't seem to mind. "Yeah! Cool, right? You know, Ma's kinda been on our case dropping hints and stuff that we oughtta tie the knot and all. She wants it done up right in a church, but that takes time to arrange, and Lydia thought since TJ's birthday is in a couple of weeks it'd be nice if we got married the same day." This actually seemed like an odd choice to Jane, but Maura discreetly elbowed her before she could question it and Tommy went on: "She's gotta friend who's ordained, and we're gonna get married in her backyard."

"Wow. Wow, okay," Jane said. "That's um, that's really great, Tommy. I'm happy for you guys."

"Congratulations!" Maura said brightly. The thrilled look on her face told Jane that she'd never had a close enough friend to ask her to do something like plan a bachelorette party for them. It was her adorable enthusiasm for the idea that won Jane over more than any particular affection she might have for Lydia. "And that's so sweet of you and her to think of us. We'd be happy to organize something."

"Oh," Tommy said, pulling out some loose leaf paper and handing it over to Jane. "I'd kinda been taking notes on stuff she thought would be fun, and have all the info here."

Jane read over the list, which included a suggested venue and date. "So… basically what you're saying is, you just need help paying for it."

"Basically, yeah."

"Well, I still think that's sweet," Maura said as Jane barely refrained from rolling her eyes.

Ever guileless, Tommy was delighted. "Great! Aw, She'll be pumped. She thinks you guys are awesome. When we first started getting kinda serious, you know, she said you guys were the most stable couple she knew and she wanted a relationship just like yours."

Jane frowned and Maura cocked her head. "Did she not know we weren't in a romantic relationship at that point?" Maura asked.

Tommy just laughed. "She refused to believe that. Guess you guys just took a while to catch up to her, huh? Anyway, I should get goin'—I've gotta go hit up Frankie, I need to ask him to help get a bachelor party goin' for me. Something classy, don't worry." His roguish wink en route to the door belied this assurance, though. "Thanks again, sis, you're the best!"

"D'you think if I ate enough of these doughnuts, I could get too sick to go to this party we just agreed to pay for?" Jane asked, browsing the rest of the selection. Maura gave her stomach a hard poke. "Ouch! Come on, Tommy totally stuck us with that. I'll foot the damn bill for the mother of my beloved nephew, but please—" She checked Tommy's list again. "Don't make me go to ladies night at 'What Ales Ya' oh, Lord. Isn't it the maid of honor's job to do all this stuff?"

"We've agreed to help out, and we're both going to go and be supportive. Lydia wants us there as a couple, not me as an ambassador."

Jane mouthed the word bossy, but Maura did not look amused. "Ugh. Fine. It is kind of cute that she thought we've been a couple all this time, I guess." She couldn't fight a smile when Maura gave her a that's-the-spirit kiss on the cheek. Still, she was a little disgruntled and needed to exorcise that somehow. "You up for a game of chess? Loser has to buy the gift for Lydia's bachelorette party."

This was as strong an incentive as any for Jane to win, because she didn't want to be stuck shopping for something for Lydia to wear or use with her brother. It was a tight game, but she managed the rare feat of squeezing a narrow victory. Maura didn't mind losing the bet, though, and when Jane crawled into bed next to her later that night, she was scrolling on her phone perusing gift ideas. Jane caught a glance at the screen and rolled her eyes.

"I don't wanna see what you get Lydia. Just sign my name to it."

"I'm not buying anything for her to wear, if that's what you're concerned about. I don't have her measurements."

"Right, yeah. Okay, d'you think I'm crazy if I don't get the big whoop about lingerie?" She scowled when Maura looked at her as if that was indeed exactly what she thought. "I mean, I guess I don't get why it's so different from regular underwear aside from costing a lot more. You're wearing less clothing either way, aren't you?"

Maura laughed and put her phone away. "Jane, that is such a you thing to say. So utilitarian. Although I don't know what I expected from someone whose entire fashion sense has been self-described as 'I am required to wear clothing in public.' Or," she mused, "maybe this is another instance of you projecting."

"What?"

Maura propped herself up, and Jane didn't love the analytical tone she had taken. "I sit in your lap sometimes. You never sit on mine."

"Because I'm taller than you, Maura."

"Yes, but regardless you've told me before that you don't like lap-sitting. You said it yourself before our job at Merch: if you were in a relationship with a woman, you would be 'the guy.' And while I stand by my belief that that's reductive and clichéd, I think in part you've taken it to heart because you don't like a lot of things that are traditionally ascribed to women in mixed gender relationships. I'm guessing you've never worn lingerie before?"

Jane shut off the light. "Oh ho, look who knows so much! I have worn it, thank you. It was a gift I did not ask for, I did not like how I felt in it or looked in it."

"How did it make you feel?"

"Well, again this was in my most recent relationship so take it with a grain of salt," Jane grunted. "I guess it made me feel kinda phony. Like when I have to wear flowery dresses, I dunno, it just isn't me, and I don't think doing or wearing something designated as sexy means it's automatically gonna be sexy. When I put it on, I felt like he was just seeing it, not me. He was seeing what he wanted, not what I was feeling. It was this weird out-of-body experience. So I guess you're right, I'm projecting because I don't know how women can feel comfortable in that stuff because I never did. I know you have some, and I don't mean to shame you or anything. I've seen some tops in your closet, I mean. And obviously you wouldn't wear it if you didn't like it."

"Hm. The sight didn't excite you though, huh?"

Jane shifted under the covers, snaking her arm around Maura's back. "Actually, I didn't think about it much because it felt like something I wasn't supposed to be seeing," she admitted. Her voice was curious, not insulted, when she asked, "why haven't you worn anything like that for me?"

Their eyes had adjusted somewhat to the dark, but all Maura could tell was that Jane was looking at her. "Well, I suppose I might've put some on that first night we made love if I'd known it was going to head the way it did."

Jane rolled on top of her, giving her neck a playful kiss. "Ah, so it's a seduction technique."

"It can be useful in that regard, yes," Maura laughed. "Or for a special occasion, and I guess we haven't hit one of those yet. You know, like you wouldn't drink champagne every night with dinner. You save it for something special, or just as a nice surprise. Right?"

Rubbing Maura's arm, Jane murmured, "sure, that makes sense. Is it the material you like? Something nicer than cotton? I see lingerie ads and they just make me think of posters my brothers' gross friends had up on their walls in high school."

"Are you gearing up for an 'I hate men' speech?" Maura joked.

"No!" Jane snorted. "I just mean in general it's like, 'oh, you gotta wear makeup or boys won't like you;' 'you gotta stop dressing so mannish or boys won't like you;' 'you gotta wear high heels so boys notice ya—but not so high it makes you taller than them.'" Maura wondered if Jane was conscious of the fact that she'd slipped into an impression of her mother. She dipped back out of it to say, "then I'm supposed to wear uncomfortable, tight-ass underwear for them too?"

Maura patted her arm, and Jane shifted off her. "I'll be honest, I do like it. It makes me feel sexy, and I like seeing the reaction it elicits from my partner. The shopping is fun, too; looking for something you'll feel good in but that you also think your partner would be most aroused by. You think you'd be immune?"

Again, the answer was one Maura felt typified Jane's character. "No," she said, though she sounded doubtful. "It's just like, I find you sexy in anything, so that's not saying much. I'm serious!" she said when Maura scoffed. "You'd be sexy in socks and sandals. You'd be sexy in burlap. You'd be sexy dressed in that Hawaiian T-shirt Dennis Nedry wears the first time we see him in Jurassic Park. As—OH."

"What?"

"Damn, I just realized something I need to see. Holy crap. Next Halloween, please, please dress up as Dr. Sattler from Jurassic Park."

Maura pumped her eyebrows. "You mean as a sexy Dr. Sattler?"

"Yes. Which would consist of replicating the exact costume as is. No like, extra nudity or sneaky lingerie. I'm not saying no thanks to lingerie altogether," she said. "But only as Dr. Isles. Not as Dr. Sattler. Deal?"

Maura pecked her cheek and gave her a solemn handshake. "Deal."

The next day, Lydia sent Jane an effusive burst of texts (rife with bitmojis and sparkling gifs) thanking her for helping Tommy arrange a night out on the town. She also helpfully sent along a much smaller guest list than Tommy had suggested, limiting the attendees to her bridal party. Maura also couldn't resist making a little bit more of an event out of it, and threw a number of dining options at Lydia for a nice dinner before clubbing. Prolonging the evening would not have been Jane's first choice, but Lydia seemed excited by the prospect and that finalized the matter.

That weekend, as they prepared to leave for Lydia's dinner, Jane was buttoning up her shirt when Maura presented her with a long, thin box.

"Last time I saw something like that, a graduation tassel display case was inside," Jane muttered. "Have you been rummaging in the junk my mother scavenged from the house before she moved?"

"No, dear. When I went to the mall to pick up Lydia's party gift, I did a little shopping for myself as well and I picked this up, for you. I have a receipt if you don't like it or don't want it. I won't be offended either way." With that disclaimer, Jane worried she was about to open a thong or something, and her expression relayed both surprise and relief when she found it was a deep red tie instead. Maura continued: "I thought it might look dapper on you and wondered if you'd like it."

"And you were the one getting on me for being clichéd," Jane said. "You don't think this is designating me as the man?"

"Do you remember that old saying used to shame men who ever conceded to their wives? Jokes about who wears the pants? Pants used to be a more gendered clothing article than they are now. You and I both wear them. And now, it's more becoming more common for women to wear ties, as well," Maura said with a shrug. "Like Avril Lavigne."

Jane let out a bark of a laugh. "How'd you even—? I love that that's your first frame of reference. But on brand for you, being about fifteen years behind in pop culture."

Maura scowled. "Okay, what about Diane Keaton?"

"Wow, even fresher. But, point taken I guess."

Maura had googled how to put on a tie, forgetting that Jane was already familiar with the process due to the uniform she wore on formal occasions. It was amazing to Maura how often she was cataloguing Jane's most innocuous actions as being disproportionately attractive, and watching her effortlessly tie the tie went right on the list. Jane checked her reflection in the full-length mirror Maura had insisted on getting her some time ago, trying a couple of poses with her hands in her pockets. Maura didn't like to guess, but Jane's expression seemed to indicate a hesitant interest.

"So, you don't think it makes me look too…"

She floundered, not sure which of the many words flying through her mind was most appropriate to use. None of them seemed to matter, though, when Maura wrapped her arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek. "Too… sexy? Too handsome? Too James Bond if James Bond respected women and drank beer instead of martinis?" She smiled at Jane's adorable laugh. "It doesn't matter what I think about it, though. How do you feel in it?"

"Honestly? I feel kinda cool," Jane said, sounding surprised. "Thanks, babe."

"Oh, I'm so glad you like it! I think I might've tried it myself if this shirt had the proper kind of collar. Maybe next time. For now, come on, let's go show you off."

The best thing about dinner was that at least the food was good. Jane found herself feeling almost as alienated by the conversation here as she had been with Maura's hifalutin friends. But in time Lydia made a genuine effort to connect, and told her friends a number of endearing stories about interactions between TJ and his favorite (only) aunts. Maura was touched to hear herself referred to in this manner for the first time and Jane was grateful that none of Lydia's friends seemed to be making an issue of their relationship.

In fact the only time it really came up was when Maura was waiting for her card to be returned with the check, and Lydia's best friend said, "well, it's very cool of you guys to be supportive of our girl here at the club's Ladies Night. I hope you can have fun."

"Oh, God!" Lydia gasped, smacking her forehead. "I didn't even think of that! Are you guys going to be okay?"

"We're ladies," Jane said blankly, even if that was a word she was not particularly fond of. "It's what, reduced prices for drinks, right? Why would we have a problem with that?"

As it transpired, Ladies Night at What Ales Ya was home not only to cheaper drinks but to very dynamic, buff male dancers in skimpy outfits. It was a toss-up what was worse: the dancers, the house music or the unending tidal wave of shrieking laughter from Lydia's friends. Maura had agreed to be the designated driver so Jane could drink herself into what level stupor she needed to cope with her surroundings, but half a margarita in, Jane knew that level would be fatal so she abstained for the rest of their stay.

"Are you having fun?" Lydia bellowed over the music, well on her way to getting smashed.

A dancer on the bar was thrusting his crotch dangerously close to Jane's face, so she welcomed the opportunity to turn and smile at Lydia. "How could I not be?"

"Don't worry," Maura said cheerfully, leaning over from Jane's other side. "She's going to be very well compensated for coming out with us tonight."

Outside Lydia's line of vision, Maura trailed her hand up Jane's thigh and Jane felt a corresponding thrill up her spine. This was not a transaction that had been discussed or expected, but now more than ever the partying could not end soon enough. Lydia just laughed and said, "my goodness, you two never shut it off! I hope when me and Tommy have been together as long as you have, we'll be just as active in the sack." (Jane put her face in her hands.) "I bet it's nice dating a lady. You could share clothes, and makeup—"

"—we don't," Jane mumbled into her margarita.

"—oh, and you wouldn't get all embarrassed going to buy tampons at the store for your sweetie. Oh my gosh, are you guys synced up? That'd be so cute. I bet you are, right?"

A simple "no" would've sufficed, but monosyllabic answers were about as appealing to Maura as vending machine snacks. "Actually, there's not really been a scientific consensus on that notion because who a person syncs up with seems to be arbitrary. If it were based on daily proximity or sexual attraction, Jane's and my cycles would certainly be synced." And still, a regular person might have stopped there, but Maura's inclination to over-share led her to continue: "As it is, I'm not due to menstruate until the end of the month and Jane will probably begin in, what would you say, five days or so?"

"Oh, my God, Maura!" Jane exclaimed, but she could only laugh as her girlfriend looked at her, all innocent, while absently sticking a ten-dollar bill in the g-string of a dancer twerking in their direction. "Why are you like this!"

"Oh gosh, was that rude to ask? I'm so sorry!" Lydia blubbered, overly emotional in her wasted state.

Though she was assured it was fine and nothing was wrong, Lydia rushed off to the restroom on the verge of tears. Maura made to go after her, but Jane touched her arm to keep her put, nodding at Lydia's maid of honor who'd just run after her. "Hey, why do you know my cycle's schedule better than I do?" Jane asked.

"Because I got tired of having to guess when I should have hygiene products on hand to lend you at home, work, or elsewhere," she answered, and Jane had to laughingly concede the point. "Now that we're dating, though, there are certain advantages to being attuned to when you might be at peak, ah…"

Ohhh. "Horniness?" Jane offered bluntly.

Maura's hand had trailed to Jane's knee, and she circled it around to the back with an impish smile. Jane almost fell off the stool before Maura suddenly jumped off her own. "Come dance with me?"

"No, c'mon, you know I don't…"

But Lydia's gaggle of drunken friends had started cheering the moment Maura inched towards the dance floor, some of them running up to join her. Taking another swig of her margarita to fortify herself, Jane hastened over in part due to feeling obligated but also wanting to act as a human shield for Maura's outfit in the likely event that one of Lydia's friends threw up in her proximity. Jane wasn't one for club dancing, but all she really had to do was sway in rhythm to the music as Maura moved energetically against her. It was a little hard for Jane to totally disconnect from the thought of being watched, but Maura seemed to be having no such inhibitions. Whether Maura was dancing like this just to have fun or with the primary notion of getting Jane worked up probably didn't matter, and Jane suspected it was both.

"Come on Jane, where's your swagger?" yelled a bridesmaid, flipping Jane's tie.

That was a little too close for comfort and Jane ducked out of the way. Maura twirled around so her back was to Jane, and Jane's hands at once latched onto her hips. She kissed Maura's neck, getting close enough to whisper in her ear, "where'd you get all this energy? Let's not waste it dancing."

Maura didn't need to be told twice.

Just as they were wondering which of Lydia's friends could best be trusted to relay a farewell to her, the bride-to-be emerged from the restroom arm-in-arm with her friend, both of them looking rather ill.

"Is this what growing old is? I'm like a grandma," Lydia said with the gravitas of a Shakespearean performer. "I just upchucked in the bathroom and I wanna go home."

"Really?" Jane asked, wondering if it was possible to get out of this party early without too much guilt.

"I'll take her," said Lydia's designated driver as the other women started chanting "pub crawl!" and conga lined out the door with Lydia in tow.

Jane could hardly believer her luck at the partying ending so much earlier than she'd anticipated. Maura closed out their tab, and she and Jane pushed their way out of the club and into the cool night air, a refreshing breeze that further energized an already excited Jane. Driving to her apartment, she kept her hand on Maura's thigh, rubbing slow circles at red lights. Maura bit her lip, wondering about the Pavlovian effect this could have on her the next time she was stuck in traffic. Throwing caution to the winds, Maura surreptitiously unbuttoned her pants and at the next red light, dragged Jane's hand upwards. For a brief naïve moment, Jane thought her hand was being lifted away because the stimulation was too much, but then her fingers were brushing lace.

"Holy sh—"

She turned to see a Cheshire grin on Maura's face, but it was too dark to get a good look at much else. Not that Jane didn't try: the light turned green while she was peering over at the small peek an undone button offered, and a honk from an impatient driver made her jump and withdraw her hand so quickly she banged it against the rear view mirror and roof in quick succession. As she whimpered and nursed her fingers, Maura couldn't help laughing a little.

"Aw, did someone hurt herself because she got more excited by lingerie than she expected?" Maura teased her. She took Jane's hand (which stung only a little bit more than her pride) and kissed it. "Which finger hurts the most?" Pulling an exaggerated pout, Jane flexed her index finger. Maura kissed it, then for a few moments, let her lips slip around the tip of Jane's finger. She glanced over to try and gauge a reaction. It seemed telling when Jane gently pulled her hand away so she could grip them both around the steering wheel.

But then she said in a low voice, "Maura, don't do that kind of stuff if you don't want us to end up in an accident."

Both of them kept their hands to themselves for the gratefully short remainder of the ride. Jane could almost feel Maura vibrating behind her as they hurried into the apartment complex, where of course the elevator would be coming down from the top floor. Even knowing it wouldn't help, Jane couldn't resist jamming her thumb repeatedly onto the call button. It seemed the only decent way to release the anxious energy thrumming through her head to toe in the lobby.

Maura's sense of decorum was a tad less subtle: she had her arms wrapped around Jane from behind, in what might've looked like an innocent backwards embrace to a bystander until she rolled her hips forward a little.

"Don't exhaust that pent-up aggression just yet," she murmured. The best Jane could do in response was reign in a groan.

When the elevator finally arrived, Jane only felt a little bad for pressing the "close doors" button even when it looked like someone entering the complex had just gestured for her to hold it. Maura didn't have time to tease her about this before Jane had pressed her against the back wall of the elevator for an aggressive kiss. It wasn't like Jane to launch herself on Maura like this in a semi-public space, and being considered so irresistible was an incredible thrill. They had only gone up two floors, though, when the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Jane flung herself away in time to see an old woman, who looked scandalized, and her husband, who seemed totally unaware of what had been happening.

"Going down?" he asked.

"Not yet," Jane said briskly, and she thought she heard Maura wheeze in laughter. "Sorry!" The old man said something about having pressed the wrong button as the doors closed again. After a moment of awkward silence, Jane and Maura looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Oh, I feel like a teenager, trying not to get caught," Jane snickered, and she left it at that. She was too turned on at the moment to process what all else that entailed, but in a sense, it felt like Maura was giving her back a bit of youth—of whimsy and overwhelming passion—that Jane had rarely captured.

Once they got to Jane's apartment, Maura asked, "Does this mean I need to take you to more raunchy bachelorette parties?"

"I think everything just kinda heightened after you made that crack about compensation." Jane loosened her tie and threw herself down on the nearest chair, legs spread. "So. Compensate me."

This was the kind of remark and attitude that Maura would've found insufferable from anyone else, but as with many other things, Jane was proving to be a wonderful exception.

Despite the obvious invitation to come over, Maura stayed standing where she was and slowly began to unbutton her top, grinning at Jane's transfixed stare. "Silly me, after your anti-lingerie diatribe I wondered if I was wasting my time buying this. I have to say, though, it was very arousing shopping with you in mind."

She stopped at the last two buttons, and Jane's eyes flicked up to meet hers. "That's not something you just had lying around?"

With an airy laugh, Maura stepped out of her pants, and never before had Jane put so much stock in matching garments. "I think deep down, you're aware that wouldn't have been the case. You know I wanted something new to enjoy with you, something you couldn't resist, and that's what's got you so…" She turned around to smirk at Jane over her shoulder. "Excited."

Were she with anyone else, Jane might've been self-conscious about her reaction—but then, no one but Maura could have elicited this response. The crimson, lace-trimmed lingerie offered much more coverage in the front than the back and Jane had not been prepared. Her exclamation of shock was half-swallowed by a gasp, and as Maura had turned to fold her pants over the sofa she assumed the sound of the kitchen chair scraping against the floor signified that Jane had had a physical as well as verbal reaction. What she hadn't anticipated was turning back around to suddenly find Jane right in front of her, and before she had time for a taunt, Jane had enveloped her in a voracious kiss. Maura stumbled back against the couch, but Jane quickly flipped them around so her roaming hands could get where she wanted them to. She slipped one hand under the waistband to grab Maura's ass, leaving the other to sweep up her back.

"Don't get smug," she said when Maura broke off the kiss with a laugh.

"I think I deserve it," Maura said, a point proven by the fact that Jane's impatient hands couldn't keep still and she had started kissing Maura's neck. "I'm just happy to see your swagger is back."

"Back? Baby, it never left." Her sultry tone of voice morphed into a rather girlish breath, though, when she brought one hand between Maura's legs and grazed the excessively wet fabric. "C'mere, c'mon," she murmured, walking Maura to the bedroom while still trying to kiss her.

This was a little difficult for Maura, whose legs felt about as sturdy as butter. "Even in your desperation, you're sparing me from the couch or a dirty floor, hm?"

"No, it's just that if I play my cards right, you're gonna want to grab my hair so I'm giving you a headboard instead."

They'd reached the bedroom, which was just as well because Maura needed a second to recover from what Jane had just said. Although Jane had gotten increasingly comfortable showing what she wanted in bed, being so confidently vocal about it was still new territory. Jane had gotten on the bed and was taking off her shirt and tie, but when Maura moved to lie down next to her, Jane glanced meaningfully at her underwear and said "no" with a curtness that made Maura's heart pound, "you need to take that off first."

This was the closest Maura had ever come to kicking off her shoes, and she stepped out of the lingerie. Jane was reclining on the bed and when Maura straddled her, Jane grinned and nodded her head back.

Maura raised her eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yes."

"All right, but it won't take much. I'm very sensitive, so go lightly—"

"I know, babe, I will. Let me try."

Maura knelt over Jane's head, and Jane held to her thighs with a strong grasp and deep sigh. The breath that rippled against her stole Maura's own; she gripped the headboard and gasped. Already, Jane got a sense that she had improved. Maura's breathing was shallow and ragged, a desperate, primal sound Jane had never quite elicited from her before. Maura was not shy about dictating what she wanted through the occasional word that managed to slip into an inhale, but mostly through her movements. Jane's own confidence and excitement surged with Maura's obvious enthusiasm, and her own ability to meet Maura's half-worded appeals. Her neck was starting to get a little sore as she strained for the best positioning, but soon Maura froze up and slumped against the wall to catch her breath.

As Maura finally slid back down, she let out the dreamiest sigh Jane had ever heard, melting into a drawled "ohhhgoddd" that ended only because she had pulled Jane into a lazy kiss. In time, she rolled off to curl up next to Jane, resting a hand on her warm stomach. Jane felt high, relaxed, but also very aware that the tension curling inside her wouldn't stay dormant for long. She needed a moment to recuperate, though, and was glad to wrap her arm around Maura, rubbing circles on her back.

"So was that technically a thong?" Jane asked. "Because you didn't strike me as the thong type."

That got a weary chuckle out of Maura. "To be honest, it wouldn't have been my first choice. It's just that I liked the design of the front, and it came as a matching set with this bra, which—"

"—is very nice," Jane murmured, fingering one of the straps.

"—thank you. I chose it because I thought you'd enjoy the easy access. It opens with a clasp in the front."

Jane inhaled sharply. "Daaamn, all right. So. That was good for you, though?"

"No." Maura leaned over to leave a long kiss at the base of Jane's neck. "It was wonderful. Thank you."

"Oh, you are so welcome," Jane said in a posh accent.

Maura propped herself up on her elbow, her hand now slipping under Jane's tank top to trace slow patterns on her stomach. "No, I mean it. I know reading up on ways to sexually please a partner is new ground for you, and I want you to know that I really appreciate the effort you put into it for me. It really…" She leaned over to kiss Jane's cheek, neck, and collarbone, punctuating her thoughts: "really…. really paid off."

"Well, it didn't exactly suck for me, either," Jane teased her.

"Speaking of which…" Maura shifted back up to meet Jane in a slow kiss. "What would you like me to do for you?"

Groaning, Jane pushed herself back up into a sitting position, and Maura leaned over to set some pillows up behind her. Jane rubbed Maura's thighs as she settled over Jane's lap.

"You don't want to finish getting undressed?" Maura asked, lifting Jane's tank over her head.

"Mm-mm." Jane locked her arms around Maura's waist, tugging her a little closer. "All I need is a more intimate look at the intimate apparel you bought with me in mind." She nuzzled Maura's neck, starting a soft trail of kisses that stopped at her cleavage. "Was there anything in particular you hoped it might inspire me to do?"

Maura's answer was precluded by a sharp intake of breath, necessitated when Jane glided her hands up to cup her through the bra. "Plenty. But I thought the polite thing to do would be to let you try first."

Jane was too distracted to get very creative. She kissed Maura's neck, letting her fingers make a more detailed study of the intricate crimson lace. Her thumbs circled the hardening tips, and Maura's hips jerked forward in response. After Jane managed to murmur half a request, Maura groped for Jane's belt and undid it as Jane repeated the trace of kisses down to her chest. She didn't get a chance to do much more for a moment, because Maura had slipped a hand under her briefs and her thoughts short-circuited. Jane froze up, but after delicious waves of tension had rolled over her, she resisted the urge to lie back down.

Instead, she craned her neck up to kiss Maura's lips, deftly undoing the clasp of her bra in the process. The lace skirting Maura's skin at the same time that Jane's hands brushed against her was a heady combination. As Jane strengthened her hold, Maura rocked harder against her, and it wasn't long before another orgasm barreled through her. Jane helped Maura shrug off the bra, then gently rolled them over so Maura was on her back, and pressed light kisses to her face. Maura could only offer up a soft moan, eyes closed, awkwardly hooking her arm around Jane's to keep her close.

"I want to take a shower," she whispered. "But my legs are so tired, I don't think I can stand. You need to be on top next time."

"Fair enough," Jane chuckled, tucking Maura's hair behind her ear. "Mm, for a while at that nightclub all I could think about was wanting to go home and wash it all off me. But I just wanna lay with you here for a while, is that okay?"

"Mmm…I'll allow it."

With a quiet laugh, Jane tugged off her slacks and let them fall to the floor. She curled up to spoon Maura, leaving a soft kiss on her shoulder. Perhaps unsurprisingly they both wound up drifting to sleep, with Jane's last thoughts swirling around how happy she was that this simple act—of falling asleep next to Maura, close to her, on purpose—didn't feel old.