A/N: Just a little M/I to fill the void. I’ll post this in the next Redux week for FF_Friday under Challenge #99 – Running Late, but in the meantime, I thought I’d post it here.

Word Count: 741

Rated: R for sexual situations

Paring: Mal/Inara

Spoilers: None

Late, Again

by 2x2

He likes to mark her.

Little nips and sucks intended to lay his claim, let them know that she is his, even as she plies her trade. It drives her mad; she knows he does it intentionally, even yelled at him for it once, the first time, when he’d ambushed her barely half an hour before she was due to meet her client, messing her finely arranged hair and clothes, his mouth leaving a trail of red welts around her neck, impossible to conceal.

He can’t regret it, and she doesn’t really blame him. It’s one of her concessions in their on-going war over her job. He lets her go, but he always makes sure they’ll know she’s spoken for. And, judging by the way she moans when he brings his teeth into play, she doesn’t really mind. It amazes him, the way she can’t resist when his mouth plunders her skin, and he’ll use that to his advantage today, marking her, making her late, as he does every time.

* * * * *

Applying the last touches to her make-up, Inara hears the shuttle door open and sighs; knows she is doomed.

“Mal,” she protests as he pulls her to him, mouth attacking her neck, teeth nipping and tongue laving. “Mal, please… I’ve got a client in twenty minutes…” she trails off into a moan. Damn him, she hates his ability to render her weak and helpless with need for him. He’s going to make her late, she knows it, but she can’t care. Can’t even pretend she hasn’t been waiting for him in fretful excitement.

He bends and slides his hands beneath her gown, pushing it up her thighs, his fingers trailing up the inside of her legs before slipping between her moist curls, already wet for him. He strokes her, mouth catching hers in a hungry kiss, pressing himself against her, hot and urgent.

“Damn you,” she breathes again