Part Twenty – Final Analysis

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: Maura's not a guesser. So, when she comes up with a theory as to her best friend's recent change in behavior, she sets out to test her hypothesis the only way she knows how: careful observation and experimentation. Slow burn, fluff, eventual smut, some angst.

Warnings: The following fic is rated M (NC-17) for language and sexual situations. Readers be warned.

They barely made it into the kitchen at Jane's apartment before their mischievous plans were interrupted by Jane's phone ringing.

"You should really get that…" Maura said, lazily kissing Jane's neck as she tugged Jane's shirt from her pants. "It could be work."

"I took the day off…" Jane muttered, twitching as Maura spread her hand up her abs. The brunette gently tugged at the hair behind Maura's neck as she kissed across Jane's jawline. Maura's head was swirling with thoughts of the night before… and that morning. All reason was slipping from her brain as Jane pulled her into a needy kiss. Everything was the taste of Jane's lips and the warmth of her skin as she slipped her hands around Jane's back and pulled the brunette even closer.

They giggled as Jane fell back against the refrigerator door.

Jane chuckled, "Somebody's eager."

Maura bit her lip, staring into those gorgeous brown eyes, pupils blown wide. Her gaze dipped to wet, swollen lips. She leaned forward again.

Jane groaned when her phone rang again, "For fuck's sake!" She reluctantly pulled away, reaching for her phone on the counter. She sighed with annoyance as she accepted the call. "This better be important Frankie—like, life or death important."

"Well," Maura could hear Frankie respond with equal irritation, "if you responded to Ma's texts, I wouldn't have to track you down."

"I'm a grown woman, Frankie. I don't need to report to my mother." Jane groaned, rolling her eyes.

"Just tell me where you are so I can get her off my back," Frankie complained loudly.

"I'm with Maura."

"What, she's sick too?"

"I never said I was sick."

"But Frost said you called off."

"Jesus, Frankie. Can you just tell Ma I'm fine and leave us the hell alone?"

"Wait…" Frankie's voice lowered, "are you and Maura …?"

"What, Frankie?" Jane snapped back, "Are me and Maura, what?"

"Maura and I—" Maura corrected; Jane gave her an irritated look.

"I just thought …" Frankie said, sounding shocked, "I didn't think the rumors—I mean you guys aren't …?"

"Just tell Ma we'll try to make it to Sunday dinner," she said with a wink to Maura.

"Jesus, Jane, it's only Friday."

"Goodbye, Frankie."

Maura raised an eyebrow as Jane hung up on her brother. "Jane … I told you we're not going to spend the whole weekend—"

Jane interrupted her by stepping into her space, a devilish grin on her face. "Are you so sure about that?"

Maura shivered as Jane slipped her hands around her waist and into her back pockets, squeezing her ass through her tight-fitting jeans. Maura bit her lip, her eyelids fluttering.

Her voice faltered as Jane pressed her against the counter, "J—Jane, I have things I need to do—"

"So do I…" Jane whispered as she moved her left hand between Maura's legs.

Maura lost her train of thought as Jane pressed her sex eagerly. Jane pressed her lips to Maura's and the honey blond moaned. Jane was insatiable. The thought added to the moisture between Maura's legs.

Stepping forward, Jane snapped the button of Maura's jeans open and slipped her hand into her pants. Maura's jaw dropped and her head fell back as Jane spread her fingers through her arousal.

"Fuck!" Maura groaned, shivering as Jane slowly circled her clit.

"I love how you do that," Jane growled, holding Maura steady with her other hand at her back.

"Wh—what?" Maura struggled as her grip tightened on the counter behind her.

"How you become a potty mouth when I touch you."

"Jane," Maura complained as Jane's lazy movements wound the tension low in her belly at a tortuously sluggish pace.

"Yes, baby?" Jane said in a low voice, her hand pressing firmly at her back as Maura pressed into her other hand.

"We should go to the—" she waivered as Jane pressed hard against her clit with her middle finger, "bedroom."

"What's wrong with here?" Jane smirked.

Maura could feel the precipice approaching. Her arms shook as she gripped the edge of the counter almost to the point of pain. She longed for Jane's lips on hers, but she couldn't get her voice to work—she couldn't even get her eyes to open she was so close. Her toes curled in her heels.

She felt Jane's cheek on hers, her breath in her ear, "It's okay, Maura, you can let go. I'm here."

"J—Jane…"

Maura's back hit the edge of the counter painfully, her desperate grip moving to Jane's hips as she came. It took everything she had left not to fall to the floor. Jane pressed gentle kisses to her cheeks as she continued to drag out Maura's pleasure, tugging her impossibly close as she did so.

"You're so beautiful when you come…" Jane whispered in her ear as Maura let out a breath that she didn't know she had been holding.

"Jane…" Maura said breathlessly, her legs feeling like jelly, "that was …"

Maura finally opened her eyes as Jane slipped her hand out from her pants.

The brunette grinned as she licked her fingers. She watched Maura for her reaction.

The honey blond felt the urge to lunge at her, but her legs still felt weak.

Jane raised an eyebrow playfully, "It was my pleasure."

Maura sighed, How is she so sweet one moment and so cocky the next?

"You mentioned something about the bedroom?" Jane smirked as she started unbuttoning her shirt. She looked at Maura expectantly as she backed away. When Maura didn't move, she reached out her hand.

The honey blond took her hand but winced as she stepped forward.

"What's wrong?" Jane frowned, stepping close.

"Just a little sore," Maura shook her head dismissively.

"Sore?" Jane said, sounding concerned. "Where?"

Maura touched her lower back gently, "Don't worry, it's just some minor contusions from the counter. I'll be fine."

Jane chuckled, raising a brow, "Minor contusions?"

"Bruises…" Maura explained.

"Yes, I know what 'contusions' means," she chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Come here…"

"Jane," Maura fussed, "I'm fine, really."

"Shh," Jane whispered pulling Maura into an impossibly gentle kiss, "let me take care of you."

Only a few minutes later, Maura found herself lying naked in Jane's bed—something she'd never thought possible only a few days before. Jane had convinced her to lie on her belly so that she could "take a look." The honey blond had raised an eyebrow at her suspiciously but had obliged.

Shivers ran down Maura's spine as Jane spread kisses across her shoulder and down her back. The sensation of Jane's lips on her skin drowned out the dull ache at her back. Jane's fingers slowly slipped down her sides, her wild hair following in their wake as the brunette moved down her body.

Maura flinched as Jane's lips reached the tender spot just above her hips.

"I'm sorry baby…" Jane whispered, moving her mouth elsewhere.

The honey blond struggled to focus. Pain or not, Jane's featherlight touch was sending electricity through her body. "It's not your fault," Maura muttered, gripping her pillow with a shudder.

"You keep flinching," Jane said, "Are you sure you don't want some ice or something?"

Maura tossed her hair aside and looked at Jane over her shoulder. "I'm fine, Jane, really. You're just being a little too gentle."

Jane blinked, "Now I'm too gentle?"

Maura laughed, "No, I just mean—well it almost tickles."

The brunette's eyes lit up, a nefarious smirk spreading across her face.

"Don't you dare!" Maura threatened, turning over quickly.

Jane had her pinned within seconds. She hovered over her, pressing Maura's hands above her head. She's absolutely beautiful, Maura thought as Jane's raven hair hung over her, a victorious grin on her face, her coffee brown eyes bright and joyful.

The brunette lingered there for several moments, staring into Maura's eyes. Jane's smile softened, turning to the familiar smile of Maura's best friend. The woman who was Maura's whole life. Her whole world. Maura gently smiled back.

"Maura … ?" Jane whispered, her smile fading.

The honey blond frowned, tilting her head inquisitively.

"I …" Jane breathed, releasing Maura's hands. She searched Maura's eyes as she tucked the hair behind Maura's ear. Maura smiled reassuringly, grasping Jane's hand at her ear.

Jane swallowed before trying again, "I've never loved someone like this. I don't … I don't know if I could survive losing you."

Maura put her hand to Jane's cheek, "Of course you could."

The brunette closed her eyes, clearly holding back tears. She pressed close to Maura, burying her face in Maura's hair. The honey blond slipped her hands around Jane's waist, soaking in the feel of Jane's body on hers.

Maura continued, "You would survive because you're the strongest person I know Jane."

"You know what I mean, Maur'" Jane mumbled, sounding embarrassed for her confession.

Jane shifted to Maura's side, pulling Maura with her. She stared at Maura insistently.

The honey blond tucked the hair behind Jane's ear and smiled, "Yes, I know what you mean." She kissed Jane softly, briefly, before adding, "And I would be equally devastated to lose you, but that probably won't happen for a very long time."

Jane sighed with irritation, "I wasn't talking about dying Maura."

"Oh," Maura whispered. "You mean if I were to leave you?"

"Yes, Maur'" Jane whispered shakily, pulling her closer. "I know I act tough and everything but—"

"Jane," Maura interrupted, "you are my best friend. My family. My whole world. Why would I leave you?"

"I don't know," Jane shook her head, burying her face into Maura's shoulder.

Maura was quiet for a moment, playing with Jane's hair. Of course, she had gone through the same doubts herself. Jane was everything to her, but sometimes relationships didn't work, no matter how much both parties tried. What was to say that even after everything they had been through that there wouldn't be something that could still break what they had?

"All I know is that I love you," Maura said. "I'm in love with you. And I don't want to imagine my life without you."

Jane didn't speak. Instead, she kissed Maura's neck, slipping her hand into Maura's golden curls. She intertwined their legs, pulling her even closer. Her kisses grew more fervent as she moved up Maura's cheek to her lips. They shared a long, languid kiss. Jane tugged at her neck, pulling Maura closer and dipping her tongue into her mouth.

Finally, breathlessly, Jane pulled back, looking at Maura with wonder, "I'm in love with you too… I don't think I've ever been in love with anyone else."

Maura smiled brightly, a warm, swelling sensation growing in her chest. She had thought it impossible to be even happier than she had been before, but she had been wrong time and time again.

She pressed onto Jane, who shifted onto her back. "I could make love with you all day," Maura found herself saying as she pressed herself between Jane's legs.

Jane chuckled, "I didn't think you'd call it that."

"What, 'making love'?"

"Yeah, I figured you'd call it 'coitus' or something … science-y."

Maura laughed, "Well, with you 'make love' just seems to fit better."

Jane raised an eyebrow teasingly.

"I can call it coitus if—"

The brunette crinkled her nose.

"What? You're the one that—"

Jane interrupted her, "Shut up and kiss me."

Maura happily obliged.

She shifted over Jane, eagerly spreading her fingers into Jane's wild mane and pulling her into a hungry, needy kiss. Jane pressed into Maura's thigh between her legs and moaned as Maura rocked forward.

Breaking the kiss, Maura moved to Jane's ear so she could whisper in awe, "Jane, you're so beautiful."

She moved kisses down Jane's neck to her chest, nipping and sucking as she pleased. Jane's breathy sighs turned to moans as Maura moved her lips to a budding nipple. She rolled the other between her fingers as she felt Jane tensing beneath her.

The thought of her mouth between Jane's legs made Maura eager to move on, but she knew how much better it would be for Jane if she went slowly, meticulously towards her destination. So, she slowly moved her mouth to Jane's other breast, pinching the other nipple rather hard.

"Maur'!" Jane groaned, bucking her hips.

"Yes, love?" Maura couldn't help but smirk as Jane's hands moved into her hair. She moved her lips down Jane's stomach, spreading wet kisses over Jane's defined abs. She dipped her tongue into Jane's belly button, causing her to shiver.

"Maura…" Jane repeated in a low, breathy voice.

The honey blond could already smell Jane's arousal. She was tempted to part Jane's folds with her tongue, but when she spread Jane's thighs, she pressed her lips to the inside of Jane's thigh instead. She could feel Jane tense as she approached the apex of her thighs, but when she reached the dark hair there, she moved to the other leg.

"Maur'!" Jane groaned, grasping her head desperately. "I need you to …"

"Yes?" Maura encouraged her.

"Just touch me," Jane moaned, pressing Maura's head firmly to her sex.

"Yes, love," Maura smiled, happily dipping her tongue into Jane's arousal. The brunette moaned loudly as Maura pressed the flat of her tongue over her swollen clit. She spread her fingers into Maura's hair as the honey blond circled her tongue around her clit.

"Maura…" Jane moaned breathlessly.

Maura hummed as she took the sensitive bud into her lips and sucked gently. Jane's moans grew louder as she continued to lick and suck greedily. Her hips began to buck into Maura's mouth, so the honey blond had to grasp her thighs to hold her steady. Maura did not relent when Jane came into her mouth. Instead, she pressed her fingers into Jane's opening and dragged out another orgasm with her fingers curled in that sweet spot that made Jane's toes curl and her mouth drop open in a silent moan.

"Fuck." Jane panted as Maura climbed up to press her wet lips to Jane's.

The brunette moaned, pulling Maura onto her and pressing her tongue into her mouth in a hungry, appreciative kiss. She did not relent for some time. Finally, Maura broke the kiss to look into those irresistible coffee-colored eyes. She smiled, soaking in the moment.

After a long silence, Jane frowned, "How did it take this long?"

Maura's brow furrowed questioningly, "How did what take this long?"

Jane tucked the hair behind Maura's ear, smiling at her softly, "To figure this out, where it was going."

Maura contemplated her question, tucking Jane's hair back in kind. She admired the gentle curl of Jane's lips and the prominence of her dimples as the brunette smiled up at her. It had been so obvious to her what she had felt for Jane, almost from the very beginning. Meanwhile, she had had so many doubts about Jane. Was it really inevitable that the two of them would fall in love?

"I guess," Maura pondered aloud, "we just weren't ready until now."

Jane kissed her briefly before smiling, "You are definitely worth the wait."

To be continued?

A/N: I might be able to squeeze one more chapter out of this story, but anything more than that would have to be in a sequel.