On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me five gold rings

Jayne woke from his light doze with a start, gazing round to see what had woken him.

After his defeat of Squinty everyone had left em alone for the rest of the afternoon and night. Didn’t mean he could let his guard down ‘n’ go to sleep though. Night time was a good time to sneak up on folks and Kaylee was a magnet for every man in the yard. When they had arrived, he hadn’t missed the lustful looks most of ‘em had directed at her. Only his fighting skills and intimidatin’ manner had kept the bastards away so far. Kaylee doin’ her Zoë act had helped deter them as well.

The sound that woke him was Kaylee whimperin’ in her sleep. Since they’d been taken she’d been sleepin’ with her head on his shoulder all cuddled up to his side. Made him feel way too protective and all manner of nervous. Havin’ her so close and not be able to touch the way he wanted would have killed him ‘cept for the situation they were in.

Kaylee was goin’ to scream, wake everyone up, and attract their attention again. He tried smoothin’ her hair, shakin’ her gently to wake her. But she was too deep in the dream, so he stopped her scream with his mouth.

That was a big mistake, ‘cause she kissed him back. Her lips were soft and she tasted of honey, sweet and moresome. His hand went driftin’ all by itself down the length of her side. He had to stop. She was still asleep, trusted him. With a groan he reluctantly tore his mouth from hers. He slid his free arm under her knees and lifted her onto his lap. She snuggled into his chest, her hair brushin’ his chin as his arms cradled her close. There were only a couple more hours till mornin’, he could stand it that long. Gorram it he hoped the hunt would start today. They’d have more chance out in the open than trapped in this yard with crowds of horny desperados.

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Inara stretched her arms in the air to get the kinks out. She had been talking to her contacts all through the night and had f