Name Calling By Kaynara  *** A response to my own challenge—am I supposed to do that?  Mal/Inara. Post-BDM. PG-13 ***  Occasionally, after a job reasonably-well done, it was shiny just sitting outside on some good old-fashioned artificial earth and enjoying the calm. Of course calm, in Mal’s experience, never did tend to stick. “Did you just say somethin’, Nara?”  “Hmm?”  “I—nothin’.  I must be goin’ crazy.”  She smirked but remained silent.  “Nice out here.  Don’t ya think?”  “Mmm, yes.”  “Don’t get me wrong—I’m still happiest in the Black.  Just that sometimes a man likes to breathe deep.”  “It’s very lovely,” Inara agreed.  He shot her an accusing glare.  “You did say it.”  She made her eyes round with innocence.  “You’re very paranoid, Mal.  Do you suppose it stems from associating with common criminals all these years?”  “Inara…I don’t have nicknames.”  “Mal is a nickname.”  “Well…yeah.”  He shrugged.  “But that’s it.  Now you can call me Mal or Malcom or Captain.  Or, if you’re so inclined, sir.”  The last had him smirking.  “Mmm, I bet you’d like that.”  “You implyin’ somethin’ there?  Like maybe I get off on that sorta thing?”  “Do you?  Anyway, nickname implies a habitual repetition.  I’ve only called you that name once now.”  “HA!  So you did call me...you know.”  Inara just rolled her eyes.  “You have to admit there’s a certain...It’s not like I’m the first to voice the comparison.”  “First I’ve heard of it!”  “Well, you aren’t the most observant of men, Mal.”  “I observe plenty.  Like just now I’m observing that you’re a mite chilly—”  His gaze raked her chest before settling on a spot in the distance.  “Mal!”  “—and I’m also observing that the gentlemanly course would be to loan you my coat.”  Grinning, he slid his arms from the sleeves, shifted to drape the leather over her shoulders.  “Better?”  In fact, she was still shivering, though it wasn’t from the chill.  “Yes.”  She graced him with a smile.  “Thank you, Mal.”  “You’re mighty welcome.”  He leaned backward, extending his arms to hold his weight. “Awful pretty sight.”  “The moons of Athens seem especially full tonight.”  “That they do.  Wasn’t referrin’ to the view, though.”  She blinked a couple times and, when it became apparent he wasn’t going to say more, snuggled deeper into his coat.  She was dangerously close to giddy. Any second now she’d start smiling like a loon.    “Charm, Mal?  Be careful with that.  A girl might think you mean it.”  “And if I do?  Mean it….”    She raised a brow.  “Are you asking my advice?”  “Guess I’m…”  He inched closer.  “Guess I’m asking your permission.”  “I—”  With his thumb, he traced the lines of her lips.  “You gonna say somethin’?”  “Something,” she murmured.  “I got another observation.  Wanna hear it?”  He smirked, not waiting for a response.  “I think you’re sweet on me.”  “Shuh muh?”  “Woman don’t think up nicknames for a man lest she’s got some pretty strong feelings where he’s concerned.”  “Yes, Mal.  I spent all day composing the perfect nickname.”  She rolled her eyes.  Then, deciding that offense was the better course here: “Does looking at the stars always arouse you?”  “I’m not—!”  He glanced at his lap, then glanced up. He smiled sheepishly.  “Huh.”    She smiled back, and for a moment they watched the sky in companionable silence.  “Aren’t you cold?” she asked abruptly.  “Without your coat….”  “Nah, I’m shiny.”  She raised a brow.    He coughed.  “You know, now that you mention it, guess I am a mite chilled.”  “We could…share?”    Carelessly, she raised a single shoulder, and the worn leather of the coat rose up to buss her face.  He made a decision then and there never to wash that coat again.  “Good idea,” he said mildly and lied back in the grass.  He braced himself on his elbow and patted the space beside him.  And waited.  After a moment, she stretched out beside him, offered the jacket so he could drape it over their prone forms.    “Can lay your head on my chest if, you know, if you want….”  She’d had more polished offers.  She couldn’t recall an offer more appealing.  She rested her head up by his shoulder, felt his arm curve around her.  “Comfy?”  “Yes.”  It was a lie though.  Among the myriad of sensations raging her body just then, she would not have listed ‘comfy’ in the top ten.  Dizzy. Tense. Physically stimulated. Not comfy.    She felt his hand settle in the small of her back.  “Inara.”  She lifted her head.  “Yes, Mal?”  He kissed her then.  He fumbled a little due to the angle, had to try it twice before getting their noses aligned properly.  But then it was warm and gentle.  When his tongue darted out to stroke hers, she felt a tightening in her belly.     They were both breathing heavily when he pulled away.  “That…whoa.”  She smiled, still playing her fingers through his hair.  “You, uh…you like that any?” he asked, trying for casual. “I might be persuaded to do it again sometime…Han.”  “Oh, wo de ma.”  “I’m sorry.”  Her lips twitched.  “Should I call you Captain Solo?”  “Think that’s enough of the name callin’,” he growled.    And just so she wouldn’t be inclined to insurrection, he took the opportunity to kiss her breathless.  *** END.  Feedback encouraged.