Title: It’s been promised Author: bookishtype Rating: M Characters: Inara, Jayne, River, Mal Written for: Several Ways to Break a Promise Word Count: 726 Authors Note: fourth instalment that continues from “For the Job” & “A promise to oneself”, “A promise of heaven”.

Inara knocked softly on the door to the ‘job’. Her mind dreading the images of what could be behind the door. A voice commanded from behind the door, “Come in”. She paused, stilled her mind and went into ‘whore-mode’ and entered the room.

It was grotesque to say the least. Inara could understand why this man could only pay women to please him. While he dressed the part of a businessman, his hygiene was non-existent and Inara could smell it from where she stood. The man sat up taller in his seat when he saw her, “yes, can I help you, young lady, are you lost?” he enquired.

Inara sashayed slowly over to him, “No sir, not at all, you see I’m a gift from some very good acquaintances of yours.” She walked around him, her arm trailing his coat sleeve up to his collar and through his hair, which Inara found oily and sweaty. She shivered and then composed herself, she was behind his chair now, so she draped her arms down his front and played with his tie, “So, the question is”, Inara continued breathlessly in his ear, “will you accept your gift?”

The man grabbed her arms and pulled her around till she sat on his lap. “I accept”, he replied and kissed her. Inara’s first reaction was to pull away, his breath was putrid and her glimpse of his teeth found his last meal. But she promised to do this, she thought, goddamn you Mal!!! She knew that he would’ve known that this man was a horrid creature and she was sure he was laughing now at the thought of her and this man!

Inara realised she had lost focus of what was happening to her right this moment. The man had proceeded to push his tongue into her mouth; his hands, which had gripped her upper arms tightly before now, proceeded to rub all over her legs and chest. She could see the man was getting aroused rather quickly and she knew she had to slow it down so that Mal and the others could get the job done.

She disengaged her mouth from his. “What’s the rush, honey, we got all the time in the world?” Inara smiled coyly at him and fluttered her eyelashes. That movement alone in her mind had her eyes rolling back in disbelief that she would use such a tactic. The man smiled back at her. Inara hopped off his lap and stood up so he could move.

He moved towards her, Inara leaned against the wall. The man pulled her against him; she could feel his arousal as he once again kissed her on the mouth and then down her neck. Inara played the part and purred as though she liked it. This spurred him on for his hands had taken a hold of her breasts and were squeezing in what Inara could only think one would do normally to a cow’s udders. His hands moved lower and started tugging at her skirt. Inara gasped, Mal promised her she wouldn’t have to go as far as this! She knew this was dangerous territory, her mind screamed out.

They had finished loading the mule out front, when River suddenly stopped and looked at Jayne “Inara”, was all she said. Mal looked up to see Jayne running into the building.

The door burst open. The man suddenly was gone, thrown against the desk, his head hitting it with a hard thud; he was out like a light. Inara realised Jayne was there she came off the wall and moved towards him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and moved her out of there as fast as possible.