Bed and Wine: Part 13

By Kaynara

***

The word *father* seemed to flip a switch in him.

Mal spread his legs a little, bumped Inara from between them with a gentle push, and sprung to his feet.

“You’re Inara’s father,” he repeated dully.

“That’s right, Mr. Reynolds.” But he was staring at Inara, his gaze ripe with what could only be termed need.

“Her dead father. One ate his own gun?”

“I only have the one, Mal.”

He turned, as though remembering her presence. She stared at the older man, her beautiful eyes expressionless. She wasn’t so successful in governing her lips. The softly-painted mouth, still warm from his kisses, quivered as she looked into the eyes of a dead man. What did she see there?

“Mr. Reynolds, you captain a ship called The Serenity, correct?”

Mal blinked.

“I’m sorry, can you just hold on a second...? Sir.” He touched a hand to the small of Inara’s back. “Inara. Are you here?” he said more softly.

“Take me home, Mal.”

“But, ah.” He shot a swift glance at her father. “It’s only the first date.”

“Please, Mal.” She slipped a hand through his arm, gave him a soulful stare, only half-affected.

“Inara. My sweet gypsy girl. Just let me--”

She shrank back, as though Death himself stretched cool, clammy hands toward her flesh. In the moonlight, her face appeared unnaturally pale. Mal stepped forward, set a firm hand on the older man’s shoulder.

“Whoa, now. Let’s all just keep our hands at our sides, dong ma?”

“They came to me in the night: three men from BSB. They told me you were dead.” She sank as one boneless into Mal’s chair. “You let them.”

“I had no choice, bao bei.”

“There’s always a choice,” Inara said sadly. “Letting your only daughter think you dead is the coward’s one.”

“I promise to explain, Inara. But this is neither the time nor the place.” He turned to Mal, the look in his dark eyes a plea. “Perhaps we can continue this conversation on The Serenity, Mr. Reynolds?”

“Well, sir, that would be the lady’s call.” Mal knelt on