Mal climbed down the ladder to his bunk. It had been a long day and he was looking forward to a quiet night in his own bed. He really wasn’t paying attention as he descended and so, when he reached the bottom and looked up, he was rather surprised. Standing directly in front of him, in all her glory, was Inara. His mouth dropped open, “Huh.”

“Hello Mal. I think this little dance of ours has gone on quite long enough. I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in months and I don’t think you have either. So I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands, so to speak.”

Mal looked her up and down, he sure did like what he saw. He had imagined her naked but his imagination had not done her justice. She was one beautiful woman and she was his. He’d known it for some time, he just had never wanted to admit it. It would cause way too many complications, but now that she was here...

Inara walked over to Mal, smiled up at him sweetly and started unbuttoning his shirt. “Do you like what you see, my turn.”

Mal reached up, unable to resist, took her face in his hands and kissed her. Inara slid her hands under his shirt and up around his back and just held on. That kiss was all she imagined it would be and more. Tender and yet strong, filled with passion. Inara felt like she was melting, it was all she could do just to stay on her feet. She had kissed many men, but not one had made her feel like this. She briefly wondered what making love to him would be like, but then all thoughts slipped from her mind.

She was on his bunk. Inara wasn’t even sure how she had gotten there, he must have carried her. She opened her eyes just in time to see him, now naked himself, slipping in next to her. She turned to him, ran her fingers through his hair, and leaned against him. Their bodies touching, his arm came over and around behind her and he pulled her close. Then he kissed her again.

The kisses continued and their hands began to explore each other bodies. Mal found all her most sensitive spots and was making good use of them. Inara moaned softly, “Mal please.” She was ready, Mal knew, so he entered her. They both groaned.

Inara had had many men, but this, this was different. She loved this man with her entire being, in spite of all their differences, he was her perfect match, the man she was meant for, and now they were as close as two people can get. It was almost more than she could bear.

Mal had been with women before, but he had never really allowed himself to love them, not even his first wife. But this woman he loved in spite of himself. He didn’t want to love her, she stood for so many things he hated, but he just couldn’t help himself. And now she was here in his bed, in his arms.

It was over too quickly. They climaxed together, but neither of them were ready to let it end. Mal lay on top of her resting for a minute. He started to roll off, but she stopped him. “No stay, I like feeling your weight on me, makes me feel safe.”

He looked down into those deep brown eyes, “You know I’d never let anything hurt you if I could help it.”

“I know Mal, I always feel safe with you around.”

“But I’ve hurt you myself.” “Shhh Mal, none of that matters now,” she put her fingers against his lips. He kissed them.

“It will in the morning”

“I know Mal, but can’t we just have tonight?”

“Sure” Mal rolled over on his back, pulling Inara with him. She lay across his chest, listening to his heart beat. Surprised, she found it beating in rhythm with her own.

“Inara, all those times I called you a whore...” She smiled at the way his voice rumbled through his chest into her ear.

“I know Mal, it was just another way to say, “I love you’” She looked up into his eyes and smiled.

He smiled back, God she loved that smile, “Yeah, I love you.”

“I love you too, Mal. It’s not going to make this any easier though, is it?”

“No.”

Inara sighed and lay back down on his chest. She listened to his heart beating, strong and sure, and felt safe and loved for the first time in a long while. She knew that the morning would bring problems and that by finally giving in and making love they had just complicated things further. But she didn’t care; he belonged to her, and she belonged to him. They would make it work somehow. They had to.