A/N: Heeelllooo! I can't believe it's Monday again! Mockingjay Part 1 is coming out this week! Argh!

Credit for the Contract goes to HotCoffee21. It is extracted from their Fifty Shades of Grey fanfiction 'One'. (Taken with permission of course, I'm not a thief!) I highly recommend their fic, it's very well written and very interesting!

Warning: The usual. Mentions of future graphic sex, BDSM, etc. I think you guys get the idea anyway.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games or the wording of the Contract. I have only made some minor tweaks to the Contract so it fits my story.

Chapter Three

Peeta woke up alone. In Cato's house. Again. Man, was this becoming a habit? Thankfully, this time he was wearing clothes, the only thing that seemed to have been taken off being his shoes. Why did Cato flounce off? He changed so suddenly last night, maybe he had changed his mind about wanting to do anything with Peeta. The thought made his stomach sink. Oh God, if that was true then it was going to be just the incentive he needed to crawl into a hole and die in his pit of loneliness.

Peeta propped himself up on his elbows and looked around. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, pooling on the carpet and spreading warmth around the room. Now that his brain wasn't clouded with endorphins he could clearly see that this was a different room than the one he woke up in yesterday. He wasn't surprised. Cato probably had hundreds of rooms in this palace-like house.

He was just considering climbing out of bed when he heard footsteps on the stairs. Shit. The next thing he did was completely done by impulse. Peeta buried his face into the pillow and pretended to be asleep. Why? He didn't know. It wasn't like Cato would be angry if he saw that he was awake and yet here he was acting like he was still sleeping as if he would get his head bitten off if he were any different.

The door creaked open and Peeta held his breath. It closed again and Cato approached the bed. It dipped under his weight as he climbed back into it. Every hair stood up on Peeta's body, standing to attention at the proximity of another body. Another really hot body. The body heat of two caused the bed to warm up like an oven.

A hand touched his arm and it took everything Peeta had not to flinch or melt into the touch. Warm breath brushed past his ear and Peeta couldn't contain his shudder. "I know you're not asleep," Cato purred.

"I could be," Peeta mumbled, keeping his eyes shut while he spoke.

"No you couldn't, your mouth was shut. From what I've seen of your beautiful sleeping form over the past two days you sleep with your mouth open," Cato replied, pressing a tentative kiss against the younger boy's ear.

Damn it. Why did he hold his breath? Peeta gave in and opened his eyes, turning around to face Cato on the bed. "Where were you?" he asked.

"I had to take a business call," Cato answered. His eyebrows lifted in curiosity. "You didn't think I'd ditched you, did you?"

"Wouldn't you think the same thing?" Peeta demanded. It was hard not to get swept away every time he laid eyes on Cato. He was gorgeous. Painfully so. Why would a man like that even want to give someone like Peeta the time of day, let alone want to take them on a date and share a bed with them?

"I am many things Peeta Mellark but a sleeze is not one of them." As if to prove the point, Cato leaned forward and pressed a firm kiss against Peeta's lips. As chaste as it was, the action took Peeta's breath away. "You just looked so utterly content lying in my bed that I did not wish to disturb you by shouting at my good-for-nothing assistant over the phone." He swiped a thumb over Peeta's eyelid, enjoying the way they fluttered in response. "Your eyelashes flutter when you're really deep asleep. It's actually very cute."

Peeta found this hard to believe. He wasn't the cute sort. Sure, maybe when he was a tubby toddler but not now.

Cato kissed him again. His fingers tangled themselves in Peeta's hair while his arm wound around his waist, drawing him closer and pressing their bodies together. Surprising himself by being so compliant, Peeta closed his eyes and opened his mouth, a soft moan escaping him as Cato folded his bottom lip into his mouth and sucked on it like a lollipop. His heart was in his throat, his face burning like a fire.

When Cato pulled away, a curious expression on his face, Peeta frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I can't do this," the older man concluded.

Peeta stared at him with wide eyes. "Why?" he asked. "Did I do something wrong?"

Cato sat up and shook his head. "Oh God no, it's not you," he said. "It's you that I'm worried about."

"Worried about?" Peeta repeated. "Why would you be worried about me? Is it because I'm a virgin? Because I really don't care how that goes down as long as it happens before I'm at least twenty five."

"No, it's not that. I know you could handle it, you're tough as old boots, but I can't go on acting like this," said Cato. "It's killing me."

Wiping the saliva from his mouth, Peeta asked, "Acting like what?"

"Like if we were together it would be anything but normal."

Okay, that was worrying. Peeta climbed out of the bed and walked around to Cato's side so he was standing in front of him. "What do you mean anything but normal?" he asked. "Is it because you're all big and powerful and I'm just a peasant from Merchant streets?" The more Peeta thought about it, the more the pieces slid together. "You don't want your people finding out that you're dating a bumpkin, do you? I bet that's why"-

Rolling his eyes, Cato stood up and slapped his hand over Peeta's mouth. "Will you give over with the peasant crap? I wouldn't care if you were a hobo, I'd still probably have french kissed your brains out just then. It's nothing to do with class or power or money. It's nothing to do with how people perceive us together. It's about how a relationship with me is anything but normal."

It was Peeta's turn to roll his eyes. He removed Cato's hand from his mouth. "How so?" he asked.

"I can't say."

"Well then I'm sticking with my peasant theory." Peeta folded his arms defiantly.

God, Cato thought in that moment, he's so hot when he's stubborn.

Chewing on his bottom lip, Cato came to a decision. It was make or break anyway. Since he was going to lose Peeta either way, he might as well tell him the truth. "Come with me," he said. Grabbing Peeta's wrist, Cato lead Peeta to the mirrored wardrobe that took up the entire right hand wall. He slid the door back and beckoned the younger boy to follow him inside. It was a walk in wardrobe that could easily house ten people.

A chest of drawers of inside. Cato pulled open the top drawer and stepped back for Peeta to look inside.

"Okay, so you're kinky, so what?" Peeta asked, looking at Cato with a confused frown. Inside the drawer was an array of sex toys. Peeta hadn't seen many in his life time but it wasn't hard to envision what most looked like. The variety was a little shocking but so what? Why would Cato think that constituted an 'abnormal' relationship?

"It's not kinkiness," Cato said, his voice as solid as a rock. He had changed through the course of the conversation, like his walls were falling away the more they spoke to each other. Peeta was alarmed by the demeanor change.

"Then what is it?" Peeta frowned, peering into the drawer once more. Again, his wrist was grabbed (was this how Cato was always going to shepherd him around?) and Cato pushed further in. Peeta stumbled after him, pushing past miles of clothes and shoes until they arrived at another door. "What is this? The Chronicles of Narina?"

"Funny," Cato said flatly. He pulled a chain up from around his neck and stuck it into the lock in the door. When it twisted, Cato gestured at Peeta. "After you."

"Don't mind if I do," Peeta responded, scooting past Cato in the claustrophobic space and pushing the door open. However, when he was inside, his joking façade disappeared.

"Do you think that's kinkiness?" Cato challenged.

The room was constructed for one thing and one thing only: Sex. Not just ordinary sex, the sort of sex you'd read about in cheesy erotic novels for women that they sold at the airport shops. What was it called again? Peeta couldn't recall. His eyes didn't know exactly what they were looking at but some things were easily deciphered. Bed. Couch. Hooks hanging from ceiling. A grid mechanism. Another set of drawers, similar to the one in the wardrobe, and a weird structure hanging from the ceiling.

"I don't suppose that's a yoga swing?" Peeta weakly joked.

This made Cato chuckle. "No, it most certainly is not."

Peeta walked further into the room, running his fingers along the silky material of the red sheets on the bed. "What is all this?" he asked.

"It's my secret life," Cato replied, sounding actually quite proud of it. Peeta looked over his shoulder at the older man, wondering how one man could be so proud of a room.

"Of what?" Peeta asked in confusion. He focused his eyes back in front of him, taking in every perplexing piece of equipment he could.

"Peeta, turn around and look at me."

Cato's voice made Peeta shiver and he did as he was told. He spun around on his heel and looked at Cato, who stood with his arms crossed across his chest. Peeta swallowed the lump in his throat and pulled himself up, standing as straight as he possibly could to at least somehow match the dominant stance. It didn't work one bit.

"Of what?" Peeta repeated, holding eye contact the entire time.

"I am a Dom, Peeta. Behind closed doors I lead a life of BDSM," Cato said carefully, his voice measured and controlled. "Meaning bondage, domination, submission and masochism."

Peeta's heart palpitated but for some reason he didn't feel scared. He should have, he knew that. This man could easily lock him in here and use him as a pleasure slave in his sex dungeon. For some reason he felt the opposite. Completely safe. "If it's such a secret lifestyle, why are you showing me after only one day?"

"Because, if you haven't noticed-which you probably haven't-you are an extremely attractive man who I find it hard to keep my hands off," Cato stated simply.

Whoa. Peeta hadn't expected that answer. Brushing his hair back from his face, just to have something to occupy his actions, Peeta asked, "And why would this affect a relationship? If it's just a pass time surely it's something that can be controlled?"

"This isn't a pass time, Peeta. It's a lifestyle choice," Cato answered. He gestured around the room. "This is a constant. I don't just decide when I'm going to do it in a certain period of time like you may do with your paintings."

"I don't understand," Peeta finally concluded. "Is this why stopped you last night? This morning? All this? I can't see why it would affect that."

"I have never been intimate with someone without a contract having been signed first. You're my first sexual partner who has never been a part of this world," Cato explained. "And I'm not prepared to deal with the fall out of what might happen to you if we were to go all the way. I stopped last night because my mind was beginning to wander, thinking about things that shouldn't be thought about a person who isn't my own submissive."

"Submissive?" The word sounded foreign to Peeta.

Cato couldn't fight the smirk that broke out across his face. "You'd be the perfect submissive," he informed the younger boy.

"Then why can't I?" asked Peeta.

Cato laughed. When Peeta scowled, the older man had to hold himself back from grabbing the boy and kissing him again. "It's not something you just randomly decide. You have to be committed."

"I am committed," Peeta said indignantly.

Cato walked around Peeta and pulled a thick leather bound book out from the second drawer in the chest. He passed it to the younger boy, who sat on the bed and opened it carefully. "Read that then tell me that you want to be my submissive."

Terms of Reference

1. The accepting party shall henceforth be referred to as "The Submissive".

2. This contract and the contents within are meant solely to create the appropriate mindset and are in no way legally binding.

1.0.0 Roles

1.1.0 The Submissive

The Submissive agrees to submit to the Dominant fully and without reservation. The Submissive understands that there is no time or situation in which he can willfully disobey the Dominant, with the exception of 1.0.1. The Submissive understands that upon signing this contract, his body becomes property of the Dominant to use as he sees fit, within the guidelines defined herein, including punishment.

1.1.1 Submissive Rights

1. The Submissive holds the right to refuse any command that may be in violation of any existing laws.

2. The Submissive holds the right to refuse any command that may cause extreme or permanent distress to himself or another.

3. The Submissive holds the right to refuse any command that may cause permanent bodily harm (see 3.0.0).

4. The Submissive holds the right to refuse any command that may affect his job.

5. The Submissive holds the right to a discussion with the Dominant regarding any strong morals that have the potential to be effected.

1.2.0 The Dominant

The Dominant accepts the Submissive as his own fully and without reservation. The Dominant agrees to care for the well-being and safety of the Submissive for as long as he owns him. The Dominant also accepts the responsibility of treating the Submissive fairly, using the Submissive, training the Submissive, and punishing the Submissive.

2.0.0 Punishment

The Submissive agrees to accept any punishment deemed fit by the Dominant, whether earned or not.

2.0.1 Terms of Punishment

Punishment of the Submissive is subject to the terms below to ensure the physical and mental health of the Submissive. The Submissive has the right to discuss these terms and alter or add to them if he sees fit. The terms of Punishment are a set of rules to ensure no lasting damage and no act be misconstrued as abuse. The terms are as follows:

1. No acts including blood play or surgical instruments. If blood is drawn punishment must stop immediately.

2. No breath control or acts resulting in loss of consciousness.

3. No fire play.

4. No act that may result in internal bleeding.

5. No withholding of necessary items such as: water or food, etc.

3.0.0 Permanent Bodily Damage

As the Dominant has accepted the body of the Submissive as his own, he accepts the responsibility of protecting it from any long standing or permanent damage. Should the Submissive be subject to any permanent damage he has the right to terminate this contract immediately. Permanent Bodily Damage is defined as follows:

1. Damage involving the loss of mobility or function, including broken bones.

2. Permanent marks on the skin, including: scars, burns, punctures, or tattoos.

3. Any hair loss.

4. Any disease received at the fault of the Dominant, including sexually transmitted diseases.

5. Death.

4.0.0 Privacy

It is understood by both the Dominant and the Submissive that all evidence of the submission with be kept in complete privacy, unless agreed upon by both parties. Should either party violate this cause, the contract may be terminated immediately.

5.0.0 Other

5.0.1 The Submissive

The Submissive acknowledges his body is no longer his own, therefore he will not engage in any sexual or submissive activity with anyone other than the Dominant, including masturbation.

5.0.2 The Dominant

The Dominant acknowledges the trust of the Submissive, therefore will not loan him to any other Dominant without his consent.

6.0.0 Alteration or Termination of Contract

6.0.1 Alternation of Contract

This contract may not be altered without consent of both parties. Any alterations must be agreed in writing, and signed by both the Dominant and the Submissive.

6.0.2 Termination of Contract

This contract may be terminated by the Submissive if any of the conditions outlined herein are violated. The Dominant retains the right to terminate the contract at any time.

7.0.0 Rules

7.0.1 The Submissive

The Submissive with obey the Dominant in all things without question or hesitation.

7.0.2 The Dominant

The Dominant will not ask the Submissive to violate any of his rights or breach the Terms of Punishment.

The Submissive

Name in print:

Signature:

Date:

The Dominant

Name in print:

Signature:

Date:

Peeta took a moment to take everything he just read in. Cato stood over him expectantly, waiting for him to run for the door or start shouting atrocities at him. He put a long time into putting together that contract and he knew that if Peeta couldn't even stand reading it there was no possible way he would survive as a Submissive.

"What does it mean my body's not my own?" Peeta finally asked. His voice was surprisingly calm.

"As in if you signed that, your body would belong to me," Cato answered.

Peeta chewed on his lip thoughtfully. He thought of his boring life. His lack of commitments and relationships and excitement. Of how this man, the first man to ever show an interest in him, was a strong, controlling, handsome man who had dedicated himself to this lifestyle. Peeta thought about it long and hard. He looked look at Cato curiously. "Say I was capable of doing this, would you want me?" he asked.

Cato scoffed, as if the question were ridiculous. "Of course I would," he replied.

Peeta looked around himself. "Do you keep a pen around here?" he asked.

"Why?" Cato asked cautiously.

"Well I'm going to sign it, aren't I?"

"Peeta, are you sure?" The pen in Cato's back pocket burned like an inferno, begging to be pulled out and used. "It's not a decision to be taken lightly. You can't just decide at the drop of a hat that you want to pursue this lifestyle. That's not how it works."

Peeta raised his eyebrows defiantly. "What? Are you saying I'm not capable?" he challenged.

Cato's eyes widened. "God, no," he contradicted. "I know full well that you're more than capable. I just want you to know that if your name goes on that dotted line, I will not be held responsible if it doesn't turn out how you wished it to."

"I don't wish anything," Peeta answered. "All I know is that I have never met someone like you before, never had someone show interest in me before, and therefore I should not judge the lifestyle you pursue. Besides, how bad could it be?"

"You have no idea." Cato didn't know why he was contradicting this. The thought of controlling the boy before him. His body his property to use how he saw fit. Oh the things he would do to him . . . "I just want you to be sure before you make any snap decisions." Cato glanced to the side of the room and went back to the chest of drawers. He pulled a piece of paper out from the drawer in which he had retrieved the contract. When he returned to Peeta, he handed the paper over.

"What's this?" asked Peeta.

"It's a practice contract," Cato responded. "Be my submissive for six months and see whether you like it or not. And, if you choose not to continue after that period of time, you are free to leave. This will give you a chance to know what this life entails and decide whether you feel you are strong enough to become a full time sub."

Peeta nodded, the action executed with finality. "Okay."

Cato slid his hand into his back pocket, still unconvinced that Peeta would sign, and passed it over it to the younger boy. Peeta pulled the lid off and signed his name in the appropriate places before passing the contract over to Cato. "Your turn," he replied.

"Last chance to back out," Cato warned him.

"Not going to happen," Peeta replied.

And with that, Cato signed off his own name as well. His eyes drifted to the name signed above his own.

Peeta Mellark. Never had that name looked so perfect.

When Cato looked back up at Peeta, his eyes were dark but incredibly amused. "Well then Peeta Mellark, welcome to my world."

A/N: Cliffhanger! Don't worry, we're getting to the sexy stuff next chapter ;)

Please R&R and see you next week! :)