Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/5011897.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      F/M
  Fandom:
      Hunger_Games_Trilogy_-_Suzanne_Collins, Hunger_Games_Series_-_All_Media
      Types
  Relationship:
      Katniss_Everdeen/Peeta_Mellark
  Character:
      Katniss_Everdeen, Peeta_Mellark
  Stats:
      Published: 2015-10-16 Completed: 2016-01-01 Chapters: 3/3 Words: 14144
****** Fall For You ******
by OfPearlsAndShoelaces
Summary
     Frustrated in his marriage and on the brink of divorce, Peeta Mellark
     becomes infatuated with the one person he shouldn’t- his babysitter,
     Katniss Everdeen.
Notes
     Written for tumblr’s Prompts in Panem’s Farwell Tour. Round 8, the 7
     deadly sins: Lust. I've been pretty busy lately, but this PIP gave me
     the opportunity to stretch those everlark muscles a bit.
     Disclaimer: I do not own "The Hunger Games;" I'm just hopelessly in
     love with the characters.
***** Chapter 1 *****
“Hey, Katniss, it’s Peeta Mellark. Listen, I know this is late notice, but I
was wondering if you’d be available to sit for me tonight. Something came up
and I’d need you here around 5. Call me back when you can. Thanks.” 
Katniss groaned. She had a major test tomorrow that she really needed to study
for. She’d already been accepted into college, but the university had warned
her that if she didn’t keep up her grades senior year, they could withdraw her
acceptance. And going to college was key to getting herself and Prim out of
their house on Seam Street. On the other hand, she wasn’t really in a position
to turn down a night of tax- free money. The Mellarks paid well. Besides, Rye
was a good kid. At four years old, a showing of Toy Story and a nighttime snack
was usually all it took to pacify him. Then it would be bedtime for the toddler
and she’d be free to study. She hit the “call back” button on her phone and Mr.
Mellark answered on the first ring. She assured him that, yes, she was
available and yes, she would see him and Mrs. Mellark at 5PM sharp.
Her mom dropped her off at the Mellark’s on her way to work the night shift at
the hospital. Katniss approached the large oak doors that adorned the front of
the massive brick house. She had been here often enough and they were already
expecting her, so she pushed open the door without ringing the bell. 
“Katniss!” A blur of unruly blonde hair and blue- striped pajamas raced to her
and hugged her tightly around the knees. 
“Hi Rye,” Katniss said, ruffling the little boy’s hair. “Where are your
parents?” 
“Upstairs. Wanna play blocks with me?”
“Of course,” she said. “Lead the way.” Rye led her past the formal living and
dining rooms to his playroom just off the kitchen. It was the kind of room
Katniss could only dream of as a child, stocked floor- to- ceiling with every
kind of toy imaginable. But Rye only ever wanted to play with his blocks. He
liked to construct the “tallest towers ever” and then promptly knock them down,
scattering the blocks all over the pristine floor. 
They had moved onto their third “tallest tower ever” when Peeta Mellark turned
up in the doorway to the playroom. Barely 30 and gorgeous, with crystal clear
blue eyes, a broad chest, and tousled blond hair, he made something in
Katniss’s stomach flutter every time he walked into a room. The crisp, expertly
tailored tuxedo he was sporting tonight did nothing to help matters. “Oh,
Katniss, I’m so glad you’re here. I hate to do this to you on a school night,”
he said, with every air of sincerity. 
Katniss waved her hand through the air. “It’s no problem, really. I brought
homework with me. I can study here just as well as I can at home.” 
He smiled at her, revealing two rows of perfect white teeth. “I’ve got a last
minute work function to go to. My business partner, Finnick was supposed to go
instead, but he’s stuck at home with a sick child and a pregnant wife, so I
took pity on him. Hopefully we won’t be out too late. Rye, here, has had his
bath, but no dinner yet. The kitchen’s fully stocked; help yourself to whatever
you like. And Rye?” he said, commanding the little boy’s attention, “You be
good for Katniss, okay?”
“I will, daddy,” Rye promised. 
“Good. Come here and give me a hug, buddy.” Rye abandoned his blocks and jumped
into his father’s arms, who raised him high into the air before bringing him
down and planting a sloppy kiss on his cheek. 
Rye giggled. “Daddy! Yuck!” He wiped his check with the sleeve of his shirt. 
Peeta chuckled. “I’ll see you when you wake up for school in the morning,
okay?” 
“Can we have dinosaur oatmeal for breakfast?” Rye asked. 
“Of course we can! It’s a date,” Peeta promised. “Now if I can just get your
mother down here… Delly!” he called, “Delly, we’re going to be late!” 
“Christ, Peeta, I’m coming!” called a voice from the staircase, and Delly
Mellark appeared, clad in a black evening gown that hugged her ample curves in
all the right places. Even with her preoccupied air whilst looping diamond
earring through her earlobe, the woman was pretty enough to make Katniss feel
inadequate on any given day. Now with her hair carefully styled in soft, blond
curls that cascaded down her back and her makeup applied to perfection, she
looked simply radiant. Peeta and Delly Mellark were the perfect couple. “You
can’t just spring something like this on me at the last minute and expect me to
jump at your beck and call the second you need to leave. Now were is my
purse?” 
“It’s right here,” Peeta said, handing it to her. “Ready to go?” She snatched
the purse from him, blew a kiss to Rye, and called a quick ‘thank you’ to
Katniss over her shoulder. Peeta gave Katniss a wink and a last smile before
closing the front door behind him. 
Pushing down the renewed fluttering, Katniss turned her attention back to her
small charge. “So, Rye, what do you want for dinner? Mac and cheese or chicken
nuggets?” 
The boy turned his blue eyes heavenward and stuck his tongue between his teeth,
clearly thinking hard. “Both!” he said finally, giving her the same shit-
eating grin that his father did. Stinker.
The promise of getting to have both of his favorite foods was enough to
convince Rye to play on his own for a bit while Katniss started on dinner. She
supposed she should probably incorporate some veggies into the meal- chicken
nuggets and mac and cheese weren’t the healthiest options after all- but she
was the babysitter, and her job was to be fun. Let his parents push broccoli
and green beans on him. 
His parents. She had known Mr. and Mrs. Mellark for over a year now, and had
been babysitting for Rye just as long. Her Uncle Haymitch, who was the lawyer
on retainer at Peeta’s company, had recommended her to Peeta when he learned
that the Mellarks were looking for a sitter. Years of taking care of Prim
practically on her own while her mother worked nights as a nurse and slept
during the day had made Katniss an expert with children. For the most part, Rye
was putty in her hands. The tough part was his father. 
Peeta’s presence always made Katniss jumpy. She’d never known a man so
attractive and funny and kind. He made the immature boys that went to her
school like Cato and Marvel look wholeheartedly unappealing by comparison.
Katniss’s eyes wandered to the photos on the wall of the living room adjacent
to the kitchen. The largest was a framed portrait of Peeta and Delly on their
wedding day that hung above the fireplace. Both of them looked stunning in
their wedding finery, even though the small bump that was Rye was just visible
under Delly’s dress. Katniss had wondered on occasion if that was why they had
gotten married in the first place. She could never understand how Delly had
ended up with someone like Peeta. The woman hardly spared Katniss a glance
anytime she came over and she lacked any of the charismatic warmth her husband
seemed to possess in droves. Then again, maybe it was true what they said about
opposites… shit! 
Katniss grabbed the handle of the boiled- over pot and removed it from the heat
in a flash. That’s what she got for letting her mind wander. The water simmered
down immediately and upon further inspection, the noodles were done anyway. 
While Rye gobbled down his dinner with a side of organic applesauce for good
measure, Katniss cut two thick slices of bread from the fresh loaf in the
breadbox and made herself a sandwich. One thing she loved about coming here was
that the Mellarks always had delicious, fresh bakery bread in the house. She
had no idea which bakery it came from, but it certainly wasn’t the Walmart
where she bought all of her family’s groceries.
Rye’s selection of a bedtime movie was, predictably, of the Toy Story
persuasion. This time, it was the third one. Katniss had seen each of the three
with him several times over, and she had to admit this one was her personal
favorite. It resonated with her. Leaving childhood behind and embracing
adulthood is a theme with which she was intimately familiar. The damn movie
made her cry every time. 
After the last bars of You’ve Got a Friend in Me, (Rye always insisted on
watching the credits) it was time for bed. 
“Is my daddy comin’ home?” a tearful Rye asked Katniss when he was tucked
snugly into bed, only his little face peeking out from beneath the blankets.
She was prepared for this. Separation anxiety usually kicked in about now for
Rye when he was tired and at his crankiest. 
“Of course,” she promised. “Remember, he said he would be here when you woke
up? You two have a breakfast date in the morning.” Rye sniffled. “Tell you
what, Rye. You close your eyes and think of happy things, and when you wake up
he’ll be here.” Katniss stroked his curls, and Rye tucked his favorite stuffie
close to his chest. She stayed with him until his breathing became rhythmic and
deep, then tiptoed out of the room. 
Katniss was lounging in the living room watching the enormous flat screen TV-
and decidedly not studying- when Mr. and Mrs. Mellark arrived home. “How was
he?” Mr. Mellark asked, perching next to her on the couch. Katniss’s body
thrummed with energy and she tried to remember how to form words to answer
him. 
“Um, fine. He was good. A little teary at bedtime, you know, but otherwise we
had fun.” She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. 
Mr. Mellark grinned. “Did he make you watch Toy Story again?” 
“The third one,” she affirmed.
He chuckled. “I swear I can’t wait until he picks a new favorite. I could
probably quote every one of those movies from beginning to end just from
memory.” 
“I bet Rye can, too,” she said. He threw back his head and laughed, eyes
sparkling in the same special way every time they discussed his son. 
“Well, Katniss, we should probably get you home. Delly, do you have the
checkbook?” 
Mrs. Mellark appeared again, rummaging through her purse. She handed the
checkbook to her husband, and with a polite but stiff, “Goodnight, Katniss,”
disappeared upstairs. 
“Sorry about that; she’s just tired,” Peeta said, glancing upstairs towards his
wife. “We really weren’t expecting to go out tonight.” He pulled a pen from his
suit jacket and flipped open the checkbook. 
Katniss loved Peeta’s car. It had a million satellite radio stations and heated
seats that warmed her rear end as he sped down the highway toward Seam Street
where she lived. As quiet as Katniss was, Peeta was equally as talkative. Their
conversations never lagged for long. He always made sure to ask about school
and how her sister, Prim was doing. Unlike other people who might ask the same
questions, he genuinely cared about the answers. 
When he pulled into her driveway, Mr. Mellark killed the engine and turned in
his seat to face Katniss. Her heart skipped a beat. “Listen, Katniss, I was
hoping I could make a standing arrangement with you. Delly and I have, um, an
appointment coming up every Monday and Wednesday at three. We have a driver to
pick up Rye from school, but we really need to someone to occupy him for a few
hours until one of us gets home. Would you be able to do something like that
for us?” Katniss didn’t say anything and Peeta mistook her silence for
hesitation. “Of course, our driver could pick you up from school too, if that’s
an issue. We’d also pay you well, and-“ 
“I’ll do it,” she said, cutting him off. “It’s no problem, Mr. Mellark, really.
I’m happy to do it.”
“Thanks, Katniss. I really appreciate it.” His grateful smile was so genuine
that her stomach flipped.
“It’s no problem at all,” she managed to say. “I’ll see you on Monday.”
 
                                     *****
 
Chaff, the Mellark’s driver, pulled up to Panem High School in a shiny black
SUV the following Monday. Katniss could feel the eyes of her peers on her as
she climbed into the ostentatious vehicle. Nothing like this car ever showed up
in the parking lot at Panem High. Luckily, Rye was already awaiting her in the
back seat and squealed with joy when she opened the door, distracting her from
the questioning looks she was getting. 
Katniss worried a little about Prim on the drive over the Mellark residence on
the opposite side of town, but she was walking the few blocks home with her
best friend and neighbor, Rue, and Rue’s older brother. Thresh wouldn’t let
anything happen to the girls. 
When they arrived at the house, Katniss thanked Chaff and chased after Rye up
the driveway. She keyed in the code to open the gate. After cajoling Rye into
changing out of his school uniform and into some play clothes, they settled in
the kitchen with an after school snack. The afternoon went smoothly from there.
They were playing with blocks again with Mr. Mellark arrived home. He looked
exhausted today with deep purple bags under his eyes. Nevertheless, he scooped
up Rye when the little boy ran into his arms and lifted him high above his
head. 
“Were you good for Katniss today, Rye- Rye?” The boy nodded and Mr. Mellark
turned to Katniss for confirmation. She confirmed that yes, Rye was perfect as
always, and then Rye filled in his father on every aspect of their day
together, right down to the sandwich Katniss had torn into after school. 
“Katniss loves our bread, daddy!” Rye exclaimed.
“Oh she does, does she?” Mr. Mellark asked. Katniss blushed deep red. She
didn’t want to sound so needy in front of Mr. Mellark. Maybe she should not
have been so flippant about enjoying the sandwich in front of Rye, but she was
so hungry it was hard not to moan when her teeth sank into that delicious
bread. So she nodded her head yes. “I make it myself, actually,” said Mr.
Mellark. 
Katniss’s jaw dropped. “You do?” 
“I do. And Rye, here, is my little helper.” He tickled the boy’s stomach. 
“Sometimes we get up even before school to make it!” Rye said proudly. 
“You know what, Katniss, you should take a loaf home with you!” Before she
could object, Mr. Mellark was heading for the kitchen and wrapping up a fresh
loaf for her. “My parents ran a bakery when I was growing up and I worked there
all through high school and college.” Katniss wondered fleetingly how he ended
up in the insurance business when he’d baked all his life. Then again, Delly
was pregnant when he married her. Did he do it to provide a better life for her
and their child? Peeta turned to hand her the bread, but saw the hesitation on
her face. “Please take it. Delly is on some sort of no- carb diet at the
moment, and Rye and I can’t possibly eat all of this.” Katniss stared at the
loaf in his hand, thinking just how much Prim would love it and how they
wouldn’t have to spend their limited grocery money on bread this week. The she
looked into his kind eyes shining through the dark circles and any of her
wavering resolution melted away. She took the bread. 
Every week thereafter, he pressed some kind of baked good into her hands before
Chaff drove her home, insisting he’d made too much that week or that no one in
the house would eat it, or some other flimsy excuse. After a while, however,
she noticed that many of her favorites were included in the bundle at
increasingly regular intervals. Cheese buns, cinnamon nut bread, and iced
cookies especially. The raisin scones that she didn’t care for only made it in
once. Somehow, Mr. Mellark was ferreting out her likes and dislikes. Katniss
suspected that Rye was his informant. Even at only four years old, the kid was
as sharp as a tack. She tried to be more careful about her eating habits at the
Mellark house, but with a kitchen bursting with baked delicacies, it was
admittedly difficult to restrain herself. 
The next time she stepped into the house was a Saturday night. Mr. Mellark had
called her once again to watch Rye, presumably so that he Mrs. Mellark and Mrs.
Mellark could attend one of his work functions. She crossed the foyer to find
an unusual sight. Rye was crouching in the upstairs hallway, his face peeking
through the bars of the railing, his hands pressed tightly over his ears.
Katniss knew in an instant why. The screaming seemed to be coming from the
opposite end of the hall, in the direction of the master bedroom. Mr. and Mrs.
Mellark were arguing. 
Katniss beckoned to Rye, and he flew down the grand staircase into her arms.
She carried him into his playroom, where the yelling was mercifully muted.
“What’s wrong, Rye?’ She asked, smoothing his hair back from his forehead. 
“Mommy and daddy are gettin’ a ‘force,” he whispered.
A force? Did he mean Porsche? Did Delly go out and buy a Porsche without
telling Peeta? That certainly could have caused an argument. Not that the
Mellarks truly needed another vehicle, but it wasn’t like they couldn’t afford
one. But she thought it best not to press Rye on the subject and distracted him
with his myriad of toys instead. 
“Daddy, what’s a ‘force?’” Rye directed the question over her shoulder. Katniss
whipped around to find Mr. Mellark in the doorway to the playroom, his cheeks a
deep red. 
“We’ll talk about it later, buddy, okay? Katniss, could I talk to you in the
kitchen for a minute?” She obliged, following him into the other room. Peeta
leaned against the counter, running a hand distractedly through his hair. It
wasn’t until his shirt rode up when he lifted his arm that she noticed he
wasn’t even dressed up yet. Surely he wasn’t planning on wearing a t-shirt and
running pants to a go out, even if they did hang enticingly low on his hips,
putting his toned abdominals on display. Katniss leaned into his low whisper,
his words fanning across her face. “Do you think you can keep Rye entertained
in the basement for a while? There’s something Delly and I have to do before we
leave and I don’t want him to see it.” 
Katniss stared at him, thunderstruck. The basement could hardly be called as
such, seeing as there was special flooring in place to practice all manner of
sports; golf, baseball, basketball, and football among them. It was plenty to
keep a four- year- old boy occupied, so that was not an issue. But there was
something off in the Mellark household tonight and she couldn’t quite figure
out what it was. She assured him that of course, she would keep Rye out of the
way for whatever it was they needed to do.
“Good,” Mr. Mellark sighed, still managing to smile warmly at her through his
stress. “Thank you so much, Katniss. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without
you.” The words jolted her stomach, which left her smiling at an idiot at the
nicest man she knew. Why did she always have to act like a complete imbecile
around him? It wasn’t like she was the most talkative person in the world to
begin with, but something about Peeta left her mouth dry and her stomach full
of butterflies. 
The exchange stuck with her as she ushered Rye downstairs, but was quickly
wiped from her mind when the boy picked up a baseball. She needed her all wits
about her when he had a throwing object in his hand. 
They played game after game, the occasional thump! or bang! from upstairs
interrupting the quiet. Katniss wondered what on earth the Mellarks were doing
up there, but mercifully, Rye did not seem bothered by it, too intent upon
their games to notice. When at last there had been no noise upstairs for the
better part of an hour, Katniss determined that it was safe to go upstairs and
get Rye a snack. She checked the garage and found that both of the Mellark’s
cars were gone. Another oddity. If they went somewhere together, why drive
separately? 
It was after midnight and Rye was deeply asleep in his bed when Mr. Mellark
finally arrived back home, accompanied not by Mrs. Mellark, but by Chaff, the
driver. Katniss assumed this was so the older man could drive her home, but she
was surprised again by Peeta’s insistence on giving her a ride.
“I’ll be back in a little bit, okay Chaff? Thank you for staying with him,” he
said, beckoning Katniss out to his car. He didn’t meet her eye as opened the
door for her and walked around to the driver’s side. Their conversation was
forced and mostly consisted of meaningless small talk as he drove toward her
home in the Seam. Katniss could tell there was something else on his mind.
Something heavy that he was avoiding discussing with her. Sure enough, she was
right.
It wasn’t until he had pulled into her driveway and put the car into park that
he turned to her and told her what was really on his mind. “I don’t know if you
picked up on what Rye meant earlier, but he overheard Delly and I discussing
the fact that we’re getting a divorce.” 
Katniss’s jaw dropped. She had no idea what to say. What was the appropriate
reaction when you heard someone was getting a divorce? “Mr. Mellark, I-“ 
“Peeta,” he interrupted her. “Call me Peeta, please.” 
She blushed. “Peeta, I had no idea… I’m so sorry,” she said, sounding like the
world’s biggest idiot. 
Mr. Mellark shook his head. “No, it’s okay, you couldn’t have known. These past
few weeks… Delly and I have been going to marital counseling. That’s why I’ve
been having you come over to babysit, but there’s just no fixing us. She moved
out tonight.” 
Oh. Everything fell into place at once. The arugment, the basement, the strange
noises from the upper level… Peeta had asked her to keep Rye out of the way so
he wouldn’t see his mother packing her bags and leaving. And Peeta, being the
person that he was, helped her do it. Sympathy rushed through her in a powerful
wave. Anyone who could abandon such a man was a downright fool, there was no
denying that fact. 
Before Katniss could say anything else, Peeta spoke again. “I loved her so
much,” he said, more to himself than to her. He pinched the bridge of his nose
between his thumb and forefinger. “She used to be so vivacious and beautiful.
She was the friendliest person I knew. She never had a bad thing to say about
anyone, ever. But after Rye came along, she was just… different. She wouldn’t
hold him; she’d barely touch him. There were days I couldn’t get her out of bed
at all. She changed.” He looked up again, almost surprised to see Katniss still
sitting there. “I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “That’s not really appropriate to
say. I shouldn’t be bothering you with this.” 
But what he described was so achingly familiar to Katniss that she reached out
automatically to hold his hand over the console. “My mother,” she began, “After
my dad died, she didn’t want anything to do with me or my sister. It was weeks
before we could even get her out of bed to shower. She went back to work
eventually, but she’s never been the same since.” 
He squeezed her hand and electricity shot up her arm. “You’re so strong,
Katniss,” he whispered. “Don’t think I don’t know that about you. You’re always
working so hard and the way you talk about your sister… she’s lucky to have
you.” Katniss blushed at the unexpected compliment, but something in his eyes
held her in place. Suddenly, the heated seat beneath her felt too warm. The air
in the car was stifling, and yet there wasn’t a place in the world that she
would rather be. “I wish I had your strength.” 
Katniss wasn’t aware that they were leaning toward each other until their faces
were mere inches apart across the console. Peeta’s eyes flicked to her lips,
then back to her dilated pupils. “I’m not strong.” Her voice cracked. “I’m not
anything.” She was a girl from the poor part of town, scraping her way through
high school in the mere hope that she could lead a halfway decent life one day.
But in the end, she had no prospects. Nothing worth having or desiring. 
Peeta was shaking his head. “I don’t think you understand the effect you can
have.” The words stymied her reproach. He was leaning closer to her; she was
drawn to him like scrap metal to a magnet. It was impossible to resist the
pull. Her eyes flickered closed a second before his lips ghosted over hers. He
was exceedingly gentle with her, testing her the waters before going further.
When she did not draw away from him, he deepened the kiss. His hand threaded
through her hair, tugging gently at the roots. His tongue traced along the seam
of her lips, and she gladly allowed him entrance. He laved his tongue over
hers, coaxing it into the heat of his mouth. The flavor of him was like nothing
she had ever tasted before. It was sweet and manly and entirely intoxicating.
His scent filled her senses, surrounding her and engulfing her in his musky
warmth. 
Her body thrummed with energy, stemming from the point where Peeta’s lips were
melded to hers. The console of the car was digging into her stomach from
leaning so far over, but she didn’t care. The kiss felt so good that it
overwhelmed her mind. Everything else was just background noise. He pulled her
bottom lip between his to nibble softly on it. An involuntary moan curled up
through her throat. None of the high school boys she had ever dated kissed like
this. Because they were just that- boys. Peeta Mellark was a man. And he kissed
like one.
He broke apart from her with a soft smacking sound. “I’m sorry,” he whispered,
and her eyes flew open to see his flushed face watching her closely. “I
shouldn’t have done that.”
The truth of the situation hit her like a freight train. Impending divorce or
not, he was still married. And he had a son. And he was much older than her. He
was right. They shouldn’t be doing do this. 
“I should go.” The frigid winter air stung her flushed cheeks as she stumbled
out of the car. She didn’t look back at his face, but he stayed in the driveway
while she fumbled with her house key and didn’t he drive away until she was
safely inside. She slumped against the front door, thoroughly perplexed. Peeta
Mellark just kissed her. And no matter how many times she told herself it was
wrong, it didn’t matter. It had felt good. Her phone buzzed in her hand,
displaying a text from him. 
I’ll understand if you don’t want to come over next week. 
The words sent a pang of regret to her stomach. He was giving her an out. But
she wasn’t going to take it.
I’ll be there. She texted back. 
As she lay in bed that night, it was the thought of Peeta Mellark and his
sugar- sweet lips that brought her to a trembling, blissful climax under her
own fingers. She wished more than anything that it was his touch to bring her
pleasure.
***** Chapter 2 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
A knot of anxiety settled itself in Katniss’s stomach the next time she walked
up the Mellarks’ driveway. Peeta had occupied every facet of her mind in the
week since their kiss. Every time she closed her eyes at night he was there,
lingering at the forefront of her mind. When she ate, he was there. Even in
school when she needed her concentration most, Peeta was there. And now that
she would finally be in his presence again, she had no clue how she should be
feeling. 
He looked amazing as usual in dark wash jeans and a tight gray t-shirt when he
answered the door. Her heart hammered in her chest, the air between them
buzzing with electricity.  “Hi.” Peeta smiled warmly at her. Nothing in his
eyes betrayed the slightest bit of apprehension. Katniss returned the smile,
but her mouth was too dry to speak. After envisioning nothing but him all week,
the sight him in the flesh was overwhelming. Luckily, Rye ran up to Katniss and
threw himself around her legs at that very moment.
“Katniss!” he squealed. “Did you miss me?” 
“Of course I did, Rye- Rye!” Since Peeta and Delly were no longer in marital
counseling, she hadn’t seen him all week, and she honestly had missed him.
Katniss beamed at the little boy, the spitting image of his father. Only at the
moment Rye had a smear of something that looked suspiciously like chocolate
smeared across his cheek that Peeta did not. 
“Me and daddy made cookies for you!” He sang, reaching for her hand. She
accepted his sticky fingers and allowed him to lead her into the kitchen. Rye
wasn’t kidding. A mountain of cookies sat in the middle of the kitchen table,
made of several different flavors by the looks of it. Double- chocolate mint
and sugar macadamia nut and oatmeal butterscotch, among many others. “Get
Katniss’s special cookie, daddy!” Rye said. 
Katniss whirled around to find that Peeta had followed them into the kitchen.
From the very top of the pile, he extracted an iced sugar cookie and handed it
to her. Her name was embellished on top in perfect icing and surrounded with a
smattering of incredibly detailed Katniss flowers. The cookie was so perfect it
would almost be a shame to eat it. 
“Thank you,” she whispered. The electric current running through her veins
sparked again when Peeta smiled at her. She didn’t know how long they held each
other’s gaze, but Peeta finally cleared his throat, breaking the spell. “I’m
going out with a few friends tonight, but I shouldn’t gone be too long,” he
told her. “Rye, be good for Katniss, and it’s bedtime as usual, okay?” Rye
nodded. Peeta’s gaze flicked back to Katniss. “I’ll talk to you when I get
home?” He phrased it as a question, almost like he was offering her an out, a
chance to say no. She nodded her head yesall the same. 
The evening seemed to drag on much longer than usual. Her stomach was a ball of
nerves in anticipation of Peeta’s arrival home. Katniss tried to give Rye her
full attention, but his father still occupied most of her thoughts. It was
lucky that he was an only child and fairly self- sufficient. After letting him
win at Candy Land for the fourth time in a row, it was finally time for bed. 
She guided him through brushing his teeth, dressing in pajamas, and read him a
bedtime story. She was just about to turn off the light and head downstairs
when a tiny voice called out behind her. “Katniss?” She turned to find two
shiny blue eyes peeking out from under the comforter. “Will you stay with me?”
“Of course,” she said, unable to deny him anything. 
“I miss my daddy,” Rye sniffled.
“I know you do, buddy. He’ll be back when you wake up,” Katniss promised. 
“He says mommy’s not comin’ back.” Katniss could think of no answer to this, so
she rubbed his back soothingly. Her heart broke for the little boy. At the same
time, anger flared in her for any mother that could abandon her child so
easily. 
“Will you be my mommy?” The words hit her like a ton of bricks. Her mouth went
dry as she struggled to come up with an acceptable answer. One that wouldn’t
give him any false hope, but wouldn’t crush him, either.
“How about we be friends, Rye?” 
“Best friends?”
“Best friends,” she said. The answer seemed to pacify him and he snuggled
further into his blankets. Katniss stayed long after his eyes had slipped
closed and his breathing deepened. When she left his bedroom, leaving the door
cracked open so that she could hear him if he had a nightmare, she settled on
the couch in the living room with her special cookie. Surely, Peeta had only
made it because Rye had asked him to. He wouldn’t have done it otherwise. That
had to be the only reason he would have put so much effort into it. She really
needed to stop reading so much into things. Sighing, she bit into the cookie.
It tasted just as good as it looked. 
Her heart leapt when she heard the garage door open an hour later. She tried to
arrange herself on the couch in a casual position, like she wasn’t a fidgety
ball of nerves, but it probably just looked like she was trying too hard. She
heard him cross the kitchen, every footstep echoing in her head. 
“Hey,” he whispered, tiptoeing into the living room. “Is he asleep?” 
“Yeah, for about an hour now,” she told him. 
“Good,” Peeta said, sitting gingerly down on the opposite end of the couch.
“Listen, Katniss, I wanted to talk to you about the other night.” She could
only nod, distracted by the little things about him that she only every noticed
when she was truly paying attention, like the cupid’s bow of his lips and the
dimples in his cheeks. “I shouldn’t have done that. Kissed you, I mean. It was
over the line, and I want to apologize to you.” 
Katniss gaped at him, her stomach sinking. Of course he regretted it; why
wouldn’t he? He got caught up in a moment of weakness and she happened to be
the one there to witness it. She was nothing more than an escape for him. “I
get it,” she murmured, casting her eyes down at her hands in her lap. But then
his hand came into her vision, which infuriatingly enough, was beginning to
blur with tears. It wasn’t like she expected to run away with him and live
happily ever after, but coming from him, the truth still stung. 
He grasped her hand gently in his. “Katniss? I didn’t intend to hurt you at
all. I’m so sorry.” He truly looked it. His eyes held every ounce of sincerity
when she gathered the courage to meet his gaze.
“I get it,” she said again. “I’m not stupid, I know you don’t like me in… in
that way or anything. You don’t have to worry. I won’t say anything to
anyone.” 
Peeta’s brow was furrowed in confusion. “Katniss, you aren’t under the
impression that I don’t like you, are you?” 
She shrugged her shoulders. “Of course you don’t. Why would you?” 
Peeta released her hand and ran his fingers through his tousled curls, throwing
his head back in exasperation. “That’s the whole problem, don’t you see?” he
groaned. “I do like you, Katniss. Much, much more than I should. It’s killing
me.” He looked back to her, a painful smile upon his handsome face. “You know,
Delly accused me of cheating on her more than once. And after a while I
realized that she was right, in a way. For a long time- much longer than I’m
willing to admit- you were the only woman on my mind. Every time I was with my
wife, I thought of you, Katniss. I imagined how your body would feel beneath
mine. How you would taste. How you’d sound as I made love to you. I’ve thought
of you in a million different inappropriate ways. Hell, it’s been eating me up
inside for months, so never, ever think that you are not worthy of desire or
that I don’t want you. Because I do, in the worst way possible.” 
Katniss’s heart was pounding in her chest. It was a wonder it didn’t burst
right through her ribcage. Peeta Mellark wanted her. “I’ve thought about you,
too,” she confessed, shifting closer to him on the couch.
Peeta’s eyes widened. “Please, don’t make this harder on me than it already
is,” he begged. “I’m falling for you, Katniss Everdeen. And that terrifies
me.” 
His words knocked the wind from her lungs. “Why does that terrify you?” 
“Because I’m older than you. Because I’m in the midst of a nasty divorce.
Because I don’t know what this says about me… and because I’m afraid I can’t
control myself around you.” His voice was barely above a whisper, his face mere
inches from hers. 
“Then don’t.” 
He hesitated for a split second. The weight of the decision hung in the air
between them, thick with possibility and transgression and hunger. And then his
hands wrapped around her the back of her head and he crushed his lips to hers.
She responded with fervent enthusiasm, plunging her tongue into the sweet
depths of his mouth. A groan rumbled up through his chest, setting her nerves
on edge. He pushed her onto her back and she went willingly, pulling him with
her. Her head thumped on the armrest of the couch, but she didn’t care. Her
hands found purchase on his muscular shoulders and she gripped him close to
her, reluctant to let him pull even an inch away from her. But he had no
intention of going anywhere, it seemed, because he threaded his hand through
her hair, securing her face to his.
She could feel the stirrings of his erection against her leg, so she lifted her
hips to grind into him. He groaned again, long and deep. “Tell me we should
stop,” he gasped. In answer, she melded her lips back to his, drawing his
tongue into her mouth with a fervent moan. He wanted her to surrender so that
he didn’t have to. She wasn’t going to do it. 
Katniss slid her hands into the nonexistent space between them to paw at the
buttons of his shirt. Finding that her fingers lacked their usual dexterity,
she tore it open. Tiny buttons flew everywhere, bouncing off the couch and
skittering across the hard wood floor. Peeta chuckled at her frustrated face
when she was met with yet another barrier: his undershirt. He sat up and
whipped it over his head. At last, his chest was bare to her. Firm and toned
and sprinkled with a dusting of pale blond hair. Her fingers explored every
muscled plane with relish.
She reached for the hem of her own shirt, but he caught her wrists before she
could lift it. “I don’t want to do this here. Not on the couch,” he said.
Before Katniss could say anything, he had stood up and pulled her with him. She
wrapped her legs around his waist and occupied herself with the smooth skin of
his neck, kissing a wet trail to his collarbone as he climbed the staircase.
For a single, heart wrenching moment, Katniss though he was headed for the
master bedroom, but he diverted down the hall into one of the guest rooms, as
far from Rye’s room as possible. 
Peeta lowered her onto the enormous bed as gently as if she were made of glass.
“Are you sure?” he asked her.
“Yes, Peeta,” she breathed.
“Because if we do this… there’s no going back.” His voice was strained. In
answer, she sat up and removed her shirt. Then she reached around her back to
unhook her bra. Peeta’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head when she revealed
her breasts to him. She lamented for a second on the fact that she was nothing
like his wife. She wasn’t voluptuous is any sense of the word. Her waist was
nonexistent and her breasts were small and dusky, but Peeta didn’t seem to
care, because any lingering trace of hesitation was wiped from his face the
instant she bared herself for him to see. He dipped his head in an instant,
latching his mouth around her nipple. The action sent a jolt of pleasure
through her body. She arched herself into his mouth. His other hand came up to
palm her sensitive flesh as he savored her with his mouth. He flicked the bud
of her nipple with his tongue, every flick sending wetness to her core. Peeta
let his fingers trail down her body until he popped the button of her jeans. 
“Has anyone ever tasted you, before, Katniss?” She shook her head. “Can I?” His
eyes dripped with lust, so dilated that his irises were nothing more than thin
blue rings around fat, black pupils. She nodded. 
He took his time dragging her pants down so that her anticipation soared. His
fingers swept over the crotch of her underwear, already soaked through with her
arousal. Peeta groaned. “Oh, Katniss, you’re so wet. I haven’t even touched you
yet.” 
“I know,” she said, breathless. “Touch me. Please.” He obeyed, bending to press
a kiss through her damp underwear. Katniss bucked her hips into his face in
reaction. He chuckled, hooking his fingers around the sides of the panties and
pulling them off at last. He wasted no time nuzzling into the neat patch of
dark hair at her center, his eager tongue finding her clit at once. 
“Oh god!” Her legs instinctively opened wider, allowing him greater access.
Never in her life had anything felt so good. Peeta clearly knew what he was
doing; his long licks transitioned to faster flicks of his tongue that drove
her wild. She lost it when he sucked the little bud into his mouth. The orgasm
hit her with such a force that it sucked the oxygen out of her, rendering her
breathless. The ecstasy was blinding as it pulsed through her veins, wave upon
delicious wave of pleasure seizing her body in turn. 
When again she could see and the waves had faded to a dull thrumming in her
core, it was to find Peeta grinning at her from between her thighs. “Do you
want me to do it again?” His breath ghosted over her newly sensitive flesh,
mouth poised and ready. Yes. God, yes. 
“No,” she said. “Come here.” Her lips crashed into his, her tongue poking out
in search of his. Her own musk mixed with his natural sweetness to create a
curiously intoxicating flavor. “Take off your pants,” she ordered. He didn’t
break eye contact with her as he did as he was told. Her confidence wavered
when she saw the sizable bulge straining through his underwear. She’d never
gone this far with the any of her high school relationships. But she didn’t
want Peeta to know that he was experienced and she was not. She didn’t want
there to be any more inequalities between them. 
Peeta didn’t ask, but he seemed to sense her hesitation all the same.  He
cradled her face in his hands and kissed her with every ounce of tenderness in
the world. “It’s okay if you want to stop,” he whispered against her lips.
But that was the last thing she wanted. She reached for the waistband of his
boxers, tugging so that his cock sprang free. “Show me,” she said. He wrapped
his hand around hers, and then guided her to his flesh. He stroked their hands
up and down so that she could catch the technique. When she had mastered the
perfect grip and speed, he removed his hand to palm the flesh of her breasts. 
“Oh, Katniss, yes. You’re so good at that,” he praised her. “Don’t stop.” He
dipped his head to lave his tongue over her erect nipples. On instinct, her
hand sped up, gliding over his weeping tip to the base. “I want to be inside
you so badly.” 
“Then do it,” she challenged.
“I don’t have anything.” 
“I’m on birth control. We don’t need anything.” He gazed imploringly at her,
but this time, he didn’t try to stop her or deny his need to do this. He guided
her onto her back.
“I’ll be so careful with you,” he whispered. She believed him. He carefully
spread her folds with his thick fingers. She was more than ready for him. The
tip of his blunt head nudged into her. She tried to relax her muscles as he
slid in slowly, inch by inch, all the way to the hilt. 
There was pain. A burning sensation that took her breath away. But Peeta’s
fingers came to stroke her throbbing clit again, insistent on massaging the
pain away. He kissed the tip of her nose before capturing her lips again. He
distracted her with his mouth, licking and sucking and nibbling her already
swollen lips. Gradually, he started to move. Short, gentle strokes in and out
of her at first, then long and languid thrusts that drove her entire body
further up the mattress, coming dangerously close to smacking her head on the
headboard. 
The discomfort was all but forgotten as Peeta fucked her, his thumb stroking
her clit in time with his thrusts. In fact, she was close to coming again. So
fucking close. “Peeta,” she grunted. “I- I’m gonna-“ 
“I know,” he whispered, attaching his mouth to the hollow below her neck. He
sped up his thrusts, pounding into her with even more enthusiasm, more
intensity. The room was filled with their grunts and sighs, the air thick with
sex. 
“Oh... my… god. Don’t stop,” she begged him, clutching his muscled shoulders
with every ounce of strength she possessed. He didn’t. The force of his body
drove hers deeper into the feather mattress. 
“You’re so amazing, Katniss,” he grunted. “So beautiful, and perfect. And god,
you’re so fucking sexy.” The words drive her to the brink of blinding pleasure
yet again, waves of liquid bliss pulsing through her body. Fireworks burst
behind her eyelids and her bones dissolved to jelly. On top of her, Peeta
grunted out an indistinguishable cry of elation as his own orgasm surged
through him.
She kissed the hollow below his ear as they came down from their highs
together. “Wow,” Peeta breathed, his shoulders heaving with his panting
breaths. “That was… that was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.” The complete
sincerity in his eyes told her that he wasn’t lying. A glimmer of pride swooped
through her belly. 
Peeta shifted so that he was lying next to her and tucked her into his side.
Her center pulsed again when he held her face tenderly between his palms and
kissed her, long and deep. She was still so wet. In fact, she felt a little too
wet. Pulling herself from Peeta’s arms, she glanced down at the white comforter
to find a sizable wet patch beneath her. 
Oh god. How embarrassing. How fucking, utterly humiliating. 
Her face flushed a deep red, and she turned to Peeta with horror in her eyes.
“I- I had no idea. I’m so sorry,” she blurted out, but Peeta only chuckled. 
“Katniss, it’s okay,” he said gently, lifting her chin with a finger. “It’s
natural. You didn’t pee yourself, I promise. It just means that you really
liked it.” His kind eyes held a hint of lust. “It’s sexy as hell.” 
“Seriously?” 
“Seriously. All it means is we’ll have to make sure and put down towels next
time.” He nuzzled his face into her neck, nipping lightly on her earlobe. His
choice of words wasn’t lost on her. 
“Next time?” 
He froze for a moment, pulling back to look at her. “I- I mean, only if you
wanted… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to presume,” he said. It was the first time
she’d seen him so clearly flustered. It was rather endearing.
She gave him a sly smile. “Next time doesn’t sound soon enough.” 
His answering smile could have lit up the whole room. “Stay with me tonight,”
he murmured between a fresh round of fervent kisses. “I’ll drive you home in
the morning.” 
“What will people say?” she mumbled, tilting her neck to expose more of her
olive skin to his wandering mouth. 
“Just tell them it got late and I insisted that you sleep in the guest room. It
won’t even be a lie,” he grinned at her mischievously. He was so boyish in that
moment, so irresistible, that she only had one answer to give.
“I’ll stay.”
Chapter End Notes
     There’s one more part to the story after this. Time willing, I should
     be able to post it soon! On another note, who's excited for
     Mockingjay Part 2? I can't believe our beloved franchise is finally
     coming to an end!
     XOXO
***** Chapter 3 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
School on Monday morning was a torturous affair. Having spent all weekend
either being with Peeta or thinking about him, it was nearly impossible for
Katniss to focus her mind on her classes. The slight twinge that lingered
between her legs made him even more difficult to forget. Why on earth had she
decided that her senior year was the right time to start taking AP classes? Why
couldn’t she have let herself skate by in her last year of high school like the
rest of her classmates? Instead she was stuck in AP Bio, listening to a lecture
on possibly the world’s most boring topic: mitosis. She’d much rather be
studying human reproduction. At least that might hold her interest. 
“Earth to Katniss!”
“Huh?” Katniss snapped her head up to find her friend Johanna clicking her
fingers in front of her face at the lunch table. Their other friend, Madge, was
smirking next to Jo. 
“She lives!” Johanna proclaimed. “We were starting to think you were brain
dead, the way you’ve been so zoned out today.” 
“No, I’m just… distracted,” Katniss said lamely. The other girls shared a
knowing glance. 
“It’s a boy, isn’t it?” Johanna pressed. Katniss shook her head. It wasn’t a
lie, technically. By no stretch of the imagination was Peeta Mellark a boy. 
Madge elbowed Johanna in the ribs. “Jo, stop it. You don’t have to talk about
it if you don’t want to, Katniss,” she said kindly. But Katniss found that she
did want to talk about it to someone. She couldn’t tell her mother and she
certainly wasn’t going to tell Prim. Who better than her friends? Madge was
quiet- she didn’t have anyone else to tell anyway- and Johanna may have been a
bit of a loudmouth, but she was trustworthy.
“Okay, um… I had sex this weekend,” Katniss whispered so that no one else could
hear her in the crowded cafeteria. Two set of eyebrows shot up. 
“Who?” The two girls said in unison. 
“You know that family I babysit for? The Mellarks?” 
“Shit,” said Johanna. “You’re not telling me…” Katniss nodded. “Fuck!” Johanna
ran a hand through her short hair in disbelief. “My mom’s friends with Delly
Mellark, and you’re telling me you banged her husband?”
“They’re getting a divorce,” Katniss said defensively. 
“Good for him, that Delly is an uptight bitch,” Jo said dismissively. “Wow. I
can’t believe this.” 
“How old is he?” Madge asked. 
Katniss shrugged. The truth was that she didn’t know exactly how old he was.
“Late twenties, I think.” 
Johanna waved an airy hand. “Your 18th is in May, right? That’s not so bad.
Plus, Peeta Mellark is hot. I’d let him do me anytime. The real question is, is
he good in bed?” Katniss blushed, the buzz of her phone thankfully saving her
from answering the question. It was a text from Peeta himself. 
Meetings with the divorce lawyer all week. I need you.
The last line sent a flood of wet heat to her core, effectively ruining her
underwear for the day. The reaction apparently wasn’t lost on Johanna, who said
smugly, “I’ll take that as a yes.” 
                                     *****
Peeta arrived home just before the stroke of midnight. Rye was long asleep, and
Katniss had curled into a ball on the sofa to wait. She jumped when he walked
through the door and immediately strode over to her and gathered her in his
arms. “The guys kept me out late,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.” 
And then he kissed her. Long and deep and wanting. It had been three days since
she’d seen him. Three endless days since their quick kisses stolen when Rye was
out of earshot. And a whole week since they had made love. 
Katniss wrinkled her nose when they broke apart. He looked a little hurt.
“Sorry,” she said quickly. “It’s just that you smell like a bar.” Apparently
Peeta’s friends had gotten it into their heads that he needed to numb the pain
of his divorce with alcohol, and plenty of it. This was the third time he’d
been out with them this week. 
He chuckled. “I’ll go freshen up, then. Meet me in the guest room?” She nodded,
pulling him back for one last kiss. He disappeared upstairs and left her
squirming in anticipation in the couch. It was too much after a couple of
minutes. She left her spot and tiptoed up the stairs. She could hear the shower
running down the hall, curiosity leading her feet in the direction of Peeta’s
room. She’d never been in here before, and she was surprised when she walked
in. The room was starkly devoid of a woman’s presence. There were no photos on
the dresser or art on the walls. Even the comforter on the bed was a navy-
striped masculine variety. It didn’t match the neutral color scheme of the
room, and Katniss could only guess that it was a new addition. 
“Katniss?” She jumped at the voice behind her, and turned to find Peeta staring
at her, fresh from the shower with only a towel wrapped around his waist. There
seemed to be something lodged in her throat, for when she looked at him, she
found that she couldn’t speak. He looked perplexed, but all she could focus on
were the droplets of water falling from the tips of his hair and trickling onto
the planes of his chest. She watched as one drop trailed down his abdomen and
disappeared into the top of the towel. 
“I wanted to see your room,” she blurted when the silence had stretched a few
beats too long. He ducked his head and rubbed the back of his neck with the
hand not holding up the towel.       
“I- ah, don’t really like being in here,” he confessed, not meeting her eye.
“Old memories, you know.”
“I can help you make some new memories,” she offered.            Peeta looked
up at her with wide eyes, but before he could say anything, she grabbed his
naked shoulders and pulled him down to meet her lips. He responded with even
more enthusiasm than before. She backed him further into the room, aiming for
the bay window on the opposite side of the room. When the backs of his knees
hit the cushioned seat, she pushed him onto it and sank to her knees in front
of him. 
Katniss pried the edge of the towel from the vice grip in his hand so that he
was completely naked before her. He was half hard already. She hesitated before
taking him into her mouth. She knew guys liked this, but what if she did it
wrong? She thought back on the lecture Johanna had given her after she found
out exactly whom Katniss was sleeping with. 
Peeta Mellark has probably been with his share of women, and if he’s already
gone down on you, you can bet he’s expecting you to reciprocate. Just watch
your teeth and breathe through your nose. You’ll be fine.  
“Katniss?” Peeta had evidently noticed her distress. He brought a hand to her
hair to sweep a stray lock from her face. “You don’t have to do this if you’re
not comfortable. I really-“ But she didn’t give him the opportunity to object
any more. She sucked in a deep breath and took him into her mouth for the first
time. He sucked in a sharp breath and the hand in her hair tugged tightly on
the roots. She gagged a little when she took him in as far as she could and he
touched the back of her throat. She learned quickly that it was safer to focus
her mouth mainly on the bulbous tip of him, allowing her hand to stroke his
shaft and fondle his sack. If the deep, throaty groans he was giving were any
indication, Peeta was enjoying it. 
He grew harder and thicker under her ministrations, and she broke away from his
head to lick along the thick vein on the underside of his shaft, then swirled
her tongue through the dribbles of pre-cum escaping his tip. The salty flavor
was strange, but not unwelcome. 
A finger lifted her chin so that she was forced to release his cock from her
mouth. Looking up at him from her perch on the floor, she thought for a second
that she had done something wrong, but Peeta was smiling playfully. “You’re a
little overdressed, don’t you think?” She was indeed, still fully dressed,
right down to the smudge of chocolate Rye’s sticky fingers had left on her t-
shirt earlier. Not sexy in the least. 
“Help me?” she said, rising from her knees to stand before him. Now he was
looking up at her. 
“Gladly,” he purred. His large hands found her hips and tugged her forward. He
nosed his way under her shirt to press wet kisses to her belly while his
fingers found the button of her jeans. He pushed them down her legs, underwear
and all, and pressed a kiss the to apex of her thighs. A gush of arousal
collected in her center, and Katniss wasted no time stepping out of her pants
and straddling Peeta on the window seat. His fully erect cock rested against
her stomach and her braid fell over and smacked him in the face as she leaned
down to claim a kiss from him. He chuckled and stretched her arms up high above
her head, his hands finding the hem of her shirt and tugging it off her body.
She reached around to unhook her bra and cast it aside. His lips found her
sensitive nipples at once, and her head fell back at the sensation. 
Thank god the dense foliage outside the window prevented any of Peeta’s
neighbors from peering into his bedroom. She braced her hands against the
window, unwilling to wait any longer. He helped her align herself with his
weeping tip, and she sank down onto him, allowing him to stretch her to
capacity. They moaned in unison when he had filled her to the hilt. There was a
slight ache reminiscent of the last time they were together, but Katniss let it
out of her mind quickly. She needed to move. 
Peeta’s skilled hands fondled her breasts as she rose up on her knees, almost
to the point where he was in danger of slipping out of her before plunging back
down again. She did it again, faster this time. And again, each pass catching a
spot within her that she hadn’t even known existed. 
His head and upper body rested against the window, the glass fogging from the
dampness of his hair and the layer of perspiration on his skin. One of her
hands left the window to snake between their bodies. She found her clit, her
fingers circling in time with her movements, but she ached for a different
touch. 
“Peeta,” she rasped, but she need not say anymore. Peeta knew exactly what she
wanted. The rough pad of his thumb replaced her fingers, picking up where she
left off. Her hand returned to the window, clawing at the glass for support. 
“Keep saying my name like that, and I’ll give you anything you want,” he
growled into her ear. 
“Peeta,” she obliged, her voice rough with sex. He groaned deeply and grabbed
her hips, quickening their pace and pushing himself into her farther still. 
The rest was nothing but pants and gasps and groans with the occasional “Fuck!”
uttered from one or both of them. And when it was over, it was the only memory
either one of them could associate with that room.
                                     *****
“So what do you think?” 
“Are you sure that thing is safe?” Peeta frowned at the car sitting in his
driveway. If you could indeed call it a car. The vehicle was completely out of
place adjacent to the stately manor and manicured lawn of the Mellark
residence. A burnt orange ’85 Chevett, slighty rusted but still in excellent
condition and procured from Katniss’s elderly neighbor, a woman called Sae. She
didn’t drive anymore and had no use for it. At the cost of five hundred dollars
and a basket of Peeta’s freshly baked cheese buns, it was the best trade
Katniss had ever made. 
“Peeta,” Katniss rolled her eyes. “Of course it’s safe.” 
“Does it even have airbags? How many miles does it have on it?” 
“I don’t know. A lot, probably. And of course it has airbags!” Admittedly, she
wasn’t entirely sure on that last point. Katniss made a mental note to read up
on the car’s safety features when she got home. The frown lines on Peeta’s
forehead deepened. “I thought you’d be happy!” she said. “Now Chaff doesn’t
have to drive me around and it won’t look so suspicious when I’m here late.” 
“You know I could have helped you buy a car, right? I’d have been glad to do
it, Katniss. I just want to make sure you’re safe, and this… I don’t know.” 
“It’s already weird that you still pay me for watching Rye,” she protested.
“You can’t buy me a car too!” 
“Oh please, it’s not like I leave the money on the nightstand! And I can’t not
pay you for watching my son. I’m keeping you from getting a real job and the
least I can do is pay you for the time you spend with him. And… you’re really
good for him, Katniss. He’s having a tough time with the divorce, and I think
you’re some of the best therapy he can get. If Delly’s not going to be around,
he needs at least one steady female presence in his life.” 
Her heart skipped a beat and she dropped the subject, momentarily mollified.
“Still, you couldn’t have helped me. If you want to get custody, your finances
need to be clean for court,” she pointed out. She could tell that this stumped
him. She was right. Delly’s lawyer was going through Peeta’s bank account with
a fine- toothed comb for any discrepancies. A brand new car for his babysitter
would be an enormous red flag. 
“Still,” Peeta said, rubbing the back of his neck exasperatedly, “Let me help
you with the insurance payments or something… You do have insurance, right?”
For the second time in ten minutes, Katniss rolled her eyes. “Yes, I have
insurance. Don’t worry about it. I’ve got it handled. It will get me from point
A to point B, and as long as point B is right here-“ she stepped around the
vehicle and wrapped her arms around his waist-“that’s all I need.” 
Peeta ducked his head into her neck and sighed deeply. “I do kind of like the
color,” he relented. “My first car was orange, too.” Katniss smiled to herself
against his chest.
                                     *****
“I want to take you on a real date,” Peeta announced later that day. They were
laying in his bed naked and post coital, but she couldn’t help giggling and
rolling her eyes at him. 
“Wanna know the irony of that?” she said. “You’d need a babysitter for Rye.” 
“Oh the joys of single parenthood,” Peeta chuckled, but after a moment his
expression became serious again. “I do want to take you out, though. I want to
court you.” 
Katniss snickered. “Court me? How old are you, anyway?” 
“I’m serious, Katniss. I want to date you and make you feel special like a real
boyfriend should. You deserve that.” 
“I don’t need that. All I need is right here.” She ran a hand up his well-
defined torso.
“How about on your birthday? We could go to dinner somewhere out of town.” He
was clearly not going to let this go until she agreed. 
“If I say yes, will you shut up and fuck me again?” She was only half- serious,
but there was no trace of teasing in Peeta’s reply. 
“Oh absolutely.” His mouth found hers to indulge in a deep, primal kiss.
“Then yes,” Katniss whispered. 
May 8th arrived to find that Peeta had arranged for Rye to spend the night at
his brother’s house. Rye got along well with his cousins, so the situation was
a win-win. Peeta really was going all out for this, Katniss thought. She had
already shared a hasty birthday celebration with her mother and sister, and
told them she was going out with friends and wouldn’t be back until morning.
Johanna was in the loop and ready with an excuse if Katniss’s mother called for
any reason, but Katniss highly doubted that she would. Still, being prepared
never hurt anything. 
Peeta arrived at Jo’s to pick up Katniss at exactly 8 o’clock. Even though she
had been in an intimate relationship with this man for months, her heart still
raced when he rang the doorbell. Johanna smirked and shoved her toward the
door. “You better answer that, brainless.” Katniss shot a glare at her and
tugged down the short, black dress her friend had lent her for the occasion.
Although she had ignored Jo’s insistence that she should forgo her underwear,
she had accepted help in the makeup department. A little mascara and blush went
a long way. The look on Peeta’s face when she opened the door confirmed that. 
“Shall we?” he said, recovering himself and offering her his arm. With a
backward glance at a smug Johanna, Katniss accepted Peeta’s outstretched arm
and allowed him to escort her to the car. 
“It’s a bit of a drive,” he warned her as he hopped into the driver’s seat. “I
made reservations at this great little place in the city. I thought somewhere
quiet and out of the way would be…” He didn’t need to finish the thought.
Katniss knew that he was still wary of being seen with her in public. Not
wanting this to dampen the mood, she decided it was time to change the
subject. 
“So how was Rye when you dropped him off?” 
Peeta chuckled. “I don’t think Rye even realized when I left, actually. He was
already off running around the house with the others about 30 seconds after we
got there. I doubt my brother’s going to get any sleep tonight. So enjoy this,
because it’ll probably be our last night out for a while.”
The drive went smoothly from there. Katniss had to admit to herself that she
enjoyed riding in Peeta’s car more than her Chevette, but it wasn’t for the
updated luxuries (though heated seats and a working radio were pleasant
bonuses). It was for the pure joy of having Peeta next to her. Their intimate
relationship had started in this car. His large hands were wrapped around the
steering wheel, brow furrowed in concentration. Peeta didn’t realize it, but
his nostrils flared and he let out an impatient huff of air whenever another
driver cut him off or neglected to use a blinker. Mere months ago, Katniss
could never have imagined that this man would be hers. Now that he was, she
treasured absolutely everything about him. 
She was so lost in contemplation that she hardly realized when Peeta parked the
car outside a little bistro and announced with a wide grin, “We’re here!” 
He insisted that she wait for him to open her door. “When a gentleman courts a
lady, Katniss…” he mock- scolded her, shaking his index finger playfully at
her. The hostess sat them at a cozy table in the corner of the room. When the
perky blond waitress arrived at their table to take their drink orders, her
eyes raked over Peeta, taking in his perfectly gelled curls, muscular arms, and
the dusting of chest hair peeking out from the top of his shirt. A wave of
jealousy flushed through Katniss. The girl was obviously trying to get Peeta’s
attention, shoving her perfect cleavage in his face and laughing as though he’d
made the funniest joke in the world when he gave her a dazzling smile and
requested two iced teas, no sugar. She hardly spared Katniss a glance and
announced that she would be right back with their drinks. 
“Something wrong?” Peeta asked when the waitress had flounced away. 
“No,” Katniss lied.
“Katniss…” He raised his eyebrows, unconvinced. 
“Oh please, don’t tell me you didn’t notice Ms. Boobs shirt over there. Did you
even see the way she was gawking at you? It was like watching a dog salivate
over a piece of meat!” Unexpectedly, Peeta’s face split into a wide grin.
“What?” she demanded. “What’s so funny?” 
“You know, I kind of like this jealous side of you. You’re so fiery; it’s
adorable.” 
“It’s not funny.” She crossed her arms over her chest. 
Peeta schooled his features into a somber expression. “Believe me Katniss, I’ve
liked you for far too long to throw it all away for the first girl that shows
me any attention. I want you. Only you.” 
She grinned at him, and Peeta didn’t even take his eyes off her when the blonde
came back with their tea and took their orders. “Lamb stew,” Katniss said,
selecting the first item she spotted on the menu. 
Same,” Peeta said, and the waitress walked away again, visibly irritated that
Peeta had not shown her any attention. They smirked at each other. “You know, I
was going to wait until later to do this, but I don’t think I can wait any
longer.” He pulled a velvet box from his pocket, about the size of his palm and
deep blue in color. It reminded Katniss of his eyes. 
“Peeta, you didn’t have to get my anything! I thought our date was my gift.” 
Peeta rolled his eyes. “How could I not get something for the most beautiful
girl in the world? It’s not every day you turn eighteen.” Katniss flushed and
opened the box. Nestled atop the navy satin was a single pearl. Silvery gray
and flawless, it was looped through a fine silver chain, entirely too beautiful
to touch, nonetheless wear. 
“Peeta,” she breathed. She looked up into his anxious face, lost for words. 
“Do you like it? I thought you wouldn’t like anything too flashy like diamonds,
but still something precious and rare, and when I saw this, I thought of you,
and-“ 
“Peeta,” she said again. “I love it. It’s absolutely stunning. Will you help me
put it on?” He smiled that infectious smile and got up from his place at the
table to stand behind her. She gathered her hair in one hand and his fingers
brushed her skin when he looped the necklace around her neck. Pleasant tingles
trickled down her spine. He moved away far too quickly for her liking.
He returned to his seat and appraised his gift. “I was right. It exactly
matches your eyes.” Their food came just then, but Katniss hardly tasted it,
lost in his spell. By the time dessert arrived, Katniss was thrumming with
energy, eager for the meal to finish so that she could kiss this wonderful man
that was somehow hers. She made it as far as the parking lot before she pressed
him to his car and took his lips with hers. She would have happily made love
with him then and there in the car, but Peeta insisted that’s not what a
gentleman would do. So it was with great anticipation that she settled in the
front seat to wait out the endless drive home. She didn’t let go of his hand
until he had pulled into his driveway forty minutes later. 
Insisting once again that she wait for him to open the car door, Peeta lifted
her right out of her seat and carried her over the threshold into the house.
She secured her arms around his neck and busied herself with nibbling the
sensitive skin around his ears and clavicle. Once in the bedroom, Peeta pressed
her back against the wall and kissed her senseless. He pressed his knee between
her legs and she ground down on him, keening in pleasure. His fingers joined
in, snaking up her dress and into her underwear. She reached for the button of
his slacks, but Peeta stayed her wrist.
“Oh no, Katniss. It’s your birthday. I am entirely at your mercy,” he growled.
“Just tell me what you want.” 
She flushed a deep red. “I like it when… when you eat me out.” 
Peeta grinned wickedly. “My pleasure.” His voice was so smoky and his tongue
curled around the word with such a loving caress that it sent a flood of
moisture to her core. His fingers found her zipper and dragged it down her
back, leaving Johanna’s dress lying forgotten on the floor. Katniss shimmied
out of her underwear, waiting for him to take her. But instead of lowering her
to the bed, Peeta flopped onto his back on the mattress and beckoned her to
join him. 
“What are you-“ 
“Just trust me,” Peeta said. “Sit on top of me.” Completely thrown by the
request, Katniss swung her legs over him, straddling his stomach. He shook his
head. “No. Up here.” He pointed to his face. 
“But I’ll smother you!” she balked. 
He chuckled. “I promise you won’t. Grab the headboard for support if you need
to.” Apprehensively, she crawled up his torso and settled her center over his
mouth. Peeta grabbed her hips to pull her down, his mouth watering for her. 
“Oh!” she cried out when his tongue met her flesh. The sensation was entirely
different from this angle, and entirely thrilling. Her knees sank further and
further into the mattress with each swipe of his tongue and each nibble of his
teeth. Soon, she was riding his face free of abandon, chasing the fire racing
through her veins. Only Peeta incited this in her. Only he could make her feel
this way. 
Before she succumbed to the impending bliss, she had an idea. Something she
could never, ever verbalize, but she wanted it so much in the moment that
nothing was going to stop her. 
She changed position so quickly that Peeta didn’t have time to protest. She
settled herself back over his mouth, this time facing the opposite direction.
Leaning down on her hands and knees, she tugged down his pants to expose him.
“Katniss, what are you-“ She didn’t allow him time to finish the question
before securing her lips around the head of his cock. “Ohhhh.” The vibrations
of Peeta’s moan zipped through her body, setting every single one of her nerves
on fire. 
She plunged down on him as far as her gag reflex would allow. Peeta’s hips
jerked instinctively. She smirked to herself. She was getting better at this.
He began thrusting his hips up toward her face, Katniss grinding down on his
mouth with abandon, no longer worried about smothering him. It was a wonder he
could breathe at all, but Peeta’s frequent moans and grunts as she sucked him
off let her know that he was more than okay. The salty taste of his pre-cum
filled her mouth and she sucked in her cheeks, swirling her tongue over his
head. Her hand pumped his shaft in the way that guaranteed him an earth-
shattering orgasm. 
Even though Peeta was close to falling over the edge, his mouth never let up on
her. He rolled her clit between his lips, plunged his tongue as deep as it
would go into her sweet depths. 
Her walls began to contract around his tongue just as spurts of hot, thick
liquid filled her mouth. They came together, a trembling, sweaty tangle of
boneless limbs and racing hearts. 
They lay there for mere seconds before Katniss shifted herself to straddle
Peeta’s lap. Her lips found his in a fierce kiss, her hips grinding into him,
desperate for more. More than ready for round two. “Holy shit, Katniss,” Peeta
gasped between fervent rounds of kisses. “I’m not as young as you. I don’t have
your stamina.” 
She grinned wickedly at him. “You said anything I want, remember?” 
“How could I forget?” And then without warning, he flipped them so that he
loomed over her, intent on devouring every inch of her body. He went for her
neck first, finding all her pressure points with ease. Kissing and suckling and
nibbling the long column of exposed olive skin. He lavished her breasts with
one hand, and inserted a thick finger into her with the other. Katniss’s back
bowed off the bed in pleasure, strings of incomprehensible words and
unintelligible moans falling from her lips. 
“Fuck! Oh my god, Peeta. Like that… oh. Oh!” 
And then he buried himself in her as her second orgasm hit, his cock hard and
ready for her once more. 
And in that moment, Katniss knew that Peeta would do anything for her. He’d buy
her all the pearl necklaces in the world if she so desired; he’d present the
entire ocean to her if he could. But even then, her only birthday wish would be
stay right here in this moment forever. 
Sex with Peeta was the most incredible thing Katniss had ever experienced. Each
and every time, the world narrowed to a single room containing just the two of
them. Their own personal bubble, where no one could interrupt them and nothing
else mattered. And so it felt like hours later that the pair of lovers lay on
the floor in front of the fire, sated but thoroughly exhausted. Peeta had
disappeared into the kitchen for a few minutes to hunt for food and reappeared
with all of Katniss’s favorites. They fed each other bits of pastries and fruit
while the fire crackled in the background. 
“I can’t wait for summer next week. We’ll have all the time in the world,”
Katniss sighed, picturing the secluded picnics they could have by the lake. She
knew just the perfect place; a meadow blossoming with dandelions come spring
and shaded by weeping willows. She thought it would be nothing less than
incredible to make love under the sweeping branches of a willow tree.
But Peeta looked away from her, his forehead wrinkled in deep thought.
“Katniss, that’s actually something I’ve been meaning to discuss with you.” His
tone was not promising. It immediately sent a flood of ice cascading into her
stomach. The edges of their bubble trembled, ready to burst with sudden
tension. Peeta’s fingers found her chin and lifted it so that her eyes met his.
“You’re graduating next week. You’ll be going to college soon after.” He said
it with such grim finality in his tone that he might have been announcing the
death of a close friend. 
This was true. They’d always known this, but Katniss had never seen it as a
particularly large obstacle. “I don’t have to go away to school, though,” she
reasoned. “I’ve been thinking about it too. I could stay here and take classes
at the community college for a while…” 
But Peeta was shaking his head. “Don’t you see? That’s exactly what I’m afraid
of. I can’t be that guy, Katniss!” 
“What are you talking about? What guy?” Frustrated tears were beginning to
prickle her eyes, the ice in her stomach forming a frozen knot that seemed to
lodge itself in her throat. 
“I mean that I can’t be the guy that holds you back! The guy that forces you to
give up your life. The guy that steals your potential. I can’t do that to you
Katniss; don’t you see? I’m not worth that! If could look me in the eyes right
know and tell me that you really do want to stay here for any reason other than
me, I might be okay with that, but I can’t let you stay just for me. I can’t.” 
“It wouldn’t be just for you! I have Prim to think about, too.” 
Peeta looked at her despairingly. “You know that’s not true, Katniss. Prim will
be fine, and more than that, she wants you to go to college. She wants you to
be happy.” A long stretch of silence passed as Katniss twisted her hands into
the bedspread, trying desperately to come up with a different argument. 
“I don’t even know what I want to do with my life,” she mumbled at last. “Going
away to school will be a waste of time without a goal.” 
“Have you ever considered working with children? Maybe becoming a teacher?
You’re great with Rye,” Peeta pointed out. 
Katniss rolled her eyes. “Sure, but he’s special.” 
“You practically raised Prim-“ 
“She’s special too.” 
Peeta sighed and lifted her chin again. “Katniss, when are you going to see
that you’re the special one here?” 
“But… but what if you meet someone while I’m gone?” The childish insecurities
tumbled from her mouth before she could stop them, one after the other. “What
if you find some sophisticated, older woman who sweeps you off your feet?
Someone that you don’t have to hide? Then what?” 
Peeta’s eyes burned into hers. “I don’t want someone sophisticated or older; I
just want you, Katniss. And let me assure you, there aren’t going to be any
other women in my future. I’m fresh off a divorce and about to be granted full
custody of a four- year- old. I don’t have time for anyone else.” His mouth
twitched into a self- deprecating smile. But then his face fell, his mouth
opened and closed wordlessly. Whatever he was trying to say was clearly painful
for him. “Also… I really think you should explore all your options. Date other
people, you know. That’s what college is supposed to be about. I don’t want you
to be tied down to me.” 
Katniss didn’t know if she should slap him or hug him, he was being so
ridiculous. She settled for grabbing his face between her hands, repeating the
words he’d said to her only moments before. “I don’t want anyone else. Just
you, Peeta.” 
“Tell you what. If when you graduate from college we’re both still single,
we’ll give it another go. But for now… let’s put it on hold.” 
She had no answer for this. To postpone the inevitable, she pulled his face
down to hers, their lips meeting for a moment of searing passion. All too soon,
Peeta broke away to whisper in her ear, “You know, just because you’re going
away doesn’t mean we can’t have the occasional rendezvous when you visit on the
weekends.” 
An unwilling chuckle fell from her lips. She’d tried to avoid his eyes thus far
into their conversation because she knew looking at them would weaken her
resolve. But they captivated her, those brilliant blue irises. And she could
see that this decision was killing him as much as it was her. This time, the
kiss that followed was demanding and fierce. These lips belonged to her- Peeta
had just told her as much- and she wanted to claim them. He let her. Katniss
led the kiss, nipping and pulling his soft lips, marking her territory. But it
wasn’t enough. She broke away to beg the question that was heavy on her mind.
“Will you wait for me?” 
Peeta smiled, his arms wrapped firmly around her. Katniss dreaded the moment
when she would have to let him go, but his answer softened the blow. 
“I’ll wait for you as long as it takes, Katniss. I’m not going anywhere.”
Hope bloomed in her chest like the first dandelion sprouting from the ground
after the frosts of winter had subsided. She trusted him to her very core;
enough to believe what he said was true. Peeta would be there when she got
back. He would wait for her, always.
Chapter End Notes
     I have to say happy 2016 to all my followers and thank you for
     waiting so patiently for the final installment! I figured there’s no
     better way than to begin a new year with everlark smut! Find me as
     everlarkstoastbabies on tumblr.
     XOXO
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