Jayne hated waitin’. Made ‘im feel useless. Made ‘im… think too much.

“Fifty-four. Fifty-five.” The words were little more th’n grunts on the up-side of his push-ups.

He’d been doin’ a lot’ve waitin’ lately.

Waitin’ fer Kaylee. Waitin’ fer plans ta start. Waitin’ fer… Kaylee.

He could feel her lips on his ear again. Feel the weight of ‘er pressed against ‘im.

“Sixty. Sixty-one.”

Feel ‘er hands. Her tongue.

Why had he ruttin’ stopped ‘er?

He knew why he’d stopped ‘er. But it didn’t stop ‘im from bein’ real surprised he actually had.

“Sixty-five.”

He was sick’ve waitin’ and sick’ve walkin’ away.

Man’s got needs, after all.

But… gorramit. When’d he get too proud ta give in ta all-mighty temptation?

“Zeek! You all fit to go whorin’?”

Jayne tuned the comm out. Wasn’t done yet.

Sixty-eight. Sixty-nine.

“Hey!”

Seventy. Not bad.

Jayne rolled onta his back an’ stretched his arms over his head. “Yup.”

“Good. You’re leaving.”

“Do I get ta change my shirt first?” He sat up an’ glared at the comm.

“You’re leaving.”

Jayne looked down at the v of sweat on the front of his t-shirt. Reckoned there was a bigger one on the back.

He shot the comm another look an’ got up. Opened his drawer real quiet-like an’ found a half-decent shirt. Pulled the Fightin’ Fairies one off as he was goin’ up the ladder an’ let it drop. He had the new shirt over his head an arms an was halfway out the hatch when Kaylee came outa hers.

She glanced over at ‘im, then away. Then back again real slow.

Jayne pulled his shirt down the rest of the way.

Kaylee looked up at his face. She was blushin’.

She hurried the rest of the way outa her hatch an’ hurried down the passage outa sight.

Jayne smiled an’ let the butterflies in his stomach dance a while.