-Insert witty disclaimer concerning Joss and Mutant Enemy here-

First of all, I'd like to say that this has absolutely nothing to do with any of my other storylines. This came about purely because I, uh, I needed to get it... out of my system. Rofl. I needed my fancy tickled. Anyway, I don't know how great it is. But as of now, you've been warned, this is NC-17, for graphic sexual content. Continue at your own discretion.

***

"There's something-" she swallowed, almost as if forcing herself to continue, "There's something I should have done a long while ago." She paused, and his heart did this queer little stutter. "And I'm sorry, for both of us, that it took me this long." Could it be? Could it really be? It certainly seemed like she was leading up to... but Mal tried not to get his hopes up. He knew Inara's games only too well.

"I'm leaving." Those two words cut deeper than any sword ever could. His heart came to a complete stop and time seemed to stand still as they sank into his heart with a fatal blow. There'd been plenty of times in Malcolm Reynolds' life where he'd thought he was dead; he'd never thought the day would come when he would wish it so.

Time gradually started passing again as his brain began to thaw out from the numb cold that had consumed it. Hurt eyes watched her as she turned, yet there was a sadness to hers as well. She looked about to cry. Was this the part where he was supposed to say something? Where he was supposed to get down on his knees and beg her not to go? He just wasn't that guy. Mal couldn't beg. It went so strongly against his nature that the mere thought of it would have made him laugh sarcastically if this were any other situation. But, by the same token, could he just let her walk away like that?

As if by its own volition, his hand shot out and gently but firmly took hold of her wrist, spinning her back to face him. He'd been right, she was crying. The look of surprise couldn't mask the pain, he could still see it there, quivering in those dark portals all the way to her soul. People say that the eyes are windows to the soul, and it seemed more truth than lore to him now more than ever.

His free hand drifted up towards her cheek, but stopped mere inches from her skin. His heated gaze watched her as her eyes followed its progress and half closed at such imminent contact. This simple action sealed his resolve. Hesitant fingers spanned the distance to touch that creamy skin of hers, wiping her tears away. Her eyes closed fully now, in a way that encouraged him to continue. With the lightest of touches, he cupped her cheek, drawing her face up towards his.

Lovely rose petal lips parted expectantly, while her eyes opened ever so slowly. There was something new in them now. Pleasure, hunger even. Considering this invitation enough, Mal leaned down and touched his lips to hers. Words were of no use to him at this point. They would just get in the way and choke him with the emotions they tried to convey. No, they were past words now. And didn't actions speak louder than words?

Slender fingers tangled in his hair at the same time that he felt her arm leave his slack grip so that she could take hold of his hand. Her soft lips moved against his and he could taste her sweetness on those silken petals. It was amazing how something so simple as a kiss could make him feel so alive.

After a moment, Mal could feel his impatience growing. The racing of his heart was beginning to become an uncomfortable tightness in his chest, not to mention the uncomfortable tightness he was experiencing elsewhere. This was glorious, yes, but they'd had their moment. It was time to turn it into moments in the plural sense. He'd waited too long to have her to take it slow now. Mal refused to wait another second.

His hand left hers to come up to her waist, deftly spinning them around and pushing her up against the catwalk, too far gone to think about such things as propriety and gentleness now. She seemed to share his urgency, his desire, his need. He should have done this a long time ago.

He deepened the kiss, keeping his one hand to her cheek as the other explored her like it'd wanted to do for so long. It ran over every contour of her skin, every dip, every curve. She was breathing in sharp little gasps now, and he could tell that she wanted him to get on with it as much as he did. Funny how a companion, a woman trained in the arts of bodily pleasures and delights, could be so overtaken by Mal.

Somewhere around the time his hand found the sensitive flesh protruding from her bodice, which was textured with goosebumps, he felt a tugging at his belt. A soft moan of anticipation rumbled into her mouth as he pushed into her the only way currently available to him, with his tongue. Taking as much time as he felt he was able, he trailed his hand down to the bottom of her soft white skirt, slowly lifting it up, careful to caress her as much as possible in the meantime.

It was her turn to moan, and Mal was sure that no sound so primal had ever left her lips before this moment. When she finally managed to free him from the confines of his tight brown pants, he drew back from the kiss, looking down into her eyes. What he found there must have been what he was looking for, as his hand succeeded in pushing her skirt all the way up, shoving the thin piece of cotton undergarment aside to allow him access to her. His lips were on hers again in a fury as he found himself pushing into her warm, wet heat.

It had never been like this for her before, he could tell. Never so spontaneous, never in the heat of the moment. And certainly never in a potentially public venue. Her hands clutched at his back, her nails biting into his skin, but it only spurred him on more as he rocked into her. All that mattered was this moment, what they were feeling, what they were doing. His thoughts didn't travel far past mutual satisfaction. It wasn't long at all before it was achieved, and he slowed his strokes, running his fingers through her hair as he pulled back to stare into her eyes to whisper the three words he'd been dying to say for ages now-

And he blinked, his mind sliding back into reality as he watched her walk away.