Warm. Happy. Loved. Sated. Euphoric.

Those are the most prominent sensations that encompass me as I wake.

Yesterday was amazing. Last night was...indescribable.

On the few occasions when I actually allowed myself to think about making love with Maura...I imagined a kind of awkward experience. Lord knows I haven't had any sexual encounters with other women, and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to figure out what she needed. I wanted to make her feel amazing and I didn't know how.

Thankfully, my concerns were futile.

Our progression throughout the evening and into the night was seamless. We weren't like puzzle pieces snapping together...more like two threads being sewn into the same fabric. No gaps...not even a semblance of them.

There was sighing, giggling, and moaning. But there were also plenty of hushed questions, answers, and reassurances.

We took our time, mapping each others bodies like a newly discovered land. As we gained confidence, our transitions lost all hesitancy. By the time the stormy sky began to lighten with the rising sun and we were both too exhausted to continue, we had composed a flawless symphonic masterpiece from our adoration and devotion to each other.

Rumbles of thunder and the steady drone of rain hitting the roof of our villa coxes me from my heavenly slumber.

My eyes stay shut as I enjoy the delicious ache of my well loved body. I've never felt this relaxed in my life. It's like my muscles have turned to jelly and my bones have been disjointed from one another.

I let out a contented hum as I stretch my arm out in search of the warm body of my new lover. However, I find only empty sheets.

I open my eyes and look around the airy bedroom. Maura is not here.

My mind takes off in a nervous sprint. Was it real? Could it all have been a glorious but heartbreaking dream?

No. No, that doesn't make sense. I'm in Maura's room, in her bed, without a stitch of clothing on me.

Maybe she left. Was it a mistake? Does she regret it?

No, that's not right either. After last night, I will never doubt her love for me.

So...why am I alone? Is she okay? Could she be sick or hurt?

I'm on the verge of panicking when I notice a few quiet noises coming from the kitchen. I breathe a sigh of relief and smile at my unreasonable reaction to her absence.

I hop out of bed and secure a sheet around my naked form.

I know she's just in the other room, but I feel an urgent need to see her. So, I move hastily out of the bedroom and down the short hallway.

As I round the corner, I am struck with a welcomed sight.

Maura has her back to me and is standing by the counter in her silk robe. Her hair is up and I can see a love mark on the skin just below her ear.

She has prepared two glasses of juice, some bread and jam, and set out two small empty bowls. She looks to be busy cutting some melon to finish off our meal.

I quickly and silently glide across the room to stand right behind her. I wrap my arms around her waist.

She tenses for a split second before melting back into me.

"I hope you're hungry."

I can't see her face, but I can hear the satisfied smile in her voice. I rasp my response into her neck.

"Famished."

It's true. I'm starved...skin starved. It's going to take much more than one night with this woman to make up for all of the time I've missed.

I bring my mouth up to her ear and gently pull its lobe between my teeth.

She shivers and I feel the vibrations wash into my own body like an ocean wave meeting the shore.

Finished with her task, she sets the knife in the sink and turns in my arms. The look in her eyes sets my skin ablaze.

I'm a willing victim as she takes possession of my face and kisses me with a passion that sends every detail of the previous night racing through my mind. My eyes flutter shut and I allow my senses to be overloaded with everything Maura.

When she pulls back, I open my eyes and try to follow her lips with my own. However, she stops me with a soft but insistent hand on my chest. My brow furrows in confusion.

She has a devious smile on her face and her voice is teasing.

"Food, Jane. I'm hungry."

She tries to free herself from my embrace, but I won't be thwarted that easily. I press her back against the counter and place my hands on the hard surface on either side of her.

I let my sheet drop.

She freezes.

Her eyes darken and her skin flushes as she shamelessly stares at my newly exposed flesh. She looks back up at my face and appears to have lost her playfulness.

"That's not fair."

I smirk and then hoist her up to sit on the surface that she's been trapped against. She gasps at the suddenness of her relocation.

I mischievously look into her eyes as I slowly untie her robe and slide it open.

In our current position, she's taller than me. I don't mind because it means that I'm eye level with one of my favorite parts of her body. I make use of my vantage point and begin to nip her chest, then soothe the bites with lascivious kisses.

Her fingers weave through my hair and massage my scalp as she tenderly holds me against her, humming her approval of my exertion.

When I'm convinced that the area has been thoroughly attended to, I lift my head and give her a cocky grin.

Through her obvious arousal, she manages to put an adorable pout on her face.

"I'm still hungry."

I reach beside her and grab a piece of fruit, then bring it to her lips.

My voice has gotten impossibly deep with the growing desire that I manage to restrain...for now.

"Can't have that. You'll need your strength for today's scheduled procedures, Doctor Isles."

After all, with rain pouring down outside, what other activities could we possibly busy ourselves with?

I think I'm doing a good job of taking control of the situation; until she consumes the fruit that I am offering.

She opens her mouth and closes it around the melon, as well as my fingers.

I feel my jaw go slack as I stare at my imprisoned appendages.

Slowly...so...so slowly, she begins to pull her mouth back.

I feel her tongue swirl around my index finger before finally releasing it with a barely audible 'pop'.

"Oh, God."

My exclamation is breathless. I've never experienced a mixture of ice and fire like the one I am in this moment. Every inch of my body is frozen in place, but the fiery passion that has been steadily burning me increases in intensity by tenfold.

She smiles down at me with the most guilty-innocent expression I have ever seen.

"More please."

When I finally manage to reclaim my basic motor functions, I pick up another piece of fruit and we repeat the process.

We stay in this position while I feed her breakfast. Every bite of food somehow manages to be more erotic than the last.

After several more bites, she leans forward and gives me a kiss. Her lips are sweet from the melon and jam, but mostly from the nectar that is her own unique taste.

"I believe I'm full."

By this time, my breathing is uneven and I'm shaking with need. My voice is slightly strained as I fight the urge to devour her, right here, right now.

"Good. Now, what about my breakfast?"

She tilts her head to the side and quirks a curious eyebrow.

"What would you like to have?"

As if she doesn't already know.

I push the robe off her shoulders and the article of clothing separates from her completely. Then, I wrap her legs around my waist and pick her up off the counter. My lips drop to the space over her heart and I leave a lingering kiss.

I whisper my response into her skin.

"Just you."

She takes hold of my chin and lifts my face to hers.

We share a promising kiss and I walk us back to the bedroom.

Just in the nick of time.

I'm starving.

A/N: Was the chapter satisfying? It sure was for Jane and Maura. If you've read my other fic That Smile, you may have noticed some similarities between it and this chapter. What can I say...there's just something about a sexy kitchen scene... As always, thank you so, so much for reading! I really don't think I can express how much your favorites, follows, and reviews mean to me. The best I can do is tell you that they are my source of inspiration. When I lose sight of the story's direction, I read reviews from people who are really enjoying my efforts and it is truly uplifting. I am so grateful for the time you take to provide a response to my work. Thank you! -SJR