"You got two rooms?" Maura asked, seeing the adjoining door, open and leading to a near-identical room.

"Yeah, they upgraded us. Something about how they didn't have a single room with two beds even though that wasn't what I booked - I didn't bother to argue. Plus, if you need space..."

"Jane, I don't need space from you," Maura said. "But if you put me down as 'Doctor Isles' in future, assumptions like that are less likely to happen." She put her bag down and started unpacking, fussing until she found a manicure set, at which point she sat on the bed. "Wash your hands and come here," she said, and Jane came over from where she'd been unpacking, slipping into the bathroom and coming back out, shaking her hands dry. Maura examined Jane's fingernails and fingerbeds carefully. "No broken skin," Maura said thankfully. "I did bring finger cots, just in case. A little long..." Maura said, pulling out an emery board. "Do you mind if I?" Maura asked as she held up the emery board, and Jane shook her head. Maura started filing down Jane's nails, checking every so often that they were smooth, Jane watching in bemused affection.

"Not that I don't appreciate a manicure, but what are you doing?" Jane asked. "I can do my own nails."

"I know you can." Maura looked up from Jane's hands, through what seemed to be incredibly long eyelashes.

"I don't really mind" Jane said, finally sitting next to Maura on the bed. "But why?" Jane asked again.

"I'd rather make sure, before..." Maura slipped one of Jane's fingers in her mouth, making sure it was too smooth to slice her cheek. "The skin of the mouth and vagina are very similar and both are prone to abscesses and infection from something as sharp as a fingernail." Jane blushed, looked down at her hands, looked down at Maura's hands. "I wear gloves for work; I'd really rather not wear them for you," Maura said, noticing Jane's glance. "But if it would make you feel better you can check mine too. I don't want to cut our time short when such a simple preventative measure can be taken." Maura tested another of Jane's fingers.

"Isn't that unhygienic?" Jane joked. "All nail dust and fingernail dirt?"

"You washed your hands," Maura said. Jane shifted uncomfortably as another finger slipped into the warmth of Maura's mouth, Maura looking up at her with those big hazel eyes. Jane looked away quickly, then back again once she remembered that she was dating Maura, that it was ok to feel this jolt of desire about her nerdy but well-intentioned best friend.

"We getting dinner?" Jane asked. Maura started buffing back another nail, focused on her task.

"We should be at least comfortable enough to discuss what we're going to do before we do it," Maura said reasonably, checking another finger, nodding to herself. "Nearly done."

"What are the other hazards, as you see them?" Jane asked, wondering what else she was in for, and Maura sighed.

"Well, we've both returned negative STI tests, so this is more for comfort than for safety, but the other factors are no more or less risky than safe sex with a man. Less, actually, since there's a much smaller chance of pregnancy between women. I know and trust you well enough to know that you won't engage in any disrespectful or nonconsensual behaviour and will respect my decision to stop at any time, and will notice if I appear uncomfortable with what's happening." Maura let go of Jane's hand and looked up at Jane. "Do you disagree?" Maura asked, and Jane shook her head.

"If there's a single moment you're even the slightest bit uncomfortable, you just tap out and I'm done." Maura nodded.

"Same," Maura said. She took Jane's hands. "It's going to be fine," Maura said, and Jane watched the hives rise on Maura's chest.

"EpiPen," Jane said, smirking as she grabbed one from her bag. "But it's nice to know you're nervous too."

They did get dinner, some place Maura had been dying to eat. The two rooms meant two showers, which meant they could both get ready at the same time which meant they made their reservation, Maura's hair curling softly over her bare shoulders, her blue dress a nice contrast, Jane looking soft in her red dress.

"Ugh, I can't believe you got me to eat snails, Mau. Snails!" Jane complained, kicking off her heels.

"You said you liked them, Jane," Maura said, lifting her heels off and locking the door behind her.

"Yeah, well, with enough butter and garlic anything would taste good." Maura chuckled, shooing Jane further into the room and turning on the lamps.

"I'm going to... Get into something more comfortable," Maura said suggestively.

"I'm... Uh... I'm going to shower," Jane said, suddenly nervous. She rubbed her smooth nails against her palm. Maura stepped forward, hugging Jane.

"It's just me," Maura said, voice shaking.

"Yeah, and do you have any idea how terrifying that is?" Jane asked, voice also unsteady.

"I might have some idea, yes," Maura said. "But I love you, and I trust you. If you think it's too soon, or if you're not in the mood, or if you change your mind..."

"It's not that," Jane said. "I'm just worried I won't be any good at it, you know."

"Oh, I know," Maura said shakily. "But our preliminary tests were very promising. Jane. It's just me."

"Ok," Jane said, pulling away and kissing Maura once, for courage. "Ok. Meet back here in ten?"

"Five," Maura bargained, and Jane raised her eyebrows.

Jane hadn't bought new pajamas in a while, and while she usually favoured a suit-type arrangement she'd been enticed to try something new. She felt a little silly as she walked into the room in her slinky sleepwear, but the moment she saw Maura she forgot to be self conscious. Maura was leaning against the wall in what looked like a new silky nightie. She looked effortlessly sexy, but she could see Maura was still nervous when she saw the shaky inhale, and Jane came over to her, touched her cheek to raise her face so she was looking at Jane.

"Sex is just a hormonal release," Jane said, quoting Maura from years ago. "No matter what happens, the way I feel about you, the space I keep for you in my life - god, I don't know if I'm nervous because I've never done this with a woman before or because I'm scared of letting you down."

"You've had sex before," Maura pointed out.

"Not like this. Not when it mattered." Jane ran her hand down Maura's arm, took her hand and led her to the bed.

"Any time you need a break, or anything, anything at all, you just let me know, ok?" Jane murmured, and Maura nodded as she sat on the edge of the bed. Jane leaned down to kiss her forehead, and Maura dragged her down onto the bed, straddled her in one easy move that left Jane breathless.

"The only thing I need is you," Maura said huskily as she leaned in.

Notes:

Safe, comfortable sexual preparation to ensure no one is injured or exposed to unnecessary risks is sexy.

I keep my nails long (to provide adequate scratch to cockatoo faces) and one day at work someone said 'I'd have never pegged you as a lesbian because of those nails' and someone else said 'no pegging at work' and I kind of miss my old office.