Only the mockingjays are there to greet me when I arrive at our training grounds after school. It doesn't really worry me at first because I might be a bit early, but very soon I'm pacing around and gnawing on my cheek. My worry turns to irritation as it becomes ever clearer that Katniss isn't coming, but I stubbornly wait over half an hour before giving up and stalking home. It's an especially unpleasant walk because I'm still weighed down by my armor. I'm not allowed to carry a firearm unless in full uniform, and I'd planned to give Katniss a rundown of gun safety so when I give her a chance to fire it, we can spend more time shooting. I'm smoldering to a disproportionate degree as I get within sight of the barracks, and it occurs to me that maybe I shouldn't even have weapons right now.
Once inside, I stash my armor and gun in my gear locker and then head for my quarters. I've barely started down the hall when I hear eager footsteps behind me.
"Hey, Jo! Wait up!" Darius. Hardly the person I want to talk to right now. Not that I want to talk to anyone. I want to flop down on my bed and sleep. Maybe punch a few people first.
Merely slowing my steps, I cast a glance at the redhead over my shoulder. It's not until he's caught up and fallen into step beside me that I respond verbally. "What's up, Hallett?"
"Nothing much. Just haven't seen you in almost a week." That's fair enough, so I give him a hum and nod of acknowledgement. What with my stumbling into the briefing at the last second, I lacked any opportunity to exchange pleasantries this morning. "How was the run?"
"Uh…" I don't even know how to begin describing that, not without getting into things I'd rather not think about. "Boring but eventful?"
His dark eyes twinkle mischievously. "You wanna vague that up a little?"
"I don't really wanna talk about it," I mumble blankly.
Despite his furrowing brow, Darius assures me, "Okay, not a problem." He scratches behind his ear and changes the subject. "Are you coming again this week?"
"Coming where?"
"To the Hob, obviously." We've reached my door, and he braces his arm high on the wall and leans against it. His teasing smirk fades to a smile. "It was nice you came last Thursday."
If I'm being honest, I mostly went last week so I could tell Katniss about my assignment, but I did enjoy the company of our crew. That being said, I'm so not in the mood for socializing, and I'm a bit afraid of what I might say or do when she inevitably shows up. And if she truly is avoiding me, things could really get ugly. If she detests my presence, I'm not going to force it on her. Not this time.
"I'll think about it," is all I say.
"Don't think too hard," Darius urges me with another grin. "I'm buying. It'll be fun."
Eyes rolling, I scoff, "Oh, I'm sure it will be." His eyes squint and flicker. Dumbass. I cock my head and zero in. "What, you think I should be jumping for joy at the chance to hang out with you? Now that I've done sufficient penance?"
"What?" he demands, dumbfounded.
"You're the one who's been holding me at a distance for months, Darius. And you think you get to decide when we're gonna be friends again? That I'm gonna enjoy your company after all this?"
"We are friends," he insists, though his tone doesn't convey the same confidence. "Aren't we?"
"You sure haven't been acting like one," I snap.
Darius ducks his head, but I still catch the way his jaw twitches and sets. "I didn't realize you felt that way." Neither did I.
Sighing out my aggression, I run my fingers through my hair. "Look, I'm in a bad mood. It's been a rough few days. I can't talk about this right now." I'm already pulling out my keycard as I voice that last sentence, and Darius drops his arm but makes no move to leave.
"Is everything okay?" Despite what appears to be genuine concern on his part, I just shrug. "You know you can talk to me, right?"
An ironic chuckle puffs past my lips and I give my head a slow shake. "That's the thing, Darius. I can't."
As I'm reaching out to swipe, he loosely grips my other bicep. "Look, even if it's about Katniss-"
"It's not!" I shout, snatching my arm away. His offhanded affection stopped bothering me ages ago, but right now any unsolicited touching makes my skin crawl. The redhead's expression holds shock and doubt among a variety of other indistinguishable emotions, so I admit, "Maybe a little, but…" My shoulders droop, closely followed by my eyes. That's not the point. "Talking to you doesn't make me feel better anymore."
That's a painful truth for me to realize, let alone for him to hear. Though I'm dreading it, I lift my gaze to absorb the effects. His eyes, as always, speak volumes. He's hurt, all right, but he's pissed too. "Then don't, Mason," he retorts through puckered lips. His hardened expression flickers for an instant when he snorts and shakes his head. "I'll get out of your face." He then peels off and stalks away without looking back. This piques my irritation again and I one-up him by slamming the door behind me.
I manage an hour or two of troubled sleep once I get my blood pressure down enough to pass out. After showering and forcing a meal down my throat, I try to read while I wait for Katniss to show up. If she shows up at all, which I'm certainly not counting on at this point. When it becomes clear that I can't concentrate on anything but my own racing thoughts, I give up the pretense and toss the book across the room onto my desk. The remainder of the evening is spent staring at my ceiling, ruminating on how talented I am at destroying my relationships. Several scenarios play out in my head, the worst one being that Katniss got in serious trouble after I brought her back and that she's under arrest or injured, and therefore unable to come. That's actually almost easier to swallow than her just being so pissed that she doesn't want to see me.
I'm weighing the merits of hitting the sack early and trying to sleep it off, maybe imbibing a bit of liquor to knock myself out, when a knock at the window jolts me up onto my elbows. A moment of disbelief later, I plant my feet on the ground and unlatch the pane, pushing it out. A pair of gray eyes looks up at me expectantly.
"Hi," says Katniss. At my lack of reply, she straightens up and prods, "Is that offer from earlier still good?"
I step back a touch and motion into the room with an impassive, "Be my guest."
To my surprise, Katniss doesn't wait for me to offer her my arms before gripping the windowsill and hoisting herself up. I reach out to steady her anyway when she's trying to maneuver her feet over, but her saucy grin tells me my shock must be apparent. Once she's hopped over my bedside table and hit the floor, she chirps, "I work out, you know."
"Uh huh," I respond blandly, my hands still curled under her armpits.
Her eyebrows knit but, undeterred, she pulls me into a hug. An unexpectedly tight and long embrace, given we already reunited earlier in the day. It takes her fingers stroking my sides and her face burrowing into the crook of my shoulder for me to understand her motivation. For all the kisses in the world, feeling the warmth and contours of my body was impossible with my armor on. My jaw still set, I lower my arms from where I've draped them around her neck. Hers slacken only slightly in response.
"I didn't think you were coming," I remark, pressing my hands to her collarbones to give myself a little room to breathe.
"Why not?" she inquires, finally getting the hint and dropping her hands to loosely rest on my hips.
"It's late, for one. And you didn't show up for training this afternoon."
"I didn't know you were coming back," she points out. "I'd already promised my mom I'd do a herb run for her."
Blinking rapidly, I give my head a tiny shake. "Then why didn't you tell me that earlier?"
"Because I was mad at you," is her frank reply.
My eyes twinkle along to a toothy smirk. "And here I got the impression you liked the way I manhandled you."
"Maybe I would've, if you weren't arresting me," she retaliates. "That's not the first time you've dragged me to the authorities, if you recall."
My mouth twitches guiltily and I drop my eyes. "Did you get in trouble?"
"Not really," she shrugs. "So far as they knew, I didn't resist. I told them my mother was feeling ill this morning and I went home to check on her over my lunch. That I made her some soup, and was just about to head back when this overzealous Peacekeeper showed up and dragged me back to the school like some kind of criminal." The bite returning to her tone at the end of that explanation does not go unnoticed.
"If you're so angry with me, why are you even here?" My eyes narrow with that snappy retort.
"Come on, Hanna," scoffs Katniss. "I'm usually angry with you for one reason or another."
"And yet you keep coming around," I deadpan. Katniss says nothing but squints as though she's trying ascertain my level of seriousness. I can't help but roll my eyes. "Look, I warned you. I can't give you special treatment, not while on duty. What we have, it's only okay if it doesn't compromise my ability to do my job. If it does, Purnia can't turn a blind eye anymore."
"I know," she mutters, eyes on the ground. Jamming her hands in her pockets, she sinks down onto the edge of the bed. "Playing hooky was a great excuse to get you alone because you'd just be following orders to track me down. What I didn't consider was how you'd be breaking those same orders if you didn't bring me back without delay," she admits, blinking up sheepishly. "I understand that I put you in an awkward position."
I have to bite my tongue to keep myself from seductively saying I'll put her in an awkward position. Instead I just nod and - when I trust myself to speak - say, "I'm glad you finally thought that through, brainless." She just shoots me a silent glare as I step closer with a smirk and lean down to kiss her. Her response is begrudging at first, but after a moment she lets my tongue pass her lips and gives the front of my shirt a little tug. Though she's pulling me directly down, I crawl over the girl to lie on my side on what's generally her side of the bed as our lip lock continues. The explicit thought that Katniss has a side of my bed makes me grin stupidly, even though it's long-established.
"What?" she grills me, suspiciously eyeing my parted lips.
"Nothing," I assure her as my arms worm under her neck and over her waist. "Just happy you're here." She's not entirely convinced, but really, it's no lie. I am more than enjoying these soft kisses, holding her and relishing her presence. It's embarrassingly sentimental, but I missed her so much that I can't bring myself to care, so I allow myself this indulgence. My pride is long gone when it comes to her, anyway. A few minutes in, I remember something I wanted to ask her. "What did Prim say to you?"
"What?"
"Before school," I clarify. "She said something and you went bright red."
Charcoal eyes roll irritably. "She said, 'I guess I'll tell Mom you won't be home tonight?'"
A tiny snort escapes my nose. "Little shit."
"You surprised she knew?"
"No." On the verge of recounting our conversation last week, I remember Katniss's reaction last time I mentioned Prim and me talking about her. As amusing as it was, now's a rare moment when I have no desire to antagonize her, so I explain it away with, "Prim's smart."
"You were right about people close to us noticing," mutters Katniss, rolling onto her back. A moment later, she turns her head enough to meet my eyes, unfiltered emotion in hers. A vulnerability I'm still not used to. "Never leave me again, okay?"
"I can't make any promises," I sullenly state. "I don't make the assignment schedule."
"Maybe you should start sleeping with Purnia," she deadpans to the ceiling. "Store up some favors."
"If I thought I could, I would have tried by now," I smirk, earning myself some side-eye. Adorable. But I take pity on her and specify, "The Darius thing wouldn't have stopped me."
Her ensuing question comes with a cocked eyebrow. "But this would?"
I have to duck my face momentarily so she can't see how hard my eyes are rolling. The kid's either still oblivious to the depth of my feelings or just blind to her own worth, and I'm torn between finding it endearing and annoying. Shimmeying a little closer, I prop myself up on my elbow and cup her cheek, ensuring she maintains eye contact. "This is more than a thing, Katniss," I declare with a quiet assurance. My thumb traces over her cheekbone. "You know that."
The effect on Katniss is clear. Her clenched jaw loosens and that fleeting vulnerability returns to her eyes as a breath of relief leaves her body. Lowering myself to the mattress, I hook my fingers behind her jawbone to draw her closer. It turns out she needs no help with that, pushing forward to plant her lips firmly against mine and lead us in a series of sluggish kisses. Not exactly lazy ones, but not fiercely passionate either. Sensual. The warmth of her roaming fingertips puts me on alert as they brush up and down my ribs, invades between my legs once her breath catches the first time. But the slow, controlled pace she maintains allows my fatigue to creep back in despite my state of arousal - in multiple senses of the word - and after a while I start struggling to keep up. She notices this lapse and pulls back in a silent question.
"I need to get ready for bed." Before Everdeen can check the time and protest, I explain, "I haven't had a day off in over a week, and I'm up early again tomorrow. Shouldn't be staying up late." She doesn't question this, though I catch some disappointment leaking through her nod of assent.
Once I've untangled myself, I grab my pajamas and head to the bathroom. Obviously she saw me naked that one time already, but at least that nudity had an alternative purpose. And I don't want her to think I'm coming on to her, blatantly stripping down in my bedroom. She'll let me know when she's ready to take things further. The extra time required to wipe away my arousal after using the toilet is a painful reminder of just how ready I am, and have been for ages. I release a sigh of frustration and focus on breathing deeply to calm down and hopefully kill my boner so I can sleep.
Unfortunately, what I see when I push open my door makes that whole effort for naught. My heart just about jumps out of my chest and a lightning bolt strikes me below the waist at the visual of Katniss standing at my desk in a pair of my sleeping boxers and one of my tank tops. She is studying my collection of photos on the wall again, hands braced on the edge of the desk, and doesn't seem to notice my wide eyes feasting on her long, toned legs or trailing up to take in her curves visible in profile.
Sleep is suddenly the last thing on my mind. I've seen her more naked than this, but the sight of my girlfriend in my night clothes in my room sends this possessive rush through my veins that only accentuates the effect of her exposed skin. I'm vaguely aware of my mouth slipping open as I continue to stare. It's beyond me how it suddenly feels bone dry and yet I could swear I'm drooling.
Katniss's eyes flick over and her face morphs in question, but I'm incapable of speech. I can barely even swallow. She shifts uneasily and turns my way. "Sorry, I hope you don't mind," she says, picking at the tank top and revealing some smooth olive skin in the process. I force my eyes back up to her face as she continues, "It's just getting hotter now, you know?" Oh, I know. I continue to stare, at her gorgeous face now, watching as her eyes flicker with uncertainty. They dart over my features like they did right after she kissed me the first time, again trying to ascertain the emotions behind my shocked silence.
Cedric's booming laugh echoing down the hallway pierces my stupor and is promptly followed by an indistinct female titter. Though I narrow my eyes irritably at the interruption, I'm begrudgingly grateful that it gives me the presence of mind to shut the door behind me.
When I turn back to Katniss, she's still eyeing me nervously. "Johanna?" Her eyes beg me to say something, but I still don't have any words. Instead, I find myself gravitating toward her. Story of my life.
The hunter's weight is on her heels as I draw closer, like she is torn between running from me and running to me. She gulps, but her gaze is no longer jumpy by the time I'm halfway there. Rather, it's focused and curious. Wanting. That face of the willful prey is what snaps me back into control of my own body, and I take three purposeful steps and land with my hands on her hips, my body mere inches from hers. Katniss only gets the chance to wordlessly flap her mouth once before mine attacks it.
Months of pent-up tension power my lips and tongue as I push up on my toes, clutching the tank top straps with eager fists. A sharp breath later, Katniss responds in kind, pulling up on my waist and kissing me back with fury. One of my hands migrates down her side as I drag her bottom lip between my teeth, and she lets out this adorable little whimper that simultaneously makes me want to swaddle her in a blanket and rip her fucking clothes off. Her stormy eyes go all but black, reflecting my own lust back at me as she winds her fist in my hair and yanks me back up, sparking a wildfire between my thighs.
My brain seems to cease all functioning as we trade gasps and snarls between desperate kisses, pleasantly numb except for one niggling thought. I didn't mean to do this. My conscience bid me wait for permission, or at least encouragement, and yet here I am. Going on the offensive, taking what I want, as per usual. This train of thought brings me back to earth, and I slowly disengage. Everdeen's eyes jump between mine, her swollen lips hanging open and echoing their confusion. There really is no need to ask, given her tremors of desire and uneven breaths, but I cock an eyebrow and await confirmation all the same. It takes a few seconds before her eyes widen a touch in understanding, but only one more before her head jerks with a tiny yet decisive nod. Then I'm pulled into her grasp again, flush against her body now as her forearms curl around the small of my back. My arms slither up to sling around her neck as I melt into her, tipping my head up to moan my relief and desire into the kiss.
This is finally happening. I can barely let myself believe it. When Katniss loosens her grip just a little to run her palms over my back, I take advantage and work my hands down between us and under her shirt. Just under, that is, only to retreat when I drag my nails down her stomach. Visceral satisfaction spreads the heat in the pit of my stomach as I take in the hunger in her features while she shudders under my touch. Her smoldering gray eyes; her wanting, parted lips that now curl with a hint of suspicion. "What?"
"You're so fucking beautiful," I breathe.
Her already flushed cheeks burn impossibly brighter. "I'm nothing compared to you," she mumbles, glancing up and down my body. The desire is still plain in her eyes when they catch mine again, but so is a kernel of disbelief. I shake my head and tighten my grip on her shirt to keep it from taking root.
"No, you're everything," I tell her, with every scrap of my sincerity. Her face freezes, and I lean in so my breath tickles her ear when I continue in a deep whisper. "Everything." Exhaling, I graze my lips along her jaw until they make it to hers. "You have no idea."
Eager teeth catch and sink into my lower lip mere seconds into our latest kiss, hard enough to draw blood and a mewl of pained surprise as my eyes pop open. Gasping for breath, or maybe just sanity, I manage one word. "...Katniss."
Strong hands grip my shirt tighter as those darkened eyes flash with emotion, wrench me to my right when their owner spins us and forces me to take a couple steps back. My calves haven't even touched the bed before she snarls into my mouth and shoves me down on the mattress. I don't think I blink or breathe in the next couple seconds, paralyzed with awe as my inexperienced girlfriend clambers on top of me and yanks me up by the collar for another searing kiss.
Finally unshackled, my greedy hands glide down her back until they're cupping her ass. It feels every bit as good as I imagined. Reclining back against the mattress, I give it a firm squeeze and draw her down with me as I straighten us out. Katniss carries that momentum and unexpectedly grinds her pelvis down into mine, setting off fireworks in my pants. A whimper leaves my unprepared lips while she groans her pleasure into my neck, and the combined sounds make me shudder with anticipation. I'm trying desperately to cling to some piece of my mind so I can at least make this enjoyable for both of us and not some rushed, clumsy frenzy, but it's nearly impossible because my whole body needs her. Against it. In it.
Her hands slide under my shirt almost immediately and merely skim over my stomach in favor of palming my breasts. Dexterous fingers pinching and rolling my nipples make my eyes roll back and my hips buck just like they did that day at the lake. I barely retain the consciousness to grasp at the edges of the shirt and try to wriggle out of it. "Off."
The girl's austere face of desire lightens with a flicker of a smirk, but she doesn't tease me for my ravenous hunger. Probably because it would be hypocritical. Silently she takes over for my trembling hands with surprisingly steady ones and works the shirt over my head. Once it's tossed to the floor, her solemnity returns as she rakes her eyes over the skin she just uncovered for herself for the first time.
"Fuck," she whispers, meeting my eyes and leaning down again. "I missed you so much." Those words are barely whispered against my lips before hers drag down my neck to suckle on a choice piece of skin.
I'm about to return the sentiment, but her fingers resume their ministrations at that same instant and all I can form is an unintelligible string of vowels. Ignoring my intention not to rush, my traitorous hands palm her skull and adamantly guide it downward. Brief confusion registers on her face, but my blazing eyes and the placement of her mouth seem to get the message across just fine. Her probing, circling tongue starts a slight tremor in my hips, but when her lips close around the sensitive bud my back arches right off the mattress.
"Oh, shit..." A stuttering whine usurps my voice before I can find any more words. Barely catching my breath, I mutter, "Fucking hell."
Katniss's lips split open, leaving only her teeth to scrape at my nipple, and a flare of sensation shoots down my spine and into my groin. My head tips back just as she chuckles, "Couldn't pick just one curse?"
Not even needing to feign offense, I force my narrowed eyes back to her grinning face. "You smug little assho-"
I'm cut off again when she puts that smart mouth back to work along with one of her hands, but I hold in my whimpers out of spite even as she suckles me like a starving child. Still simmering, I'm working up the will to overpower her and show her who's boss when she lets out this delectable little moan of pleasure and exertion. My nails sink back into her scalp, only encouraging her efforts despite my fleeting plans. I guess I can handle letting her be in charge a little while longer. As long as I don't show how much I'm enjoying it.
That becomes quite the task as Katniss continues muffling noises of delight in my chest and gets rougher with her hands. She finally wrests a strangled cry from me when she lifts her face and releases me with a hard pop, letting my skin graze her teeth on the way out. A satisfied grin graces her lips as she runs her hands over both breasts again and then drops her mouth to the other one. It's my less sensitive side, but I still arch up under her touch and whimper. A rush of arousal spilling onto my thighs and further soaking my pajama pants catches my attention, and just then the virginal girl lets out another tiny moan. Before I can realize what I'm doing, let alone stop myself, I'm pushing my knee up to probe between her legs.
Bright gray eyes flash up to me and nearly bulge out of her head, her suction suddenly waning. Now it's my turn to smirk, and she casts me a glare in return that only motivates me to do worse and grind my leg against her. Grunts catch in her throat and her fingers twitch as she tries to fight through it, but her dominant energy starts to ebb as her attention falls to rocking her hips. I promptly pounce on this lapse and flip us over, pinning her hands beside her ears and staring down into wide, wanting eyes. Never relinquishing eye contact, I use gravity to my advantage and put my whole weight behind my leg, rocking my body against her.
It only takes a few thrusts for her eyes to roll back and flutter shut, and I duck my face to leave some kisses down her neck. But she's no starfish, and almost as soon as I start her arms are flexing with effort to free themselves. Grinning against her skin, I slide my hands from her palms to her wrists, cinching them in my strong fingers. She whimpers in pain or frustration, possibly both, giving me a sudden head rush and burst of energy. Growling into her jawbone, I flatten on top of her, tense my leg and start rocking my hips with effort, grinding my pubic bone down and into hers. Her struggling still fruitless, Katniss settles for lifting her own thigh to return the favor and wrapping her left leg around my butt to pull me down harder. A surprised gasp leaves my lips, echoing her ragged breaths, and I slide my hands back up to interlock our fingers.
As we continue our coordinated effort, Katniss ducks her chin down in an attempt to capture my lips. I avoid hers just long enough to elicit a frustrated huff before tipping my head up and taking them with force. Her peeved glare still can't compete with the desire in her eyes, and only seconds after she opens her mouth, she's whimpering into mine.
"Hanna…"
That one word is enough to make me lose my shit. My right hand releases her left and jumps down between her legs to rub her over her clothes. I can feel how wet she is through the boxers, and my brain short-circuits as a shuddering groan pushes its way out of her lungs, her hips twitching and trembling. She pushes them up, seeking greater pressure, which I'm happy to give.
Her continued whimpers evolve into shaky, breathy moans as I keep moving my fingers over the slick fabric, and between that and the tremors in her hand that's now dug its nails into my back, I can tell she's already nearing the edge. She could come at any minute, and she's still wearing all her clothes. As hot as that is, it's probably not what either of us had in mind, so I slow my hand and then move it up to her hip.
Her eyes go wide in disbelief and she arrests my wrist in a desperate grip. "Don't fucking stop."
A proud smirk parts my lips. And she had a mind to lead this encounter. That's so cute. I knew I could make her fall to pieces in a matter of minutes.
After one more solid peck, I graze my lips along her jaw to her ear and deliver a raspy promise. "I'm just getting started."
Before she has a chance to respond with more than a shiver, I run my hands up her stomach and over her breasts, making her arch up into my touch. Then just as quickly, they slip under the tank top and start to peel it away from her hot skin. I lower my mouth to her stomach and leave a trail of kisses behind the receding hem, ending at her cleavage when I sit up on my knees to pull the garment over her head.
Apprehension has crept into the girl's aroused expression by the time her shirt hits the floor. So, not wanting to exacerbate her self-consciousness, I resist the urge to stare and instead resume kissing her. My hands traverse the same path they just did, only slower, and a low, husky moan echoes into my throat when my fingers finally brush over her hardened nipples. It makes me shudder and waste no time kissing down her chest. She did well for her first try earlier, but I can teach her a thing or two.
A gasp fills the air as soon as my lips wrap around one of her stiff buds, her hips bucking under my weight. Fingernails rake my scalp as I alternate between both breasts, teasing her with lips, tongue, teeth. Fingers, too. She's squirming mightily within several minutes, legs tangling with mine and hips pushing upward in search of some kind of friction.
Eventually, she snarls and yanks my hair to pull me up for a searing, breathless kiss. Her desperation only exacerbates mine, throwing my senses into hyperalert mode, and all these little sensations start to overwhelm my brain. Her muffled whines gracing my ears. Belligerent teeth nipping at my lips. The electricity her fingers send through every inch of skin they touch. I might as well be a virgin again. I have never needed something so badly in my life.
My hands are quite enjoying their current preoccupation, so I leave them where they are and start a descent with my lips. They maintain a blistering pace from her neck to her bellybutton, then slow as my hands come down to join them. Thumbs now grazing above her waistband, I flick my eyes up to catch her burning ones. She shudders but shoots me a bewildered, impatient glare. Despite my torrential need, I hold her gaze and make an earnest inquiry.
"Are you sure?"
"Are you insane?" she shoots back, eyes wide like this is a completely preposterous thing to ask. I guess it is.
Her hand comes down to force mine into her shorts, but it's unnecessary. I'm already slipping half of it under the waistband, sliding my thumb into her folds. My breath hitches despite my best efforts to play it cool. I already felt how soaked she was through the shorts, and I could smell it when kissing down her stomach, but feeling her flushed skin and abundant arousal uninhibited makes my jaw drop. Slowly, I glide my soaked thumb back up to graze over her clit. She hisses loudly and her hips jerk at the contact, so I softly repeat this a few times, teasing my tongue up and down the inner ridge of her hip bone. Tangling a hand in my hair again, she rubs her thumb over my hairline in encouragement.
My first harder, faster swipe is rewarded with an uncharacteristically high whine, one that makes my eyes roll back. I move my face down to her inner thigh and start leaving experimental little nips there as I keep up the new pace. She whimpers, but the way her knee turns out indicates that she's enjoying it, so I grin and sink my teeth in harder. A loud groan climbs out of her throat and her fingers clench, just about ripping the follicles from my scalp. Despite the cry of pain it culls from me, I'm still smiling. She likes it rough. How did I ever get so lucky?
I get a few more bites in before she growls impatiently and cinches me between her legs. Wrenching me back up the bed and rolling on top of me, she lands on her knees and glares down into my wide eyes. "You're taking too long."
"Is that so?" My raised eyebrow does nothing to counteract the arousal in my voice.
"Yes," she replies surely, walking her knees back deliberately. But her hand proves much less sure as it travels down my stomach, momentarily hesitating a couple inches above my drawstring. I don't miss the little bob of her throat right before she tentatively slides her hand under my waistband, easing it down into the wet mess that is my pussy. Her eyes grow almost comically and a faint blush tints her cheeks, but she soldiers on, sliding her fingers through my folds. Up and over my throbbing clit, back to my burning hole, over and over. But it's with only a teasing pressure, so I'm able to subdue my physical and verbal reactions. Mostly.
Brow furrowed uncertainly, Katniss lifts her eyes to me, searching for approval or a bit of guidance. I give her neither.
"Jeez, Everdeen, I thought you'd gotten a little midnight practice under your belt," I disparage her mockingly. "So to speak." Her eyes narrow in a dangerous way that shoots a thrill down my spine to meet her fingers. Cocking that eyebrow again, I double down. "Not so smug now, are you, kiddo?"
Those charcoal orbs burst into flames before my very eyes, her cheeks burning a deep crimson. "Fuck you!" she spits. And then, as if following her own orders, she shoves her fingers inside me with the full force of her fury.
All my muscles go taut and I expel some noise that sounds vaguely like a strangled cat. My girlfriend's nostrils flare as she pulls out and pushes deep inside me again, and this time I shudder uncontrollably. "Oh my god," I groan, squeezing her fingers to pull them impossibly deeper. Her eyes bulge and flash simultaneously, then she drops them to stare mutely at her hand disappearing inside me again and again. She must have been paying attention to my technique, because her thumb flits out and ghosts across my clit, causing my hips to jerk. Her touch is still teasingly light, at least on the outside, and this time I can't pretend not to care.
"Katniss, harder," I rasp between grunts. "Faster. Please."
Dark eyebrows fly up while all her digits coast to a stop. Great. I've awoken a fucking monster.
"Please?" she echoes with an infuriating degree of cockiness. I expel a little cough to cover the whimper trying to squeak out of me, glower defiantly into her eyes. She just tips her head and waits with surprising patience until my eyes and legs squeeze shut and I give in.
"Please," I repeat.
The shifting pressure in the mattress tells me she's going to crawl forward on her free hand even before I feel her presence looming over me. I sigh, knowing what she's going to say before she even draws a breath.
"Please what?" growls Katniss. And I roll my eyes, because this is fucking ridiculous. As much as her dominant turn is arousing me, I am not going to let this virgin asshole own me like this. She already owns my heart. What more could she want from me?
Lacking my experience and instincts, Katniss is caught off guard when my left hand shoots out and wraps itself in her braid in a few deft movements. It's surprise more than pain that colors her cry when I tighten my grip and slowly pull down. Lifting my head just slightly off the mattress, I put my lips to her ear and snarl, "Please fuck me, you cocky little son of a bitch."
A high gasp emits from her throat and my other hand darts back into her boxers, drawing a long, delicious moan out of her before she can catch her breath. But I don't rub it in, because I need this every bit as much as she does. Instead, I stroke her with moderate pressure and continue breathing into her ear, panting when her hand starts twitching back to life.
"Does that feel nice, baby?" I whisper hoarsely. Her hips suddenly jolt along to a needy whine, and I can't help but smile at this confirmation that I've found another weak spot. One thing I learned in the program: know your enemy. I can exploit this all day. Deliberately gasping against her ear first, I husk, "God, I love the way you feel inside me."
It would be an understatement to say this works like a charm. Those long, strong fingers - fingers I have studied and anticipated for months - drive in deep again and start thrusting with a new fervor. I barely retain the presence of mind to drop my right hand and pull down the hem of my pants, start working it over my thighs. The sudden absence of my touch is plenty enough motivation for Katniss to help, stopping momentarily to rip them down my legs. Between my kicking and her wrangling, we get them past my ankles instantly, then she's dropping them on the carpet and crawling back hungrily.
As she settles on her forearm again, other hand moving to resume its duties, I grip her waistband between my thumb and my fist and catch her eye hopefully. Despite the slight waver in her features, she doesn't hesitate to grab the other side and help me push them down over her hips. My hand can only reach so far, so she has to work them the rest of the way down, finally kicking them free off the edge of the bed. Then she catches me by surprise by, rather than jamming her hand back inside me, running both her palms over my fully naked form before settling her weight on top of me with a tiny groan.
"I wanna feel all of you," she whispers, slipping a hand under my ass and pulling it up as she presses down with her hips. Despite the urge to chuckle at how adorable this is, I know I have yearned just as badly for the feel of her skin against mine. And god, is it ever incredible to have every inch unimpeded. So I stay quiet, grazing my hands lovingly over her crown and back, my legs wrapping around her butt to pull her closer.
Admittedly, another reason I say nothing is that I'm suddenly extremely distracted by fantasies of how hot it would be for her to fuck me this way. Unfortunately, I don't have the necessary equipment on hand. But I really need something, so I steal her right hand and guide it back between our joined bodies to where it belongs. Katniss gives me a little smirk but doesn't argue, wiggling her fingers back inside.
Gripping her hair again, I slide my hand down to the end and work the elastic free. My fingers thread into her loosened braid, detangling it with care to let wavy dark chocolate locks spill over her shoulders. I can't help staring, brushing my fingers through it again. She's a fucking portrait of a goddess.
A slight whimper and twitch of her hips is what brings me to my senses, calls my hand back down to tend to her needs. It's greeted by a sigh of relief against my neck and a squeeze of my breast with her free hand. Ample motivation to continue.
"Johanna."
My eyelids flutter at the sound of my name. I haven't heard it that way in a while, whined out by a breathless female. Reaching back to douse my fingers, I speed up a little as I continue to rub them over her swollen clit. "Fuck, you feel amazing," I whisper. Not even for her benefit, though I'm promptly reminded of the effect on her when she gasps into my collarbone and thrusts her fingers as deep as she can go. I clench my walls around them, looking for a little more pressure in the right places.
"Pull up a bit," I instruct. Her only response is a confused squint. "Like, curl your fingers." I relinquish my grip on her mane in favor of showing her the motion, and after a moment of trial and error, she drags her fingers over the right spot and my hips roll of their own volition. Between this and my gasp of pleasure, she figures it out and angles her hand accordingly as she resumes her slow, hard rhythm.
"Oh, fuck," I whimper. "Katniss." Though I love what she's doing, I've been teased plenty enough already, so my hand accelerates in hopes that she'll do the same and that I can drive her just as crazy. That proves wildly successful on both counts, and within minutes the two of us are sweating, pumping tremulous hands, moaning and gasping into the sparse air between our lips. Her eyes have adopted this electrifying ferocity that is almost as scary as it is arousing and is matched by the odd snarl. I nip and pull at her swollen lips, but we need our breath too much to full on kiss at this point.
Katniss drops her head as she adds some force to her effort, and my eyes roll up to the ceiling, legs cinching tighter around her hips. I'm expecting some moans into my neck, but definitely not the teeth that clamp onto my skin with what feels like piercing force, all but pushing me over the edge. As I yowl in shock and pain, this aggressive urge overcomes me, and with a savage grunt I jam one finger deep inside her pussy.
Now it's her turn to yelp with wide eyes, and admittedly I feel no shame at the satisfaction that brings me. I think she can read it in my expression, because hers goes dark even as she squeezes my finger and rocks her hips, indicating some level of enjoyment. A visceral gnarl and rough hands prove her indignation as she moves her mouth to target a new piece of flesh on the other side. I don't let up either, mercilessly pulling on the rough patch on her front wall as I rock my finger in and out of her. In lieu of adding a second one, despite immense temptation, I bury my nails deep in her flesh and drag them down her back agonizingly slowly.
Katniss muffles a mild scream in my skin, biting hard into the makeshift gag of my neck, and the accumulating pressure inside me balloons to the verge of bursting. Turning my head so my lips are at her ear, I rasp, "I'm gonna come." She groans with arousal and approval, pushing herself to go just a little bit faster and harder as she adds her thumb back into the mix.
The extra jolts of sensation kick me closer and closer to the brink, and when her breath catches near my ear I go flying off into oblivion. A headrush slams me and steals my consciousness of anything other than the stars I'm seeing and my whole crotch seizing and swallowing her fingers. Well, I do catch an echo of a string of profanity mixed with some embarrassingly shrill noises, but it takes me a moment of blinking and hoarse panting to realize they were tumbling off my tongue. I'm still recovering my wits when I get my eyes to focus on Katniss, her jaw slack and pupils blown as she stares at me mutely. Virgins.
"I didn't tell you to stop," I smirk, nodding down at her paralyzed hand.
She flicks her gaze to it for a second before cocking her head. "I thought you… I thought it was over."
Chuckling, I drop my hand from her pussy to mine so I can draw out the last ebbs of pleasure from that ridiculously intense orgasm. Her stare follows my hand until I address her again. "We're not dudes, shooting off and then going soft. You gotta bring a girl down slowly, you know." Her eyes flit away and mine narrow. "Wait, don't you know?" The slight bob of her throat and continued aversion of her eyes answer that. "But I thought you'd…"
"Barely," she admits, scratching behind her suddenly flushed ear. "I never felt the need until things started happening with you. But I share a bed with Prim and a room with my mom anyway. And it's not like I have any time during the day." Lifting her eyes, she points out, "Most of my precious free time, I spend with you."
That just makes me smirk again. "Sorry to hear I've been holding you back, Everdeen."
"You haven't, I-" She cuts herself off, looking rather helpless, so I take pity on her and crane my neck to deliver a peck to those uncertain lips.
"Maybe I should help you with that."
Her eyes flicker at the low timbre of my voice, then she nods slightly before curling a hand behind my neck and pulling me in for a deeper kiss. I oblige, shifting my weight after a few seconds to roll us back over. This time, she doesn't put up a fight. In fact, she moans her approval as I slide my fingers back into her folds, resuming my work on her exterior. Until she realizes I'm not quite hitting the spot she wants. Needs.
Katniss squirms restlessly under my weight, trying to get my fingers in the right place. "Joha- Jo, higher," she grunts. So I drag my fingers up but split them at the last second, letting them glide past the nub on either side. Her eyes narrow as she realizes my intentions. "Fuck you, Mason."
I chuckle into her neck before kissing down to her collarbone and sinking my teeth in there, procuring several more obscenities from my frustrated girlfriend. It's not ideal, but I don't want to mark her somewhere visible. I mean, I do, but I shouldn't. I already know I'll be sporting some juicy bruises in the morning, but a) no one will find that shocking and b) I won't have to explain them to my mother.
Everdeen's whines and fingers twisting in my hair finally win me over, and I kiss a path down her body for a second time, still teasing her runway and folds. My free hand trails just behind my lips, and when I catch a glimpse of it I pause. Coagulating blood is caked under a couple of my nails. And here I thought it would be the other hand making her bleed, if any. The sight makes me flit my eyes up to catch hers, but she's still glaring impatiently, clearly not wanting to waste any more time, even for apologies. So I do the next best thing, ending her torment.
Shuffling back on my knees, I surf the faint trail of hair under her belly button with a few quick kisses, pulling up when I reach the dark curls at its terminus. Then, curling my arms under and around her thighs, I finally give in to the urge I resisted earlier and allow myself to stare. Seeing and smelling how wet she is makes my eyes and jaw fall open with a tiny moan. A slight pull on my scalp brings me back to my senses, and I glance up to see how Katniss is reacting. From the look on her face, it appears her squirming is more from unmet desire than embarrassment. Good.
Before she can tear my hair out, I lower my head and flatten my warm tongue against her clit. She jerks and shudders, drawing a small moan of arousal from me as she gasps at the new sensation. I stay there until she whimpers again, then sweep my tongue between her folds and into her entrance. Just inside, enough to trace her rim and slurp up some of those juices. I just about lose my head in there, unable to process. I'm finally tasting Katniss Everdeen, and it's like the world has just now fallen into place. But I stay sane enough to drag my tongue back up and swirl it around the pulsing little organ, making her legs quake in my grip.
"Fuck," Katniss whispers hoarsely, and I blink up in time to see her eyes squeezing shut and her other hand weaving into her bangs and digging into her own scalp. Well, at least I'm not the only one. Not that I'm complaining. The pain is a big part of what's making my groin flare up again. But I push that aside as much as possible and focus on her, flicking and fluttering my tongue and pulling her knees over my shoulders to better accommodate my positioning. Also because it's hot. Especially once those flexing thighs squeeze tight around my head.
Ragged groans start pouring out of her along with more arousal as I continue, rubbing hard and circling again, placing occasional kisses on her burning fragrant skin. When I wrap my lips around the nub and give it a few soft suckles, her hips tremble as much as her breaking voice. Urged on by this, I suck harder and am rewarded by a cry of pleasure and heels digging sharply into my back. My nails gouge under her hips in response, heedless of her previous injuries. She doesn't protest, only releases her face and twists the blanket under her in a death grip.
A few pulsing sucks and grazes of my teeth later, a surprised shout climbs out of her throat and her hips buck violently against my face, clit pulsing under my tongue. My eyes roll back in their sockets with an aroused groan, but I keep my focus and maintain pace until a shuddering moan graces my ears. Then I slowly dial it down, lifting my gaze to catch her reaction. Her palm is covering her eyes again, chest heaving with effort. My tongue takes over for my lips and alternates between circling her scarlet nub and cleaning up the rest of her intimate area. I've been doing this awhile by the time the fact fully dawns on me. I just gave Katniss her first orgasm. Ever. Holy fuck.
Planting one last kiss on her clit, I slither up her body and throw her a saucy grin. "See what I mean about bringing you down slowly?" Her eyes are still glazed over, but she manages a speechless nod. I cock an eyebrow to prompt a verbal response.
"Yes," she replies, her voice rough from use and lingering lust. "I'll remember."
"Good," I grin, leaning down to kiss her. It starts a little slow because she's still recovering her faculties, but when my tongue worms its way through her lips and onto hers, her eyes grow a little. Right. She's probably never tasted that before either. Attempting to purge my remaining hunger with a sigh, I curl up and throw an arm and a leg over her body, resting my head on her chest to listen to her heart slowing.
After a few moments, I feel Katniss lifting and turning her head. "Were we supposed to get under the covers at some point?"
"It's optional," I chuckle. Catching her eye conspiratorially, I add, "I was enjoying the view." While she groans and rolls her eyes, I get up and pull back the blankets and top sheet as far as I can. "Go on, get in." Once she's nestled inside, I crawl in after her, lying on my back and extending my arm in an offer to switch positions. But like the night before I left, Katniss stubbornly rolls me onto my side and smothers me from behind. Her grip loosens pretty quickly, though, giving her room to press her lips to the back of my neck.
Those lips pull a few satisfied hums from my chest as they migrate across my shoulders. But I feel less and less satisfied as she continues down my spine and those innocent pecks evolve into breathy open-mouthed kisses. I wasn't expecting a second round out of this, but it looks more and more like that's what she's gunning for when her left hand begins grazing down my stomach and her mouth starts to wander, taking detours over the muscles of my upper back. Soft groans push their way out of me and I squeeze my legs together to stem the rush I feel building up.
Her mouth eventually resumes its downward course, and has just cleared the tips of my shoulder blades when she reaches between my legs. Her fingers dip into the dam and pull back, slicking and stimming my oversensitive clit in one motion. I can't help the way my hips jolt and a pathetic whimper puffs out of my mouth, but I refrain from any other motion, letting her take this where she wants. I feel her slithering down the bed a little so her lips can reach the arch of my back while she continues with slow strokes of her fingers. Though her movement is decisive as she cups my inner thigh to roll me onto my back, her demeanor is uncharacteristically shy when she makes eye contact.
"Can I try?"
It takes me a second to realize what she means, and then my lips split as I hold in an affectionate laugh. Like she needs permission. I've wanted to beg it of her ever since that day at the lake.
"Of course," I reply, spreading my legs in invitation. "But you're a notoriously fast learner, so I expect this to be good, Everdeen." I anticipate that comment spurring her on to protect her ego, but instead she chuckles sheepishly and brushes her bangs out of her face. Then she crawls over my leg and settles on her stomach, eyeing up this latest challenge. My eyes are wide with arousal, refusing to blink and miss an instant of this as she lowers her face and pokes her tongue out to probe my burning clit.
It doesn't even matter whether she's good or not because I'm already super worked up from making her come and this latest molestation. Not to mention the visual of Katniss's face between my legs. But she actually isn't bad at all. Her tongue flutters eagerly, spreading heat and pleasure out of my groin and into my gut and beyond. As I start to feel the first stirrings of an impending orgasm, I weave both hands in her hair. I'm aware that I'm getting her blood and cum in it, but I am utterly incapable of caring at the moment.
My level of arousal suddenly spikes when Katniss moans a little, the sound muffled in my folds. The thought that she is that turned on just by eating me out is so ridiculously sexy, but then I notice a slight rhythmic movement in her shoulder and my pussy spasms with a new realization. She's touching herself. That's why she's making those noises. Far from finding this disappointing, I decide to help her along as much as I can from this position.
"Fuck, Everdeen, your tongue feels so good," I whine. "You're gonna make me come again." Her hips buck as she whimpers, pushing her face forward, so she latches on with her lips and sucks my pulsing bundle of nerves. My knees fall open wider and my head tips back, mind clouding over with pleasure, but I still manage to form some more words. "Yes, suck me off, babe. I wanna come in your mouth."
Those words have just as great an effect on me as her, apparently, because the instant the reverberations of her moan hit my clit, it explodes and sends a shockwave through my body. One that makes me convulse for several seconds, mute but for a few squeaks. When my body recovers to the point of subtle quivering, my chest heaves out heavy breaths laced with profanity and Katniss slows to gentle licks. Not that I'm not enjoying the feeling of her tongue working magic between my legs, I relinquish it to lift her face and beckon her closer, pulling her hand down to draw me out in its place. As she comes within range, I slide my hand down to take over on her, making her eyes squeeze shut with relief.
"That was amazing," I praise her genuinely, slowly ramping up my pace. She groans quietly in response and lifts her face, eyes squeaking open again. Reaching out with a smile, I instruct her, "Come here, baby."
Our mouths connect again, but to exchange gasps rather than kisses. I'm still coming down and she's getting really close. She rocks against my hand as I achieve full speed, whimpers pouring out of her lips. I haven't been battering her pussy for more than thirty seconds before a tremor starts in her hips and I kiss my way along her jaw.
Brushing my lips against her ear, I whisper, "Come for me, Katniss."
Her whole body jolts at my words, the muscles under my hand seizing tight. Her exclamation of pleasure is broken and sharp, like crying, matching the quaking of her body as she rides it out. As we slow in unison, she catches my eyes with intense focus, her vocalizations diminishing to satisfied pants broken by an occasional low moan.
Once she's gotten her fill, Katniss shifts around and lowers herself to rest half on me and half on the mattress. While she settles her head on my chest, I subtly wipe my hand on the sheet and then move it to cover hers where it rests on my stomach. She hums in approval, lacing our fingers together. Some peaceful moments later, she looks up with a puny, hopeful smirk that contrasts the faint creases in her brow. "Was it worth the wait?"
The level of confidence in her tone tells me she's fairly certain of the answer. Still, I am more than happy to clear it up.
"It was. You were."
***o***
Far from some of the serene awakenings I've had in Katniss's arms, it's my alarm that rouses me in the morning with an unwelcome blaring. After a few seconds of confused indignance, I locate my nemesis and shoot my hand out to swat the snooze button. Katniss groans her displeasure behind me and presses her forehead against my back, blocking out the faint light of dawn filtering in through the drapes. Echoing her, I turn over so her head is buried in my chest. Better.
"Morning," I mutter, and her face tilts up, eyes suddenly alert. I smirk knowingly. The rasp in my voice even turns me on, if I'm being honest. My eyes wander down her neck and settle on some choice bruises along her collarbone. My mouth only grows wider at the sight, and she just blushes and bounces her eyes away. "You sleep well?"
"You mean other than being up really late?" Her sheepish eyes flick back to me and she smiles. "Yeah, I did." Brushing some hair from my face, she murmurs, "You slept like a baby."
"Mm. Someone wore me out. Wasn't expecting that from you."
"Neither was I," she admits, a bit of color returning to her cheeks.
Something half yawn, half grumble squeaks out of me as I lie there holding her gaze, and I begrudgingly roll onto my back. "I don't wanna go. Today's gonna suck."
"Because you're tired?" she mumbles.
"No, that I can handle." Her tired squint makes me sigh. "I blew things up with Darius."
"What?" Katniss pushes herself up on her elbow, confusion coloring her features. "But he's your best friend."
Blank eyes on the ceiling, I shake my head. "We're not friends. I don't think that's possible now."
"So you're just giving up?" The hint of distasteful mockery in her tone draws my eyes over to find hers narrowed. My growing discomfort forces me to roll out of bed and start gathering pieces of my uniform.
"What do you care?" I shoot over my shoulder, dropping my dog tags around my neck.
A moment of hesitation later, she grumbles, "You might already know this, because Darius can't keep his mouth shut, but I apologized to him for being a dick that day at the Hob."
"He may have mentioned it," I shrug, flitting my eyes over to catch her reaction. There isn't much of one.
"Well, I didn't do that just to have you throw it all out the window," she replies while I step into a fresh pair of underwear. "I did that for you. I like Darius's company, I like him, but I'd be fine if he disappeared and never came back."
I shoot her a condescending glare as I hike my pants up over my hips. "Was that supposed to be an argument? Because you just said what I said, brainless."
"I embarrassed myself in front of the dude to try to smooth things over for the two of you," she spells out, some of her hostility sapped by the spectacle she's blatantly watching. "I don't like apologizing."
"Jeez, and I thought Darius was the master of using guilt," I scoff, pulling up my bra straps.
The girl's smirk is audible. "Turns out I'm good at a lot of things."
Turning my face her way, I eye her dubiously. "Uh huh."
"Do you deny it?" Her eye dance with playful arrogance, making mine narrow.
"I require more data to come to a sound conclusion," I reply flatly, letting my mouth curl only the slightest bit. Katniss giggles. She actually giggles. Grinning, I saunter over and lean down, giving her a prime view of my cleavage. "We'll have to do this again sometime. For science."
Desire darkens her eyes and voice. "I think I could be convinced." As she leans in for a kiss, I pull back with a sadistic grin and whip my shirt on. She pouts momentarily, then her face falls flat as I settle on the foot of the bed to lace up my boots. "I guess I should get up too."
Glancing around the room, I shrug. "You can stay here, sleep a little longer. Just let yourself out after." I flick my eyes up and down her body, wrinkling my nose comically. "Maybe take a shower."
Katniss lifts a skeptical eyebrow. "What about not being able to protect me if I get caught here?"
I chuckle to myself as I tie my second boot, then stand and rake my eyes over her exposed neck and collarbones. "I think, given the marks on your chest, they'll believe I let you in." Katniss ducks her chin to try and get a look, then snaps her gaze back up as a blush infiltrates her cheeks.
Stalking closer once more, I smirk and rest one knee on the bed, supporting my weight as I lean down again. Planting my hands on either side of her, I dip my head to give her a fierce parting kiss. She cups my jawbone with one hand, balancing her weight on her opposite elbow, and I'm tempted to knock her on her back. But that's sure to delay me getting to work, so I refrain.
When I pull back, I find her eyes earnest. "I love you," she tells me softly, stroking her thumb over my cheek, which tightens with an embarrassingly large and instant smile.
"I love you too," I reply, before planting a hard final peck on her lips. In an attempt to save a shred of pride, I wrinkle my nose again and and repeat, "Take that shower." Katniss rolls her eyes as I stand up with a triumphant grin. Before she has time to formulate a comeback, I grab my uniform jacket and sling it on as I head out the door.
A surprising energy buoys me despite my sleep deprivation while I inhale my breakfast and coffee in the Commune. I'm actually chatty, a rarity in the morning. As a group of us are dropping our dishes in the kitchen before the briefing, Athena brushes up beside me and remarks, "You're sure chipper this morning." My hesitant glance reveals the mischief in her eyes, and I groan internally. "Who was she?"
"As if I'd tell you," I scoff. "Your bestie is one of the biggest blabbermouths in the barracks."
"Fine, don't tell me," she singsongs. "I'll just list off every girl who's not a night shifter. Eventually, I'll get it right."
"Yeah, good luck with that," I snort as we enter the room. We're some of the last ones in, and I spot Darius already sitting with a couple of his buddies over in the far corner. He must know I'm here, but doesn't bother giving me even a glance of acknowledgement. Unfortunately, I can't be sure why. If Athena heard Katniss and I last night, chances are he did too, but it's more than probable he's still pissed about our spat yesterday. Hoping it's only the latter, I turn back to my currently less intimidating neighbor. "Why do you even care?"
"I don't," she grins. "You're just really fun to tease."
I huff and roll my eyes just as Purnia strides in and calls us to attention. Not that I pay her much of any. I have some very good recent memories clogging up my consciousness. It's only once my coworkers start standing around me that I realize I never heard my name called. "Shit, Thena, what was my assignment?"
Athena squints in thought. "I don't think you got one." Shrugging, she adds, "Maybe she forgot you're back." The mere concept of that is insulting, but I nod gratefully and approach our boss as the others file out to gear up.
"Hey, Captain Stark," is my energetic greeting. "I'm back now," I remind her with an emphatic, sassy wave.
"I noticed," she remarks flatly.
"Well, you didn't give me any assignment." One of my eyebrows crawls up my forehead. "Don't tell me it's to keep you company all day. You miss me that much?"
"I'll admit, it was rough with you away," she deadpans. "It was so boring not being sassed every day."
I stick my tongue out at her. "Glad to be of service."
"You're the third body in the Square today," she informs me, placing the clipboard on the desk. "I kept you behind because we need to talk."
Blood is already draining from my head, but I play it as cool as possible. "What about?"
"I think you know what about." Jerking her head at the exit beyond me, she commands, "Close the door." My legs feel like jelly as I move to follow the order. I'm about halfway back to her when I dare to lift my head. Hers is cocked condescendingly. "You really think you can get away with anything, don't you?"
Gulping down the lump in my dry throat, I reply, "I'm sorry, Captain. I should have been more discreet."
"No shit," scoffs Purnia. "When you leave bruises on someone's neck, there's no denying what happened." What? I thought the high collar on my jacket covered all my hickeys. I may have been wrong about not having to explain them to my mommy.
"I'm not sure the bruises are any of your business," I mutter defensively, self-consciously shrugging my shoulders to raise my gear up to my chin. Her features harden and muscles go rigid, straightening her up to her full height as she pulls a sharp, angry breath in through her nose. No match for that death glare, I wilt uncharacteristically and backtrack, "Just where I got them."
"Where you got them?" she demands, squinting bewilderedly. "What are you talking about?" Shit.
"Nothing," I innocently blink, "what are you talking about?"
"Not any bruises of yours," she retorts drolly. "I don't care who you get them from, Mason. Not as long as you show up and do your job." I'm releasing a premature sigh of relief when she informs me, "Captain Rawley has served me papers regarding your behavior in the field, demanding an inquiry and possible disciplinary action."
"What?" My suddenly wide eyes flick up. "I've never even worked with Rawley."
"It came from below," clarifies Purnia. "The incident in question was reported by Agent Milo Fields."
"Wait, he filed a complaint?" Rage is boiling up in my chest even before she nods. "The gall of that son of a bitch!"
The Captain's eyes roll subtly, matching her dry tone. "Some nerve he has, reporting an assault."
"Oh, did he not report the other assault?" I retort. "You know, his attempted sexual assault on one of the miners in our care? How I had to give her stitches?"
Purnia's voice goes low and deadly. "What?"
"Cedric really sucks at his job, you know," I scoff. "He's supposed to report these kinds of incidents, not cover them up."
"Yes, and you're supposed to police the locals, not date them," she quips.
"Katniss and I aren't hurting anyone," I protest. "But Fields… you should have seen how scared Jordan was."
Her brow furrows. "Your sister?"
"No, the girl." When her expression fails to change, I realize name-dropping may not have been the smartest move. Especially not for someone whose loyalties are already in question. So my mind spins in search of a better explanation for my vested interest. "Look, Purnia, I… I understand what that feels like," I reveal, eyebrow cocked to confirm the implication of my words. Flickering eyes accompany a telling twitch of her jaw, and I'm able to relax a little. "I may have gone overboard. But I wanted to make sure he'd leave her alone."
"And you felt that strangling him and uttering death threats was the best way to ensure that?"
"I didn't threaten to kill him, I threatened to disembowel and castrate him," I argue.
"My mistake," she snorts, rolling her eyes.
"Look, I knew she couldn't stand up for herself the way I could. She could have been executed just for fighting back in self-defense, if it's her word against his. I know how easy it is for Peacekeepers to abuse their power." Shaking my head, my gaze falls to my feet. "God knows I did, my first day."
"What were you thinking?" hisses Purnia. "This could cost you your career, your pension, everything."
"Never thought he'd have the humility to admit he got his ass handed to him by a woman," I admit. "Sexist prick."
"Well, he did. So what do you want to do about it?"
Fingers drumming on my crossed arms, I finally lift my head. "If Cray interrogates me, I'll tell the truth." I pop my eyes meaningfully. "The whole truth. There are other Peacekeepers who can corroborate my story, if they're willing to get involved."
"You're willing to risk your tongue on the goodness of other people?" Her tone and expression clearly say she thinks I'm an idiot. It only stokes my smoldering fury. "Even if Cray believes you, siding with a local suggests you're a traitor."
"No, Purnia," I drawl with a sarcastic scowl. "It suggests I have a fucking conscience."
Neither of us blinks for a long moment. Eventually, she picks up her clipboard, still leveling those icy eyes at me. "I'll talk to Rawley. I have a feeling that once he knows the whole story, he'll want to make this go away."
"Bury it," I scoff. "Great."
"It's best for everyone if this isn't documented, Agent," she barks. "Especially you." I bite my lip, eyes surrendering the battle. Purnia sighs heavily and shifts her weight. "Listen, Jo," she starts, placing a hand on my shoulder and calling my gaze back to her. "I don't want you to get in trouble. But I can only protect you so much. You may want to reevaluate your priorities."
"I'm not breaking up with Katniss," I state unequivocally. "I love her."
"Then that's even worse," she sighs. Eyes and voice grave, she declares, "This is going to destroy you."
Those words burr and settle deep in my core, roughening my voice. "I didn't think you minded."
"As your commanding officer, no," she specifies. "But as your friend, yes." Mouth twitching, she briefly cups my cheek before brushing by me. "Good luck, Johanna."
A/N: Thanks to D7P for her patience and her help with this chapter, and her continued commitment to betaing my works.
I am moving my focus to finish the newest chapter of Lifeblood next. I may do one more after that before returning to this fic, but there's still lots of fun to come. The Reaping is looming ever closer.