Author's note: A small deviation from the more serious stuff.

Happy reading!

Chapter Twenty-Six

Annie sat on the beach. The large boulder she and Finnick claimed as the landmark for their meetings made a perfect place to lean her back against. The water was inviting.

She stood and took a few steps out into the surf. The water lapped at her ankles and she closed her eyes. She breathed in the salty breeze that ruffled her white cotton dress and chestnut hair and let out a sigh.

"Let's get in." A familiar voice said behind her.

She smiled and looked over her shoulder. "I was thinking about it."

He stepped up to her, lifting his shirt over his head. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." She lifted her dress off and threw it to the side. She still had her back to him, giving him a good look at her are back and the mismatched white underwear and beige bra she had on.

He placed his hands on her waist and dropped a kiss to her shoulder. "I maybe change my mind."

"About what?"

"Let's just go to the cave."

She turned in his arms and gently placed her hands on his cheeks. "But I want a swim. We have plenty of time for the cave. I want to feel the water against my skin and your hand in mine while we float along."

"I guess it can wait." He pushed his jeans down and stepped out of them. He ran into the water with a joyful laugh. He dived under when the water got to his waist.

Annie grinned and followed. She ducked under water and found his legs as he treaded water above. She tugged on his ankle and then shot back up to the surface.

As soon as her head broke through the top of the water, Finnick grabbed her around the waist and spun her around. He kissed her laughing mouth. "I love you."

"Me too, Finnick." She kissed him lazily for a while and then unwrapped her arms from him. She swam away a few feet before diving under again.

Finnick relaxed and floated on his back, watching as Annie came back up for air and then dove under once more. She was so lithe and graceful. He wanted to finish up this swim so he could kiss the salt water from her skin.

"Ann." He called softly on her next round. "I know you're having fun pretending you're a mermaid, but I want—"

She shot herself at him and forced him under water with a cheerful laugh.

He shot back up and threw her away a few feet as she screeched happily as she splashed into the water.

She rolled over and swam away. "If you want me, come and get me." She called over her shoulder, going deeper into the ocean.

He groaned and took off after her. She had a good lead, but he had a couple more years of swimming practice under his belt and caught up to her. He grabbed her ankle and pulled her to him, kissing her hard on the mouth. "I don't know about you, but I'd rather not have sand in my intimate places. Let's get to the cave."

"Can you even make it to the cave?" She teased.

"I might have to take you against a tree. But whatever the case, it's not going to be here where others can see." He turned toward the shore and wrapped her arms around his neck, towing her toward dry land and their clothes.

Finnick quickly put his clothes on and carried his shoes in his hands. He reached out to Annie as her dress settled down over her body. The water made the white cotton see-through, rendering it almost useless. She gave him and sweet smile that quickly turned malicious. Then she took off running toward the trees, the sound of her laughter floating behind her.

He chuckled as he took off after her. She was a little faster on land than him. She ducked around a tree and he lost sight of her. He stopped and looked around. "Annie?"

"Follow the sound of my voice." She prompted.

He took a step forward. "It would be easier if you kept talking."

"About what?" Her voice sounded like it was on the other side of him that before.

"Tell me about all the things you want to do to me."

"I want to kiss your lips." She said softly.

"A very lovely place to start." He stepped closer to the sound.

"Run my tongue down your neck and taste the salt water that's dried there. Nibble at your shoulder to hear you chuckle seductively." She peeked around a tree and then disappeared again. "Kiss every inch of you, reminding myself of all the contours of your skin that I have memorized. You see that one, that one I replay in my head all the time."

They had moved deeper into the woods. The rock wall they climbed to their secret love nest was visible just through the trees.

"And then what are you going to do, Annie?" He caught a glimpse of her chestnut hair as it whipped around and she dashed the last few feet.

"Come and find out." She scrambled up the rock wall and disappeared into the cave.

Finnick looked up to see her hand reach out of the cave, waving around her white dress.

"If you want to take of the rest, you better hurry."

He dropped his shoes and made his way up the face of the rock.

Annie leaned against the farthest wall, a blanket spread out on the floor in front of her. The angle of the sun was perfect to show off her body. She smiled expectantly.

He crawled toward her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his lap. She wrapped her legs around his waist. She threaded her fingers through his hair as she kissed his lips softly.

He smiled. "You are the best thing that ever happened to me, Ann."

She returned his smile. She lifted his shirt over his head. "Finnick." She sighed, pushing him down in the floor of the cave. She ran her fingertips over his face, his neck, down his chest. She flattened her palms on his stomach and leaned down for another kiss.

She kissed a line down his neck and across his shoulder, nipping at his skin and getting that gloriously sexy chuckle she was expecting. She flicked her tongue out and moved it up his neck, taking control of his mouth once more.

He moaned and slipped his hands up her back, unhooking her bra. He pushed her back up, pulling the garment away. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss the valley between her breasts. He brushed his lips over one mound until he came to her nipple and took it in his mouth, sucking hard.

She moaned and wrapped her hand around the base of his head. She tangled her fingers in his hair. She brushed the fingers of her other hand over his cheek and over his shoulder, down his back. She scraped her fingers up his back.

He groaned and lifted his head. He smiled. He pulled her mouth to his once more.

Annie moved away and reached down to unfasten his jeans. He lifted his hips and helped her push them down his hips along with his underwear. She wrapped her hand around his erection and smiled into his eyes. She leaned down and ran her tongue up his length, taking the tip of him in her mouth for a moment.

She pulled away too soon, eliciting a groan from him. She slid both her hands up his torso as she stretched out on top of him. "The next call is yours."

He smiled and rolled her onto her back, kicking his clothes away as he pushed at her panties. He lifted her legs up and kissed her calf as he lifted the fabric over her feet. He lowered them again to the floor, putting her feet flat in the blanket as he moved over her. He pressed a kiss to her lips and mumbled words of affection to her as he slipped inside her.

She purred as he moved slowly. She joined in. Her hands roved over his body, kneading her palms into his flesh. She slid her hands up his back and cupped his cheeks, locking their mouths together.

Annie was close. So close. She shut her eyes and willed herself to hold on just a little longer. But to no avail. She whined into her lover's throat as the pressure met its peak and shook her body.

Finnick slowed his movements through the end of her orgasm. He paused a moment and raised himself up on his hands before he started moving again. He loved her watching him in his final moments.

She looked up at him with her eyes half-lidded. She moved her hands down his chest and back up again. She slipped her hands to his sides and rested them on his hips, spreading her legs out farther to the side.

"Oh, god, Annie." He moaned, increasing his pace a few strokes before his face twisted in his own climax.

She smiled up at him as he rode out the final waves of pleasure.

He stilled and panted, "Perfect."

"Yeah." She combed her fingers though his hair and brought him back down for a kiss. "Let's sleep a while. Then go for a moonlight swim."

"I like that idea." He rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him. He reached out and found the other blanket to cover them as a breeze started to cool the sweat on their skin.

They melted into a lovely domestic life together in Annie's house. They shared meals once a week with Mags and Dale. Their nights they spent on opposite ends of the couch; Annie's knees pulled up to her chin, Finnick's legs stretched out and his feet resting underneath her. She usually ended up lying on top of him as some silly Capitol propaganda show droned on.

"I don't know why you watch this." She said, pressing her face into his shoulder.

"I want to know more of what we're up against. What the rest of Panem sees."

"Have you ever been in the same room with him?" She asked softly.

"On several occasions. It's always the same thing. He threatens me. He threatens you. And I do as he says in the end because I don't want you hurt any more than you already are."

"You do too much for me, Finnick."

"There's no such thing, baby." He kissed the top of her head. "If you had died in the arena, I wouldn't still be here. You keep me going. So there's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"I don't know if I like that." She rolled off him. "Good night." She headed toward the back of the house.

Finnick turned off the television and followed. "Annie, baby, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

She undressed silently and got into bed.

"What did I say wrong?" he demanded.

"I know what you do. I know that you have to do it. I'd just rather not have it shoved in my face and be told it's the reason I'm still alive." She rolled away.

"You're far more than that, Annie. My love for you keeps me going. I miss you when I have to go. So much. You may know what I have to do, but you will never understand it." His voice wavered.

She rolled over and looked at him.

"I hate myself enough, Annie. I can't have you hate me, too." He begged.

"I could never hate you, Finnick." She reached out her hand. "Come here."

Finnick shed his clothes and climbed into bed beside her. He put his head on her shoulder. He sighed and then let out a shaky breath. "Every time I think I want to give up, I think about you." His voice faltered. "You have no idea, Annie. None. About how much I just need to be here with you. Forever. And I'm working on that. I do what Snow wants me to do. Because if I don't he'll find out I'm part of the brewing rebellion. I know things about him. So many things that I don't want to know, but that will bring him down when the time is right."

"I don't want to talk about him right now. I shouldn't have brought it up. When you're here with me, could we just pretend he doesn't exist? No more Capitol hoopla. Just us. Together."

"Okay." He said softly.

She felt moisture on her shoulder. "Hey, no more of that. You're fine. You're here with me. I'm not paying for anything and I'm not expecting anything. I just want to be with you. Holding you. And telling you in words and in actions how much I love you." She combed her fingers through his hair. "And I do. So much. More than I really have words for."

His arms tightened around her a moment and then he started drawing circles on her side with his thumb. He pressed his face into her neck. "I don't know how to accept your love sometimes. I just want to give it to you. All my love is yours."

She kissed his forehead. "Sleep, love. I have you."