A/N Dear God in heaven, I can't believe how late I've stayed up to finish this... I've spent the last 4 and a half hours writing, and I have to be up for work in... huh, 4 and a half hours.... BUT, I've finished the next part for you. I think you'll be happy for the most part... Lord I'm tired :o)

Go back and read the Other Parts: 1 2 3A 3B 4 5

Choices - Part 6 by 2x2

Inara drew in a shuddering breath as she watched Mal’s eyes change from his normal blue to a deeper colour, his pupils large and dark, tension and anticipation flaring to life between them so strongly she felt almost dizzy with want as she finally, at last, loosened her control on all the feelings she held for this man, letting them wash over her in a wave of emotion that left her breathless.

Oh, how she loved him…

He stepped toward her and she took an answering step toward him, the distance between them shrinking until they were so close they were barely an inch apart. Their eyes locked, both of them acknowledging the weight of what was happening, accepting it and the inevitable consequences they would have to face after.

And then he was leaning down and she was stretching up toward him, her hands sliding up his chest to curl around his neck, his fingers threading through her hair… and their lips finally, finally, touching, eyes falling shut, mouths opening, breaths mingling…

She drew a deep breath through her nose as he pulled her into his arms, reveling in the scent that enveloped her. This was the smell of the coat amplified a thousand fold. This was pure Mal. This was more than anything she’d ever experienced.

They groaned as the kiss deepened, Inara’s hands tangling in his hair as Mal’s tongue coaxed hers into his mouth. She tasted cheap whorehouse ale and bitter cha herbs, and an under-current of acidity that was probably from when he’d been sick, but all that faded away as she drank in the flavour of Mal himself, dark, rough and intoxicating.

She’d been kissed with passion before, but never had her emotions been so involved, and never had it felt anything like this.

“Mal,” she gasped as the kiss broke, gulping in air.

“’Nara,” he growled in response, trailing his lips down her jaw to nip at her throat, drawing a moan from her as she arched against his mouth. His hands splayed across her back, holding her against him as he sucked her flesh between his teeth and she shuddered, her fingers clutching at his back, fisting in his shirt, her mouth open and panting beside his ear.

“Mal, oh God, Mal,” she breathed, her breath hitching as his teeth sent shivers racing through her body.

She grabbed his face and pulled his mouth back to hers, none of her Companion artifice even touching her thoughts as she kissed him, instead letting her feelings guide her, his responses lead her, giving herself over to the sensations completely for the first time in her life.

A moan rumbled deep within him as she suckled and bit at his lips and he buried his hands in her hair again, running his fingers through the dark silky strands. He tipped her head back, his mouth engaging hers in a timeless rhythm of give and take, drinking in her sweetness, drawing her breath into his soul.

They parted lips, breathless, and stared at one another again, want and desire and wonder in their eyes. Mal cupped Inara’s cheek gently, his gaze filled with tenderness and awe, hardly believing he was touching her, that she was letting him touch her, that she wanted him to. She felt her eyes fill, overcome by what she felt for him and what he made her feel. He lifted his other hand and cradled her face between his palms, drawing her forward, placing a soft, gentle kiss on first one eye and then the other before brushing her lips with his. Inara sighed against him, never imagining that he could touch her with such tenderness.

She placed a hand on his chest and pushed suddenly, his look of confusion changing to one of knowing amusement as the back of his knees came into contact with her bed, the pressure of her hand forcing him to sit. He arched an eyebrow at her, a slight grin forming on his lips and she quirked a smile, feigning innocence until she knelt gracefully before him and began unbuckling his boots. Grinning like the cat that ate the canary, Mal slid his suspenders from his shoulders and began unbuttoning his shirt but froze as Inara suddenly gave him a look that suggested he was presuming more than was prudent. His grin faded.

“Uh,” he started, abruptly afraid he had just completely humped any chance he had of… well… but Inara smirked, unable to keep the grin off her face at his look, and bent to finish removing his left boot. Mal felt a rush of relief and wry delight and he released a heavy breath. “Woman,” he growled, shaking his head affectionately. “I do believe you are tryin’ to kill me.” Inara ducked her head and giggled, biting her lip coyly, and Mal was completely entranced by the sight and sound. “Conjure there are worse ways to go,” he muttered and swallowed roughly, tugging at her arms gently to get her to stand. “C’mere,” he whispered.

“In a moment,” she chastised, her eyes sparkling with mirth as she moved to his other boot. Mal let out a groan of frustration and flopped back onto her bed, arms flung out to his sides. She giggled again, tugging at his boot until it finally came off. “There,” she said softly, unfolding her legs to stand before him. He stared up at her from his supine position.

“All done?” he questioned, putting on a show of infinite patience.

“All done,” she nodded, smiling wryly. He echoed her nod and eased himself up on his elbows.

“So, we can continue now?” he asked sardonically, arching an eyebrow, and she smiled even wider.

“If that’s really what you want to do,” she said, rolling her eyes in mock exasperation. With a growl, Mal lurched up and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her down with him, his mouth claiming hers as she shrieked in laughing surprise. The sound changed to a moan as his lips moved over hers languidly, his hands sliding over her back to the space between the top and bottom halves of her garment, fingers dancing across her skin enticingly. She shuddered at the contact, his touch leaving trails of heat that sent shivers of desire deep within her.

She slid her hand down his leg, stopping suddenly to quirk her eyebrow at him as her fingers ran over the rigid outline of his pistol and holster. “Is that a gun on your hip, or are you just happy to see me?” she smirked teasingly.

“I’ll show you happy,” he roared in mock indignation, rolling her beneath him as she laughed, attacking her neck with his lips and teeth until her laughter died and turned once again to sounds of pleasure and desire.

“Up,” Inara said breathlessly when they finally paused, and he lifted himself on his arms, watching her hands intently as she slowly unbuttoned the rest of his shirt, working lower until she tugged it from his pants. She reached for his gun belt and worked at the buckle, sliding her hand across the front of his pants as she did, teasingly close to the part of him that was increasingly demanding attention. His eyes fluttered, and he drew in a shuddering breath through his nose, jaw clenched shut in concentration. She smiled, watching his face as she freed the two halves of his belt and let it slide from his hips, trailing her fingers back up his sides, causing him to suck in several rapid breaths, his eyes falling shut. His arms trembled as she continued to trace her fingers over his skin, sliding beneath his open shirt, running them up and over his shoulders, pushing the shirt as she went. He sat up and pulled his arms from the sleeves, dropping the shirt to the floor before leaning back over her. Her hands went back to his chest, fingers working down and around to his side, to the scar there, evidence of the duel he’d once fought for her honour. She traced it gently, meeting his eyes as they shared the memory. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing her fingertips.

“No sorrow tonight,” he said. She smiled softly and touched his face with a tender brush of her fingers, then pulled him to her lips yet again, letting her desire drive all thoughts from her mind save him.

He pressed her down into the softness of her mattress, and she thrilled at his weight, warm and solid above her. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing a kiss to the side of his jaw as he drew his hand down her body slowly, and she stilled as his fingers eased under the silky swath of her skirt and danced across the skin of her hip. She pressed her face into his neck, her breaths coming fast and short, and he slid his hand lower, feeling her shudder as his fingers tangled in the curls at the apex of her thighs.

“Wo de… tian… ahh!” she gasped as his fingers found her, arching into his hand. “Mal—” she panted and he dropped a kiss on her ear.

“Shhh. Easy,” he whispered, working his fingers over her in a slow, gentle rhythm, running his lips over her neck as she let her head fall back. “That’s right. Jus’ let go,” he soothed as she whimpered, pressing herself against his fingers where she wanted his touch most. It was a novel experience for her, being able to allow her desires to be known by another; not having to sublimate her own needs in service to someone else’s pleasure.

Mal held her tenderly as he followed her lead, grazing her with his thumb, then pressing hard with a finger, pinching gently and caressing her in circles; driving her higher and ever closer to release. She clutched at his back, nails digging into his skin, her breath quickening as he rode her rhythm with is hand, placing a kiss below her jaw, behind her ear. He felt her body bow with the tension, knew she was close, kept his pace steady, feeling her tremble as it built, her breath held, the tightness in her center coiling… He bit down on the tendon between her neck and shoulder suddenly and then she was crying out, body arching as the wave crested and crashed over her in swell after swell of excruciating pleasure.

“Oh… oh God… … oh…,” she panted between breaths, her eyes closed as she lay limp, her heart pounding as Mal’s fingers slowed and then withdrew, resting against her hip as he waited for her to come back to herself.

“Tian a, you’re beautiful,” he whispered, supporting his head on his elbow as he stared down at her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She opened her eyes and met his, chest heaving as he smiled at her tenderly, intent on nothing but her. She swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in her throat, overwhelmed by the love she felt for him, surprised anew to find how gentle and full of love he could be, given the opportunity. She rolled towards him, placing her hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart and he covered it with his free hand, holding it against his skin. She smiled at him, leaning in with a kiss and he drew her to him, rolling onto his back and taking her with him. He let his hands glide over her back until he reached the knot that fastened her top and began working it loose. Once free, he pulled it from her, smoothing his fingers over her soft skin, tracing her shoulder blades and the ridges of her spine, one hand curving around to cover her breast as his lips trailed kisses down her throat. Sighing with pleasure, she arched her back and then sat up, dropping her hands to the fasteners on his pants. With a deft movement she popped them open and slipped her hands inside.

“Inar—, oh lao tian ye,” he groaned as her fingers traced the length of him, his eyes rolling back as he let his head drop to the mattress. She slid off him, urging his hips to lift so she could pull his trousers from him and then loosened the remaining piece of her garment, letting it pool around her feet on the floor. Mal lifted himself on his elbows and let his eyes roam over her perfect skin. She stepped up and then onto the bed again, trailing her fingers up the outside of his legs. She tilted her head to get a closer look at the tattoo she’d seen before on his right hip, then crawled up his body until she sat astride him, his solid length pressing against her belly as she leaned into the hands that reached for her breasts, and the mouth that arched to meet her. She kissed him, pressing him against her with one hand, swallowing his moan as he began shaking with the sensations she was arousing in him

“You’re trembling,” she whispered and he nodded, a jerking motion, swallowing hard as he forced a ragged breath through his nose, his hands coming to rest on her hips. His eyes held the same vulnerable look she had seen in them earlier and she felt the weight, the importance this held for him. It hit her suddenly, and in that instant she knew she would own him, body and soul from this moment on.

With solemn purpose she rose up above him, her eyes never leaving his as she eased him into her body. He shuddered, his eyes closing as she sank onto him, feeling her surround him in moist heat. He uttered a string of Chinese curses as she lifted and then sank down on him again, exquisitely, torturously slow. His breathing intensified as she continued her movements, rising and falling with a steady pace, her head tilting back as she rocked above him, losing herself in the feel of him within her as he began to match her rhythm. Soon he was urging her on faster, his need driving him as he grasped at her hips, grunting her name with the effort of every thrust. Even prepared as she was for how different she knew this was going to be from all her previous experiences, Inara was stunned by the reality of it, even more amazed to feel the tension spring tight, deep within her again.

“Mal--,” she gasped, and without her having to explain he was reaching between them, his fingers seeking out the spot that would give her release. It took a matter of seconds and then she was shuddering above him, a wail torn from her lips as the orgasm rushed through her. She lost her rhythm, falling forward as she gasped for breath but Mal was there to catcher her. Lost to his need, he rolled her beneath him, driving into her with three sharp thrusts before he soared over the edge, sobbing with the intensity of his climax as he collapsed onto her with a few last jerky spasms, pressing his face into her breast and gulping in lungfuls of air as he shook against her.

She held his quivering body in her arms, smoothing his hair with her fingers as she pressed a kiss to his sweat-dampened brow. Drawing in a ragged breath, he raised his head to gaze at her, his eyes glistening with moisture. Her brow furrowed and she cupped his cheek tenderly. “What? What’s wrong?” she asked, worried. He shook his head, a smile spreading across his face.

“Nothin’,” he rasped, his throat scratchy. “I jus’… reckon this is the happiest I been in many a long year,” he confided. She brushed her fingers through his hair affectionately, her heart swelling with love for him.

“Sleep,” she whispered, laying his head against her breast again, stroking his back as she held him safe in her embrace. He burrowed into her side and she draped the covers over them, holding him close until she felt his breathing even out in the gentle cadence of sleep, wishing this night need never end. She let her eyes fall shut in the comfort of his arms, putting aside the thought that morning must come, and with it… she shook her head.

“No sorrow tonight,” she told herself. There would be time enough for that tomorrow.

* * * * *

Chinese Translations: lao tian ye = jesus wo de tian = oh my god

Go to Part 7