Pulling away from Inara’s kiss-swollen lips, Mal drew a shaky breath. “I’m thinkin’ we’d best move this offa this bitty sofa and over to the bed.”

Inara nodded, her heart singing with the love she had for this man. “It’s a little smaller than the other one,” she said by way of an apology of sorts.

“Looks big enough for what I aim to do in it,” Mal said, winking wickedly to remove the slight worry on Inara’s face. “Course, there’d be more room if we didn’t have to worry with clothes and such.”

Inara rolled her eyes, but there was merriment in them. “Well, let’s see what we can do about that.”

Quickly divested of all encumbrances, the lovers slid into the crisp cotton sheets. Picking up where they’d left off on the sofa, Mal kissed Inara, tongues entwining in a dizzying dance of desire. Trailing open-mouthed kisses down her neck and to her breasts, Mal marveled at the honey-sweet taste of her skin on his tongue.

Inara sighed with pleasure at the feel of his work-roughened hands against her silky skin. Arching upward to offer him better access as he latched onto one taut nipple, she ran her fingers through his hair, sending an electric jolt straight to his nethers.

Pulling away panting, he stopped to admire the perfection of the woman in his arms. And then, he saw it.

“Mal, what is it?” Inara asked, abruptly alarmed by the expression on his face.

Sitting up and pulling completely away from her, Mal answered in a hollow voice. “Guess that’s what I should be askin’ you, only I ain’t firmly convinced I’m gonna like the answer.”

Inara followed the line of his vision, looking down at her left breast to discover a half-healed bite mark on its side. Blushing violently, she gulped in a deep breath, and said, “Mal, please, let me explain.”

Mal could barely hear her for the blood rushing through his ears. When he spoke, his voice was low and deathly calm. “Oh, I conjure it don’t require all that much of an explanation. I ain’t been with you for five weeks now, so I’d be more than a