Chapter 13
A/N Writers block. Apologies. I know where it's going, I just struggled with some writers fatigue. So sorry. Back on track now.
Jane eyed the seat warily. It didn't look like any kind of seat she'd ever seen before. She felt like she was mounting it, rather than relaxing on it.
Maura smiled inwardly; whilst she had come across this type of professional massage chair or lumbar seat before she doubted Jane had, and whilst the frustrated attempts of her best friend trying to seat herself on it would provide at least a few seconds entertainment, her inner critic told her that this was not the time.
"Straddle the seat and rest your knees against the pads as you sit down. Then lean your face and body against the supports. It's comfortable once you're down and gives me unfettered access to your back, shoulders and neck as required." Jane knew how to take orders and so Maura tried to make them both concise and easy to follow.
Removing the fastening from her hair she shook the rest of her mane down her back and in a very Jane way, tossed it together, spun it into a dirty bun and fastened it. Once her hair was sorted, Jane shrugged her shoulders out of her outfit and negotiated the seat.
She was happy in this to follow Maura's lead. A massage would allow her to contemplate her options and wrangle emotions in to check in the meantime.
Jane was surprised at the level of comfort the position provided, especially the relief it gave to her lower back. Desk chairs usually exacerbated problems being taller-than-average caused. She felt her spine straighten and then soften, surprised by the amount of tension she'd been holding. Pressing her face against the head rest, Jane closed her eyes for a moment to adjust to the slight sensation of claustrophobia which passed after a few moments. Then settled, allowed herself to relax and allow the rest of her muscles to soften whilst she waited for Maura to start.
Maura for her part was going through the range of paraphernalia located throughout a small set of drawers. Pausing momentarily at the impressive selection which a professional aesthetician would be proud of, she found the items she required: massage oils. Maura decided an odourless carrier oil, with a drop or two of lavender would appease Jane and so extracted the bottles she required.
Finding Jane seated appropriately and from her body language in a state of comfort, Maura allowed herself a genuine smile. Despite the situation it was good to see Jane finally easing a little.
The swathe of olive skin on offer to her though made Maura's palms damp and found herself biting her lower lip involuntarily. She shook herself a little and moved to behind the chair. Shaking the bottles gently, she blew a few errant hairs from the nape of Jane's neck, lest they get oily. Maura noted the small cutis anserina suddenly appearing on Jane's arms and slight shudder which accompanied the reaction. A coy smile now curled the corners of her lips. Unable to see Jane's face, she dared to imagine her eyes rolling in pleasure at the sensation.
She poured a little oil into her cupped hand and splashed a dash of lavender into it before passing it between hands.
"I'm just warming the oil a little so it isn't a shock to your skin when I first lay my hands on." She softly spoke close to Jane's ear, allowing her head to turn slightly on the last words, her breath sure to gently catch her ear as she did so.
Despite Maura's sudden urge to take the lobe between her lips and graze it between her teeth, she instead paused a moment before stepping back and gently allowing some of the oil to trickle from her hands onto Jane's beautifully toned trapezius muscles just where they arched upwards to meet her neck.
Maura watched for a moment as the scent of lavender, so much Jane's smell, warmed her senses and the sight of the slick oil, making rivulets over the honey bronzed skin caused more than just a pause in Maura. She found herself in that moment, more than just wanting Jane, but needing her.
In an act of almost self-flagellation Maura steadied herself and gently placed her hands on Jane's shoulders before slowly and evenly spreading the oil across her shoulder blades and down further following the trapezius as it meandered along the spinal column. Then carefully outwards traversing the latissimus dorsi. Maura didn't intend on any real deep tissue massage unless it was necessary. Her knowledge of deeper massage came strictly from her vast anatomical knowledge plus having been a recipient of the technique on several occasions. However superficial level or 'holistic' massage such as she planned on Jane had been a study source on several occasions.
This occasion she was finding, was a little different than practicing on her study cohorts though.
Careful not to apply any pressure on the spinal column, Maura admired every strain of muscle undulating beneath her fingers as she allowed her fingers to search beneath the skin. For the moment Maura's hands remained professional, despite her mind wandering over unchartered areas. She moulded her hands to suit each of the muscles she encountered, taking her time mapping each area into her memory. In all the time Maura spent massaging, Jane remained quiet and stoic not giving any indication of pain or discomfort. Maura, leaving one hand in place on Jane's skin, added a little more carrier oil as she returned up the back towards the shoulders. Paying more attention and goin a little deeper into the muscles she was not surprised to find a sizeable knot in the levator scapulae, just as the shoulder and neck met. She wondered if this was a reason why Jane often unconsciously titled her head. Maura's hands moved purposefully but slowly, applying a deeper pressure with her thumb, before making subtle circles until she felt the muscle give and release beneath her fingers. Maura thought she heard a quiet groan from beneath the chair as she released her thumb pad from the spot.