Once again, I have no excuses; just been incredibly busy. Thank you to everyone who favs/followed/reviewed. It's appreciated. This chapter is a bit short but I will post the next chapter within a day or two. Thanks again.

I own nothing. I'm only working with the idea. Everything else is owned by their respective parties.

And their game continued but it proved to be a dangerous game, because both of them were one more inappropriate comment from stripping their clothes off and jumping on one another.

It started innocently. Some touching and innocent enough kisses. Mostly, it was just practice for when they were out together, which was quite a lot. Not that they went out, but Peeta would pick her up after work and everywhere Katniss went, Peeta was there. Of course, no one knew what the real purpose was to their "always being together." To everyone looking in, they were newly weds in love and that's what Katniss and Peeta needed everyone to believe.

But somewhere along the way, their kisses became heated. They were flirting with each other every chance they got. They truly enjoyed one another's company and it just made everything awkward when one of them figured out what was happening, effectively ruining the moment.

So, it became a waning thought at home for the Mellark's. There were too many feelings and sexual tension. Neither one knew how to fix it without crossing that unspoken invisible line.

Katniss was sitting at the small table in the kitchen with Peeta washing something. She mixed her coffee tentatively while she stared at Peeta's back. Her mind wandered to a recent moment of him.

Flashback

Katniss walked into the living room. She stopped when she saw Peeta sitting on the couch, shirtless and eating ramen. Generally, Katniss would be staring at his chest and how well toned it was. But her stomach brought her out of that. She was hungry and he had ramen. She went back to the kitchen, searching the cupboards for a cup.

"Hey, Peeta?" She yelled from the kitchen.

"Yea?"

"Where'd you get that ramen?" She waited, but heard nothing. "Peeta?" Katniss got tired of waiting and went out to look at him. Peeta only sat quietly on the couch.

"Um, it's the last one." He looked guiltily at her. Katniss only sighed. She plopped down next to him. "You can have it if you want." He tries giving it to her.

"No, it's okay." She waived him off. Peeta took another mouthful before he put the cup down on the table.

"I can't eat this knowing you want it. Go ahead, take it!"

"It's really okay, Peeta. I'm not going to die from the munchies."

"My job is to take care of you. Both as your protector and your fake husband. At least let me make you something." Katniss subconsciously ran her hand up to Peeta's forehead. She tried pushing back his hair so it was out of his face. When it fell back in place, Katniss sighed.

"Alright. But only if you don't mind."

"I don't!" Peeta beamed at her before standing up and heading into the kitchen. She heard a few pots clang around, the water running, and then it was quiet again. After a few minutes, Katniss decided to check on him. Peeta heard her in the doorway and turned to smile at her. She decided to take seat on the countertop next to where he was working.

"I'm making spaghetti. I figured you wanted ramen, so..." Peeta was currently mixing the sauce he was going to use. He took a spoonful and brought it over to her. "Here! Try some!" He fed her the sauce.

"Mhm, it's good!" He smiled at her.

"Good!" He went to the sink and washed his hands. Then, he went over to bowl he had the ground beef in.

"You're making meatballs too?" Katniss asked him."

"Yea. I already seasoned these. Just have to shape them." Peeta grab a generous amount of ground beef and shaped it into a ball. He placed it on the frying pan and continued.

"Can I help?" Katniss asked eagerly.

"Sure! Wash your hands first." She did then went to his side. "Just grab a handful and shape it into a ball. Like this." He showed her.

Peeta made it look so easy. Katniss' meatballs looked a mess. They were anything but round. And for whatever reason, they didn't stay together. They fell apart once they hit the frying pan. Peeta couldn't help but chuckle which made Katniss shoot him a death glare.

"Here, let me help." Peeta took a couple of the finished meatballs of the pan, giving them room to cook more. "Okay." He grabbed a handful of meat in his right hand and positioned himself behind Katniss. He grabbed her left hand and placed the meat there. Peeta grabbed her other hand and brought it together with her other. He placed both his hands outside of hers and continued. "Firmly press it into your hands." He chuckled. "I'm not sure what you're doing, but they should be round if you use your palms."

Katniss was dying. She had a shirtless Peeta pressed against her back. His skin naturally radiated warmth, which caused Katniss to feel warmth in her core. His hands were big and smooth around hers. The feeling was nice. Luckily for her, Peeta was so into the meatballs, he couldn't see her blush. Katniss leaned back slightly into him.

"You got it?" He smiled down at her. Katniss looked up at him. She had a dreamy look on her face. Words didn't come, so she just nodded her head. "Good!" He kissed her forehead before finally releasing her. Katniss only stood there, stunned by the feelings that were going through her.

Meanwhile, Peeta stood at the sink washing his plate. He wasn't sure when their game took a turn for the worst. His mind wandered over to her and their time together. He silently groaned and grinded into the countertop in front of him. It was the only way he could try and keep his feelings for Katniss at bay.

Flashback

Peeta was sitting on the couch cleaning his gun. He turned his head towards the stairs when he heard Katniss come clamoring down them.

She stopped when she saw him looking at her. "The bathroom upstairs is broken!" She said as she ran into the downstairs one.

Peeta made a face, "No it's not! Did you pull the knob before turning it?" He yelled at her. She peeked her head into the doorway.

"I guess not! But whatever. I'm taking a shower down here." Katniss tells him before she turns the shower on. Peeta only shook his head. When he thought of something to say, he turned his head towards the bathroom door. That's when he noticed she hadn't closed it all the way. Peeta swallowed hard when he caught sight of Katniss' long, tanned legs. She was turned away from him when her shirt came off. He caught sight of her back. His eyes trailed down and just got a glimpse of Katniss' ass. Peeta felt himself getting hard. He willed himself not to, but then she turned slightly to her side and he got a glimpse of side-boob. His erection strained against his pants. Fuck!

Peeta finally turned away when she got into the shower. He looked down at himself. Katniss was killing him in the worst way possible. He groaned. He was going to have to deal with his "problem" now. He holstered his gun and decided to take care of it upstairs. He walked past the bathroom door when he heard her scream.

"Katniss!" He yelled back before bursting through the bathroom door, gun in hand. Peeta caught her as she fell out of the shower. He went into cop mode, holding her against him, protectively, as he searched the bathroom for the source of her angst.

Katniss had fallen backwards out of the shower. When Peeta caught her, his arm wrapped around her waist, his hand right underneath her naked breasts. She noticed she was slipping in his grasp from being wet. His hand was inches from her breasts. Katniss desperately reached out for one of the towels on the rack. When she got a hold of the towel, she threw it over her body.

"Peeta?!"

"What?! What's wrong?! Why'd you scream?!"

"The water went cold! Peeta..." Katniss shook in his hold, only partially from being wet.

Peeta looked down at the wet, naked woman in his arms. Her naked backside was against his front and his erection. He saw that she had a towel draped loosely around her front covering all her intimate areas. He then realized where his hand was. He released her instantly, turning away. Katniss quickly wrapped herself in the towel, while keeping an eye on Peeta. He kept his eyes off her as he walked closer to the shower. He ducked his hand in, checking the water temperature.

"It's good now." Peeta said as he made his way out of the bathroom. Once out, he made his way upstairs. He closed the door behind him when he got into his bathroom. He hoped Katniss hadn't felt his erection. He eyed the hand that had been so dangerously close to her breasts. His erection twitched as he thought about her naked body against him. He groaned again. Now he was the one who needed that cold shower.

Katniss went through scenarios in her head. What's the worst that could happen if they just got it in real quick? He was technically her husband and it wasn't like she could just go out and meet some random stranger on the street. He was her only option. She wondered if the FBI thought about this possibility when they set people up like this. They gave her everything: a house, job, husband, but no sex? What was up with that? She groaned to herself. How she wished to be that plate Peeta was so methodically washing.

Peeta finished doing what he was doing. He turned around, leaning against the sink. Katniss looked up from her coffee to meet his gaze.

"So..." Peeta starts.

You want to have sex? God, Peeta just ask me and I'm yours, Katniss couldn't help but think.

"You want to do anything today?" He asked her. Katniss ran her hand down her face. Her core ached with need and he was the only one who could do anything about it.

"Peeta." Katniss stood and walked over to him. "What would you do if I did this?" Katniss leaned into him. She didn't kiss him, but she did run her hands from his chest down to his belt.

"Katniss..." He whispered.

"Peeta..." She kissed his chin. "You have something I need..." She positioned herself in front of him. She slowly raised her knee up, positioning it right underneath his growing bulge. Peeta groaned at the contact. "I see you need it too."

"I don't..." Peeta hissed when she pressed harder.

"It's been, what, four months since we've been here. So that's at least four months of no...relief." She finished.

"I've gone longer.." Peeta strains. Katniss continues kissing him. She then starts unbuttoning his shirt. Peeta throws his head back at the feel of her hands all over his exposed chest. "Please Katniss..."

"What, Peeta...what do you want?" Peeta leans into her touch. He places his hand on the back of her neck.

"We shouldn't do this..." Peeta whispers in her ear.

"Why not? You're a man and I'm a woman. It's what we do..." Katniss has already unbuckled his pants. When Peeta feels her hand in his boxers, he loses it. He picks her up and lays her on the table Katniss had been sitting at earlier. He finally rips his shirt off. Peeta attacks her lips. He leans towards her ear while he undoes her pants.

"One time, Katniss!" He groans.

"One time."

And this is what happens when you let things build...The good stuff is next chapter so stay tuned...