Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Firefly and Serenity.

If Simon/Inara romance isn't your cup of tea, please turn back now. I do not appreciate being flamed on the premise that you don't like the ship. If you flame me on that premise, it means you have obviously chosen to ignore the warnings. Don't say I didn't warn you.

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Their breathing was ragged, each gasp echoing through the confines of the shuttle. The lovers clung to each other as they moved together; moaning, touching, loving. They had started off slowly and gently, but the passion had quickly overcome them and pushed their lovemaking to become more frantic.

Simon laved Inara’s collarbone and neck with sensuous kisses, stopping every so often to nip firmly at the flesh and cause an exciting sensation to run through her body. He moved inside of her with a passionate rhythm, feeling every shiver that went through her.

Each gasp and moan that emanated from Inara as she came closer to her catharsis brought Simon closer to his own release. He knew it would only be seconds now, he knew that she was so close. He nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck and moved within her with a few last passionate strokes before hearing his name tumble off of her lips like she was uttering a prayer.

Simon slowed his rhythm, his eyes closing tightly, a gasp escaping from his lips as Inara’s climax brought him to his own and his body tensed just as he had felt hers tense only moments before. Their lovemaking finally slowed to a stop, the energy being drained from both of their bodies.

Simon collapsed onto the bed at Inara’s side, his eyes still closed; a content smile playing on his lips. No one could meet him so perfectly stroke-for-stroke like Inara could. He listened to her ragged breathing as he fought to control his own, the blood still pounding in his ears from only moments before.

Simon’s eyes opened and he met Inara’s gaze, her eyes glassy from the exertion. He reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his hand lingering on her cheek for a second. His thumb traced the outline of her cheekbone softly as he shifted even closer to her, leaning in to press his lips to hers in a delicate kiss.

Simon cooed gently, telling Inara to relax, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. He looked down at her as she nuzzled into his neck, making herself comfortable. He closed his eyes and inhaled the clean scent of her shampoo, something like hibiscus and passionflower.

Simon’s hand was draped over Inara’s hip where it rubbed gentle circles into her skin. He watched her eyes slowly flutter closed, a small smile still on her face. She was so incredibly beautiful. Simon felt her breath on his collarbone where she was still nuzzled as it slowed. Inara fell asleep quickly, content in Simon’s arms.

Simon watched Inara as she slept peacefully. She seemed so angelic, so innocent. She glowed with an almost blinding radiance. A thin sheen of perspiration covered her skin, deflecting the flickering candlelight in the room, making her shimmer. It was the glow that Simon would give anything in the world to see. It made Inara look, if possible, even more perfect than she already did. It was a content glow, one she only got when she was with him.

She glowed with love, with adoration, with all of the same things that Simon felt for her. It made him proud to be able to make Inara glow like she did after they were together, after they made love. It was something that only they could share and it made Simon feel like the luckiest man on earth.

He shifted slightly so that Inara would be more comfortable and he laid his head back against the pillow he lay on. Allowing his eyes to drift closed, Simon relaxed. Even though he could no longer see Inara, he could still see the glow imprinted in his mind; he could still feel it where her skin touched his. It was always with him, wherever he went. It was how he held on to Inara even when he couldn’t physically hold her. It was what kept their hearts entwined.

The afterglow was the bond that they shared and it would never be dulled or tarnished, come what may.