See Ch 1 for disclaimers…
The lights were off in the kitchen, the counters clean and the assembled torte in the refrigerator. The coffee table was covered in empty containers and the entire space smelled like sugar and warm vanilla.
Jane was sprawled at the end of her couch, feet curled under her, leaning against the arm. Maura had somehow ended up against her, using the side of her thigh like a table in deference to Jo who was stretched out at the other end, snoring.
Maura leaned over to put her empty plate on the coffee table and settled back against Jane, sipping at her beer, absently resting an elbow on Jane's thigh. She shifted to lean a little closer, enjoying the quiet and the warmth.
"Now you owe me dinner." When Maura looked up at her, confusion wrinkling her forehead, Jane pointed to where Maura was.
"Oh!" Maura straightened up ready to move over when Jane grabbed her arm and stopped her.
Jane met her eyes evenly, relaxed. "I never said that I didn't like it. I'm comfortable."
"Yes but I'm leaning all over you." Muscles stiff, Maura considered their positions and tried to figure out where to put her hand.
Jane looped an arm around Maura's shoulders and pulled her firmly back down. "I'm a big girl, relax, I can take it. Besides, I think it is safe to say I owe you after this. The least I can do is play body pillow."She let out a sigh when Maura eased back against her. "Although nobody in my family is going to buy for a second that I made that cake. I'll have to fess up it was you."
"If you applied a little patience you could have managed on your own."The weight of Jane's arm eased the last of her tension and Maura slid down against Jane a little more, resting her beer bottle on Jane's knee. "I think you could get away with it."
"Ha. No. You forget Teresa has known me my entire life. A couple of round layers and canned frosting? Sure, or at least a maybe. A 7-layer torte with a foo-foo name? Not on your life." Jane rubbed the shoulder under her hand with her thumb. "And after they taste it they'll want to trade me in for you. Make you an honorary American Italian."
"No they wouldn't. Your family loves you." Jane's quiet snort was not lost on Maura and she reached out to put her beer on the table so she could rub Jane's knee. "You have a lot of people that love you for who you are." Jane didn't respond but she was still stroking her shoulder. "Besides, I believe your mother already has."
Jane stilled her hand. "My mother has what?"
"Turned me into an honorary American Italian."
Jane considered the thought, realized where Maura was at the moment and laughed as she sipped her drink. "She really did, didn't she? Sorry." Jane gave Maura a slight, one armed, hug in apology. "Normally women only meet that fate when they are born into it or stupidly decide to marry into it." She chuckled. "I might have the birthright but I completely fail as one."
"Fail as what?" It was tempting to look up but the weight of Jane's arm was making Maura realize how close they were actually sitting. She stared out the window into the dark city night.
Jane shifted to the side a little more, pulling Maura with her. "A nice, marriageable, American Italian woman."
"No you don't." Maura punctuated each word with a poke at Jane's thigh, feeling the surface give slightly under the pressure.
"I did. I do. You were here tonight, correct? This isn't all my imagination or some bad, though rather graphic nightmare? It was a boxed mix Maura." Jane groaned. "I flunked putting together a boxed mix."
"You are very marriageable and as far as baking as a qualification, you have other strengths." Maura struggled a bit with the phrasing, not daring to look up. "I know I admire all of them." When Jane remained silent, curiosity won over discretion and she couldn't resist glancing up. Jane seemed to be intently focused on her living room window as she sipped her beer. Maura rubbed Jane's knee. "You know, I still cannot understand this entire situation with your family. Frankie doesn't feel like he has to cook something to belong."
"Frankie's a boy. It doesn't apply to him." Jane shrugged and gave a humorless laugh as she dropped her head back against the couch and dared a glance out of the corner of her eye. Maura's expression shifted, her eyes darting away before meeting hers again. "Don't look at me like that. I'm serious. It is just the way it is. Remember this conversation and ask his future wife how it goes for her."
Jane sat up a little as she considered the situation. "Though you know, you got into this mess with my family because of me. Plus like you said, Ma already made you an honorary American Italian." Pleased laughter bubbled up. "So you know what? This was my last cake. I'm off the hook from here on out."
"I'm not sure I'm following your logic." Maura tried to pick out clues but Jane was looking at her intently. She felt like she was missing an important part of the dialogue.
Maura was studying her and Jane felt restless under the scrutiny, deciding it was easier to go back to watching the streetlight through the window. "It's simple. You have to promise that you'll go to every future Rizzoli family event and I'm free from that entire mess."
"Jane, I'm honestly confused. Free from what?" Maura resisted the urge to grab Jane's chin and force her to look at her.
"Never having to go into that kitchen and hear endless tales about sales at the local mall or anything about anybody's medical condition." Jane grinned. "I'll hang out with the guys in front of the TV, while the wife hen-party goes on in the kitchen."
"This benefits me how?" Maura considered the situation. "Besides the fact that this entire social structure is illogical, if for a moment, I ascribed to your fantasy, you seem to be negating an important fact. We are not married. I believe that is required to turn me into a wife in the kitchen."
"Possibly a technicality, but it's legal in MA so I'm not worried." Jane laughed, trying to imagine the speed in which the news would travel relative to relative. "Can you even imagine how that one would go over with all of them?" Jane laughed harder. "Oh the scandal would be epic. I can't even imagine stirring that up. No way, no how."
When she realized she was laughing alone, Jane glanced down at Maura. She flinched at the expression looking back at her. Maura was wearing that smooth, walled off façade. She despised that look. Rapidly flashing though the possible causes she took a tentative guess at what might be causing it. "Until they tasted that cake and then they'd thank their lucky stars I had the good sense to figure out where I belong in that whole mess."
The words had been rushed and when something swirled through Maura's eyes and between them Jane ripped her gaze away. Chewing the side of her thumb, she tried to shift the focus of the conversation again. "I think they worry I'm a genetic defect. Sometimes I think they're right."
Maura grabbed Jane's knee hard and squeezed. "I don't like it when you say things like that so please stop. You are you. You're Jane. Nobody wants you to change." She shook Jane's leg lightly. "Especially not me and I know your mother loves you and your family loves you. They feel the same way."
Jane's voice was gentle, contemplative. "I'm sorry I was a bitch earlier. I shouldn't take things out on you." When Maura went back to running a hand along her kneecap Jane knew she was listening. "I don't deserve you."
"No you don't. Certainly not after dealing with you today." Maura looked back up at Jane and they shared a quick smile before immediately looking away. "But I'm your best friend so that means I'm in it for the duration and there are plenty of times I don't deserve you."
Maura had stopped speaking and Jane slowly went back to stroking her shoulder. Maura stared at her own hand on Jane's leg. The silence and the smell of cake surrounded them.
Jane felt Maura's eyes back on her face. She resisted the urge to move away and tried to lighten the mood. "I have only one more problem." She glanced out of the corner of her eye. "All I can smell is cake in this place and I can't have any."
"Oh, that reminds me!" Maura slid out from under Jane's arm. "Don't move. I'll be right back."
Jane wasn't certain if she was relived or disappointed at the immediate loss of contact. And she wasn't entirely sure why she was feeling anything at all. Over the back of her couch she watched Maura chopping something before sticking a bowl in the microwave. In moments the sweet smell of vanilla and butter intensified. "That smells good. What is it?"
Maura sat back down beside Jane and handed her a bowl. "The leftover caramel topping. I almost forgot I brought some apples over so we could enjoy the extra as our own dessert." She picked an apple slice off the plate, swirled it through the topping and offered it to Jane.
Jane studied the slice for a moment before plucking it out of Maura's hand and popping it into her mouth. She rolled the caramel along her tongue. "God, you are the best substitute wife ever." She closed her eyes and chewed. "Forget me causing a family scandal. Teresa is going to want to marry you herself."
Maura couldn't help the pleased smile. "I take it you liked it? Is it good?"
"Better than good. Almost orgasmic." Jane grabbed another slice of apple and swirled it though the caramel, holding it up to Maura's lips. "Don't let me eat it all, here." It wasn't until Jane was pressing her fingertip against Maura's lips as she chewed that the action registered. She blinked at her finger for a second before grabbing another piece of apple and shoving it in her own mouth.
It was strange how a simple action could feel so intimate. Maura chewed slowly trying to understand the shifting dynamic. Tried to dissect why it was turning. "It did turn out well. I always love making this cake if only for the leftover topping." That truth at least felt safe.
Grabbing another bit of apple Jane dragged it through the caramel bowl, watching the shiny brown syrup part against the fruit before coming back together behind each swipe. "Where did you learn to make that cake? Was it some sort of weird class at boarding school? Ultra home-ec for geniuses or something?"
Rolling her eyes Maura reached over to dip a slice. "Hardly. I took baking classes when I finished my residency after college. All of a sudden I had spare time for the first time in my life." She chewed thoughtfully. "I thought at the time it would help me meet people and baking is truly more chemistry in nature. It appealed to me. Dobos Torte was featured in a pastry class. I failed the first few times I made it."
Jane raised an eyebrow and glanced over at her. "You failed at something? Do tell?"
Maura slapped Jane's thigh lightly. "Not everything comes perfectly for me the first time. The difference is I'm tenacious enough to keep at something I'm interested in. No matter how long it takes. You should understand. You apply the same skills to your job."
"So that's your secret huh? Patience and persistence? Bona fide high IQ not applicable?"Jane shifted onto her hip, until they were facing each other. "I don't know, I think knowledge of organic chemistry at the genius level was absolutely required for that cake. At one point you were definitely lecturing me on sugar crystallization." She looked down at the plate on Maura's lap. "Only one slice left. You can have it."
"Well if you had let that wet spoon touch my caramel sauce it would have become grainy." Maura dipped the slice and offered it. "Thank you but here, you may have it."
"No, you eat it." Jane grabbed her wrist and pushed the slice against Maura's lips, watching intently as Maura bit it in half before glancing up at Maura's eyes and they both quickly looked away as Maura took the remaining bite. Jane cleared her throat and held up the almost empty bowl. "Now that you fell for my master plan, I get to be the one to lick the bowl clean." She gave her a quick wink as she swiped up the caramel with her finger and sucked it off. "It's always the best part."
Maura wondered if she was more tired than she realized. She couldn't pull her eyes off where Jane's finger disappeared into her mouth. It was only when Jane paused, finger back in the bowl with a question in her eyes so Maura reached forward to wipe lightly at a spot of caramel at the corner of Jane's lips. "You had a spot there."
Jane blinked and dragged the tip of her tongue over the spot as she held bowl between them. "There's a little left. Want to share?"
Shaking her head rapidly, Maura pushed it down. "No, that is rather unsanitary. You're using your finger."
"Oh come on. It's the last little bit and I am going to let you have it." Jane scooped the small amount left out as she pushed off the back of the couch and loomed over Maura. Close enough to make out the bittersweet flecks in the hazel eyes. Close enough to see the wet shine her tongue left behind on her lips and her nostrils flare as she brought her finger closer to Maura's lips. "Live a little."
Maura just shook her head adamantly, color rising along her cheeks, trying not to squirm away, until finally it was too much and she turned her face.
With breathy triumphant laugh, Jane pulled back up. "Fine. Your loss." With a wink Jane went to stick her finger in her mouth only to have her wrist grabbed, the caramel coated digit suddenly encased in warmth.
Wide brown eyes coursed through shock, narrowed in awareness before dropping down, focused on where the tip of her finger dipped into Maura's mouth. Maura released Jane's wrist, surprised when Jane continued to stare to where her finger rested against her lower lip.
The surface was wet, warm and pliable. Jane looked at her finger. Tried to reconcile the sensations running through her. Looked up at Maura's flushed cheeks. Tried to understand the pound of her pulse radiating from the tip of her finger. Tried not to move closer when she looked up into Maura's eyes.
Maura's voice was quiet, almost desperate when Jane pulled her finger back only to press it along her lip. "Jane you are supposed to make a joke right now and move away."
Jane continued to trace her finger over Maura's lower lip. "Do you really want me to?"
Closing her eyes, Maura struggled for a moment feeling Jane lean closer. The finger traced the peak of her upper lip. "No."
"That's good because I really don't want to." The minute Maura opened her eyes, Jane let her finger drop. She stared at the spot, looked back up and her breath caught in her throat at the open invitation reflected back at her.
Her heart was pounding and Maura couldn't stop the shudder when Jane cupped her cheek before softly slipping down to cradle her jaw. She closed her eyes. It was agonizingly slow. The gentle brush of a nose against hers, the warm wash of faltering breath, the hesitant, trembling touch of lips covering her own.
She was shaking. Jane felt the minute brush of lips flash downward to tighten within her. She wanted to be certain. She wanted to be brave. She felt Maura press upward with a sigh that raced down her spine. Felt the exploratory tug at her bottom lip, beckoning her closer.
Maura was unbalanced, uncertain. This was not what tonight was supposed to be. Jane's fingers had crept into the hair at the base of her neck and tangled into her hair, tipping her head back, slowly discovering her mouth. The lingering smell of vanilla and sweet touch of sugar swept along her lips and she welcomed Jane in.
Jane broke the kiss, heart pounding, foreheads touching. Her stomach was twisting, begging her to press forward. Maura's eyes opened into hers. Dark, dilated, the colors changing as the light glinted off them, her expression unfamiliar but instinctually recognizable.
Precipice. They had teased the periphery for so long that stepping off was almost unfathomable. Maura's fingers traced up and down Jane's thigh. With each breath the pounding of her heart seemed to drop lower, teasing between her thighs. Her body pushed her towards the edge, needing.
Maura's touch burned through her clothing. They toyed with the hem of her shirt. The weight in her chest grew. Part of Jane was positive she would die if Maura touched her. The other part was positive she would if Maura didn't.
It was just a fingertip at first. Their rough breathing was almost in tandem and Maura couldn't help but brush the soft skin under Jane's tanktop.
It was maddening. The slight touch brushed upward, the single finger was joined by another and the second Maura's palm touched her abdomen something in her snapped free and Jane reached for Maura's hip, dragging her closer.
Maura ran her hands up Jane's ribs to caress the warm skin of her back. Gave herself over to the assault on her senses. When Jane's lips traveled down her neck to bite lightly at her collarbone a moan broke free and she clutched the skin under her hands. This wasn't something she would be able to stop. She didn't want to stop.
Maura's hand was grabbing at her wrist, pulling her hand off her hip. The insistent tug broke into her haze and Jane went to pull back.
"No." Maura shook her head and brought Jane's hand to her shirt. Frantically pulling it free before guiding a warm palm to her abdomen, pressing it down as she reached up to murmur against Jane's lips. "Touch me."
It was half order, half plea and Jane answered them both. Maura's hand continued to push hers upward until the smooth feel of silk slipped along her palm. The small sounds that came with each exploring touch were addicting. Some part of her was aware of the movement of Maura's hips as she captured a nipple between her fingers.
Even in the private moments of curiosity Maura had never thought it would be this easy. Natural. She kept waiting for the awkward moment that always happened when she took a new lover. That one moment where the cross to the physical was momentarily peculiar. When Jane broke away and unbuttoned her shirt, it didn't come. When Jane cursed at her bra before snapping it free and pushing it off her shoulders it didn't come. When Jane's mouth teased, taunted and chased her way along her breast it didn't come.
When the warm heat of her mouth sucked gently, Maura pulled Jane to her, needing to feel her weight. Neither noticed Jo scramble away.
Jane had to break free when Maura pulled her shirt over her head. When her bra hit the floor she froze for a split second, aware for a moment that feminine hands covered her curves. She blinked, unbalanced until deft fingers stroked upward, reaching to pull her down. Then there was the brush of bare skin against sensitized nipples and that voice that she loved, breathless, needy, hissing her name. "Jane."
She wanted Jane so badly. It was simple. Maura arched into the lips mapping her chest. Traced, stroked and teased the skin under her hands, learning familiar features by touch and taste. Learning the unique sound of her name being moaned against her skin when her hands slid to tease under a waistband and stroked over pressing hips.
Whatever Maura was doing with her fingers was magic and Jane sucked in a breath trying to give her more room. Frustrated she scraped her teeth against a nipple and when Maura gasped and pressed hard upward, friction scrapped against her clit.
Jane released Maura's breast, eyes squeezing tightly against the need to grind down. "Jesus." Everything in her wanted Maura naked. Now.
Jane's eyes opened, dark, determined as she sat up slightly. Maura tried to stay focused, but her eyes struggled as Jane dragged a hand down the heated skin of her stomach to play with the clasp on her trousers. The miniscule touch echoed, magnified between her thighs. She needed that touch lower. She needed that touch to stroke her. Slide into her. Now. "Take them off. Please take them off." She punctuated her words by reaching for Jane's pants, fighting with the button before ripping down the zipper.
With a last awkward kick her pants fell to the floor. The pause was long enough for Jane to realize that it was Maura looking up at her, desire etched in her face. That it was Maura whose arms ran up her arms to grasp her biceps and capture her lips. That it was Maura whose naked curves met perfectly with her own. It was Maura, hot and wet against her.
She loved it.
She loved the way Maura's skin was soft and smooth. She loved the way her hands ran along gentle curves and valleys. She loved swirling need in her eyes and the taste of her lips. She loved the sound of Maura's voice vibrating against her lips as she nipped her way down an arched neck. She loved the softness of her breasts and the responsiveness of her nipple to her touch. She loved the feel of Maura surging up against her. She loved the feel of her supple thigh flexing against her hip.
Part of Maura flashed wetly at the sight of Jane naked, over her. Recognized the juxtaposition of friend morphing into lover, questioned the wisdom of gratification until onyx eyes swept into hers and swept away anything but the pounding begging of her body to accept the claim. Maura captured Jane's jaw and guided her down for a kiss, captured her hand on her breast and pushed it to where she needed it most.
Jane slipped a finger down, gliding through wet want and Maura moaned into her mouth. She broke the kiss, watched the expressions floating over Maura's face with each stroke. She brushed her thumb over Maura's clit, once, twice, captivated by the quiet sounds and straining body under hers, naked, exposed, arching into her touch, trusting her. Hazel eyes fluttering shut before opening. Nothing left hidden. She could stay here forever. "You are so gorgeous."
The words scorched through her. Maura ached, her body moving slickly against Jane's and she grabbed Jane, pulling her closer, needing more. A tentative fingertip hovered, pressing inside and her eyes flew open. Her breath rushed out. "God yes."
The rush of power and the need to protect surged through her and Jane could feel her own body, slick, wet humming in response to Maura's plea as she pushed in. Hips thrust into her touch. She added another finger and then a third when a gentle whimper pushed her on. Jane looked down at light sheen of sweat, the lock of hair unruly against her cheek, eyes closed. Maura was raw and real. Jane shuddered violently at the sensation of moving within her, tied to her, lost in her.
Everything was lost to her. Time, perception and control danced out of reach. Sparks prickled along her chest, flashed down to tighten with each thrust of Jane into her. Maura fought for restraint, grappled with the skin under her hands, desperate to hold on.
The first brush of her palm had been for leverage but at the sharp cry Jane pressed again and again until Maura trembled violently at each brush of her clit. There was a change, muscles tightening, and a frantic grinding into her touch.
Maura hovered at the precipice, taunt and tremulous. Fingers filled her, pushed into her, stealing everything but the need to let go. A thrust came harder and then another. She arched, struggling. There was a tender press of lips at her temple and words whispered as Jane's touch dove deeper, driving her forward. Pushing her closer and closer until, keening, she crashed over the edge.
Maura's cry echoed in the room and echoed between her thighs. Jane was sliding against Maura, clamoring for touch. Building, climbing, white hot need forced her to grind down, to press slickly. She froze at the sight of Maura quaking under her, the image flashing against her eyelids before blazing down her thighs in violent bursts of nothing.
Aftershocks ripped through her. Jane forced her eyes open. She couldn't move. Didn't want to move. Nothing had prepared her for something like this. She loved the feel of Maura's body pulsing around her. Loved the feel of fingers slowly easing their grip on her back. Loved the fit of Maura under her, spent in tousled disarray. She dropped her forehead to rest against Maura's and simply breathed with her.
There was a slight feel of loss when Jane eased her fingers free. When she went to slide off Maura draped a heel over her back, weighting her down, ran her fingers up and down the ridges of Jane's spine until Jane relaxed against her, eyes studying her carefully.
"I'm leaning all over you." The voice was soft and serious. Maura could hear the strain of uncertainty stressing the words.
Maura pulled her closer, refused to let her own flash of nerves between them. "Relax. I can take it." She kissed Jane's shoulder. "I want you here."
The cool air of the room washed over her bare back and Jane shivered. Maura was beautiful, warm and indulgent, looking into her, holding her close. She was acutely aware of every inch of bare skin. "I guess this means I owe you dinner."
Maura grabbed handful of dark curls, tugging lightly, undeterred. "For baking a cake for your mother tonight? Yes, you most certainly owe me dinner." She reached up to give a lingering kiss against Jane's lips, breaking it only when Jane sighed and leaned into her touch. "But for that?" She pressed her body upward. "And this? Dinner is not enough."
Transfixed, Jane kissed her again as the twisting of nerves melted under a flash of need. Words were punctuated by brushing lips and relieved sighs. "What is enough?"
Maura pulled her down, biting lightly at an earlobe as she whispered.
"You."
A/N – As promised, a little early since I get to go be an adult tonight with adult beverages and everything…
Have a glass of something rated M on me ;)