The next morning, far too early for civilised folks to be up, especially considering the activities of the day before, River ran through Serenity, pounding on all the doors. “Time to get up!” she shouted. “Time to party!”

Down in the captain’s cabin, Mal growled. “If she don’t shut up I’m gonna …”

“What?” Freya asked, raising herself up onto her elbow to look at him. “Put her out the airlock? Suggest she does the septic vat for the foreseeable? You really have a death wish or something?”

“Who from? Her?”

“Or Jayne. Or both.” She chuckled lightly.

“I’d’ve thought being a mother might’ve slowed her down.” Mal pushed his hand through his hair, making it stand on end.

“No sign of it so far.” She leaned forward slightly, moving his shirt to one side and kissing the soft skin just above his collar bone.

“Couldn’t you talk to her?” He shivered at her touch. “You know, seeing how she looks on you.”

“What about you?” The kissing had turned to licking, just the tip of her tongue pressing into the indentation. “You’re her yan qin .”

“No, I ain’t. That’d make Jayne my son-in-law, and I ain’t having that.” His breath hitched. “ Ai ren , I think you’re gonna have to hold that thought. Least for the time being. I need to shower if I’m gonna be anywhere near presentable for this here shindig.”

“We’ve got plenty of time. No-one expects us until lunchtime.” Her lips fastened on his neck.

“Yeah, but –“

She slid across him, her thighs opening around his hips. “You fell asleep last night,” she pointed out.

“I was tired!”

“I wasn’t.”

“So I'm supposed to give in to your … wuh de mah … to your advances whenever you feel … feel like it?” The way she was nibbling his ear was making him lose concentration, and the silver Firefly around her neck was pressing into his chest next to the gold cross she’d given him.

“Absolutely.” Her breath made his skin tingle.

Without thinking, his hands came up and held onto her waist. “You’re a terrible woman,” he