Wait…okay…double take. Did she just…say that she feels the same?

"You feel the same?"

"Yes I do."

Before he could even process this information, she pulled him in and kissed him for real this time. It was better than he could have ever imagined. Her soft, sweet, warm lips pressed to his own. It made him drunk, addicted to her taste. He put his arms around her, deepening the kiss. Sure there were a million reasons that they shouldn't be together, but they didn't matter because they were together. They pulled apart. Her eyes telling him what she wanted, needed, craved. Just like in every dream he had, he didn't fight it or even argue it.

He scooped her up, their lips still glued to each other, and went to his bunk. Going down the ladder was tricky. She was light enough to carry with just one arm, but that wasn't the hard part. The hard part was being able to navigate the ladder while she kissed him everywhere she could. One by one, their clothing went flying everywhere. His shirt landed on one of the ladder bars and one of his boots landed on his desk. He ran his hand down her leg, finally able to feel her smooth skin. He kissed her everywhere, already in love with her taste. He couldn't get enough. She ran her smooth hands all over him, feeling his warmth. Her hands were already enthralled with the sensation of his flesh against hers. Their deep and quick breaths filled the quiet room with the occasional soft moan. His fantasy, and hers, was coming true.

He couldn't believe it. There she was in his bunk, his bed, sleeping beside him gorgeous and naked. She had this peacefulness about her when she slept. He first noticed after the Maidenhead incident as he watched over her. He pulled the sheet up further over her beautiful bare back and swept some of her hair gently out of her face. This couldn't be happening. He had to be a dream. But it was happening and it wasn't a dream. He thought that he would regret it, but he didn't. He thought that it was the most incredible thing that had ever happened. She started to stir. She opened her eyes sleepily and saw Mal looking back at her. She instantly greeted him with a smile. He smiled back. She obviously wasn't regretting it either. She moved closer to him. He put his arm around her and she set her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. They never wanted to move.

He gently stroked her hair. She looked up at him with those eyes. He grinned and then leaned down to kiss her. She met his lips happily. She already missed tasting those lips. The kiss lasted for a decent amount of time and involved tongue, lots of tongue. After it finally ended she smiled and went back to lying down on his chest.

"Little one?"

"Hm?"

"Are we…"

"Going to keep this a secret?"

"Yeah. But we don't have to if you don't wanna. I can talk to Simon-"

"You will, just not yet."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"Whatever you want my little albatross."

He kissed the top of her head and then he felt her smiling against his chest.

"I should get going before everyone wakes up," she sighed.

He didn't want her to go…ever. He held her a bit tighter, but then loosened his grip when she sat up.

"I don't want to go, but I really should."

"Okay…"

The sadness in his voice made her sad too. She kissed him on the mouth and then on the cheek and then the neck before getting out of bed.

"Where's my nightgown?"

"Check that shelf," he said pointing behind him. She saw it and quickly got it down. She put it on. He watched as she did. He hated for all of her skin to be hidden again. He got out of bed before she got over to the ladder. He caught her hand and pulled her towards him. He gave her a final kiss. He held her close for a few long moments before she insisted that she should be leaving. He nodded sadly and watched her scale the ladder. What a night…

He got dressed and then met everyone for breakfast. No one seemed to notice that River and Mal couldn't stop smiling or looking at each other. They sat in the cockpit together, talking like they did in the night. Somehow, night and day had merged. They were laughing like crazy. They also managed to sneak a kiss or two. The first he started. He handed her her lunch and then quickly leaned down while no one was around. The second she started. She got up and went over to him, leaning across him to point at one of the buttons. She asked innocently what it was for, although she knew full well what it was. They kissed again and again no one saw.

They met in the cockpit that night. Before he even could say anything, she was kissing him, hungry for his taste. They broke apart and she took his hand, leading him to his bunk.

"Forward, I like it…" he laughed.

Once again, she stayed until a few hours before everyone would be waking up. She left after that. It became a routine, only instead of meeting in the cockpit she'd just come right down into his bunk. They never met in River's room because he'd be too loud. She could float into his room and no one would hear.

They didn't always have sex. Sometimes they'd just lie there together, or if it was a bad night he'd just hold her until she could sleep. They couldn't get enough. Each day they took more and more risk, kissing, touching, hugging in plain sight. It wouldn't be a secret forever. The crew had to know eventually. He feared the day he had to tell Simon. It would be worth the punch he'd surely receive. Seeing her there beside him watching her breathe, it would so be worth it.

It had been almost three weeks since their first night together. It was about three hours before everyone would wake up. That meant that she had to leave. That was his least favorite thing. He'd rather be stabbed or shot than watch her leave, even if he knew he'd see her in just a few hours time. She kissed him to wake him up. She gently ran her hand down his face.

"Mal…Mal…"

"Wha…?" he yawned.

"I have to go."

"No…"

"Yes…"

She rolled out of bed, slowly getting dressed. She was such a morning person. The entire time she was humming and twirling about, like it was some dance. He watched her move, her dress twirling, her hair flying every which way. He couldn't help but smile. She stopped suddenly looking around the room. She lifted up a few things, obviously looking for something.

"What you lose darlin'?"

"My yellow sweater."

"That's a lesson right there. You should know by now to show up with less clothes. I'm just gonna rip 'em off…"

She smiled and then continued looking. He got out of bed to help. They didn't find it anywhere. They toss them every which way. He wouldn't be surprised if it's somewhere completely strange.

"I'll keep lookin' and then I'll get it to you."

"Okay."

"I hate this part…"

"So do I."

"See you soon, little one."

They kissed and then she left once again. He sighed and then started searching his bunk for the yellow sweater. He found it wedged between the wall and the bed. He had no idea how it got there. No one would be up for hours, so he decided to take it to her right then. That, and he already missed her. He didn't wear his boots for fear of being too loud. He just slipped on a shirt without buttoning it. He had on his loose pajama pants, so he didn't have to put on any other pants. He tried to get down the steps as silently as possible, which he did surprisingly well, and then he went over to her room. He tapped on the door, just loud enough for her to hear. She slid open the door just enough to see Mal standing there smiling. He held up the yellow sweater. She opened the door all of the way. She was only half dressed like he was. She took the sweater from him and set it on the bed. He stood there in the door way. She pulled on his shirt. That was her way of inviting him in, which he obviously didn't refuse.

They started kissing violently, practically eating each other's faces off. She put her hands on his chest, intentionally pushing him into the wall with a thud. He kissed her neck, running his hands down her back and arms. She pulled away, breathing deeply.

"We have to stop."

"I know."

He kissed her again. She kissed him back, running her hands down his face. She pulled away again.

"We have to stop!"

"We will…just one more kiss…"

He kissed her on the throat, her most sensitive and ticklish spot. She laughed a little louder than she thought she did. He kept kissing her working his way up her throat, to her chin, to her mouth, and then all of the way back down again. She giggled and then pushed him away to make the tickling torture stop.

"Stop!"

"River, is everything-" Inara slid the door open seeing Mal's arms around River and his lips on her neck. "…okay…"