Chapter Text
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
Part Three
Peeta was kissing her—and it was glorious.
She sagged against the man, her hand on his chest to keep her from falling to the ground. He devoured her mouth, his tongue caressing her in a slow, sensual dance that made her heart pound and her stomach twist.
“Katniss…” he groaned into their kiss. “I’m so sorry, love…”
She was kissing the man who had been hired to kill her.
Pulling away, her hand swung, meeting his cheek in a resounding slap.
“What the fuck?” she shouted. “You can’t just kiss me!”
“You didn’t seem to be resisting,” Peeta replied squarely.
Katniss felt her knees give way, shock finally hitting, and she began to sink to the floor.
However, she didn’t feel herself hit the ground.
Instead, she was lifted into the strong arms of her…assassin.
“Where’s your room?” he asked.
“You are not coming to my room,” she huffed. “Not after what you did.”
Peeta met her glare, his expression calm. “You mean not kill you.”
“I meant lying to me.” Katniss looked away, suddenly feeling the exhaustion take over. She felt the blubbering begin. “I trusted you! Told you things that I never told anyone. I never even got the chance—”
A sob ripped through her, and Katniss buried her face into his chest.
He only held her tighter as he moved towards the hallway leading to her bedroom.
“Left or right?”
“Left,” she whispered.
Peeta managed to get the door open by pushing it with his foot. Her room was small, just enough to fit a full-size bed and a nightstand. Her curtains were gauzy, letting the light of the moon filter through the darkness.
Carefully, he went to her bed and laid her down before peeling the covers back on the empty side. She rolled over, slipping underneath the cream comforter, and he covered her.
Katniss turned from him. “Go away.”
“No.” Sitting on the corner of the bed, Peeta rested his head in his hands. “I have to protect you. Once Snow discovers that I didn’t finish the job, he’ll dispatch someone else.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she whimpered. “Why is this happening?”
“Because Snow is megalomaniac,” he explained. “And I fed his need when all along he’s done nothing but take the people I love away from me.”
The room went silent after that. Peeta felt the events of the day begin to weigh on him and he slipped down to the floor in front of her bed, tucking his body in. He rested his head on his knees and felt his eyes begin to go heavy.
“What do you mean?”
Her voice cut through his exhaustion.
“Yesterday, Brutus told me that Snow was the one who killed my father. They were partners, though my dad had some humanity left. Enough to love me, anyway. One night, he was shot in his sleep—while I slept in the next room.”
“Oh God,” Katniss whispered.
“And then there’s you,” Peeta found himself continuing. “I think that if this was a different world…where I wasn’t sent to kill you and we had just met normally—I could fall in love with you.” He laughed bitterly. “But it’s not. You won’t see me as anything else but a killer.”
They went silent again.
Minutes passed and he felt his head begin to ache.
The bed shifted and Peeta jerked his head up. Light footsteps padded around the bed until her dainty feet were in front of him.
“Will you help me?” Katniss asked and turned so her back faced him. “I can’t sleep in this dress. I can barely breathe in it.”
Hesitantly, he stood up and his hand went to the zipper. “How did you get in it?”
“My friend Delly helped me before you came over,” she explained as he drew the zipper down to release her from her cloth confines. “She knew this was a big night for me.”
“I’m sorry I ruined it by almost killing you.” Katniss stiffened at his words. “I would give anything to turn back time and not pull that gun out…to just turn away and get on that elevator…to go to Snow and tell him that I couldn’t kill you or anyone else…to kill him and just go on with my life.”
She turned to him, her steel eyes penetrating through the darkness.
“Why do I feel like I should believe you?”
He met her stare. “Because you know me. The real me.”
The dress hung off her and Katniss shifted, letting it fall to the ground in a heap. Katniss wasn’t wearing a bra, her breasts displayed for his gaze. Her rosy nipples stiffened in the cool air, but she remained still, her eyes on him, trying to understand the man before her.
“Can I tell you something?”
Katniss nodded.
“The day we met…right after I left you at the door…I watched you,” he said, his eyes going to the ground.
“Look at me,” she hissed, and he followed, meeting her hard stare. “Explain.”
“I have an apartment in the building across. I used their roof…to spy on you.” He swallowed harshly. “That night, you were in the living room. You were wearing a t-shirt and shorts. You were on the couch reading a book from the Bridgerton series.” He let out a shaky breath. “And you touched yourself.”
Katniss felt herself warm at his revelation. She had felt like someone was watching, but it didn’t scare her. It comforted her, even aroused her and she had contemplated if she was one of those people who liked others to watch.
Or maybe, based on the fact that she could felt the wetness seep from her pussy, Katniss liked him watching her.
The question slipped out of her mouth immediately. “Did you like watching me?”
“Fuck yes.” His answer was hoarse, and his chest rose. “You were beautiful, and you got me so fucking hard. It felt like you were putting on a show just for me…and it was the fastest I ever came.”
The moan escaped her. Her head fought her. She shouldn’t feel like this. She shouldn’t be turned on by Peeta, or his words.
Tonight, he had almost killed her.
However. Something else warred within her—her heart.
Katniss could see him, not the man who had been sent to kill her. She saw the man who she met at the pond, who told her about his father and who caused her heart to tumble over as they stared at one another in that small French café. She saw the man who saw her to the door and respected her enough to not come in. He could have killed her that night because she had been ohso willing to let him into her apartment and even into her bed.
But he hadn’t.
And he didn’t tonight.
Instead, Peeta had kissed her.
At that moment, she realized that there was no one else she wanted to kiss for the rest of her life.
What a time to have this revelation.
Her hands went to his blazer, pushing at it until Peeta helped her remove it. She sucked in a breath, seeing the holster against his button-up and he quickly did away with it.
“I’m sorry,” he said once more. “I don’t blame you for hating me.”
Katniss stepped forward. “That’s the problem, Peeta. I don’t hate you.” Her hands moved to the buttons of his shirt. “I think that if I let myself, I could fall in love with you.” She tugged the shirt from his waist. “But what kind of person does that make me? Who falls in love with their would-be killer?”
“You know me,” Peeta insisted. He stood before her, shirt open to reveal his hard chest. He took her hand, placing it on his heart. “You know what’s inside. We’ve had this connection from the beginning, Katniss.” He took her hand, turning it palm up, and pressed a kiss to it. “I will spend the rest of whatever time I have left to protect you…to love you…to show you that I’m more than a piece in Snow’s game—”
Katniss covered his mouth with her free hand.
“You love me,” she said as her hand slipped from his lips.
“From the moment, I saw you on your Instagram page.” Katniss raised a brow. “Another thing I should’ve mentioned…” He sighed. “From that moment, I couldn’t forget your smile. I wanted to see everything behind it.”
They were silent once more.
Until her arms wrapped around his neck and Katniss stepped into him, pressing her half-naked body to his.
“Kiss me,” she pleaded. “Make me forget.”
Peeta shivered at her words, his eyes focusing on her parted mouth. Leaning down, he brushed softly against her mouth before pulling away.
Katniss moaned, licking her lips to taste him. “Again.”
This time, Peeta put everything into this kiss. He teased her with his tongue, sweeping into her mouth and stroking her own. He bit and sucked at her lips, teasing her till she cried hungrily for more.
“What do you want?” he asked in-between each touch.
“I want us to do what we were supposed to do…” she begged as she pressed back into the mattress. Her hands went to his waistband, undoing the button on his waist. “Before all of this.”
“Stop,” he suddenly commanded. “Lay down.”
Katniss followed, her chest heaving at his instruction. Her eyes stayed on Peeta as he slowly lowered the zipper of his pants and quickly shucked them to the ground. He stood before her, erection obvious through his fitted boxer-briefs.
“Do you know how sexy you look right now?” he growled. “Tits nice and peaked, skin glowing…show me your pussy.”
Katniss reached, her hands going to her hips where the band of her panties were.
“No.” She froze. “Pull that cloth in-between your thighs and let me see how wet you are.”
Following his command, she used her index finger to push aside the crotch.
Peeta cursed under his breath.
“Fuck. Look at you—pink and soaked.” He dropped to the ground in front of her. Tugging her hips to the edge of the mattress, he rested her thighs atop his shoulders. “Hold that aside for me, sweetheart.”
Then, he began to feast on her.
She tasted sweet, like light nectar and Peeta lapped her up, painting her cunt with his tongue.
“Fuck!” she cried out, pushing her slit to his eager mouth. “Oh, God!”
Peeta didn’t relent, sucking and kissing at her labia, circling her clit as she babbled incoherently, too lost in her own pleasure.
He felt the pressure on his cock, and he pulled away and stood to which she protested.
Until he removed his boxer-briefs.
“You’re huge,” she breathed out.
“And I won’t be gentle,” he told her as he stroked himself, watching her pant with want. “Do you want this?”
“Yes.” Katniss moved her panties off, her eyes still on his girth. He was thick and long, his mushroomed head pointed right to her waiting cunt. She parted her legs, ready for him. “I have never wanted anything so badly.”
Peeta moved stealthily, covering her body with his before he kissed her. His mouth traveled down, taking a firm globe into his mouth to suckle and nip. She cried out, clawing at his back to get him to where she wanted but he ignored her, lapping at her other breast.
“Please,” she begged, almost in tears.
“What do you want, woman?” he barked.
Katniss arched her hips. “Fuck me!”
Cock in his hand, Peeta brought to her entrance. He could see her inner lips contracting, revealing her waiting quim.
And without warning, Peeta pushed into her wetness.
“AHH!” Katniss wailed to her ceiling. The feeling of fullness overwhelmed her senses, her whole body throbbing in ecstasy.
Peeta groaned as he began to move. She felt amazing around him, her inner muscles pulsating with each piston of his hips. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her feet interlocking and heels pressing to his lower back.
“Baby…” His hands traveled, touching every bit of skin that he could get his hands on, and she smiled hazily at him. “You are amazing.”
“Mmmm…” Her arms rose above her head as her back arched, her peaked nipples on display. “Harder, Peeta…”
“You want to be fucked, Katniss?” His hand traveled up her arm as he continued to move inside her. She nodded frantically. “Wrists together.” Peeta wrapped his fingers around her tiny wrists and held them down, giving him leverage to fuck her harder.
Katniss keened, spurring him to pound her even more roughly.
“Peeta!” she cried his name into the ceiling. Katniss felt herself float above her body, watching as she writhe in pleasure as he held her wrists above her head. Seeing this display of total dominance by him sent her reeling and she felt the unexpected spasm of her orgasm. “I’m coming! I’m coming—”
“Do it, Katniss! Squeeze my cock…drain me dry, baby—”
The bed scraped against the hardwood floor as he pushed harder, heading toward his own peak. Katniss clamped around him, pulses of her climax bringing him further inside her and his balls drew up before he released, filling her with his come.
“Oh fuck…I love you!”
Peeta pushed off her, worried that he was too heavy, and flopped down next to her.
Katniss turned, her head going to his shoulder as she breathed out. “That was…”
He looked to her, a small smile on his lips. “What?”
“Everything that I wanted it to be.” She pushed herself onto her elbow before leaning down to kiss him. “You love me. Real or not real?”
His hand reached to caress her flushed cheek.
“Real.”
Rule #3: Do not fall in love.
“I’m not afraid,” Katniss told him later that night.
They laid in her bed, both under the covers. They had both cleaned up and rustled up some fruit to eat since dinner had become a long distant memory.
Peeta met her eyes. “Why?”
“Because I trust you,” she said simply. “I know you won’t hurt me because you’re risking your life—”
“And yours,” he pointed.
“And mine,” Katniss continued. “By not doing what was asked of you.”
“Now we just have to figure out a way around it,” Peeta mused.
“Can’t we have a few more hours?” she asked him, her fingers playing against his chest.
He smirked. “What should we do during those hours?”
Katniss sat up, revealing her naked body to him, and his arousal flared, his cock already hardening.
“Can I tell you something? And promise, you won’t make fun of me?”
“Of course,” he replied instantly.
“When you were holding my wrists down, I liked it,” she told him quietly. “I liked being held down.” Katniss buried her face in her hands. “Is that awful of me?”
“Baby—” He moved her hands off her face. “It is perfectly normal to have these desires. Would it make you feel better if I told you that I enjoyed holding you down? Making you feel like there was no other choice but to take the pleasure that I gave you?”
She shook her head. “In fact, it makes me want you more.”
“Stand up,” he suddenly said.
Her eyes went dark, desire flaring, and Katniss immediately stood.
Peeta rose from the bed, approaching her slowly. His cock was already hard, and she watched it bob, her mouth watering at the sight. “Do you have any scarves or handkerchiefs?”
“Effie gave me some silk scarves,” she replied timidly. “They’re in the top drawer of my dresser.”
“Eyes ahead,” he said, and Katniss obeyed. “Palms on the door.”
Hands pressed to the door, she bent over, ass in the air and legs straight. It was strange to be in such a position. However, the sound of Peeta rifling through her drawers made her squeeze her thighs in anticipation. The dresser drawer closed softly and Peeta’s approaching steps quieted her thoughts.
Katniss felt him immediately, the heat of him brushing over her bare skin.
“Have you ever used a safe word?” he asked.
She looked over her shoulder. “No…will I need one?”
“Eyes ahead,” he repeated, patting her lightly on her rump.
Katniss looked forward, her skin tingling at the slap to her bottom. She shifted, feeling the dampness in her center.
“Maybe,” Peeta said. “If I slapped your ass harder, do you think you would like it?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’ve never had anyone do it.”
Peeta pressed a kiss to her tailbone trailing down until she felt his lips on one cheek then the other.
“That’s why you need a safe word, darling,” he told her softly. “Because if I want to spank your ass till it turns cherry red, you can tell me when it gets to be too much.” She moaned softly. “We won’t be trying it right now but it’s good to know you’re open.”
Peeta went to the door. “Hold your wrists out.”
Katniss turned to him, holding her wrists out so he could tie them together using one of the silk scarves. She couldn’t imagine ever telling Effie that they were being used for something that wasn’t warming her neck.
“Tug,” he instructed, and she followed. It was tight but not enough to be uncomfortable or cut off her circulation. Lifting her chin, their eyes met and Peeta kissed her gently, teasing her lips with his tongue. “Safe word?”
“Latte,” she whispered into his mouth.
“Appropriate,” Peeta said with a grin. His expression went serious once more. “Now, hands on the door.”
Bending, her hands went to the door as Peeta moved towards her bottom.
Katniss waited, her eyes closing to quiet her nervousness. She trusted Peeta; he wouldn’t do anything that would make her uncomfortable.
That’s what safe words were for, righ—
“Ahh!” The feel of his tongue licking her center caught her by surprise. His hands were on her ass spreading her wide and exposing her wholly to his eyes. “What are you doing?”
“Just getting another taste of you,” he replied. Two fingers entered her cunt as his thumb grazed her back hole. “Have you ever tried it here?” He pressed further into her asshole.
“N-N-No…” Katniss was surprised by the twist in her stomach at the thought. “…I haven’t done much really—oh, fuck!”
Peeta laved up her cunt, sucking her lips in a wet kiss. She pushed back, wanting him to go deeper, and her eyes rolled back as he read her mind and his tongue plunged into her. Katniss shrieked, thrashing as she fucked herself against him. The mighty swell of another orgasm rose and she moved faster, eager to fall apart.
“I’m coming…” Her pussy clenched around him, and she wailed feeling herself crash. “Peeta!”
Peeta didn’t waste any time before lining himself up to her cunt and plunging forward. He set a brutal pace, hands locked on her hips, as he fucked her.
“Do you know…” Thrust. “…how amazing you feel…” Thrust. “…I can still feel you coming…” Thrust. “I’m not going to last especially with your tight cunt pulling me deep—oh, God!”
“Come inside me, Peeta,” she panted, her breath coming out in loud gasps. “I need to feel you!”
That had been it.
Peeta muttered a curse, pressing her flush against him, his grip on her waist almost bruising as he filled her with come.
Together, they sank to the ground, and Peeta pulled her onto his lap.
“Let me undo these,” he told her, still catching his breath.
As rough as Peeta had been with her, he was surprisingly gentle as he undid the bound of the scarf. Massaging her wrists to help with her circulation, Peeta lifted her back to the bed, tucking her in.
“Peeta?” Katniss called as he slid in next to her. “What happens tomorrow?”
“I’ll figure something out,” he promised.
“I know you will.” She yawned as his arms wrapped around her. “I love you.”
Kissing her temple, Peeta rested his head atop hers. “Sleep.”
Katniss acquiesced, falling asleep immediately.
For him, it was another restless night.
The beep on his phone roused him from semi-sleep.
Picking it up from Katniss’ side table, Peeta found a message from an unknown number:
‘This is B. I’m on a burner phone. Someone is watching the building waiting for you to exit. Black sedan. Be cautious and remain inside.’
Brutus.
“Peeta?” Katniss’ hand went to his shoulder. “Is everything okay?”
He turned to her, giving her a quick kiss.
“Brutus texted me. There’s someone outside your building waiting for me. Snow wants confirmation that I did my job. He warned us to stay inside.”
“I think we’ll be okay for today in terms of food,” Katniss said. “But eventually, we’ll have to come out. We can’t hide forever.”
“I know.” Getting up, Peeta reached for his pants, quickly pulling them on. “I’ll make breakfast.”
“Peeta.” He turned and Katniss rose from her spot on the bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “We’re going to be okay. We figure something out—together.”
“Together,” he agreed. “Go wash up.”
They separated in the hallway and Peeta walked into the kitchen.
His gun rested on the table, right where he left it, and something ripped in his chest at the thought of what he almost did.
Quickly, Peeta took the gun, releasing the magazine and tossing it into her garbage. Next, he wiped his prints from the gun and found a bag to place it in for later disposal.
After washing his hands, Peeta set to work making the omelet, losing him in the calmness of cooking. He turned on the small radio on her counter, letting the music flow through the air as if for a moment everything was alright.
By the time the omelet was completed, he managed to scrounge up some toast and fruit to go along with it.
“Katniss!” he called out. “Breakfast is ready!”
“Peeta.” He turned to find Katniss stepping out of the hallway, her expression somber. “I did something—and you might not be happy about it.”
He went to her, hands going to her shoulders. “What?”
“Please don’t be angry,” she continued as she approached. “I know we said that we would do this together, but I think this is for the best.”
“Katniss, you’re scaring me.”
Pressing up to her toes, Katniss kissed him. “Trust me.”
A knock sounded at the front door.
“Open up! This is the police!”
Haymitch Abernathy stepped into the interrogation room, his eyes going to the white-bearded man sitting calmly in his seat.
Coriolanus Snow looked unflappable, and Haymitch steeled himself, ready to take his statement before his lawyers—most likely expensive ones—showed up.
“Mr. Snow,” he began, sitting across from the man. “My name is Detective Haymitch Abernathy. I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“I’m not sure I’m at liberty to respond without my attorney present,” Snow replied, his gaze steely. “In fact, I’m a little confused as to why I was escorted out of my residence and into your station. I have done nothing wrong.”
“So, you didn’t send Peeta Mellark to murder Katniss Everdeen?”
Haymitch presented a photo of Katniss to the man, sliding it across the table.
Snow picked up the photo, examining the picture for a moment.
“Lovely girl.” He placed the photo down. “I don’t know who she is.”
“And you didn’t send Brutus Shaw—” Haymitch presented the recent mugshot of Brutus. “—as well as Gloss Bennet—” Another mugshot this time of Gloss was shown to the man. “—to murder Cato Finley because he threatened to expose you?”
“These men work for me, but they’re merely assistants,” Snow explained smoothly.
“We raided your office downtown.” Haymitch placed a thick folder in front of him. “Inventory and correspondence in regards to the numerous drug paraphernalia that you sold and supplied to different companies.”
Snow’s façade slowly faded, replaced with indignant anger. “I will have your head for this!”
“Threats mean nothing here. In any case, we had a warrant to search your offices,” Haymitch informed him. “Now, would you like to confirm or deny that you sent Peeta Mellark to kill Katniss Everdeen?”
“Peeta put you up to this, didn’t he?” Snow growled. “If the boy had done his job, he would’ve been fine.”
“He did do his job. Unfortunately, Peeta didn’t think that she would fight back.”
Haymitch presented one last photo to Snow.
Two bodies laid on the hardwood floor, a dark-haired woman with her face turned, revealing a delicate profile as well as a gunshot wound to her chest, blood soaking her white shirt. Beside her was handsome blond, eyes closed, and multiple stab wounds on his burgundy shirt.
“Looks tragic, doesn’t it?” Haymitch mused. “Their hands are almost touching—like Star-Crossed Lovers.”
Snow gripped the photo, hands shaking. “What have you done?”
“I didn’t do anything,” he replied. “I merely took the statements from Brutus and Gloss who admitted everything and connected you to Katniss Everdeen’s murder. I just needed confirmation from you.” Haymitch stood up, gathering the rest of the photos except for one. “You can keep this. Brutus said that you always thought of Peeta as your own son.”
The man’s eyes remained on the photo; head bowed.
“I’ll let you know when your lawyers arrived.”
Smugly, Haymitch excited the room.
“The hair suits you.”
Fingering the shoulder-length lob, the green-eyed woman smiled self-consciously. Next to her, a blond with chocolate eyes held her hand, his fingers dancing over the thin gold band on her left ring finger.
“Thanks, Haymitch,” Katniss replied. “I feel a little weird though. Also, wearing contacts is new to me.”
“All part of your temporary identity,” Haymitch replied. He turned to the man next to her. “How are you doing?”
“It’s strange to think that Snow is going to stand trial,” Peeta said. “And he believed the story about Katniss and me?”
“It was a little odd,” the man told him. “When he looked at the picture, I could’ve sworn I saw regret. In some sick, twisted way, Snow thought of you as his.” Haymitch looked to where the small plane waited for them. “We have you all set up for now. We’re set to go to trial in three months so until then, enjoy your honeymoon, Mr. and Mrs. Newton.”
The couple nodded, holding on to one another tightly.
“And remember your new identities,” Haymitch added. He pointed to Katniss first. “You are?”
“Charlotte Newton, age 25, originally from Ojai, California,” she replied.
“And I’m Evan Newton, age 29, from Virginia Beach,” Peeta added. “I met Charlotte in Washington D.C. where we were both interning.”
“We dated for three years before getting married,” Katniss said. “Our wedding was in the backyard of my childhood home. My best friend, Rose, caught the bouquet.” She sniffled at the name but mustered a smile. “We both love the outdoors so a remote cabin in the woods is perfect for a honeymoon.”
Haymitch handed a set of keys to Peeta.
“A car will be waiting for you at the airport,” he told Peeta. “The cabin keys are also there. In your luggage, there are two burner phones should you need to contact me. My number is already programmed.”
“Haymitch?” Katniss approached him. “Is there any way for you to let Effie and Delly know I’m alright?”
Though it pained him, Haymitch shook his head. His mind went to the look on Effie’s face the moment he informed her of Katniss’ murder. The woman had crumbled to the floor of the café, sobbing into her hands. Later that night, he had held her in his arms as she cried after having to call Delly and explain what happened.
This part of the job was the hardest.
“It’s not safe for now,” he told her. “Until Snow is behind bars at the highest maximum-security prison, neither of you can exist. Three months will pass quickly. Till then, I think that it’s time for you to really get to know one another as man and woman. Not as assassin and target.”
Katniss nodded slowly and Peeta reached over, putting an arm around her.
“Thank you,” he said. “Can you tell me what happened to Brutus and Gloss?”
“Both are serving time, but I’ve put in a good word for Brutus,” Haymitch told him. “If he keeps himself on good behavior, he’ll be out sooner than he thinks.”
“I’m glad.” The two men shook hands. “I guess we’re all set.”
“Good luck, you two,” Haymitch called out. “I’m rooting for you.”
Turning, the man headed towards the airplane hangar leaving the couple alone.
“This has been the oddest three days I’ve ever experienced,” Peeta said to his girlfriend.
After Haymitch arrived, along with a fleet of cops who arrested Snow’s man in his black Sedan, Katniss explained that she had called the detective before going to the bathroom. Assuring Haymitch that she was alright, Katniss told him everything—minus what happened in her bedroom—and said that Peeta had information on one of Panem’s most notorious criminals.
She had even negotiated a deal. Peeta’s testimony and statement in exchange for leniency to which the police agreed.
Peeta heartily complied, revealing everything he knew and telling Haymitch all of Snow’s working locations in Panem.
They agreed that faking their deaths—for now—was the best move since they couldn’t guarantee that Snow’s lawyers wouldn’t fight for house arrest. However, his admittance of having Peeta to kill Katniss had been recorded and it was almost certain that he would be facing a life sentence in prison.
“Are you upset that I didn’t tell you about Haymitch?” Katniss asked, worry in her eyes.
“No, because you fought for me…for us.” Peeta kissed her tenderly. “Now I get to spend the next three months getting to fall even more in love with you.”
“I have a lot to tell you,” she replied.
Katniss wanted to tell him everything, about her parents and Primrose, about her childhood, and all the good times in her life. She wanted to share the hard times, the accident that had taken her family when she barely graduated and how she learned to live alone. How she struggled to get herself out of a dark place.
“I’m ready to listen,” Peeta promised. “I’m ready to share who Peeta Mellark is, and who he wants to become.”
Her husband—that’s all he wanted to be.
The pearl ring, his paternal grandmother’s, was stowed safely in his bag.
When he was free to be Peeta Mellark and she, Katniss Everdeen, he would ask her to be his—always.
However, for now, another fate awaited them.
Katniss squeezed his hand. “Are you ready?”
He squeezed back. “Let’s go.”
FIN.