The ride up to the 12th floor seems to take forever. No one talks to me or even looks at me. The elevator stops at 4 and two step out and then one gets off at 6 before the elevator comes to my floor.
When the doors open I see him standing by the window and his back is to me. I feel all of the anger and hurt well up inside of me and before I can think the words come pouring out.
"How dare you Peeta! You had no right to do that!" I see him turn and his face is a careful mask. I know that is is hurt too but I continue to let my anger out and the fact that he isn't saying or doing anything makes it worse.
"You made me look like a fool in front of the entire county! What the hell where you thinking! How could you do that to me?!"
I feel my anger die out when Peeta lifts his head and I see the stain of tears down his cheeks. He holds his hands up in surrender. "I'm sorry Katniss. I wanted to...I didn't mean to...hurt you. Please. I love you and I thought you..."
"I'm not good at this Peeta. I've never been in love...never even thought about it. I've spent the last 5 years trying to keep my family alive. My dad died and my mom shit down, she spent months in this shell. Left me to take care of Prim. She's the only thing I've loved since he died. I promised I'd try to love you for all long as we have left."
He opens his arms and I feel that twist that pulls me to him and I step into the warmth and his arms wrap around me, only then do I realize that I've been crying too.
"Katniss..." his voice is soothing and feel a tingle run down my spine as flashes from this morning and afternoon come flooding back to me.
"I'm sorry if it hurt me?" He gives me a half smile and his eyes flicker with a look that sparks that flame that only Peeta seems to light in me.
Before I can react he has both of my hands pinned above my head. He holds both wrists easily in one hand. I know that I can't break his grip so I remain still.
His breath is like an inferno as it fans over my skin and when his lips reach my ear the way my name falls from his lips makes me moan, I try to buck my hips but Peeta angles his body so that I am pinned to the wall.
"You where beautiful tonight and I had to try so hard not to smile because of your little secret." I feel his finger slowly push into me and then I remember that I am in fact naked except for Portia's silk paint.
I feel a second finger slip into me and when I moan Peeta begins to pump harder. His lips claim mine in a kiss that is so forceful that I feel like I might fall.
"Oh my word!" We hear Effie's shrieks as we quickly separate. I turn around and that's when I see the shattered pieces of vase and crushed flowers. Did I do that?
"What happened here?" Effie voice holds both shock and concern.
"Katniss got a little upset and she had every right." I hang my head in shame not just because of Peeta's words but because I have also hurt Effie.
"I'm sorry Effie. It was out of line. I got mad and..." I feel Peeta's arm wrap around my waist and I sigh.
"Getting mad is one thing Katniss, but that's no reason to break things. As long as no one's hurt."
"What the hell..." I can tell by Haymitch's tone that he's drunk.
"I broke a vase." I snap at him and Effie shoots me a disapproving look.
"I don't care about that, break whatever you want, but don't yell at the boy. He did something you could never do yourself." His breath is thick with the smell of wine and liquor and it makes me want to puke.
"And what's that Haymitch?" I try to step away but he grabs my shoulders and forces me to stay put.
"He made you desirable and trust me sweetheart you need all the help you can get there. You went from a dead slug to something the talk of the town. The star crossed loves from District 12."
He loosens his grip and I step away quickly. "You managed to look nice up there...maybe ever sweet. But sweet don't get sponsors and they're what keep you alive. He gave you an edge."
Haymitch staggers off with Effie close behind. Cinna and Portia come in and Cinna wraps his arms around me. "He's right Katniss, if you're going to survive you need sponsors...and you need to remember to trust him." He kisses my forehead and steps away as Portia takes his place.
"You looked stunning tonight. I'm going to draw a special bath that will help you to relax." She looks at me and Peeta and smiles. "Enjoy tonight together."
With that they both exit to their rooms and Peeta once again wraps me into his arms. "A bath sounds like fun...what do you say Katniss?"
The purr in his voice makes me moan. "It could be fun, I guess."