A continuation of the Twelve days of Christmas story arc.

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All manner of hot

Kaylee ran down the stairs jumping from the last step straight into Jayne’s arms. He always caught her, never let her fall. Biceps bulging his arms engulfed her, surrounded her, and made her all manner of hot for him.

She weren’t forgettin’ that she’d nearly lost him not long back; needed to make sure he was there, hers. She needed his brand of lovin’.

Her big, mean, ornery, wonderful man made love the same way he did everything else, with concentration. Sometimes it was rough though he never hurt her, sometimes messy and quick, sometimes so tender and slow she almost melted, sometimes fun, and sometimes needy.

Today it was needy, him for her and her for him, they weren’t even gonna make it to their bunk. The mixture of desire and heat that she knew was in her eyes struck an answerin’ spark in his. Pullin’ her under the catwalk into the darkest recesses of Serenity, Jayne growled low and deep makin’ her shiver with need.

He lifted her up so they were breast to chest, hearts beatin’ against each other, lips caressin’ lips, all raw emotions between them. All four hands fumbled with zips, skimmin’ over skin, pushin’ clothes aside. Kaylee wrapped her legs round his hips drawin’ him closer to her moist depths moanin’ as he thrust deep inside.

She traced her hands over his back in time with the quick, deep strokes, Jayne fillin’ her like no man ever had. They moved in unison, tongues tanglin; mouths swallowing each other’s moans till they leant together shaking and sated, not sayin’ anythin’, just breathin’ together.

Restin’, forehead to forehead, one arm cradling her to him, the other strokin’ her body gently, Jayne still hot inside her started movin’ again, slower this time, Kaylee was in heaven.

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All manner of uncomfortable

Over the last few months Mal had had time to come to terms with another shipboard romance. And Kaylee and Jayne were as different from Zoë and Wash as chalk from cheese.

Never one to conform to rules of behaviour, Jayne had difficulty keeping his hands off Kaylee and she was just as bad. Kaylee her emotions always to the surface was devoted to Jayne. And Jayne, stubborn, seemingly unfeeling, tough mercenary was a seething mass of emotions regarding Kaylee.

Unlike Zoë and Wash, you always knew what Kaylee and Jayne were feeling. When they argued it was loud and messy. Kaylee threw things, Jayne stomped around sulking.

When they made up and were happy with each other you knew that too. Since their recent encounter with Niska, they were worse than ever with the holding hands and cuddling, kissing ‘n’ canoodling.

He’d found them love making in the infirmary, on the weight bench (he still had nightmares ‘bout that one), in the kitchen, on the bridge and naturally in the engine room.

Kaylee just giggled at him when he complained, saying that if he didn’t wander the ship at night he wouldn’t have seen anything.

That was very true; lately his sleep habits were worse than usual. He kept thinking of Inara, what he should do. He cared for her; he could admit that to himself, in private. But every time they were together all he said were hurtful words. He was afraid to take the next step, get involved. That could lead to hurting, for both of them. He didn’t know if he could cope with Inara’s past or if she could cope with his.

Kaylee and Jayne never worried ‘bout stuff like that. They just went ahead and got involved, trusting in fate to keep them together.

He had to admit that it was their ease together, their total lack of inhibitions, and their love for each other, which made him all manner of uncomfortable. That made him downright envious.

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All manner of unsettling

‘The art of love making’ was one of the integral subjects taught at the training house. To succeed as a Companion this subject above all, was the most important. Learning to read people, to dress and how to behave, in fact everything they learnt was all preparation for the act of making love.

The art of making love as taught at the training house required a myriad of traditional rituals, the nuances of which led to a more pleasurable experience for the client. The pleasure of the client was the ultimate goal; it ensured continued employment, an enhanced reputation and success in the craft.

A companion of course could also feel the pleasure of sexual release, but she or he must always be in control of themselves and of events. A companion was encouraged to experience emotions but never to give in to them. To study the emotions of those around you could provide valuable pointers for future encounters.

Studying the emotions of those around her made Inara realise that the ‘art of making love’ as she’d been taught it, bore no resemblance to the relationships which surrounded her on Serenity.

She had begun to study Wash and Zoë, Kaylee and Jayne in an effort to understand a possible relationship between herself and Mal. The key to these relationships appeared to be the emotions shared by the participants. The pleasure of love making seemed to be enhanced by the fact that both parties lost a measure of their control, sharing themselves with their partners.

Knowing neither would mind she had asked Kaylee and Zoe about their thoughts and feelings.

Inara was curious to know how their feelings differed, and it must, since both had married, from previous relationships.

Kaylee had explained with much enthusiasm and in an abundance of detail how her relationship with Jayne was different to any of her previous encounters. Zoë much more restrained just shrugged and said that love was all manner of unsettling.

Inara agreed with that, she was certainly unsettled. When she had returned to Serenity it was in expectation of perhaps resolving her feelings for the captain. But it was hard to even acknowledge that possessed feelings for him, because that would imply loss of control.

If she were to become involved with Mal, what would be her role? She would no longer be a Companion, but there was no position on board available to her. Just being the Captain’s woman, with whatever connotations that implied would not be enough.

As usual with all her musings and questionings in regards to Mal, Inara had no answers. She made no decisions. She continued practising the ‘art of making love’ while feeling no love for those she was pratising with, and denying any love she might feel for Mal.

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All manner of wonderful

Jayne had been round the ‘verse a time or two, had more than his share of women. That was before, before his Kaylee, his ai ren.

Before, his goal had always been some trim, get sexed up, then leave, no real feelin’ involved. Before, he didn’t belong, was often lonely.

But not with Kaylee, he never felt lonely with her

It wasn’t just sex he had with her, it was lovin’, somethin’ he never thought he’d feel. Even though the physical stuff, the lovin’ was the best he’d ever had, it weren’t the only thing keepin’ them together. It was Kaylee’s pretty ways that made everythin’ complete.

The way Kaylee held his hand and cuddled up to him when they were just sittin’. The way she explained things to him so’s he understood what was goin’ on, never once made him feel dumb. How she made a door to cover his girls to replace the blanket he always used, and it even locked!

The way she frowned at him when she was angry and how she threw things when he was really ornery. The way tears stood in her eyes when he was hurt and how she cried over him, (him!) when he woke up.

The way her voice and eyes smiled with her lips, how her whole face lit up when she saw him. The way her hair spread all round him when they were in bed and how her hands soothed his hurts. The way she cooked things specially for him, and wrote letters to his Ma.

The way when he was covered in someone else’s blood was angry and outta control she never turned away. How she never excused all the bad things he’d done, just held him to the right path with her arms and her presence.

The way her beautiful belly was gettin’ rounder by the day, her eyes bright with hope. The way she loved and needed him and how he loved and needed her right back. He would never get used to it, the feelin’ of belongin’, of bein’ important to someone.

It was all manner of wonderful.

Ai ren = wife/sweetheart