Mal stretched his arms and legs experimentally, noting with a little shock that they were slightly stiff. ‘Course, right this minute, he thought with something approaching disbelief, everything was a mite stiff.

Inara lay back on the bed, looking up at him with hooded eyes. Stretching languidly like a cat, her body looked sleek and strong, and Mal felt his pulse begin to quicken at the sight. It was fair amazing to him that she had persuaded him to let her bind him in such a fashion, and even more amazing that he should have so thoroughly enjoyed it. Mal was no blushing virgin, of course, but he was generally unaccustomed to such games. Maybehaps it was something he’d get accustomed to, he figured, being as how the woman in his bed was all manner of imaginative.

He picked up the black silk ties and ran them experimentally through his fingers. Inara watched him, wondering what was going through her lover’s head. Slowly, he raised his head to look into her eyes. “Can I?” he asked, almost wincing at the pleading sound of his voice.

Inara raised her arms above her head slowly, and lay very still as Mal secured her wrists with the lengths of silk. She noticed that he took great care in the tying of the knots, trying not to cause her discomfort. “Good?” he asked, when he was done.

“Mmm hmm,” Inara answered, wiggling a little to remind him of her free ankles.

Mal chuckled, securing one delicately turned ankle to the bed frame. “Think I’ll be having need of this elsewhere,” he whispered huskily, as he held up the last tie.

Inara looked at him, suddenly a little anxious about what he might have in mind. “Try to relax, darlin’,” he said, mimicking her command from earlier. “Close your eyes.”

Inara closed her eyes and felt him move up the bed to her head, slipping the tie around her eyes. The move was unexpected, and caused warm heat to pool between her legs. She felt the bed shift again, and knew that Mal had gotten up. She listened carefully, all of her senses suddenly attuned to he