Author's note: Just a little idea I got thinking about my personal situation. Come visit me on Tumblr (booksrockmyface). I'd love to hear your thoughts on this story.

Happy reading!

The Escort

Everlark One Shot

This was such a stupid idea. What was I even thinking? It's not like I'm a freak. I've just never had a sexual encounter with anyone but myself. I should never have said anything to Johanna about it because she knows just which buttons to push to goad me into a bad choice.

But here I am in a hotel room, waiting for some guy I don't know, who's supposed to "show me a good time," according to Jo.

I started pacing as I wait for the knock on the door. But I am so deep in all the thoughts of how it will all go down that I am unprepared when it comes and I jump before stepping toward the door to welcome my companion.

"Okay, Katniss, you got this. Don't freak out. Don't overthink. Just let it all happen." I tell myself. "Better be worth it." I say at last before I twist the handle.

He stands there in a light blue shirt and dark jeans, both of which fit him perfectly. I think about the plain outfit I'm wearing, white polo and slacks, and feel even more inadequate. He smiles and I see a dimple form in his left cheek. His eyes are a deep sky blue and they sparkle. I am undone and words escape me.

He holds out his hand. "Hi. You can call me Peeta. But you don't need to give me your name if you don't want to."

I slip my hand into his and find a warm, confident grip. "Hi." Quickly removing my hand from his, I step aside. "Come in. Please."

He steps in and closes the door behind him. "You are the one in charge, so we go when you say."

I nod. And then I launch myself at him, grabbing his face in a desperate kiss. This is something I have a little experience with.

He picks me up by my hips and a squeak escapes me as my feet leave the ground. Breaking the kiss, I look down at him. "You don't have to do that."

Peeta smiles again and continues to carry me the last few feet to the bed. He doesn't loosen his grip after he sits me back on the floor and kisses me again. His thumbs move to the skin just above my waistband.

My arms find their way around his neck as I press myself closer. This is fine. This is something I can do. This is totally normal.

Peeta slips his hand over my bottom and I jump away, wiping the back of my hand over my mouth.

"I'm sorry." I say softly, walking a few steps away. I drop to the edge of the bed and remove my shoes, trying to buy some time and calm my thoughts.

Thankfully, he stays back as I gather myself.

I stand again and make my way towards him, trying really hard to look sensual. I can't let him know that the reason I needed to hire someone to have sex with me is because I never have. Not that anyone ever offered…

I trip over my feet and knock him backward on the bed.

He chuckles and grabs my hips again. "You okay?"

I give a nervous giggle. "Sure. I totally meant to do that." And I'm kissing him again. His mouth is hot and sweet. He smells faintly of cinnamon.

As his hand slips under my shirt, I feel my heart speeding up. But not in a good way. I suddenly can't catch my breath and I sit up. "I'm sorry." I say again. Stupid idea. Stupid Johanna. Stupid pressure from all sides.

Peeta kicks off his shoes and stands. "Mind if I check out the view? Sunset's my favorite time of day."

"Yeah, that's fine." I move to the top of the bed and lean against the headboard as he opens the curtain to peer outside. "I'm usually a sunrise person myself."

He turns and that dimple is back in his cheek. "That why you needed this date of ours to happen so early?"

"This is early?" I look away quickly. "Of course it is. This sort of business is usually done in the dead of night."

He chuckles and sits beside me on the bed. "Well, most women I'm with are sneaking away from their husbands. They wait until the kids are asleep and make an excuse about going to the store to pick up a few things."

"Are you serious?" I let out another nervous giggle. I'm slowly starting to relax though.

He nods. "Not a lot of inexperienced girls have access the kind of money I charge. But married women who are stuck in sexless marriages often find a way. Or rich socialites that need a handsome guy for a party and a little dessert afterward."

I can't process the rest of his statement. "How do you know I'm inexperienced?" I say softly.

Peeta slips his hand into mine and I don't pull away. His voice is just as soft. "I never said you were."

I swallow hard. "Well, I am."

"It's not a bad thing." His voice is gentle like a person trying to calm a skittish animal. "Everyone has a different timeline."

I snort. "I hate that line. Everyone that finds out about it says that to me." I pull my hand away. "I'll pay you for your time. Thank you anyway. You can go." I get up to find my wallet and the wad of cash I withdrew from my account earlier.

He puts his hand on my arm to stop my movement. "You know, the whole arrangement… Sex isn't the only option. If you want to talk, we can talk. No charge. You can keep your money. I'll just tell my boss you didn't show."

I resettle on the bed and nod. "What do we talk about?"

He points to the window to the orange sky. "That's my favorite color. Mostly because it's the best time of day. Everything is winding down for the world, but my work day is just about to start."

"Do you like it?" I ask softly. "Your work, I mean?"

He stares out the window for a while before answering. "There's a lot of reward in it. I've figured out how to read women to see how best to please them. And I get to have a little fun myself." He winks. "And I get great tips."

I laugh, a little less nerve in it than before. Despite the nature of the conversation, his soothing voice has a great calming effect.

"But my big passion is baking." He admits after a short silence.

"Baking?"

He scoots closer. "My family had a bakery for long time. But my dad died and my mom sold the business and moved off. I was going to inherit it with my brothers. But she didn't give us a choice. It was just not ours anymore. And my brothers and I decided it was too much work to fight her."

"Do you still bake?" I ask, slipping my hand into his. "Because you kind of smell like cinnamon."

He laughs. "Maybe that's just my cologne."

I shake my head. "No cologne smells like that."

He rubs the back of my hand with his thumb. "I do cakes from my home. Just a couple a week, in a good week. Maybe one day that will really take off and I can stop my other profession."

On impulse, I say, "I'll buy a cake from you. My baby sister's about to graduate medical school."

He hops up from the bed and picks up the pad of paper and pen from the desk in the corner. "Tell me."

I laugh. "You don't have to do it now. But you can write down your number or email for me to contact you later."

He sits down on the end of the bed and writes something down on the pad of paper and then hands it over. He's written his phone number and email address. He even wrote his full name at the bottom.

"Thank you, Peeta Mellark." I say softly as I look up from the paper.

"No problem." Peeta grins again and there's that dimple. His blue eyes sparkle. "I can stay as long as you want."

"Do you have other… clients?" I ask, suddenly being drawn back into the original reason he he's here.

He looks away. Is he embarrassed? "Yeah, but not for a couple more hours."

I nod.

He placed his hand on my knee. "Tell me about yourself now. Favorite color?"

"Forrest green." I grin.

He nods. "Favorite food?" He asks, his smile growing.

"Lamb stew. You?" I want to learn everything about him. But I have to keep it in check.

"My dad taught me how to make cheese buns when I was a kid because I used to ask him to make them all the time. Now I make them at least once a week." He laughs again. "I'd love to make you some."

I feel my face turn red. "When?"

He writes down something else and hands it over. "That's my address. I'll have supper tomorrow around six. If you're interested, you can come to that address. If you don't show, I'll understand."

I nod. "Okay."

We talk for a while longer. He carries most of the conversation and I'm more than happy to sit back and listen to his soothing voice as he tells me all sorts of stories. Somehow my foot ends up in his hand and he's rubbing deep circles into the bottom of it with his thumbs. It feels so good.

He's just getting done with my other foot when his phone rings. He pulls it out with a sigh. "I have to go."

I start to pull my foot out of his grasp, but he picks it up and presses a kiss to my toes. It's an odd sensation and a giggle escapes me before I can stop it.

I watch with a growing heaviness as he turns and pulls on his shoes. "My name is Katniss." I say as he stands.

"Katniss." He smiles and holds out his hand to me. When I put my hand in his, he brings it to his lips to kiss my knuckles. "It's been a lovely evening, Katniss. I hope to see you at supper tomorrow."

How can I get him to stay? "Are you sure I can't pay you for your time tonight?"

He shakes his head. "None necessary. You're one in a million, Katniss."

I feel myself blushing again and follow him to the door. "Be safe." I say lamely.

Peeta smiles. "I always am."

And before I know what's happening, he's kissing me. It's soft and sweet. And I desperately want to ask him to stay.

But before I can say anything, he's gone.