A/N: Thank you to all those that reviewed. I appreciate your comments and I will try and read all of your work, those who left a signed review. Skychaser i will try and be more descriptive in future, but i do sometimes have trouble with it in fanfics. And I will see what i can do with the Mal extended dream idea. Thanks y'all.
The shuttle Mal had rented Inara was supposed to be her sacred space.
A place for a Companion to perform Ritual and screen clients.
It was also supposed to be her home, a private haven where Inara could escape.
If Inara had ever believed any of these things possible on Captain Reynolds' ship, her more enlightened self did not recall.
"Can I help you Captain?" her voice was soft, but loud enough for Mal to hear. He stood up and put the cushion he had been holding back on the divan. Only then did Inara step through the doorway to her shuttle and remove her shawl.
"How'd you know I was here?" the Captain looked puzzled.
"You have a somewhat interesting odour." Inara grinned cheekily at him.
Looking none too surprised, Mal started explaining the reason for his visit.
"Ok, just warning you that our plans have changed slightly, we'll….well we won't be docking at Ulysses, business is taking us to Yolande. And we may be in that corner of the 'verse for a while, Alliance seems extra suspicious of folks at the moment."
Inara stopped for a moment, shock setting in. Then anger took its place.
"Gou de er zi! Mal I have three days worth of clientele waiting for me in Ulysses! I can't just cancel appointments to go out into the middle of nowhere for tian tang zhi dao duo jiu!"
Mal tried to look sorry.
"Apologies Ambassador, but you'll just have to postpone your whoring business for a few weeks. And Yolande ain't that bad...bit of extra dust that's all.."
Inara's retaliation was much colder than Mal had expected.
"Well, perhaps the Ambassador has had enough of your games. Perhaps she cannot postpone her whoring business a few weeks. Perhaps I'll have to leave."
Mal's response was supposed to remain internal.
"Don't look so surprised Captain. I have been considering this for a while."
"I understand. I just…Inara…"
"Yes Mal?"
Inara stepped closer, but the distance still felt like half a room. Her heart beat faster and her palms began to sweat, a sensation not familiar to her.
"Gorram it!" he said suddenly, and as he took three frighteningly quick steps toward her he seemed to gain more courage. He wrapped his arms around her and went in for the kiss-
Serenity shook violently, and Inara felt herself almost tumble from her bed. As her heart began to slow and she pulled on her kimono, she cursed herself for these humiliating dreams. Each one always seemed to end the same way, Mal tried to kiss her and she woke up.
"Why me?" she moaned, exiting her shuttle and heading down the walkway into the dining area, where most of the crew had already gathered.
"Evening everyone." Inara tried to keep her trademark cool, but her voice still felt shaky.
"Actually Inara its mornin'." Kaylee replied glumly.
"What's wrong?" Inara tried to sound offhand.
"Captain tried to alter the course without wakin' up Wash. Made a mighty mess of things."
Mal stood sheepishly at the edge of the room, leaning on the wall.
"Just tryin' to be considerate, not wakin' anyone."
"Damn it Mal!" Jayne growled, "What were you messin' with the navigation for?"
Mal blushed as Zoe grinned and explained to Inara.
"He was trying to set the course to Yolande!"
So next chapter will be up soon if this one is popular...so thanks for reading
Chinese translations: gou de er zi!- son of a dog
Tian tang zhi dao duo jiu!-heaven knows how long
