A week had passed since Jane and Maura had become a couple and, although they had made love to each other a few days later in the backseat of Maura's car, they had yet to take that next step. It was the topic of most of their conversations, but neither Jane nor Maura had attempted to take their sexual relationship to that level. Maura's friends described it as the best sexual experience a woman could have and Maura wanted that not for herself but for Jane. Maura had yet to tell her so, but she was falling in love with Jane and the feeling intensified every moment they were together. Jane Rizzoli was not only her girlfriend and her best friend; she was her anchor. Whenever she needed someone, Jane was there to hold her and to kiss her or just to listen to her when she had something to say. With Jane's reassurance, any worries Maura had would fade away and she hoped that night would be no different.

Making love to Jane was the most pleasurable experience of Maura's young life, but she was worried about what it would be like to make love to Jane in a way they had never experienced before. The night they were going to lose their virginity to each other, Maura had worried about whether Jane would like her body or if she'd be able to satisfy Jane, but after that first time Jane eased her worries. Jane loved her body and she loved Jane's. They both were able to satisfy each other sexually even if they were slightly awkward at first. But that night brought new insecurities for Maura. What if Jane didn't like the way she tasted? What if Jane was disgusted when she went down on her? Even worse, what if she didn't like the way Jane tasted? Would she have to continue until Jane had an orgasm? I can't hurt her feelings, Maura thought. I love her and loving her means loving all of her. Then there was the possibility of Jane being inside of her. She wondered if Jane would start with one finger or two. Would she be gentle? Maura had found herself obsessing over the length of her girlfriend's fingers on more than one occasion and how she'd be able to use them on her, but even though she wanted to have Jane inside of her, she worried about Jane penetrating her too deeply.

Jane was due to arrive in less than a half an hour and with her friends going out for the sole purpose of giving Maura time alone with Jane, Maura went to work on creating a romantic atmosphere in her dorm. She wanted everything to be perfect down to the last detail because, before the night ended, she was going to tell Jane that she loved her. Her friends had told her it was too soon, but Maura couldn't hold the feeling inside of her any longer. She had to tell Jane and she hoped Jane was feeling the same way she was.

In a matter of minutes, Maura's dorm room was transformed into their own honeymoon suite complete with candles on her desk and dresser and rose petals arranged in the shape of a heart on top of her bed. All that was left was for Maura to get dressed. She had never worn lingerie and she knew Jane wanted her even if she didn't wear it, but that night wearing lingerie felt appropriate. Maura Isles had gone from feeling like an awkward girl to being a sensual woman over the course of a semester and she knew this transformation was because of Jane.

Just as she had put the finishing touches on her slightly teased hair, Maura heard a knock at the door. Before answering, she quickly checked her appearance in front of the bathroom mirror. Her black thigh-highs were still in place and the left strap on her sheer negligee was hanging off her shoulder just as she had hoped.

"Come in," she said once she had positioned herself near the arranged rose petals on her bed.

The room may have been only illuminated by candlelight, but it was all Maura needed to know that her girlfriend had been pleasantly surprised. She had forgotten that she wasn't wearing any panties under her negligee when she sat up with her legs slightly spread. "Jane?" she asked, but Jane was rendered speechless. "Babe?"

"Where's my girlfriend?" Jane said jokingly. "Her name is Maura and the last time we had sex she was wearing a pair of Rainbow Brite panties that she had bought with Markie for nostalgic reasons."

"I love my Rainbow Brite panties," Maura said defensively.

"I know you do," Jane responded. She tried her hardest not to look between Maura's legs, but she couldn't resist. "I'm just saying you aren't wearing them or any."

"Jane!" Maura knew Jane would be getting an even closer look at her, but she was still embarrassed that she had let herself be consumed by her libido. "All she has to do is walk into the room and my legs automatically spread."

"Is that bad?" Jane smirked.

"I said that aloud?"

"Afraid so," Jane told her. "But, for the record, I like when your legs spread for me."

Once again, Maura was grateful for the levity that her girlfriend added to situations just to make Maura feel at ease. "I attempted to create a romantic atmosphere for you."

"It's…nice," Jane said hesitantly as she looked around at the candles and the rose petals arranged on top of the bed. "I'm sorry I didn't notice them earlier, but I'm a horny teenage girl and all I can focus on right now is my girlfriend with her legs spread."

"Jane?"

"Yes, babe?"

"Can you help me blow out the candles?" Maura asked worriedly. "Markie and I got our microwave taken away because we burned something and the smoke detectors went off. The entire building had to be evacuated. If it happens one more time, we're banned from campus housing next semester."

Jane and Maura hurriedly blew out the candles, but Jane couldn't help sneaking a peak as her girlfriend slightly bent over to blow out the one on her desk. The image had been forever etched in her mind even as they stood in the middle of her dorm in complete darkness.

"Can we turn the light on?" Jane asked. "I want to look at you when we make love."

It was a simple request, but the reason Jane wanted the light on was yet even more proof of why Jane was a perfect girlfriend and why she was ready to take the next step with her.

"Is there anything you want to talk about?" Maura asked.

"I don't know," Jane shrugged. "I just want to make sure you're ready and you're not doing this because you feel like you have to. I asked you to be my girlfriend, but it wasn't because I want us to do things to each other."

"I know," Maura insisted. "That's not why I want to do this either. Being your girlfriend just makes it all the more intimate. I want to satisfy you in every way I can because I love you."

"You love me?" Jane asked in disbelief.

"I do," Maura confessed. "I love you, Jane. I know it's soon, but—"

"No," Jane insisted. "It's not soon and even if it is it doesn't matter. I love you, too, Maura. I've been wanting to tell you, but Mark said to wait because I might sound clingy and I don't want to be a clingy girlfriend."

"You're not a clingy girlfriend," Maura reassured her. "You're a perfect girlfriend. My friends were surprised by how quickly I fell in love with you. They asked me if I was absolutely certain, except they were crude, as usual. Stash said, 'There's one question that will determine if you truly love Jane' and then she proceeded to ask, 'If crocodiles ate Jane's face, would you still want to be her girlfriend?'"

"What did you say?" Jane asked. "And why would I put myself in a situation where a crocodile could eat my face? Were there just two crocodiles or are we talking about an entire group? Because, if it's even more than one crocodile, I think they'd eat more than just my face. I might not even have limbs, Maura, or a torso. I might not even have a head."

"I said I'd still be your girlfriend," Maura happily responded. "Even if you didn't have a head. I'm sorry…that came out wrong."

"Well, that puts my mind at ease even if it's a little creepy," Jane said jokingly. "If I ever get my face eaten by a crocodile, I'll still have the girl I love. Mark had a question, too, but his wasn't as creative. Remember, this is Mark we're talking about. He asked, and I quote, 'If she never put out again or even let you touch her rack, would you still want to be with her?' Not quite the same as crocodiles eating my face, but I think you get the point."

"You don't have to worry about that," Maura insisted. "I'm always turned on around you."

"Always?" Jane asked.

"See for yourself," Maura insisted.

She had wondered how Jane was going to react to what she had just requested. Would she start laughing? Would she be unsure about what she should do? Without hesitation, Jane put her hand between Maura's legs and felt her arousal coat her fingers.

Maura watched as Jane then licked her wetness off of her fingers. When she noticed her girlfriend was actually savoring her flavor instead of feeling obligated to taste her, Maura felt her insecurities fade away.

"I love the way you taste," Jane whispered into her ear. Her words awakened an animalistic urge within Maura. While Jane was preoccupied with kissing her neck, Maura quickly undid the button on Jane's jeans.

"Can I?" Maura asked, hoping she wasn't pushing her limits.

"Maura, we've done this," Jane reminded her. "You're my girlfriend and you can touch me whenever you want."

"I have something else in mind. Do you trust me?"

"What are you go—"

"Do you trust me?" Maura interrupted. "I don't want to go any further until I know you trust me and, if at any time you're uncomfortable, I want you to tell me."

"Okay," Jane said nervously. She was wondering what Maura had in mind. Thoughts of whips and handcuffs filled her head and she wasn't sure she was up for whatever Maura had planned. She's your girlfriend, Jane, and she loves you. She isn't going to hurt you, but she was taken from her thoughts when Maura forcefully pulled down her jeans and her underwear. She had expected whatever Maura had planned to take place in bed, but Jane was standing in the middle of Maura's dorm room with her jeans and underwear around her ankles until Maura finally allowed her to step out of them and put them aside. When Maura remained on her knees, looking up at her, Jane instantly knew what she was in for. Be cool, Jane. Don't act too excited.

"Babe, don't break eye contact with me," Maura insisted. "It'll heighten the experience."

Jane watched as her girlfriend gripped her thighs and looked up at her for reassurance. She didn't need Jane to say anything, but she needed to know that Jane was ready. Jane tucked Maura's hair behind her ears and Maura took it as a sign that her girlfriend was ready.

Maura felt how much Jane trembled when her tongue came in contact with her clit. It was a slow teasing at first as Maura prepared herself for what she should do next. It was her first experience with oral sex and she wasn't sure how she was supposed to go about doing this. After a few maneuvers of her tongue, she decided it was best to stay in tune with Jane and keep doing whatever Jane responded to. Her tongue slowly circled Jane's clit until she was certain her girlfriend wasn't too sensitive. She had worried about not liking the way Jane tasted, but in matter of seconds Maura knew she was already addicted to Jane's flavor. Not only was it a sign of how aroused her girlfriend was, but it was a flavor that was uniquely Jane's and, as her girlfriend, Maura was the only girl who could taste this unique flavor. When Maura gently ran her tongue back and forth across Jane's clit, the two of them broke eye contact for the first time. Her girlfriend's head was slightly tossed back and Maura closed her eyes as she savored what Jane tasted like. Jane's moans and the fact that she was holding on to the back of Maura's head further aroused Maura. She wanted to please Jane, but she also felt a throbbing sensation between her legs that intensified with every noise Jane made. No longer able to control her urges, Maura removed one of her hands from Jane's thighs and used it to pleasure herself. The harder and faster she rubbed herself, the more intensely and thoroughly she licked Jane until she felt her girlfriend's entire body start to tense. With Maura's lips pursed around Jane's clit, gently sucking on her girlfriend, Jane had reached her climax. Maura Isles, you're a swallower, she thought as she felt Jane's fluids pass down her throat.

Jane wanted to ask where her girlfriend had learned how to do something like that, but she remembered that Maura had been pleasuring herself and she wasn't going to let her girlfriend finish herself off. Making her girlfriend come was always an ego boost for Jane, but it was about more than her ego or simply getting Maura off this time. Maura was the girl she loved and she was ready for a new form of intimacy with her.

Jane held out her hand to help Maura off of her knees. Maura had expected a kiss, but instead Jane lifted her up and playfully dropped her onto the bed. "It's your turn. I've been wanting to go down on you since the night I met you."

"You said you weren't ready that night," Maura reminded her. She tried to stifle a giggle, but she couldn't control it when Jane started to sloppily kiss her on the neck. She knew it was Maura's ticklish spot and Jane could never resist making her girlfriend giggle.

"I wasn't ready," Jane agreed. "But that doesn't mean I don't fantasize about it every night."

"What else do you fantasize about?" Maura asked.

"I already told you something I fantasize about. Now, it's your turn."

Maura knew there was no need for her to be shy, but she couldn't help it. "I fantasize about feeling you inside of me."

"You want me to—"

"Yes," Maura said softly. "You and I would literally be connected."

Not having done this before, even to herself, Jane wasn't sure where she was supposed to insert her fingers. After what felt like an eternity of fumbling, Jane decided to speak up. "Babe, I can't find your hole."

"What?" Maura asked in disbelief. "Jane, are you saying you can't find the opening of my vagina?"

Jane wished she could hide her face with Maura's pillow. "It sounds worse when you put it that way."

"Don't be embarrassed," Maura insisted. As was their usual position, Maura wrapped her legs around Jane's waist to hold her body as closely and securely to hers as she could. Jane lowered her upper body so her lips could meet Maura's. There was a new flavor on Maura's lips and tongue and it dawned on Jane that this new flavor was her.

"I love you so much," Jane said as she continued to look into Maura's eyes.

Maura tucked a few strands of hair behind Jane's ears so there was no longer anything obstructing the view of Jane's beautiful, dark eyes. "I love you, too, and we're going to get better at this."

"Even if we don't, I'm so in love with you that it doesn't matter," Jane admitted.

Maura was grateful that the two of them were on the same page. Jane had her insecurities just as she did, but they could work through them together. "You and I are still so new to this and we're learning what sex is and what feels good and what doesn't, but we're learning together, Jane. That's what's important. My love for you isn't dependent on how many orgasms I have. If we never had sex again, I'd still be in love with you and I'd still want to spend every day with you."

"Even if crocodiles ate my face?" Jane quipped.

"Even if crocodiles ate your face," Maura reassured her.

"I love you, Maurfriend."

"I love you even more, Janefriend."

As content as Maura was with cuddling, Jane remembered that her girlfriend hadn't had an orgasm. Maura may have just given her a talk about how it didn't matter, but it mattered to Jane because she wanted Maura to feel as good as Maura had made her feel just minutes ago.

Jane grabbed the hem of Maura's neligee and lifted it up above her waist so she could get a look at her girlfriend. Her swollen clit and the sensitivity Maura felt with a gentle touch made it evident for Jane that Maura was still aroused. Maura was looking at the ceiling for reasons unknown to Jane. Maybe she was anticipating what Jane was about to do. Maybe she was nervous. Regardless, Jane used one hand to spread Maura's lips and the other to hold Maura's hand for reassurance.

It was the moment Jane had fantasized about night after night and she couldn't believe it was about to happen. Jane was eager—maybe too eager—but she knew it was best if she took her time instead of going down on Maura with reckless abandon like she had fantasized. Jane Rizzoli, you are so gay. You are so very, very gay. With that in mind, she leaned in to lick her girlfriend for the very first time. Just as she had hoped, tasting Maura came naturally to Jane not because she thought she had any particular skill but because she had so much love for Maura.

Maura responded to every movement of Jane's tongue. She clutched her bed sheets at first, but the harder Jane's tongue stroked her, the more vocal and frenzied Maura became until she unknowingly pulled Jane's hair. Jane had to hold her still as Maura felt her orgasm wrack her body, but unfortunately for Jane she was unable to keep her from clenching her thighs.

"Babe?" Jane called out to get her attention. "My head isn't a walnut. You don't need to crack it."

Maura couldn't believe what she had just done. "I'm sorry," Maura tried to say, but she and Jane had already exploded into a fit of laughter. When Maura playfully pulled Jane next to her, the two of them began laughing all over again.

"You tried to kill me," Jane teased. "My girlfriend is a black widow. You kill after you mate."

"That's a myth," Maura pointed out. She wanted to explain why, but the more she thought about herself as a black widow, the harder it was for her to be serious.

"What?" Jane asked. "It's a myth that they kill or that you kill? I have firsthand experience that you kill after mating. I should make a shirt that says 'I survived sex with Maura Isles.'"

"And I'll make one that says, 'Jane Rizzoli can't find my vagina,'" Maura added.

"That's low," Jane gasped. "That stays between us. You better not tell Markie because she'll tell Mark and then I'll never hear the end of it."

"Deal," Maura said. "Pinky swear?"

"Pinky swear," Jane agreed. The two of them linked their pinkies until Jane noticed the difference in colorful beads on the wall. "You're beating Roxie now?"

"By five beads," Maura said proudly. "Six now. We should high-five."

"We should definitely high-five!" Jane said enthusiastically. "Maura, I'm being perfectly honest when I say that strand of beads is the best collaborative effort I've ever been a part of and I hope we continue to work together. Perhaps dinner followed by yet another collaborative effort in your backseat?"

As much as Maura wanted to stay in, her friends were due to arrive in an hour, which meant they would no longer have any privacy, and going out to dinner with Jane followed by a few hours in the backseat sounded like the perfect way to end their night together.

While Jane got dressed, Maura grabbed a pair of panties and a bra from her dresser. "More Rainbow Brite?" Jane groaned. "Maura."

"Yours are Batman," Maura pointed out.

"But Batman is—"

"There's no defending Batman or Rainbow Brite," Maura interrupted. "We're going underwear shopping and then to dinner and then we'll have time in the backseat."