Mal climbed down into his bunk to find Inara already there. Now that it was obvious the crew knew about their clandestine activities, there was no need to go sneaking about in the wee hours. And Mal thought that it was all manner of pleasing to know someone was waiting for him when he finished his last check each evening.

“Everything secure?’ Inara asked, oddly comforted to know Mal always made sure, even when Serenity was dirtside, as it was tonight.

“Yep,” Mal said, pushing his suspenders off his shoulders. Noticing that Inara was still fully dressed, he frowned. “You plannin’ on sleepin in all that?”

“No,” Inara answered. “I thought it might be nice to take a walk.”

“It’s after midnight, Aberdeen time,” Mal protested. “Where you gotta go?”

“I don’t ‘have’ to go anywhere,” Inara said, sliding up next to him, enveloping him in her intoxicating scent. Pulling his suspenders back up with her slender fingers, she traced little circles on his chest. “I just thought you might like to come with me for a little stroll.”

“Last time I left Serenity for a little ‘stroll’, I ended up swingin’ from chains in Atherton’s little playroom,” Mal grumbled, though he knew he would cave at any minute.

“Don’t worry, dearest. I’ll protect you,” Inara said, the smile on her lips just begging to be tasted.

“All right, woman, I’ll go with you. Just stop with the wiles,” Mal said.

Inara widened her eyes innocently. “What wiles?”

“You know gorram well what wiles,” Mal replied, opening the hatch and climbing back out into the corridor. He smiled at the sound of Inara’s laughter as she followed him out.

Once outside the ship, they stood for a moment to look up at the stars. “They’re beautiful in the Black, but sometimes I forget how they look dirtside,” Mal said, squeezing Inara’s hand. Turning to look at her instead, he asked, “Got any particular direction you aim to take?”

“No,” Inara replied. “You lead the way.”

Mal nodded, and started off down a small path away from Aberdeen’s settl