A/N: Thank you for the patience while I wrote this sequel. I had just about given up on it but decided I needed to finish it.
Translations are at the end of the chapter.
They landed in Italy a little after seven in the evening. A personal driver for Pamela helped the women with their bags and drove them from the airport to the apartment.
Pamela unlocked the front door and let them into the apartment. The driver brought in their bags then went back out to the car to wait for Pamela.
"I know it's not much." Pamela said to them, "But I hope you make it home while you're here."
"Pamela, it's beautiful." Maura said to her.
"Really, Pamela it's perfect." Jane said as she looked around.
"Here are the keys to the apartment and these are the keys to the car that's in the garage." Pamela said handing them to Jane. "I'll see you in the morning and we can go over to the restaurant and you can meet everyone." Pamela told her.
"Okay sounds like a plan." Jane told her.
Pamela smiled at them, "I'll let you two get unpacked and enjoy your first night in Rome." She said with a wink.
"Good night." She said as she headed for the front door, "Have fun." She called out as she shut the door behind her.
Maura went and picked up her bags.
"What are you doing?" Jane asked her.
"I'm going to take these upstairs and unpack." She said to her.
Jane took Maura's bags from her then placed them back down on the floor. "Unpacking can wait a bit." Jane told her then took her hand, "Let's just check the place out."
"You know she said this was a small apartment." Jane said as they walk around, "But it's pretty damn big."
"That's Pamela for you. She doesn't really do anything on a small scale." Maura told her.
The kitchen was a nice sized open space which Jane liked a lot. There was a small dining area off from the kitchen and a very large living room.
Upstairs there were two bedrooms, one for a guest and then the master room. Maura went out onto the balcony of the master bedroom while Jane went into the bathroom.
"Holy shit, there's a hot tub in here!" She yelled as she played with the knobs on the tub.
"Jane, come and look at this view." Maura called to her.
Jane walked out of the bathroom and saw Maura out on the balcony looking out over their ocean view. A light breeze swept at Maura's hair as the colors of the sunset silhouetted her body.
"Beautiful." Jane said with a smile as she walked up behind Maura, wrapped her arms around her waist and kissed her neck.
Maura turned around in Jane's arms and looked into her eyes. She smiled then kissed Jane on the lips. Jane's hands ran up Maura's back as she pressed her against the balcony rail.
Maura's tongue pressed passed Jane's parted lips and into her mouth. Jane broke their kiss and moved to kissing and sucking on Maura's neck.
"Jane." She breathed as Jane's hands started to slowly inch her dress up her thighs.
Jane pressed her body into Maura as she kissed across her chest then went back to kissing her lips. Her left hand slipped between their bodies. Jane's tongue went into Maura's mouth as her hand slipped into her panties.
Maura moaned as Jane's fingers dragged across her wet folds. Jane's fingers teased as they pressed against her. "Jane, please." Maura begged as she opened her legs.
Jane slowly pushed two fingers inside and Maura moaned. She pumped her fingers in and out as Maura's hands clutched at her back.
Maura's head fell back as Jane brushed against her clit. Jane leaned down and took advantage of her exposed neck. She kissed across the flush skin as her fingers curled inside of Maura before she dragged them slowly out and removed herself. Jane moved down Maura's body kissing as she got down on her knees in front of her.
Maura looked down at as Jane pushed her dress up passed her waist. Maura's hand tangled in Jane's hair as Jane pulled her panties down and took them off. Jane's tongue licked Maura's length before pushing inside and sucking on her clit.
"Oh Jesus." Maura mumbled, her grip in Jane's hair tightened.
Jane's tongue circled around Maura's clit. Maura grunted when Jane pushed two fingers deep inside of her.
Jane could feel Maura's muscles tightening around her fingers as she started to suck on Maura's clit again, her tongue circling and flicking it.
Maura pressed herself into Jane. Jane's fingers twisted deep inside and Maura's hips bucked forward.
Maura let out a low moan as she came. Jane removed her fingers and licked Maura's folds before she stood up and kissed Maura on the lips. She clutched at Jane, bringing her close to her and savoring the taste of herself on Jane's tongue.
Maura wrapped her arms around Jane's waist and held onto her till her body recovered.
"Welcome to Rome." Jane whispered in Maura's ear.
Maura smiled and kissed Jane's neck as she pushed her dress back down. They stayed out on the balcony till Maura was sure she was steady on her feet.
They went inside and while Maura went upstairs to shower Jane went into the kitchen and started dinner.
Jane was straining the pasta when Maura came downstairs. She wandered into the kitchen and sat on one of the stools at the kitchen island. She watched Jane toss the pasta with some sauce then put it into a baking dish.
"I'm making baked ziti." Jane told her.
"Mmm that sounds good." Maura said as Jane grating some parmesan cheese.
Jane finished sprinkling the last of the cheese on top of the ziti before she popped the dish into the preheated oven.
She washed her hands then went to the cabinet, got down two glasses then grabbed a bottle of red wine.
She poured them each a glass, "To a fresh start."
Maura smiled as their glasses clinked together. She took a sip of her wine enjoying the floral taste of it.
"I have something for you." Jane said as she put her wine glass down on the counter.
"You do?" Maura asked surprised.
Jane went over to her luggage that was still by the door and rummaged through it before she found what she was looking for. She grabbed it and then walked back over to Maura and handed it to her.
Maura looked at the lavender wrapped gift then back up at Jane. "What is it?" She asked.
"Well, I think you'll have to open it to find out." Jane said as she took a sip of her wine.
Maura tore slowly at the paper. Inside was a soft covered leather-bound book. Maura looked up at Jane with a raised eyebrow. She opened it and the pages were all blank.
"Is it written in invisible ink?" Maura asked her with a smile.
"It's for you to write in Maura." Jane told her, "You know like a journal or something to put your thoughts in. Whatever you want it to be for." She said with a shrug.
She looked down at the gift then back up at Jane again, "Thank you." She said then got up from her seat, "I have an idea." Maura said as she started to dig through some of the drawers in the kitchen.
"What are you looking for?" Jane asked her.
"A pen." Maura said, "Ah-ha!"
She grabbed a pen from the drawer then handed it and the journal to Jane.
"And you're handing these to me why?" Jane asked.
"Write something in it for me." Maura told her.
"Now?" Jane asked looking at her confused.
"Yes." Maura said to her, "Please?"
Jane took the journal and sat down at the kitchen island. She opened the journal to the first blank page and stared down at it. After a few minutes she looked up at Maura, "Well I can't do it while you're staring at me." Jane said to her.
"Okay." Maura said quietly then opened the sliding glass door to the patio and stepped out.
Jane started biting the end of the pen as she thought. After a moment she smiled to herself then started to write. She finished and closed the journal. "I'm done." She called out and Maura came back inside and over to her.
Jane handed her the journal and Maura opened it and read what Jane had written.
'Sometimes all it takes is a little courage to be who you've always been. May you always have the courage you need, the love you want and the happiness you deserve.'
"Jane." Maura said looking at her. She wrapped her arms around Jane's shoulders, "That's beautiful. Thank you." She said then gave Jane a quick kiss on the lips.
Jane smiled at her, "You're welcome."
While the ziti was baking Jane went upstairs and took a quick shower before coming back down in her pajama bottoms and a black tank top.
"I'm surprised Pamela is putting you right to work." Maura said as they ate.
"I'm not. I mean it's why we came here." Jane said to her, "Besides, the quicker I get to know the crew I'm working with the quicker I'll be able to see who is capable of taking over of the kitchen."
"Do you have to let people go?" Maura asked.
"Well I don't personally fire them if that's what you're asking. I just let Pamela know who's cutting it or not then she makes the decision." Jane told her, "But Pamela picked these people so I'm sure they will work their asses off for her."
After dinner Maura and Jane cleaned up then Jane hefted their luggage upstairs and they unpacked. Maura climbed onto the big bed and got under the covers. Maura smiled at Jane then lifted the covers and Jane got underneath them. She scooted closer to Jane, resting her head on Jane's chest. Jane wrapped an arm around Maura's shoulders and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Good night." Maura mumbled.
Jane smiled, "Good night."
In the morning Jane was cleaning up their kitchen after breakfast when there was a knock at the front door. Maura came downstairs dressed in a navy blue dress and high heels. She answered the door and let Pamela in.
"Good morning Pamela." Maura said as Pamela came in.
"Good morning ladies. I hope your first night in Rome was memorable." Pamela said with a big smile. "Jane, are you ready to see your new kitchen?" She asked as Jane finished putting away the dishes.
Jane took off the apron she was wearing and hung it up, "Let's go."
The three of them drove over to the restaurant. "It's named Nicoletta's after my grandmother on my father's side." Pamela said as they went into the restaurant.
"I asked the kitchen staff to show up so that you could meet them and get a feel for the kitchen." Pamela said as they walked towards the kitchen.
Maura noticed that the restaurant itself was big. The dining area could probably seat around 200 people. Maura admired the decor as she followed Pamela and Jane into the kitchen.
In the kitchen a staff of 15 people all dressed in black slacks and white dress shirts were busy doing various things.
Pamela cleared her throat, "Mi scusi posso avere la vostra attenzione per favore?"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to Pamela, "Questa è Jane Rizzoli, il capo chef di Nicoletta's."
They all looked to Jane. "The majority of the cooking staff only speak a little bit of English." Pamela said with a small laugh, "And that's about all the Italian I can remember at the moment." She told Jane.
"Ciao, non vedo l'ora di lavorare con tutti voi." Jane said to them. Some of them nodded, others smiled and clapped.
"Here's what I have planned. Tonight I have about 30 people coming in to try the food. It's just going to be a few friends who have been very supportive about the restaurant. So I'd like you to work with the staff planning a dinner and dessert." Pamela told Jane.
"I can do that." Jane said to her and Maura could already tell that Jane was already working out a menu in her mind.
"Good, while you do that, Maura and I will be shopping." Pamela said linking her arm through Maura's.
"We'll see you in a few hours." Pamela said then she and Maura left the kitchen.
"You really think we should have left Jane alone with a new staff?" Maura asked Pamela as they left the restaurant. "I mean you just kind of threw her in the deep end and told her to swim or drown." Maura said.
"I'm sure Jane can handle herself just fine. I have a feeling she does extremely well under pressure." Pamela said to her.
Maura and Pamela spent most of the morning going from shop to shop. Maura found a nice black dress with spaghetti straps to wear at dinner that night.
At home, Maura was out on the patio sunbathing when she heard the front door open.
"Maura, are you here?" Jane called out.
Maura got up from her lounge chair and went inside. Jane smiled when she saw Maura in a deep red bikini.
"What are you doing home?" Maura asked her, "Oh god you didn't get fired did you?" She asked then smiled.
Jane snorted, "No I didn't get fired." She said as she went to the fridge and grabbed a beer. "I get a little time off before I have to go back for the dinner."
Maura gave Jane a smile as she walked slowly towards her. The bottle of beer Jane was about to take a sip from hovered just at her lips as she watched Maura undo the tie on her bikini top. The top fell to the floor and Maura took the beer bottle from Jane and set it down on the counter.
She pressed her full body against Jane's as she leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Jane's hands ran up Maura's sides then cupped her breasts. Her thumbs grazed over her nipples and Maura moaned into Jane's mouth.
Jane broke their kiss and looked at Maura. "Do you really want to have sex in the kitchen?" She asked.
Maura smiled at her, "Not today." She said as she turned around and headed for the stairs. Jane's eyes were focused on Maura's ass. "Coming?" Maura called out as she started up the stairs.
"Almost." Jane said quietly to herself as she followed Maura upstairs.
Jane was leaving a trail of clothes up the stairs and down the hallway. By the time she got into the bedroom she was in nothing but her black bra and grey boy shorts.
"Maura?" Jane called out when she didn't see Maura in the bedroom.
She came out of the bathroom completely naked and went over to Jane and started kissing her on the neck as she unhooked her bra.
She pushed Jane back onto the bed and stared down at her with a smile. Maura got on the bed and straddled Jane's hips. "I should warn you I'm a little sweaty and I smell like basil." Jane told her.
"Are you trying to turn me on even more?" Maura asked as she took Jane's left hand and put it between her legs, "Because I don't think that's really possible."
Jane felt how wet Maura was and it made her moan. Maura's hips rocked and she moved against Jane's hand. She bent down and licked Jane's nipple before sucking it into her mouth.
Jane slipped two fingers into Maura as she kissed across Maura's chest to suck on her other nipple. Jane's fingers curled inside. Maura sat up and moved her hips to match the rhythm of Jane's fingers.
Jane sat up and latched onto Maura's hard nipple and sucked on it as she pumped deeper into Maura. "Mmm yes Jane." Maura moaned.
Jane kissed Maura, pushing her tongue into her mouth as her thumb circled around Maura's clit.
Maura's hips started to quicken their pace and Jane knew Maura was close. "Please Jane." She begged as Jane's fingers moved inside her. "Oh god just… please." She shuddered.
Jane wrapped her right arm around Maura's waist as her fingers pushed deep inside her. The heel of Jane's hand pressed and rubbed against Maura's clit. She threw her head back as her muscles clenched around Jane's fingers. She let out a long moan as she came.
Jane withdrew her fingers slowly and Maura fell forward and rested her forehead on Jane's chest. Jane put her hands on either side of Maura's neck, lifted her head up and kissed her on the lips.
Once Maura recovered she sat up and looked down at Jane, "That's not exactly what I had in mind when I brought you up here." She said smiling.
Jane laughed a little as Maura climbed off of her and lied down next to Jane. "What did you have in mind?" Jane asked her.
"I was going to attack you and ravish you." Maura said with a laugh as she turned and hid her face in Jane's shoulder.
"Well I'm not going anywhere at the moment." Jane told her.
Maura lifted her head and kissed Jane's jaw. "Good." She said as she moved down on the bed.
Maura kissed Jane's stomach as she pulled down her underwear and took them off. She pushed her legs apart and kissed up Jane's left thigh. Maura lifted her head and looked up at Jane before she dropped her head and kissed up her right thigh.
Jane started to squirm a little, "Maura…." She breathed out.
"Patience." Maura said to her as her fingers grazed across Jane's wet folds.
Jane moaned quietly. "Stop teasing." She said through clenched teeth and Maura smiled.
Maura licked Jane's length and the contact made Jane's hips buck. She grabbed onto the slates of the headboard above her head. Maura pushed her tongue inside and swirled her tongue around before sucking on her clit.
"Ah fuck…." Jane groaned.
Maura pushed two fingers inside of her. Maura's pace was quick, deep strokes. She lifted her head to watch Jane writhing around, the muscles in her arms flexing as she gripped the slates in the headboard tight.
Maura's strokes intensified and she dipped her head back down and wrapped her lips around Jane's clit. She swirled her tongue around it before finally drawing it into her mouth and flicking it with her tongue.
"Cazzo di dio merda che si sente bene!" Jane shouted as her muscles started to clench around Maura's fingers.
Maura continued to suck on Jane's clit, her fingers curled and twisted inside of her till finally Jane's body arched up off the bed. A loud snapping jarred Maura's head up as Jane came and her body went limp.
Maura looked up at Jane who was breathing heavily, her left hand held a broken slate from the headboard.
"Did you break the bed?" Maura asked as she moved up Jane's body.
Jane looked at the piece of wood in her hand, "Looks like it." She said then dropped it off the side of the bed.
Maura kissed Jane on the cheek.
"Maura, that was amazing, you had me …. " Jane said then trailed off.
"Speaking in tongues?" Maura said with a laugh.
"Yeah something like that." Jane said as she put an arm around Maura who rested her head on Jane's shoulder.
"I wish I could just stay here in bed with you and do that over and over again till we both can't move." Jane said moving to get up, "But I have to be back at the restaurant in a couple hours."
Maura stopped her, "Just stay for a minute." She said looking at Jane.
Of course when Maura looked at Jane like that how could she say no?
"Okay just for a minute." Jane said lying back.
Maura snuggled up close to her and they closed their eyes.
Jane was jarred awake by her cellphone ringing. She sat up and looked at the clock, "Oh shit!" she swore noticing that she'd fallen asleep and now had 30 minutes to get to the restaurant.
"Jane, your cellphone is ringing." Maura said lazily as she rolled over onto her side still half asleep.
"Maura, I'm going to be late." Jane said hopping out of bed and rushing into the bathroom. Her cellphone stopped ringing as she got into the shower. She took the quickest shower in her life, toweled off and got changed into her chef clothes.
Maura was still sleeping naked in bed. Jane grabbed her cellphone that was on the floor by the foot of the bed and rushed downstairs and out of the house.
She got to the restaurant and everyone was in high gear. She paused a moment, took a deep breath closed her eyes and exhaled before she switched into chef mode and got to work.
Maura woke up rubbed her eyes and looked around for Jane. She got out of bed and took a long hot shower before she got out and dried off. She walked naked to the closet where she'd put away the clothes she and Pamela had bought earlier that day.
She put on her bra and panties then took the black dress down from its hanger and slipped it on. She ran her hands down her sides and smoothed it out.
She admired herself in the mirror as she put in a pair of small diamond earrings. Maura's cellphone rang and she grabbed it from the night stand.
"Ciao questo è Maura." She said cheerfully into the phone.
"Ciao Maura! Come stai? Come sta Janie? Come ti piace Roma?" Angela spoke in rapid Italian. It made Maura's head spin.
Maura laughed, "Angela, I only understood about half of what you just said."
"Oh I'm sorry." Angela said with a laugh, "I just asked how you were, how Janie was and how Rome is."
"Everything is great. How are you Angela?" Maura asked her as she sat on the end of the unmade bed.
"I'm wonderful." Angela said to her. "I called Janie earlier to wish her luck tonight. Pamela said she's cooking for a small group of people."
"Yes she is. It's a small test run but I'm sure Jane will do just fine." Maura told her, "I was just heading out the door to go to the restaurant."
"Oh, well don't let me keep you." Angela told her, "But Maura, will you please give Jane a kiss on the cheek from me for good luck?"
Maura smiled, "Of course."
"Thank you." Angela said and they both hung up.
Pamela came and picked Maura up at the house and they went to Nicoletta's.
When they went inside Pamela went to check with the staff and Maura wandered around before she slipped into the kitchen.
She watched in amazement, as if it was the first time she'd seen Jane in the kitchen as she moved around effortlessly and ordered people around.
Jane looked up from chopping some mint and their eyes met. "Non si può essere qui." She said and Maura cocked her head to one side.
Jane smiled at her, one dimple showing. She wiped her hands on a dish towel, went over to Maura and kissed her lightly on the lips.
"What did you say to me?" Maura asked her.
"What do I always say to you?" Jane asked.
"I don't think I can repeat that in the kitchen." Maura said with a laugh and Jane kissed her on the lips again.
"Angela called and wanted me to wish you luck tonight." Maura said, "And to give you this." She said then leaned in and kissed Jane on the cheek.
A small blush swept across Jane's cheeks as she smiled. "Thanks." She said to her.
"But seriously, you can't be in here." She said taking Maura by the shoulders and turning her around and pushing her towards the kitchen doors.
Jane leaned in, "You look gorgeous tonight by the way." She whispered in her ear then kissed Maura's bare shoulder.
Maura smiled as she walked out of the kitchen and took a seat at a table with Pamela.
Maura, Pamela and the other guests were treated to a wonderful meal. During dessert Pamela dragged Jane out of the kitchen and introduced her to the guests who applauded her. Jane blushed, thanked them then went back into the kitchen.
Pamela was saying goodnight to the guests so Maura went back into the kitchen.
"Grazie per tutto il vostro aiuto. Questa sera è stato un successo." Jane said to the staff.
Maura watched as Jane started to help with the cleanup.
Pamela burst into the kitchen, "Tonight was wonderful!" She gushed as she went over to Jane grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her on both cheeks. "People couldn't stop talking about the food."
Jane smiled and took a step back from Pamela. "I'm glad it was a success." Jane told her as she looked back at her staff, "We still have a few kinks to work out but I believe we have an excellent crew here."
Pamela looked at Jane then at Maura, "Why are you two still here?" She asked.
"I'm just getting stuff cleaned up." Jane told her.
"Oh no no no. You two go home. " Pamela said ushering both her and Maura out the kitchen doors.
"But…." Jane said thinking about the staff having to clean up by themselves.
"They'll be fine. Go now." Pamela said to them.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening." Maura said to Pamela and gave her a kiss on the cheek before she and Jane left the restaurant.
They got home and went right upstairs to the bedroom. Maura started to kiss Jane as she unbuttoned her shirt. She wrapped her arms around Jane's waist and pulled her close as they continued to kiss.
"Mmm." She mumbled as she pulled back, "I'm just going to slip into something a little more comfortable." She told Jane as she let go and went to the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later when she came out of the bathroom wearing a silk black teddy she saw that Jane was face down on the bed, still in her clothes and fast asleep.
Maura smiled then went over to the bed and carefully rolled Jane onto her back. She brushed the hair away from her face then started to undress her. She folded Jane's clothes and put them on a chair near the bed before she pulled the blanket back and covered Jane. She got into bed, "Good night Jane." She whispered in her ear before kissing her cheek. She cuddled up close to her and closed her eyes.
Translation:
"Excuse me, may I have your attention please?"
"This is Jane Rizzoli, the head chef of Nicoletta's."
"Hello, I'm looking forward to working with all of you."
"Fucking shit god that feels good!"
"Hello this is Maura."
"Hello Maura! How are you? How is Janie? How do you like Rome? "
"You cannot be here." (You can't be in here)
"Thanks for all your help. This evening was a success. "