Peeta POV

Chapter 5

When she's done, Katniss comes down to the kitchen. I've just finished cleaning up. I kiss her then head up to shower myself. She said she was going to get something together for our dinner. Seeing her in more of my clothes does telling things to my body. She looks so sexy in my sweat pants and t-shirt with her hair wet and dripping along the front of the shirt. The wet spots were clinging to her skin, accentuating the top curve of her breasts.

As I take a cold shower I try to calm my racing heart and steer my thoughts down a much safer path. Katniss has always done this to me, without her even knowing it. When we slept together on the train and in the Capitol I had to fight almost every waking second to keep my thoughts innocent about the girl curled up on my chest. I, especially, had to work hard to keep my body from reacting to hers.

When I am done I dry off and pull on some clean pajama pants, no shirt. I think I hear muffled cries so I head downstairs quickly and rush to the kitchen. Where is Katniss? I walk around the island and see her curled into a ball on the floor, crying uncontrollably. As I hurry to her side I notice the goat's cheese sitting on the counter. Prim. I pick her up and carry her to my bed. I hold her and whisper soothing words for an hour before she finally passes out from exhaustion. I hold her close for another hour then, quietly, I slip out of bed, covering her up and kissing her forehead before I head back down to the kitchen.

I set about making cheese buns. Once they are baking in the oven I start to put away the food she had gotten out for us. I hide the goat cheese in the back of the fridge. I'll take it to Greasy Sae tomorrow. I had completely forgotten I had it. I feel horrible. My sweet Katniss was finally having a good day and I go and ruin it with my carelessness.

When the buns are done I pile 6 on a plate, pour 2 glasses of water, and set everything up on a serving tray. As I'm making my way upstairs I hear her call my name. I smile to myself. I walk through the door and I see relief flood her face. She smiles at me as I place the tray on the bed. I sit down next to her and kiss her forehead. Her eyes close and my heart skips a beat.

"Let's eat." I say. And she does. She gulps her water down in one large drink then devours 4 rolls. I see her eyeing my water and I offer it to her. She starts to protest so I pretend like it was for her all along and say "I brought it for you." She drinks that quickly, too. She must be dehydrated from all the crying.

"Feeling better?" I ask, eyeing her closely. She nods and kisses my cheek.

"Thank you, for everything." She replies.

"That's what I'm here for Katniss." I say. "I'll be right back. I'm going to take the tray down to the kitchen." I get up and head down, tray in hand.

"Ok." I hear her say as I'm headed towards the hallway.

When I get back I climb into bed with her and she lies on my chest, running her hands through my chest hair. I sigh. This feels so right. "That feels nice." I tell her. She looks up at me with her deep gray eyes, endless pools of emotion. I grab her chin as gently as I can manage and bring her lips up to mine. They are so soft. I just want to take her. I want to flip her over and show her how much I love her. But I don't. I'll let her set the pace. After tonight I don't want to push her. But I do want a little more. I run my tongue over her soft, swollen lips and she takes the hint, opening her mouth. As our kisses deepen she sits up over me, her hands on my chest. I grab her head in my hands, keeping her from breaking our kiss. Obviously she hadn't planned on doing that because she is slowly climbing on top of me. I kiss her with my lips, my heart, and my soul. Desperate to have her feel every emotion I have inside for her.

I sit up so she is in my lap, straddling me. I can feel the heat from in between her legs radiate through my lower region. My control is starting to slip. I start touching her all over while she grabs at my hair, my arms, and my face. I'm pulling her hair back so I can deepen our kiss and drag her against my body. I want to feel her chest against mine with no barrier in between. Swiftly, I pull her shirt off. I can tell she barely registers it at first. I lean back from her so I can see her. She starts to blush as I appreciate her.

"You are so beautiful Katniss." I tell her with as much sincerity as I possibly can. Because it's true; she is. I look into her eyes as I move my hands up her waist. I stop, waiting for permission to go higher. She doesn't nod or anything. Instead she grabs my hands and moves them for me. She places my hands over her breasts and I immediately look down. Her breasts are on the smaller side but they feel great in my hands, where they fit perfectly. I run my fingers over her, hardening her nipples. I start to tug at them and roll them between my thumb and forefinger. I can't help myself; I lean forward and taste her.

As I swirl my tongue around one peak, lightly nipping at it with my teeth and sucking, I mimic with my fingers on the other one. Then switch. She tastes how I imagine the woods would. I hear her moan. That singularly most beautiful sound breaks my trance and I am kissing her again. I wrap my arms around her waist and press her to me, loving the feel of our bare chests pressed together.

I lay her down on the bed, rolling so I'm on top. I realize now that she isn't going to stop me. This is it. I'm finally going to be able to make love to the woman of my dreams. I've imagined it so many times, so many different ways, but the reality is more unbelievable and amazing than anything I could have ever dreamt.

I sit up and take my pants off of her. I am hurting with how much I want her. Her perfect, scarred body is like a feast lay before a starving man. I want to explore every single inch of her with my hands, my lips, and my tongue. But not tonight. Tonight I am about to lose what little sanity I have left if I don't burry myself in her soon.

I stand up to take my own pants off, leaving us both completely naked. Together. For the first time. I look at her as her eyes scour my scarred and very aroused body. I see the desire burning in her eyes. I settle myself back on top of her between her parted legs. Oh god.

"Are you sure Katniss?" I ask her, giving her one last chance to stop.

"Yes, I'm sure." She says. My prayers have been answered. She places her hand over my erratically beating heart and kisses me there. Then she kisses my lips. Our tongues join together just as our bodies are about to. I slowly start pushing myself into her agonizingly slow to ease her pain. Her breath only hitches once when I break through her virginity.

And now she is mine and I am hers. Fully and completely one. Now and forever.

I move in her, with her, at a slow and gentle pace. I last much longer than I expected. I just didn't want to stop this feeling. Loving her like this, showing her, is all I've ever wanted to do. I will never love another for as long as I'm living.

When, finally, we are finished and our breathing returns to normal we lay there in each others arms and I whisper "You love me. Real or not real?"

She tells me "Real."