Author's note: Here you go! I want to thank all of you, once again, for adding this to alerts and favorites. I feel so loved that all of you like this or are at least fascinated enough with it to stick with me. I don't know how many more chapters it will be, but I hope you like the choices I've made. Please feel free to review.

Happy reading!

Chapter Eleven

Katniss wasn't ready for today. It was her birthday. She hadn't really liked birthdays for a long time, especially when she was a kid and another birthday meant another year of Reapings. And ever since the end of the Games and the battle that took so many lives, it meant another year she was here and so many others weren't, especially Prim.

She needed this hunt more for the fresh air than the actual game. There was enough meat packed away in their freezer. But she couldn't be in the house when Peeta was working so hard to get a cake made and cooking a big supper for her. They'd invited Haymitch, Hazelle, and Posy over for the event.

The weeks had been going by so quickly. She still struggled with Peeta's want of a baby. She still went back and forth on it. Today was one of the days when she thought having a baby wouldn't be so bad. She hated having a birthday for herself. She hated that another year was passing without helping her husband achieve his dream of being a father.

She wandered into the house with a full game bag slung over her shoulder. Peeta stood over the counter, beating something in a bowl. He stopped and turned, sensing her more than hearing her.

He smiled, "Hey, there's the birthday girl."

She groaned. "Do you have to remind me?"

"Come on, twenty-nine isn't that bad."

"You would know." She walked over and kissed him softly. "The cake smells good."

"Just finishing the frosting while it cools." He got a dollop on his finger and held it out. "Tell me if it's any good."

She smiled playfully at him before she leaned forward and wrapped her mouth around his finger. She wrapped her tongue around it and sucked a moment before she pulled back.

The action seemed to cause Peeta some discomfort. "Any good?" he asked breathlessly.

"I don't know." Katniss reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head.

He watched her as she dipped her finger into the frosting and wiped in on his collarbone. She leaned forward and licked it off, nipping lightly at his skin.

He moaned, "Katniss."

She kissed up his neck and met his lips in a soft kiss. "Delicious." She purred.

"I guess I should try it." He said against her lips. He pulled her shirt off over her head.

She reached for more frosting and smeared it between her breasts. She grinned and held her finger out.

He sucked the icing off her finger and then bent down to lick the sweetness from her flesh. He reached behind her to unhook her bra as he did so, dropping it onto the floor with both their shirts.

Katniss let out a soft sigh as his mouth moved over to cover her breasts in gentle kisses.

He smeared more icing over her body and removed it with his tongue, nibbling at her skin and pressing her back against the counter. He pushed at her pants as his mouth moved lower. They dropped to the floor and he smoothed his hands down her thighs, looking up into her eyes.

She smiled and combed her fingers through his hair.

He smiled back and kissed her hip. He trailed soft kisses back up her body, licking at a few spots of frosting he'd missed. He kissed her mouth softly.

She pushed him back against the other counter and gave him the same treatment with the frosting, smearing it over his skin and then licking it away.

He groaned and reached for the button on his pants.

"Someone's eager." She commented, dropping to her knees in front of him. She pulled his pants down, releasing his erection. She sat back and looked up at him seductively before she reached for the bowl of frosting once more.

He chuckled and stroked himself as she swirled her finger around in the bowl.

"So?" She asked, holding up her finger swathed in the thick, sweet concoction.

"Do it, sweetheart." He encouraged. He stroked her face lightly with his fingertips.

She ran her frosting-coated finger over his length and leaned forward, licking him base to tip.

Peeta put his head back and groaned.

She closed her mouth over the tip and sucked, circling her tongue around him.

"Katniss." He moaned again, putting his hands on her shoulders.

She lifted her head and smiled up at him, biting her lip uncertainly.

He lifted her to her feet and pulled her to him fiercely, covering her mouth with his. Their mouths opened simultaneously, their tongues fought for dominance and Peeta stumbled forward a few steps and pinned Katniss against the island.

Her hands roamed over his back and rested on his bottom. She squeezed it slightly and wrapped a leg around his.

He moaned. "Do you want me, Katniss?"

"Mm-hm." She kissed him. "I want all of you. Make love to me."

He kissed her and then turned her in his arms. He kissed her shoulder; moved her hair to the side and kissed her neck.

She pressed back against him with a soft moan.

He nipped at her ear and then growled softly. "Like this, sweetheart? Right here?"

"Right here." She bent forward and curled her fingers around the edge of the counter. She smiled seductively over her shoulder at him.

He slipped himself inside her slowly. He slid out and then back in almost lazily.

Katniss let out a low moan as he moved within her. Her head went back with a sigh. "Faster, Peeta." She begged.

He complied, gripping her hips. He grunted with every thrust.

She replied with her own moans.

He gripped her hips even tighter as he increased his speed even more.

She could feel the bruises forming already, but she didn't care. Her fingernails dug into the counter. Her moans turned into cries that only increased in volume as the tension rose within her. She met her climax with an incoherent shout.

Peeta was right on her heels, saying her name softly. He loosened his grip and stroked his thumbs against her flesh.

"I love you." He said softly.

She slumped against the counter and mumbled, "I love you."

After a few more moments, Peeta stepped back.

Katniss pushed herself up slowly and turned to face him. A smile played on her lips. "Is there any of that frosting left?"

He chuckled and picked up the bowl. "A little." He got a dollop on his finger. He examined her for several seconds and then stepped forward. He held it out.

She leaned forward and licked the icing off. "Why are you so handsome?" She asked as she leaned back once more.

He shrugged. "I don't think I am."

"Of course you are." She trailed her fingers down his cheek.

He smiled and kissed her softly. "What would you like to do now?"

"Shower." She said with a grin.

"Do you want me to join you?"

"Only if you want to. But I'm going to really just shower. Remember, we invited people over for supper. I also need to clean my game." She kissed him. "I guess you can come with me."

"I need to make more frosting. You ate it all."

"I ate it all? You started it." She teased.

"I think you were the one who put the icing on me first, sweetheart." He kissed her, holding her close. He trailed his fingers over her skin.

A knock on the door interrupted them.

"Who is it?" Peeta called, pulling on his pants and walking toward the front of the house.

"Haymitch." The voice said from the other side of the door.

Katniss gathered their clothes from the floor and scurried up the stairs before her husband opened the door.

"So is everything set for the wedding next week?" Katniss asked later as they gathered for supper.

Haymitch grumbled.

Hazelle elbowed him in the ribs. "I've still got a few things to finish up. Final fittings for all the dresses and suits will happen when Gale, Annie, and the kids get here. They're still staying with you, right?"

"Yes." Peeta answered. "And Posy can stay here as long as she needs to when you two go on your honeymoon."

"Thank you." Hazelle said, relieved. "I know she's old enough to be by herself, but I'd much rather know she's with people who can look after her."

Posy rolled her eyes. "I'd be fine, Mother."

"I know. But I don't want to risk it."

"Haymitch said he was fine with me staying at his house. It's going to be ours anyway. Why can't I just start the move?"

"Because I want you to stay with Katniss and Peeta. Finn and Maggie will be here, too."

"Finn and Maggie are kids."

"I'm not having this argument with you here, Posy. We'll discuss it later."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Hey, Posy." Haymitch said. "It won't be so bad. And I would like you to get your room set up. I'm sure you mother will be fine with that. Just spend the night here, okay? Is that okay?" The last he asked his betrothed who nodded once with a smile.

Peeta and Katniss exchanged a look.

"Stop it." Haymitch snapped at them. "I can be nice. You know that."

They exchanged another look and then glared at Haymitch. As one they said, "Stay alive."

"I was in a bad place then." He said, contrite. "Hazelle fixed me. So did this one." He pinched Posy's cheek. "So don't judge me for something I said thirteen years ago."

Peeta smiled reassuringly at his former mentor. He changed the subject. "So, wedding preparations."

Hazelle and Posy took over the rest of the conversation. Peeta contributed a little. Mostly Katniss and Haymitch were bored and only spoke when spoken to.

Peeta brought out the cake a short time later, covered in the frosting he threw together as Katniss showered. She blew out the candles, thinking of the fate of the first batch of icing her husband had made. She looked into Peeta's eyes and swiped some of the frosting off the side of the cake. She dabbed it on his nose and winked.

He laughed. "Happy birthday, Katniss."

"Thank you, Peeta." She said softly.

Everyone else chorused their birthday wishes and then they dug into the cake.