Hello, readers! Wow…I haven't updated this story in almost ten months ;_; Many apologies for that. I had immense writer's block for the longest time, and school was keeping my extremely busy. BUT…I do promise never to make anyone wait that long for an update again Also, this chapter does contain a little bit of graphic action, so if you're not into that, don't read the first part. You have been warned. Thank you to all those that have reviewed, followed, and favorite this!

"I like this," I murmur as I feel Cato's tingling hand caress my thighs. "I like it a lot."

Cato grins in response, his bright blue eyes sparkling like exquisite diamonds in the lamp light. "I can keep going, you know."

At once, I reach my arm up and grab the pack of his neck, pulling myself up toward him. My lips are mere centimeters from his, and I can absorb all the beautiful details of his face. His eyes, for one thing. Yet also his full, round and very kissable lips, as well the flecks of stubble and scruff, and his perfectly angled jaw. "Please do."

With a mischievous smile like a little schoolboy, he gently massages my upper thighs making me moan and sigh in relief and pleasure. My head arches backwards as I stare up at the ceiling, feeling as if I'm gazing into the face of heaven itself. "More."

"Are you sure?" Cato waggles his eyebrows down at me.

"Yes," I gasp in response, feeling a delightful warm, fuzzy sensation spread to every corner of my body.

He nuzzles his nose against mine. "If you say so, my lady." He takes a deep breath and reaches up across my thighs and slides my black skirt off, his hand eagerly lingering over my zesty red panties. In response, I reach forward and grasp the zipper on his khakis, hastily pulling it down before sliding the pants down to reveal his divinely formed legs and navy blue briefs. He kicks them off, the settles down beside me, both of us snuggling under the silky white covers. For a moment, we just lounge in the bed, feeling each other's pulse and body heat. As we embrace each other, I find we're about to take ourselves one step further before a sharp and distinctive knock raps on the door.

"Clove, are you in there? Aqua and Flare want to meet with the two of you before the parade tomorrow night." It's Sophia's voice. I scowl at the doorway, wishing that she didn't have to interrupt our very intimate "planning" session.

"Uh…okay!" I call back, realizing she doesn't know Cato is in the room with me. "I'll be out in a minute, alright?" We wait for another moment before she replies in consent, and then clonks down the hallway. I frown as Cato and I get out of bed and begin pulling our clothes back on. "Bitch…we were just about to really get going."

"I know, I know," Cato sighs as he buttons his shirt up. "But we can pick up it up again sometime."

Smiling, I look at him as I pull my skirt back on. "Sometime soon, I hope."

Cato and I freshen out before stepping out of the room and heading to the parlor where we'd eaten dinner earlier. Indeed, both our mentors are seated there, along with Flare and Aqua.

"Great, you're here," Sophia announces, walking in behind us. I was seriously starting to wonder how she could handle clunking around on those three inch heels all day long without damaging her spine. The look she throws Cato makes me suspect she'd found something fishy about the fact that he wasn't in his room when she'd knocked over there. Good thing neither of us could sum it up enough to care what Sophia thought.

Enobaria begins. "Now, as you know, it is tradition to represent the trades of your district in the Tribute Parade." I nod in understanding. District Two was Masonry, and years past our tributes had always been dressed in armor like outfits, while wielding impressive looking weapons. Along with the sparkle appealing District One, we were always crowd favorites.

"We've been working on putting together an outfit for this year that isn't so stereotypical," Flare explains, motioning to the Television screen on the wall. A white and gold set and silk togas is displayed on it, as well as golden arm bands, necklaces, and impressive looking helmets that looked like they could also pass as a crown. Somehow, I find that these are a pleasant foreshadowing of the golden Victor's Crown.

Aqua gave a small grin at the looks of satisfaction on our faces. "This year we thought going for a more subtle approach at Masonry would be best."

"I think it looks great," I encourage the two stylists. "Definitely a hit."

Brutus merely nods in approval, no doubt bored with the talk of fashion and clothes, while Sophia giddily claps her hands together. "Fantastic! Now you'll both be expected to report to the Training Center at nine tomorrow morning…" She drones on as I brush hands with Cato, our fingers interlacing. I can feel him thumping beside me, and neither one of us seems to particularly interested in Sophia's lengthy explanation of events. I sigh in content; eagerly anticipating tomorrow's training session. We would get to meet our potential allies, and it was always fun to see how pathetic and ill trained some of the tributes really were. Some years, there had been ones from Eleven and Twelve who couldn't even lift swords or hold knives properly.

"And breakfast will be here, at eight," Sophia finishes, flashing everyone a white toothed smile. "All clear?"

We all nod, not wanting her log of events to go on any further.

Brutus stands up with a wide yawn. "Well then, should we all turn on?" He looks to Cato and I. "You two have a big day ahead of you tomorrow, better get your rest."

"He's right," Enobaria reinforces, flashing her gold tipped fangs at us. I flinched slightly, surprised. Years ago, after she'd won her Games by slashing another tribute's throat open with her teeth, she became extremely popular in the Capitol, and had gotten her teeth genetically altered as a result, which had become her trademark feature. "You should both go get your sleep…individually; you'll have time to talk strategy later."

With a gulp, I purse my lips. The way she'd just said it made it seem like she knew what we'd been doing after dinner. "Right, well I guess we'll be off then…" I wave goodbye to the adults before ducking out of the mahogany parlor with Cato. As soon as we were clearly in the hallway, I grabbed onto his arm. "She knows, she knows what we were up to."

Cato pauses for a moment before chuckling, "Who cares, Clove? Honestly, nothing shows better district unity than a pair of loving tributes." He pulls me close, allowing me to feel his stiff, muscular chest. "Heck, maybe even the sponsors will like that angle. Just imagine, the two lovers from District Two…they'd eat it up."

Pulled close to him, I think about this for a second. "You're probably right…it would make a lovely little romance story for them to lap up…we'd be all over the news too…" I trail off; realizing that putting on a love scene together may actually be a good idea.

We stop, arriving at my doorway. I touch Cato's cheeks as I lean against it. "Don't suppose we could pick up where we left off earlier?"

He takes my hands, slowly sliding them down. "I don't think we can tonight…we do have training and styling tomorrow before the parade."

"Yeah," I sigh in defeat. "Not to mention the fact that Sophia and Enobaria are on to us." Shrugging, I step forward and give Cato a thick, juicy good night kiss. Our lips are both full and perfectly shaped for one another. Feeling as if I was giving up a delicious sweet, we pull apart, and I head into my room, nothing but Cato on my racing mind.

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