Note: I welcome criticism. Also, I checked the NC-17 box because there was no R. I don' think this is porno, though.

Disclaimer: Firefly is property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Fox Broadcasting Corp.

**

Where the Truth Was

“Wash. No. I’m scared.”

He pulled his face away from Zoe’s, savoring the lingering taste of her, like vanilla and summertime. He kept his hands low though, his left holding the curve of her back, several fingers of his right hand hooked into the fly of her chinos. Getting her holster off one-handed, blindly kissing had been a trick. The pants were coming off very easily compared to that.

“Scared of what?” He tried not to sound incredulous. Earlier in the week, he’d watched her take on three men, all larger than she, all well armed. She had trounced them soundly and left them for dead. All three dead. All because she was steady, like a rock, and quick on the draw. He cooed vaguely at her and kissed her neck. She didn’t push him away, but held onto him, not letting him move much.

“Wash….” She could feel herself melting into his kisses, relaxing under his hands. Her hands betrayed her, skimming through his hair, down his chest, over his back. “You,” she paused. “We… this is going and then,” she tried desperately to catch her breath. “But we… and I….” Zoe thought that though she had never been accused of being overly articulate, this was impossible. Impossible to confess and convince all at the same time.

“Zoe, Zoe,” he sighed. “My love, my love.” The words were out of his mouth before he could think twice. Adrenaline shot through him as he realized what he’d said. It made his skin tingle and his ears burn. His heart pounded in his chest. He wondered if she could feel it. He hadn’t said that word to anyone in a long time. In such a long time.

She took his head in both her hands and said nothing, but stared. He saw the world close around her face. The dim candlelight was gone. Everything but her eyes and lips and brow and hair was bla