PART 5

Mal lay on his side on the cool deck plates of Serenity II’s bridge, propped on one elbow, spooned around Inara, and stroking the length of her torso. Surrounded by a nest of their shed clothing, bare skin exposed to the cool ship’s air, he shivered as the sheen of sweat on his skin slowly dried. Inara closed her eyes and sighed as she rested contentedly against him, basking in his love.

“I should’ve started having birthdays ages ago,” she said alluringly, wriggling her hips against his. Mal moaned pleasurably, but they were both spent. He couldn’t decide if he was hot or cold, but he grabbed his coat and pulled it over them like a blanket.

“What shall we name her?” he asked

Inara smiled delightedly and looked around the bridge of the ship. “She can’t really be mine. How did you do this?”

“I’m independently wealthy,” Mal said seriously, but laughed when she pinched his chest. He unfolded his arm so she could use it as a pillow, and held her close, deciding it was time to tell her all the changes he’d planned for their lives. “I sold the house.”

He’d worried about doing that without her knowing, but she didn’t even seem surprised. Instead, she looked confused. “Our house doesn’t have enough equity to buy a ship this nice.”

“I’m not without investors who believe in my cause,” Mal allowed. “Jayne sold his place too and Kaylee and Simon.”

Inara sat up sharply and the coat fell away. “They all knew?”

It was hard to concentrate when she was naked, delighted, and staring down at him. Using his finger, Mal drew small, delicate circles around her naval and smiled mischievously. “So what do you say? Shall we return to port and pick up our crew?”

She looked around the ship, clearly imagining the life and sounds that would soon fill it, and the familiarity of home. Then she pressed him onto his back, straddled his hips, and kissed him deeply.

“Not just yet,” she whispered in his ear, stretching until she’d prostrated her body over his. “I want you to make love to me again w