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: The rating for this chapter is more T than M. I'm uncertain of when to change the rating on the site entirely to M. Any suggestions? More M to come, likely in the next chapter. Thank you again for your kind reviews. You guys are awesome! -DKC
Slow and Steady – Chapter 11
Jane and Maura went to bed that night with more questions than answers. Jane was satisfied physically, but her mind ran wild with what all of this meant. Should she have offered to satisfy Maura in the way she clearly had been on the couch? She didn't get that vibe from her friend. The ever-analytical doctor had many questions of her own, though she couldn't voice any of them to Jane as they crawled into bed. It wasn't awkward between them, it was just different from all of the other times they'd shared a bed. They both knew that what had happened that night on Maura's couch was the symbolic beginning of something that had been building for years. They both knew that they were finally nearing what they had separately wanted, but jointly never dared speak of.
When Maura woke the next morning, she wasn't entirely surprised to find the other side of the bed empty. However, Jane hadn't run. The sound of the shower in the en suite reassured Maura that Jane wanted last night as much as she did. How two women with the same feelings and desires could be unsure of how to proceed was a mystery to Maura. She had never been as stumped as she found herself lying in bed that morning.
"Morning," Jane said, bringing Maura back to the surface after she'd plunged deep into her own head.
The detective was rubbing a towel through her wet hair as another towel barely covered her long torso. The doctor found the image incredibly sexy and a small grin on her face betrayed her.
"It's a towel, Maur," Jane joked.
"Not much of one," came the flirtatious reply.
Jane walked around to the side of the bed where Maura was now sitting upright and sat down near her legs. She slowly leaned in and kissed Maura's lips. The tenderness in the kiss was both reassuring and hopeful.
"Good morning, Jane."
"Do you have any plans this evening?" the brunette asked, her usual confidence absent.
"Hmm…" Maura thought about it as she leaned in to kiss the detective once more. "I don't believe I do."
"Let me take you to dinner?" Jane requested.
"Of course."
"Don't dress too fancy," Jane insisted. "You know, none of those 5-inch heels or anything."
Jane's dimples were now on full display and Maura knew exactly why. She'd seen Jane admiring her legs when she wore 5-inch heels. She knew that Jane found her strong calves and tight butt incredibly attractive.
"I suppose I'll have to find another way to show off my legs," Maura retorted.
"Just make sure you wear something that can't be ruined by grass."
Maura raised her eyebrow, immensely curious about the grass, but Jane was not giving anything away. In an attempt to get the brunette to spill, Maura reached her hand to place where Jane's towel was tucked near her clavicle and released it. Jane caught it just before it fell low enough to reveal her nipples. Maura leaned in and ran her tongue down the length of Jane's cleavage and back up again.
"You don't play fair!" Jane husked, pulling Maura into a bruising kiss.
"You play hard to get," Maura said when she surfaced for air.
The two women sat with their foreheads pressed together on Maura's bed until they heard the back door open downstairs.
"You get in the shower, I'll go say good morning to Ma," Jane rolled her eyes at the absurdity of her mother's timing.
"You sure you wouldn't rather join me?" Maura teased as she walked toward the bathroom.
"Not with my mother in the house. Rain check?" Jane winked at Maura and began searching for clothes.
The doctor stripped out of her pajamas and stepped in the shower with a huge smile on her face. The great Detective Jane Rizzoli had just asked her on a date.