That slow simmer is about to hit a full on fire…I hope I did this chapter justice. Thanks again for all the kind words and support. I hope as I continue with this story, some of the questions that have come up will be answered…and as always…please enjoy!
Chapter 12-Changes
"I'm so bored!" Jane whined as she threw herself down onto the couch. "Please, can't we get out of here for a while?" She looked at Maura with hopeful eyes. The week had gone by excruciatingly slow for Jane with only brief visits from Maura after school. Grabbing a piece of paper from the notebook that was precariously balanced next to her on the edge of the cushion she was sitting on, Jane wrote something before she began folding it. She glanced over to see if Maura was watching or even listening to her. With the flick of her wrist, Jane sent her paper airplane soaring towards the head that was bent in concentration, intently reading.
"What…?" Maura looked up when she felt the piece of paper hit her in the back of the head. Picking up the crude airplane, she smoothed it out to read the message inside. "You're so juvenile…" She couldn't help but laugh as she wadded up the paper before throwing it back at Jane.
"Come on….please…." Jane threw her hands up to block the slow moving projectile headed her way. She sighed as it bounced off of her hand, landing on the floor next to Maura.
"Well, I don't know. Are you having any headaches?" Maura glanced over her shoulder at Jane. She couldn't help but smile at the exaggerated way that Jane had draped herself over the couch with one arm hanging over the back and the other propping her head up so she could look at Maura.
Brown eyes locked onto hazel/green as Jane shook her head. The insistent pounding that had troubled Jane since her accident had slowed down to a dull throb that intermittently came and went. It was gone at the minute so she wasn't really lying to Maura.
Maura studied Jane for a minute as if she were trying to decide if she should believe her. "Any dizziness…?" She leaned closer to Jane to study her expression. Maura thought she saw a flicker of something in the depths of Jane's eyes that would indicate she wasn't being entirely truthful.
"Come on Maura…I didn't even have that in the hospital. I really gotta get out of here for a while…I'm gonna go stir crazy. Not to mention, my mom is pestering the hell out me." Jane sighed heavily.
"I don't think you're telling me the truth Jane…" Maura ventured.
"Aw Maur…the headaches have almost completely gone away…like right now. I feel fine…" Jane said as she dramatically threw her arm over her eyes. "I gotta get outta here…" She blew out a long breath.
Maura studied Jane for a minute, amused by her antics. She knew how hard it was for Jane to stay in one place too long. It was one of the reasons that Jane was so good at sports, she was always active. Pulling Jane's arm away from her face, Maura nodded her consent as she smiled widely. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt for us to get out for a while, but only if your mother is okay with it."
"Thank you!" Jane jumped up grabbing her jacket that was hanging on a nearby chair. She had no intention of giving her mother the chance to tell her no as she headed towards the door.
"Ma, Maura and I are going out for a while." Jane shouted while she slipped her arms into her letterman's jacket.
"Are you sure that is such a good idea?" Angela stepped out of the kitchen into the hallway. She was wiping her hands on a dishtowel as she watched Jane make her way towards the front door. It was a miracle that she had gotten Jane to stay home as long as she had without a fight.
"Ma…" Jane whined again shrugging her shoulders. "I need some fresh air..."
Angela stepped into the doorway and tried to smile. She watched as Maura hovered protectively close as Jane zipped her jacket up. It hadn't gone unnoticed by Angela that Maura had come over every day after school to entertain Jane and help her with her homework. There had also been a steady stream of football players coming and going, but Maura was always the constant. "Um, okay. I guess a few hours out wouldn't hurt." Angela conceded.
"Thanks Ma." Jane gave her a quick hug as she headed out the door.
"Janie…" Angela called out an edge of desperation in her voice. Jane stopped and looked at her, waiting to hear what she needed to say. "Honey, please be careful."
Jane nodded and turned towards Maura, rolling her eyes so her mother couldn't see. Maura tried not to smile but then her eyes met the worried eyes of Angela. She had seen that same worried look the night that Jane had gotten hurt. 'Take care of her.' Angela's eyes said and Maura nodded, her expression suddenly turning serious.
"Come on; let's get outta here before she changes her mind." Jane said, pulling Maura out the door with her.
Maura let Jane pull her along, all the while trying to keep eye contact with Angela. Her eyes were silently pleading for Maura to keep her daughter safe. Feeling the sudden weight of Angela's protectiveness fall on her shoulders was something that Maura didn't take lightly. She would have done anything to keep Jane safe and Angela could see the answer reflected in Maura's eyes as the door closed behind her.
"Where are we going?" Maura asked as Jane pulled her down the street.
"I thought we would go play pool." Jane pulled the collar of her jacket closed against the cool wind. The days had gotten colder, an indication that fall was quickly moving into winter.
"I think it might be a little too cold for swimming Jane." Maura stopped and looked at her. Her expression was a mixture of confusion and uncertainty.
Jane stopped next to Maura and looked down at her. The wind was blowing slightly causing Maura's hair to stir around her shoulders. Jane had to quell the urge to touch the golden strands that waved at her in a tantalizing way. Maura had a bewildered, yet expectant look on her face causing Jane to laugh out loud. "No Maura, we're not going to a pool, we are going to play pool. You know, cue stick, table…" Jane started.
"Oh, you mean billiards!" Maura jumped up and down and clapped excitedly.
Jane watched her with wide eyes. 'When had Maura gotten so damn cute?' Jane thought to herself. 'Oh yeah… when you started falling in love with her.' She tried not to smirk at the reminder. She knew that things had changed between them and even though they had yet to discuss what this change meant, Jane knew it wouldn't be long before Maura would want to talk about it. Although talking about her feelings wasn't Jane's strong suit, she was willing to do what Maura needed her to do. In fact, Maura had her wanting and needing things she never knew she wanted or needed before. Looking down into those incredibly beautiful eyes, Jane wondered what it was about Maura that had her questioning everything she thought she had known. She suspected it had something to do with the way that the smallest things could excite Maura. Maybe it was Maura's smile or the way her eyes lit up whenever she discovered something new.
While her thoughts wandered, Jane realized that Maura's smile had quickly turned from excitement to what Jane now came to recognize as fear. "What's wrong Maur?" Jane's concern was evident in her tone as she put her hand on Maura's shoulder.
"Well," Maura looked shyly away from Jane's concerned eyes. "I've never played pool before…I mean I understand the mechanics…I think, maybe…" She started to babble as she began to tug on her bottom lip with her thumb and forefinger.
Jane studied this new quirk with interest. She had never noticed Maura do this before. Jane had learned to recognize when Maura was nervous when she saw Maura bite her lower lip, but this was different. She couldn't take her eyes off of the way that Maura was gently rubbing her thumb across her bottom lip, looking worried and nervous. Jane reached towards Maura's jacket and grabbed the collar in her hands pulling it closed to keep the cold air out. She didn't know why she had done it, but she needed to do something to distract herself from Maura's mouth.
"I'll show you…" Jane gave Maura that full on Rizzoli smile and wink. "Come on." She grabbed Maura's hand and pulled her along down the street.
"Jane, are you sure we should be in an establishment like this." Maura looked around the small pub with fear in her eyes again. She was again biting that lower lip as her eyes became wide with trepidation.
"Yeah, come on. My pop hangs out here a lot. Me and Frankie come here to play sometimes." Jane closed the door behind them as she followed close behind Maura. The sunlight that had streamed in when Jane held the door open for Maura was now replaced by pockets of shadow, filled with the sounds of people casually carrying on conversations as they drank the day away.
"Frankie and I…" Maura looked at her pointedly. Jane just rolled her eyes as she led Maura towards an empty pool table in the far corner of the dim bar.
"Wait here while I go get the balls." Jane turned and headed towards the bar.
Maura grabbed her arm stopping her. "You want me to wait here by myself?" She asked her voice filled with panic.
"Maur, I'm just going over there." Jane pointed at the bar ten feet from where they were standing.
Maura nodded and leaned against the pool table watching Jane walk away.
Jane couldn't help but look over her shoulder to give Maura a reassuring smile letting her know that everything was going to be okay.
"Well if it isn't Jane Rizzoli…" The bartender leaned over the bar to give Jane a hug.
"Hi Mr. Flynn…" Jane hugged him back.
"I told you to call me Collin, my dad is Mr. Flynn." He patted her heartily on the back. "Where's your brother?"
"He's got a girlfriend. I haven't seen much of him lately, except on the football field." Jane gave him a crooked grin.
"Yeah, I heard about your little accident. Your pop was in here a few days after it happened. Said you got hit pretty hard. Got your helmet knocked off huh?" Colin gave her a sympathetic look.
"I didn't see that linebacker coming, but I got a pretty cool battle scar to show for it." Jane ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it away from her stitches. "I'll always have this as a reminder."
Collin winced as he handed her a tray of balls and a wooden triangle. "Well if you're as hard headed as your pop is, I'm sure you'll be fine." He said winking at her before turning to help another customer.
Maura's eyes followed Jane as she crossed the room, but stopped when they fell upon a man who was watching her intently. There was something familiar about him, but she wasn't sure what it was. There was nothing menacing about the way he was looking at her, but it still caused her to shiver.
"You cold…?" Jane asked as she came up alongside Maura, unable to resist the urge to brush up against her.
"No." Maura was still looking at the man across the room and didn't notice how close Jane was. "Do you know that man?" She nodded her chin in the direction that had her attention.
Jane turned around and looked at the man who was sitting at the bar watching them carefully. When their eyes met, he nodded at her before looking away. "Oh, that's Paddy Doyle." Jane said casually as she started to rack up the balls in the triangle. "Rumor has it he's in the Irish Mob."
"What?" Maura looked horrified. "You've brought me to a mob hangout?"
"Come on Maur…it's just a rumor. Paddy's a nice guy so far as I can tell. He's always friendly to me and Frankie…" Jane said as she handed Maura a cue stick.
Maura reluctantly looked away from the older man who seemed to be studying them with an intensity that made her feel uncomfortable. "Okay, now what do I do with this?" Maura held the stick out in front of her as if it might bite as she turned her attention to Jane.
"I'm gonna break first, then I will show you what to do…" Jane said as she leaned over the table. She hit the cue ball which caused the other balls to scatter across the table on contact. "Here, use the square-shaped blue chalk at the end of the cue stick." Jane demonstrated as she rubbed the blue chalk on the end of the stick. "Now hold the thick end of the cue stick in your right hand." She said as she illustrated what Maura should do next. Looking over to see how Maura was handling the cue she let out an exasperated sigh when she saw that Maura was doing it all wrong. "Let me," She started as she came up behind Maura wrapping her arms around her, taking the cue stick.
It was like a thousand watts of electricity shot through Jane's body when she pressed her front to Maura's back. She faltered slightly when her hands began to shake. "Um, put your hands over mine." She said in a weak voice hoping Maura wouldn't feel that her hands were shaking.
Maura let her hands rest on Jane's, one on the back of the cue stick and one on the front. She felt Jane lean close to her as they both leaned over the table. She tried to give Jane's hand a reassuring squeeze to calm the trembling she could feel under her own hands.
"Get as close to the pool table as you can." Jane's voice was almost a whisper in Maura's ear. "Now put your left foot forward and your right foot about two feet back." She let go of the cue stick and then placed her hand on Maura's right thigh, pushing it back slightly.
Maura felt slightly dizzy at the close contact between her and Jane. Jane's hands were touching her and moving over her body in a very fluid and controlled way.
"Now, place your left hand with the palm facing down on the table." Jane put her hand down to show Maura. "Bend towards the table from the left knee." Jane used her leg to push against Maura's from behind causing her left leg to bend. "Keep the right knee straight." She put her right hand flat against Maura's thigh.
Maura did as Jane told her, but couldn't stop the tremors that were now shaking her body. Jane seemed to sense the nervous state Maura was in and she held her tighter as she whispered in her ear. "Relax Maur…it's just a game."
Maura took a deep breath and nodded. "I think I like this game." She was slightly breathless as Jane continued to move with her. She could feel the slight chuckle shake Jane's body or maybe Jane was just shaking as much as she was.
"Now, adjust the cue stick between the crease of your thumb and the side of your hand." Jane put the cue stick in Maura's hand. "The thumb should be slightly raised." She moved her hands over Maura's to lift her thumb. Jane could feel that Maura's hands were shaking now too. She tried to hide her own nervousness as she let go of Maura's left hand. "Now, glide the stick back and forth in the crease." Jane moved the cue stick with her right hand still on Maura's slowly back and forth to clarify.
Maura couldn't help but press herself closer to Jane with the back and forth motion. She had sensed the change that had occurred between them after Jane's accident. Jane seemed more willing to acknowledge their growing attraction. Words still evaded her, but Jane's actions showed a more confident acceptance of the inevitable. Maura knew it and she felt it now as Jane continued to keep their distance to a minimal. They still needed to talk however, but Maura was okay with the slow pace that Jane had set, for now.
"Now, practice the shot before hitting the cue ball and then hit the cue ball in the center, aiming so that one of the colored balls drops into any hole on the table." Jane finished, but didn't let go of Maura as she continued to press herself against Maura's soft warm body. She couldn't bring herself to let go just yet.
"You're a very good teacher." Maura barely breathed. She could feel Jane's cheek very close to hers and she wanted nothing more than to lean into the warmth she knew was there.
Jane let out a small sigh as her grip on Maura slackened and she dropped her hands to her sides. Maura could see the blush rise to Jane's cheeks. She tried to hide her smile as she slide the cue stick between her fingers with a swift back and forth motion, making contact with the white cue ball, sinking the solid yellow ball on the other side of the table.
Jane's mouth fell open and she shook her head. "I think I have just been hustled by a pool shark." She gave Maura a light, playful shove. Maura looked at her with innocent eyes.
"I said that I've never played pool before, I didn't say that I didn't know how." Maura pretended to look hurt.
"Well, you've got me there." Jane tried not to look sheepish.
"It really is a matter of physics Jane. All you need to understand is cue tip to cue ball, ball to ball, and ball to rail mechanics." Maura leaned over the table again and hit another ball into an adjacent pocket. She smiled at Jane and batted her eyelashes in a coquettish manner.
"I'll do even better than that…"Jane said sliding up against Maura to take the cue stick from her hands, essentially trapping Maura so she couldn't move. It was a bold move on Jane's part, but she was beginning to like this little game they were playing.
As Jane pinned Maura between herself and the table, she leaned over slowly, giving a quick glance at the cue ball over Maura's shoulder. After making a definitive decision, she slowly slid the cue stick back and forth causing their bodies to move in what looked like a carefully choreographed dance. Turning to look at Maura, Jane hit the cue ball without taking her eyes away from Maura's. She raised an eye brow as she heard the cue ball strike one ball and then another followed by the familiar sound of each ball sinking into opposite pockets. "Attitude helps too." She winked before stepping back and handing the cue stick back to Maura.
Maura was momentarily stunned into silence as she felt Jane pull away, a smug yet sexy smirk on her face. The confident way that Jane had pressed her against the table had Maura's heart beating double time. She cleared her throat in an attempt to speak but when nothing came forth all Maura could do was look up into those dark brown eyes that flickered with a playfulness she had never seen before.
Seeing that she had rendered Maura speechless caused Jane to feel more self-assured as she once again leaned close to Maura. "I thought you liked playing this game…" Jane whispered when her mouth was mere inches away from Maura's ear. She felt Maura tremble slightly as her breath caressed the slightly exposed skin at Maura's neck fueling the desire to feel the skin under her lips.
"Depends on which game we're talking about…" Maura said when she finally found her voice. It was shaky and breathless as she felt Jane lean even closer to her.
"Hummm…" Jane said before she suddenly pulled back, holding the blue cube of chalk out in front of her. "You have to make sure you have enough friction if you want to improve your proficiency…especially if you want to maintain control." She put the chalk over the cue stick Maura was holding, moving it back and forth.
"Who say's I'm not in control? And as far improving my proficiency, I guess you'll just have to wait to see how proficient I can be." Maura smiled at the surprised look on Jane's face. "You know…you have to use a light touch when you rub the chalk over the tip…" She said as she reached up to slow Jane's hand down to a gentle movement over the cue stick. "You see, it's important to make clean contact with the ball…you wouldn't want to compromise your accuracy or power."
"I'm all for clean contact…" Jane felt her body gravitating closer to Maura even though she knew they should stop before it went too far.
"It can also help prevent a miscue…" Maura said as she studied Jane's face for any indication she was misreading what was happening between them. When she felt Jane moving closer to her, Maura's breath caught in her chest as she realized she might not be able to stop herself from kissing Jane.
Before Jane could respond, some sort of commotion erupted behind her. Maura looked over Jane's shoulder at two men shoving each other near the bar. They began shouting as they pushed and shoved each other.
Everything happened so fast that Maura almost didn't have time to react. She saw the beer bottle as it flew in their direction, a dark brown projectile flying right towards Jane's head. Acting purely on instinct, she grabbed Jane and pushed her down to the ground. In her effort to protect Jane, she hesitated slightly before she ducked down as well. The bottle shatter behind her with a force and velocity that surprised her, especially when she felt the splintered glass rain across her back as she did her best to shield Jane.
"Shit." Jane growled as she pushed up on her elbows to look over Maura's shoulder at the mess on the wall behind her. Twisting around, Jane could see that Paddy Doyle had the bottle thrower in a vice like grip, his arm wrapped around the man's throat. Their eye's met as he dragged the guy towards the door. She cringed under his glare as he disappeared out the front door, pulling the guy with him.
Feeling a slight sting on her left cheek just under her eye distracted Maura from the scene that was unfolding as Paddy Doyle dragged the culprit across the bar and out the door. As she tried to catch her breath, she was surprised to feel something warm and wet running down her right cheek. She lifted her hand, placing her fingers where she felt the warmth. She knew almost as soon as her fingers touched the sticky, wetness that it was blood. Wiping her hand across her face she saw the red smear on her finger tips and then she felt the sting get worse.
Even though Maura was suspended protectively over Jane, she had landed hard on her knees. The sudden jar had knocked the wind out of her and she wasn't sure she could stand up without help. Looking down at a surprised and somewhat angered Jane who was still looking at the door Paddy had disappeared behind, Maura shifted so Jane could stand up.
"Jane?" Maura said weakly, her breathing coming in short gasps as she attempted to catch her breath
"What is it Maura?" Jane asked as she pushed herself up off of the floor, her attention was still fixed on the closed door.
"Could you please help me up?" Maura reached out with her hand as she tried to steady herself against the nearby pool table.
"Oh, yeah sure..." Jane said taking Maura's hand. As soon as she saw Maura's face, she let out a gasp. "Shit Maur...you got hit by a piece of glass." She reached out to wipe away the blood that was trickling down Maura's cheek onto her chin. The blood had already dripped down onto Maura's shirt and Jane let out a low groan at the sight.
"Oh my goodness, this will never come out." Maura turned her attention to the blood stains that now dotted her shirt. "I love this shirt."
"Really, that's all you can say?" Jane tilted Maura's chin up so she could take a closer look at the cut on her cheek. "Are you okay?"
Maura ran her finger across the cut and winced at the pain. "Yes, there doesn't seem to be any glass embedded. At least I don't feel any…are you okay?"
"Yeah…I'm fine…thanks to you." Jane smiled shyly. "We've got to get you cleaned up." She was already turning towards the bar. As Jane spun around, she ran right into a very angry Paddy Doyle.
"Rizzoli, I'd have expected you to have better judgment than this." He nodded towards Maura. He handed Jane a small bag of ice and some napkins.
"What?" Jane squeaked, trying not to break under his cold, hard glare.
"Just take her home and get her cleaned up." He gave Jane a small shove towards Maura. "Oh, and I expect to never see you in here again."
Jane tried not to keep eye contact for too long. She had seen something familiar in the hazel and green that stared back, but there was also something cold and ruthless as well. Jane just nodded as she grabbed her jacket and Maura by the arm before heading towards the door. She ventured one last look over her shoulder as she went out the door, catching the sad, but resolute look on Paddy's face as he watched them leave.
"Is that you Janie?" Angela called out from the kitchen when she heard the front door open and close.
"Yeah Ma, just going upstairs to my room..." Jane said as she pushed Maura up the stairs.
"That was quick. I don't think you've been gone an hour. Is everything alright?" Angela's curiosity was piqued as she heard them stomping up the stairs. An uneasy feeling washed over her but she decided to disregard it as she turned back to the task of making dinner.
"I just needed a little fresh air. Everything is fine." Jane shouted as they reached the top of the stairs. "Here…" she said as she opened the bathroom door and pushed a surprised Maura in.
As Maura stepped into the small bathroom, she felt slightly dazed by all that had happened. It had happened so quickly that she hadn't really had time to process it. She was disturbed by the exchange Jane had had with the man named Paddy Doyle. She didn't like the way he had looked at her either. She couldn't quite figure out what it was that had her so unnerved though. There was just something about the way he had spoken to Jane that had Maura angry. While Maura was quietly going over what had happened in her mind, Jane followed her in, closing the door and then locking it behind her.
"Jump up here." Jane said patting the counter next to the sink. "I think it will be easier if you're more on my level."
Maura lifted herself up on to the counter and found herself eye level with Jane's dark eyes that were full of concern and guilt.
"I shouldn't have taken you there." Jane mumbled as she rifled through a few drawers until she found what she was looking for. "Peroxide, antibiotic cream, and band aides…" She listed as she set them next to Maura. "Am I forgetting anything?"
"No, I think that will work." Maura said quietly. She hated when Jane felt like she had done something wrong. And by the look on Jane's face, she was feeling pretty bad.
"You're gonna haveta let me get a little closer." Jane said as she pushed Maura's knees apart. Stepping closer, she pulled away the small bag of ice that Maura was holding against her cheek before setting it in the sink. As she dabbed some peroxide on a cotton ball, she was having trouble making eye contact with Maura. All the playful flirting they had been engaged in while playing pool disappeared only to be replaced by an uncomfortable distance.
Maura closed her eyes as Jane touched the cut with the cold peroxide soaked cotton ball. She let out a low hiss as the wet cotton ball came into contact with the cut under her eye. Instinctually, Maura pulled back, but Jane placed her hand on her cheek to hold her still.
"I'm sorry…does it sting?" Jane sounded apologetic as she struggled to keep Maura from squirming under her ministrations.
"A little...I think it may bruise…" Maura opened her eyes. She could see the tears that were threatening to spill, so she reached up putting her hand on the back of Jane's and pressing it to her cheek.
Jane let out a slow sigh and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry Maura." It was all she could think to say as she tried to bring her emotions under control. Jane bowed her head, allowing her dark hair to fall across her eyes, covering her face.
"I'm not." Maura said as she reached out, letting a finger slip through one of Jane's belt loops.
Without taking her eyes off of Jane's bowed head, Maura pulled her closer. Their faces were only inches apart as Maura put her fingers under Jane's chin, lifting her head up to force Jane to look at her. Jane's face was still curtained by the long hair that continued to hide her face.
"You make me feel reckless." Maura sighed brushing away a strand of dark hair to reveal focused and unblinking brown eyes. "I like it. Please don't apologize." The unexpected desire that Maura saw reflected back at her had her struggling to catch her breath.
Reaching up to cradle Maura's face in her hands, Jane responded with a smile. Holding Maura's unfaltering gaze, Jane found herself transfixed by what she saw. "My hero…" She whispered as she leaned close enough to feel the tickle of Maura's breath and the soft, swirl of silky hair against her cheek. Moving slow, but with purpose, Jane's mouth skimmed across delicate skin until her lips hovered over Maura's.
"Always, my sweet Jane…" Maura sighed as she moved her mouth across Jane's lips with the softest of touches. She smiled behind the gentle kiss before she pulled back just enough to look at Jane.
Just that small taste of Maura's lips was enough to set off something in Jane she knew she couldn't control any longer. She pressed herself closer, allowing their bodies to touch intimately as she put her hands on Maura's thighs.
"I don't want to fight this anymore…" Jane said her voice shaky with uncertainty.
"Then don't…" Maura whispered against Jane's lips before recapturing them in another kiss. She moved her hands to Jane's dark wavy hair, shivering as she ran her fingers through the silky strands.
Jane pressed her lips to Maura's without hesitation, taking what she wanted for the first time. At first, the exploration was shy as Maura gently claimed the warmth of Jane's mouth. It wasn't until Jane felt the soft, velvet like touch of Maura's tongue as it brushed against her own that her legs threatened to give out on her. A tingling sensation spread throughout Jane's body as Maura's tongue continued to stroke and caress causing a low moan to escape from deep within Jane's throat.
As their kiss grew needy, Jane felt her hands move up to Maura's waist, pushing Maura's t-shirt up as they went higher. Her finger tips grazed the soft exposed skin of Maura's stomach causing her to let out a gasp at the warmth of Jane's touch. Strong fingers began to trace delicate lines across Maura's exposed flesh.
"So beautiful…" Jane whispered against the onslaught of sensations that threatened to set her body ablaze.
Pulling away from Jane's lips, Maura began to kiss along Jane's jaw then down her long neck. A mixture of spicy vanilla and something uniquely Jane invaded Maura's senses as she breathed in deeply through her nose. The scent was intoxicating causing Maura to crave more. As she placed open mouthed kisses across the expanse of skin under her lips, she stopped when she reached Jane's pulse point.
Maura could feel Jane's rapid heartbeat against her mouth and she couldn't stop herself from sucking on the tantalizing flesh she wanted so desperately to taste. Biting down gently, Maura allowed her teeth to gently graze over the spot she had just tasted, drawing a gasp from Jane. Her tongue laved over the salty but sweet tasting skin in an attempt to soothe where her teeth had lightly nipped.
When Jane felt Maura's lips move down her neck, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She could feel Maura's mouth mapping out the contours of her skin, but when Maura stopped to suck at her pulse point, she couldn't hold back the gasp that shuttered through her body. The feeling of Maura's teeth, followed by the tender swipes of her tongue in an effort to soothe Jane's overheated skin caused Jane to feel faint. 'Holy shit…why was I fighting this…" Her desire addled brain chastised her.
"Oh God Maur…" Jane struggled to speak.
Maura could feel Jane's hands moving higher as they brushed against her sides, leaving a fiery trail in their wake. She had to restrain herself from grabbing Jane's hands to guide them where she ached to be touched. In her heart, she knew that Jane wasn't ready yet, but that thought did nothing to calm her raging libido.
"What's going on in there Janie?" Angela shouted through the closed, locked door. "Tommy said he saw you and Maura go in there. And why is the door locked?" Her anger was evident in her tone.
The loud and sudden knocking on the door startled them both. Maura reluctantly pulled away and smiled sheepishly at Jane. It was if the air had suddenly been let out of a balloon that had been about to burst. They were both breathless as they tried to rein in the desire that threatened to overcome them.
Letting out a shaky breath, Jane rested her forehead against Maura's shoulder. "She's gonna freak when she sees the blood." Jane whispered.
Maura could only smile at the flustered look on Jane's face when she lifted her head to look at her. "You're not going to run away from me again are you Jane?"
The seriousness behind Maura's question had Jane giving her a bashful smile. "No…not anymore…I promise."
"Open this door right now…Jane…or so help me." Angela was now pounding with more force as she stood impatiently outside the bathroom door. She wasn't exactly sure what she was threatening to do if the door wasn't opened, but she had a strong feeling that she needed to get it opened as soon as possible.
"Then I guess you'd better let her in..." Maura reached out and tucked a strand of dark hair behind Jane's ear.
Jane leaned forward and placed a light kiss full of promise on Maura's lips before squaring her shoulders to face the wrath of her mother. When she opened the door, she found an extremely angry Angela Rizzoli staring at her.
"What the hell are you two doing in here?" Angela huffed as she pushed past a red faced Jane. When she saw Maura and the blood on her shirt, she gasped. "Oh my goodness Maura, honey, what happened?"
"We went to Flynn's, two guys go into a fight, one threw a beer bottle a little too close to us, it shattered on the wall and a piece of glass hit Maura on the cheek." Jane said without taking a breath.
Angela stared at Jane, as she studied her flushed face. Something more was going on causing Angela to steel herself for a fight, but she stopped when she saw the guilt in Jane's eyes.
"I've told you that I don't like it when you go there. It's not the kind of place two girls should be hanging out in." Angela said in a low voice as if that would somehow emphasize a greater danger.
"I'm sorry Ma." Jane looked down. "Maura's okay though." She nodded towards Maura, indicating the work she had already started.
"I'll be the judge of that." Angela didn't take her eyes off of her daughter, the hurt and guilt was evident in Jane's slumped shoulders. She could tell that Jane was genuinely sorry, but she wasn't quite ready to let her off of the hook yet.
Maura tried to smile as Angela turned around to assess the cut. She was having trouble tearing her eye's away from Jane who was now shifting her weight from one foot to another.
"Well, I suppose you'll live." Angela said as she grabbed a wash cloth and started to wipe the dried blood from Maura's cheek. "Go get one of your old t-shirts for her and then go set the table for dinner." She said to Jane without turning around.
Jane didn't move right away. Her body felt as heavy as lead and not just because her mother was mad at her. An image flashed through her mind as she thought about what would have happened if her mother hadn't interrupted them when she had. She felt her cheeks grow hot. When her eyes met Maura's, she knew that Maura was thinking the same thing. When Maura gave her a small knowing smile, she felt the lead that was weighing her down lift away and she smiled back before she turned to leave.
Angela was no detective, but she felt the energy in the room as soon as the door opened. You'd have to be dead not to feel it. There was something strong going on here, something so strong that even when Jane left the room, the energy was still buzzing. Angela could recognize that something more significant than the small cut under Maura's eye had happened behind the door that had locked her out.
"You'll be staying for dinner?" Angela asked Maura as she placed a band aid over the small cut on her cheek. She felt a sudden need to see Jane and Maura together, as if it would somehow confirm or deny what she suspected.
Maura, whose eyes had been clouded over with thought, blinked at Angela. "Yes, thank you." Maura looked at the light hazel eyes that were full of warmth, compassion, and concern. But there was something else she didn't recognize. Fear maybe?
Angela tried to smile as she patted Maura on the arm. "If you give me that shirt, I have an old family recipe for getting blood stains out of clothes."
"Really...?" Maura asked.
"Have you met Jane, or Frankie for that matter? I don't think a day goes by that someone isn't bleeding around here." Angela chuckled.
"Thank you. This is my favorite shirt." Maura smiled genuinely.
"Well, when Janie brings you a clean shirt, just bring me this one." She said pointing at Maura's blood stained t-shirt. As she turned to leave, she looked over her shoulder and saw that Maura's eyes had clouded over with that deep-in-thought look again. Angela sighed in resignation when she saw Maura's fingertips lightly graze her mouth as a small smile played across her lips. "Changes are coming…things are definitely going to get complicated around here…" She thought as she shut the door behind her, leaving Maura alone in the small bathroom.