Katniss is silent when we wake up the next morning. I try to start a conversation when we're getting dressed and eating breakfast and even when we're packing the car; but I get nothing more than monosyllable grunts or one word answers. I told her I wouldn't forget and I haven't. So why is she acting like she's forgotten?

It's not until we're driving on Interstate-44 that Katniss truly speaks.

"Can we take a highway, please?" she says with a bit of an edge to her tone. She pops open a diet coke, fidgeting in her seat.

"Why?"

"Because I'm sick of traffic," she sneers, "And I want to see some nature instead of concrete." She takes a large, passive-aggressive swig of her drink.

I nod my head and do what she says, finding an exit to Highway 60—which seems to be in relative isolation.

"Better?" I ask once we are surrounded by nothingness.

She nods her head, back to silence. But I don't want it anymore. In fact, I'm a little sick of it.

"Stop it, Katniss."

She whirls in my direction. "Stop what?"

"Stop pulling away from me!" I shout. Silence takes over the car once again. I take a deep breath, trying to will away the anger and act rationally. Then I continue, "We take a step forward and then we take two steps back. Don't do it. For my sake and yours, just don't."

I glance over to her and she meets my eyes; grey and blue together. Despair and hope identical.

"What are we doing, Peeta?" she whispers when I finally look back to the road.

I gulp loudly. "I don't know."

This time the silence is mutual. I have no idea what I'm doing. In the past when I've liked a girl, I've just gone after her, plain and simple. But things aren't simple with Katniss. They're hard. She continues to throw me for a loop which I love and hate equally. I can't predict her. I don't know what she's feeling. She's pushing and pulling me. She's a myriad of love and lust and fire and water and I want all of it.

But does she want me?

I turn on the stereo to drown out my thoughts and focus on the road ahead of me. It's empty—only the two of us suffocating in this car.

But then suddenly, everything changes.

The jeep stutters. The lights on the dashboard fail and smoke billows out from under the hood.

"What the hell?" I gasp, shocked.

I slowly press on the brakes of the already dying car and carefully pull over to the side of the road.

I jump out of the jeep as soon as it's shifted into park. Katniss follows. I'm a baker, not a mechanic, but I open up the hood away. I'm immediately assaulted with smoke and horrible smelling fumes and pull away coughing.

"Shit," I curse. I look at the engine to try to see if anything looks out of place or broken, but all I see are angry black contraptions and bent metal.

I glance over at Katniss; she's standing in the grass on the side of the road, her hands on her hips. Her jean shorts have ridden up, now even shorter than the last time I saw her wearing them. She's biting her lip and tugging on her braid.

I open my mouth, about to ask her if she has cell service, when the first clap of thunder cuts me off. I look up to the sky, the stormy clouds I didn't notice before are massive and bundled over our heads; a drop of rain hits my cheek.

"Of course," I groan, slamming the hood shut. I've never had any trouble with my jeep since I bought it, so of course it decides to break down in the middle of a rainstorm on an empty highway. "Dammit!" I slam my fist on the hood once; white hot pain surges through my hand then fades almost instantly.

I yank my phone out of my pocket as the rain steadily picks up. No service. Well, I guess it's good that Katniss suggested we take this back highway—at least we won't piss off traffic. But who knows if we'll be able to get help out here. This sucks ass. I kick at the dirt, cursing again, louder this time.

A small chuckle cuts through my anger, and I look over to see Katniss covering her mouth with her right hand, trying to muffle her laughter.

"What?" I growl, my tone harsher than I would like.

She lets her hand fall and a loud giggle escapes from her red lips. "I'm sorry. But you look ridiculous when you have a temper tantrum."

"I'm not having a temper tantrum," I defend immediately. But then start to chuckle too, my anger forgotten as the image pops into my head; I must look like a six foot tall baby.

Katniss stops giggling, her mouth turning into a warm smile instead. "Honestly, Peeta, it's not that bad."

The rain is suddenly coming down in sheets, soaking us to the bone in a matter of seconds. I quirk my eyebrows up at her. Not that bad, huh? She laughs again, shaking her now wet braid. "Just relax. All we have to do is wait it out in the Jeep. The sleeping bags are already unrolled in the back, remember? You were too lazy to roll them up the other day. Don't worry about it."

Her bangs are plastered to her forehead, her tank top clinging to her full chest. She's beautiful. Everything about her. Her skin, her eyes, her overbite, her thick thighs, her purple toes, her heart, her personality, her hardness, her sarcasm. Her soul. And I can't deny myself anymore.

My lips are on hers before I've even thought about doing it. And I ignore the broken down car and the rain and the lightning and everything that's wrong in the world because she's kissing me back. Her soft hands land on the side of my face, holding my mouth to hers.

I break away from her momentarily and look into her silver eyes. She's watching me and breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly, straining her wet tank-top.

"I want you, Peeta," she whispers, licking her lips.

"I want you, too," I finally tell her, after thinking it from the second I saw her.

She pulls my face down to hers and we're kissing again. It isn't like last time after the funeral, when I was holding back and consoling her. I'm kissing her with everything I have. I'm making her mine.

I run my tongue along her bottom lip, tasting her, and she opens her mouth for me. I dive right in, a groan escaping from the back of my throat. She tastes like strawberries and diet coke. I lift her up into my arms and she wraps her legs around my waist tightly.

"The car," she pants against my mouth.

I nod my head and oblige, walking as fast as humanly possible to the rear of the jeep; I set her back on the ground and rip my lips from hers. I open the trunk and take in the mess. Our bags and random crap are piled haphazardly all over the place, but I can work with it. I tell Katniss to stay put and jump into the back. I throw our duffles and tent and everything from back here up to the driver's and passenger's seats, then lean over the back seat to scoot our other stuff to the floor. I fold down the seats, giving the two of us more room, and then I get to work on the open sleeping bags. I unzip them entirely until they are just two big blankets, then lay one down on the itchy carpet of the trunk. When I've finished, I look out to Katniss and motion her in.

She jumps up, being careful not to bump her head and I slam the trunk closed behind her. It's cramped and hot in here, but I don't care. I need her. I pull Katniss back into my arms, aching from not having her lips on mine. I fall down on top of her, shifting between her thighs.

Katniss tugs at the hem of my t-shirt and I pull away from her so I can tear it off. I throw it to the side and fall down onto top of her to kiss her again; but she stops me before I can get to her lips. She presses her soft hands to my bare chest and pushes me back slightly. Her eyes rake down my bare torso as she trails her slim fingers across my collarbones then down my chest and stomach; I shiver and tremble against her touch, so perfect and caring.

As soon as her hands reach my jeans, she unbuttons and unzips them for me. I meet her eyes, shock lighting up my body, but all I see is hunger there. Not fear or concern or hesitation. Just pure lust. I roll off of her and tear off my shoes and socks and then my jeans, so I'm only in my boxers, and then position myself on top of her again.

Katniss yanks off her tank top and I suck in my breath at the sight; her small nipples are peaking through the thin fabric of her bra.

I must stare at her for a while, because her soft voice calls me out of my haze. "Undress me, Peeta."

I nod and move my hands to her shorts, the shorts I've imagined stripping from her since I first saw her wear them; the wet denim clings to her thighs. I slip off her sandals next and stare down at her again. The light blue fabric of her bra and underwear look utterly delectable against her olive skin, but I don't want them there anymore. I want her naked and spread open for me again.

I reach for the small clasp in front, and undo it, letting it fall open. Her pert breasts are just like I remember, begging to be touched and licked. And God, I want to taste them again; it's been too long. She pushes her bra off her arms and I slide my hands down her sides until I reach the band of her underwear.

"Please," she pleads, her voice husky. She lifts her hips for me and I pull them down and off, throwing them behind me somewhere.

My cock throbs at the sight of the small patch of curls and the heat I've imagined slipping into so many times before. Katniss's hands are suddenly on my hips, pulling down my plaid boxers. I kick them off and away, avoiding eye contact with her for a moment while I gain courage. This is the first time she's seen me naked, and if I'm truly honest with myself, I'm terrified. I've never heard any complaints about what I'm packing, but none of those girls compare to Katniss. Her opinion is the only one that matters.

When I finally look at her face again, she's staring at my cock, her teeth biting her bottom lip so hard I'm afraid she's going to break the skin. Nervous, I fall back down on her, cutting off her line of vision. She looks up at me again and releases her lip; her mouth morphs into a smile. Okay, I guess she approves.

She kisses me again, the passion and the hunger from earlier still there, but it's calmer and softer. It's loving. I know that Katniss is different—I've known that from the second I talked to her. And this is going to be different. It won't be sex with her. It will be more. It will be making love. Even in a car in the middle of the rain. That's what it will be with her.

She puts her hands on my hips and squeezes. She's urging me. She wants me too. I separate our lips to gaze down at her. I slide my nose against hers and take a shuddering breath, preparing myself for what could be the greatest moment of my life. I move one of the hands I'm propping myself up with and slither it between the two of us. My fingers graze her clit and her entire body tightens; she releases a strangled moan. Fuck, she's soaked. I begin to circle it slowly and watch her reaction: her cheeks flush, her eyes flutter closed.

Then I remember something terrible. "Fuck, Katniss, I don't have a condom."

Shit. I should have taken Finnick's advice. "I'll just go down on you," I tell her, though it pains me to think about not being inside of her once again.

Her eyes fly open with a panicked look in them and she squeezes my hips again. "No. I need you, Peeta. I'm on the pill and I trust you. I'm clean."

My hearts pound in my chest. She trusts me. After everything, she finally trusts me. "I'm clean, too," I tell her. I had a check-up less than a month ago, and I haven't slept with anyone since. Delly and I weren't having sex for the last month of our relationship, which was another hint I missed. Plus, I've always used a condom. Always.

"Katniss, are you sure?" I ask as I move my hand to grasp my cock, placing it at her entrance. I need her to know for certain.

"Yes," she breathes, her face relaxing. She slides her hands up my bare hips until she reaches the back of my head. She winds her fingers into my messy waves. "I've never been more sure of anything."

Then slowly, I push into her until our hips are flush.

"Oh, God," I moan, squeezing my eyes shut. I already have to stop myself from exploding. She's perfection. Warm, wet, tight, perfection.

Katniss pulls my head down to hers and molds her lips to mine. She kisses me tenderly, her tongue seeking mine carefully, her lips trembling. I take pause, buried as deep inside of her as I can get, and just kiss her.

But soon she breaks it, panting quietly in unison with me. "Move, Peeta," she tells me with a nod of her head. I hold her gaze as I slowly move out of her, and then in again; her insides suck me in like they don't want me to leave. And fuck, I don't want to.

I set a slow pace, in and out, taking my time and watching the way it affects her. Her grey eyes change to black and turn glassy, the olive toned skin of her chest flushes, her small nipples harden and elongate, and she grows slicker around me. I can't look away. My body wants me to close my eyes and pound her furiously, but my heart doesn't want that. My heart wants to cherish her, and worship her body and soul with every twitch of my hips. So that's what I try to do.

Katniss winds her legs around my hips, pulling me deeper and we groan together. She digs her nails into my back, encouraging me to go faster or harder or just continue—I'm not sure.

"What do you like, Katniss?" I pant. I'll do anything to please her.

"This," she pants back, her voice husky. Her breasts jiggle every time my hips hit hers, and it's a glorious sight. "You," she continues. "I've wanted you for a long time."

I groan again, this time because of her words. She's wanted me just as long as I've wanted her. I move one of my hands to her chest and play with her pebbled nipple, pulling and rolling it between my fingers; she clenches around me in response.

"Me too. I've wanted you since the first second I saw you," I confess. Leaning forward, I capture her lips once again. She's kisses me back clumsily, panting into my mouth, her tongue prodding at mine.

I slide both of my hands around her back and squeeze our bodies together; her hard nipples press against my chest. The new position causes me to brush against her clit with each thrust, and I can feel it turn her on; her warm body increases in sweat, her insides flutter around my dick and her pants grows louder in my ear.

"Peeta, I'm so close," she whimpers into my ear.

"Me too." I've been close this entire time. Hell, it's miracle that I haven't already blown my lode. But I grit my teeth and pick up the pace infinitesimally. Katniss purrs in approval and I kiss down her neck, licking the sweat off her perfect skin.

Her orgasm hits her with no preamble like there was last time. One minute she's moaning quietly and the next she's screaming my name and her insides are squeezing me inside her like a fist. And I'm officially out.

"Oh, fuck, Katniss!" is all I say before I slam to the hilt and come as she still experiencing the aftershocks of her orgasm. Moaning against her mouth, I thrust lazily inside her a couple times as I rub out my never ending orgasm, spilling into her over and over. Oh shit. I don't think I've ever come so hard. I collapse on top of her, careful not to crush her with my weight, and kiss her along her sweat glistened collarbone.

It's official. That was the best sex of my life. I never knew having sex without a condom would be so much better.

But it was more than that. It's her. It's Katniss.

I remove my face from her neck and kiss her again, as gently as I can. I cup her beautiful face in my hand and cherish her perfect mouth with mine, trying to express the words I'm too afraid to say but I know in my heart I feel.

I'm falling for her. Ardently.

"Are you okay?" I ask when I pull away.

A warm, quiet smile forms on her face; I instantly relax. "Yes." She lifts her head and kisses me again, her hands diving into my hair, holding my face to hers. She's grinning when she finally pulls away.

I slip out of her, much to my dismay, and roll away. I find my discarded shirt in the corner and roll back to her to; I reach between her deliciously muscled thighs and clean off the evidence of our sex—not wanting her to have sticky thighs and be uncomfortable. When I'm done, I look up to her face; she's looking at me with that same expression she keeps on having that I can't figure out. Shaking my head, I ball up the shirt and throw it down by our feet and immediately pull her back into my arms.

"Are you cold, tired, hungry?" I ask, tucking her now dry bangs behind her ear. I want her to be perfectly content in every way. I will do anything for that to happen. I pull the sleeping bag we aren't lying on over top of us.

Katniss grazes her fingers across my chest and shakes her head. "I'm perfect, Peeta."

"Yes," I tell her; her eyes lock on my mine and my heart skips in my chest. "You really are."

So there it is! Were you guys expecting it to happen this chapter? What is going to happen now that they've had sex? Only time will tell. :D I hope you enjoyed it and thanks again for all of your support. It's amazingly amazing!

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