Kaylee is hunched in on herself, her face red and swollen as she sits awkwardly on the edge of
Inara's satin couch. Inara sighs as she fixes the tea; she had hoped that they were past that
point in their relationship, that Kaylee no longer felt overwhelmed by the niceties of her life.
But stress always brings out the smallest insecurities, so perhaps once she finds the root cause
of Kaylee's current distress the rest will ease away.
She pours two cups from the fine porcelain pot, the one she keeps aside for her personal use. It
was a gift from the High Priestess herself, a sign of her favor to pass on a family heirloom to the
one she thought to take her place. Inara wonders if that gift is begrudged now; it's presence is
an edged reminder in her own heart of the beauty she has left behind. She stifles the urge to sigh,
picks up the tray and carries the scent of rose petals and chamomile over to her guest.
"Do you want to tell me about it?" she asks, averting her eyes from Kaylee's face as she settles the
tea on the table. There are a thousand and one ways to set a distraught person at ease, though they
vary with every individual. Kaylee, she knows, does not wish to appear childish or ill-mannered in
front of those she respects.
"Weren't nothing," Kaylee murmurs into her tea. The redness is fading from her nose, but her cheeks
are still puffy and there are threads of worry in her eyes. Inara thinks she looks lovely, as fresh
and pure as a newborn Damask rose.
"Now we both know that's not true," she chides. She scoots closer, takes one of Kaylee's hands in her
own. Kaylee's hands are small but not delicate–strong and roughened by the work she does everyday, the
work that keeps them all alive. "Surely you can trust me with it."
That works, as she knew it would. Mal Reynolds would accuse her of manipulation via her feminine wiles.
She has always thought of it as showing a person the best path to their true heart. Kaylee plays with
the small cup, twirling it between her fingers, before she looks up to finally meet Inara's eyes.
"River yelled at me," she whispers. "Attacked me."
Panic flares through Inara, the adrenaline a tickling sharpness in her solar plexus. She clenches
Kaylee's hand, proper manners gone with her concern.
"Did she hurt you?"
Kaylee shakes her head. "No, she stopped herself just in time. But she was going to hit me, and..."
She bites her lip, stopping the words from seeing the light.
Inara brushes her thumb across Kaylee's own. "Tell me," she coaxes.
"She called me things. Bitch, and," she looks down at their hands, "whore. I mean, I know it's just
the craziness talking," she rushes onward, "but it took me by surprise. I was scared."
Inara brings her other hand up, brushes the hair back from Kaylee's face. "I can imagine."
"I want to help her so bad, but every time I think I am, that things are going okay, then something
happens again." The words are pouring out now, and Inara listens, Kaylee's troubled eyes the only thing
in her universe. "I wish I was strong, like all of you, but I'm not. I get scared all the time, and
I'm gonna get somebody hurt because of it. What if River had tried to hurt herself again? Oh God, I just
left her there all alone!"
Kaylee jumps to her feet, pulling out of Inara's grasp and knocking over her abandoned tea cup. There
are a few awkward seconds as they both try to straighten the mess, but finally Inara gets Kaylee settled
back on the couch.
"Hush," she instructs. "Let me take care of it."
She opens a channel to the bridge from the cockpit, trying to track down Simon or Mal. A few moments
and the deed is done, and she is reassured that River is in good hands. She thinks Mal is on the verge
of racing to Kaylee's rescue, but a few feminine wiles see that they are left some space for girl talk.
Kaylee is chewing her nails when she returns, so Inara gently takes her hands into her own once again.
"Everything is fine," she tells her. "Now let's get back to this business of you being scared. Why do
you think that is such a bad thing?"
Kaylee shrugs and ducks her head. "Because I freeze up. Like with rescuing the Cap'n. Like with Early."
Her voice is hoarse and shaking on the last.
Inara swallows the wad of emotion in her throat. She had thought that Kaylee had recovered remarkably
well after that experience, but she should have known that no one could go through such horror blithely.
She should have known and done something about it. Inara is the only one on the ship anywhere near equipped
to do so.
She lets go of one of Kaylee's hands and uses that arm to pull her in close to her own body. "I'm so
sorry you had to go through all that," she says firmly. "But there was nothing you could have done in
either situation, except for be stupid and get yourself hurt. And didn't you help save us all when Early
was here? I'd say that was pretty darn brave."
Kaylee is shaking, just a subtle quiver that rustles the silk of Inara's sleeve. She shakes her head
against Inara's chest. "I almost didn't," she whispers.
"But you did," Inara says. She grasps Kaylee's chin, lifts her face so she can look into her eyes.
And she's caught.
So much of the seduction in her life is carefully planned and manipulated that she feels off center when
lust strikes her unexpectedly. It happened when she first saw Mal Reynolds smile at a child; it happens
as Kaylee's soft brown eyes look up at her with undeserved trust.
She reminds herself that now is not the appropriate time, that there is never an appropriate time when it
comes to any of Serenity's crew. Instead she gropes for what she had planned to say.
"It doesn't matter if you get scared, sweetie," she says finally. "Lots of scary things have happened,
things that no one should ever have to deal with. And it's okay if you don't know how to deal with River.
Simon doesn't know how to deal with her, and you don't think he cares about her any less for that, do you?"
Kaylee doesn't say anything in response, but she shakes her head just the slightest bit. Her soft cheek
presses into Inara's finger tips more firmly. Telling herself that it is only comfort, Inara moves her
hand to stroke that cheek. Kaylee's eyelashes flutter.
"Never doubt yourself, Kaylee."
When Kaylee's eyes open again, Inara is once again caught off center. Those soft brown eyes are burning
with passion like smouldering autumn leaves. Before she can pull away, put this back to what it should
be, Kaylee dips her head and captures Inara's thumb between her lips.
Instead of protesting, her breath catches in surprised anticipation. Kaylee looks up through her lashes,
her face a beguiling mix of doubt and determination.
"I shouldn't," she eventually gets out. She is a Companion; she should not let herself be so affected by
such a simple gesture.
But when Kaylee's face falls, when she draws back off Inara's thumb with embarrassed awkwardness, Inara
knows she has made a mistake.
"I'm sorry," Kaylee stutters out, her cheeks flaming already. "I know I'm not up to a Companion's–"
Inara stops the words by laying her finger across Kaylee's lips, shushing her. Her own heart has started
to beat faster, and she wonders if there is a bit of natural blush staining her cheeks. It is possible;
the entire shuttle feels warmer.
"Don't ever say that," she says more strongly that is prudent. She gentles her tone. "You are more than
worthy, but I can not take advantage of you. It would not be right when you are so upset. Mal would have
me off this ship before I could put on a space suit." She adds that last as a joke, but Kaylee's expression
hardens.
"Mal ain't my Daddy," she says. "And if you don't want me, all you got to do is say so."
The soft lust in Inara's stomach turns to panic as Kaylee stands and pushes past her. Self-awareness
crystalizes. It may not be appropriate, but she wants this. And Kaylee needs it.
"Wait," she calls, her voice neither strong nor sure, her wiles failing her.
Kaylee waits.
Her back is stiff beneath the dirty brown coveralls; her shoulders still slightly hunched. But her head
is high, and Inara knows that though Kaylee expects disappointment, she will face her fear. Inara steps
forward to stand a breath away from Kaylee's back. When she reaches up to brush the hair away from Kaylee's
neck her fingers do not tremble. Inara's body never betrays her, though some days she feels it should.
"Now who is the courageous one," she whispers into Kaylee's ear.
The tension falls out of Kaylee in one deep sigh. Inara knows a thousand and one steps to take next.
A Companion always is in control of her client's pleasure. Instead, she closes her eyes.
The pleasure is exquisite as Kaylee turns against her, coarse denim buzzing over smooth silk as their
bodies press together. Inara always enjoys her encounters, but this zinging anticipation is an unusual
thing.
"What do you want me to do?" Kaylee whispers. The air from her breath is warm against Inara's lips.
"Whatever you want to do," Inara says.
The kiss is tentative, Kaylee's soft lips barely brushing over her own. When she moves forward to deepen
it, Inara breathes in passionate relief. Her mouth opens, and so does Kaylee's. Their tongues meet for
the first time. It's soft and gentle, and exploration and revelation at the same time.
Then Kaylee nips Inara's lip. Passion flames between them. She's got her hands wrapped in Kaylee's hair,
trying to pull them into one being. Kaylee kneads Inara's breast, and she breaks the kiss to gasp for air.
"Let's move to the bed, shall we?" she invites once she has gathered a semblance of her wits. She leads
Kaylee by the hand, feeling like she has captured some fairy princess in an enchanted forest.
"You're so beautiful," Kaylee breathes.
Inara smiles. "So are you," she says. She has learned to find beauty in places most people never look,
but there is no need to search with Kaylee.
She eases down the zipper of those nasty brown coveralls, hating the patch that covers the bullet hole
in the side. She understands Kaylee's practicality, but she wishes such a thing had no reason to exist.
"It's okay, Inara," Kaylee says. She pulls Inara's hand away from the zipper and pushes out of the
fabric. "I ain't hurt anymore."
Before she can wonder at her own transparency, Kaylee is stripping off her pink flower-covered blouse.
Kaylee's skin is as pale as Inara's own, her breasts high and tipped with berry-colored nipples. Inara
wonders whether Kaylee had ever been a brown-skinned baby running free under the sun of her home planet.
"Lay down," she instructs.
"But your clothes," Kaylee protests, and Inara silences her with a quick kiss.
"Lay down. Let me use a little of what I know at least." She winks as Kaylee blushes, and they both
giggle in shared anticipation.
Kaylee stretches back along the satin covered bed, wriggling a little against the feel but keeping her
eyes on Inara. Inara works the clasps of her gown, and then with a shimmy she perfected years ago, drops
it to the ground. She's satisfied to hear Kaylee gasp.
She reaches back to pull the cloisonne barrette from her hair, shaking her head to tumble her curls
artfully around her shoulders. She sets it on the bedside table as she kneels between Kaylee's legs.
Then she slowly crawls up the length of Kaylee's body, skin ghosting over skin, heating her own blood
as the anticipation builds.
When her head is level with Kaylee's own, she lets her weight sink as she takes Kaylee's mouth in a
yearning kiss. She feels Kaylee's breasts against her own, rough nipples tickling with sensitive brushes,
crinkly hair against her leg just over the burning heat below. Inara moans as they move together,
thrusting into each other's thighs, chasing each other's mouths.
Kaylee pulls back, panting. She opens her eyes, and Inara can see the dilated pupils.
"I want to eat you up," she says, then pushes Inara back with strong but gentle hands.
She shifts to the side so she can lay on her back, letting Kaylee do as she pleases. Joy can be
found in giving, this she knows. Then lips and tongue suck on her nipples, and pleasure arcs through her.
"Just like that," she gasps.
She reaches for Kaylee's hair, loving the silky softness of it in her fingers. Kaylee kneads one breast
while sucking on the other. Inara arches just a little, not wanting to demand but enjoying the way her
breasts feel full and electric. Kaylee responds by sucking harder, almost to the point of pain, and then
nipping as she lets go.
"Is this okay?" she asks.
"Dangran, baobei, just don't stop," Inara pleads.
She can feel the smile against her skin as Kaylee moves down to her belly, nipping and sucking as she
goes. Her belly twitches and tingles with the light caresses. Her hips start to move as well.
The first touch of Kaylee's finger is tentative, but it's enough to set her on fire. She knows she's wet
and ready, and she wonders if Kaylee is prepared for that. But then Kaylee dips her head and all reasonable
thought is driven from Inara's mind. There's a wet strong tongue, stroking and lapping and winding her
higher and higher and higher.
"Yes," she pants. "Please."
Her orgasm spirals up and up, drawing and tightening and clenching through her. As it bursts upon her she
closes her eyes and lets her mind empty into oneness with the universe, just as she was taught to do so many
years ago.
When she comes back to herself, Kaylee is grinning up at her from between her legs, mouth shiny and red.
"Come here, you," Inara tells her.
Inara leans forward as Kaylee crawls upward, and they meet in the middle with a fiery kiss.
Finally they separate, and Inara brushes Kaylee's hair back with a tenderness in her heart that threatens
to swallow her.
"Let me please you," she whispers.
Kaylee nods, her eyes wide. Inara lets her hands slide down silken skin, tweaking and tickling with small
teases. Kaylee is still crouched above her, leaving her body perfectly open. She slides her fingers through
the curly hair, tugging gently and sporadically, coaxing Kaylee's body to higher anticipation. Kaylee's thighs
are already quivering and damp, so Inara decides not to tease her much longer. There will be more time to play.
She moves her finger between the hot cleft, brushes over Kaylee's swollen clitoris. Kaylee's eyes are closed
now, her breath coming in short gasps and quiet moans as she tosses her head back and forth.
"You like that?"
"Yesss," Kaylee hisses, and Inara smiles. She likes her vocation very, very much.
"Come for me, mei mei."
She rubs fast and hard, driving Kaylee to a quick climax. Kaylee's voice rises in a loud, wordless moan
before she falls silent.
Inara withdraws her fingers. She helps Kaylee ease down on top of her, welcoming the warm weight of her body.
They lay quietly together for a few precious moments. Then Kaylee lifts her head to look at Inara.
"That was nice," she says. "Did I do okay?"
Inara leans down to kiss her. "More than. You were wonderful."
Kaylee's grin is huge, her whole face lighting up like Serenity's own glow. "You were, too," she says,
then her cheeks pink just a little. "You know that, of course."
Inara laughs. "With you I am not a Companion in service, dear one. We are ourselves only."
Kaylee nods, then rests her head on Inara's chest. "I can't tell heads or tails of this day," she says.
"It sounds awful to be grateful that River went a little crazy, doesn't it?"
Inara strokes her hand down Kaylee's cheek. "I understand what you mean. It is not that you want her in
pain, rather you are thankful that the chain of events led you to this place. It is not evil for one to
draw pleasure out of unfortunate circumstances. Rather, it is a gift."
Kaylee traces unknown shapes on Inara's side. "You always know what to say. Do you know what's going
on with River? Why she went moony last night?"
Inara shakes her head. "I can only guess, but she seems to have fixated upon Jayne. From what I have
gathered she hurt herself just like she hurt Jayne earlier."
Kaylee sits up a little, her brow drawn in thought.
"You think she and Jayne..." She trails off, but her expression says it all.
Inara shudders a little inside. "I think River is a young woman looking for a hero, and her hormones
are making her as confused as whatever those monsters did to her brain. I'm sure it will pass. Probably
on to Mal, as likely as not."
Kaylee nods, tickling Inara's breasts with her hair. Inara threads her fingers into the fine strands,
finger-combing through the tangles produced from their love-making.
"Do you think–I mean, she said them." Kaylee clears her throat. "I think she was talking about Simon."
Inara's fingers still as she hits a snarl. The words hang in the air, not nearly as innocent as they should be.
"I think Simon is the biggest hero River will ever have," she says as her fingers slip through the knot.
"He's her entire world, and that can be confusing for anyone. I'm sure she will learn, in time, that
others can share in that love without taking anything from her."
Kaylee nods again. Inara brushes the hair away from her face, tries to smooth the taut muscles of her forehead.
"You don't think Simon..." Kaylee says hesitantly, then clamps her mouth shut as if she has spoken an obscenity.
It should be a question that confuses her, but Inara knows immediately what Kaylee means. It should be a
question that makes her leap to his defense in righteous disgust. There should be no question in her mind
about Dr. Tam's intentions, and so she makes the denial.
"Simon would never," she assures Kaylee. "He loves River very much, but as a brother should."
Kaylee sits up, crawls up Inara's body so their breasts smoosh together. "You must think I'm the crazy one
with all this talk."
She smiles gently, not wanting Kaylee to think she is belittling her. "No, mei-mei. It has been very
strange lately. It is good that you share your concerns with someone."
Kaylee gets a devilish look then, one that shows she's not nearly as innocent as she appears. Inara smiles
in anticipation.
"That ain't all I'm sharing," she says. Her kiss is lush and hot and very, very commanding.
Serenity might not be living up to its name lately, but tonight Inara thinks that the ship is a haven of bliss.