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In Name Only

Chapter 13

Part 2

"What are we doing?" Katniss wondered aloud.

"Getting into trouble," Peeta told her secretively, and led Katniss down a hallway to a large closet, then urged her inside. As soon as the door was shut he set down his cane, pulled on a string and lit the space. Katniss felt her body being gently pushed against the door and Peeta's lips on hers. His hands roved her body and grasped her rear as she felt his hardness press tightly on her hip. Lost in the moment, she forgot about all of the other people at the party who might try to open the door at any second.

Right now, all she could think about was Peeta's strong, solid body leaning against hers, and the knowledge of how good he could make her feel with it. They'd not made love since their intense coupling in the wee hours of the morning days ago. She had been on her monthly, and even when it was finished, Peeta wanted to be totally sure that she had recovered before they were together again. However, that had not stopped him from pleasuring her with his mouth last night; when she had gone to reciprocate by touching him, he would not allow it. It was almost as if he was offering penance for harming her to begin with.

Peeta broke the kiss and took a ragged breath. "I'm sorry. I couldn't resist any longer, that dress is something else – I can't wait to see it on our bedroom floor. I just want to get you home and make you call out my name as loudly as you can."

"Who says you have to wait?" Katniss huskily inquired and reached for Peeta's belt, quickly undoing it, and dropping his pants. She reached her hand in his open trousers, located the object of her desire and, wrapping her hand around it firmly, started to stroke.

Peeta let out a gasp, "Katniss!" he admonished. "What are you doing? We can't do this here!"

"I just want to pay back a favor - everything else can wait until we get home." Her tone was low. Katniss felt a sudden compulsion to make her husband feel good. She had been curious for a while about pleasuring Peeta with her mouth, really, ever since he had started doing it for her. Her shyness and novice status made it impossible to ask Peeta about it. Is that something that wives do? Would he even like it? She had worked up the nerve to ask Annie about it while they got ready for the evening as Prim played with Finnie in another room. Annie had assured her that Peeta would like it, but not to expect to be great at it the first time. She sank down to her knees and experimentally kissed the head. Peeta groaned approvingly. Emboldened, she licked him from base to tip before taking him in her mouth.

"Oh, Katniss," he moaned as he braced himself against the door and ever so slightly thrust his hips. Katniss took it as a sign to move so she started to bob her head back and forth. "Suck on it," Peeta implored. She followed his instruction, and wrapped one hand around the base of his member and placed the other on the thigh of his good leg. When she looked up at him, she found that he was watching her, glassy-eyed. There was some grazing with her teeth, and an awkward gag when she took him too deep. Yet she must have been doing something right because in no time he was panting and warning her that he was close. After a second of thought she decided that it would be best to swallow it. Peeta came with a grunt, and Katniss struggled to consume his thick, bitter cum. Peeta caught his breath and helped her to stand, kissing her softly.

"Mrs. Mellark, I never knew that you were such a wanton woman," Peeta teased. "Not that I'm complaining."

"You've made me that way, Mr. Mellark… teasing me, whispering scandalous things in my ear," Katniss playfully told him. "Then there was last night – you wouldn't let me touch you after you did such incredible things for me. I've wanted to repay the favor for a while now."

"Well, you did a fine job," Peeta praised her.

Katniss bit back a giggle when she noticed, as Peeta tucked himself back into his shorts, that his manhood was stained red. Peeta gave her a questioning look, to which she responded with a grin, "I rubbed off on you."

"I'm glad you told me, I probably would have thought that I had a rash in the morning," Peeta chuckled. He then looked at his watch and declared, "We'd better get back out there before someone finds us."

They helped to straighten each other up and Katniss pulled out her compact mirror, reapplying her lipstick. She couldn't help but smile, thinking about how Peeta was sporting the same shade under his clothes. Peeta left the closet first and she slinked out a minute later, trying her best to look innocent, which was hard to do considering she was carrying his cane which he had forgotten in the closet. Peeta greeted her with a cup of punch and a grin, "I thought that you might want this."

"You may want this, too," Katniss's face flushed as she traded the cane for the cup and quietly said, "Thank you."

"Don't worry," Peeta whispered in her ear, "nobody knows. Besides, that closet is sort of infamous. Most everyone has made use of it over the years."

"Have you?" Katniss questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"No," he responded, and pushed a stray hair out of her face, "You're the only one I've been in a closet with."

Peeta got pulled away by the long-winded grocer who wanted to drone on and on about the price of flour. Katniss walked away with the excuse of needing to powder her nose. When she came back out, Finnick hooked her arm and beamed at her mischievously. "Since your husband is indisposed, I'll introduce you to some people you may not know."

Finnick immediately took her across the room to a petite woman with short, dark hair, whom Katniss would have thought to be pretty were it not for the sour look on her face. From behind, the long-sleeved, vibrant orange dress looked conservative. It was not until the woman turned to face them that Katniss saw that the neck line dipped down to a wide rhinestone belt that hung at her waist. It was obvious that she was not wearing any undergarments. Yes, my dress is mild compared to this one!

"Mrs. Billings," Finnick called out to her in an overly friendly voice. "Or are you going by Miss Fields these days? I see that you're advertising your attributes."

So, this is Clove? Katniss tried to put on a pleasant face and stood a little straighter, her pride bolstered by the thought of what she had done for her husband in the closet just a while ago. Peeta was hers, that was a fact, but for some reason the thought of how she'd marked his most intimate part made her flush with pride. With a flustered smile Katniss reaffirmed to herself, "He belongs to me!"

"Finnick," Clove said lowly, and rolled her eyes.

"Clove, how long has it been?" Finnick smarmily asked. "'Cause it certainly has not been long enough?!"

Katniss had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing as Clove's already pinched expression became even more annoyed. "Are you always so charming in front of your daughter…Oh, I meant wife?"

"Oh, no, this isn't my wife," Finnick enlightened her, taking careful measures to point Annie out and give her a little wave. "My wife is the gorgeous woman in the green dress over there talking to Miss Undersee. May I introduce you to Mrs. Katniss Mellark? She's Peeta's wife."

Clove's eyes grew wide for a moment as she looked Katniss up and down and then nodded her head in acknowledgement, but she did not extend her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Billings," Katniss said pleasantly.

"Huh, you were prettier in Peeta's drawing," Clove commented, under her breath, but still loud enough to be heard.

When would she have seen a picture Peeta had drawn of me? While Katniss was trying to discern the meaning of Clove's words, someone put their hands on her waist and she felt a familiar set of lips on her neck, causing her to jump. When she turned around she was relieved to see her husband standing behind her. "Peeta, you startled me!"

"Well, we'll have to mark this day," Peeta chuckled, "It's the first time in years that I was able sneak up on anybody." Suddenly he noticed who Katniss and Finnick were talking to and his demeanor changed instantly. He greeted her coolly, but politely. "Hello, Clove, I'd heard that you'd moved back to town. I was sorry to learn about your father."

"Thank you," Clove replied with all the heartfelt emotion of a cold fish. "He had a bad heart, so it was no surprise. At least the children and I can keep Mother company so she won't be overcome with grief."

"How sweet?" Finnick retorted. Peeta gave him an irritated look. Katniss was sure that Peeta would lecture Finnick later for dragging her over here to meet Clove. Finnick smiled triumphantly and then became more serious when he addressed Peeta. "So, how are things at the bakery? I saw you talking to Thread."

"Oh, yes, everybody is talking about it," Clove interjected, trying to sound concerned. "The word is that it was broken into."

Peeta gave Clove a measured look. "The front windows were broken, yes. It looked like they got inside and tried to get into the cash register, but they must have gotten scared off," Peeta informed them. "I boarded up the windows and I've already ordered new glass."

Clove asked, "Do you have any clue as to who it was?"

"No," Peeta admitted, but Katniss could tell that he was holding back. "Whoever it was cut themselves pretty badly, there was a blood everywhere." Peeta must have seen the apprehension in his wife's face and attempted to alleviate her concern. "It was probably just kids or some out-of-towners looking for some cash. Oh, Finnick, I bumped into your wife, she is looking for you. Seneca Crane is trying to catch her eye, and he's got that 'I got a deal for you' look in his eye."

"Well, I'd better go save her," Finnick sighed. "That slimy car salesman thinks he's Clark Gable with that silly mustache. He's been trying to get me to buy a new Chrysler. Apparently now he's hoping to get to my checking account through my wife. See you later," he motioned to Clove's cleavage, "although hopefully, not quite so much." Finnick walked away from them, leaving Katniss and Peeta with Clove.

Katniss remembered what her mother had taught her about manners and thought she'd pay Clove a compliment (even if she didn't entirely mean it). "Mrs. Billings, that is a lovely dress."

"Oh, this old thing?" Clove replied and looked Peeta square in the face. "If I recall, it used to be someone's favorite color. Wasn't it, Peeta?"

Katniss watched her husband intently as he quickly looked the dress over and answered, "No, that shade is far too bold and showy for me. I prefer a much softer shade of orange." He then looked adoringly at his wife. "After tonight, though, I think red might be my favorite color." Peeta smiled at Katniss and took her hand in his.

"Oh, yes, it is very cute," Clove smirked. "It reminds me of when I was a little girl and I would play dress up with my mother's clothes - you may even grow into it someday."

Katniss was surprised at Clove's dig, especially since her figure was not so dissimilar from Clove's. In fact, if anything, Katniss was better endowed than the elder woman was. Peeta was about to say something in his wife's defense, but Katniss caught his eye and shook her head slightly. Katniss quickly scanned her brain for a snappy come back, but thought that it would be childish to insult Clove's appearance. So instead, Katniss took the unexpected route and smiled as sweetly as she could, replying, "Oh, Mrs. Billings, you know I would like to thank you for all of my happiness…Oh, and for the ring."

Clove gave her a shocked look. "What ring?!"

"Oh, that's right, you've never seen the ring," Katniss cheerfully said, and held her left hand out for Clove to see, her eyes opened wide. "You see, if you'd been nicer to Peeta, this might have been yours, but now it's mine, so thank you."

Clove's face went red and she promptly turned and walked away. When she was several feet away, Peeta let out a chuckle. "That was brilliant, petty, but brilliant."

"Was I too mean?" Katniss asked.

"No, you were perfect," Peeta beamed, and put his arm around his wife. "Come on, Katniss, let's go find Finnick and Annie, it's almost midnight."

The crowd was counting down as the Mellarks joined their friends."Five, four, three, two, one…Happy New Year!"

Katniss saw Clove watching them from across the room. She felt an impulse to claim her territory and threw her arms around Peeta's neck, standing on her tippy-toes as she kissed him deeply. It was the type of kiss that she typically reserved for their private moments. Peeta happily returned it. "Happy New Year, Peeta," Katniss whispered, and was very satisfied with herself.

"May 1933 be the happiest year of our lives," Peeta sighed in her ear.

A short while later both the Mellarks and the Odairs made their excuses and left the party, somewhat early. Annie had to get home to feed Finnie, so at least theirs was valid. Peeta had told everyone, "I've been awake since three a.m., I'm sore, and I just want to get to bed."

Katniss was a little disheartened when she'd heard him say it, as she had been looking forward to being alone with him all day. "Let's get you home so you can get some sleep," Katniss said soothingly, and laid her head on his shoulder as they made their way home.

"Who said that I was tired?" Peeta challenged.

"Well, you did," Katniss reminded him.

"No, I just fibbed a little, so I could get you alone." Peeta smiled and pulled his wife close.

"What part were you fibbing about?" Katniss asked curiously. She knew, judging by his tone, that Peeta had something special in mind.

"Let's just say that we might eventually end up in bed, but no time soon," Peeta told her, his husky voice sending a pleasant chill down her spine and sparking a warmth deep in her belly. "In fact, we'll be lucky if we make it out of the car. What do you think about that?"

Katniss thought about it for a moment, and then ran her hand up and down his thigh. "It sounds like a wonderful way to start the new year."

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