Disclaimer: All recognizable Rizzoli & Isles characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners including, but not limited to Tess Gerritsen, Janet Tamaro and TNT. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this fan fiction story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No financial gain is associated with the publishing of this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: This is the longest chapter thus far and the most steamy. As one of the reviews noted, I find this approach (slow burn) quite realistic. As much as I love writing smut and especially the variety that ends with Jane and Maura jumping into bed together after suddenly realizing their feelings, I don't think it would ever happen that way. They are both too cerebral. Thanks for reading! -DKC
Slow and Steady – Chapter 6
"Dammit!" Jane slapped the roof of the car as she opened her door and slid into the seat.
She had walked through most of the Boston Police Department parking garage trying to cool off and yet she was still hot under the collar. She didn't know where to place the blame for her anger. She was stupid to think she and Maura could ever become more than just best friends. It was flirting, right? The touching, the kisses, the long looks that spoke volumes. Just flirting. Right.
"Shit!" Jane gripped the steering wheel and lowered her forehead to rest against it.
When she had gone to visit Maura in her office, she had every intention of asking her out to dinner. A date? Maybe. But at the very least she'd be having dinner in good company. She found herself wanting to spend more and more time with her best friend. She found herself wanting more than that, of course. And then she was brought back to reality when she walked into Maura's office and saw a huge bouquet of flowers on the corner of the doctor's desk. She never should have asked who sent them. She should have stayed the hell out of it. She asked. She wished she hadn't, but now she knew that the flowers were from Ian. She couldn't even process the words that were coming out of Maura's mouth. She turned and walked right out of Maura's office. She could hear Maura calling her name as she reached the stairwell, but she never turned back. She couldn't turn back. Ian—that bastard.
Jane was lost in thought, going over and over the events she had suddenly and inexplicably kissed her best friend for no other reason than she was being adorable. She didn't invent Maura's interest, did she? She didn't imagine the immense want shared between them, did she? Suddenly the sound of the passenger-side door opening sounded inordinately loud in the quiet parking garage. Despite what had just happened, she was surprised to see her friend getting into the car.
"What was that?" Maura asked with a furor that Jane hadn't seen directed at her by her friend in a very long time.
Jane sat there in silence contemplating what to say. She didn't know if she could even utter Ian's name, much less listen to Maura tell her they were back together. But Maura wasn't having any of Jane's silence. She slapped the back of her left hand against Jane's right shoulder to get her attention.
"What was it?" Maura's voice was becoming more irate. "Damn you!"
Maura had slapped at Jane's shoulder again and this time Jane reflexively caught Maura's wrist in her hand. When Maura's other hand came up to try to pull herself free of Jane, Jane grabbed her other wrist as well.
"Stop it!" The doctor demanded.
"What does he have that I don't, Maur?" Jane barked.
Maura was still squirming, attempting to get out of Jane's grip, but she was losing the battle to the detective. Until Jane said 'he', Maura had no idea what they were even fighting about.
"He's nothing," Maura asserted.
Maura was pulling her wrists toward her and this brought Jane's entire body with them. Before Jane could respond or hold her ground physically, Maura's lips were on hers.
The kiss was eager and fueled by Jane's rage and Maura's indignation. Jane released Maura's wrists and immediately those hands tangled in long dark hair. One hand held tight to the back of Jane's neck, pulling the brunette's mouth harder into her own so her tongue could reach all of the places she most wanted to taste. Jane's hands were on Maura's elbows, though she was caught between resisting the attack and pulling the doctor closer. Finally she gripped those elbows and pushed Maura back so that only a few inches separated them.
Jane looked at Maura and saw the pure desire she was feeling reflecting back at her. It was now her turn to attack Maura's mouth, pulling the doctor toward her. Jane had a hand on Maura's neck and a hand on the small of her back. She'd pulled the doctor almost entirely out of her seat as she kissed her furiously. Maura pushed Jane back and fell back toward her side of the car. She was leaning back, almost lying back toward the door when Jane's hand gripped her left hip. Maura's medical training told her that the pressure Jane was administering there would leave a bruise. She didn't care. She forced herself up and pulled Jane by the lapels of her jacket, kissing her fiercely and without compunction.
In the heat of their kiss, Jane had wrapped her left arm around Maura's low back and was pulling the doctor back toward her. Maura was now positioned face to face with Jane in the driver's seat, with her right hipbone between Jane's thighs and her back to the steering wheel. The kissing was frenzied and neither woman could have stopped in that moment if they absolutely had to.
Maura let out a quiet moan when she felt Jane's right hand slide from the place on Maura's low back that Jane often guided her into a room with to a place much lower on her ass. Her best friend was palming her ass and it was the most incredible feeling. As their kissing was becoming sloppy with want and need, Maura's mouth attached to Jane's neck and she reached for the hand Jane was gripping her ass with. She took that hand, brought it around front and parted her thighs slightly. She directed Jane's hand to her center where Jane obediently cupped Maura. Jane knew precisely how to apply pressure where Maura needed it, Maura's tight jeans allowing an unobstructed path to do so.
Soon their lips were back on one another's and Maura's hand was holding on to Jane's neck for dear life. Maura's hips rocked into Jane's hand and Jane let out a groan. The pressure was increasing. The doctor knew that if she didn't put an end to this, her body's reaction would not be stoppable. She knew she was approaching the edge and she knew that she didn't want to go over that edge in the car. Not like this. Her only option was to push back on Jane and rotate her hips so she could ease back toward her own side of the car. It wasn't until her ass met the passenger seat of the car that they broke their kiss.
Both women just looked at each other. Maura attempted to smooth her shirt and jacket while Jane did nothing but gawk at the woman before her. Neither knew what to say.
"He's nothing," Maura whispered as she leaned her head back against the headrest and wiped the hair from her eyes.
"You said that," Jane muttered, looking at Maura with a stunned look on her face.
"I sent him a donation for his organization with a note asking that we be professional and interact as colleagues and no longer personal acquaintances," Maura spoke with what sounded like an already established detachment to Ian.
"I…" the detective remained stunned. "I overreacted."
"Yes, you did. They were simply a thank you for the donation and a once more for old time's sake sentiment. It will never happen again," Maura explained, looking ahead at the cement pillars of the parking garage.
"I'm sorry, Maura," Jane mumbled.
Not knowing what else to do, Jane reached across the space between them and took Maura's hand in her own, intertwining their fingers. They sat like that for several minutes, minutes that felt like hours, until a car horn in the parking structure startled them.
"I need to go back in. I'm expecting some results," Maura stated quietly, not looking at Jane.
Jane let go of Maura's hand and reached over to pull the door lever for Maura. As she reached over, their closeness allowed Jane to press a soft kiss to Maura's cheek. Nothing more. Then she watched as her friend got out of the car and walked back toward the elevator bay.