A/N: Orison assures me you'll like this chapter and I'm crossing my fingers...
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
After a long day, she walks naked from the en suite into the bedroom. Freshly showered and with her damp hair wrapped up in a towel.
Maura remains reading, reclined against the headboard with glasses and medical journal still in place like she was twenty minutes ago. But unlike before, there's now a gift bag perched next to her on the nightstand. Tied all fancy with bows made of ribbon, enough to make Jane's heart skip a beat. And not in a good way.
This is what she gets for intruding on somebody else's relationship. Zero knowledge of their anniversaries or special occasions and the consequences that will no doubt ensue.
"What's that?" she asks, points at the bag with trepidation. Knows it's a question that begs for trouble. Expects Maura to waste no time in pointing out what a shitty girlfriend she is for having forgotten whatever milestone the gift signifies.
Setting aside the journal and removing her glasses, Maura peels back the covers on Jane's side and pats the mattress. Purrs, "Come here and I'll show you," with a sultry smile and Jane wastes no time in climbing onto the bed.
Maybe she's not in trouble after all.
With the bag placed between them, Maura proceeds to open it and reach in. Withdraws the first item and holds it up before Jane as if it were Exhibit A and they were standing in the lab discussing evidence.
"Mineral bath salts for your restless nights," the doctor reads from the label. Shakes the jar of purple crystals and pretends to ignore the roll of Jane's eyes. "As we know, research shows lavender can help to ease insomnia and anxiety, so, if you take a hot soak in it before bed it should help you sleep."
Maura lays the jar down on the bed and then dips back into the bag. "Massaging gel insoles. Because sometimes you're on your feet for hours at a time, doing your gumshoe thing, and, well -" Maura squeezes the blue rubber through the packaging, flashes Jane a blinding smile and offers a tiny shrug. "They can't hurt."
Dropping her head, Jane smiles into her lap as Maura drops the insoles and rummages in the bag again. She might consider these kinds of products a waste of money, has never bothered with them before, but the blonde's thoughtful devotion is priceless. If she weren't already convinced that this Maura loves her - is in love with her - the amount of care being shown right now would surely seal the deal.
"Bruise ointment fortified with green tea," Maura continues as hazel eyes examine a small white tube. "Specifically designed for sports injuries."
She assumes it's for her face, but as Jane accepts the offered ointment, she spots the words 'Do not use near eyes or mouth' clearly printed down the side. Her eyebrows leap up toward her hairline as Maura confirms its intended use.
"The super antioxidants should help speed away the bruises and discoloration on your back and yes, I have noticed."
Her eyes are large as her head whips around, muscles protesting with the residual effects of her last doorway passage. Thinking she'd gotten away without any significant physical traces being left behind was beyond foolish.
She should have been more careful, kept herself covered, perhaps… No. The doctor has seen her in the nude multiple times now. Mapped her entire body with soft pink lips and a playful tongue on one of those occasions. And she was glad for it.
This revelation feels inevitable, that the doctor would discover the truth. But just as her frazzled brain tries to force out a ridiculous excuse, Maura saves her from herself and she breathes out in relief.
"If you're going to work out when you can't sleep, you really should take more care not to cause injury to yourself. Recovery takes a lot longer the older you get. Which leads me to the final item…"
Dipping into the bag, Maura retrieves a round, metal tin. Doesn't let Jane see it, but instead immediately twists the top off and holds her nose to the pale white paste within. "Mmm," the doctor murmurs appreciatively, eyes closing as she takes a long inhale. "It's a warming balm made with cayenne pepper and ginger. The rub will relax your sore muscles and soothe your skin."
She leans in and sniffs at the enticing scent, causes Maura to smile as the blonde continues to speak.
"It's organic. Full of antioxidants. And best of all…" the doctor teases, a twinkle in her eye as she offers up the open tin. "It can be used for a relaxing full body massage."
Jane smirks. "Is that so?"
"Indeed." Maura grins, startles Jane a little as she snaps the lid back on without warning. "But only if you promise to take better care of yourself!"
Getting so banged up lately wasn't part of any plan, wasn't down to carelessness on her part, not really, and yet saying I promise feels too dishonest. Too much like something she cannot guarantee and it twists her guts.
"I will try," she offers instead, returns her gifts back to the bag and deposits it on the floor, Removes the towel from her hair and scoots a bit closer under the covers. "And as much as I love the idea of your hands all over me. I can think of some other places…" She smirks again and wiggles her eyebrows. "… That get warm when you rub them."
Hazel eyes roll as the doctor tuts. "So eloquent." But Maura doesn't protest when Jane leans over and presses her down into the mattress. "If the detective work doesn't pan out, you should think about writing romantic poetry."
A sharply raised eyebrow betrays how impressed she is by Maura's sarcasm. But then an idea quickly starts to form. "Oh, I've thought about it," she grins, nibbles the doctor's ear with her teeth as she settles her weight between Maura's thighs. Traces the line of Maura's jaw with light kisses. Turns her idea into action, purring the words directly onto Maura's skin.
"I'm no longer a lonely old schmuck,
Due to a brilliant stroke of good luck -"
She can almost feel the heat of secondhand embarrassment suffuse Maura's cheeks as the doctor covers her eyes and murmurs "Oh god" with a chuckle. It does nothing to dissuade her though, only encourages the mischievous streak at her core.
"And a woman called Isles,
With the sexiest smile,
And a body I'd quite like to f-OWWW!"
"JANE!"
Her jaw drops at the sting of Maura's sharp pinch to her buttock and she glares indignantly at the blonde as she pushes her upper body away. "What was that for?"
"For reducing something beautiful to an obscene limerick!" Maura complains, as gentle fingers rub soothing circles over her burning buttock - both buttocks in fact, which turns her on immensely. And despite the deep sigh of supposed exasperation from the doctor, she can also see Maura fighting a smile. She loves these playful moments between them.
"Hey," she protests weakly. "I might not be… Wilbur Wordsmith, but I can rhyme with the best of them." She disappears beneath the covers, blazes a trail down Maura's body with her mouth. Feels rather than sees the goose bumps that develop on pale skin. Maybe from her mouth, or perhaps from her cool, damp hair that trails along Maura's abdomen. Either way, it generates a quick smile on her face in between licks and kisses.
"Did you-ahh mean William-ohhh-Wordsworth?" Maura asks between shortening breaths with a voice that trembles as Jane's tongue skirts lower and lower.
She doesn't bother to reply as she reaches her destination. Just takes Maura fully into her mouth and laves her hot, ready tongue through Maura's wetness. Bottom to top in one long, torturous swoop.
With a stuttering gasp, Maura murmurs, "Unngh. Never mind," and needy fingers take hold in her damp locks.
It's just as well, because deliberately mixing up names and misquoting details to the doctor for sport is something she's done for years. Something she'll never admit.
That secret generates another smile, and the tiny pause has Maura's hips rocking as her head is encouraged back and forth.
Focusing her attention on Maura's clit, Jane relishes the feel of the hot, plump flesh in her mouth. Directs her tongue to one specific area and feels it slowly grow as she drives small circles over and over again. Sucks and strokes until her jaw aches and all she wants is to stay here forever, to feel Maura's little nub become gloriously erect in her mouth every day for the rest of her life.
She latches a strong hand around each of Maura's thighs when the tremors and moans begin. Pulls the doctor firmly to her mouth and sucks harder, swirls her tongue faster. Works Maura into such a state the woman practically growls as the grip in her hair is tightened with a sharp tug and Maura comes undone with a series of loud grunts.
Jane laps at the swollen clit that still throbs between her lips for long moments. When Maura stills, she breathes heavy, her own body hot and sweaty beneath the sheets.
As she slinks upward, her head popping out of the covers, old images swirl in Jane's mind. Years old dreams of a life with Maura, a life so far impossible. But those images start to grow; sparked anew and recolored with hope. Expanding her dreams until her heart feels fit to burst.
"There's just something about the way you do that..." Maura pants, blissfully unaware and glowing as she sweeps a couple of damp locks from her brow.
"Good?" She knows so – it was amazing even for her - but it doesn't hurt to check. After all, it is her first time doing it this way and that's another thing she can't ever admit.
"Mmm," Maura confirms, breathing deeply. Makes Jane's heart miss a beat as if mind reading when she says, "Like the first time all over again."
Jane smiles. "I want every time with you to feel like the first time." Watches with a frown as Maura turns her face away. "I'm serious," she adds, sits up beside the doctor and reaches for a hand. "I love you, Maura. You make me think about the future. About having a wife and a home and a bunch of screaming kids and it's everything I always thought I didn't want but I want it… with you."
Rambling is embarrassing enough, but Maura still doesn't turn. And when the blonde sniffles, Jane is quick to panic. "No, don't… why are you crying?"
"You know why!"
She really doesn't, but she can take a guess that the old flaky Jane has something to do with it. "Maura, just -"
"Say it again," Maura whispers as she turns. And the tears that coat her cheeks hurt worse than a bullet to the gut. "Please, say it again."
She tugs Maura close, until their noses brush. Keeps an iron grip on Maura's hand as she professes, "I love you so much."
"I almost gave up…" Maura sniffs again, looking as sad as Jane has ever seen her though the blonde smiles bravely through it. It isn't like Maura to fidget either but the woman ties the sheets in knots with her fingers. "I never told you, but I… that whole time with Casey, seeing what he did to you, how he hurt you… it broke my heart. Doubly so… because I already had feelings for you."
Given the weight of that admission, Jane can't blame the blonde for feeling anxious. She's guilty of the same secret, but worse still has never found the courage to deal with it.
Even the notion that the real Maura, the original Maura might have felt something for her years ago but since moved on to Jack, well… It fucking stinks. And further proves she's a first class idiot.
Maura hiccups a little laugh and cups Jane's cheek with one hand. "I fought hard every day to move on. But I still fell asleep every night thinking of you, holding onto hope that you would -"
Jane crushes their lips together. Kisses Maura senseless and wipes the tears from her face. And when Maura seems a little less fragile and her own heart has started beating a steady rhythm again, she lies down beside the woman she worships, entwines their legs together, and makes love to her all over again.
This is where she's meant to be.
And that weight on her mind, all those endless existential questions about the finer details of alternate lives and realities, well they're just… gone. Forgotten.
What else is there to figure out?
This Maura loves her. So, she's having her cake and eating it, too.