My lips were so swollen and tired. When Cato said he wanted to make out, he really meant it. I could taste the chocolate chip and strawberries on his tongue. Every five minutes or so, we would come up for air and I would think we were done with the session, but then Cato would lean in and we would be right back at it. We were still seated at the kitchen island with the empty dishes scattered all around us, but I just didn't want to get up from Cato's lap. We were much too comfortable.

I wanted us to enjoy what little bit of happiness we had before tonight, when the secret will be revealed. It wasn't doing us any good to be angry at one another when we both know that tonight isn't going to be a good one.

"So, what are we supposed to do here?" I asked Cato after I had finally convinced him to let our lips rest.

His eyebrows raised and he plastered that cute little smirk on his lips. "I have ideas," he answered, licking his lips slowly.

I couldn't help but blush. Memories of.. that night flooded through my mind. And even of last night, seeing him for the first time.. I, wow. "I.. uh-"

Cato laughed and lifted me, carrying me in his arms to the couch. "I'm just messing around with you," he chuckled. "Unless, of course, I was being serious."

I shook my head, avoiding eye-contact with him. "I hope you were joking."

"You never know." Cato sat down next to me on the couch and picked up a remote, turning the tv on. "I thought we could just relax," he said after a while.

I smiled. I really wanted to relax. We hadn't had time to relax since... well, we've never had time to relax. "That sounds so amazing. We never get to rest."

He turns the tv to a film. It looked like an old one. It was about a man whose wife loses memory of him after getting into a car accident. A romance story.. go figure.

"What are we doing tonight?" I ask after we had been silent for some time.

"It's a dinner with some Victor's. Snow said he wanted us to get familiar since we're going to be working closely with them."

"Oh," I nod. "Is it formal?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do I have to wear a dress?"

Cato frowns. "I don't think so.. though I'm not entirely sure. If that's the case, then I have to wear a fucking suit." He stops speaking and smirks. "If it were up to me, you'd be naked."

"Cato!" I squeak, hitting him on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry! I had to!" he laughs. "You get so embarrassed for no reason. You were so beautiful at my mercy," he says, his voice getting lower.

"Stop," I groan, covering my face.

I moved my hands to see Cato staring at the tv while biting his lip. "I mean it."

"I know." Of course I knew he meant it. He always meant stuff like that.

I wonder how far he's gone with other people, like Molly? I know it's safe to assume that they've done some.. things that I didn't want to go into detail about. He's probably done things with her that he wouldn't do with me..

I don't think I should be thinking about her, or anything like that. I'm supposed to be enjoying my relaxation period with Cato before we're into the cages of the Capitol. But it's hard to forget. I don't even want to ask how many girls Cato has had because I know that the answer is going to break my heart.

Sometimes I wish that I was Cato's first everything like he is to me. I want us to not have to worry about anything but experiencing one another. Majority of our worries come from him and his past life. Imagine if that was all gone, if we were able to have peace?

I don't know.. I don't think I would be able to love Cato as much if it wasn't for his past. Everything about him makes me love him to bits. It was hard, yes I won't deny that, but Cato being true to himself and to me is why I love him so much and so hard. It's not possible to anyone to not love Cato for being his aggressively loving self. We all love Cato for our own reasons, and no one can change it.

"What are you thinking about, Kitten?" Cato interrupts me from my thoughts.

I shrug. "Nothing important."

Cato nods. "Well, I'm bored. Do you wanna go for a walk?"

"Yes, please."

So, that's what we're doing now. Taking a walk around the city. Cato had his arm wrapped around my shoulder and his hand wrapped tightly into mine. My other arm was around his back and he tried his best to protect me from anyone that walked past.

As much as I hated the Capitol, I really did enjoy it as well. The place was so beautiful. There was so much to see and do and not enough time to do it all. Everyone was walking around quickly, getting to and from wherever and whatever time. I thought that would mean that people would not recognize me, but it didn't.

People kept stopping me, which only got Cato irritated and angry. Men, women, children.. it didn't matter who it was. They asked for pictures, autographs, even to kiss their babies. Some didn't approach us at all, just followed us, taking pictures whenever Cato held my hand or kissed me. This is probably why Cato hates public displays of affection: because people don't leave you alone about it.

Some of the guys that came up to me tried flirting with me, telling me how beautiful I was and all that. I watched from the corner of my eye as Cato tried his very hardest to contain himself for me. He clenched my hand tightly, he frowned, but he did not say a word. There were about five guys that tried flirting, and with every one of them, Cato became angrier and much more possessive, so much so that I couldn't walk with just an inch in-between us.

We stopped in a fairly empty knickknack shop where they sold the cutest souvenirs. Cato didn't want to go in, but I forced him to anyway. There were some neat little things that I'm sure Mother and Katniss would enjoy. Plus, the place only had three people in it: the cashier and a woman and man tucked close to one another in a corner. It looked to me like they were telling secrets.

I held onto Cato's hand as I walked through the store, eyeing the key chains and globes they had for sale. I knew that money wasn't a problem; we had way too much money that we didn't know how to use.

Cato resisted me pulling him further into the store. He was acting like a child, but I knew that he wanted to go home, away from all the staring men.

"Come on, Cato, just a few more minutes, okay?"

"No," he pouted. "They keep looking at you and I want to leave before I punch someone."

"No one is looking at me," I muttered. It's not like they have anything to look at. I've got nothing to show, and I'm not pretty unless Cinna is putting makeup on me.

"Every guy we've passed has given you a double take," Cato retorts, rolling his eyes.

I rolled my eyes back and picked up the glass cat that resembled Buttercup. It'd be a nice little addition to the penthouse, plus Cato was really grumpy and needed to be put down for a nap.

"Fine, Cato, we can go," I snapped, pulling him toward the cashier's desk.

The man from the back of the store came walking past us, and as he walked behind me, I felt his hand slide slowly across my hips.

He turns around quickly. "Excuse me miss, I'm s-"

Cato grabs him by his white t-shirt collar and drags him to a wall, pinning him there. The cashier jumps back and stares, bewildered, at Cato's violent action.

God, here we go again.

"Cato-"

He turns and gives me a deadly look, silencing me. I knew that now wasn't the time to argue with him. Cato has been calm all day, not saying a single word as men tried giving me phone numbers and throwing pickup lines, but when a man touches me.. oh no, he does not do well with that.

"What the fuck is your problem?! Who do you think you are touching my girl?!" Cato yells at the stranger.

The man looked oddly familiar. His skin was a golden bronze, most likely tanned. His skin complemented his green eyes, as green as the sea with flecks of golden brown in them. Add that with heart-shaped lips and sandy brown hair, and I could say he was the second most attractive man that I've met. We all know who the first is.

The stranger smiles at Cato and glances at me. "I know who you are," he commented, ignoring Cato's violence and question.

Cato pushed him even further to the wall and forced the stranger's eyes to look at him instead of me. "Yeah, well you don't know me well enough or you would know to keep your hands away from what's mine," he sneered, clutching onto the man's collar.

"Look," the man chuckled. "It was an accident. I was just apologizing when you attacked me."

"He was about to apologize," I butt in. I could sense Cato rolling his eyes even though he didn't look at me.

"I don't give a damn-"

"Do you know who I am?" the man questioned Cato with a smirk.

Cato frowned at him. "Why would I know?"

The man pushes Cato off of him lightly and fixed his now crumpled shirt. "I'd think that you would know one of your fellow Victor's," he answers, turning to flash me with a pearly white smile.

He's a victor? I knew he looked familiar! But, I couldn't place a name on his face. He was fairly young, maybe in his early twenties?

The man pushes himself past Cato and walks up to me. "Allow me to introduce myself," he says to me. He bends down, taking one of my hands in his. "My name," he kisses my knuckles lightly, causing my heart to flutter, "is Finnick. Finnick Odair."

Oh! I know him! He won the Games not too long ago, when he was only fourteen years old.

I felt myself flush. "N-nice to meet you." I couldn't form a coherent sentence. This guy was extremely attractive and sweet, all gentlemanly. How could I not react that way to the Finnick Odair? He was insanely famous and the girls back home used to faint over him, especially when the Victor's tour happened.

Speaking of which, when was mine?

Anyway, Finnick smirked at me, and I knew it was because he knew that Cato was fuming behind him. But, Cato knew he couldn't hurt one of the Capitol's most desired men. Plus, here I was, dying from how surreal and beautiful he was right in front of Cato. I just couldn't help it.

Finnick sighs and smiles. "Hm, you're much more beautiful in person," he complimented me, staring at me intensely.

Cato jumps up and immediately walks to me, blocking Finnick's view of me. "That's enough, pretty boy," Cato growled. "You've seen enough."

Finnick laughed as Cato pulled me by my hand out of the store without my cat knickknack. I pouted, but followed him anyway, not wanting to make him angry.

Finnick caught up with us and walked alongside me. "So, how do you like being famous?" he asks, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I don't," I answer. "I hate being the centre of attention."

"But you are, especially with Cato the giant over there," Finnick answered with a laugh.

Cato pulled sharply on my hand, pulling me closer to him. Finnick was still able to keep up. "With him it's different, though. I don't like strangers knowing more about me than I even do," I told him while wrapping my arm around Cato's back to give him some reassurance. It worked; I felt his body relax and he wrapped his arm around me, placing a chaste kiss in my hair.

"Strangers are the best ones to know. They give extraordinary secrets," Finnick said with a sly smirk.

"So that's what you like? Secrets?"

He nods. "I'd rather have secrets than money. It gives a person much more control over another's mind and actions."

"Do you know any about me?" I ask with a hint of paranoia. I don't really have secrets, but speaking with Finnick makes me think otherwise.

"Oh, yes. I do. I know a spectacularly juicy one about your boyfriend, too."

Cato immediately tenses and glares at Finnick.

"Would you like to know it?" Finnick barely whispers. Was it the secret from tonight?

Cato switches me to his other side, away from Finnick. "That's enough!" he yells. Everyone around him turns to stare and I hide my face into his side.

We make it back to the apartment building, Finnick still tagging along. He must live here then. Once we step into the elevator, Finnick presses '4' while Cato presses the 'P'. The ride in the elevator was silent. I didn't really expect much conversation.

The elevator stopped at 4 and Finnick steeped out. "See you tonight," he said, smiling at me slyly. So he's going to be there tonight? Who else will?

Once the doors shut, Cato turned and kissed me suddenly. "You are mine, Rose," he whispers against my lips.

I nod. "I've always been, Cato."

He sighs and pulls back. "I don't want you going out alone. Who knows what creepy fucker will be out there next time? No one touches you but me."

"No one will touch me."

"Did you see how many of those men had their eyes all over you? You don't understand how calm I had to be in order to not kill on of them."

"That's not true!"

"God, Rose, one of them even licked his lips!"

I pout. "But Cato," I started, ready to protest.

"Nope. No buts, unless it's yours."

I couldn't help but laugh. How could he go from angry to funny in two seconds? I continued laughing, all the way to the top floor. Cato stares at me bewildered. I hadn't heard a real joke in so long, and that one was weirdly funny.

My ribs hurt as I laughed all the way into the penthouse.

"You know, Rose, it wasn't that funny," Cato said with a smile.

My laughter calmed down. "I know, I'm sorry. I just couldn't help it."

Cato kissed my cheek. "You hungry? We only have an hour before we have to get ready for this dinner."

I shake my head. "I'd rather not eat before the dinner," I answered.

Cato nods. "Okay."

"I'm gonna go take a shower. I can't stand the feeling of all those men's eyes on me," I joked, walking toward the bathroom.

Cato laughs as I shut the door behind me. I needed a hot shower to relax my mind. I know I shouldn't be, but I was so nervous about this dinner thing. Now that I've met Finnick, I don't know how I'm going to react with meeting everyone else. I really hope that there will be someone that I can call a friend. I don't have any friends here, only Cato.

I was just lathering the shampoo into my hair when the shower door opened and closed. I turned to see Cato standing behind me, reaching for his sponge and pressing the button for his soap.

"Cato!" I squeak. "What are you doing in here?"

"Saving water," he answers with his smart little smirk.

I had the strong urge to cover my body up so that Cato wouldn't see me again. It was weird.. I've seen him and he's seen me, so I really didn't know what the big deal was. I'm just too shy and nervous around him.

My mind tried hard not to remind me of wanting to cover myself, but it was hard with the way that Cato was staring at me. I rinsed my hair out with my back to him and reached for my sponge.

The shower was huge, making it easy to shower with more than one person, but it was also awkward. My arms are not so long, so trying to wash my back was difficult.

I felt Cato remove my sponge from my hand and then I felt his hands on my back, massaging soap into my skin. His fingers felt great as they massaged the small kinks out of my shoulders.

"Cato?"

"Yeah?" he answered in a sharp breath.

"Am I going to lose you tonight?" I asked slowly.

His hands stopped moving. "Probably."

I squeeze my eyes closed but nod. "Okay."

Cato's soapy hand wraps around my stomach and he pulls me back toward him. I feel his lips kiss my neck and then his teeth biting at my ear. "You remember what I told you earlier?"

"Yes," I nod.

"Try and think of that before judging me."

I nod and turn to make my way out the shower, reaching for my towel, but Cato tightens his grip around me and pulls me back harshly. I gasp and stare up at him, wondering what was on his mind. Cato's lips brush across mine lightly.

His hand slides along my stomach and then it trails down to my privacy. Oh no..

I feel a finger circle around and my spine shivers. "Do you love me?" Cato whispers, circling around my privacy again.

My head tips back and I close my eyes, not answering him. My hand finds his other hand and I grasp it tightly.

"Do you love me?" he asks again, this time a little more harshly. His fingers press against me and my back arches.

"Yes," I gasp.

"And you promise to never let me go?"

"Yes," I nod.

"Keep that in mind. I've had too many people betray me in this world, and I don't want you to be one of them."

Cato releases me and I open my eyes in a daze. His teasing made my head spin and I had to hold onto his arm for support. Once I was finally able to regain my composure, I hurriedly stepped out of the shower and away from him before anything else happens.

I dried myself and applied cream blindly, my mind too stuck on what tonight was going to be about. Cato was really serious about this whole dinner thing. He was constantly reminding to give him a chance and to remember that I love him. I didn't think he could have done something so drastic in the mere time we had with his family, not anything that would make me want to leave him. We were doing so great together and I didn't want anything to change.

Cato emerged from the shower maybe twenty minutes after I did, but by that time I was already dressed and combing through my damp hair. I dressed casually since I really didn't expect this dinner to be anything near formal. It was getting dark out and all of lights of the Capitol were turning on, one by one, making the skyline a beautiful sight once again.

I pulled my hair up into a ponytail just as Cato was finishing getting ready. It was around seven o'clock, which meant that it was around time for us to be on our way.

Once Cato was done, we left the penthouse hand in hand. Cato's hand was sweaty and shaky. I wanted to do something to calm him down, but I didn't think that anything I did would help him out in any way. He was nervous, as he had been since last night.

The elevator took us down to the main floor and I followed Cato down several hallways to a room labeled 'Dining Hall'.

This was it. The moment that could make or break us.

"Ready?" Cato asked with one last reassuring hand squeeze.

I nodded. "I'm ready."

LOOK AT THE GIF OF CATO.

One more chapter before all is revealed! GUYS IM MAKING CATO/ALEX IMAGINES/PREFERENCES. HIT ME UP IF YOU WANT ONE.

Anyone else in love with Finnick?

I have to go to work now. So until next time, vote, comment, share, follow and thank you so much for reading!

Cheers. Laters, baby.

Myesha xx