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 40
"I do." Jane smiled broadly, her hand moving to cup Maura's cheek, a thumb gently stroking the single dimple on Maura's face.
Maura closed her eyes and leaned in on Jane's touch, sighing contentedly.
Maura moved her hand to cup Jane's face, her hazel eyes opening to drown into warm chocolate brown ones, before her eyes moved lower, to Jane's lips, her thumb ghosting over said lips, that twitched in a smile.
And despite the novelty of it, it felt so right…
"Can we…" Maura started, her voice barely a whisper.
"We can…" Jane quickly replied, not waiting for the end of the question, leaning forward.
Maura moved to meet her in the middle. First their breaths met, noses slowly aligning in what already felt like a caress, without any hurry, until lips finally brushed.
And God, it felt good. The first brush repeated, as lips parted to gently suck on lips, alternating slowly, reveling in the softness and the texture and the taste, in a paused synchronicity that would seem unexpected and impossible without being rehearsed – and it wasn't.
Jane had unknowingly slid her hand from Maura's cheek to gently entangle her fingers on the silky long locks in Maura's nape, and Maura had sneaked her two arms up to link them behind Jane's neck.
They kissed unhurriedly for what felt like a blissful eternity, and when they parted, they barely parted, their foreheads connected, eyes slowly opening, and a soft smile gracing their lips.
"Is this really happening?" Maura asked, dreamily.
"Only one way to find out…" Jane rasped back, before she leaned forward to kiss Maura again.
And yes, it was really happening.
If they had any doubt, it was wiped away when in one of their alternating dominances in the kiss, Jane felt the tip of Maura's tongue running through her bottom lip, seeking for entrance, that Jane granted. And they both felt their breathing hitch when their tongues met, caressing and tasting and exploring slowly and gently. Their bodies had moved closer, and they were flush on their own bodies' volition.
It was a long while later when they had to break the kiss, air having become a necessity. They were both lightly panting and flushed, and looking at each other they fell in a fit of giggles that turned into laughter, not falling down to the floor only because they were in each other arms.
"What?" Jane finally asked, realizing she was not sure what had made them begin to giggle in the first place. Except that she had seen the mirth on Maura's eyes, that she could never resist, and that made her happy.
"Do you know your fear of us not being compatible?" Maura asked, arching a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
"Yes…" Jane replied, suddenly sobering up.
"Totally and completely unfounded…" Maura added with mirth, what caused Jane to laugh again, hugging Maura tightly to herself.
"For the record, this was by far the best kiss of my life..." Jane admitted. "Not that I had that many to compare against. But nothing came even close to this."
"I am not necessarily proud to say that I did have many, more than I care to admit. But this… I am speechless… And giddy." Maura admitted.
"As much as I would love to continue kissing you like, forever… I know it is late. And I saw in your face when I first looked at you when you arrived home how long and how tiring this first week fully back to work was…" Jane kissed Maura's forehead.
"Will you join me?" Maura asked, looking up from inside the circle of Jane's arms.
Jane blushed, and opened and closed her mouth not knowing what to say.
"Not for that, silly… How many times we shared a bed as best friends? We don't need to do anything more than making out until we don't feel ready to. But I will take the comfort I always derived from sleeping with you any time I can… Can we do that?" Maura pleaded.
"Of course…" Jane breathed, relieved. It was not that she didn't desire Maura. God, she did. But she didn't think she was ready for that, yet. She needed to wrap her mind around each one of these monumental changes in their relationship. "Go ahead, I will meet you upstairs in a few." Jane gave a quick peck to Maura's lips before pushing her slightly towards the stairs.
Jane turned around and went back to the guest bedroom. She had not anticipated this turn of events. And as much as she rummaged through her carry-on bag, she only had her shorts and BPD t-shirt comfy PJs. Well, it was not like Maura had never seen her on those before… And she chuckled to herself thinking how unsexy it looked. She used the washroom and brushed her teeth before going upstairs.
She entered Maura's bedroom the moment Maura was leaving her bathroom, in her traditional silk PJs.
"Just in time…" Maura smiled gently at her.
"I am sorry. I didn't anticipate this, and all I have to sleep on is… this…"
Maura looked at Jane, puzzled.
"What is wrong with this? Isn't that what you always sleep on?"
"Yes… But I did everything for today to be special."
Maura smiled softly at Jane, and took her by the hand.
"Where…"
Maura opened the romper with clothes to wash, and on top of it there was a set that looked very much what Jane was wearing. Jane was puzzled. "Wha… How…?"
"These are yours…" Maura admitted sheepishly. "I kept them when you moved to DC… When I have a very tough case… Or, in this case, every night since I came back from the hospital and you went back to DC, I've been wearing these. They make me feel comfortable and safe, the closest to having you protecting me."
"And why are you not wearing it tonight?"
"Because tonight I don't need it, I get the real deal…" Maura smiled seductively at Jane, who shook her head, amused.
Maura pulled the cover on Jane's side of the bed, dramatically fluffing the pillows and pointing for Jane to lay down, what she did.
Then, Maura went around to her side of the bed, and laid down, turning off the lights, then deliberating scooting to Jane's side until she reached Jane.
She laid down her head comfortably on Jane's shoulder – that had always been her favorite place before, when comfort was needed.
"Is this okay?" Maura asked, unsure, not wanting to assume their new situation granted the same privileges as before, but hoping against hope it did.
"This is perfect…" Jane leaned in to kiss Maura's temple, and her forehead, and her nose, before Maura tilted her head up to meet Jane's lips with her own.
The kiss deepened, and they made out for a long, long time, unhurriedly, just enjoying the comfort of their newfound closeness.
They didn't even realize when they finally fell asleep, securely held in each other's arms.
