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“Gale! Do you want anything that is NOT on the list?” Katniss yells into the apartment.
When she doesn’t get an answer she turns and looks at Peeta.
“I guess that a no” he says with a shrug. She closes the door and locks and together they walk into the early morning sun. They’re going to Sae’s, the larger grocery store across town, for their weekly shop. The three of them used to alternate weeks but today both of them are going despite it being Katniss week. They need to fill up on multiple larger items like toilet paper and cat sand for Buttercup.
Together they walk the three blocks to the buss stop. The streets still empty this early in the morning. A block away they see the buss pass, neither of them move to catch it, it comes every quarter hour so instead they sit and wait shoulder to shoulder looking at Peeta’s Instagram feed.
Katniss deleted hers ages ago, but she still enjoys looking through their friends and old classmates stories. And since today is a Sunday morning everyone’s weekend adventure are on full display.
Katniss looks up at him, he has a hickey on his neck and his hair is mussed on one side. Cute. They’re friends; who sometimes make out and sometimes they do more. Yesterday it had been more. She could still feel the heat of his mouth between her legs, he’d tongue-fucked her in Johannas bathroom. Katniss leaning up against Johannas ugly brutalist vanity.
As punishment for forgetting to buy her replacement pasta after he’d used hers, she’d left him to take care of himself. A behavior he’d rewarded her with by sneaking into her room when they’d gotten back home. Hence the hickey.
It was stupid and didn’t mean anything, they’d promised to stop a million times. They had taken breaks when they were dating but it had been a while since either of them did. Life was busy.
“What?” he asked without looking at her.
“Wanna make out?”
“I thought we weren’t doing that anymore” he says nonplussed.
“We did yesterday and this morning”
He looks at her then, amused, “I thought we weren’t doing things in public anymore”
She matches his grin “You’re right, we aren’t. Just testing you.”
She leans her head on his shoulder and continues to watch Dellys Instagram story. Tapping the screen to switch to the next. A picture of Leevy in a lewd position and a traffic cone.
When they get of the buss the heat has started picking up, and they both sigh with relief as they enter Sae’s. Peeta picks up a cart as she pulls the grocery list from her pocket. Hits crumpled with a green border and has a small frog at the corner. She tares it in half,
“How about you do this half?” She hands him the list without looking up.
“Sure, are we doing two carts then? You can take this one and I’ll get a new one” She nods and starts rolling the cart into the dairy section. Picking up a gallon of milk, a big carton of eggs and more butter then a family of five would need, but Peeta likes to bake, and she likes to eat, so unbelievable amounts of butter it is.
Her phone busses.
Peeta: This mustard? [attached image]
She smiles and gives the mustard a thumbs up emoji
At the cereal aisle she facetimes him. He picks up instantly.
“What’s up?”
“What cereal is it that you want? Captain Crunch?”
Peeta groans “I’d love some but I’m trying to be good so just pick up something healthy”
“How healthy are we talking here? Moosly?” She asks with mirth.
“It’s müsly, and no… not that healthy. Maybe just some of brand cornflakes that lacks sugar, or that has whole grains” Katniss hums in response and hangs up without saying goodbye.
When she gets to the checkout counter he’s waiting for her. Together they start loading the conveyer belt and sorting the groceries into large reusable bags.
“Give me that one” Peeta says and points at one of the larger bags, she does and picks up the remaining two bags. They weigh heavily on her shoulders, a cool milk carton presses into her side through the fabric of the bag. Peeta has one bag slung over his shoulder and one in each hand.
“We should call an uber” She says the corner of her lips tugging upwards as she looks at him.
“Alright but we’re splitting that with Gale” Peeta says with a wink.
When they have packed the trunk and slide into the cool car, Peeta’s lips finds hers. They’re warm and demanding. His hands find her waist and he pulls her into the middle seat next to him. She doesn’t bother with the seatbelt, even after the drivers asks her. Her uber rating is already shit.
--
“I bet it was Plum, in the bedroom, with the candlestick,” Finnick says cheekily as they all wait for Johanna to sort out her notes.
“Shut the fuck up, dickhead” she snaps at him. Eyes still glued to her little notepad.
They are sitting in Finnick’s apartment that he sublets from his grandmother. It has a large-ish living room every surface covered with some kind of fabric. The floors hidden underneath layered rugs that Katniss swears are filled with sand, though she has no idea where you find sand I Capitol city. The only thing that screams Finnick in this living room is a live-sized blow-up doll dressed in a hula skirt and nothing else.
The walls are decorated with overlapping and creatively draped tapestries.
On the sofa that is bundled in an absurd number of blankets and pillows sit Finnick and Johanna. Katniss and Peeta sit pressed together on a love seat and on a poof sits a new addition. Annie, Johannas’ new roommate. Peeta set them up since Johanna's last roommate left her in the middle of the night after a nasty argument, and Annie had just broken up with her ex-boyfriend.
Annie is cute, with at least 10 small multicolored hairclips holding her hair up in a 90’s retro hairstyle. A mixture of silver and colorful plastic jewelry adorning her and some kind of plush animal clipped to her belt.
This contrasts greatly with Johanna who has breached eyebrows and a shaved head. Katniss swears that Johanna only owns clothing with at least five zippers on them making her closet “multipurpose” whatever that means.
“Okay” Johanna finally says looking up,” I want Scarlet in the kitchen with the rope” Katniss already knows that Johanna has the Scarlet card so when Annie and Finnick each give her a card she crosses them off her list.
Peeta, who is a savant at any kind of strategy game, isn’t allowed to take notes since he’ll win without fail, peeks over her shoulder when the others are distracted. She pinches his leg, and he rocks it against her, bumping into the side of her thigh. The feel of his skin sends a jolt through her, which is stupid because they are plastered together hip to shoulder.
“My turn” Katniss says and rolls the dice. Six. She walks Mrs. White into the library. “I’m calling over… I’ll do myself, so Mrs. White” no one else has made it to the library yet, so she doesn’t want to give them the opportunity for free “with the wrench” Peeta gives her a card. The wrench. Johanna hands over the Mrs. White card. Katniss gives them back and makes her notes.
Peeta nudges the dice across the coffee table with his usual steady focus. Four. He moves Miss Peacock into the study. “Mrs White, study, with the revolver.”
Katniss groans because she's already been in the study. And she hands him the revolver card. While he looks at it she takes a drink from Peeta’s beer can. She had already finished her wine glass.
Johanna shuffles through her cards, finally sliding a card to him. He glances at it and tucks it away.
Annie rolls next, twisting one of her colorful hairclips. Two. She moves Professor Plum into the hall. “Miss Scarlett, hall, with the rope.”
They hand over their cards and Finnick plays his round bringing them back to Johanna.
Finnick reclines with that signature smug grin, pulling out his phone. “So, Glimmer hit me up again on Hinge.” He smirks. “We hooked up last week. Body’s insane. Shame the sex was... underwhelming. She wants to hang out again, but honestly? I don't think it's worth paying for coffee to have someone just lay there.”
He swipes through his messages like he’s swatting flies. “Told her, ‘Your looks are a solid 10, but I’m a bit more complicated than that.’ Because yes, she's beautiful but maybe I should date an ugly girl. I feel like she would be so grateful to just be with me that she'd be breaking her back to make sure I was enjoying myself.”
The group chuckles, Peeta shaking his head, disbelieving.
Annie watches him carefully, expression calm but sharp. She taps a hairclip thoughtfully and says, “Careful, Finnick. Youth and beauty is temporary, integrity of character is forever.”
Johanna cackles from behind her notepad.
Finnick's confident smirk falters for a brief second, gaze flicking to Annie, wide-eyed by the sudden call-out. He clears his throat, voice mostly smooth. “What and that's what you have then?”
"I think so," Annie says matter of fact, holding eye contact until Finnick pretends to look at his cards.
Katniss catches Peeta's look, and she bites her lip.
On the walk home, they're tipsy, and Peeta’s arm is slung around her shoulders.
"So Finnick has a crush on Annie," Peeta starts.
"Yes! Thank you for bringing it up," Katniss practically yells. "I don't think I've ever seen him blush before."
"Never," Peeta agrees, "but he turned red when she didn't hug him goodbye."
"I know! Too bad he kinda made himself look like an ass in front of her."
"Yeah," Peeta muses and presses a kiss on her temple, "but I think we could turn that around." His breath is hot on her temple.
Katniss laughs throatily. "You want to set them up?"
"Maybe, I think she'd be good for him."
"And what about what's good for her?" Katniss challenges.
"Well, she's just going to be grateful just to be with him," he says, and Katniss laughs. "No, but in all seriousness, Finnick can be a good guy, and I think Annie would enjoy a guy like Finnick. He's outgoing, handsome, charming. Not to mention loyal."
"I can't believe you just called Finnick Odair loyal. He fucks anything that moves."
"Not when he's in a relationship," Peeta says, "and besides, you move, and he hasn't fucked you." Peeta says in a low voice that makes her know that he wants to kiss her. She turns in his arms and they stop.
"Peeta?" a female voice yells from behind them. They break apart as if burnt and turn towards the voice.
"Lavinia!" Peeta says. And moves towards the woman. She is pretty with red hair, porcelain, and striking features. They hug, and Peeta turns to introduce her.
"Katniss, this is Lavinia, we work together." Lavinia shakes Katniss's hand.
"You must be Peeta’s girlfriend," Lavinia says, and both Katniss and Peeta bluster.
"No, none of that. We share an apartment with another friend," Peeta explains, hands moving.
"Oh," is all Lavinia says.
"How are you?" Peeta asks to change the subject. "How was your vacation?" They talk for a few minutes before they separate.
"This is exactly why we don't kiss in public," Katniss hisses at him, annoyed.
"But we didn't kiss," Peeta points out, but Katniss just scowls and walks faster.
--
She opens the door to Peeta lying in bed, his iPad propped on his stomach and the stylus in one hand. It’s Thursday evening and Gale still hasn’t returned from work.
"What's up?" he asks and glances at her. He knows, she can tell.
"I'm bored. Wanted to see what you were doing." She shuffles over to the side of his bed, and Peeta makes space for her.
"Want to watch a movie or something? We can do it in here… on my iPad."
Oh, he knows.
Katniss hums in approval and slides into bed next to him. His mattress is firm, and the spot he just vacated is warm.
His arm is laid out for her to lie on, and she snuggles into him.
She lies half on his arm, half on his chest. He lifts the iPad with both hands, cocooning her securely against him.
He smells good, like dill and cinnamon and that third, distinctly-him smell. His chest is firm, and when she looks up at his face, his neck is beautifully exposed.
She wants to bite him there. To suck until his fair skin is bruised.
"If you bite me again, I swear to god," Peeta threatens with a stern look.
Instead, she leans up and kisses his neck. Peeta caves immediately, rolling on top of her, capturing her lips under his. The contact making her hum in delight.
So much for never doing this again.
The iPad makes a soft thud as Peeta discards it on the floor. His hand finds the inside of her knee, and he brings it up. In response, Katniss wraps her legs around his hips. The weight of him feels good on top of her, but his hand traveling from her knee to her hip feels even better.
His tongue teases her bottom lip, and she opens for him. A soft sound escapes her at the connection of their tongues.
Damn, he's a really good kisser. Always has been. Patient and firm with a surprising heat. Not one of those washing machine mouth guys.
Their first kiss had been at Madge's sixteenth birthday. It was Katniss’s first time attending such a large party, and her first time trying alcohol.
They had played seven minutes in heaven, and by chance she had gotten Peeta. A boy she'd never talked to before. He'd promised her they didn’t have to do anything in that closet, but it had been as good a time as any to get rid of her first kiss, so she’d shut him up by pressing her inexperienced lips to his.
By now, their mouths knew each other very well. His teeth scrape at her bottom lip before traveling to the side of her neck, pressing hot kisses into her skin. She moves her head to the side to give him more access.
Peeta is growing firm between her legs, and she rolls herself into it, earning a low grumble from Peeta’s chest.
She rolls her hips again.
"Stop," Peeta mouths against her skin. "I'm trying to take my time with you."
She smiles up at the ceiling and does it again for good measure. Peeta drags his tongue across a small section of her jaw, then moves his lips to her ear.
"Two can play that game, Katniss. And you know I always win."
His hand slides from the outside of her hip to the inside of her thigh, then slowly cups her through her pajama pants.
She jolts into his touch, and he allows her a little more pressure, moving his fingers in slow, circular motions.
"You're not wearing any underwear," he whimpers into her ear. She loves the effect she has on him. But more so, she loves how he can make her feel.
The strands of pleasure that shoot through her at his touch. How his mouth can take her breath away in so many ways. How his sturdy arms can both protect her from nightmares and pin her against a wall. What’s the point of having a boyfriend when Peeta knows her so well?
His hand continues to move as he plants kisses down her neck, across the available parts of her décolletage, over her tank top, to the exposed sliver of her stomach, then finally to her hip bone as he pulls the cheap polyester pajama pants from her legs.
She lifts her hips to help him. The fabric falls in a flutter to the floor.
Peeta sits fully clothed between her thighs, grey sweatpants leaving very little to the imagination. She watches as his mouth lowers to the inside of her knee and slowly travels downward.
Every touch sends a strike of electricity through her. When his lips finally lands on her, she's breathless, moaning his name into the slight breeze coming from his open window.
His tongue laps at her, then zeroes in on her clitoris, making even half circles. When she can’t take it anymore, her hands travel to his silky soft curls. She grabs at them, and Peeta’s lips close around her, gently sucking. She bucks up into the feel of it and lets the burning inside her stomach build.
“Please,” is all she gets out before the flames engulf her, lapping at her insides in even strokes. Peeta’s tongue guiding her through it.
When her breathing evens out, he smiles up at her. Wipes his chin with the back of his hand and sits up. There's a small wet spot on his sweatpants. She reaches for the outline, but Peeta catches her wrist and uses one hand and an arm at her waist to lift her into a kneeling position.
Their lips meet, and the fronts of their bodies press together. His lips taste like her, and she sighs into it. Letting her fingers trace up the skin on his stomach, she pulls back slightly to ask him to remove his shirt. But Peeta starts before she can even speak.
Peeta is strong in a real way, with large muscles covered by a thin layer of fat. He likes food too much to have abs, but she thinks his body is perfect. More than perfect.
Her hands return to his chest, feeling the blonde hair that trails from his pecs down to his groin. She lets her hands trail down until they meet the edge of his pants.
“Will you ride me?” he asks, his voice hoarse. She pushes him back until he’s sitting against the wall in response. He smiles until she climbs on top of him, pulling his dick out of his sweatpants.
Peeta’s hands land on her hips as she lines them up. Then slowly, as slowly as she can, she lowers herself onto him. She likes the stretching feeling of it. But more than that, she loves watching Peeta’s reaction. It never gets old.
His cheeks and neck become red and splotchy. His jaw tenses, bares his lower teeth. And his eyes never leave hers.
She starts moving just as they hear the apartment door open. Peeta’s hands fly to her ears, closing out the sound, his fingers intertwining with her hair.
She hears the slight muffle of Gale’s voice calling out. She continues to move up and down.
“She just jumped into the shower,” she hears Peeta’s muffled lie, his voice surprisingly even. A natural-born liar, this one. But he’s saved her ass with that silver tongue more than she dares admit.
She rotates her hips to make sure his voice shakes next time. He presses his mouth to her neck, and she feels the vibration of his low moan.
The sounds of the world fall away. Her head fills with the mysterious sound of Peeta’s shifting hands and what she thinks might be his pulse.
The loss of one of her senses makes the feeling of him inside her more intense. The push of him on the way in. The drag on the way out.
Peeta’s mouth covers hers just in time to stifle her moan. They lock lips as she continues moving.
When Peeta deems it safe, his hands fall from her ears. One finds her clitoris. The other the side of her hip.
“Can you come again?” Peeta asks quietly against her lips. She nods as the pad of his thumb slides between her folds.
His lips reattach themselves to her neck. Kissing, biting, sucking, and licking at her. The feel of him stretching her. Pushing deep inside. Hitting a nerve that makes her feel as if she’s floating. Only to drag out and do it again.
It’s all too good.
“Peeta, I’m coming,” her voice is low and broken. Her body flutters around him in strong waves that crash into her core, the aftershocks rippling outward.
Peeta’s hand moves from her hip to grab the base of his cock, forcing himself not to come. The thought of him struggling because of her laps at her deliciously.
When she stills, Peeta practically pushes her off, then strokes himself. Two, three times. Before thick, white cum spills across his bare stomach.
Despite him breathing hard he asks, "Do you want more?"
She smiles at him, "Do you have more?"
"For you? Always."
She considers it, looking at him as cum is slowly sliding down the dips and valleys of his chest and stomach.
"You can eat me out in the shower," she says matter-of-factly, and he grins at her. Both knowing that it's a tremendous ask since he'd both have to contend with performing oral and not get waterboarded. Still, he takes her hand and leads her to the shared bathroom between their rooms.
After, when they're both wet and clean, Katniss kisses him before exiting out of her door.
The bathroom is very strangely built with two doors connecting Katniss’s and Peeta’s bedrooms together. It had started with Gale and Peeta sharing this side of the apartment and Katniss having the third bedroom with a solo bathroom, but that room had been so dark, and she had made Gale switch with her. At the time, she hadn't even thought of the added access to Peeta.
When she's dressed in a new pajama set, she walks over to Gale’s room, hair in a towel. Unlike with Peeta’s room, she knocks.
"Peeta said you wanted something," she yells through the door.
--
Katniss is freezing. She’s wearing a short sequin dress that she’d gotten second hand, paired with black stockings and black boots. She’s on Johanna’s balcony, a cigarette pinched in her fingers. She accidentally closed the door too hard, making it lock from the inside.
Johanna lives in the ugliest two-bedroom apartment known to mankind. The last owners thought they were some kind of architectural brainchild and gut-renovated it themselves. Everything is concrete gray with sharp edges and unnecessary industrial elements. Johanna loves it.
Katniss takes another drag, letting the smoke warm her lungs from the inside before letting it out. The cigarettes aren’t hers; she came out to the balcony to call her sister and wish her a happy new year.
“Katniss” someone yells from the street. She peers over the edge of the balcony.
“Peeta!” she answers, a smile tugging at her lips.
“Are you smoking?”
“No!” she yells back and takes another drag. “Come up and save me, I’m locked out.”
“Again?” Peeta laughs but runs into the building. Katniss smiles; she had called everyone inside the party and knocked, but no one had given her any notice. The music was blaring so loud that it made the glass doors vibrate when Katniss pressed her hand against it.
Lucky for her, Peeta had to close at the restaurant so he was arriving late. She sees him inside the apartment weaving through people, massive puffer still on. He opens the door.
“Hey”
“Hey” she wants to kiss him.
“Come in, you look cold” Peeta says and moves to the side. Katniss stubs out the cigarette in the ashtray.
He shoulders the door closed behind us and the apartment swallows the cold. The bass is a physical thing, a steady thud through the floor and the counter where someone has abandoned a half-cut lemon. Peeta drags his puffer off, shakes out his sleeves, and throws it into Johanna’s bedroom without looking where it lands. He’s wearing the clothes he wore this morning before going to work. A cream henley and blue jeans.
Thom is trying to DJ on his phone and failing gloriously. Delly’s in the corner with a ridiculous hat, chatting loudly with Johanna and Leevy. The room smells like cheap perfume and something that’s been microwaved twice.
Peeta moves toward the open concept kitchen, opens a beer and hands it over to her before taking one for himself. Together they walk to an empty wall. Johanna doesn’t have a single painting, saying it would destroy her concrete walls.
“You could have called me,” he says. “I could have come quicker.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t need saving,” she says and takes a sip of her beer. He matches her and takes a long sip.
“Oh, so your lips turning blue on Johanna’s balcony was a part of the plan?” he asks, voice full of mirth.
“Yeah,” she says through a laugh. “Haven’t you heard? Blue lips is the new black.”
“Really?” Peeta answers in mock surprise. ”How do I get a pair?”
She bites her bottom lip. “I wish I could kiss you at midnight,” she admits abruptly because fuck it, she’s drunk and he’s here.
“You can,” Peeta says over the lip of his beer can.
“No, not in front of these people, everyone here is single. They’d notice.”
“Cato and Clove are dating,” Peeta says, and Katniss gives him a look as he winks at her. “Would you if we could match some of them up?” Peeta asks and nudges her side, her body reacts slowly at his touch. She sways.
“What do you mean?”
“Have you seen that Friends episode where Monica and Chandler want to kiss...”
Katniss interrupts him, ”But we’re not Monica and Chandler.”
“No,” Peeta answers with a slow smile, “but you want to kiss me at midnight, and I want to give you whatever you want.”
“Pshhh, don’t say such nonsense,” she says, and it’s her turn to nudge him. Her cheeks hurt.
“I’m not making any promises,” Peeta answers cheekily and they stand quietly for a while.
“We’re an even number, I’m making this happen,” Peeta says and pushes off the wall. “Stay here.” He turns and points at her, daring her to disobey him. She does no such thing.
Peeta starts towards Finnick. She barely hears him over the music. “Hey Finnick, you should kiss Annie at midnight.”
“Why, does she want to?”
“Yes, but she’s too afraid to ask,” Peeta says convincingly, and Finnick nods. “Great, I’ll tell her,” Peeta says, squeezing Finnick’s shoulder. She watches as Peeta moves around the room talking to different people, sometimes pointing, sometimes dragging someone with him.
When he comes within her earshot, he’s talking to Gale and Madge. “Hey guys, I know that this is kind of out of left field but could you two kiss at midnight?”
“What, why?” Gale asks, eyes narrowing.
“Well, Finnick and Annie want to but they’re feeling shy and will only do it if everyone else has someone to kiss.”
“Who are you kissing?” Gale asks slowly.
“Katniss,” Peeta says simply, and Gale makes a face. “Yeah I know, not ideal but it’s how the cookie crumbled. You could have her if you wanted.”
“God no, would be like kissing my sister,” Gale says, and both Peeta and Madge laugh.
“We’ll do it Peeta,” Madge says and touches Peeta’s arm. “You’re being a really good friend.” He beams at her and then walks towards Katniss.
“Not ideal huh?” she says in a mocking tone.
“I’m just playing the game,” Peeta says with a shrug.
“So, who is kissing who then?” she asks as Peeta once again leans next to her. A fresh beer in hand.
“Let’s see, Annie and Finnick. A pretty genius move if you ask me, they have been eyeing each other for quite a while,” Peeta says sounding smug. “Delly and Thom, Madge and Gale, Lavinia and Darious, Johanna and Blight, Marvel and Leevy; not my best work but there was no natural pairing there,” Peeta says with a shrug. “And last but not least your favorite person; Fox Face with Thresh.”
“It’s not my fault I’m bad with names,” Katniss says, lamely hitting Peeta with the back of her hand. “And besides, I thought Leevy was gay.”
“Yeah, but she’s a good sport.”
She looks at him, this wonderful man, her best friend. With beautiful eyes and an even more beautiful brain.
“What?” he asks.
“Nothing,” she says trying and failing to bite back a smile.
“I’ll tease it out of you later,” he promises.
“Will you now?” Katniss purrs, feeling the air between them becoming thick. “How?”
“I’ll start with my fingers,” Peeta whispers. She has to push her right shoulder to his left to lean in and hear him. “And I’ll just so lightly tease you, not quite give you what you want,” she groans feeling the hot air of his breath on her ear. “And if you still don’t give me the answer, I’ll use my tongue to…”
“What are the two of you conspiring about?” Johanna asks, sloshing her drink slightly. “Oop,” she says as the liquid makes contact with her faux dark-wood floor.
Katniss wants to strangle her. “I’m just telling her that I think that Gale has been feeding Buttercup our food and that’s why he has started to beg at the table.” Peeta says smoothly.
“Ugh, god forget I came over,” Johanna sneers but she doesn’t move. “I heard that the two of you drew the short straw,” she points between them.
“It’s not so bad,” Peeta admits. “We kissed during our first conversation, I think.” He looks at Katniss and she nods to confirm.
“What, really? I could never imagine the two of you together,” Johanna says with unbridled disgust. “You’re like the worst part of siblings and an old married couple.”
Katniss laughs and looks at Peeta. “Agreed.”
“Yeah,” he says holding her gaze, the sides of his mouth tugging up.
“So how did that even happen?” Johanna asks. “The kiss.”
“It was a seven minutes in heaven kind of situation,” Peeta admits looking back at Johanna.
“Ahh, makes sense.”
“Turn down the music,” Delly suddenly yells. “The countdown is starting.” The room scrambles around them, turning down the music, unmuting the TV and getting together with their partners.
In unison they count down. Nine, eight, seven! Peeta moves to hide her from the room between his body and the wall. His hips pushing into hers. Six, five, four! His hand finds her jaw and she leans into his touch. Looking up at his eyes. Three, two, one! Peeta’s lips find hers and they join in an open-mouthed kiss. It burns her and the pressure of him against her feels so good that she knows that she won’t let him go first.
--
“I’m thinking of asking Madge out,” Gale says. He’s wearing an inside out band t-shirt and basketball shorts.
“Sure, why not,” Peeta says at the same time that Katniss says, “What?”
Gale is sitting at the kitchen island while Katniss and Peeta stand inside the kitchen. Katniss is on stirring duty and is periodically scraping the bottom of the pot to make sure nothing sticks. For now, it’s just chopped onions, celery, and carrots.
“That was the reaction I was looking for,” Gale says and points at Katniss. “Why aren’t you shocked?” Gale asks Peeta with a pointed look.
“Because you’ve had a crush on her since New Year’s,” Peeta says, voice distracted by trimming the fat off the meat in front of him.
“What?” Gale and Katniss say in unison.
Peeta stands straight. “Okay, wonder twins. You really haven’t noticed?”
“No?” they answer in unison.
“The two of you can be so emotionally constipated sometimes,” Peeta says with a sigh and refocuses on the meat. They’re preparing a stew that they’re going to serve tomorrow at Delly’s potluck birthday party.
“Am not,” Gale protests. “If you have such high EQ, where’s your girlfriend then?”
“Got me there,” Peeta says with a self-indulgent smile.
“Exactly,” Gale says triumphantly. “You. I understand,” he continues, pointing at Katniss.
“Why are you attacking me? I didn’t call you constipated,” Katniss splutters, waving her spatula at him.
“Behind,” Peeta says and moves around her.
She continues, “Besides, I have a Hinge profile,”.
“When was the last date you were on?” Gale asks, eyebrows raised.
“Behind,” Peeta repeats as he moves again, this time moving her by the hips so that he can investigate the pot.
“I have it under control,” she scolds before turning back to Gale. “That doesn’t mean anything, I don’t like the people that like me.”
“I could set you up with someone from work,” Gale says.
“Who, Thom?”
“Yes?”
“No,” she spits back.
“Darius?” Gale asks.
“Harder pass. Don’t you have someone, Peeta?” she asks and regrets it immediately.
“Sure, just come by the restaurant and take your pick,” he says, and she wants to kick him. “It’s time to stir.” She follows his orders before removing her, his, hoodie. Leaving her in boy shorts and a white tank top. The cooking had made the kitchen hot.
“Anyway, Madge,” Gale continues, “I was thinking a group hangout first, just the four of us before I ask her out.”
“Like a try-out date?” Katniss asks a little sullen. Why the fuck would Peeta let her have her pick of his coworkers?
“Yeah, kind of,” Gale muses, “just to feel out if we work in a smaller group setting.”
“We’ll be your training wheels,” Peeta says with a grin, placing a large cast-iron skillet next to the pot on the gas stove. Then turning it on so that the pan can preheat. Drizzling in an almost perfect circle of oil. They’re standing shoulder to shoulder.
“I wouldn’t call it that,” Gale protests.
Peeta nudges her with his elbow and makes a lewd gesture with his hands, mouthing “Gale and Madge.” She rolls her eyes at him, a smile tugging at her lips.
When the pan is hot, Peeta starts to sear the cubes of meat. “What are we doing on our not-double-date?” Peeta asks. He had his hair cut earlier today and she can’t wait to run her hands through it. Feeling that freshly cut feeling at the nape of his neck. He keeps the top of his hair longer at her request.
“Dinner and a movie?” Gale asks.
“Too obvious,” Peeta says, flipping the meat.
“Baseball game?”
“Yes!” Katniss agrees. “We could ask them to put you on the kiss cam. Like with Annie and Finnick on New Year’s,” she continues excitedly, before remembering what Peeta had told Gale. She glances at Peeta who catches her eye. But Gale doesn’t notice.
“No, don’t be weird,” Gale says.
“No promises, Hawthorne,” Peeta teases.
When the stew is ready and packed away in the fridge. She and Peeta stand in their shared bathroom. Brushing their teeth. She spits and moves to sleep in her room. Peeta catches her elbow.
“I’m sorry about the colleague comment” he says after spitting. Toothpaste still in the corner of his mouth.
“I didn’t give you much choice” she answers.
“True, but I could have said that I didn’t have anyone” she reaches up to wipe at the corner of his mouth. Peeta lets her.
“Stay with me tonight” she asks letting her hand rest on his cheek.
“Always”
Two weeks later they’re bundled up against the early spring cold, sitting on cool plastic seats of the Capitol baseball stadium.
Madge is sitting between her and Gale. Peeta, who is under the guise of going to the bathroom, is currently over at the camera operating staff setting up their kiss cam prank. If one could call it that.
When Peeta comes back he winks at her, and she can’t help but smile.
The game picks up pace. Their team manages a slick double play, and everyone in their row jumps to their feet, cheering loudly. Katniss claps and hollers.
Next to her Madge curses. Hands flying to her nose. Eyes closed in pain. Katniss turns to her.
“Shit,” Gale swears. “Sorry, Madge. Are you okay?” He places a careful hand at her shoulder. And when Madge removes her gloved hand, the purple knitted material is stained red.
“I just need some paper,” she mumbles, blood starting to drip from her nose down her upper lip. Gale searches his pockets.
“Bathroom,” Katniss says instinctively.
“Right!” Gale exclaims, and together he and Madge start towards the exits and the bathrooms. Katniss watches them go, then turns back to Peeta. The noise settles back into the usual murmur of the crowd.
Minutes later, the game pauses for a break and the big screen lights up.
“The kiss cam,” Peeta mutters.
Katniss curses under her breath, loud enough for Peeta to hear.
“I’m sorry,” he starts.
“It’s okay. We couldn’t have planned this.”
The screen shows two couples first. A few laughs and cheers follow, then the camera pans slowly across the stands, stopping squarely on Katniss and Peeta.
They both look up at the screen, the camera zooming in on them. The crowd around them starts clapping and hooting, encouraging them to kiss.
They stand, making a show of it. Peeta securely places a hand at her back and dips her. Then their lips meet. It’s chaste, with no real heat. But it still feels nice in the cold air, and she relaxes into it. Before Peeta brings her back up into a standing position again.
“Thrilling,” she says with a laugh.
Peeta chuckles. “Oscar-worthy.” The camera has already moved on showing another couple.
When the game starts back up, Gale and Madge return, Madge’s nose carefully stuffed with tissues.
“Everything okay?” Katniss asks.
Madge gives a small smile. “Fine. Just a nosebleed. No big deal.” Gale grunts agreement, looking a little embarrassed.
After the final inning, they start making their way out of the stadium together. Madge’s phone buzzes. She glances down and frowns.
“What’s up?” Gale asks.
Madge’s expression flickers between amusement and disbelief. “Delly sent me a screenshot. Guess who was on the kiss cam?” She shows them the phone. On it they are. Katniss holding on the front of Peeta’s puffer, her body dipped down. Their lips pressed together.
Gale starts laughing. “Jesus, that’s so funny. I can’t believe it landed on you.”
Peeta sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, about that…”
Madge’s phone buzzes again and she answers the call, putting it on speaker.
“Can you fucking believe it!” Delly screams. “Can you think of an odder pairing? I would have never believed it if I didn’t see it.”
“Hi Delly,” Peeta answers sounding smug.
“Oh my god,” Delly says, mortified.
Katniss gives him a look. “Explain.”
Peeta raises his hands defensively. “Sorry, Delly! It was supposed to be a prank.”
“A prank?” Gale asks before the realization dawns on his face.
Gale scowls. “I told you not to mess with the kiss cam.”
“You what?” Madge asks and looks between Peeta and Katniss.
“Everyone calm down,” Peeta says good-naturedly. “Look, I gave the cameraman our seats because I thought it’d be funny. I wanted to catch Madge and Gale off guard.”
Delly’s laugh rings out of the phone. “Then what happened?”
“Well, Gale knocked the living daylight out of Madge, and they had to get some paper for her nose,” Peeta explains into the phone.
“Karma’s a bitch, huh?” Delly asks, sounding thrilled.
“Apparently,” Peeta agrees with a grin. “But I got a kiss out of it-ow.” He rubs the spot Katniss hit on his arm.
Gale shakes his head, laughing despite himself. “You two are impossible.”
--
Katniss’ hands fly to her mouth, but it’s already too late.
“Peeta?” Gale asks from the living room.
Peeta groans in frustration. “No!” he answers.
“Yes! You have a girl over,” Gale accuses, his voice closer to the door. Katniss bounds off the bed.
“Yes, now will you leave us the fuck alone?” Peeta yells as she disappears into the bathroom. Katniss throws on sweatpants and walks out into the living room through her bedroom.
“Peeta’s having a girl over,” Gale stage-whispers.
“Really?” Katniss whispers back. “Good for him.”
“Did you just wake up?” Gale asks, giving her the once-over. She pushes her hair behind her ears.
“Yes.” It’s noon on a weekend, and she and Peeta hadn’t moved from his bed until Gale disturbed them. She was ovulating, and Peeta was very much indulging her.
“She was so loud. How’d you sleep through that?”
“Oh,” Katniss blushes. “You get used to it.”
“Holy shit, this is not her first time here?” Gale says in amazement. Katniss scrunches her eyelids closed. She’s messing this up.
“Is she coming with us?” Gale asks Peeta through the door.
“No.” Peeta opens the door just a crack, sticking his head out, looking convincingly pissed. “Gale, you need to fuck off.” Peeta’s hair is mussed, something that had been hard to admire in the dark shadows of his bedroom. She bites her lip. “And you too, for that matter,” Peeta says, looking at her and making her giggle. He disappears back into the room, Gale raises his eyebrows at her.
"Can you believe this guy?" After Gale walks back into his bedroom she runs into her bedroom, through the bathroom, and back into Peeta’s room. His lips meet hers, and he drags his fingers through her messy hair.
“I should get ready. They're coming any second now,” Katniss whispers against his lips. “I haven’t even had breakfast yet,” she says, moving away from his embrace.
“I can be so fast, I’ll use my tongue,” Peeta begs. She ponders it, looking over his bare chest, the blond hairs turning almost brown closer to his waistband.
“Fine.” At her answer, his smile breaks his face in two, and he practically throws her onto the bed. She shrieks because Gale already thinks someone is in here with Peeta.
Peeta was fast, and Katniss has time to detangle her hair, shower, and get dressed when the first person arrives.
“You’re wearing that?” Johanna scoffs at her while she is scarfing down toast in the kitchen.
“What’s wrong with this?” Katniss asks.
“It’s the Fourth of July, reaping day. Wear something patriarchal,” Johanna says before continuing in a sing-song voice, “Gem of Panem!”
“I think you mean patriotic,” Peeta says as he exits his room, looking fresh in navy and cream.
“No, I don’t. I mean something a little slutty,” Johanna says with a Cheshire grin. She is wearing a cut-up Panem State T-shirt. The “state” part cut away, leaving a large hole over her chest exposing her Panem flag bikini top and aggressively zippered cream cargo pants.
Johanna drags Katniss into her bedroom and starts pulling things from her dresser. In the end, Katniss ends up in a white bralette, Johanna’s cut-up shirt, and jean shorts she hasn't touched since she was twenty-three.
When they step out, Annie and Finnick have arrived, and Finnick wolf-whistles at them. Johanna gives him a turn, and the others join in applause, her athletic form on display in the bikini top.
When the others are distracted, Peeta gives Katniss the once-over, letting his eyes linger on her chest. It’s stupid and performative because Katniss doesn’t have anything in that area. But the gesture still makes her smile.
“We should play fuck, marry, kill,” Johanna suggests. “To get our blood flowing.” She and Blight just broke up.
Peeta groans. “Really? Everyone already knows everyone’s answers.”
“We do?” Gale says with a cocked eyebrow.
“Yes, we do.”
“Alright, prove it, lover boy,” Johanna teases as she joins him in the kitchen. Peeta sends her a glare.
“You would fuck Gale, kill Finnick, marry me,” Peeta turns to Gale. “You’d fuck Annie, marry Katniss, and kill Johanna.”
Gale starts to protest but then quiets, finger still hanging in the air.
Finnick lays an arm around Annie on the couch. “What about me?” he says, wiggling his eyebrows seductively.
“Fuck Johanna, kill Katniss, and obviously marry Annie.”
“How about Brainless over there?”
“Easy. Katniss would fuck me, marry Gale, and kill Finnick,” he says with an easy grin.
“Who says I wouldn’t kill you?” Katniss teases.
“Please,” Peeta says. “You’d put your life up for mine ninety-nine times out of a hundred.”
Annie giggles. “What about me?”
“You would also fuck me, but you’d kill Gale and marry Finnick. Which is why you’re the only couple here.”
“Ow, don’t rub it in,” Johanna spits at him, and Peeta gives her a pat on the shoulder.
“He was a lazy fuck and didn’t deserve you.”
“Cheers to that,” Finnick hollers, and they all take a large swig of their respective drinks.
“What about you, Peeta?” Annie asks from Finnick’s arms.
“Isn’t it obvious? I’d kill you, fuck Johanna,” Johanna purrs next to him, “and I would marry Katniss.” His eyes meet hers across the room. She wonders how the others would react if she walked up and kissed him. She knows he’d do it without question, just hold her close as the others gasp in shock.
She enjoys the thought, resting the lip of her wine glass against her cheek.
“Well, we’re all here and appropriately buzzed,” Finnick announces after a while. “Let’s call an Uber.”
When they arrive at Madge’s parents’ house, a forty-five-minute Uber ride away, Katniss is feeling buzzed, not from alcohol but because she and Peeta were placed alone in the far back of the car, and his hand had stroked the inside of her thigh the entire ride.
When they climb out of the car, she wants to drag him into the bushes. By his smile at her, he’s fully aware of his effect on her.
Instead, they walk into Madge’s parents’ beautiful home. Gale kisses Madge on the mouth when they say hi, making Johanna wolf-whistle at them. It makes Katniss cringe, both the PDA and the whistling.
They barbecue food, drink, and play boule, since the house has nice gravel walkways. In the evening, they go out on the large lake in a boat and watch multicolored fireworks, Peeta tucking Katniss and Johanna under each arm. When Gale sees him, he asks:
“What will your secret girlfriend think of you cozying up to your female friends like that?”
Peeta scoffs but doesn’t have time to react before every set of eyes on the boat is looking at him.
“Are you seeing someone?” Finnick asks, his eyes glittering.
“No,” Peeta states clearly. “I just had someone over,” his voice darker than usual, affected by the alcohol.
“And Katniss has known about her and not told us” Gale says in an accusing tone.
“What was I supposed to say?” She snaps back, “Peeta’s been taking some girl home?”
“Yes!” they chorus back at her.
“We’ve been worried about you” Johanna says from under Peeta’s arm.
“I’ve been single for longer, why is no one worried about me” Katniss asks, aghast.
“Because you give of major cat lady vibes” Finnick says with a chuckle. “You’re happiest when alone.”
Peeta lets go of Johanna “What? I’m too sad and lonely to be single, but it’s fine for Katniss?”
They all laugh. When Katniss eyes meet Peeta’s she again wonders how they’d react if she just kissed him. She thinks back to all those months ago; when Delly had called Madge.
Peeta wraps his other arm around her bringing her in close and she sneaks her hands under his jacket.
“Can I come back in” Johanna asks pulling at Peeta’s sleeve.
“No, you think I’m lonely and pathetic. Freeze for all I care” Peeta says placing his chin on top of Katniss head as she sinks further into his embrace. She closes her eyes breathing in his scent. His warm collarbone is a welcome reprieve for her cold nose. What are fireworks compared to this?
After Johanna falls asleep Katniss sneaks into Peeta’s room. He’s laying on top of the blanket in pajama pants and his reading glasses that he started using recently.
“Oh, professor. I didn’t think I’d meet you here” she purrs and Peeta chuckles.
“Come here,” he murmurs, and she straddles him.
“You were wrong by the way” she says as she slowly grinds her hips. Peeta places his glasses on the nightstand before grabbing her hips and sitting to gain better access to her.
“About what” he says into her neck. She breathes in as he kisses her exposed skin.
“Fuck, marry, kill” she answers her voice raspy.
“How so?” Peeta asks, his hands traveling under her shirt.
“I’d marry you” she says simply “we promised”.
Peeta groans “That shouldn’t be as sexy as it is”
“What? That I’d marry you?”
“Yeah” Peeta breathes, he feels rock solid under her.
“I would. I would marry you” she repeats and Peeta moans against her skin.
“What do you need” he asks “I’ll do anything.”
“I’m ok with just penetration” she admits “I’m ready for you” Peeta whimpers. Peeta has been keeping her on edge all day, with small touches and lingering looks.
In a flurry of motion, they’re both naked and Katniss sinks down onto his condom clad dick. They didn’t risk it around her ovulation.
“Please say it again” Peeta begs when as she is letting him stretch her open. As she slowly moves up, she presses her lips to his ear.
“I’d marry you,” she whispers taking his earlobe between her teeth. He groans and she pulls back as she leans back down feeling him dick pushing into her.
Peeta flops back against the stacked pillows. His eyes are closed, mouth slack. His hands still lingering on her hips.
Katniss slides against Peeta on the bed, her hands finding the warmth of his chest. He lets out a low hum when her fingers trace small circles over the muscles there, leaning down slightly so she can press her cheek against him.
“I’d marry you,” she murmurs again, letting the words hang as she tilts her head to look at him. Her voice is soft, teasing, almost daring. Peeta’s gaze snaps to hers, pupils dark, and she can see it in the slight catch of his breath, the way his jaw tightens just a fraction.
“Again?” he asks, voice low.
“I would marry you” she says, brushing her lips against his neck.
He shifts so he’s half sitting up, resting on one elbow, watching her with an intensity that makes her heart flutter. His hand finds hers and holds it still against his chest. He feels warm and steady underneath her touch.
“I don’t know if you realize what you’re doing to me” he murmurs, and she can feel the tension in his body.
“I do,” she says softly, brushing her thumb over his fingers. “I like seeing you like this.”
Peeta swallows and sits up more, his forehead resting against hers. “I’m not going to last long” he admits his lips twitching into an embarrassed smile.
“I’d marry you, Peeta.” she whispers again, pressing her lips just near his ear.
He groans softly, tilting his head so her hair brushes his cheek. “God, you know exactly what you’re doing to me, don’t you?”
She laughs quietly, warm and intimate, pressing her lips to his jaw. “We promised.”
He shakes his head, a laugh caught in his throat and pulls her gently closer so she’s lying half on top of him, her cheek against his chest now. His hands curl around her sides, holding her, but careful, patient. “We were eighteen,” he murmurs, voice low.
“Still counts,” she teases, nuzzling his neck. It was hard to move in this position so she grinds against him.
Peeta groans, a sound that’s both frustrated and pleased. “I can’t… you make this impossible to concentrate.”
“If were single by thirty,” she says firmly, smiling against the curve of his shoulder. “We get married.”
His hands tighten slightly around her, “You feel unbelievable,” he says. “I… I just…” He pauses, breathing in her scent. “I’m going to cum, Katniss.”
“I know,” she says, shifting so she can meet his eyes, letting her fingers trace the line of his jaw.
Peeta laughs softly, “You’re killing me,” he whispers
She smiles, cheek against his lips, savoring the quiet, steady rhythm of their bodies. “You’d do anything for me, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes,” he says breathlessly, his hands are firmly anchored on her, holding her in place. “Anything.”
“So are you fine with waiting,” she asks, letting the words sink in slowly, deliberately, watching the way it affects him.
He swallows, a low, tense sound that makes her heart lift. “You are… something else, Katniss Everdeen,” he says finally, voice low and rough with emotion. “You’ve got me wrapped around your finger, and I don’t even care.”
“I’d marry you” she whispers. Peeta curses his face first tightens. His chest and ears turn red. Then his jaw relaxes and he spills into the condom. A part, a primal, ovulating, part of her wishes that she could feel it spurt into her. Letting his cum coat her insides.
Peeta lets out a long breath, exhaling against her hair. “Fuck” he breathes against her and chuckles. “That was really intense”.
Katniss glides off him. The feeling of him sliding out making her shiver. Peeta is breathing hard, his eyelids pressed closed. She lays next to him watching him recover.
“You didn’t cum” he says and she shakes her head. Peeta, still breathless, crawls down the bed and she laughs.
“Stop, catch your breath”
“I don’t need to breathe where I’m going” he says with a wink, slowly kissing the inside of her thigh. Her legs fall open for him and soon his tongue is pushing into her.
“Oh fuck, Peeta” she mewls as he moves in her. Lacing her fingers in his hair. His tongue dragging in and out. Making it hard to catch her breath. The malleable touch of his hot mouth on her feels unbelievable. She tells him so; earning her vibrations as he moans into her.
No matter how many times they do this; she can always count on that. That Peeta gets off on praise alone. Her telling him that it feels good always seems to inherently give him pleasure.
The first time he’d ate her out, as a teenager, he had cum in his pants. He’d been so embarrassed, but she had liked it. The way he’d fallen apart with only his mouth on her.
As pressure builds her legs tighten, and soon the cool conch of his ears are pressed between her thighs.
He switches his attention to her clit and she gasps taking a good chunk of his hair and pulling it at the root, making him groan.
She looks down at him, blond curls laying on her lower stomach. One of Peeta’s hands gripping her thigh, leaving small indentations with the pressure of his fingers. Beyond that its feeling of the soft slow swipes of his tongue. His chin teasing at her opening.
She can feel the warmth he’s creating insider her, throughout her whole body, in her toes and fingertips. The top of her head and her chest. She arches into him as she feels the heat intense.
This kind of slow-moving sex was becoming more common for them, and she wondered what that meant. Maybe it was just a sign of them growing up.
“I need to cum” she whispers when the heat gets too intense and Peeta circles his lips around her clit and sucks until she falls apart under him. Her fingers dig into his scalp, and she bucks against him, afraid that the movement will push him off but knowing from experience that he’ll say strong.
When the ripples of pleasure subside, her fingers move from Peeta’s scalp to his chin. Pulling him up. Their lips meet in a soft long kiss. When he pulls back, they both have to dry off their faces from her wetness.
When she sneaks into her bed Johanna is still asleep. Katniss hair clings to her neck, wet from the shower she and Peeta shared.