"Simon."

Uh-oh. Busted. Simon froze at the sound of Inara's voice and slowly turned around, praying that Kaylee wasn't with her. He was relieved to see that the Companion was alone. "Hi, Inara. I was just heading back to the ship."

Inara gave him a knowing smile as she glanced at the shop he had just emerged from. "You got a present for Kaylee." It was a statement, not a question.

"Uh, yeah." Simon admitted, sure that his face was turning the same shade of crimson as Inara's lips and fingernails. "Just a little something to let her know I'm thinking about her when we're not together. Not that we aren't together most of the time, or-"

"She already told me that you two haven't had sex in three days." Inara cut off his rambling.

"She tells you that kind of thing?" Simon asked.

Inara laughed. "Don't look so surprised, she tells me a lot of things. Like you never tell Mal or Jayne anything."

Simon waited for a moment, just long enough for her to realize what she'd just said. "Are you feeling all right, Inara? Have you hit your head, maybe?"

"Not funny." Inara told him, although she was on the verge of laughing herself. Simon would probably kiss and tell to her, or even River, before he'd say anything to Mal or Jayne.

"No, I'm really very concerned." Simon teased. "Do you have a fever?"

"Now you know how the rest of us feel when you say something foolish." Inara pointed out, winking at him. "Why don't you go find Kaylee? I'll see if I can't keep Mal and the others occupied." __________________

Inara's plan to keep Mal distracted, whatever it was, didn't work. Their latest job, as well as it had gone, had required the efforts of the entire crew, before and after. The payoff had been enormous, and as a result they'd been able to stock up on much needed supplies, including food, engine parts, and medical supplies. Simon was especially grateful for that last part.

Still, despite the positive outcome, he couldn't help but feel a little resentful of the lack of quality time he'd had with Kaylee lately. For the past three nights, by the time they made it to bed, they'd both been so exhausted they were barely able to kiss each other good night before falling asleep.

Maybe it was selfish of him to feel resentful, but he didn't care. He still felt like he and Kaylee were making up for lost time together. Every moment he spent with her made him crave her even more. He was addicted to everything about her, from the sound of her voice and the way she smiled when she told him stories from her childhood to the sound of her laughter, the way she thought and how she moved.

And even though there was so much more to their relationship than just sex, he had to admit that part was something he looked forward to more than he ever had with anyone else. Kaylee's energy and enthusiasm definitely carried over into the physical acts of lovemaking. Not to mention her natural curiosity, which led to her talking him into positions and locations that he never would have even considered possible in his old life.

He slipped into her empty room and placed the small white box tied with a silky red ribbon on her bed. She was busy in the engine room, and probably would be for a few more hours, and he had to restock the infirmary. He just hoped they would finish with their respective chores before they were too exhausted to miss another chance to be together. __________________

Kaylee finally gave up on getting any more work done on the engine. It could wait until tomorrow, and she'd be able to focus much better if she had a chance to unwind a little. She'd considered telling Simon to meet her in the engine room, but then decided not to, remembering the last time they'd been there together, specifically in the hammock. It had gone well enough, but as she'd gotten close to orgasm, she'd gotten a little over-excited, and ended up tipping both of them out onto the floor.

They hadn't been hurt, beyond a few bruises they'd had a hard time explaining to the rest of the crew, but they had agreed to keep their activities out of the engine room for the time being. Especially when Mal confronted them a few hours later, holding Kaylee's mangled bra, which he had just pulled out of the engine. He'd simply tossed the ruined garment in her lap and walked out, but the look on his face had spoken volumes.

Giggling to herself at the memory, Kaylee peeked into Simon's room and found it empty. Her own room was empty as well, but something on the bed caught her eye. She picked up the box and carefully untied the ribbon, then lifted the lid.

"Oh..." She gasped when she saw what was inside. A smile spread across her face as an idea formed in her head. ___________________

The ship was quiet, the rest of the crew already in their bunks, by the time Simon finished stowing the new supplies in the infirmary. He didn't suppose there was much chance that Kaylee was still awake, but he thought he would check on her anyway.

"Excuse me, Doctor?" He turned at the sound of her voice and saw her standing in the doorway, in her bathrobe with her hair loose around her shoulders. "Got a few minutes to examine me?"

"Why, what's wrong?" Simon asked. "Are you feeling all right, or..." He trailed off when she untied her robe and let it fall to the floor. "Oh. Oh! Examine you. Right."

"You're lucky you got looks." Kaylee teased, shaking her head.

Crossing the room, he placed his hands on her waist and raked his eyes over her body. "So, they fit?"

"Perfectly." Kaylee grinned, looking down at the bra and panties. They were delicately embroidered lace, a soft green shade that brought out the green in her eyes. "How'd you know what size was right?"

"Took a look in your laundry before I left the ship this morning." Simon admitted. "I figured if I got the wrong size...well, I thought it would be better to know for sure."

"Smart boy." Kaylee said, wrapping her arms around him. "I can see why you were top three percent." She felt him hardening against her hip and moaned softly.

"So, I take it you like them?" Simon asked, stroking his hands down her back. He cupped her bottom gently and pressed her tighter against him.

"It was a good idea, giving me this stuff." Kaylee whispered in his ear. "Whenever I wear 'em, it'll be like you're touching me under my clothes, no matter where I am or where you are."

Simon groaned softly. "Hadn't thought of it like that, but you're right." He lifted her up and turned around to set her on the counter. "Although I much prefer actually touching you.

Kaylee sighed and buried her face against his shoulder. "I've missed you. It's only been three days and I've felt like I might lose my mind from wanting you. Let's go back to my room." She started to slide off the counter, but Simon grasped her around her waist gently.

"What's wrong with right here?" He whispered, kissing her softly.

"In the infirmary?" Kaylee giggled. They had fooled around in there plenty of times, but the windows had always stopped them from going any further. "Simon, that ain't all that proper."

"No, it isn't." Simon agreed. "In fact, it may even be a violation of the Hippocratic Oath, I'm not sure. But I don't care. In fact, to hell with propriety."

Kaylee gasped, surprised to feel herself getting wetter from his words. Not that she needed a lot of convincing. "That may well be the sexiest thing you've ever said to me." She wrapped her legs around his hips, slowly rocking against him as he lowered his head and started teasing her breasts, laving one nipple with his tongue through the thin lace, while his fingers lightly pinched and stroked the other. Trembling with pleasure, she reached behind her back and unhooked her bra, and Simon drew back just long enough to pull the garment off and let it drop to the floor, then he was on her again, caressing and suckling her breasts before moving lower, placing soft kisses down her abdomen.

When he reached the lacy edge of her panties, he placed his hands on her waist and pulled her closer to the edge of the counter. Kaylee whimpered as she realized his intent and leaned back on her hands, spreading her legs.

Simon didn't even bother removing her underpants, he just pushed the fabric aside and let his fingers trace her soft, wet folds before slipping into her. Her hips lifted off the counter for a split second and her cry echoed in his ears, just before her legs slid over his shoulders. He started kissing around where his fingers were buried, then moved up to suck firmly on her clit. Her writhing and moaning spurred him on, guided him. Then he switched, pulling his soaked fingers out of her and rubbing the taut bundle of nerves while his tongue circled her dripping core before slipping in, making her gasp and push herself against his mouth. She was near the edge, and he thought about pulling back and teasing her, but found that his desire to feel and taste her release won out.

"Close..." Kaylee whispered hoarsely. She tangled her fingers in his dark hair. "Oh God, Simon, don't stop."

He smiled against her, well beyond stopping for anything short of a severe blow to the head. Seconds later, he felt her muscles clench, and reached up just in time to cover her scream. Her orgasm reduced her to a quivering, whimpering mess, and when he looked up at her, she was slumped against the wall, panting frantically. She blinked a few times to focus, then grabbed his hand and brought his fingers up to her mouth, giving him a sultry look as she sucked the wetness from her body off of each one. Simon groaned, thinking that had to be the sexiest thing he'd ever seen her do.

"You're still wearing clothes, Simon." She pouted. "Why are you still wearing clothes?"

"I take it you'd rather I wasn't?" His question was effectively answered when she surged up off the counter and yanked his shirt up over his head. Her mouth was on his bare chest immediately, licking, kissing, biting, marking him. "God, Kaylee..." He groaned. "I want you."

She whimpered at the raw honesty of his words and clung to him as he lifted her up and placed her in the exam chair, pushing the back down so she was laid out flat in front of him. He stroked her lightly through her panties before slowly pulling them down. When he looked back up, her hands were busy, one at her breasts, the other between her thighs. She held his gaze, moaning his name as she parted her legs and slid one finger inside herself.

No, he decided quickly, that was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen her do. He had never worked so fast to get undressed, all the while listening to Kaylee's soft moans and sighs.

"Simon, now." She moved her fingers faster and beckoned to him with her free hand. He didn't need any more encouragement than that, just stretched out on top of her, kissing her deeply as he reached down and grasped her wrist, bringing her slick fingers up to his mouth and licking them clean just as she had done. As he moved over her, he pressed his cock between her soft folds, sliding back and forth against her until she was almost sobbing with need. "Oh God, Simon, please...please, just fuck me..."

He had heard her use swear words, including that one, plenty of times. But never in that context. And damned if it didn't make him swell even harder. "I love you, Kaylee." He groaned against her lips as he entered her with one hard, swift thrust.

"I love you, too...oh!" She cried out in pleasure at the sudden heat and fullness inside her. "Ah, Simon!" She gripped him as he started moving, squeezing tighter every time he pulled back. She moved with him, shifting her hips as he rocked in and out of her, slowly at first, gradually increasing his pace as her moans grew louder.

Sliding his hands under her body, he lifted her hips, changing the angle just enough so that he pressed against her clit with every stroke. The look on her face made his whole body heat up in a way he'd only ever experienced with Kaylee. He always thought she was so beautiful, but when he was making love to her, she was absolutely breathtaking. He kissed her again, then whispered in her ear that he loved her, feeling like he couldn't say it enough.

Kaylee found she could only cry out in response and pull him tighter against her. He was so deep inside her, exactly where she wanted him to be. He fit her so well, filled her so perfectly, that the hopeless romantic in her believed that their bodies were made for each other, that they were meant for each other. The logical part of her brain saw no other explanation, either, for the fact that he had happened to pick Serenity, of all the ships at the docks that day. Or the fact that she had been shot, that he had saved her life, that the captain had discovered River, that both of them had survived everything they had been through to finally find their way to each other.

Not that the logical part of her brain was really in working order as his thrusts became harder and his rhythm started to break. Her eyes squeezed shut and her mouth opened in a soundless cry as he moved a little faster and she let go, bucking and clenching until he followed, flooding her as her spasms milked every last drop from him. He fell onto her, completely spent, and felt her arms encircle him tightly, keeping every inch of their bodies in contact. After a minute he carefully shifted onto his side, aware of his weight on her but not ready to pull out of her just yet.

"Never again." Kaylee murmured sleepily.

"What's that?" Simon asked, lifting his head to look at her.

"I ain't ever goin' three days without you again." She replied, lazily trailing one hand down his chest. "Maybe one. Maybe. Not two, and sure as hell not three. This is just too good." She raised her lips to his.

"Hmm." Simon grinned at her as they kissed softly. "You're right, never again." He stroked her cheek gently as she closed her eyes. "Hey, no falling asleep yet."

"Just a few minutes." Kaylee said. She nuzzled his chest softly.

"If you fall asleep, so will I." Simon pointed out. "And then next thing you know, it'll be morning, and we'll have an audience at those windows."

Kaylee sat up quickly and slid out of the chair, quickly gathering her underwear and pulling her robe back on. "Had more'n enough of having an audience."

"Make sure you remember your bra this time." Simon teased, pulling his boxers back on, then picked up the rest of his clothes.

"Funny." Kaylee stuck out her tongue at him, supressing a giggle. She reached out and took his hand. "By the way, thank you for the pretties. I shoulda said that before."

Simon wrapped one arm around her waist and kissed her. "You did." He kept his arm around her as he led her back to the passenger dorm, intent on continuing to make up for the last three days. ___________________

River was quiet at breakfast the next morning, which wasn't unusual. What was unusual were the looks she was giving Kaylee and Simon, who were seated across the table from her. Kaylee was on Simon's lap, despite Mal's objections, oblivious to the girl's stare.

Jayne noticed. "What's with you, Crazy?"

"Don't ever sit in that exam chair again." River told him. "Trust me."

Kaylee froze and Simon choked, looking nervously at the rest of the crew. None of them seemed to catch on.

"Gorram moonbrain talkin' nonsense again." Jayne muttered. "Pass the toast."