Coffee and Classics
Hey guys! This is a fun little chapter! I figured I needed a light one after the intense one before! Hope you enjoy it!
I do NOT own The Hunger Games.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:
"What about this one?" I land on a cozy three-bedroom apartment and turn the computer screen towards Peeta, where he lies on his back next to me. He quickly reads the description and shakes his head.
"They say it's 'quaint,'" he says, scratching stomach, and pulling up the blankets slightly to cover his nakedness. "That's code for 'unbelievably tiny.'"
I scoff and continue to search as I sit cross legged next to Peeta's horizontal form. I'm still wearing his clothes—he didn't even bother taking off my shirt during sex, not that I minded, and I slipped back into his boxers when it ended. "Well what is your ideal apartment for us?"
His face lights up. "Say that again."
"What is your ideal apartment for us?" I ask, my eyebrows turning in in confusion.
Suddenly, he grabs my arms and pulls me down to him, my head handing on his shoulder; a huge smile streaks across his perfect face. He cups my cheek with his big right hand, his blue eyes glittering. He slides his lips across mine, and my breath hitches. "For us." He whispers, then plants a small kiss on the corner of my mouth.
"Yes. That's what I said. Don't get all sappy," I complain sarcastically. He laughs loudly and gives me another small kiss. "Now can I get back to apartment searching?"
He gives me a nod and lets me go. When I'm back in my sitting position, he wraps his left arm around my hips, resting his hand on my thigh.
"And can you please put some clothes on? It's really distracting."
"I can't believe you two idiots are moving in together," Johanna whispers through the phone after I tell her the news. She called right after Peeta and I exited my bedroom after searching for apartments for about an hour. We haven't found anything yet, but Peeta is very hopeful about the entire thing—and he can't seem to keep his hands off me since I said yes. He's always touching me—my arm, my hand, my waist, my lower back—and he looks at me constantly with lustful eyes. Needless to say, we needed to get out of my small bedroom before I couldn't walk for days. Not that Peeta would mind that.
"Yeah, we are. It's a little crazy, but I'm excited," I say back to her, as I lean against the kitchen island. Suddenly, Peeta comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist as he starts to plant hungry kisses on the back of my neck; his tongue glides along my skin and he moans softly, causing vibrations to tickle my spine in the most delicious way.
"Well, here's to hoping he doesn't have a pregnant ex-girlfriend," she laughs, but it's strained.
"I know this whole Gale thing must must suck for you. Have you decided if you want to stay with him?" I ask, hoping to every Deity that she says yes.
"I haven't decided." She sniffs loudly. "I mean, I've been with guys who've had kids before, but I normally just sneak out before the kid wakes up for breakfast. Plus, Madge might not even want me around."
"Why wouldn't she want you around?"
"She might think that I'm trying to be a mother to the kid."
I pause, understanding the awkwardness. But those thoughts fade when Peeta's hand is suddenly under my jeans and stroking my left cheek. I'm startled, and I try to turn around to stop him but he stops me and continues fondling me, planting kisses on my neck.
"Well, maybe you shouldn't think too hard about it, I mean, everything is still so new. Give it a few weeks." I say, trying to ignore Peeta.
"Yeah, yeah. You're right. Anyway, I'll let you get back to Blondie. Have fun apartment searching."
"We will. Bye, Jo."
"Bye."
As soon as I set the phone down on the kitchen island, Peeta's hands are in the front of my jeans, unzipping them. I try to move away, but he pulls me closer to him and I feel his arousal on back.
"Peeta, seriously, you're animal." I laugh, trying to relieve the tension. Literally. He just laughs against my neck, and moves his kisses up my until he kisses my favorite spot behind my ear, and I can't help the shiver that takes over my body as my head falls backward onto his shoulder. He just smiles into my neck, obviously happy for more skin, and kisses down the front as he slips his hand into my underwear.
A knock at the door halts our movements. Peeta groans as he withdraws his hands from my jeans then zips them up. "How about we don't tell anyone where will live when we move into a new place. So no one will ever be able to interrupt us." I laugh, and turn around to give him a light kiss on the lips. Then I look down at the front of his jeans.
"How about you just stand behind the counter while I get the door," I say, unable to hide my amusement. Peeta narrows his eyes at me.
"Oh, I could feel you were turned on too, baby," he says, his eyes suddenly burning. "You're just lucky no one can tell." I hold back a shiver that threatens to run through my body at his sexy tone, and turn to get the door just as a second knock rings out.
I turn the knob and fling the door open to find Annie, twiddling her thumbs and wearing a long sea green dress that flows over her body.
"Annie, hey, what are you doing here?" I ask, trying to sound as nice as possible, but really I'm just immensely confused.
"Hey, I'm sorry to just pop in unannounced but, I was in the neighborhood and I wanted to talk to you." I nod, stepping away from the door, indicating she should come in. She gives me a small smile and walks into my apartment. I shut the door behind her her, and turn around to find Peeta smiling and giving Annie a wave while he stands behind the counter; she returns the wave and then turns back to me.
"So what did you need to talk about?" I ask, trying not to be jealous of her. I mean, she's a freakin' goddess and she lives next door to Peeta. If she ever tries to put a move on him, I swear to Go—
"Finnick." She cuts off my drifting thoughts and I instantly relax. "You've known him for a few years I want to know if it would be a mistake to go out with him. I know he seems like a player, so I want to know if he actually is." She bites her lower lip. "And I know there was a big thing about him and you and—"
I cut her off. "Yeah, that was a big misunderstanding. I've never slept with Finnick—he's not my type." I look over Annie's shoulder to Peeta and I see him smile; I smile back and then turn my vision back to Annie's green eyes. "But seriously Annie, Finnick is a flirt, and yeah, a little bit of a player. But he's a good guy underneath that façade he puts on."
"How? What do you mean?" she asks, intrigued. I groan internally. Talking up Finnick is not something I enjoy doing, but he has done some good things for me in the past.
"Well he's done some amazing things for me, things you wouldn't expect some cocky bastard to do. I mean, the guy punched someone in the face just because was insulting me, and he took care of Prim when I was away for a night." Annie's eyebrows perk up in surprise. "Look, I'm not telling you what you should do, but if you're interested in him, I know that he's interested in you too."
She nods slowly. "Well thanks for the advice, Katniss. And again, I'm sorry for stopping by without calling and probably interrupting something important." I try to hold back a smirk. She slowly starts making her way back to the front door. "I'll see you guys later."
"Bye!" Peeta and I call out to her. She smiles, waves and then exits my apartment.
I turn around to Peeta and raise my eyebrows. Peeta exhales deeply.
"Wow, Annie is into Finnick?" he asks, scratching his head in disbelief. "I did not see that coming. She seems so different—not a person likely to fall for Finn's aggressive flirting."
I shrug my shoulders. "There are few women who don't fall for that." Peeta's eyes suddenly darken and he saunters towards me, a smirk forming on his face. When he reaches me, he places his hands on my hips, then slowly slides them back onto my backside.
"My woman didn't," he whispers, licking his lips. I feel my entire body flush at his husky tone.
"No, she didn't." Peeta's eyes flicker and then he pulls my entire body so it's pressed up against his. He leans down and plants a lingering kiss on my collarbone.
"Now, where were we…"
"She came to you to ask about me!?" Finnick practically screams in excitement when I go to visit Peeta at Coffee and Classics the next day. I'm sitting in my usual chair with my usual Mexican hot chocolate when Finnick verbally accosts me; I guess Peeta slipped out that Annie stopped by.
"Yeah. She wanted to know if you were a player."
Finnick's eyes widen. "What did you say? I mean, Katniss, I know I do a lot of dumb stuff to you, but I consider you one of my closest friends and I—"
"Finn, seriously, relax," I say, holding up my hands for him to stop. He nods his head. "You're my friend too, no matter how creepy you are, and I didn't say anything too bad, I promise."
A goofy smile takes over his face and I can't help but smile back—he looks like a kid in a candy store, and it's something I've never seen when Finnick is interested in a girl.
"I think this girl might be different, Katniss." His tone is entirely serious, and he still looks so happy. I nod, agreeing with him wholeheartedly.
"I think so too."
Suddenly, Peeta appears from behind Finnick and taps him on the shoulder. "Dude, you've got to man the counter—I need to talk to Katniss." Finnick, still smiling, nods and leaves me, giving me a wave goodbye.
"What's up babe?" I ask when he kneels down in front of me; a huge smile is on his face—similar to the one Finnick is currently sporting.
"God, I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing you call me that," he says, leaning his head down to plant a soft kiss on my jeaned knee and I melt a little. "But that's not why I rushed back here. I have some good news."
My eyebrows perk up. "What is it?"
He holds up a newspaper, with a red marker circling some writing on the grey page. "I found the perfect place."