Disclaimer: Not mine, not paid. Love ‘em, all the same. Oh yeah.

Thanks: To dear Jacqui, who corrals my excess commas and to Rion, my own Big Bad Man, who contributes great dialog.

Rating: NC/15, on account of nudity. Down that slippery slope I mentioned…

Feedback: Oh yes, kind readers. I grovel nicely, do tricks even. Praise or gripe, it's appreciated, especially if you like a particular bit. To read the previous three chapters or any of my other stories, click on my name. Makes a lot more fun when you’ve read the lead-up.

The Birthday Gift

Chapter Four

Jayne quickly made his way back to Serenity where he caught a quick shower and changed into clean clothes, holstered a reasonably discreet sidearm, and began to track the two women.

It wasn’t really so difficult. After all, Inara Sera was a Registered Companion, a beautiful woman whose business it was to get noticed. And take note of her folks had, from the dock registry clerk to a newsboy to a street side vendor.

The trail that Inara and Kaylee left was as clear to a man with Jayne’s skills as if someone had followed them with a trumpet, announcing their passage. Of course, the fact that Jayne was motivated by his lust-fueled imagination certainly didn’t hurt, either.

Their trail ended at a handsome old boarding house, reasonably up-scale, perhaps the sort of place the Companion might go with her clients. Or had she decided to make an exception to her “no servicing the crew” for little Miss Kaylee?

The thought made the merc’s mouth curl in a wry grin. Oh yeah, now that would be something to see. After all, Kaylee was often given to disappearing into Inara’s shuttle and on those occasions, much giggling and low girl talk could occasionally be heard. The possibilities were definitely titillating and it wasn’t as if Jayne could just walk up to the front door and ask if the Companion and his occasional girlfriend were tickling each other’s fancies somewhere upstairs.

Jayne scouted the sur