Thank you to everyone who took the time out to review, follow, and favorite. I also want to specifically thank, mansts, for sending me a private message last weekend when the alert system failed. It means a lot to me when my readers care enough to be concerned about others missing out on updates. So, thank you! This chapter is dedicated to you, mansts. :)

Also, thanks go to my Beta Court81981 for wading through all of my errors. You make me a better writer, which only proves how much of an amazing teacher you are! Love ya, Court!

Chapter Four

She couldn't accurately pinpoint the moment his hands had found their way around her back, his fingertips digging in the soft fabric of her cotton dress, but she would be lying to herself if she denied that she liked the sensations that were meandering below her waist. When she had initially kissed him he had kept still, only their lips touching, their bodies in a sort of stalemate waiting for the other to react. A deep, low groan had escaped his throat before he leaned forward, intensifying the pressure of the kiss. The sound had alarmed her enough to open her eyes, which until then were firmly shut, and she had watched the way his lashes brushed against her skin like a soft whisper, his eyes lids fluttering. Katniss opened her mouth for a much needed intake of breath; as the air filled her lungs she nearly jumped when the warmth of his tongue swept over her bottom lip to probe into her own mouth ever so softly. She felt the urge to pull back, but the tentative pressure he bestowed up the tip of her own tongue with his caused her eyes to close, the heat at her chest rising into her cheeks. Katniss surprised even herself when she heard a gratified murmur escaping from her mouth.

Her back bowed as his hands traveled down to her hips to settle barely above her bottom, and she could feel his fingers trace the elastic of her panties, which caused warmth- as well as a gut wrenching fear -to settle between her thighs and stomach. She had never had such contact with anybody, and it seemed ridiculous that she had placed herself in such a situation with a boy who not only had a reputation around the district already, but one she had only known for a few short hours. There was a part of her that felt shame in her actions, allowing herself to be caught up in something as trivial as attraction. She normally prided herself in her ability to be rational, the part of her that never became like the rest of the ninnies that skipped about school giggling and fawning over boys. Although now, she felt the gnawing tickle settle down below, which forced her to resent her decision to ignore such situations as kissing. Because an entirely new side had taken hold of her, a part that reveled in his gentle but firm touches, a side that had awakened with his deep- throated groans.

Katniss lifted her hands from her side to ghost her fingers over his strong jaw line, the stubble there tickling the pads of her fingers as he sucked on the supple skin of her bottom lip. Another satisfied moan came from his mouth which only emboldened her reckless behavior, her hands sliding up to his hair line, her nails gently scratching the skin of his cheek bone. She felt him wince, a deep yelp that landed at her lips. The sound broke her from her temporary insanity, her lips parting from his as her body leapt back as if it had been burned. It took a few seconds for her sight to right itself before she watched him hold the side of his face, his fingers brushing over the deep bruise at his eye that she had accidently pressed against. Katniss' own fingers reached to her lips, trailing the line of heat his mouth had kindled there. But the sensation was fleeting and for a few seconds, she felt the longing creeping up through her until the shame won out and eventually she reacted the only way she knew how when she was afraid: she became defensive and lashed out.

"That was a mistake", her voice was firm but lacked its usual resolve.

Peeta rubbed the side of his face a smile formed at his lips but didn't come near his eyes, "That didn't take long. It takes most people at least a day to realize I'm a mistake."

Peeta watched her stand in front of him from his perch on the stool; her cotton dress was dishelved from his roaming hands, and the dark strands from her braid had escaped from the tie and now frame her face. He could still taste the mint from her tongue, and he become curious to how it had gotten there. His lips felt swollen, and he assumed that they resembled hers, which were still red and shiny from the added moisture his tongue had left there.

Katniss ran her hands through her loose hair before tucking the ends behind her ears. "I just meant that the kiss shouldn't have happened." The voice in her head screamed out in disagreement towards her words; her mind becoming muddled.

Peeta narrowed his eyes, as he studied her closely. "Wow, this really freaked you out didn't it?"

Katniss let out an exaggerated sigh, folding her hands over her chest. "It certainly did not! I was shocked that you would take something as innocent as a simple kiss to such a level." Even after the words left her mouth, she knew how false they were. But she worried, if she allowed herself to yearn for his touch she may never want to let go.

"Excuse me, but I know for certain that I wasn't the only one being less than innocent."

Katniss shifted her body to the side to shield most of her face from him, not to mention to escape the sight of his exposed chest and torso that was causing the warmth from before to pool at the space in between her thighs once again. "It was the only thing that came to mind when you looked so sad."

Peeta let out a low chuckle. "So all you could think of was to attack me?"

Katniss spun around, her eyes full of rage but when she saw the genuine smile on his face, her anger lessened slightly, "I didn't exactly think it through." She shifted her eyes to the side. "I'm not very good with people."

Peeta nodded in agreement. "Obviously." When he saw her body tense, he tried to reassure her. "Although, neither am I sometimes if I'm completely honest."

"It's just when you said, you're not what they think you are, I understood."

Peeta's brow furrowed, the lines at his eyes forehead defined as well as the scar above his eye. "Really?"

Katniss tipped her head to the side. "What you think people from town or even the Seam don't just assume I'm some Seam brat with no mind that has nothing better to do with her life than become knocked up before I'm twenty just to perpetuate the cycle? You're not the only one that people underestimate. Maybe your life is under the microscope more than some us, but we all have our battles to fight, Peeta."

Peeta grabbed a hold of his shirt from his lap, where it had remained during their kiss, his fingers tangling in the material as he stood up from the stool, careful not to disturb the new stitches at his back. He watched her flinch slightly at his movement before he advanced on her, his steps slow and deliberate.

"No matter the reasoning, I did enjoy kissing you, Katniss."

Katniss opened her mouth to react as he stopped short in front of her, his chest still bare and exposed for her gawking. His complexion was lighter than most who were raised in the Seam, but the fair tint of the Merchant class lightened up the usual olive hue. Peeta kept his position, silently watching her from his spot a few feet from her, his shirt dangling from his hand, the collar brushing the wooden slats of the floor.

She could feel her cheeks burn as she watched the way the muscles at his torso twitched and moved with each breath he took. It wasn't until the front door creaked opened that she diverted her eyes, turning her back to his bare skin. A deep cough alerted them to the presence of Gale who stood stone- faced at the door, his arms crossed over his chest, mimicking Katniss.

Gale looked between the two of them, Katniss's blush spreading through her face as Peeta stood motionless, his upper body still bare. The tension in the room was suffocating, and Katniss was afraid to even breathe as the two young men stared each other down before Gale broke first, his eyes landing on Katniss before turning back to Peeta.

"My mother wanted me to check up on you and make sure you were alright, but by the looks of it, I'd say you're finding your way around."

Katniss rolled her eyes. "Oh God, Gale! Don't be ridiculous. I was helping him with a wound."

Gale arched a brow. "You were helping with a wound? Didn't you vomit on the last guy?"

Katniss threw her hands up in the air, holding up her pointer finger. "One time! You throw up on a guy one time and all of a sudden no one can forget it."

Peeta tried to hold in a chuckle but failed miserably, earning a pointed glare from Katniss, and a less than friendly stare from Gale as Peeta gingerly pulled his shirt on, his arms sliding into the sleeves. The patch at his back stretched as the muscles at his back strained and moved, the dried blood at the back of the fabric scratching at his sensitive skin. He quickly refastened the first few buttons at the front before looking up to see Katniss watching him silently.

There was something about the way her grey eyes sized him up that made him feel almost content, a feeling he wasn't used to, and he didn't know to be either comforted or fearful. She already seemed to have a way of knocking him off kilter, surprising him at every turn, starting with her appearance earlier in the day to the way she had held onto his hand under the table, and most importantly, how she had kissed him. The sensations of that experience still tingled at his nerves slightly, the memory of her lips pressed up against his , wet and warm. The image caused his mind to drift to other less than honorable thoughts of her, and he had to remind himself that they weren't alone anymore, and that the one that she would more than likely end up with was standing only feet away. Gale already held an unhealthy dislike for Peeta, and that regard was in place far before Peeta had noticed Katniss.

They maintained their eye contact until Gale came into view, blocking her from him, and he suddenly felt empty without her gaze on him. Gale's considerable height difference obstructed her from Peeta's view and prevented him from seeing her reaction, and their voices were low enough that not even with only a few feet separating them could Peeta hear what they were saying. Although it wasn't long before Gale shifted to the side gathering Katniss into a hug so that Peeta could see her face again. Peeta gauged her reaction, her eyes were wide while her mouth was set in a hard, straight line, and she was clearly shocked by Gale's show of affection and by her response Peeta assumed it wasn't something that happened on a regular basis. This only led him to believe that the display was more for Peeta's benefit than anyone else's. It was a clear statement that Peeta needed very little time to decipher: Katniss was his and it was useless for Peeta to question his dominance.

Peeta had to hold back the urge to snort in laughter at the thought of Gale assuming that he had some possession over this girl because even after the little bit of time he had known her, it was apparent she didn't appreciate others presuming they had anything to do with her decisions.

Katniss was the first to break free from the hug, gently pushing Gale back, her eyes slanted to the ground, aware of Peeta's eyes on her. It confused her how easily she found herself lost in his eyes, and she didn't need any more complications at the moment, especially with how possessive Gale seemed at the moment; it was all a strange ride she wanted no part of. So when he bent down to kiss her on the cheek, her stomach lurched violently before she looked back up into Peeta's face and saw the hurt etched onto his strong features. Gale called out a quick farewell before heading to the door, which made her conclude that the entire situation was more for Peeta than Gale wanting to show affection towards her, which only confused and infuriated her further. Her temper began to rise, and before she could question his bizarre behavior, he was out of earshot.

Peeta watched Gale's retreating form, the door still wide open, allowing the thick humid air to fill the room.

"I suppose that's my cue to go," he turned to leave before stepping towards her." About before- I appreciate you wanting to help, even if it was a tad extreme. I haven't met many people who care enough to even try. So thank you."

Katniss nodded mutely, as she watched him to turn to go but not before he gave her a shy smile on his way out.

Peeta deliberately slowed his steps when reaching the threshold, wanting to stretch out the time he had in her presence, because even if it was brief, she filled him with an emotion he wasn't familiar with.

She made him hopeful.

A/N: I'm going to begin updating once a week, that way Court doesn't have to rush with editing and hopefully it gives everyone enough time to read and review. I need those reviews guys, even if it's just to say you like what I'm writing, or you don't.

PLEASE REVIEW!