All characters belong to the amazing Suzanne Collins. I am merely a fan and an avid role-player who wishes to continue the story a bit farther. Please be respectful and keep in mind that I am not a professional writer…Positive critiques are welcome.

Rated M – Mature audiences ONLY

Chapter 7 – Your Touch, Your Kiss

"Katniss!" Startled awake by the scream, I struggle against the darkness and the arms that hold me. "No! Don't go!" Peeta, who struggles against me, holding me ever tighter and yet thrashing against me, comes awake with a jolt. The sound of his frantic breathing fills the room, replacing his screams as he tries to discern where he is. Barely able to make out the outline of his face, I reach out, gently laying my hand on his cheek. He immediately jerks in reaction, clearly startled by my touch.

"Peeta… It's me, I'm here…"Trying my best to keep the tone of my voice calm and soothing, I gently stroke his cheek with my thumb. Hoping that my voice and my touch will reach him through the nightmare that still grips him, I remain calm and move slow. I can still feel the heat coming off of his body, even though I know he'll be covered in a cold sweat, which always follows the nightmares. With my free hand I continue to clutch the same section of Peeta's shirt I held as I'd fallen asleep. I'm reluctant to let go of him in any way. "'Im here Peeta…It was only a dream…I'm here…" The nightmare is over, but even as his panting begins to slow, he remains silent. Not knowing what else to say I continue to repeat what I have said, hoping that my voice will sooth him in some way. "It's over…I'm here…"

"I'm sorry…" It's obvious that he's apologizing for waking me with his screaming and trashing, but that hardly matters. While I'm not surprised by the nightmares or his reaction, I have to wonder what he dreamt of and why he called my name as he did.

"There's no need to apologize…" Although I can't see his face clearly in the dark, by his tone I can tell that his words had been sincere and held a deep sadness. "Do you want to tell me about it? It might help…" Personally, the last thing I would want to do after waking up screaming is relive the nightmare by talking about it, but I know that no matter what he does, it will continue to run through his mind. Waiting in the silence, I unclench the fist that grasps his shirt and gently begin to run my hand over his chest. I'm not used to comforting anyone besides Prim, and even though my motions are a bit awkward, I want to sooth Peeta's fears and anxiety in any way that I can.

"I dreamt about you…" His whisper is so soft that at first I thought I'd imagined it, but as he moved to home me a little tighter, I knew I hadn't.

"About losing me?" As he'd come awake he'd called out for me not to go…I can only assume that when he called out, he was asking for me not to leave him behind.

Nodding in the dark he confirms my suspicions. "I can't explain what happened…but I know that for whatever reason, you were going to leave me behind, forever…and I didn't want you to go. Nothing I could do or say would stop you…" As he pauses for a moment I continued to rub his chest and back, wanting him to know that I am still listening, and not going anywhere. "I tried to run after you…but no matter how fast I ran you kept moving ahead of me, until you were gone." While his dream doesn't seem as gruesome as I would have thought it to be, I suspect that he's leaving out certain details on purpose, but I don't push the matter.

With my hand running up and down the length of his back, I remain silent as I think of what he has told me. In the past, Peeta had confessed that the majority of his nightmares had centered on losing me…But, if he were to wake up with me in his arms, his nightmares would be proven false. I have to wonder about the last year, the time we have spent apart. Are his dreams still the same? Or have they changed since his capture, his torture? Hearing his dream now, I hope that he merely dreams of me walking away from him and not something more haunting from his imprisonment. "I'm not planning on going anywhere Peeta…and besides, you know most of my hiding places anyway." I tease lightly with a smile, wanting to reassure him that even if I were to disappear, that he would always be able to find me.

The heavy sigh he releases, along with the relaxing of his shoulders and back indicate his reassurance in the best way. Moving my hand up to the top of his back, I lightly run my fingers through his blond hair, feeling the silkiness slip through my fingers with each pass of my hand. I remain silent as we both hold onto each other, Peeta, holding me as tightly as he dares, and me, holding onto him, to reassure him of my presence. I hadn't expected him to awaken from a nightmare, in fact I had feared that I would be the one to awaken screaming in the dark…But it seems that Peeta's presence had soothed me and banished the nightmares for the evening, just as he had done so long ago.

"Thank you…for staying with me…" His lips, soft and warm are lightly pressed against my neck as he whispers his words of gratitude. With his face buried against my neck and hair, his breath playing across my skin, I feel tremors of some unknown feeling resonating through me. I feel goose bumps spread over my body in reaction as my heart begins to beat a little faster. With his warmth pressed against me, his warm lips upon my neck…I feel the urge to kiss him in that moment, but I can't bring myself to break away from him when he needs my comfort.

"You would have done this and much more for me Peeta…it's the least I could do…" I whisper back, my voice slightly strained as I try and figure out why my body is reacting in such a way. I feel hot and slightly achy, but I know that this is not a feeling of sickness…Puzzled, I keep my thoughts to myself as Peeta and I lay in one another's arms.

A short time of silence passes before I feel a soft kiss press against my neck, the contact sending shivers through me. Gasping in surprise as well as pleasure, I grasp the back of Peeta's shirt in reaction, clinging to him. "Peeta?" I whisper, unsure of his actions, but in no way condoning it. Slowly, he pulls back but only slightly. Through the darkness I can see his eyes as he looks down at me, his gaze holding that familiar look of longing, and something more. "Peeta?" I repeat again, a bit unsure of what he's silently trying to tell me.

"I want to kiss you…I want to feel your skin against mine …I want to feel as much of you as I can…I can't help it…" He whispers, his tone sincere and a bit firm. "I want so much of you…so many things that I'm afraid to ask for, afraid to take…but I can't help it."

Even in the darkness I'm sure he can see my blushing cheeks as I take in what he's saying. The way he kissed me only a few moments before had been sweet, but direct. It had left me wanting something more, something I too was afraid of asking for…But are we ready for such a big step, after only just reconnecting? Nibbling my bottom lip as I contemplate my answer, I watch as his gaze become fixated on my action. Watching him lick his own lips only causes me to do the same...Finally allowing myself to give in, I whisper, "Kiss me…"

I don't have to ask twice before he's pulling me close, his lips pressed firmly, yet affectionately against mine in a searing kiss. Clinging to him, my nails lightly digging in through his shirt, I hold onto him as tightly as I dare. As our lips slightly part, I feel his tongue gently probing against mine, as he asks for an even deeper kiss. Hesitant as first, I slowly begin to give in. Taking the opportunity, gently his tongue enters my mouth to move against my own tongue. Slowly at first, learning one another, we soon fall into a rhythm of kissing that is soon leaving us both panting. As we kiss I become lost in the haze of our actions, and soon I find myself pulling off his shirt, our lips parting for only a moment as I pull it over his head. My hands glide over his bare skin, soaking up his warmth as I explore every curve of his back and chest.

The kiss goes on and on for what seems like forever until finally our lips part. Looking into one another's eyes as we catch our breath, I can't help but feel a shift. Something has awakened inside of me, a type of hunger that I can't seem to describe. But I know deep down that Peeta is the only man who can satisfy it…

Still holding his gaze, I can feel his hands reach down to slowly pull my own shirt up and over my head. Dressed only in our pants now, our chests bare, I don't resist as he reaches out to pull me against him. As our naked flesh touches, we both gasp in pleasure and contentment. Smiling into the dark, we don't say anything as our hands gently explore one another. As he touches me, his hands warm and strong, I gasp in pleasure and surprise at the feelings that he causes my body to experience for the first time. "Peeta…" I whisper his name so many times; it begins to become associated with my pleasure. At first I fear that he won't like my whispers, but each time I whisper his name, he rewards me with a well-placed kiss or touch…

We both know that we need to take things slow…and as such we only explore one another this night. Kissing, touching, we use our senses to learn one another intimately for the very first time. It is during these first few experiences that I realize that I could easily fall deeply in love with Peeta…While this might have scared me sometime before, now…the idea not only warms my heart, it gives me hope…As the hours begin to slip by, Peeta's presence, his gentle touches and the darkness begin to weigh on me. Sleep beckons, but I'm hesitant to give in, to leave Peeta in this way. Sensing my struggle I feel him lightly nuzzle my neck before lovingly kissing my lips. With his lips less than an inch from mine he whispers, "It's alright…I'm not afraid…Sleep…" And with those words in mind, I slip into a dreamless, restful sleep, in the arms of the one man I could truly come to love…

END Chapter 7 – Your Touch, Your Kiss

Story Continues in Chapter 8