"Peeta, you have a visitor."

Peeta looked up from his desk as his secretary poked her head in. He glanced down at his calendar to make sure he hadn't forgotten an appointment before looking back up, seeing the blonde woman grimace. "Sorry, he just dropped by."

The door she was holding open was pushed fully open and Seneca Crane strode into the office, waving his hand dismissively towards her. "Of course Peeta will see me, we're cousins after all."

"It's okay, Delly." Peeta carefully gathered the papers he was working on and stuffed them into a folder and into the drawer of his desk before standing up and walking over to where Seneca stood, looking out the large window that overlooked one of the parks in the Capitol. "What do you want?"

Seneca turned, giving him a wide, false smile. "What? I can't drop in on my cousin?"

Peeta sighed. "Cut the fake civility, Seneca. You've never just," he made air quotes, "dropped in on me, so I'll ask you again, what do you want?"

Seneca's oily smile widened. "An alliance, of course."

Peeta pinched the bridge of his nose. Hell would freeze solid and pigs would fly out of his ass before that happened. "An alliance for?"

Seneca sat down, pulling up the legs of his perfectly creased pants before crossing one leg over top the other, balancing his foot on his knee. "The vote on the district appropriations. There are some fat contracts that are coming down the pipe and together we can make sure that most of them go to District 12."

Peeta stared at him, fighting to keep the incredulousness that he felt at Seneca's suggestion from showing on his face. Sitting down in the chair opposite him, he leaned back and stared.

Seneca held his gaze for a few moments before beginning to fidget; the smooth veneer of his politician's face beginning to crack the longer Peeta stared at him. "Say something, damn you."

"Do you honestly believe that you have enough clout to bring those projects to twelve?"

Seneca gazed down at his hand, admiring his perfectly buffed and trimmed nails before answering. "Of course, the Crane name speaks volumes."

Peeta snorted. "How much of Uncle Markham's money did you spread around, Seneca?" He stood up and walked over to the desk, leaning a hip against one corner. "Better be careful, from what I hear that's not a bottomless well."

Seneca glared at him, an angry flush riding high on his cheeks. "I wouldn't be so smug, Mellark. From what I hear, unless you get yourself a wife, you won't be dipping into daddy's coffers anymore either." He gave him another oily smile. "Still waiting for the day that Katherine divorces me?"

Peeta's hands clenched the edge of the desk and he took a deep breath to keep from throttling the life out of the other man. "Her name is Katniss and why the hell she married the likes of you is still a mystery."

Seneca stood up, straightening his perfectly tailored shirt sleeves. "Her name is whatever the hell I tell her it's going to be and she married me because she knew you'd never make an honest woman out of her, right mama's boy?"

"Get out of my office," Peeta said through clenched teeth. "Before I forget that we're family and wipe the floor with your face."

Seneca strode to the door, giving Peeta one last glance over his shoulder. "The votes will swing my way, cousin. It's up to you whether or not you'll be on board or not."

Peeta rose from his slouch and Seneca paled, rushing out of the door. When it closed behind him, Peeta slumped back down, scrubbing his face with his hand. Every single time he saw that fucker, he wanted to throttle him. It wasn't rational or even productive, but knowing that he was the one that was married to the only woman he'd ever loved made him insane. Cursing under his breath, he rose and walked back around to sit down behind his desk, reaching for the phone.

"I need to talk to you, are you free for lunch?"

Satisfied with the answer, he hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head and thinking.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Gale said sullenly as Peeta slid into the booth opposite him at an out of the way diner three towns over.

Peeta gave him a tight smile. "I'm not exceptionally pleased to see you either."

Gale sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "It's about Katniss, isn't it? You have to let her go, she's married to Crane for fuck's sake."

Peeta glared across the table, holding his tongue until the waitress disappeared again after leaving menus. "There is no way in hell she did that willingly, so don't try and pull that shit with me. There's the story you both gave me and then there's the fucking truth and eventually it'll come out."

Gale leaned closer. "If it does, you'll destroy her," he said softly.

"Why?" Peeta said in an explosive hiss. "Why do you both have to keep me in the fucking dark?"

"Move on, that's the best thing you could ever do for her," Gale said, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest.

Peeta sighed, clenching his fists tightly and then releasing them. "Hell will freeze over first," he muttered. He curled his fingers around the water glass, bringing to his lips. "I need you to do some digging for me."

"I don't work for you," Gale said.

"Private dicks work for whoever pays them, correct?" Peeta replied, setting down his water glass and staring steely eyed across the table.

"They do," Gale grunted, glaring back at him.

"Fine, Seneca's got some backdoor deal going on and I want to know everything I can about it before the vote comes up in two weeks."

"Is he doing something illegal?"

Peeta snorted. "Do dogs shit? He inherited some business sense but by working hard, he's managed to overcome it."

"Don't hold back, tell me how you really feel," Gale said, laughing dryly.

"Let's not even go there," Peeta said, reaching into his breast pocket and pulling out a folded piece of paper, sliding it across the table to the other man. "I'd start with these first and then see what else you come up with."

"You said two weeks? Doesn't give me much time," Gale said as he unfolded the paper, whistling softly as he read through the list Peeta had made. "Twenty four hundred a week plus expenses."

"Done," Peeta said quickly. "I have a corporation set up that I can use to get the money to you because this cannot come back on me, understood?"

Gale nodded. "I wouldn't still be in business if I left my clients hanging out to dry, Mellark. Your secret is safe with me."

"Fine, I'll be in touch soon." He pulled out his wallet and threw a twenty down before sliding out of the seat. "Lunch is on me."

He could feel it the second she walked into the room, like an invisible tether connected them. Their eyes met and hers flicked away before darting back to his. Peeta's lips curled up around the rim of his whiskey. She looked amazing tonight. Her hair was up in a soft braid that was fastened at the back of her neck, begging for his fingers to slide through it and spread it over her shoulders. The front of her black dress was demure, with a soft scoop neckline and a straight hem that hit just inches above her knee. A rope of pearls caressed her throat.

She turned and his mouth went dry. The dress draped in back, exposing the delicate lines of her back. The long line of the pearl necklace hung down between her shoulder blades and all he could think of was wrapping it around his fist as he pounded into her. He moved around the room, keeping her in his peripheral vision, finishing off his drink and setting the heavy cut crystal tumbler on the tray of a passing waiter.

As he strode to the bar, he caught a flash of red, glistening like the lips of her pussy, teasing from the bottom of her shoes. His cock hardened instantly and he promised himself that she would keep the stilettos on when he fucked her later.

Her gaze found his again and he licked his lips, watching as a delicate flush crept over her cheeks. She shifted restlessly and he knew he had her. Time to up the ante. Turning, he motioned to the bartender, getting another whiskey on the rocks. He felt her coming closer until she was close enough that he could smell the deep, sultry notes of her perfume, the one he'd given her for her birthday. Underneath it, he could smell the delicate essence that was uniquely Katniss, one he was as intimately familiar with as his own name. "Nice dress."

She leaned against the bar, motioning for the attendant. "Jameson's, neat." The bartender nodded and poured her drink, handing it back to her. Her fingers curled around the thick tumbler, lifting it to her lips. "I bought it for you," she said softly before taking a drink, tongue darting out to swipe along her lips afterwards.

"Upstairs, second room on the left," he growled lowly, lifting his glass and finishing the drink in one long swallow.

She stiffened, her gaze darting to his. "We can't-"

He cut her off. "Two minutes." Pushing up off the bar, he strode rapidly through the room, leaving her behind.

Peeta waited behind a particularly large and ugly fichus, hidden just enough that she couldn't see him, but he had a clear view of the stairway. Glancing down at his watch, he smiled as he watched the minute hand tick towards twelve. It'd taken her less than a minute to follow him up here.

She kept glancing back over her shoulder but moved forward, eyes searching the corridor for him. The doors were all closed on this level and she walked forward slowly, darting glances back at the stairs as if expecting someone to be following her. The tight hem of the dress made her hips sway and his fingers itched to close around them, pulling her against his body.

Katniss moved stealthily towards the door he'd told her to enter, fingers curling around the knob and pushing it open slowly, sliding into the small gap and closing it quickly behind her. He smiled and stepped out from behind the plant, walking briskly towards the door.

Pulling it open, he stepped inside, closing it behind him and flicking the lock. She whirled around, her eyes wide. He stalked towards her, unfastening his tie as he walked, pulling it between his hands. "Miss me, lover?"

"This is dangerous," she said quietly.

He could see the rapid beat of her heart in the pulse point at her neck and it turned him on even more. Her nipples were tight little nubs pressing against the thin silk of her dress and he grabbed her hands, wrapping the length of his tie around them, binding them together. Spinning her around, he let his hand glide slowly down the column of her spine, ghosting over the skin but not quite touching. She shivered violently, goose bumps erupting on her skin. Bending closer, he hovered over her neck, breath skating across her skin. "You like danger, don't you Katniss." His hand fisted in the long string of pearls, tugging it backwards so it tightened oh so gently against her throat.

Her back bowed and her legs spread as far as the tight skirt would allow. His lips hovered near her ear and he could smell her arousal. "Tell me lover, tell me how much you want me to fuck that pretty, pretty pussy." His other hand slid over her hip and over the thin material, feeling the outline of the garter belt that she wore.

"Please," she breathed, flexing her fingers and rising up on her toes, thrusting her ass back against him, rubbing along the hard length of his cock.

"Do you want me to suck your clit into my mouth and flick it with my tongue and bite it until you come, screaming my name?" he whispered throatily, fingers teasing at the edge of her hemline, tugging it up her leg. The soft lace of her stockings gave way to deliciously bare skin and he grazed his knuckles along her upper thigh, tugging harder on the pearls. "Answer me, Katniss," he demanded, biting her earlobe.

"Yes," she sobbed, rocking her hips against his, the shoulder of her dress slipping down her arm, her bare breast and taut nipple pressing insistently against his arm.

"You want my cock inside of you, fucking you so hard that you see stars when you come," he breathed. His hand continued along the seam of her leg, a smile curving his lips when he realized she was completely bare beneath the garter belt. She'd done it for him.

"Yes, oh please," she begged softly, tongue swiping across her lips as she turned her head to look at him. "I need you so much."

He covered her pussy with his hand, thrusting two fingers into the slick heat, curving them as he fucked her leisurely, hitting her clit with his thumb on every stroke. Releasing the pearls, he cupped her chin, holding her steady as he plundered her mouth, slanting his lips over hers with abandon.

Her body bucked against him, fingers moving deeply within her. He could feel her walls clenching against his fingers and he knew she was close. He broke the heady kiss, teeth scraping along her jaw line. "That's it baby. Come for me, beautiful girl."

Her head fell back against his shoulder and a high, keening cry escaped her lips as she came. Her cheeks flushed and her body pulsed around his fingers. He stroked her through it, murmuring in her ear as the contractions rippled through her. "I need to be inside of you, Katniss," he said roughly, pulling his fingers from her and bunching up the skirt of her dress around her waist.

She nodded dazedly, leaning forward as he gently positioned her, hands braced on the high back of the couch in the room, legs spread wide, the deep red of the bottoms of her shoes winding him up like a bull with a flag. He opened the fly of his pants and shoved them and the silk boxers he wore down his hips. He moved behind her, tracing the lines of her pussy, coating his cock in her heat.

"You're so wet," he murmured as he slid into her slowly, holding her hips steady against his movements. He gripped hard, knowing it'll leave bruises that she'll see tomorrow and remember. It's his own personal fuck you to Seneca, knowing that his marks were on her body despite the ring she wore that branded her as another's. "And tight."

"Fuck me, Peeta," she begged, head hanging down between her bound arms. Wispy tendrils of hair escaped her braid and it took every ounce of willpower not to thread his fingers through it and pull it down. Soon, he promised himself. Soon he'd be able to make love to her all night long, to feel her hair down around them like a curtain, blocking out everything but the two of them. Right now though, he wanted to pound into her, fuck her so hard and fast that she came screaming his name.

He shifted his hips, rocking into her hard and fast, balls slapping against her ass with every thick thrust. She moaned his name, pushing back against him with every wet slap of their bodies. He bent over her, his hand sliding over her hip and into the soft curls between her thighs, pinching her clit between his fingers.

"Harder," she panted, back bowing and arching in a sinuous curve that had him cursing and thrusting deeper, fingers locked tightly on her hips.

He pressed sharp, nipping kisses along the expanse of her spine, teeth scraping over the delicate lines of bone. He was close, his balls were tight and the way she pulsed around his cock, drawing him deeper into her body made him feel amazing. His cock felt like it was clenched in a hot, tight, wet fist. "Scream for me, beautiful girl," he panted against her back.

Katniss threw her head back, his name escaping her lips on a long, low moan. Her sheath clenched around his cock and he groaned, following her over the edge, hips thrusting hard against hers. Her knees buckled and he grabbed her, holding her tightly as they both fought for breath.

Standing up, he pressed gentle kisses to the length of her spine as she rose, face flushed and pupils dilated. Tucking himself back into his pants, he glanced up at her from beneath his lashes. "You look like you've been thoroughly fucked."

Katniss flushed and jerked the skirt of her dress down over her hips, glaring at him. "I forgot what a smug bastard you can be when you've been drinking," she snapped, holding her hands out in front of her, motioning for him to unfasten them.

Peeta unwound the silky material from her wrists, capturing one hand in his before she could move away. He pulled her closer, sliding his palm along her cheek. "I'm only smug because I know he never makes you feel what I feel."

Katniss slapped him hard. "Fuck you," she hissed angrily. "I hate this as much as you do, probably more." She tugged the shoulder of her dress up, nearly ripping the delicate fabric.

"Then fucking leave him," Peeta snarled, sliding his tie around his neck once more, retying it with quick, angry motions.

Her eyes met his and he saw the pain reflected in them, the same pain that he knew lived in his own. "I can't," she said softly. "You have to stop asking me to."

He finished with his tie and closed the distance between them, staring down into her quicksilver eyes. "I need a wife, Katniss," he said, putting heavy emphasis on her name, her real name and not the bullshit one the PR hacks had forced her to take on. "And it's getting to the point that I can't put my dad and the rest of them off much longer. I will be getting married and I would damn well prefer it to be you!"

She inhaled sharply, tears shimmering in her eyes. His heart clenched as she closed them and dropped her chin. "It can't be, you don't understand-"

His hands encircled her upper arms, shaking lightly until she looked at him once more. "Then make me understand," he said desperately. "The truth, Katniss."

"I… I can't." Wrenching free, she ran to the door, glancing back at him over her shoulder. She pulled open the door and slipped through, shutting it behind her.

"Fuck!"