~Three~
Everdeen
His arms were strong and thick. I could feel his veins pulsing under his flesh, bulging under his skin. I focused on his hand, at either side of my head, keeping his body from crushing me. They were smooth with soft, blond hair creeping from his wrists. I tightly shut my eyes as a moan of sweet pleasure escaped my mouth. I was close. My thighs quivered and I raked my nails down his back.
Just as I was about to fall off the edge, my eyes snapped open and the peak of my orgasm faded away. Instead of opening my eyes and finding the gaze of my mystery lover, I found myself staring at the ceiling. My body was drenched in sweat and my limbs were tangled in the sheets. It took me a few minutes to free myself. I was suffocating from the heat, and my stomach instantly churned as I got up from bed. I rushed to the bathroom and fell to the toilet, heaving into the bowl.
This dream was taking a toll on me. I've had the same one every other night for weeks, and now it was getting worse. The dream was literally making me nauseous. I would wake from the dream and instantly spill the contents of my stomach. At first I thought I just had a stomach flu, but after a continuous week of sickness, I ruled that out.
After emptying my stomach and bladder, I brushed my teeth. I thanked God it was a Saturday, and I didn't have to go into work. I was still feeling a little queasy, so I decided to take a quick shower. I definitely didn't want to bask in my dream sweat all day, and the added sheen from throwing up didn't help. When I got out of the shower, I dressed in comfortable clothes and threw my hair up into a bun.
My stomach grumbled, and I knew I would have to feed it something even if it was still upset. I went to my kitchen to try to find something that would settle my tummy. Everything I thought of instantly twisted my gut. For now, I settled with sipping on water. Deciding to finish some mundane chores, I reached for my purse and started cleaning it out.
I threw out the trash and organized the receipts so that I could calculate my budget next. When I was sorting through them, I came across the receipt from Mellark's Bakery. The memory of Peeta's cheese bun crossed my mind. My stomach growled in anticipation. I look down at my tummy accusingly.
Really? Now you're hungry?
I sighed, looking at the time, and decided to call Johanna hoping she would be up. I was surprised when she answered after a couple rings. "Hey Brainless." She greeted me as friendly as she knew how to.
"You know, I'm going to come up with a mean nickname for you if you don't stop." I chided only half playfully.
"Oh come on! It's all in good fun." She barked out a laugh. "So why'd you call?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to get breakfast."
"Mmm sure. I could go for some breakfast. Where do you want to meet?"
"Mellark's Bakery, you know where it is?" I asked.
"Everyone knows where it is, Brainless." She scoffed. "See you in thirty?"
"Yeah I'll head out now."
We hung up, and I rushed to get shoes on and get out the door. I started my vehicle quickly wanting a delicious cheesy bun as soon as possible. I peeled out of my driveway and headed across town. The craving for a salty baked good was overwhelming as I drove. When I got there, Jo was just arriving as well and we met at the door. The place was packed, but I guess it was just the morning rush. Jo and I chatted for the few minutes we were waiting in line.
"So you still don't remember who you went home with, Brainless?"
"Ugh, Jo, can we please just drop it? I don't think I'll ever know."
"We could drop it if it wasn't still a thing. You said yourself you're still dreaming about it."
"And I regret ever telling you that." I sighed and changed the subject. "So how's your project?"
"Don't remind me. Cray and Heavensbee are still all over my ass since I lost the last account."
Jo and I have worked together since we were both summer interns at PAS (Panem's Advertising Specialists). We got hired on after we got our degrees. She was a specialist for campaign advertisements. She helped President Coin secure the election. I, on the other hand, am a specialist for cuisine advertisement. Unfortunately that means I've had to create slogans for awful fast food corporations. It is a love/hate relationship. I always remember why I love my job when I can help small, local businesses succeed.
The line was moving fast now and soon we were called up. I heard next and approached Peeta as Johanna went to a different cashier. "Hi Peeta." I smiled. He looked shocked to see me again.
"Katniss." He smiled politely. "What can I get for you today?"
"I've been craving your cheese buns like mad, since I tried them."
He chuckled and warmth spread throughout my body. "I thought you would like them."
I could feel my face overheating. "They are great. Can I get half a dozen?"
He stared at me for a moment, searching my face. The blush spread to my neck. He cleared his throat. "Of course. Is that all?" His eyebrow lifted into his hairline. His blond waves were shaggy, hanging over his forehead, and curled at his ears and neck. I licked my lips when I gazed at his jaw. It was so strong and angular. Was he always this attractive? How could I have missed it?
"Yes." I squeaked.
He nodded and boxed them up. "They're on the house."
I shook my head, "I can't accept that Peeta."
"It's fine, Katniss." There he goes saying my name again. Had it always sounded like a caress? He pushed the box towards me. "Just take them. It's fine; I'm the boss, remember?"
I laughed softly. "Right." I took the box, but being the stubborn person I am I slipped a ten in the tip jar. I knew it would cover the cost of the buns. Peeta shook his head with a small smile as he watched me. "Thanks Peeta. Have a good day."
"You too." His gentle words washed over me as I turned away from him.
I spotted Jo by a small table at the corner of the bakery. Her eyes were comically wide, but narrowed intensely when I neared the table she chose. I smacked her playfully on the arm when I sat down. "Quit looking at me like that you weirdo."
"Who was that Katniss?" She was using her 'calm' voice again.
"Who? Peeta? He's the owner." I wasn't sure why she was freaking out.
"And how do you know him?"
Where was she getting at? "We used to go to school together. Jeez, Jo if you want to hook up with him just ask for his number." I laughed and dug into my box of buns.
"No, Brainless. I don't want to get on that."
"Why not? He's cute, and he's really sweet. He gave me these for free." I gestured to the box of pastries.
She chuckled darkly. "That's probably because you boned him.
I dropped the bun I was about to devour. "What?"
"Peeta? That's the guy I saw you with. You were talking to him at the bar."
"What? No, we were just talking. I didn't leave with him... Did I?" Jo shrugged. I remembered the messy blond hair and the tan arm thrown over my hip. I looked over my shoulder to see Peeta restocking the display case and his muscular arm flexing as he held the heavy tray. I gulped. It couldn't be him, could it?
I was lost in my thoughts as we ate. It couldn't have been Peeta. He would have said something. Right? I absently munched on the buns, not realizing how many I had eaten, only leaving half. My stomach seemed content. It was the most settled it had been in weeks.
My mind was still reeling when I got home. Jo offered to keep me company but I told her to go home. She didn't need to babysit me while I cleaned every inch of my house. I started with the laundry, then the bathrooms, and vacuuming. I took a breather around lunchtime and heated up another bun. While I ate my phone started to ring. I answered it without looking at the caller.
"Hello?"
"Hey Katniss." It was Prim.
"Hey Little Duck! I'm glad you called."
"You won't be." was her response.
"Why not? What's wrong?" My brows furrowed and I leaned against the kitchen counter waiting for her reply.
"Well, you know how I'm still friends with Posey?" I swallowed thickly - Posey, as in Gale's sister. She's been friends with my sister since they went off to the same college.
"What is it Prim?"
"Well I went to the Hawthorne's for dinner last night, for moral support."
"Moral support?" I interrupted her.
"Yeah, because she's pregnant." Pregnant? Prim blows past this revelation. "So she wanted me there to tell her parents, and well... Gale was there too."
"She's pregnant?" I say, my eyes growing wide. My hand absently went to my stomach and started to rub it. What if...
"Katniss..." Prim cut off my thoughts. "Gale brought someone with him."
"W-what do you mean? Like a date?"
"Yeah. You know her. It's Madge. The mayor's daughter."
"He's dating Madge?"
"Yeah. I'm so sorry Kat."
"It's- It's fine. We've been broken up for months now. It was bound to happen. It was inevitable."
"He told me not to tell you, but I thought you should know."
I nodded even though she couldn't see me. "Thanks Little Duck."
We hung up shortly after that. I no longer had the energy to mop the kitchen floors. I was so confused. Everything was happening so fast. I apparently slept with Peeta Mellark, and now Gale is dating one of my high school friends. It had only been six months, and he's already with someone else? Already introducing her to his parents? And I am still in the same place with a few more regrets. This whole situation is just a big mess. I took a nap on my couch and when I woke up I still didn't want to move. So I watched bad sitcoms for the rest of the night until it slowly turned into morning. I begrudgingly stumbled into my room and instantly fell asleep.
There were no dreams this time, but when I shot up from bed and ran to the restroom I was still exhausted. Even if I slept without the foreboding dream it was still a very restless night. I trudged into the kitchen after my stomach relented. I opened the fridge and thought I might make some eggs, but as the thought set in so did the ugly twisting in my tummy. I slammed the fridge door closed, leaning against it I spotted the bakery box on the opposite counter. My stomach didn't clench at the thought of another one of those, so I heated it and ate it quickly. For the rest of my Sunday I finished the house cleaning I didn't get to the day before. That night a new dream haunted me.
His chest was crushed against mine causing my body to press into the wall. I tangled my fingers into his hair as I felt his lips attack my neck. His hands gripped my waist. A hungry moan filled the sexually charged air. I wasn't sure who released it.
Somehow we landed on the bed. Our clothes already stripped off. Then he was between my legs with his eyes scanning the most sensitive, private part of me.
"That's when it happened." I explained to Jo. It was a few weeks after the trip to the bakery and the phone cal from Prim. Jo and I were on our lunch break and decided to eat at the small diner down the block from the office.
"What happened?" She impatiently chewed on her fries.
"The mystery dream guy looked up at me," I paused.
"And!?" Johanna's eyes were wide. "And!?"
"They were the pool blue eyes of Peeta Mellark." I sighed.
"I knew it! I totally told you!"
"I know! How can I ever face him again? I can't go back to the bakery now! I'll just have to live without those amazing buns."
"Which ones? The pastries or Peeta's?" Johanna cracked, winking obnoxiously.
"Jo I'm dead serious."
"I am too! Mellark's hot. If I were you I'd hop on that train again. Choo Choo!" She pumped her hand into the air imitating the motion of a conductor. I took a sip of my water trying not to blush. Jo noticed. "You like him." She gasped. "You totally like him."
"Don't be ridiculous Jo, I barely know him."
"So get to know him." She shrugged.
"I've already slept with him. It's embarrassing to even think about him."
"Yeah, but you don't really remember." She paused. "Maybe he doesn't remember either?"
I thought about it. He never really gave me any signs that I could see. Maybe he didn't remember. There's only one way to find out, but did I have the guts to ask him?
After lunch I worked on an account that was trying to change their image. They were trying to appeal to a younger crowd. I was redefining their slogan when my assistant buzzed me over the intercom.
"Miss. Everdeen? Mr. Heavensbee wants you in his office." Plutchard Heavensbee, the director at PAS. Which means he assigns different accounts to the many advertisement agents, including myself. Him wanting to see me either means I'm off an account or I'm getting a new assignment. I hope it's the latter.
I knocked on the heavy wooden door of his office. "Mr. Heavensbee?"
"Come in Miss. Everdeen." His gruff voice was low, but inviting. That only meant one thing. A potential client was seating in one of his over-stuffed leather chairs. I opened the door. Plutchard was behind his desk. There was a blond man sitting across from him. The man turned to see who walked in the room, and his blue eyes were wide.
Peeta.
"Mr. Mellark, this is Katniss Everdeen. She is the head agent for culinary advertisement, and I would like to assign her to your account."
I awkwardly stuck my hand out not knowing what else to do. "Hello. I'm Katniss." I introduced myself even though Plutchard already had.
Peeta grasped my hand firmly. I noticed they were calloused but soft. An image of his hands spreading my legs popped into my head. I blushed. "Peeta Mellark."
"Nice to meet you." I murmured.
"She has a good count record if you'd like to see it." Plutchard went on.
I couldn't look away from Peeta. I was trying to pinpoint signs that would tell me if he knew or not. I found nothing. I focused back on my boss. It was important to remain professional. I straightened my back, pulled back my shoulders, and lifted my chin. Now all I needed to do was stop fidgeting.
"That will be all." Mr. Heavensbee dismissed us. I guess I zoned out again. Oh well.
"So when did you want to do it?" Peeta asked when the office door closed on us.
"Ex-excuse me?" I glanced at him. His eyebrow raised in that sexy way of his. Did he get his hair cut?
"When did you want to brainstorm some ideas?" He pulled me back into business mode.
"Are you available now?" I asked.
"I should get back to the bakery, but for you, I'll make an exception." His smile was crooked. It was driving me crazy. Everything about him was.
"Then now would be a good time." I hesitantly smiled. I still couldn't tell if he remembered or not. I led him back to my office. We sat in an awkward silence for a while.
"I have to ask you something."
"I'm sorry. I can't take this."
We both voiced our frustration at the same time, talking over each other.
"What do you have to ask?"
"Can't take what, Peeta?"
We did it again. We laughed and Peeta gestured to me, "You go first."
"No, I insist, please." I shook my head
"I just have to know..." He broke off mid sentence and collected his thoughts. "It's been killing me. Keeping me awake actually."
"Yes?"
"Do you-" He paused again and shook his head. "Can I take you out?"
A/N: I'd like to thank the awesome everlarkcheesebuns for being a great beta and getting this back to me so fast. Also I'm on Tumblr as Raetakestheworld teasers and awesomeness can be found there. If you could leave a review I'd love to hear from you guys. Thanks for reading.