Peeta POV
Months of preparation. Every citizen invited. Everything is finally in place. Anticipation and excitement electrify the air. My own heart beats out a rapid staccato of nervous exhilaration. My wedding…our wedding…is finally here.
Ever since Katniss said yes I have been the happiest man alive. Every day I have felt nothing but incomparable happiness. Well perhaps Gale's own happiness could have rivaled mine but only on one day. His wedding. Gale and Johanna were wed just over a fortnight ago. It was a lovely wedding and with Katniss at my side I could barely contain myself, my excitement for our wedding nearly overwhelming me. As happy as I was for Gale and Johanna and their marriage I could barely stand to wait for my own.
Now here it is and every passing moment until Katniss and I are wed feels like a lifetime.
"Your highness." One of the members of my vast serving staff enters my dressing room after a short knock. Walter I believe his name is. "It's time." The kind elderly man wears a genuine smile.
"You look so much like your father did on his wedding day. Of course you are much happier than he was. So much more in love. If it is not rude, majesty, your choice of Queen is far greater than your father's." I know he means no insult. He, along with many other members of my staff, endured much under the reign of my mother. They have no love for her, neither do I.
I make my way, with extra enthusiasm in my step, towards the great hall. In a hallway off the side I find Cato and Finnick, whom I have chosen to stand beside me on this most important day.
Father Patrick opens the door and beckons us to follow him out into the great hall. Yards and yards of fabric have been draped decoratively along the walls and from the ceiling. Fresh flowers in large vases are placed strategically and the smell of lilacs fills the room. Rows of chairs have been set up and are filled with every citizen of my kingdom, soon to be Katniss' as well. Cato sits alongside Marvel, Chaff, Beetee, Thresh, and Rue in the left side front row. On the right side front row sits Gale and Johanna, alongside Annie who's stomach has begun to show that she is with child. Next to them sits Katniss' mother, she dabs at tears in the corners of her eyes with a white handkerchief. Katniss' mother and Prim had moved into the guest wing of the castle just last week. It has been a joy to spend time with the family that I will soon join.
I take my place beside the priest and off to the side the musicians begin to play a beautiful melody. First to come down the aisle is Madge. As Katniss' longest trusted female friend Madge is Katniss' first attendant. She smiles brightly, sending a playful wink at her husband when she passed. Next comes Prim, my almost sister, who floats gracefully down the aisle. She is the gentlest soul I have ever met and I understand how Katniss loves her so much. She is lovely and when she passes me she whispers, "She looks beautiful."
Of course she does. My Katniss is always beautiful.
The priest asks everyone to rise and a new tune fills the room. The doors at the end of the hall and are pulled open again to reveal my bride. Her gown is made of the finest white silk I could acquire. I paid the local seamstresses very handsomely to make Katniss the most beautiful gown. Of course I was not privileged enough to see it. But it is beautiful. The skirt is voluminous and a long train follows behind her. The white silk is covered with a lace overlay from her waist and over her shoulders. The sleeves as well are made of lace and the contrast is beautiful with the olive shade of her skin underneath it. A sheer veil covers her face but I can still see her grey eyes, like a storm cloud, so alive and filled with beauty. The veil encircles her head and comes to rest below her elbows.
Next to her is Haymitch. Looking as proud as if he were her father. He would never say it but I know that he was touched when Katniss asked him to step in and give her away.
Everyone is in awe. I can faintly hear their murmurings as well as the happy sobs of Katniss' mother along with Annie and Rue. I hear faint sniffles coming from Prim as well. I doubt I'll eve understand why women cry when they are happy. It makes little sense.
Prim was right of course. She is beautiful, as she always is, but today with all the extra effort she is more radiant than the sun.
They come to a stop in front of me and Haymitch takes my hand and Katniss' and brings them together. I grasp her small strong hand in mine and we stand before Father Patrick.
"Dearly beloved," he begins but my sole focus is the woman in front of me.
"Do you, your majesty King Peeta, take this woman to be your wife?"
"I do." I vow with every piece of myself.
"Do you Katniss Everdeen, hero and savior of the Kingdom of Panem, take this man to be your husband?"
"I do." Her voice is filled with unwavering love and the very sound sends warmth to my heart.
"Then I now pronounce you man and wife. Your highness, you may kiss your bride."
I clasp the edges of her veil between my thumbs and forefingers and lift the fabric away from her face. With sure hands I grasp her face and bring her lips to mine for the first time as man and wife. As King and Queen. Forever together, never to be apart. The noise of the crowd fades away.
When we break apart I hear the priest say with gusto, "May I announce for the first time their royal highness' King Peeta Mellark and Queen Katniss."
The cheering crowd whoops even louder as we stand together before them.
…:::…
The ceremony was followed quickly by dinner and dancing. The castle chef's had prepared the very best venison they could catch and every side dish was exquisite. The music was lively and jovial and all the guests danced until the dark of night. The wine flowed freely and everyone was feeling sufficiently light-headed and in high spirits by the time the night was through.
Just before midnight Katniss and I bid the crowd farewell. Hand in hand we went back to the King and Queen's quarters, which had been cleaned and redone after my mother, had been dethroned. I even requested that they reupholster and make entirely new linens in the colors of the forest, the place where Katniss and I fell in love. I thought it fitting.
I close door behind us and take in the beauty that is my wife while she stares in awe at the room that will forever be ours.
She turns to me with a smile, one that is filled with love and even a little bit coy. I know that she is nervous about what is to come. Honestly I am as well. But far more than that I am excited to unite myself with my wife in the most intimate way.
I stride forward and closed the distance that separates us. I gently place my hands on her hips and pull her body close to mine. With all my love and admiration I pour myself into the kiss that I place on her lips.
"Take me to bed Peeta." She whispered against my lips.
I can feel myself reacting to her words. I feel the fabric of my trousers as they become too tight. With gentle and nimble fingers I undo the buttons of her dress that trail over her spine. She shivers as my fingers gently graze the smooth and freshly exposed skin of her back. Goosebumps form in the wake of my touch. I place a tender kiss to the spot between her shoulder blades and she sighs quietly. The dress pools at her feet once all the buttons are undone and she is left in nothing but her under garments.
She turns around slowly and her hands come up to rest on my chest. For a moment her fingers nervously fiddle with the top button of my frock coat before she slips them through their holes with shaky fingers. She pushes the coat from my shoulders and then with slightly more confidence works on the buttons of my crisp white shirt. She removes the shirt and her fingers splay across the expanse of my chest. The ends of her fingers are cool against my warm skin. Her chest rises and falls rapidly with her hitched breathing.
I bring her close to me, her hands still resting on my chest, her fingers gently combing the hair on my chest. I reach around her and find the ends of the tie to her corset. I pull the tie loose and begin the slow task of pulling the lacing free. I dip my head down and capture her lips with my own. She moans slightly as my tongue enters her mouth and gently massages her own.
When the final laces are free I feel the corset go limp and my breathing comes rapidly at what comes next. My eyes venture down and all I can see is perfection. Her supple breasts and the smooth planes of her skin are beautiful to me, absolutely perfect. She's gorgeous.
Her trembling fingers undo the buttons on my trousers and her shaking hands push them past my hips and let them fall to the floor. She gasps and suddenly her eyes don't know where to look. Her purity is absolutely endearing.
I take her in my arms again and gently kiss her. I walk her backwards until the backs of her knees are pressed against the bed. I lay her down gently and she scoots back to the center of the bed. I crawl onto the bed and hover above her. I press another kiss to her lips, this one filled with passion. My fingers entwine in her hair and I pull gently at the roots. Her body writhes against my own as our kiss lengthens.
After a good long while I hear her whisper, "I'm ready Peeta."
As gently as I can I push into her. When she winces slightly I hold myself back until she is ready. It's difficult to hold back, the pleasure is so intense. But for her, for my love, I will try. When I'm finally fully sheathed inside her I rest my forehead against hers and sigh. I will try my best to make this night good for her. I thrust gently, encouraged by her sighs and moans.
But it soon becomes all too intense and I know I can't hold back much longer.
"It's okay sweetheart, let go." She encourages me and I do. The pleasure overwhelms my senses.
When my breathing settles the first words I utter are an apology. "I'm sorry love. I wanted that to be good for you also."
"It's alright sweetheart. We have the rest of our lives to figure it out." She kisses my forehead and I fall asleep against her bosom.
A/N: Hello readers! Here's another chapter for you! I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think. I really appreciate your reviews. This story is pretty much at it's end now. I hope you've all enjoyed it.