I own nothing; simply working with the idea.
Despite what they'd agreed to in his car, the flirting didn't stop. In fact, it only increased. They'd constantly stare at each other and were constantly bumping into each other. Not to mention on several occasions, Peeta and Katniss found discrete chances to grope each other and even sneak in a rare kiss here and there. But by their definition, they'd vastly put a stop to their ways because despite wanting to have sex with each other badly, they kept themselves from each other for much of the break.
It's not until several months later, the day of their parents' wedding, that Peeta and Katniss see each other. Of course the day has Peeta feeling guilty once again. He's been having feelings for his now seventeen, soon to be step-sister and they had promised to have sex after the wedding the last time they were together. He wasn't sure if what they were doing was wrong but he still didn't want to stop.
Every time he thought about how it was wrong, all he had to do was look at Katniss to feel like what they had was right; that she was it for him and nothing else mattered. Like when he's playing with his tie as he stands just inside the corridor of the church.
"Ready?" He stops playing with his tie long enough to drool over the beauty in front of him.
"Katniss...you look so beautiful." Peeta manages to get out. He reaches a hand to her which she takes with a smirk.
"I'd take it as a compliment if there weren't three other women out there that are dressed like me."
"They could be naked. They still wouldn't compare." He closes the gap between them, reaching his hand up to gently caress her cheek. He's about to lean in when the rest of the wedding party loudly makes their way to them.
"After." Katniss whispers before she takes a step back from him.
"Yea..." He laughs nervously just as the music starts to play. The wedding planner finally opens the door to the church.
"Let's go, let's go!" She cheerily ushers Peeta and Katniss inside. They make their way to the front where Mr. Mellark is waiting for them. Peeta reluctantly releases Katniss so she can stand on the opposite side. The wedding march starts up once everyone else is set and out walks Ms Everdeen. Peeta watches her with a smile as she makes her way to his father. As they clasp hands, and everyone turns to the preacher, Peeta's eyes drift to Katniss.
It was absolutely insane for him to feel what he was feeling for her. She wasn't even technically legal yet and Peeta could only think about what their wedding would be like. She probably shouldn't wear white, particularly after everything they've done together but whatever she wore, wouldn't do her justice. Regardless, it didn't matter because Peeta would be so lucky to have her as his wife.
He has to shake his head to clear his thoughts. It's very clear to him that all they had was a very sexual relationship. Katniss didn't want a relationship, let alone love. At her age, of course it would scare the crap out of her. Not that Peeta was that much older but he couldn't help but think about their lives together. He was in too deep and if he wasn't careful, he was going to get hurt.
Meanwhile, Katniss is also fighting off the conflicting feelings in her head. She couldn't explain what it was that Peeta made her feel. If it was love, she had no clue but she didn't want to lose him. Even with her minimal experience, she knew that guys and love, they were just two things that didn't go together. He'd run for the hills if she even mentioned it to him. So for now, even if Katniss isn't sure if a sex-only relationship is what she wanted, she'd take what she could get from Peeta.
By the time they both realize where the ceremony is, the guests are clapping while their parents are basically making out in front of them. They both clap and cheer along with the rest of guests then follow their parents out. Before they make their way to the car that would take them to the reception, they stop each other in the hall.
"Congrats, Dad!" Peeta hugs his father then his new step-mother. "To you, as well."
"Thank you." They both say while exchanging hugs with Katniss too. Peeta and his father head outside, thinking the ladies are behind them but they stay back for a moment.
"Are you going to change before or at the reception?" Katniss' mother asks her.
"Into what?"
"The dress I bought you to wear." Katniss slaps her forehead.
"Crap! I forgot it at home."
"Do you want to go get it or are you going to be okay with that?" She asks while gesturing to her bridesmaid's dress. She hated the color and how it fit her. Even though she hated to wear dresses, Katniss would gladly exchange this dress for the one she forgot at home.
"I'll go get it. I'll meet you there, I guess." Katniss' mother smiles as she hugs her tightly. "Congrats again, Mom."
"Thank you, sweetie." She hands the car keys to Katniss before she finally leaves the church.
Katniss makes her way to the house where she quickly changes into her dress. She's just putting on the finishing touches when someone knocks on the door. She barely has it open before Peeta frantically takes her in his arms and kisses her passionately.
"I heard you had stopped by to get your dress. I couldn't help myself." Katniss lets Peeta backtrack them into her room. They're well aware that they're expected back; being gone for too long, together, would not be in their favor. So she's thankful when Peeta simply makes the necessary choices, like only undoing his pants and hiking up her dress.
"You can't get anything on this dress, Peeta, or my mom will kill me!" He smirks before he pulls it over her head, leaving her in only her bra and underwear.
"I think you just want to be naked." He teases. Peeta leaves wet kisses down her torso, finally stopping once he reaches the waistline of her panties. He cups her most sensitive area with his hand only to find her underwear soaking with her desire. "Looks like you're going to need new underwear..."
"If you don't stop teasing me-" Katniss growls into the passionate kiss that starts between them. Before she can protest any further, she's gasping from him finally entering her. Even though their coupling is fast, it's still so good. It's terrifying to Katniss how much she'd miss this and him if they suddenly stopped. She's sure, with today being their parents' wedding, something like that was on Peeta's mind.
"Do you think what we're doing is wrong?" Peeta asks between kisses.
"No." She tries kissing him again but he drops his head. "Peeta, it's not wrong." He looks up at her, waiting for her explanation. "Sure our parents are married but it's not like we're related."
"You're sixteen." Peeta says.
"I'm seventeen."
"Now, but when we first had sex..."
"So what? If you're worried about legalities, it's perfectly legal. The age of consent is 16." He smiles at her. "If I have to remind you..."
"It's something I'll never forget." He tells her with a grin.
"I didn't want to get you in trouble either."
"You planned to sleep with me when we first met, didn't you?"
"Yes I did. Though I did not think you'd be so easy." Peeta rolls his eyes before he laughs. "Stop worrying, Peeta. I want this." Katniss swallows uncomfortably. "Do you?"
"I do, Katniss, so much."
"Have you gotten any sleep?" His father asks with a pat on Peeta's back.
"I got some. I just woke up early to think."
"Don't worry. You just graduated. You'll find something soon." His father leaves for work while Peeta contemplates his options.
He wasn't worried about not finding a job anymore. In fact, he had a great job offer that had come from his unpaid internship back in college. They'd sent him on a business trip to LA, Texas, then to New York. During that trip, he'd been offered a permanent position at a prestigious company. But he was on the fence about accepting the offer. Peeta wanted to go because after searching for months for something, this opportunity pretty much fell into his lap. The way things were going, he wasn't going to get another shot like this one.
But then there was Katniss; he'd miss her for sure. While he's been struggling to find a job, she's been nothing but supportive. When he was feeling like shit about it, Katniss was there to make him feel better, mostly by distracting him with some great sex, but still she was there.
But his job offer was also a good way to end their relationship. He'd be miles away from her and the distance wouldn't be a good thing on whatever kind of relationship they had. It's not that he didn't want to be with her. But what he wanted, and his feelings, were way too advanced for her.
They needed a way to slow down too, particularly after they almost got caught last week. It had been a morning like their current one. With both their parents working in the day, Peeta being unemployed, and Katniss working in the afternoons, the morning was the optimal time for them to be together. His father had barely finished locking the door behind him, when Peeta was basically bursting into Katniss' room. She sat on her bed, a smile on her face while she's in the middle of stripping the last of her clothing. Peeta simply chucked his boxers somewhere in the room then was inside her seconds later. Had he not been kissing her when he did, they wouldn't have heard his father return. Peeta managed to pull out of her just seconds before there was a knock on Katniss' door. Apparently, she'd left her wallet in his car and he was just bringing it back, but it was way too close for comfort. Peeta and Katniss had the talk again about slowing down but who were they kidding. Nothing was going to change when they both felt so strongly about each other.
Is that the way it was always going to be? Were they going to do things behind their parents back? And if that's what they were doing, then was it really okay or right?
He hears the door to Katniss' room creak open. She smiles at him sweetly from the doorway.
"Are you coming?"
"We should talk." Peeta says as he gestures to the couch. Katniss tightens the robe around her as she trudges to the couch. This was a long time coming.
"I know." Peeta wasn't the only one who was trying to figure out what was going on between them.
"I'm leaving."
"What do you mean?" Katniss asks.
"I got a job offer out of state and I'm going to take it."
"You're going to go?" He nods. "Peeta, wait...if you're going because of me, you don't have to. We can stop."
"Katniss, we've been trying to stop since our parents almost caught us and we still can't keep our hands off each other." She sighs. "So I have to go."
"I can't stop you, can I?" He reaches for her hands.
"This is for both of our goods. We'll get over whatever this is. The space will do us well." She stands.
"Whatever." Peeta tries to reach for her but she leaves him alone.
Katniss crashes onto her bed, willing herself not to cry. Of course she wasn't happy. Her teenage life goal was to have the best sex ever and now that she'd found it, she was going to lose him. As she cries into her pillow, she realizes that Peeta was right; the best sex was with someone you love.