"Ow! Ruttin' hell!" Kaylee swore as her hand slipped and her index finger caught on the edge of the compression coil. She slipped her finger into her mouth, sucking off the drop of blood that appeared.

"Kaylee?" Simon's voice sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. "You all right?" He peered in at her from the doorway.

"Yeah, just a little scratch." She held out her hand for him to see. "Guess I was just a bit distracted, is all."

"Yeah, I've been a little out of it today, too." Simon grinned at her as he stepped into the engine room and took her hand, inspecting the cut on her finger.

"It's fine, Simon, really." Kaylee giggled. "Just wanted an excuse to hold my hand, didn't ya?"

Simon tugged on her hand, pulling her into his arms. "Am I that obvious?"

"Hear me complaining?" Kaylee shot back, leaning up to kiss him. It lasted longer than she had intended, and memories of the last time they had been in this room together, less than twenty-four hours earlier, flooded over her, making her moan and press harder against him. Then she remembered the shock that had cut through the afterglow and brought both of them back to reality. She broke the kiss reluctantly. "Did you talk to River?"

"I did." Simon replied, loosening his hold on her a little without letting go. "And I made sure she understands that when we're in here together, that's 'private time.' Or when we're in my bunk. Or yours. Or the infirmary. Or...anywhere with no one else around."

Kaylee laughed out loud. "Simon Tam! You have got a filthy mind. You've really thought about us doin' the dirty in all those places?"

Simon blushed, but his smile didn't fade. "You're one to talk. You told me to tell River to stay out of here."

"I still can't believe she was watching us." Kaylee buried her face against his chest, sure she was blushing as much as he was.

"Don't remind me." Simon groaned. "I can't believe she ran off and told the Captain. Although I'm almost glad she did, in a way."

"Why?" Kaylee asked.

"Because it's such a typical, bratty little sister thing to do, spying and tattling like that." Simon's face lit up as he spoke, and Kaylee understood.

"Right. Guess it's been a while since you been able to call anything River does 'typical,' huh?" There was a brief, comfortable pause between them. "I love seeing you smile like that."

Simon kissed her lightly. "Have I told you today how beautiful you are?" He cupped her cheek gently and brushed a spot of grease off her skin.

"Especially covered in engine grease, right?" Kaylee teased. "Why is that, by the way?"

"What?" Simon asked, distracted by the way her hair felt sliding between his fingers.

Kaylee's eyes were full of mischief. "Why am I especially pretty when I'm covered in engine grease?"

"Well, because..." Simon faltered, and a hint of the awkwardness that had vanished more as their relationship progressed seemed to return for a moment.

"Ooh, this is gonna be good, I can tell." Kaylee murmured. "Come on, out with it already." She pressed against him, and his eyes darkened with arousal.

"Because when I see you covered in engine grease, I start thinking about getting you into a shower to get you cleaned off." He whispered in her ear.

Kaylee closed her eyes and sighed at the thought. "And then get both of us really dirty all over again?" The showers weren't very big, definitely not big enough for two people to fit without having to touch. She could almost feel their wet bodies sliding together, the tepid water trickling over them as he held her up against the wall in his strong arms.

She pulled away as Simon leaned in to kiss her, and reached behind her back to run her hand over the compression coil. Waving her grease-covered fingers in front of his face, her eyes never left his as she slowly slid her hand across her neck and collarbone, then under the neckline of her shirt. "Got time for a shower now?" She asked innocently.

"Wish I did." Simon groaned softly, his eyes following the slick black trail left by her hand. "But I have to...I..." He trailed off as she reached out and marked his throat and collarbone with the remaining grease on her fingers.

"You have to...what?" Kaylee asked, cocking her head at him curiously. His lips came down on hers, effectively answering her question.

"Shower." He said breathlessly when they broke apart, their arms around each other and their foreheads pressed together. "Now."

Kaylee smirked to herself as he took her hand and quickly led her out of the room. "Shiny."