"Damnit, Mal! I'm so sick of this!" Inara was seconds away from throwing things at Mal. The only thing that stopped her this far was that she didn't really have anything harder than a pillow.

"Sick of what?" Mal stood at the foot of her bed, pulling on his dark brown slacks, his chest completely bare, making it rather difficult for Inara to concentrate.

"This! You come in here under the guise of wanting to actually be with me, but instead you just have your way with me, pass out for a few hours then leave before anyone else wakes up!" Inara herself was wearing only a sheer red robe, her rosy nipples and dark pubic hair shadowed from under the whisper of fabric.

They had been dancing these complicated steps for over a month now, and Inara was getting frustrated. She wanted him to stay in the shuttle with her and come out at breakfast with her without feeling that he needed to hide their tentative relationship. She looked up at him with an icy stare.

"Just tell me what you want for once, Mal."

Mal walked over to where she stood at the side of her lavish bed. His fingers brushed her sex tousled hair from her face.

"I want you, Inara. Don't know how much plainer I gotta be." His hands went to the fabric at her shoulders and slid it off, letting it fall away to reveal her breasts, the nipples hard and skin flush, more from arousal than anger. Although, he noted almost smugly that anger for them was the best aphrodisiac. "Always want ya, Ai ren. Need ya every second."

Inara couldn't stop the shiver that ran through her body as Mal's fingertips gently ghosted across the swell of her breasts. Her own hands reached instinctively for his hardened chest, her fingers seeking out the prominent scar over his right pectoral.

It wasn't that Mal was trying to lead Inara on. He just wasn't ready yet to share her with the rest of the crew. Not that they didn't know of course, but that didn't mean he couldn't pretend it was a secret. As his lips grazed the delicate curve of Inara's neck, he cursed at himself for only being able to express in his mind what a beautiful creature she was.

"Mal... please..." Inara wasn't sure if she was asking him to stop so she could get a straight answer from him, or to keep going until she could no longer stand. As Mal continued his ministrations, Inara almost forgot how infuriating he was when he distracted her from being angry with him.

Before Inara could think any further, Mal had her laying back on the bed, his hands and fingers a flurry of passion and oblivion.

*****

"Why ya keep lookin' at me like that, Girl?" Jayne wrinkled his nose up in fear. River had been looking at him for the last five minutes, an undefinable smile on her face.

"Can't tell. You're not ready."

"Ain't I said I love ya enough?" Jayne had the sinking suspicion River was starting to wish he was just as panty-waisted as her brother was.

"You can say it whenever you feel comfortable. That wasn't what I was thinking about." River straddled Jayne's lap before he questioned her further. She was satisfied when his hands sliding down her nude form proved her distraction worked.

Jayne's hands moved to River's hips, guiding her to descend upon his length, reveling in the silken heat that enveloped him. Her slight form arched above him, a muted sigh slipping from her kiss-swollen lips. Jayne kept his hands at her small waist, moving her slowly over his erection.

River felt the emotional current in the room pour over her like rainfall during an electrical storm. She moved a little quicker over Jayne, her hips swiveling in time with each thrust. It struck River that she felt the pleasure more intensely than he did, due to the fact that she could read the emotions Jayne couldn't express. Suddenly she felt a jolt pass through her.

Jayne gasped, feeling a spark of something ignite within his body, lingering in his chest. His eyes glazed a little momentarily as a pleasure he'd never felt ran deep in him. Before he could question what was going on, the sensory overload he experienced tore his orgasm from him, more powerful than any climax he'd had in the past.

"God... Love ya, girl." Jayne couldn't stop the words from escaping his lips as the intense ecstasy washed over him.

River shuddered as Jayne's orgasm triggered a similarly intense release in her.

In the aftermath of their climaxes, Jayne forgot and ignored the intense jolt he had experienced. He rolled over, holding River to him still, his eyes closed as he didn't register that the love he felt in his heart was more powerful than he could ever remember feeling.

*****

Jayne awoke with River curled up against him. He did his best not to smile, knowing if he did he'd be as sappy as the doc probably was with Kaylee. He fought the smile tooth and nail, but couldn't escape the small curve at the right side of his lips from turning up. He suddenly scowled at himself.

She was too damn cute sometimes, he thought. Especially now, a few tendrils of hair strewn over her sleeping eyes, her long lashes touching her cheeks. And that gorram innocent smile on her face. Plus, Jayne estimated, a suggestive smirk crossing his face, she was too damn irresistible all naked like that. The blankets had slipped off her torso, the barest hint of one coral nipple peaking out from under the arm which she had positioned under her chin.

Jayne debated waking River up by kissin' her somewhere much lower than the mouth, or just getting up. He looked over at the clock and rolled his eyes, deciding he could save the ruttin' for later, since River was probably hungry, and threw the blankets off himself and got up to find some relatively clean clothing.

As Jayne finished pulling his shirt over his head, he bent down and grabbed River's dress, turning to her and tossing it on the bed, not stopping to wonder how he knew she was already awake when she had barely even opened her eyes.

River grinned. "Didn't wake me up like you usually do."

Jayne gave her a predatory smile "Well I could now. I just thought you was hungry."

"I am." River's smile was secretive and cheerful as she slipped her dress on. "I'll just go out to breakfast without putting these on." She flung her abandoned panties at Jayne and headed for the ladder, already knowing the consequences of her actions.

Jayne's strong arm wrapped around River's waist and pulled her to him, his lips crashing over hers. River immediately hopped up, her legs wrapping around Jayne's torso after he'd already anticipated the move, leading her to lean up against the wall nearest them.

Jayne let a loose string of Chinese curses out as he realized he'd already put his pants on. River just giggled and ground her bare, wet core against his hard, clothed bulge, making Jayne growl in frustration and arousal. He pushed River tighter up against the wall, using one hand to keep her steady while the other made short work of the fastenings that bound him from sinking deep inside her.

As the heavy material fell around Jayne's legs, River thrust her hips forward, keening gently at the shock of pleasure she felt at the contact. Before she could steady herself, Jayne slammed roughly into her, letting himself revel in the way she cried out. River yanked at Jayne's shirt while he thrust relentlessly within her, needing the fabric barrier to release the heated skin underneath.

Jayne let River pull the shirt over his head before crashing his lips against hers, his speed becoming more violent with the kiss. It vaguely occured to him that he could feel River's need on top of his own within his body, each passion fueling one another until he couldn't control the wildfire that raged beneath his skin. Jayne let out short grunts against River's mouth, trying to focus on the kiss so that he didn't fall over the edge too quickly.

"Feel you... God, Jayne... " River shuddered with her full body, an orgasm ripping through her. She knew. Jayne could feel her emotions. Even though he had no idea it was occurring and most likely wouldn't realize it until some point later during the day, she knew. In the peak of her release, she focused all her love on him, crying out as everything became ten times more intense.

"Love ya, too, River... Fuck!" Jayne felt the white hot streak of pleasure crash through him as he felt River's love and bliss. Jayne's ecstasy was so overwhelming that all knowledge of River's emotions washed out of him, leaving him only in the afterglow of a good sexin'.

*****

By the time River and Jayne finally got out of Jayne's bunk, breakfast had been over for an hour. River just giggled while Mal glared at her as she sat in her seat in the cockpit.

Jayne leered devilishly at Inara in the galley when she asked him how his morning was going so far.

"Pretty ruttin' good, 'Nara." Jayne grabbed a bowl and served himself the "oatmeal" made from boiled, crushed protein bar, powdered milk and water. He added a generous helping of sugar, bacon fat, and a small cake of maple flavoring, stirring vigorously.

"Let's just say I had a much better breakfast than the rest of ya." Jayne's smirk widened as he shovelled the hot cereal into his mouth.

Inara tried not to let a look of disgust cross her face as she finished washing the last of the breakfast plates. As much as she was accustomed to speaking freely about sex and intimacy, Jayne somehow always found a way to make it still sound horrifying and piggish. She shook her head gently, realizing that even though Jayne loved River, he still couldn't find a way to speak eloquently of their time in the bedroom.

Inara left the room without saying much more to Jayne, walking through Serenity to find Kaylee. She found her exactly where she expected, in the engine room. Kaylee noticed Inara immediately at the sudden waft of patchouli and pomegranate oils.

"Hey, 'Nara! Whatcha doin'?" Kaylee reached down to grab a slightly smaller wrench.

"Not much, mei mei. I was wondering if you weren't too busy for the next couple hours if you'd like to spend some time with me in my shuttle, just for a little girl talk."

"Oh, you mean 'bout Cap'n n' you finally sexin' one another?" Kaylee grinned widely as she looked over to see the slight blush creep over Inara's skin. "Sure thing, sweetie, just lemmie know if there's any danger zones I shouldn't sit in."

Kaylee walked toward Inara then stopped and walked slightly to the left of her. "Oh, n' lemmie change first!" She looked apologetically down at her very greased coveralls.

After Kaylee had changed, she met up with Inara in her shuttle as they'd agreed, trying not to wrinkle her nose at the strange mix of Inara's scent mingled with the distinct scent of Mal. Delicate flowers and aged leather, the beginning of summer mixed with the dark of autumn.

Kaylee sat down on the small plush stool across the room, studiously avoiding the uncharacteristically dishevelled bed. She looked at the bed then grinned at Inara who sat on a large floor cushion across from where Kaylee sat.

"So, how's everythin' goin' with you n' the Cap'n? Everything how ya always imagined it? All romantic and passionate like?" Kaylee was practically bouncing in her chair, then stopped moving suddenly a mock serious look on her face. "And please spare me the intimate details... Couldn't think about Cap'n doin' all the stuff me n' Simon do." She giggled a bit.

Inara grinned and let her fingers run over the silken fabric of the cushion she was laying on. "Well that part is definitely perfect. Better than planned actually."

Inara found she was more candid with Kaylee than even Mal. "He's very unlike the Mal we know when it comes to the bedroom. Less impulsive. Well... sometimes." Her grin spread a bit wider, remembering several occasions where impulse was the only thing driving Mal.

"But...?" Kaylee noticed a flicker of shadow pass through Inara's eyes, signifying that something wasn't quite right.

Inara fought the urge to follow her training and tell Kaylee that everything was fine. She sighed gently before beginning to explain her emotions.

"Despite the fact that the entire crew knows that we've been seeing each other, he refuses to act like we're a couple."

Kaylee rolled her eyes. "Oh, honey, ya didn't expect him to right out claim ya as his soulmate to everyone didja?" She smiled at Inara and took one of her hands between her own.

"No, Kaylee, of course not." Inara let her sparkling, dark eyes drop momentarily. "I just thought he'd show something of affection after realizing everyone knew. Instead he's still passing out for a couple hours after making love, then running away to his bunk before anyone else wakes up."

Kaylee wrinkled her nose. "Ain't ya tried changin' the lock code for the shuttle?" Inara laughed out loud.

"Oh, mei mei, that would be funny." She giggled more at the image of Mal trying to struggle with the door, his pants barely up his hips and still unfastened, his shirt balled up under one arm.

"If ya don't wanna do that I got these real nice leather and fur handcuffs you can use on him!"

Inara gasped in shock, then laughed loudly. "And you've used them personally?"

"Oh yeah. Simon loves 'em. He ain't so proper no more!"

Both women giggled incessantly, taking a few more minutes before Inara changed the subject.

"So how are you and Simon doing, mei mei? You seem to be rather pleased with his performance even if you don't say anything." She gave Kaylee an amused smile, eager to hear her response.

"Oh, 'Nara, he's so great! There's this one thing he does where he's got his swai mouth n' jing cai doctor's fingers all on me..." Kaylee's eyes glazed over slightly, a small shudder passing through her as she could almost feel him doing it at that moment, his mouth wrapped tightly around her clit and his fingers churning deeply within her nethers.

Inara smiled, knowing exactly what Kaylee was doing. Whenever she was discussing Mal with someone, she either got infuriated or totally aroused.

"Oh and he's so sweet when he just holds me." Kaylee couldn't stop grinning as she felt the memory if his warm arms wrapped strongly around her waist while he drifted into sleep.

Kaylee and Inara talked for another hour about the men in their lives, touching on all the great experiences they gave each woman respectively. Finally Kaylee was getting a little antsy with all her talk of Simon.

"Hey, 'Nara, would ya mind if I went off to find Simon for a bit?" She gave Inara an apologetic smile, her eyes twinkling with anxious arousal at the thought of taking Simon off to their bunk.

Inara just laughed lightly. "By all means, mei mei. I think Mal is probably trying to find an excuse to 'run into me' as we speak."

*****

Simon gasped as he suddenly felt a soft hand on his wrist tugging him from the infirmary. His breath caught in his throat as He was pushed up against a nearby wall, Kaylee's seductive eyes meeting his. He brought his arms to wrap around her waist, despite the fact that her hands pinned his shoulders tightly to the wall.

Kaylee watched with satisfaction as Simon's eyes darkened with arousal at the fact that she'd taken him aside so suddenly. She delicately ran her fingertips along the nape of Simon's neck and slid them into his silky hair tugging slightly.

"Couldn't help myself. Ya looked so tasty just standin' there mindin' your own business." She leaned in so that her lips were only a few millimeters from his. Kaylee loved the way Simon shivered as he felt her breath whisper across his mouth.

Simon wrenched one of his arms from Kaylee's grasp and pulled her head to his, closing the space between them and crushing her lips in a kiss. Simon tried not to grin as he swallowed the surprised moan that escaped Kaylee's throat, reveling in the way she deepened the already passionate kiss.

After several minutes, Simon broke the contact with Kaylee's lips, leaving both of them panting.

"We should go to our bunk. Now." He was painfully hard, but it was the middle of the day. He would be completely put off if anyone from the crew wandered by the hallway and saw Simon doing what he desperately wanted to be doing to Kaylee.

Kaylee grinned and rubbed at his clothed bulge mercilessly. "Havin' a hard time controllin' yourself, Doctor Tam?" Kaylee's fingers squeezed his rigid length, making him moan and thrust his hips slightly.

If Kaylee didn't stop touching him like this, Simon was going to take her right in this hallway, captain and the crew be damned. He groaned a bit louder and tugged her hair more severely, making Kaylee moan happily. Before Simon knew what she was doing, Kaylee had undone the hidden buttons of his pants, slipping her hand inside and under his boxers. It took all Simon's power to keep his legs from giving out.

"Kaylee, God... Not here, baobei." Simon gritted his teeth against the pleasure of her hand stroking his flesh from under his slacks. She was unrelenting to his entreaty, even tightening her grip at his request. Simon's whole body shuddered. "Please, Kaylee... We need to go... wode tian a!"

Kaylee grinned as Simon responded to her brushing her thumb over the sensitive slit at the head of his length. Suddenly he made a sound that was almost a growl and gripped her tightly, lifting her up and tossing her so she laid over his shoulder. Kaylee squealed and giggled a bit. Simon just smacked her rear lightly and walked briskly toward their bunk, practically slamming the sliding door shut before pushing the lock code roughly into the number pad.

Simon tossed Kaylee on the bed and quickly removed his clothing. Without a word he divested Kaylee of her clothing too, sliding two fingers deeply within her, letting them pump repetitively in her core.

Kaylee cried out at the sudden intrusion, her muscles clenching tightly in excitement. She was so ready for him that she could feel her liquid arousal dripping from her entrance, coating Simon's fingers.

Again, without warning, his fingers had slid completely out of her, and in a rapid movement, Simon had flipped Kaylee on her stomach. He grabbed a pillow and propped it under her hips, spreading her legs slightly.

Simon kissed Kaylee in a fiery trail between her shoulder blades as he positioned his length at her opening. He leaned forward more, his lips resting on the shell of her ear.

"I love you, Kaylee." He didn't wait for her answer before sliding himself into her from behind until the base of him pushed roughly against her thighs.

Kaylee cried out and groaned. Simon felt so thick inside her in this position. She wasn't quite sure she'd be able to last with the pleasure from being so impossibly filled by him. Kaylee pushed back, trying to feel as much of Simon's length deep within her.

"God, Kaylee, you feel so good." Simon's spine rippled as he felt Kaylee clench around him before pushing up against his body, pulling him deeper into her core. He gasped suddenly, completely affected by the way her muscles caressed tightly over his solid flesh.

They moved as one, Kaylee pushing backward while Simon drove forward with each thrust. Every time Simon plunged his full length within her, loud moans and cries escaped their mouths.

Kaylee was going insane. Simon felt too damn good inside her. Every motion seemed more intense in this position. Her head was buried in the pillow between her arms, the sheets causing sweet friction on her breasts with every stroke Simon took. The hot pleasure knotting within her lower abdomen felt close to bursting.

Simon had never felt Kaylee this hot and tight around him. He was gritting his teeth, trying his hardest not to lose control. But as Kaylee started swiveling her hips before every backward thrust, Simon couldn't take it anymore. He yelled out her name and started slamming uncontrollably into her, each thrust making her scream out.

Kaylee met every thrust Simon gave her, crying out and moaning everytime he filled her completely. Simon's arm came around her waist and the pads of his first and middle fingers brushed over her clit, making her cry out once more.

"Please, Simon, I'm so close..." Her body shuddered as he manipulated the bundle of nerves beneath his fingers, her back arching as her climax overcame her. The only sound Kaylee made was a strangled cry and short, panting breaths.

Simon groaned through his clenched teeth, pumping into Kaylee even harder, trying to make her release as long as he could before letting himself fall with her. But when Kaylee's inner walls clamped him even harder than they already were, he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Kaylee!" White hot pleasure whipped through Simon's body as he came in quick, hot bursts within Kaylee's tight entrance. She keened loudly and came with him, letting out his name in a strangled cry.

Simon's fingertips still worked at Kaylee's clit, rough and sporadic, until she bucked her hips violently, her pleasure becoming too intense to handle.

Simon finally collapsed over Kaylee, his hand wedged between her nethers and the pillow under her. Kaylee was panting loudly, her hips undulating for some last remnant of friction between her overworked bundle of nerves and Simon's fingers.

Finally, Simon gently slid out of Kaylee, rolling over to lay on his back, still panting a bit, a glistening sheen of sweat over his skin. Kaylee moaned and rolled to face him, nuzzling against his heated, damp body with her own.

Kaylee kissed a gentle trail along Simon's chest and up his throat, moving so that she lay on top of him. Her smile shone so brightly that Simon couldn't help but smile back.

"That was extra nice, honey." Kaylee grinned and ground against Simon gently, eliciting a groan as her hot wetness rubbed against his overly sensitive, softened length.

Simon shuddered before recovering enough to answer. "Very nice." He leaned up and kissed Kaylee slowly and passionately, enjoying the gentle mewls of pleasure she breathed into his mouth.

"Don't wanna go back out there. But it's only--" Kaylee cut off to look at the timepiece behind her on the nightstand. "Ugh... It's only two in the afternoon. We ain't got no reason to be stayin' in our beds this early in the day." Kaylee pouted and rested her chin on Simon's chest.

Simon smiled a bit and held her tight. "You mean staying here and making love all day isn't a good enough reason?" He laughed a bit as Kaylee's head jerked up at his sarcasm.

"Not to the cap'n! Definitely to me though." Kaylee grinned deviously and started tickling Simon.

Simon yelled out and tried to balance the task of protecting his most ticklish spots and trying to tickle Kaylee back in revenge.

"Simon, no!!!! No, no, not there!!" Kaylee squealed as Simon had mercilessly found her most ticklish spot - her feet - and refused to relinquish his ministrations.

*****

Kaylee's squeals could be heard across the ship as Simon continued tickling her, making Jayne sick to his stomach. He had more important things to deal with. Like River.

She'd been on his mind all gorram day since they'd left each others' sight. And it wasn't just thinking about givin' her another good seein' to either. For the first time he could remember since they'd gotten together, he seemed worried about her. Concerned that something was wrong now that she was away from him.

He'd been trying to ignore it for the last hour and a half, but something kept nagging fairly severely inside him. He gave up on trying to blow off the sensation and went out to find her.

Although the last place Jayne had seen River was going to the cockpit, he had a strange feeling that could only be described as a mental flutter that she was in her bunk. He went off in that direction and, as quietly as possible, he opened the hatch to the room and walked down the ladder.

Jayne almost wasn't shocked to find River curled up at the head of her bed, leaning against the wall. Quiet sobs wracked her body, although her face was buried between her arms and knees.

He walked over to her slowly and crawled on the bed, surprised at how he felt no discomfort at the idea that his arms snaked around her body lovingly.

"Hey, what's wrong, babe?" Wait a minute. Babe...? That came out of his mouth without any thought whatsoever. But with how upset she was, Jayne didn't seem to care that he let it slip. He'd called her "baby" a few times during intense sex, but this was different.

River lifted her head, her cheeks streaked with wet tears. "They're inside me again. Crawling. Blood everywhere without a wound."

"What are ya talkin' about girl? How'm I s'posta help ya if I ain't know what in the ruttin' hell you're sayin'?" Again, without thought, Jayne grabbed one of his shirts River usually wore to breakfast and wiped away the tears from her face. It was a futile effort as fresh salt water flowed back along the worn trails hotly.

River looked down at her hands and tried to jerk away momentarily as a hallucination snuck over her vision. "Can't have me anymore, wang ba dan! Can't take me away from him!"

Suddenly River writhed a bit, her body tense. Jayne held her tightly, a look of what could almost be considered helplessness passing through his features. When River went limp, her eyes closed and mouth slack and open, Jayne freaked out.

He tested her pulse, which was thankfully still there, although erratic and faster than if she'd been running a marathon. He gently scooped her up and walked carefully to the door, which he'd left slightly opened

Jayne moved River's unconscious body so that she was slung over his shoulder. He used his free arm to help him up the ladder. He readjusted River so he held her like an injured child and ran for the infirmary.

*****

"Doc!!" Jayne's voice was so loud even Inara heard it from her shuttle. The entire crew ran toward the sound, Simon and Kaylee reaching him in the infirmary first.

Simon almost collapsed in the doorway as he saw Jayne lay River, limp and unmoving, on the examining chair.

"Lao tian bu! What happened?" Simon raced over to his sister and checked her vitals.

"She was freaked out. I went n found her curled up in her bunk, cryin'. She was babblin' on about somethin or someone crawlin in her head, and blood everywhere." Jayne was scratching his short hair nervously, his eyes never breaking from River's seemingly lifeless body to address the doc as he spoke.

Simon almost didn't notice how pale Jayne's face was. He knew instantly that the rougher man was not at fault for River's condition.

"Then she started writhin' like she'd gotten electrocuted and passed out. Checked her pulse and brought her here." Jayne ran one of his hands through River's hair, pushing it off her face, hoping the touch would make her eyes flutter open. River didn't move at all.

Simon used all of his willpower to keep from letting tears fall from his eyes as he determined all her vitals were in check. Her pulse was about 20 beats higher than it would be if she'd done intense exercise, but other than that and the slight fever she had, she was in good health.

Simon turned to the crew. "I need everyone out of here. Jayne, I'll allow you to stay, just please let me concentrate so I can figure out what's wrong with River."

The crew nodded softly and went to leave. Kaylee and Inara had tears rolling down their beautiful faces. Mal walked Inara to her shuttle and Kaylee went to busy herself in the engine room. Zoe stalked straight to the cargo bay, praying to Wash that he keep River safe.

"I ain't leavin' her till she wakes up doc. Now you ain't my favorite person in the world, but you're her brother, n' the only person knows enough to make her better. So I won't get in your way." Jayne finally looked Simon square in the eye, his hand lacing in River's slack fingers. His expression was fierce and determined. "But there ain't no way in hell I'm leavin' River's side."

TBC

~*~*~*~*~

jing cai - brilliant

wang ba dan - dirty bastards