Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Rizzoli and Isles.
A/N: Thanks to my totally awesome beta for this story- marvelous-fanwriter!
Four
Jane tried to pull her hands from Maura's, so that she could think, so that she could breathe. "But I don't understand."
"I love you too Jane and I want you too." Maura let Jane's hands go slowly, reluctance showing in her eyes.
"You aren't just saying that because I've been on my deathbed for the past few days?" Jane tried to crack a joke, ease the tension in the air. She just needed to catch her breath.
"No." Maura spoke quickly, reassuring herself as much as she did Jane.
"Why then?"
Maura pulled the blanket to her chest, fingers playing with the ribbed edge. "I don't know. Why do you love me?"
"Your smile, your hair, your mind…You frustrate me to no end but it only makes me love you more. I don't know…" Jane shrugged helplessly, she didn't really understand her feelings herself.
"I can see it in your eyes." Maura spoke softly, her voice muffled by the duvet.
Jane blinked. Her eyes widened and she tried to let Maura in. She had so much buried deep inside her and she let it bubble to the surface. What could she see in Maura's eyes? Could she find the answers to her many questions?
She saw the love.
She saw lust.
She saw her unspeakable beauty shinning up and out.
Not so much answers, but possibilities.
Even in the shadowy light Maura could see her friend's eyes burning with something other than fever. Something spilled up and out from the depths of those dark orbs. It seduced her, made her forget her reservations.
Jane was inching closer, her eyes sucking Maura in as brown eyes searched hazel.
Maura broke the eye contact and her glance fell upon the perfect lips so close to her own.
Jane followed her gaze, then brushed the pad of her thumb over Maura's full lips. They tingled, going almost numb with pleasure.
"Jane." Maura wasn't sure if the single pleading word came out at all.
"I'm sick." Jane protested but she was closer now, her breath hot on Maura's cheek.
"You said you were fine." Maura ventured a hand out to feel Jane's forehead, then ran her fingers through her hair where they tangled and she could pull Jane even closer.
"I am." Jane closed the gap. She pressed her lips to Maura's, hesitantly, sweetly.
Maura relaxed her hold on the duvet to reach for Jane's hand. They fingers entwined and traced patterns that were mimicked by their lips, their tongues.
Jane pulled the covers out of the way and grabbing Maura's hips, pulled them flush to hers. "Maura, you're so tiny. So sweet, so perfect."
The taller woman curved around her and Maura could feel herself itching to touch, to feel. "It's a simple biological…" She managed.
"Maura…"Jane silenced her with a kiss.
She broke it with an almost giggle, a deep and throaty bubbling laugh, "Maura," She ground out between kisses, "How much fun am I going to have getting you to stop being all medical text Maura."
"I may just have to do it on purpose." The response was so quick and unexpected, both woman burst into laughter, clutching each other.
Maura lay with her head on Jane's shoulder, the other woman playing absentmindedly with her hair. The room was filled with a dreamlike silver grey light, that of the early morning just before the sun begins its climb in the sky.
"Do you want to tell me about your dream?"
"Not really." Jane sighed, "They just tried to take you away from me, it was terrifying."
Maura tightened her grip on Jane, "Would you have ever told me how you felt?"
"If I hadn't had that dream, you mean?" She stopped smoothing the honey blonde curls.
"Yes."
"I hope that I would have, not missed out on this." Jane shook her head against the pillow. "I didn't want to ruin your perfect life."
"My perfect life? It hasn't been perfect until now." Maura protested, shocked.
"There are implications…"
"Our friends will be ok with us and the rest of the world doesn't matter." Maura shrugged.
"It shouldn't, but I know it will. I'm not strong like you." Jane looked away.
"You are Jane, you're the strongest woman I know."
Jane's breath hitched and her hold tightened on Maura. "Not about this."
"We're in this together."
"Would you have ever told me?"
"Admitting my feelings to myself wasn't easy and I don't think I truly accepted it without your proclamation. I was waiting for some sign, some indication that you felt the same way about me. You've always been so…."
"I told you, I'm just not strong like you."
Maura sat up, straddling Jane's hips and cradling the other woman's face in her hands. She leaned forward and slanted her mouth over Jane's, finding the perfect angle. "You're strong Jane," She murmured against her mouth, "Let me see it. Open your eyes and show me. You are strong."
Jane's long eyelashes fluttered as she faced Maura's fiery gaze.
"I can see it Jane, your strength is there, just let it out."
"I… I'll try."
"Good." Maura gave her a smacking kiss, rolling off her and curling into Jane's side. She slipped a leg between Jane's, their bodies fitting together as they were meant to be. "Now close your eyes and go to sleep."
"You're bossy, you know."
Maura nodded, the ends of her hair tickling Jane's shoulder.
"I love that about you, you know."
Maura snuggled closer in response, a tantalizing impossibility.
A/N: Real life got in the way of this update so I thank you all for sticking with me : )