Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Firefly characters or am in any way connected to the show.

Characters: Mal and Inara

Summary: Mal and Inara on Valentine’s Day. Do I need to say anything else?

Author’s Notes: By popular demand I’ve decided to write about each character(s) on Valentine’s Day. Hope you all enjoy! Feedback is always appreciated. =o)

Valentine’s Day: Inara & Mal By KaySky

Inara’s never really had a Valentine. Sure she’s had clients on Valentine’s Day, but clients were not lovers. She was beginning to think she never would have a Valentine. Her heart was captured by a man impossible to love. Well, not impossible. She did love him after all. Her heart was captured by a man impossible to have a relationship with. He was stubborn, egotistical, and so very, very cute.

“Ugh!” She was tired of thinking about him.

There was a knock at her door. She was thankful for the distraction. “Come in.”

Here guest walked into her shuttle. She was no longer thankful. “Did you actually knock?” She raised her eyebrow. She was completely baffled by his behavior.

“I thought I’d try it out.” He smiled. “I liked the old way of doing things better.”

“Figures a man like yourself is afraid of change.” She got up from her sofa and walked over to her tea set. She needed to do something other than look at him.

“Yes, I’m sure a woman like yourself knows all ‘bout changes. How often do things change in whoreville?”

Yep, Mal did it again. He called her a whore. She was fuming. “Is there something you needed or did you just come in her to insult me?”

“Just checking to see if you were going to be departing for any appointments later this evening.” He knew he upset her. He always upset her.

“No, I’ll be staying in this evening. Thank you.” She gave him an ugly look as she poured herself a cup of tea and turned her back to him.

“I imagine on tonight of all nights you’d go for quite the price.”

Tears were forming in her eyes. “Malcolm Reynolds, I’d appreciate it if you’d get the hell out.”

He left her shuttle. Maybe he went too far.

* * * *

It was lunchtime and all the crew seemed to be off doing something else. Mal was all alone in the kitchen. He starred down at the unidentified protein substance on his plate, River had been cutting labels again. It didn’t look too appetizing.

“The ship seems mighty empty today.” Shepard Book walked into the kitchen. “I guess everyone’s keeping to themselves.”

“Hey Shepard.” Mal’s voice was somewhat gloomy.

“Something troubling you, son?” He sat down across from Mal.

“Inara’s on my mind. She kicked me out of her shuttle this morning.”

“I’m sure it was well deserved.”

“You’re takin’ her side without even knowin’ the details?” Now Mal was irritated.

“It’s no secret that you often offend Inara.” Book’s intent stare made Mal feel guilty. “I don’t agree with her line of work either, but I’ve learned to respect it.”

“How can you respect a whore?”

“She’s not a whore. She’s Inara. Her occupation is a companion.”

“Are you really trying to tell me there’s a difference?”

“Why are you so concerned about her occupation anyways?”

Mal’s eyes starred back down at the protein. He knew why. He just didn’t want to admit it.

“Jealousy is not a reason to hurt her feelings.” Book got up from the table and headed towards the hall. Before exiting the kitchen, he turned to Mal and said, “Did you ever wonder why Inara was staying in on Valentine’s Day?”

* * * *

Inara wanted someone to talk to. She was hoping she’d find Kaylee. She was on her way to the Kaylee’s bunk when she bumped into Mal who was returning from his lunch. “Excuse me. I was just looking for Kaylee.” She couldn’t look him in the eyes. She was afraid if she did, she would lose herself in them.

She started to walk past him, but he reached out and grabbed her arm. “Wait.” He said softly. “I did some thinkin’.”

“I didn’t know that was a talent you possessed.” She said rather coldly.

The gentle, loving moment Mal was hoping for was lost. “Ain’t no need to start throwin’ ‘round insults.”

“So it’s fine for you to go around calling me a whore, but the minute I imply you’re nothing but an insensitive, pigheaded, stubborn, stupid jerk you get all upset.”

“And here I thought you was just implyin’ I was stupid.” He raised his voice.

“You are impossible, Malcolm Reynolds!” She yelled.

“The only thing that’s impossible is us.” He yelled back at her.

For a moment it caught her off guard. He said ‘us’. There wasn’t an ‘us’, was there? “Us?” She whispered.

He reached his hand to her face. “Ain’t like we don’t dance around the subject.”

“But you said it’s impossible.”

“Possibility is somewhat subjective.” He leaned in and kissed Inara. It was soft and gentle. She opened her mouth slightly and kissed him back.

He saw her blush as he pulled away. “Ain’t right being alone on Valentine’s Day. What if you and I spent it together?”

“Malcolm Reynolds, are you asking me to be your Valentine?” She said flirtatiously.

“No, I just figured we’re both alone. Might as well spend it together, but if you have other plans…”

“No, I’d love to.” She leaned in and whispered into his ear. “Meet me in my shuttle at seven?”

* * * *

He couldn’t explain the course of events over the last few hours. He upsets her, she upsets him, and than he kisses her. He liked it. He liked it a lot. As he made his way to her shuttle the anticipation of kissing her again was overwhelming. Seeing how knocking led to a fight earlier in the morning, he walked right in. “Knock, knock.” He said.

She wasn’t annoyed he didn’t knock. She was happy to see him. “I do believe you’re early.” She smiled.

“You’re worth being early for.” What the heck was that supposed to mean? He thought.

“Care to have a seat?” She patted her hand on the sofa cushion.

He sat next to her. She smelled wonderful.

There was a long moment of awkward silence.

“Mal, this is ridiculous. We are two adults enjoying each other’s company. There is no reason for this to be awkward.” She needed a conversation starter. “So how was your day?” Maybe that wasn’t the best choice.

“Pretty gorram good.” He smiled.

She was confused. “Today was a good day?”

“Any day I kiss a pretty girl rates as good in my book.” He cupped her chin and leaned in, inches away from her mouth. “Do you wanna know what rates as a really good day?” He kissed her. It wasn’t like their first. He was passionately aggressive. All his feelings for her had built up inside and he was releasing them.

When he finally broke the kiss no words were spoken. No words were necessary.

She kissed him this time. Maybe more aggressively than he had kissed her. Her fingers quickly became occupied with undoing his buttons. Once accomplished, she ran her hands up and down his chest. It was smooth and firm.

His kisses relocated to her neck. He was delighted to hear a soft moan escape her lips. His hands found there way to her back. He unzipped her dress and slid it off her. She was unbelievably beautiful. He’d dreamt about her, but even in his dreams she never looked this good.

Her fingers fumbled with his belt. Once unclasped, in one swift motion she slid off his pants and boxers. A smile of pure approval appeared on her face. He finished undressing her. First her bra and then he slid off her panties.

So there they were, as naked as the day they were born. Gawking at each other like love sick teenagers.

When he brought her closer for a kiss, she straddled him. She led him inside her. He moaned as the heat of her surrounded his erection. He moaned even more when she started moving up and down.

He took her breasts in his hands. Grabbing them, squeezing them, massaging them, it all felt so good.

His big, rough hands upon her breasts drove her wild. She moved faster. She led him deeper inside her. Usually, she’d always see to her client’s satisfaction. She’d try and figure out what drove them wild, what they liked, but Mal was not a client. He was her lover. She was being highly selfish. She wanted him. She needed him. She craved him.

He didn’t mind at all. The most incredible feelings were flowing through his body. He felt the moment building. He was close.

Everything she learned at the Academy about self-restraint had gone out the window. She was self-indulging. She let herself go, literally. She cried out his name as she felt the waves of passion flow through her.

Her cry pushed Mal over the top. He quickly joined her in post-orgasm happiness.

It was all over, but neither one moved. They looked into each others eyes. Their eyes seemed to be able to say what they were each too stubborn to say, ‘I love you’.

As Valentine’s Day slowly ended, their embrace did not. They had adjusted into a more comfortable position and quickly fell asleep in each others arms. As they slept, they dreamt of each other. The grins upon their face indicated it was a reenactment of the night.

The End.