Author's Note: An entry for the April 17-24 ff_friday challenge. Subject: first kiss. Length: 294 words.

Not Half Bad

By Trisana McGraw

He reaches his peak with a groan, emptying himself into her as he feels their sweaty bodies arch and rub together. It's been too damn long since he was with a woman, but this night is more than making up for lost time. The smell of sex, combined with the slight breeze coming in through a window, lingers over their bodies, and this sensation is the first simple, uncomplicated thing Jayne's experienced since they came to Canton.

His own little worshipper grins up at him, her face glowing through the layer of dirt on her skin. Her arms are still wrapped tightly around his neck and she doesn't seem to be uncurling her legs from his waist anytime soon, but he doesn't mind. It's almost peaceful, just lying there spent, listening to gasping breaths and thundering heartbeats.

Suddenly, she begins to giggle. He's confused at first, but he starts laughing too; it's something about the body heat, the heady scents, the feel of soft skin under him, not to mention that they're both drunk on Mudders' milk. It's nice, a good ending to a good day.

Then she does something that surprises him (and that's hard to do, considering the day he's had): She pulls his head down and kisses him. It's not quick and harsh, like he's used to, but slow and thoughtful. Kissing's not really his thing, but he's caught off-guard and feels like living in the moment, so he slides his hand behind her neck and kisses her back, keeping it soft, drawing it out until they both begin to gasp for air again. Breaking away, they dissolve into quiet laughter, followed by some more kissing. Like the hero business and everything else in this muddy town, it's not half bad.