Title: A lick and a promise Author: bookishtype Characters: Jayne, Inara Written for: Several Ways to Break a Promise Word Count: 479 Rating: PG Authors Note: fifth instalment that continues from “For the Job”, “A promise to oneself”, “A promise of heaven” & “It’s been promised”.

Inara hadn’t come out of her shuttle for over a week now and Jayne began to worry. It was suppertime and once again a vacant seat was at the table. He knew Kaylee had been up there almost constantly, but Jayne decided that he needed to see her. He had been sitting and thinking ‘bout her since the job and especially how angry he felt after seeing her being mauled by that man.

Jayne knocked on her shuttle door. “Come in”, Inara responded. He stepped through past the drapes and found Inara sitting at her dresser, brush in hand. “I, ah, brought you somethin’ to eat, seein’ as you weren’t down for dinner”, Jayne said, he held the plate before him, his excuse for seeing her.

Inara smiled, “Thank you, Jayne”, she motioned him to put it on her low table. Jayne did so, when he stood back up, Inara had gone back to brushing her hair. She was taking the brush through slowly, almost like it was painful.

Jayne did the only thing he could think of. He pulled up a stool behind her and took the brush from her hand, “lemme do it”, and he ran the brush through her hair slowly. Each time he ran it through he could smell the shampoo and incense permeating from it. He noticed for the first time marks of her upper arms, fading bruises from the man’s grip.

Jayne paused his brushing he ran his hand softly over her arm across the bruise, his mind still picturing Inara back at that place. “It’s okay, Jayne, I’m okay”, Inara said quietly, she was watching him from the mirror.

“It’s not okay”, he replied, meeting her eyes. She held his gaze. “I should have gotten there sooner and none of this would have happened.” His voice shook with anger and guilt. Inara turned around to face him. “Jayne, you know as well as I do, that Mal did not know what this man was capable of. I should’ve prepared myself for any possibility. The only bad person in this, is that horrid little man”, Inara spoke firmly. “Still shouldn’t have let it happen, and I promise it won’t ever happen again”, Jayne replied determined.

He looked at her, her arms, her hair; he reached up and brushed it off her shoulders his fingers trailed her collarbone briefly like before. Jayne felt his body heat up. He felt passion for Inara, deep down intense need to shield her. He felt her body reacting the same. Her breath shallowed.

“I’m giving you my word, Inara, it’s not some lick and a promise to make do, and you’re woman of good standings and shouldn’t let anyone make you feel otherwise.”

Inara smiled softly, ”thank you Jayne”, her finger tipped his chin up to her and she leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips.