DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rizzoli & Isles nor any of the characters from the show. I am writing this purely for entertainment, not profit. Rizzoli and Isles are property of Tess Gerritsen and TNT.
Please find the full disclaimers in the beginning of Chapter 1.
Chapter 6
Jane didn't know when exactly she had moved, but she was kneeling in front of where Maura was sitting.
And Maura only stopped speaking because she was interrupted by Jane's lips suddenly and softly on hers. For a fraction of a second Maura was surprised, but then she leaned into Jane, kissing her back. It started as a soft brush, but soon lips touched, mouths parted, and tongues slowly moved to caress and explore each other's. Maura's hands had moved of her own volition and were deep into still damp dark curls. Jane had one hand cupping Maura's cheek, and the other on Maura's hip.
It was gentle, and intimate, and when they broke for air minutes later, it took a while for them to open their eyes again. They were both serious, searching each other's eyes, wondering…
"I am s…." Jane began.
"Please, Jane, please don't say you are sorry... I couldn't bear it…" Maura whispered, placing a finger on Jane's lips, her eyes full of sad tears.
Jane kissed the finger on her lips, and gently moved Maura's hand from her mouth, keeping a hold of said hand.
"I am sorry, Maura…" Jane watched Maura's face fall. "… for not doing this before…" Jane finished, and watched Maura's lovely lips curl up into a smile.
Jane caught the box of tissues, and gently proceeded to dry Maura's tears, and Maura did the same with Jane's.
Then, Maura cupped Jane's chiseled cheek again, and this time she was the one initiating the kiss, first when her eyes didn't leave Jane's lips until she could not see them any longer, and then closing her eyes to the sensations and feelings the kiss stirred deep into her soul.
Maura enjoyed a lot of refined things in life, but kissing Jane Rizzoli had just taken the top of her list, by far.
When they parted, they kept close, their foreheads and noses touching lightly, their breaths mingled.
"Is this really happening?" Maura dared to speak, in a breath of voice, opening her hazel eyes.
Jane opened her warm chocolate brown ones, getting immediately lost into Maura's, and smiling gently to her.
Maura caught Jane's hand, and motioned her to stand from where she had been kneeling on the floor. Jane moved to sit against the sofa's armrest, and Maura then settled herself against Jane, cuddled into her, sighing contently.
Jane kissed Maura deeply, slowly, and thoroughly, and only parted when she felt lightheaded. And even when she parted, she still peppered kisses on Maura's cheeks, on her nose, on her eyelids, and on her forehead, before nuzzling on the side of Maura's neck and sighing satisfied.
"When you kiss me like that, I forget my name… I don't know – and I don't care – if I am Maura, Dory, or what…" Maura breathed, starry-eyed.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Jane chuckled in Maura's neck, placing a light kiss below Maura's ear.
"A very good thing, Jane… Your kisses make me forget everything else, there is only you and me…"
"Hmmm." Jane hummed, satisfied, continuing to kiss the side of Maura's neck gently.
Jane raised her head to look seriously into bright hazel eyes.
"I didn't have the intention to interrupt our soulful conversation session… It was just that…"
Maura kissed Jane lightly to interrupt her apology.
"I know that even you would not resort to this subterfuge of kissing me to distract you or to get out of a soulful conversation…" Maura teased, chuckling, with a big grin.
"I am here for you, Maura. I am here with you." Jane replied seriously, in her intense tone of voice.
"As you have ever been since I met you, Jane. I don't know of anyone this constant in my life… I honestly never knew it was even possible to have someone this constant in life at all…" Maura was sincerely touched.
Jane smiled lovingly at her.
"What I mean is that we can continue the conversation we were having, on how you feel when this identity thing gets too heavy or any other soulful topic – now or at any moment… I understand your decision to keep Dory's identity, although safer, weighs heavily on you. Please count on me to carry some of that weight… You don't need to do that alone."
"I only have been able to keep this plan so far because I rely on you to carry that weight with me, Jane. Don't you realize I already do that? Don't you think I notice all the little things you adjust and tweak all the time, so you minimize how much I need to lie? I could not have made this far without you…"
"Well, know we can make it as far as you want, together…"
Maura kissed her lovingly. "Thank you…"
"Do you think you can clear your schedule this weekend?"
Maura chuckled: "I am pretty sure my schedule is very light this weekend already, Jane. Why?"
"Because I'm gonna take you to the best date of your life…"
"You are?" Maura asked, surprised.
"I am. Would you go out with me?" Jane was almost shy in her ask.
"It depends…" Maura replied, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"On what?" It was Jane's turn to be surprised.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" Maura asked, suddenly unsure.
Jane chuckled. "I was going to ask you to be my girlfriend during the date… But I think by now my feelings are pretty obvious, aren't they? I would be honored being your girlfriend if you will be mine…"
Maura's grin was so wide it was splitting her face in two… Jane loved the idea that she had been partially responsible for that grin.
Maura leaned in, and kissed Jane softly, deepening the kiss after a few moments, lingering.
"Will you tell me where we are going for the best date of my life?" she tried, sighing against Jane's lips.
"Of course not… It is a surprise…" Jane stole a kiss from Maura.
"How will I know what to wear?"
"For the day, very comfortable clothes and shoes…"
"Oh… it is a multi-period date?"
"I just asked you to clear your schedule for the entire weekend…"
"Okay…" Maura smiled, satisfied and curious.
"And I should be heading back to my apartment to plan for it accordingly." Jane began to move.
Maura pushed Jane back by her shoulders, rolling to be on top of Jane in the sofa.
"Won't you stay with me tonight?" Maura asked, pouting, and Jane craned her neck to kiss the pouting lips lovingly.
"No. I want to do this right, Maura. Not before our first da… ohhhhh…" Jane moaned, because Maura had used her advantage point, when Jane broke the kiss to answer her, moving to nuzzle, kiss and nibble on Jane's neck.
Maura chuckled in Jane's neck, loving the reaction she had elicited.
"I am serious, Maura." Jane continued, smiling broadly, making an effort to keep Maura at bay by pushing her forearms carefully. "It took us forever to get here… what is another night?" and she craned for another quick peck on Maura's lips, before rolling from under Maura and out of the sofa.
"Tomorrow, at 9AM." Jane advised, moving quickly to the door.
Maura reached Jane before she was at the door, and stood on her tiptoes to kiss Jane again. Jane boxed Maura against the wall, one hand by the side of Maura's head, supporting Jane's weight, the other resting on Maura's hip, while she kissed Maura slowly.
"Tomorrow..." Jane said, quickly opening and closing the door, before Maura had a chance to open her eyes.
Jane chuckled hearing the frustrated "Jane…" behind Maura's door.
Jane entered her apartment feeling lightheaded and giddy. She had no idea how exactly things had evolved to that status, but it felt so absolutely right, as if every piece of the puzzle that was her life had suddenly fallen into place.
Jane had several ideas for their date, but since restaurants were still opened, she knew the one thing she needed to take care tonight was a reservation for dinner tomorrow. Maura had mentioned a few weeks ago a new Michelin star restaurant that she wanted to try, so Jane made a call. They did have an opening for a table for two at 7.30PM, what was early for most people, but perfect for Jane's plans.
Then, Jane planned an easy route for different activities across the day, to give them a chance to be back home around 4PM to prepare for the evening.
Only then she went to bed, feeling happier and lighter than she had felt in her entire life.
