Chapter 7: Fall Asleep with Me Tonight
Our first night in the cave is less than ideal.
A huge thunderstorm rolls in just after our meager dinner, dumping biblical amounts of rain with such force that the wind blows droplets sideways.
The cave itself is expansive, with enough caverns for each person to have their own room. There's also a main chamber, which will likely be our dining room, a smaller one off to the right that's perfect for a kitchen and a third that actually features a pool, filled by water from the stalactites above. That will be a communal bathroom.
It isn't long before the others have each claimed a bedroom cavern, set out their bedrolls and gone to sleep. I remain awake on watch, but Peeta is also up. I observe him as he stares out at the torrential rain just beyond our cave.
"Shouldn't you get some sleep?" I ask. He shakes his head.
"I can't. Not without you." He glances back and smiles softly. "Having you there…. It's like some kind of drug. You chase any nightmares away and then appear in my dreams."
He dreams about me? I think, surprised. I don't know why I am this shocked. I shouldn't be. Peeta has dreamed of being with me since we were five. He loves me. Then I realize with a shock as I naturally finish the thought, as if it has been structured that way my whole life.
…..and I love him, too.
Taking a deep breath, I stride over to Peeta, turn him to face me. "Maybe…. we don't need to be in a dream to find contentment."
I drape my arms around his neck and play with the nape of his hair. Seemingly, unwittingly, Peeta's eyes flutter close. I press my lips into his, gently at first and then increasing in desperation. Peeta wraps his arms around my slender waist and pulls me close. I deepen the kiss, probing my tongue with his. I can feel his arousal pressed right up into me, but unlike before when we would fall asleep spooning each other, I do not fear it. In fact, I welcome it.
Feeling bold, I run a hand over the stiff bulge there. "Uhhh…" Peeta groans against my mouth. Then, abruptly, his hands are squeezing my butt and then he is hoisting me by my thighs into the air. Spinning on the spot, he slams us back into the cave wall. All I can do is wrap my legs around his waist, before I feel his pelvis frantically hump mine. I can feel his straining member slapping against me, and I gasp into Peeta's mouth, breaking our kiss.
He attacks my neck like a man possessed, still dry-humping me. I stare at the cave ceiling, allowing him better access, before I suddenly feel my chin being yanked down to his eye-level.
"I want to watch you as I fuck your pussy!" Peeta growls. There is an almost angry power radiating off him, so sexy that I let out an airy yelp and feel wetness burst and pool between my legs, soaking my underwear.
Letting him know how turned on I am, I yank his face back into a deep kiss, a full- blown make-out session. Peeta guides us back into an empty cavern with remarkable skill despite his prosthetic leg, and flings us down on his ready-made bedroll. I lie there, eyes coming unfocused and blurry, panting, as I feel Peeta strip me of my clothes…..
Hours later, we are still making love – a tangle of sweaty limbs and skin. My hands claw at the cave wall before returning to his back, feeling the ripples pulsate between the muscles of his shoulder blades as he works to thrust into me. Even if our sex is frenzied, our kisses are tender. My lips smack against his with a feather-like tenderness, and we gaze into each other's eyes.
When Peeta finally comes inside me for the third, fourth time (I've lost count), we grow limp, spent, falling asleep in other's naked embrace.
It is a few weeks before I feel the nausea.
One minute, I am perfectly fine, preparing meals with Mother and Prim, then the next minute, I am running outside to throw up in the nearest bushes. The third time this happens, I see my mother give me a sad look when I return, before holding out a simple slip of paper. Understanding dawns on my face. I can't be….
But I am. The pregnancy test comes back positive. I am carrying Peeta's baby.
That first night, I wail and scream and sob while Prim and Mother hold me, keeping the men well enough away. I never wanted this. Whether we were in the Capitol's clutches or not, this is no world in which to be rearing a child. Peeta is finally allowed to see me, and when I tell him, he does not judge or place blame anywhere. Like the gentleman that he is, he instantly gets down on one knee. He may not have a ring yet, but he doesn't mind.
"Katniss Everdeen, I once promised you I'd follow you anywhere. Whether we are with child or without, in the wilderness or not, I will follow you into whatever next stage awaits us in this life. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"
"Yes," I croak out through my tears, flinging myself into his arms and kissing him.
Thank God for him. Thank God for Peeta.
Our wedding is held on a beautiful spring day outside, days after Peeta proposed. I am not quite at my 17th birthday.
But age does not matter as Gale graciously walks me down the aisle to meet Peeta, where Rory stands as his Best Man, Haymitch at a crudely fashioned altar ready to perform the ceremony.
Just as Gale places my hand in Peeta's and gives me away, a rumble from the sky makes us all look up.
"Oh, great," Haymitch growls. "All right! Let's make this quick! Double time! Let's go! Katniss, do you love Peeta? Yeah, sure. Peeta, do you love Katniss? Of course you do! Moving on!"
Peeta and I are fumbling putting the rings on each other's fingers as we struggle to keep up with Haymitch's record-breaking sermon. The old drunk clears his throat.
"By the power vested in me as the Victor of the 50th Annual Hunger Games, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Peeta sweeps me into his arms and kisses me passionately. I return it with a smile and to much applause from Mother and Prim. Another thunder rumble, closer now.
"Run for it!" Haymitch yells, abandoning the altar and sprinting for the cave, but it's too late. The heavens open up, breaking Peeta's and my kiss. I laugh, soaking wet and not caring, as I rest in the arms of my new husband, the only man I'll ever love, kissing him until our lips are sore.