gonna_live | (no subject)

(no subject)

Kaylee's standing in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips, looking a little disgruntled.

"Might almost think you miss me." With a tiny smile.

His hand moves to her shoulder, rubbing in small circles.

"I always miss you when you're gone," he murmurs.

"Mm." She tilts her head to the side. "You sure about that?" A little teasing.

He's massaging the side of her neck now.

"Quite sure." Calm. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know, I just thought you might like it when I'm not around to steal the covers."

"I thought I was the one who always steals the covers."

He takes a last swallow of his drink, and looks around for somewhere to put down the cup.

"Well, you are," she says, reasonably. "And if I'm not there... they're all yours."

"It's not really a very satisfying tradeoff," he tells her seriously.

"So turn down the temp, and it will be."

"But what if I don't want it to be?"

He's still rubbing her neck.

A quiet sigh.

"Then I guess I go back to feelin' guilty and tryin' to tell myself this is for our own good." She pulls away. "I think there's a couple more things I could do tonight. You don't need to stay, though."

"Kaylee ..." He moves after her.

"I was planning to stay the night."

She looks up at him, a little uncertain.

A beat.

"If you wanted."

The words are hesitant; the voice isn't.

"The pallet's terrible," she says -- and she's hesitant where he isn't. "You'd be roughin' it."

"I don't mind."

He smiles, small and warm.

"Not if you're here."

She starts to move in --

-- and catches herself. "I'm a mess." Low, and a little wry. "Sorry."

He reaches out, and strokes a smudge on her cheek with his thumb.

"I don't mind," he repeats in a low murmur, and leans in to kiss her.

For a second -- but just a second -- she stiffens.

But then she leans against him, twining her arms around his neck.

His arms wind around her waist, gently pulling her close.

He doesn't break the kiss.

She whispers against his mouth, "You're gettin' even more grubby."

"Am I?" he murmurs, shifting to kiss the corner of her jawline. "Oh well."

"Mm." She tilts her head to give him better access, smiling. "Don't you care about that?"

"Not right now," he whispers against her neck.

Kaylee shivers a little, and trails her hands down his back; one hand slides under the hem of his shirt as she presses him back toward the bulkhead. "Don't start somethin' you're -- not prepared to finish."