Title: The Mysterious Herb
Author: damnherozoe
Rating: PG-13
Prompt: Rosemary/Dinner
Pairing: Zoë/Wash
When Wash had asked her on a date that night, when they were days away from being planetside, Zoë couldn't help but laugh. How could they have a date on Serenity? But he assured her that it would be a night she wouldn't soon forget. That she just had to trust him on this. That night, a delicious scent found its way down to her bunk as she finished getting ready. She smoothed down her peasant top. Her hair hung in soft, loose curls about her face, framing it gently.
There was a knock at her open door. Zoë climbed up the ladder and turned to Wash. His mouth hung open at the sight of her. To him she looked like an Amazonian goddess. She smiled at him and Wash recovered and offered her his arm. She took it, humoring him slightly and allowed him to lead her to the bridge.
There he had set up a table and chairs to one side and covered the console with flickering candles. Zoë paused in the doorway, taking in all the effort he had put into this night. Her gazed drifted around the room and settled on Wash. He was standing by the table and had pulled out a chair for her.
Zoë sat down and Wash disappeared for a moment. While he was gone, she realized that he was the first man to treat her like a gentleman would treat a lady. It was sweet and it made her smile. He came back with two plates and set on in front of her, taking his seat across from her.
"This smells delicious, Wash." She lay her napkin gently on her lap. It was protein, their usual fare, but it still smelt fantastic.
"Thanks. Kaylee helped."
Zoë cut into her food and took a bite. Her eyes lit up as she chewed. It was the best protein had ever tasted to her. Wash smiled and poured some of Kaylee's moonshine into her glass and then his own.
♥♥♥
They chatted quietly at first but soon he was making her laugh. The bottle of moonshine was close to empty and Wash was holding Zoë in his arms, swaying her to music from the cortex. Zoë rested her forehead on his and looked into his eyes.
She leaned in and kissed him, wrapping her arms around him. There was a moment of hesitation and then his arms pulled her as close to him as possible. There was passion and need built up into that kiss, brought to the surface by moonshine and some mysterious herb Zoë couldn't place. Wash's hands, one at her lower back, the other cupping her shoulder, were firm but gentle.
Zoë pulled back to look him in the eyes again. She found his searching hers. He hadn't expected her to kiss him. She smirked at him and pulled herself from his arms. He looked disappointed for a moment, but Zoë grabbed his hands, pulling him to her bunk.
♥♥♥
He lay behind her, his arms wrapped tightly around her, as if he needed to reassure himself that what they had just done actually happened. Zoë smiled as he kissed her shoulder. She rolled over in his arms and brushed his hair from his face, slender fingers trailing down his cheeks. He kissed the tips of her fingers as the smoothed over his lips.
Zoë smiled at him. She kissed him and he rolled over on top of her as a laugh escaped her mouth into his. His eyes were filled with mischief as he pulled back from their kiss, that boyish grin taking over her face. He moved to kiss her neck, sucking gently.
"Wash?" She needed to ask before the pleasure he was bringing her again overtook her conscious thought.
"Mmm?" he murmured against her neck.
"What was that herb?" she moaned, her eyes fluttering closed.
He nipped at her neck now and her fingers laced themselves in his hair, holding him to her neck. There was a pause and he pulled away from her neck to look into her eyes for a moment before moving to the other side of her neck.
"Rosemary."