Character: Malcolm Reynolds
Fandom: Firefly/Serenity
Rating: PG
Word Count: 504
Prompt: Harder to Breathe by Maroon 5 for scifi_muses, #19 Isolation for joss100 62/100
Setting: Before the Big Damned Movie - Inara's leaving day

Harder to Breathe

Almonds and honey. That was the smell that permeated the soft scarlet sheets that were twined around our bodies. I didn’t dare open my eyes. If I did, I’d have to admit what had happened and face the consequences. The longer I pretended to sleep, the longer I could leave Inara’s legs tangled with mine, and her ebony hair wrapped around my fingers. Listening to her breathing, I waited for her to do something. Pushing me out of her bunk wouldn’t have been out of the question considering how we usually got on.

“I know you’re awake, Mal.’ Her hand slid down my back, cupping my ass. I squeezed my eyes shut tighter. My breath caught as her fingers traveled back up my spine. “You stopped snoring.”

“So did you.” It was a lie. She didn’t snore. I conjured Companions had that trained out of them or got it doctored away. “Amazin’ I got any sleep at all.”

“So we’re back at it already?” Inara sat up in one smooth motion. My skin was suddenly cold where she had been laying against me. She didn’t bother to wrap the sheets around her lush body as she climbed out of the bed, giving me a very nice view as she stalked away. “Wuh de tyen, ah. Can’t you be a human being for a single day?”

“Skin’s a little thin there darlin’. You ashamed of spendin’ the night with me? Maybe you shouldn’t have had so much to drink?” I threw back the covers too. Weren’t no reason for me to worry about being naked in front of her, not anymore now that we’d done it. “I ain’t completely stupid, no matter what you might think. I know damned well only reason we’re here is we both got drunk.”

Her hand hit me, and it wasn’t a slap either. She hit me with her fist.

My fingers curled. I wanted to hit her back. More than that I wanted to grab her by the hair and kiss her until she couldn’t breathe. Instead I grabbed my clothes and walked out of her shuttle. “I’ll have Jayne help you get the rest of your things into the cargo hold. We’ll be at your stop in a couple of hours. Been a pleasure Miss Sera.”

I stomped onto the bridge after a long cold shower. I could see the lush green world that Inara was setting up shop on floating like one of her baubles. Wash looked up from the pilot’s seat and opened his mouth to say something. “Don’t. Don’t wanna hear it.”

“Mal.” My pilot’s lips thinned as he thought about what he could or should say. “Why don’t you handle the landing? I’ll help Jayne out with her things.”

“I’d appreciate it.” I sank down into the pilot’s seat and slowly worked my way through the landing sequence. If I concentrated enough I might not hear Inara’s voice drifting through Serenity. And I’m sure the others would appreciate it if I didn’t crash her.