She was an enigma; fierce, brash, intelligent, a coolly confident professional who was utterly in control of her life, and yet she was rendered speechless by his honesty.
There wasn't a bit of Dr. Katniss Everdeen that he didn't find compelling. The entire package was insanely attractive.
She was chewing her plush lip, the only outward sign that she was uncertain or maybe anxious. His eyes were drawn to the action, lingering on her mouth. He watched those lips curve upwards in a slow smile as she recognised his interest. "I can think of better things to do than talk about my dead uncle," she practically purred, and he chuckled. Truthfully, he'd love to hear more about Katniss's life, about what made her tick. But he was very amenable to enjoying her mouth in other ways too.
Katniss set aside her wine glass and straddled him. His hands slipped under the hem of her blouse to find the soft, warm skin of her waist. His smile widened.
She was the aggressor, kissing him fiercely, winding her fingers in his hair. He let her take control, let her pull off his shirt and explore the contours of his chest with fingertips and teeth, let her suck the sensitive skin of his throat hard enough to mark. He merely stroked her skin, smooth and hot, waist to rib cage to those sweet, round arse cheeks under her tailored daks.
He knew she was trying to lose herself in the explosive connection between them, to forget her earlier discomfort. He didn't completely understand why she'd reacted poorly to his genuine compliment. But he was happy to be that for her, a distraction, but also a source of pleasure.
He'd love her so good she'd forget to be uncomfortable.
Peeta stood suddenly, Katniss yanking his hair in surprise. But he merely gripped her more firmly, holding her against the steely length trying to escape his shorts, then headed for the stairs.
Katniss tipped her head back and laughed, throaty and wild, as he took the steps two at a time. He tossed her on the bed, then knelt over her, stripping away her blouse and trousers. He paused then, taking in all of that taut skin hungrily. "So bloody gorgeous," he groaned.
Katniss reached for him, but he slid down the bed, kissing a path down her toned stomach. "Peeta," she whispered, an edge of uncertainty in her voice.
"Been thinking all day about you," he rasped, tugging her little panties off and spreading her thighs wide. She was already wet for him, and he groaned in bliss. "Been dreaming about eating you out."
Katniss whimpered.
Two thick thumbs parting her, Peeta bent his head closer, inhaling her scent, breathing a rush of hot air across her sensitive flesh. She trembled beneath him, body tense with anticipation, hands fisted in the doona. He wanted to tease and torment her, but he was too hungry, too greedy. A long, slow lick through her folds had her squirming and gasping with pleasure.
Peeta grinned, and grabbed her ankle, propping her foot on his shoulder. "Watch me, Katniss," he whispered.
Then he feasted.
She chanted his name as he fucked her with his tongue, then words failed her completely when he filled her with two blunt fingers and sucked on her clit.
When he hit just the right rhythm of pumping and swirling, her hands flew to his hair, holding him in place as she rode his face. It was so fucking hot, watching her silver eyes roll back in pleasure, the flush that painted her face and chest, the way her nipples peaked and strained against her lacy bra. He groaned against her flesh, hips pistoning into the mattress, desperate for any friction.
He held her gaze as her thighs began to tremble, as her walls clamped down on his fingers, as she practically sobbed her release.
Muscles slackened, Katniss sprawled across his bed, sweaty and disheveled, one arm thrown across her eyes. "Holy," she mumbled, breathless. "I'm dead."
Peeta grinned. She was splayed out before him, pussy swollen and glistening from his mouth, wrung out by the pleasure he'd given her, it was the hottest thing. Perfection. He stripped off his shorts and underwear, unable to resist palming his cock, shuddering at the sensation. Katniss shifted her arm, watching him stroke himself, then groaned. "Condom," she rasped. "Now."
He barked out a laugh as he reached for the foil square already waiting on the bedside table. She was bossy, and he liked it.
Katniss unhooked her bra as he rolled on the condom and he smirked. Clearly she'd already figured out that he liked her tits, liked to watch them bounce. She was damned near perfect for him.
It was with that thought that he hooked her knees over his elbows and thrust deep.
Thrust home.
Engulfed by her heat, with her beautiful face twisted in bliss, it took every ounce of his self control to go slowly, to draw out their connection. Under him, Katniss writhed, clutching his arms, begging him to go faster. But he didn't want to race ahead. Exhausted, they'd rushed the night before. Now, he wanted to savour her. Wanted to show her how much he wanted her, in every way.
Katniss wasn't having any of it.
"More," she gasped, clawing at his back, trying to pull him in. "Peeta."
"Patience, love," he growled, releasing her legs to grab both small wrists. Her eyes widened as he pinned her arms over her head, not hard, but leaving no doubt that he was setting the pace. She seemed uncertain again, but after a moment wrapped her lean thighs around his hips and arched up to kiss him softly. Acceptance.
Slowly he rocked against her in a primal rhythm. Katniss groaned, eyes screwed shut, lifting her hips for each maddeningly controlled thrust. But he wanted more. "Open your eyes, Katniss," he said. She did, and he could see that uncertainty again. "Good girl," he breathed, rewarding her with a hard thrust, and she whimpered his name.
Her gorgeous silver eyes were fixed on his as he moved inside her, his measured pace almost leisurely. He leaned in to lap at each bouncing breast and her hazy gaze followed, watching him worship her body. He pushed them both higher and higher. "You feel so good," he crooned, and she smiled, just faintly. Peeta smiled too.
He wanted it to last forever, but it was too much, too good. The feeling of her tightening around him, the soft sounds of pleasure that fell from her plush lips. The connection between them, unlike anything he had experienced before. Her every emotion was laid bare for him and he held nothing back from her. He sped up, just a little, but it was enough. Eyes still locked with his, Katniss arched beneath him, coming with a long, low moan that sent him hurtling over the edge.
Only then did he release her hands, burying his face against her throat as he filled the condom. "Beautiful," he whispered. "You are so beautiful, my Katniss."
Drifting in a post coital haze, it took a minute for him to realize that she was quiet and tense beneath him. He rolled away, sliding off the condom as he did, then reached for her.
But she was already slipping away.
"I need to go," she said, sitting up and throwing her legs over the edge of the bed.
"It's late," he hedged, heart sinking. But Katniss wouldn't be dissuaded.
"I'm just around the block," she said, standing while he was left clinging to nothingness.
She was running.
It hurt, especially since what had just happened between them was beyond anything he'd experienced before. But as he watched her, he realized she wasn't leaving because she didn't feel it, the immensity of the connection between them.
She was running because she did.
He could see the discomfort written all over her beautiful face. He understood that the intimacy was scaring her, though he wasn't sure why. She'd been skittish ever since she mentioned her family back home earlier, something he reckoned she hadn't meant to share.
There was a story there, he was certain of it, and whatever it was it made her wary, guarded, fearful of sharing, of letting him in. He could ask Annie, no doubt she'd fill him in on whatever she knew. But Katniss had been angry the last time he'd asked Annie about her, he wouldn't make that mistake again. Besides, he wanted Katniss herself to be the one to tell him her secrets, to open up to him.
He'd have to be patient. But he could be what she needed now. He could back off a little, give her space.
"Right," he said, but punctuated it with a languid no worries smile. He tucked his hands behind his head and watched her gather her clothes. She moved stiffly, not looking at him. Once she was redressed, he spoke again. "What are you up to this weekend?"
She finally glanced over at him, confusion painting her features. He knew why, the weekend was still three days away. She had probably been bracing herself for him to try to dominate her time again tomorrow. He'd like to. The idea of going three days without holding her gutted him. But he'd play her game.
"Oh, I," she started, then seemed to get distracted. Possibly by the fact that he was still in the nuddy, stretched out on top of the doona, his semi-erect cock twitching against his thigh. It'd be more than a semi if she kept looking at him that way, heavy-lidded and with arousal flushing her cheeks.
Peeta laughed softly, and Katniss tore her gaze away from his body. "I'm not sure," she said, and it sounded like a question, rather than a brush-off. Progress, he decided.
"Let me take you somewhere," he said. "A day trip. Promise you'll like it."
"I'll uh. I'll let you know." She was off-balance, and Peeta liked that. Liked knowing she was fighting herself, an internal battle between her clear desire to be with him, and whatever was holding her back. He'd win, he was sure of it. What they had was too powerful to resist.
He caught her hand as she passed by the bed, heading for the door. "Good night," he said, holding her eyes and bringing her knuckles to his lips.
Those silver eyes softened, and she bent over to kiss him properly. He teased and tasted, savouring her. It would be so easy to pull her back into bed, to use the potent attraction between them to coerce her into staying the night. Instead, he slowed down, gentling the kiss until finally breaking apart. "Sweet dreams," he whispered, dragging his thumb over her swollen lip.
She looked dazed, but she nodded, straightening with obvious reluctance and turning towards the door.
Then he watched her walk away.