Chapter 9: Bliss.
In an instant his lips come crashing down on mine. I part my mouth immediately, allowing entrance as we both devour every taste we can get.
Once his rough chapped lips collide with mine every thought I've ever had goes flying out and all I can focus on are his lips which viciously, recklessly move with mine.
The kiss is far from sweet and innocent. It's rough, jagged, hungry, but filled with so much passion and love thrown into it that we couldn't care less.
I don't object when Gale slams me against the brick wall behind us (not hard enough to hurt of course), a bolt of searing hot electricity surging through my being as his body roughly pushes up against mine, desperately attempting to mold us together as one, all the while not breaking the heated kiss.
His hands slither underneath shirt, grabbing, skating over every inch of skin he can reach. I moan into his mouth once he journeys up, finding the curve of my bra and slipping his hand under it.
Pushing myself up slightly I'm able to get my legs wrapped around his waist while my fingers find themselves tangling through his hair, pulling at the soft ends of it.
Gale's other hand begins to skim up one of the legs encircling him. Starting from the back side of my knee he travels upward until reaching my butt and squeezing it tightly.
I gasp at the contact allowing Gale to break away only to plant kisses up and down my neck and jaw.
I don't know how but in the back of my mind I find some sense of clarity.
"G-Gale," I breathe. "Gale-" Instead of my voice being stern it turns into a long deep moan of his name as he sucks on a sensitive part of skin.
My boyfriend grunts in response.
On my neck, I feel a small smirk forming across his lips. Him obviously enjoying his effect on me. But that smirk disappears immediately once my hand drops down to the waist line of his pants. I fiddle with the edge of it causing him to releases a moan of his own.
"I-" In an instant Gale's lips are back on mine, cutting me off with a hungry kiss. "This isn't going to-fix everything," I tell him through the small pauses of when our mouths aren't colliding with one another.
"We have to-talk about this-and stuff. Gale. Gale!" I finally gather the strength to push him back, interrupting our moment.
We both pull away panting.
Our gaze rest on each other in an intense stare. His orbs, instead of being that silvery grey are blackened with desire, no doubt mirroring my own.
"Right," he agrees huskily. "Right. Just...give me a second to...cool off."
I nod, leaning my head against the wall and squeezing my eyes shut, eliminating any view I have of him for fear of losing control...again.
Gah, what does this boy do to me?
In an attempt to slow his heart-rate Gale goes in to rest his forehead on my shoulder. Unfortunately, in the process of doing so, he's forced to move his midsection closer to mine since my legs remain wrapped around his lower abdomen.
I let out an uncontrollable mix of a needy moan and whimper once his pelvis presses against my own.
We freeze instantly, both of us stiffening.
My eyes shoot open and I grip his shoulder tightly, trying to calm down.
"Oh, screw it," I mutter under my breath dropping down to two feet.
I give Gale a lingering kiss before grabbing his hand and pulling him with me. "Come on."
Not trusting my old home for it not to be bugged and with my mother and Prim at the house we head to our only sanctuary: The woods.
"I hope you know that what happened back there doesn't fix anything."
My boyfriend sighs as we stroll aimlessly along the river, our hands linked together. "I know. I just...couldn't handle it any longer."
"It's fine. Not like I hated it or anything." A small smile peeks at my lips.
Gale chuckles. "That you didn't."
We walk in silence for what seems forever with a growing tension stretching between us as we beat around the bush.
Finally the hunter speaks up, "So, are we going to stop bullshitting ourselves yet and get to the point or are we going to ignore the obvious some more?"
"Ignoring sounds pretty good to me."
"Katniss," he warns.
Sighing I run a hand along my braid, looking down and shaking my head. "Everything's a mess Gale. Everything. The capitol, the uprising, the districts, President Snow's visiting..."
"Woah, wait, what?"
I stare up at him, dumbfounded.
I can't believe I haven't told him yet.
In one foul swoop the realization of not having the time to notify Gale about all that's been going on hits me.
Immediately I launch into an explanation of the events taken place from the morning of the Victory till now.
When I finish he remains quiet, seeming to be thinking it over. "Looks like they have a big problem on their hands."
"They?"
"Yeah. Catnip, you heard Haymitch. The time isn't right to make any rash decisions. When it is you'll know, but for now, if it's not effecting you directly, don't worry about it."
"I guess you're right."
He gives me small peak. "I am." I nod wordlessly, being submerged into the trance that Gale holds over me. Grinning he asks, "Is there anything else?"
I chew on my bottom lip, knowing that what I'm about to bring up is a touchy subject. "Well, then there's Peeta and I's engagement."
Gale helps me climb up onto a large flat rock (letting me become taller) in order to keep walking along. Instead of helping him up though I turn, halting our movement.
If we're going to discuss this then we need to be facing each other.
Witnessing my expectant look Gale pulls me closer from my position, leaning his head against my stomach. I lightly run my fingers through his hair.
"I just have one question," he murmurs softly. "I promise I won't get mad and I won't ask you why because what ever answer you give I'll already know why, no matter what."
My heart picks up in anticipation "Ask me."
"Who's idea was it?"
I close my eyes, tipping my head back. Unwillingly I respond truthfully, "Mine."
Gale doesn't say anything but I feel him nod, acknowledging my reply. "Alright," he accepts. "Is there anything else?"
"No. You?"
"Not at all."
I gaze down at him lovingly, once again running a hand through his thick dark hair. "Good." I help him up on the rock and we resume our stroll through the woods.
I hadn't noticed I was subconsciously leading us to the small shack my father and I visited a time or two before until we had already arrived.
An unspoken agreement passes through us once we notice the sky reaching dusk and the snow beginning to stream down.
"I'm going to get us some food before it gets dark. I remember setting up some snares around here."
"Do you want me to get water from the river?"
Gale shakes his head. "No, it's fine. I'll get it. What we really need right now is a fire."
"Guess you're going to be doing everything tonight then," I tease with a smirk.
"Guess so." He grins, giving me a long sweet kiss on the forehead. "I'll be back."
"Soon alright?"
He nods. "Soon."
Walking into the tiny shelter I can't fight the smile threatening to arise.
More than once have Gale and I stayed here for some...privacy.
It, of course, worried my mother to death the nights I didn't come home but after assuring her I was fine I'd lie, preaching that I was just at the old house (which was true sometimes) instead of being here, alone, with my boyfriend.
I give the room a sweep of the eyes before setting out to work.
After piling the thin bedding and numerous blankets (which we had stored in the corner) to sleep on I start the process of creating a fire.
Even though I know he's fine my anxiety levels rise with each minute which passes that Gale hasn't come back yet.
That all goes down the drain though once I feel a pair of arms encasing myself from behind, tugging me back into his hard chest. I lean into him, basking in his presence.
"You built that fire, huh?" he whispers, nibbling on my ear.
I make an effort to respond but can't force anything out because of my hitched breath once Gale trails kisses down my neck. "Huh Catnip?" he urges with a thick husky tone, knowing the only sound I'll be able to make is a moan or a sigh.
"Shut up," I'm finally able to squeeze out weakly causing him to chuckle.
He peels off my coat from behind, starting on the buttons of my shirt.
Warning bells go off in my head. Usually I wouldn't resist (God no) but what took place earlier...I need to know before anything else happens.
"What you said this morning," I start. "Right before you left-"
"I didn't mean it." Gale halts, turning me around so I'm facing him. "Not even a little bit Catnip."
Something in his eyes startles me. It could have been the genuine way he reassured me, or that intense gaze he treasures.
Whatever it is somehow I know, I know he's not lying to me.
"Okay." I nod slowly.
He gives me one more look to make sure I'm alright and that I didn't just say that.
When satisfied he gently takes my face in his hands, leaning in and granting me the glorious sensation of having his lips on mine in a soft, slow, passionate kiss.
Together, we lower ourselves to the floor, atop the blankets with Gale hovering over me. "I love you," he murmurs.
"I love you."
With my last words filling the air our lips meet once more and the rest...
Is pure bliss.
I posted this a little later than I wanted...but at least it got up!
Anyway…no, yeah, that's it. I just felt like putting an author's note. :)
Peace. Bye. Au revoir. Adios. Addio. Um, auf wiedersehen…I think.
Bonne journée!