Chapter 19: Another Intimate Shower

I have just put Riley down for her afternoon nap. The last several weeks have been a grueling test. It seems that to succeed at motherhood, you almost have to be thrown into the pool to see if you will sink or swim. Peeta thinks I have become a natural already. Me? I'm not so sure.

I start when I feel lips on the pulse point of my neck, arms wrap around my middle from behind. I deflate like a balloon deprived of air, relaxing once I realize it's Peeta, the only man alive whom I would let touch me in this way.

I know what he wants. Ever since the sexual tension was destroyed between us, just before Riley's birth, we have been unable to keep our hands off each other. Oh, we control ourselves whenever Mother and Prim are home, but when we're alone…..

I lean into Peeta's warm body even as I try to resist his advances. He suckles my jawline insistently, and I can only whimper.

"We'll…. we'll wake her up," I pant, grasping for an excuse to not fuck him against the wall here and now.

"She sleeps like a rock," Peeta insists. "Besides, we can make it quick, just to be safe."

Too easy. How can he deflect anything, make me feel anything, with a neatly-crafted phrase? It baffles me.

Peeta spins me around in his arms; the assertive side of him is coming out. Finding purchase on my sides, his hands inch up the fabric of my top as he kisses my lips.

I growl, half-exasperated, half-playful, into his mouth. He's won this round. But I'm going to make him cum first!

I help him remove my top and cast it aside before leaping into his arms and wrapping my legs around his waist. We stagger into our bathroom, kissing like mad, ripping at any clothing left on our bodies.

My eyes are already closed from the pleasure I sense washing over me. Soon, I feel water join in the dousing, as well as Peeta's lips kissing everywhere. Combine all three together, and is it any wonder that I am drowning in him?

We kiss rather conservatively now, our displays of affection becoming more tender, now that we each have the other where we want them. I giggle against Peeta's lips as he kisses me again, then pushes me up against the shower wall and swiftly enters me.

I lean into him, my hands splayed across his back. I am gasping, stunned at the pleasure Peeta is giving me; his size alone never ceases to amaze me! That he grows that big for me and me alone nearly makes me want to weep with joy.

Peeta's suckling of my shoulder suddenly becomes rougher, and he sinks a love bite into the skin there. "OH!" I yelp, and then nearly come unglued as Peeta lovingly sucks at the mark he has left.

"Uhhhh…. Peeta, Peeta, Peeta," I croon his name like a lullaby. "Harder, faster….." He obeys me, even as I rock my hips more frantically into his. Our intercourse now becomes a mad race towards who can get the other off first.

I win.

Peeta nearly collapses against me, staggering in my arms as he orgasms inside my vagina. I wait for him to pump it all out, before supporting him, slightly propping him up so he can work to finish me off. It only takes a couple of weaker thrusts for me to go spiraling off into the ether, milking his cock with my juices. Still exhausted, Peeta lets me hold him, and we both wait for our heart rates to return to normal.

"You make love to me divinely," I rasp.

"Only because I love you so much," Peeta gets out.

"Hmm," I smile, as I lean against his chest. "And when did you first fall in love with me?"

The answer is not what I was expecting, to put it mildly.

"It was the first day of school," Peeta begins. "Kindergarten. You were wearing….." He adjusts his stance and shifts me in his embrace. "….a little red dress, and your hair was in two braids instead of one. My father pointed you out while we were waiting to line up."

I smile up at him, my interest piqued. "Your father? Why?"

"'See that little girl?' he says to me, pointing to you. 'I wanted to marry her mother, but she ran off with a coal miner.'"

I gape at him, letting out an indignant laugh before slapping his chest. "You're joking!"

Peeta grins devilishly. "No, I swear I'm not. So I asked Dad, 'A coal miner? Why would she want a coal miner instead of you?' He replied, 'Because when he sings…. even the birds stop to listen.'"

I am no longer pregnant, so I can't really classify being moved to tears at this statement as mere mood swings. But, I cannot help it. It also makes me realize that the story is true. But Peeta is not done.

"Then, in music assembly later that day, the teacher asked who knew the Valley Song. And your hand shot straight up! You sang it for the whole class, and I could've sworn, I heard the birds outside the window fall silent. And that was it. I was in love, and have stayed in love ever since."

I prop my chin against his chest to stare up into his eyes, my smile beaming. "Well, I'm quite flattered, Mr. Mellark."

Peeta grins. "Anything for you, Mrs. Mellark."

I blink in astonishment. Last time I checked, Peeta and I were most definitely not married. Actually, even after living together for months, I'm surprised he calls me that. But what's more shocking is how much I like it. Katniss Mellark. It has a nice ring to it!

Peeta is staring at me, eyes wide, clearly having caught his flub. He stumbles over his words trying to apologize. "I'm sorry, I…."

I laugh jovially. "Oh, Peeta, it's OK. But -" and I give him a chaste kiss on the lips. "- if you think that's the way you're gonna ask me to marry you, you might want to try a different angle."

Peeta raises an eyebrow, grinning. "Then you're considering it?"

I pretend to think about it, then smile sweetly at him. "I'm considering it. Ask me again in a few months." Riley will be up any minute, so I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around myself. I can feel Peeta's eyes on me.

"Love the way you walk, sweetheart," he cracks.

I turn at the door, smirking. All right, I'll play along, flirt back. "Oh, do you now? What about this?" I strike my best model pose against the doorframe, making it as seductive as possible. Unfortunately, my towel won't cooperate and immediately falls to my feet. Peeta bursts out laughing.

"Now that's better - much better - especially without the towel!" he cackles. "Go get our daughter before I jump on you again!"

Squealing, I retrieve the towel and prance out of the bathroom towards Riley's cries.