Chapter 18 (final)

3 months later...

Being with Peeta ended up being the most natural thing in the world. Katniss felt so at ease that it was almost as if he was really just a part of her that she had not realized was missing. Whenever she wasn't at the university or working on her dissertation, she was spending time with Peeta and she couldn't even remember what she used to do with all her time.

Most of the time, they ate dinner together, either at his place or at her apartment. He was a much better cook, but usually they shared the task of preparing the meal or they just ordered take-out. Many times they ended up sprawled out on the couch at the end of the night, watching a movie or just listening to music and sharing all their secrets.

She found that she couldn't get enough of the taste of his lips. His strong embrace was everything and when he wrapped his arms around her from behind, whether she was standing at the kitchen sink or working at her desk, she melted into his warmth. She loved to watch him concentrate, especially when he painted. His face took on a quality that was more intense than usual and she could sit for hours just studying the way the freckles dotted the bridge of his nose or how his long, blond eyelashes brushed his pale cheeks when he blinked.

One evening, after two straight weeks of much colder temperatures, Katniss was stacking logs in her fireplace when she heard Peeta's knock at her door. She was expecting him and she brushed off her hands on her corduroy pants before rising to go unlock the door.

"Hey," she smiled at him, grabbing his arm and pulling him into the apartment. His arms were full and she helped him to set down the easel and canvas he brought so he could shrug off the bag he had slung across one shoulder. "I should have just come to your place," she said, noting the fact that he had to drag all his supplies to her place.

"Not at all," Peeta replied, giving her a quick kiss on the lips before he bent down to untie his boot laces. "I think you'll be more relaxed in your own space." Katniss felt her face heating at his words. Tonight was the night she was going to let Peeta paint her, finally. As if sensing her rising feelings, Peeta put his hands on either side of her face, looking into her eyes. "Katniss," he said, "you don't have to do this. I'm not going to lie to you: I'm pretty excited about painting such a gorgeous subject, but if it makes you feel nervous, I don't have to."

Katniss let out a ragged breath. "No, I want to," she replied evenly. "I'm excited, too. I'm just...awkward." She let out a small chuckle and he joined her. "Let's eat first," she said, gesturing toward the kitchen where she had some beef stew on the stove top waiting.

Peeta moved to follow her but before he could take two steps she stopped directly in front of him, causing him to run into her backside. She turned and reached up and plucked the beanie hat off his head, tossing it onto a nearby chair, then ran her fingers through his golden curls that had been smashed down by the hat. "There," she declared. "Now you're ready." He laughed and caught her by the elbows before she could turn around again. Their bodies were very close and she could feel the heat from his radiating out and inviting her closer.

"Careful Katniss," he joked. "If you start undressing me I just may demand that you join me."

Katniss stared up into his intensely blue eyes, her smirk slowly fading as he held her gaze. "Just what kind of painting did you have planned, hmmm?" she quipped and then shrieked when she scooped her up, one arm under her knees and the other at her shoulders.

"You'll see," Peeta replied, just before he leaned down and gave her a searing kiss.

...

After finishing off the stew and a couple of beers, Peeta suggested they do the painting in the living room, near the fireplace. Katniss agreed and left him to set up while she went to change. She knew Peeta did not expect her to be naked while he painted her, but she also knew that their relationship had progressed to a point where he certainly wouldn't mind seeing her with less clothes. She had originally thought she might wear something casual, like jeans and her favorite sweater, but after mulling it over for the last week she had finally made her decision.

Over the past months she and Peeta had shared some heated make-out sessions and had grown somewhat intimate, although they not yet had sex or even stayed all night with each other. So she was pretty sure Peeta would take the hint when she came back into the living room to reveal what she had chosen to wear for the portrait.

His jaw actually dropped when she rounded the corner and he saw the hunter green spaghetti strap negligee she had purchased at the lingerie shop downtown. The silken material floated over her olive skin, ending mid-thigh, and she had removed her hair tie letting her dark, wavy hair cascade down over one shoulder.

Wide eyed, Peeta carefully set his paintbrush down on a side table and walked toward her, his mouth slowly curving up into a brilliant smile. "Are you sure this is what you want to wear?" he said in a teasing tone. "I could easily lose my concentration and end up making a very poor painting of you."

Her lips quirked up in amusement. "I think you are a professional," she replied smoothly. "You can work around it."

His eyebrows raised momentarily. "I think you have no idea the effect you can have," he said reverently, putting his hand out to lead her over to the couch.

"Sit here," he said quietly, "with your legs tucked under like that." He instructed her gently until he had her in the right position and then he took up his brush and began to make light strokes on the canvas. For a quarter of an hour it was quiet while he worked. Katniss settled into her position on the couch, watching and admiring him as he worked.

Finally he looked up at her, his smile infectious. "You are a very good model," he said. "Quiet and still, and also breathtakingly gorgeous."

She flushed a little at his compliment, but she was getting used to them by now. He said as much to her several times each day. "Thank you," she murmured. "You don't look so bad yourself. Although...I think you may be a little overdressed for your work. Aren't you hot over there with the fire?" Her voice took on a teasing quality as she spoke.

"My proximity to the fireplace is not really what is making me feel so hot," Peeta said, giving her a meaningful look. "But if you insist, I guess I could take off a layer." At this he peeled his sweater over his head, revealing the toned muscles of his lower stomach when the t-shirt underneath rose up in the process.

Katniss shook her head at him. "Nice," she said, a seductive edge to her voice that she did not recognize. "But not enough."

"You are very distracting, you know," Peeta replied, taking up his paintbrush and pretending to focus on the canvas once again. "I take back what I said about you being a cooperative model." She could see the corners of his mouth curling upward as he tried to contain his smile.

When he chanced a glance back over at her she was no longer in her posed position, but leaning toward him a bit with her arm extended, her index finger curled in invitation. "Come here," she said lowly. It took him about 2 seconds to throw down his paint brush and join her on the couch.

Later, tucked in her bed together, the down comforter wrapped around their entwined bare bodies, Katniss sighed in contentment. Just before she drifted off to sleep from the sound of Peeta's steady heartbeat beneath her cheek she whispered, "Peeta?"

"Yes, my love?" he replied.

"Stay with me?" she asked.

"Always," he answered.