Girl was too young, too dangerous, too broken.

Too many things that Mal knew to be all manner of wrong and improper.

Also far too tempting. A summer peach just about to turn ripe, or one of Kaylee's prized, plump red strawberries. And the Sweet Jesus have mercy on his Special Hell-bound soul for it, but he ached to be the first one to taste her.

Little witch prolly knew it too, and was out to torment him for it. Sending him visions in his sleep he ought not to be having. Her riding him like a bronco. Him bending her over the catwalk railing, lifting that flirty, pink little skirt of hers and taking her with his pants around his ankles. Her kneeling in front of him as he sat in the pilot's chair and taking him in her mouth.

When Mal was a boy, there was a big peach tree on the ranch.

Somehow, the sweetest fruit off that tree was just out of his reach.