Chapter 8

Parking in front of Maura's house, Jane pauses to look at herself in the mirror, she hasn't worn her hair up like this in years, but she felt like surprising Maura tonight and even bought a new dress and shoes.

Walking up to the door, Jane's phone rings. She looks at it and doesn't recognize the number and let's it go to voicemail. Just as she's about to knock on the door, it opens.

Maura stands in the open door with her mouth open. She didn't expect Jane to wear a dress tonight, especially one that looks like it was made for her.

Stepping up to the doorway, Jane reaches out and puts her finger under Maura's chin and closes her mouth. "So this is what it takes to make you speechless?" Jane says sauntering past the astonished doctor.

"Uh, Jane you look gorgeous. Is that new?" Maura all but stutters.

"Yes and you know it is. Are you surprised that I managed to go shopping without you?" Jane can't help but enjoy herself, it's not often she can pull off surprising her friend like this and if she admits it, it's really kind of nice to feel sexy and stunning for a change. Maybe she understands now why Maura enjoys looking like this so often.

Recovering from the surprise and enjoying this sexy, confident version of her friend, Maura turns around and grabs her clutch and then walks over to lock the front door. As she walks towards the side door, Jane smiles. "Yes! We're taking the Mercedes."

"You know, I'd be happy to drive tonight," Jane says as climbs into the passenger seat of the black sports car.

"Nice try Detective, maybe if you're good tonight, you can drive home?" Maura replies playfully.

"Oh, it's on Doctor…" the raven haired women says thickly, dark eyes sparkling dangerously.

Backing out of the driveway, Maura can't help but gasp as she catches Jane's face in the side mirror. She almost misses the gear, but covers it up by letting the car roll back out of gear. Jane notices it and throws back her head to laugh at her befuddled friend.

Pulling up to the Symphony, Maura lets the valet take the car and puts the ticket in her clutch. She then turns to look at Jane again and smiles broadly. She can't help but glance around and notice people staring at them. They make a stunning couple, Maura's emerald green dress and Jane's sapphire one complement each other beautifully.

Jane pauses at the curb and waits for Maura to come around the car. Then reaches out and offers her arm as Maura steps up from the street, which now has them entering the building arm in arm. Smiling broadly, Jane can't help but enjoy making an entrance. Usually, she feels awkward going to these things with Maura, but this time, she decided to rise to the challenge and she has to admit, it feels really good to be on the offensive for a change.

Entering the lobby, Maura is pleased to see the reception is just beginning, this is what she loves about attending opening night. Jane hands her a glass of champagne and then holds her glass up for Maura to clink. Smiling brightly, Jane sweeps across the room with her eyes and suddenly stops mid sip. Her whole body tenses up, Maura senses the change and looks up at the detective and follows Jane's sight line to a couple that appear to be father and daughter, but its hard to tell these days. The woman isn't looking this way, so Maura can't tell who it is, but obviously Jane knows and isn't happy about it.

Needing to break the spell and find out what's going on Maura speaks, "Jane, what is it?"

"Nothing Maura. Um, excuse me. I'm going to visit the ladies room. I'll be right back." Jane sets her glass down and darts behind Maura as she leaves. Maura watches the blonde woman and she finally turns around and Maura gasps in recognition.

"Maur, these new shoes are killing me. Can we go ahead to our seats?" Jane says softly leaning into Maura's ear from behind her.

Pivoting around to face the taller woman, Maura is surprised to be greeted with dazzling dimples and sparkling dark eyes looking down at her. "Oh, yes." She says looking over to an usher.

"May we go ahead to our seats?" She asks the man, handing him her symphony season pass card.

"Right this way Dr. Isles." He says walking over to the curtained entry to the side stairs leading up to the second floor balcony seats. Maura's family has had these same seats since she was a child. Maura actually loves to be seated early so she can watch the musicians setting up.

Sitting down, Jane immediately takes her shoes off and flexes her feet. Maura glances at the program for tonight's performance and is still considering whether to say anything to Jane or just wait to see what happens.

Just as Maura decides to say something, another couple joins them in the balcony box. They are friends of Maura's parents so she talks with them while Jane fiddles with her phone.

Turning back around Maura is surprised to see Jane reading the program, phone out of sight.

"Maura which Puccini Opera did we see last year?" Jane asks her looking up from the program.

"Last year was Verdi's La Traviata. The year before was Puccini's Tosca," Maura says smiling.

"Oh, so I haven't seen Manon Lescaut? I was listening to these at lunch yesterday and this one sounded familiar. Are you sure?" Jane asks again.

"Wait, you what? Really?" Maura is thrown by this un-Jane-like behavior.

"Okay, remember the other night when I was telling you about the point system? Well it occurred to me that it's not equal, because you actually prepare to go to sporting events with me, so I decided to make a similar effort," she explains.

"Oh." Maura says finally understanding what is going on with Jane. The new dress was Jane's version of showing up in a jersey. "Well, I have to admit, it is a pleasant surprise to be discussing operas with you instead of listening to you complain all night." Then she remembers that she has this on CD, "Jane you have heard that before, I have a Puccini Opera collection on CD."

Chapter 9

Leaving the Symphony, Maura surprises Jane by getting in the passenger's seat of her car. Jane barely contains her excitement at getting to drive home. There is something quite magical at pushing the button and having the car roar to life and it makes the detective giggle like a child every time.

Pulling into the garage at Maura's, Jane can't help but look over at Maura and smile.

"This was the best night." She says sitting back in the driver's seat.

"Yes, it was. Thank you for attending it with me Jane." She says reaching over to squeeze the other woman's hand.

Looking down at their hands, Jane takes a deep breath and reaches over to cup Maura's face and turn her towards her. They hold each other's gaze for a moment until they both begin to lean in and suddenly they are kissing. Softly and nervously at first and then they both pull back. They lock eyes again and suddenly Jane scrambles out of the car. Maura calls out, but then her door opens and Jane is pulling her out of the car. Standing up on her own, Maura pulls Jane in to her and they kiss again, this time much harder. Jane shuts the car door and leans in pressing Maura's back against the car and then they break apart, each gasping a bit.

Maura smiles and Jane looks around the garage. "Maybe we should go inside," she says hoarsely, backing away and giving Maura room to move. Silently, they make their way into the house and Jane takes off her shoes and stands for moment, unsure what to do next. She actually didn't plan this far. Driving home, all she could think about was kissing Maura. Now that she's done it, she is a bit overwhelmed by it and a little unsure of herself.

Maura walks over to the front door and turns off the porch light. Then she resets the alarm. On her way back to where Jane is standing she pauses, then detours over to the refrigerator and grabs two bottles of water. Walks back over to Jane and puts one in her hand, then takes the other hand and pulls her towards the stairs.

"Maura, wait." Jane hesitates.

Maura stops, then steps up on to the first stair and turns around to face Jane, her hands on the taller woman's shoulders. 'What are we waiting for?" Maura whispers thickly into Jane's ear, then nipping it and moving down her neck with soft kisses until she gets to her pulse point, then she applies pressure with her tongue until Jane gasps.

"Waiting is a bad idea." Jane says thickly, as Maura begins backing up the stairs, with Jane barely keeping pace with her.

In the bedroom, the two woman break apart long enough to unzip each other and carefully step out of their dresses. Maura opens her walk in closet long enough to toss the dresses onto the settee and close the door. Turning around she can't help but admire the detective's long lithe body as she envelopes her in a full embrace. Reaching around the taller woman, Maura easily releases her bra and then reaches one hand up behind to release her own. Jane pulls the bra away and cups the breasts that she has so often admired. Bending down slightly, she kisses each one and then gently rubs the nipples with her thumbs. They have now managed to move close enough to the bed, that they sink down and fall over gently. Laying face to face, Jane reaches up and caresses Maura's face.

"Maur, I just need a minute to wrap my head around this, okay?"

Catching her breath, the doctor closes her eyes and pulls Jane close. Their bodies touching like this is a bit overwhelming for her too.

"Jane, I'm sorry. I just didn't realize...then you kissed me, everything makes sense now. I don't know how I didn't know this, but my God. Wow…" she just stops talking, because Jane is running her hands along her body and it feels electric.

"Wow indeed." Jane says smiling as she presses her lips softly to Maura's again, kissing slowly and pulling their bodies together, so that they are completely touching skin to skin.

Pulling back from the kiss, Maura looks into Jane's eyes again. "I have to admit, when I saw Zoey at the symphony, I thought for sure you were going to ask to leave…"

At the mention of Zoey's name, Jane tenses up and physically pulls back from Maura.

"You recognized her from the yearbook?" Jane asks surprised.

"Jane, of course. You mentioned that we look a like, so how could I not recognize her?" Maura replies, then she pulls back and sits up. "Wait does this have something to do with her?" She asks panicked.

"No. Maura, no. Zoey and I didn't have that kind of relationship exactly." Jane tries to explain, but now she feels awkward sitting on Maura's bed half naked. Standing up and going over to the dresser where her things are, Jane puts on a tank top and tosses Maura one.

"Maybe I should explain…" Jane says going back over to sit on the bed beside Maura.

Chapter 10

Mentally kicking herself for ruining the moment, Maura puts the shirt on and faces Jane waiting for her to continue.

"Zoey and I had a complicated friendship. She was hurt when I started hanging out with Cheryl and once she realized that we were intimate, she, well, she was devastated." Jane says her voice breaking slightly.

Maura reaches out to take Jane's hand and moves a little closer to her. Jane relaxes a little at the contact and the doctor smiles.

"I was just a teenager and what I felt for Zoey was really confusing. It was a combination of wanting to be her and be with her… I know that doesn't make sense. Even now it sounds weird…" She says looking over to Maura.

"It makes sense to me Jane. It's not uncommon to admire someone, whom you also find attractive."

"Anyway, we were never the same after that. Even after my relationship with Cheryl ran its course and Zoey and I were friends again, it just wasn't the same. Of course, it didn't help that I started seeing Casey. But somehow my relationship with Casey didn't bother her as much as the one with Cheryl did." Jane admits as the tension she felt initially is disappearing. She relaxes back onto the pillows and puts her arm around Maura, who takes the clue and curls up beside her.

"Jane have you and Zoey ever talked about any of this?" Maura asks softly.

"Sort of." Jane says as she runs her other hand through her hair. "The summer after our first year of college away from each other, we went out one night. Of course, we were drinking and goofing around teasing each other and one thing led to another and I kissed her." The detective smiles at the memory, then looks down at the doctor before continuing the story. "Zoey kissed me back and then we made out in the basement of my parents house. About the time we were removing clothes, Tommy interrupts us and ruins the moment." She pauses and reaches over to grab the water bottle from the table beside the bed, takes a long drink and offers it to Maura.

Maura hands it back to her and Jane continues.

"Zoey gathers her stuff, says 'Perfect' and leaves in a huff." I followed after her and there we are in the street in front of my folks house having our first honest talk about how we feel. It was bad, she called me a tease and said she was done with me. It was my turn to be devastated. I spent the whole summer trying to get her to talk with me, but she was impossible."

"But you must have gotten through to her eventually, you seem to have been in contact with her since then." Maura comments.

"Yeah, she came to my graduation from the academy. And then I went to her graduation from Radcliff with her parents. By then we were back to being friends, but still not as close as before." Jane says with a sigh, "God Maura, I'm sorry all this came up tonight. Talk about a mood killer."

"Well, Jane you did warn me weeks ago that this would be an intense topic. I just… this is so new, and I just want us to be clear on what we want. This has changed our relationship, obviously, and although it was a bit of a shock to me at first, I realize now that we've been building towards this; our level of intimacy with each other has increased in the last few weeks." Maura says carefully, looking into Jane's eyes to gauge her reaction.

"Yes, it has." Jane agrees. "I think that's why this came up tonight when you mentioned Zoey. My feelings for you are complicated in the same way mine for her were. The difference is that I'm no longer a confused teenager and I know what they mean and I'm not afraid of them." She says, her voice breaking a little as she pulls Maura's face up to hers and kisses her.

Deepening the kiss, Maura tangles her hands into curly locks and Jane moans a little, adjusting her position so that their bodies can have more contact and the detective can be on top of her. In a flash, Jane removes her shirt and slightly lifts Maura up to remove hers smoothly.

Maura can't help but spread hot kisses over Jane's neck and collarbone, sucking on her pulse point, but not trying to leave a mark. Jane gasps at the intensity and bends her head down to suck on erect nipples and nuzzle luscious breasts.

Maura moans and encouraged, Jane continues working her way down the honey blonde doctor's toned body, pausing a moment to look up at Maura, she sees an intensity there that she can feel throughout her body.

Plunging fingers into her slippery center, Jane takes her clit into her mouth and sucks until Maura cries out, then releases it and continues to explore. Feeling her tighten up and barely able to move her fingers, Jane pushes her over the edge, feeling her come undone and cry out her name.

"J-J-Jane...m-y g-g-o-d...' Maura says breathlessly.

Moving to lie beside her, but careful not to remove her hand, Jane smiles at the aftershocks that cause Maura to tremble.

Regulating her breathing, Maura recovers quickly and rolls over to top the detective. Surprised, Jane lets her pin her arms over her head and is happily distracted by hot kisses along her neck and collarbone. However, the good doctor doesn't stop there. Teasing Jane's body with her own erect nipples, Maura trails her tongue and fingers along Jane's lithe torso. Moaning as she works her way down the athletic body, Maura sufficiently distracts Jane until she can plunge her tongue into her hot wet center causing the detective to gasp loudly in surprise. Carefully, inserting two fingers into the slick folds and exploring as Jane begins to moan her name loudly… "F-u-c-k Maur… don't s-s-stop that's … so, so-o, g- g-ood…

Maura loves that Jane is becoming undone so easily, but she doesn't want to rush, so she backs off and moves her tongue back up to erect nipples, while still maintaining a rhythm with her other hand. Jane can't help but ride the hand, although completely distracted by the attention to her nipples… suddenly, she'd swear Maura had more than two hands.

"J-jesus… Maur… don't stop, I n-n-ee-d more… Oh, g-god…" Jane goes from begging for more to undone in the blink of an eye and Maura can't help but feel confident about it.

"Maur...Maura." Jane cries out as she reaches climax and her whole body trembles. "Stop, don't stop…" She calls out, unsure of what she needs but completely overtaken by the reverberations of intense orgasms.

Carefully moving up the bed to lay beside Jane, Maura can't help but smile as she sees Jane trying to put herself back together. Not bad for a first time, not bad at all, she thinks as she drifts off.