New Feelings
Had to write a Mal/Inara before the challenge was over. Inspired by (and hopefully not too similar to) taraljc’s Right and Wrong and Hawkmoth’s Dealing. Length: 621 words.
***
He knew this was gonna feel uncomfortable.
Mal didn’t mean that in a bad way; he wasn’t complaining about what went on between him and a certain woman on his ship. He just wasn’t used to sleeping in her bed. The expensive silk sheets on top and under him chafed his skin, which was so accustomed to much rougher blankets, more than a burlap sack could have. There was also a sweet scent wafting into his nose and mouth; Jayne was right about that incense smelling weird. Of course, there were also some more pleasant sensations present right now, like a warm fuzziness all through his exhausted body and the first real rest he’d felt in forever.
Then again, maybe his thoughts about everything that had changed between him and Inara could be attributed to what was keeping him awake. It was a lot to take in; after finally admitting some sort of mutual affection, they’d finally kissed. All the anticipation leading up to that moment had been entirely worth it. The next thing they’d known, they were down on the bed and past the point of no return. And you know what - he was happy about it, about everything. He thought he’d forgotten what being happy felt like, but Inara brought all those feelings back and made even the bitterest of captains feel like life was okay once in a while.
He shifted, pulling up some of the coverlet, then decided that he felt too hot. The gorram pillow was so soft that it molded to his head; all his life he’d leaned his head on something that could at least support its weight. His next idea was to prop himself up on one arm, but he didn’t stay comfortable for long, and he let his head fall back again.
Attuned to the every movement, every breath of the woman beside him, he immediately felt Inara shift and turn over. She snuggled up against his body, her head resting against his shoulder, and at the touch of her skin on his he instantly stopped fidgeting.
Her skin was another kind of softness altogether. It was smooth and unblemished, and the first time they’d met he’d feared that it was so soft it would tear like rice paper if he pressed too hard. But he learned that her hide was tougher than that, so much tougher. Now she was curled up against him, all bare skin, silky hair, and warm breaths, and he was the one feeling weak.
Once in a while, the `verse decided to cut him some slack. He was glad this was one of those times, when he could momentarily forget about all the hardships of life out here in the black and focus instead on the diamonds in the rough.
Inara muttered something against his shoulder. She’s probably complainin’ about all my movin’ about, Mal thought wryly. Running his fingers through her curly hair, he considered that she had probably rolled over just to stop his fidgeting. He pressed a kiss to her head, thinking, Well, it worked.
Things couldn’t get much better than this; well, unless some freak accident wiped out all of the Alliance and happened to get them rich at the same time. But he and Inara had suffered countless obstacles in their relationship to be where they were at this moment, and for now he didn’t need any other miracles to make him happy. He could feel Serenity pulsing and breathing just like the woman at his side, and the ever-bright stars sparkling beyond. With his best girls close, he allowed himself to finally drift to sleep.
It felt different, sure. But not wrong. It was more right than anything he’d ever known.
***
He knew this was gonna feel uncomfortable.
Mal didn’t mean that in a bad way; he wasn’t complaining about what went on between him and a certain woman on his ship. He just wasn’t used to sleeping in her bed. The expensive silk sheets on top and under him chafed his skin, which was so accustomed to much rougher blankets, more than a burlap sack could have. There was also a sweet scent wafting into his nose and mouth; Jayne was right about that incense smelling weird. Of course, there were also some more pleasant sensations present right now, like a warm fuzziness all through his exhausted body and the first real rest he’d felt in forever.
Then again, maybe his thoughts about everything that had changed between him and Inara could be attributed to what was keeping him awake. It was a lot to take in; after finally admitting some sort of mutual affection, they’d finally kissed. All the anticipation leading up to that moment had been entirely worth it. The next thing they’d known, they were down on the bed and past the point of no return. And you know what - he was happy about it, about everything. He thought he’d forgotten what being happy felt like, but Inara brought all those feelings back and made even the bitterest of captains feel like life was okay once in a while.
He shifted, pulling up some of the coverlet, then decided that he felt too hot. The gorram pillow was so soft that it molded to his head; all his life he’d leaned his head on something that could at least support its weight. His next idea was to prop himself up on one arm, but he didn’t stay comfortable for long, and he let his head fall back again.
Attuned to the every movement, every breath of the woman beside him, he immediately felt Inara shift and turn over. She snuggled up against his body, her head resting against his shoulder, and at the touch of her skin on his he instantly stopped fidgeting.
Her skin was another kind of softness altogether. It was smooth and unblemished, and the first time they’d met he’d feared that it was so soft it would tear like rice paper if he pressed too hard. But he learned that her hide was tougher than that, so much tougher. Now she was curled up against him, all bare skin, silky hair, and warm breaths, and he was the one feeling weak.
Once in a while, the `verse decided to cut him some slack. He was glad this was one of those times, when he could momentarily forget about all the hardships of life out here in the black and focus instead on the diamonds in the rough.
Inara muttered something against his shoulder. She’s probably complainin’ about all my movin’ about, Mal thought wryly. Running his fingers through her curly hair, he considered that she had probably rolled over just to stop his fidgeting. He pressed a kiss to her head, thinking, Well, it worked.
Things couldn’t get much better than this; well, unless some freak accident wiped out all of the Alliance and happened to get them rich at the same time. But he and Inara had suffered countless obstacles in their relationship to be where they were at this moment, and for now he didn’t need any other miracles to make him happy. He could feel Serenity pulsing and breathing just like the woman at his side, and the ever-bright stars sparkling beyond. With his best girls close, he allowed himself to finally drift to sleep.
It felt different, sure. But not wrong. It was more right than anything he’d ever known.