Thank you so much for your continued reading and reviewing! I appreciate it so much and I adore you all so much. Big thanks to Lisa for always helping me and fixing my mistakes. I love you!
Peeta can't get Effie's words out of his head. Learning that Haymitch is homosexual leaves Peeta wondering what other secrets Haymitch may be keeping. He knows that Effie means well, but blackmailing is not something he's ever considered.
Haymitch is a stubborn bastard. Peeta's always known that, but exposing him won't make Peeta feel better. Still, having the knowledge gives Peeta hope that maybe Haymitch will listen to him.
He hasn't mentioned it to Katniss. Things between them are perfect. Any unnecessary stress is something Peeta wants to avoid. He wishes he could ask for her advice, though.
The official restart of the study begins today. The office buzzes with excitement. Finnick smiles at Annie who chatters away with Katniss excitedly.
The nerves everyone felt in the beginning have long since faded away. Peeta clears his throat to get everyone's attention immediately.
"I'm really glad you two decided to come back and help us out," he says, gesturing to Annie and Finnick with a thankful grin. "It's been really difficult for me lately, but you all believed in this study, and I'm truly grateful."
Katniss smiles proudly at Peeta. She always knew that he would find his way back to the study.
"Enough with the sappy speeches," Finnick interrupts with a wide smile. "We are wasting valuable research time."
"Shut up Finnick!" Katniss growls at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "I swear you just like hearing yourself talk." Annie covers her mouth to suppress her giggles.
"I don't understand why Peeta likes you," Finnick wonders aloud. "You're the meanest person I've ever had the displeasure of knowing."
"Can we not do this, please?" Peeta begs, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and pointer finger. "Finnick, you do talk a lot," he says with a sigh. "Katniss, can you please ignore Finnick and play nice?"
"Fine," Katniss says with a huff.
Peeta decides the he and Katniss will talk with the two participants separately to get a good idea of what brings them the most sexual gratification.
Finnick leans back in his chair with his hands resting behind his head. "Are you ever going to tell me what Katniss is like in bed? I mean you've seen me have sex. It's only fair."
Peeta bites his bottom lip, trying to keep his growing temper in check. "Do you enjoy foreplay as much as the actual act of intercourse or could you do without it?"
"Okay, avoiding the question," he says with a shrug. "Foreplay really isn't my thing. I do it for the woman, but I would much rather just get down to business."
Peeta nods, scribbling down the answer in his notebook. "Would you say that your partner is more sexually satisfied if foreplay is initiated?"
"I've never really paid that much attention…"
Peeta's not surprised that Finnick is more about himself when it comes to sex. He thinks about how he's always focused on keeping Katniss satisfied. "Do you enjoy performing cunninglus?"
"It's okay," he answers softly. "I never get much response from it."
Peeta does his best to hide the smirk forming on his lips. "I assume you like receiving fellatio?"
"Who doesn't like being on the receiving end of that?" he says with a chuckle. "It's almost better than sex." He pauses. "Almost."
It's impossible to disagree with Finnick. Peeta loves the sensation of Katniss' tongue running along the underside of his shaft before her mouth envelops his cock. "How long would you say it takes during sexual intercourse for you to ejaculate?"
"Uh, I guess it depends on how aroused I am," he says, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maybe 10 minutes if I just want to come."
Peeta notices the deep red flush spreading on Finnick's cheeks. "Is there something wrong?" he asks. "You seem a little flustered."
"I don't want to talk about it," Finnick snaps back.
His answer doesn't satisfy Peeta; he can tell something more is going on. He leans forward in his chair, setting down his pen and paper. "You don't have to lie to me," Peeta reminds him. "I'm a doctor, and this is strictly professional."
"This is humiliating," Finnick mutters under his breath just loud enough for Peeta to hear. "Lately, I can't explain why–fuck. I haven't been able to get it up."
"So you aren't able to maintain or achieve an erection?" Finnick winces at Peeta's words. "When did this start?"
"After the study ended, I decided to ask Annie out on a date," he begins to explain. "She agreed, and we had an amazing time together, but when we got back to my place and tried to have sex…nothing. It's not like I haven't slept with her before!"
Peeta's familiar with performance anxiety. He's studied it in detail, but Finnick having the problem surprises him. "Can you masturbate?"
"It's lifeless, Doc," Finnick says, gesturing to his crotch. "You have to help me figure this out."
Meanwhile, a few exam rooms over, Katniss asks Annie the same type of questions. "Can you achieve orgasm without clitoral stimulation?"
"It's never happened without it," she answers softly. "I try to explain during sex that if he rubs my clitoris, I'll come. But making that extra effort is such a difficult concept for most guys to grasp, I guess."
Katniss nods sympathetically. "Do you sometimes prefer masturbation over sexual intercourse?"
"Definitely!" Annie replies with a giggle. "I mean–it's faster, and I don't have to be bothered with all the other nonsense that goes along with sex."
The dark haired woman snorts out a laugh. "I have to agree with you on that," Katniss says with a smile. "Although, there is nothing like when he first pushes inside of you, and your body tightens around him..."
"And his mouth hangs open a little as he shuts his eyes," Annie adds enthusiastically.
Katniss sighs dreamily, imagining Peeta's face every time they have sex, his blue eyes glazing over with every thrust of his hips. "Okay, we got off track here," she says, clearing her throat and trying to ignore the dampness in her panties. "Do you enjoy foreplay? Does it make a difference when you actually have sex?"
"I like when a guy will go down on me," Annie says shyly. "I haven't met many who are willing to do it, but there's nothing like that feeling of their wet tongue on your lips."
It surprises Katniss how vocal the red head is. Obviously Annie's not shy, but hearing her talk so openly about sex is interesting. "Would you ever exchange in a same sex relationship?"
Annie is quiet for a few moments, playing with the ends of her hair nervously. Peeta wants sexual diversity, and Katniss agrees it's best for the study. "I've never given it much thought," Annie says with a shrug. "Maybe if the moment was right, and I was attracted to whoever it was."
"Well, I think I got enough information today," Katniss says happily. "Dr. Mellark really appreciates your help."
It may only be the very beginning stages of Peeta's study, but Katniss feels optimistic. Something is different this time around, and she knows it's going to be perfect.
Peeta stretches his arms with a loud yawn, grinning at Katniss who is reading next to him in bed.
"Are you tired already? It's not even 8 o'clock," she wonders.
"It's been a busy day," he says, brushing a stray piece of hair out of her face. "I missed you."
Katniss rolls her eyes with a laugh. "I was only a few doors down," she reminds him. "There is no reason why you couldn't have popped in and visited."
"Have I told you how beautiful you look today?" His fingers dance along her bare thigh slowly. "Listening to people talk about sex all day made me miss you a whole lot."
Goosebumps appear on her skin where Peeta's fingers land. Her clit begins to pulse. "What exactly did you miss?"
"Do you want me tell you?" he whispers against her lips. "Or maybe I should just show you."
Katniss bucks her hips forward when Peeta begins rubbing her clitioris over the thin material of her cotton panties. "I think you'll need a new pair of these," he snickers before slipping his hand beneath the fabric. "Shit, I'll never get over how wet you get for me."
"Peeta!" Katniss whines. "Stop teasing me."
He rubs her soaked folds, relishing in the feeling of her arousal coating his fingers. "I enjoy teasing you," he confesses with a smirk. "It sure feels like you like when I tease you."
The tiny bundle of nerves between her thighs pulses with anticipation. Peeta maneuvers his fingers everywhere but the spot she craves most.
"I want you so bad," she mewls while gyrating her hips in movement with his fingers. "Please, I just want to feel you inside me."
Peeta brushes his thumb gently over her clit before inserting two fingers into her vagina. Her walls contract around the invasion, pushing her hips down so that his digits are stroking the spot that makes her see stars.
"I'm gonna fuck you so hard." He pumps in and out at a rapid pace. The mixture of his gruff words and long, thick fingers make Katniss cry out with pleasure.
The tight coil in her belly springs free immediately, releasing all the tension that was building between her thighs. "Oh shit!"
Peeta fights the pain in his crotch as Katniss falls back on the bed with a satisfied smile. She looks at him deviously before open her legs, waiting for him to make a move.
"Turn around for me," he commands, yanking down his pants and underwear. "I want to fuck you from my behind."
She positions herself on her hands and knees, laying her head on his soft pillow. Peeta grabs her hips firmly, positioning himself at her entrance.
He slides into her heat slowly, a deep groan escaping his lips. "Ah shit," Peeta gasps. "I love being inside of you."
Peeta's quick thrusts make Katniss clench her walls around his pulsing shaft. It's obvious he's close to coming. The build up to their lovemaking made his need for release that much more intense.
The only sound that can be heard is their gasping breaths. Katniss whimpers as his cock hits the deepest part of her sex.
Suddenly, Peeta's hips still as he spurts his hot release into her vagina, groaning into her neck as she milks him of his orgasm.
"I love you," he whispers with a smile. "I love you so much."
She presses a soft kiss to his sweaty forehead. "And I love you, Peeta."
Katniss knows it's risky to be back at Peeta's old hospital, but she needs to recruit more volunteers, and it's the best place to start.
She hopes Peeta is happy with just conducting the study, but it's obvious he misses the other part of his life. It's still the same old hospital. Katniss smiles at the memory of when she first met Peeta in his office and how he immediately took her breath away.
This job was never supposed to be a long term thing. Katniss started it to help pay for her schooling, but once she began helping Peeta with his study, school was pushed to the side.
When Peeta was fired, Katniss continued to work as a secretary for different doctors that needed her help. Once Peeta decided he was ready to begin the study again, Katniss made the decision to resign.
Money is tight, but she spends time looking for a part time job that will give her the opportunity to assist Peeta in every way he needs. The study is important, and Katniss wants to be a part of it. Sometimes that requires sacrifices.
She wanders through the hallway, making her way to Peeta's old office. When she passes the door, a new name plate is on the front.
Dr. Alma Coin
"Do you have an appointment?" a female voice says, causing Katniss to spin around.
A woman with all grey hair and light grey eyes stands in front of her. "Oh, I'm–I was just–I use to work in this office."
"You worked for Dr. Mellark?"
Katniss nods. "I did...do."
"I was under the impression he no longer practices medicine," the grey haired woman says. "He's a good doctor. I would have enjoyed working with him."
"Are you Dr. Coin?" Katniss asks curiously. The other woman nods. "I haven't seen a lot of female doctors in this field."
Dr. Coin laughs to herself. "It's because I'm the only one on the East Coast."
"That's really impressive," Katniss tells her with a smile. "Are you an obstetrician?"
"I am. I'm also beginning a study once Dr. Abernathy gives me the proper clearance."
Katniss' eyes widen. There's something about Coin that has her fixated. She can tell she's a tough woman, but Katniss sees something more. "Good luck with that."
"You aren't the first person to say that," Coin says with a sigh. "I know people think I'm in over my head, but what I'm working on will change women's health forever."
The passion in her voice reminds Katniss of Peeta. They both believe in themselves and their studies. Katniss is immediately drawn to Coin's intensity.
"This may be a bit forward, but if you need any help...I have research experience."
Coin gives Katniss a genuine smile. "Why don't we get some coffee and talk?"