Warning ahead folks - very lemony. Feel free to skip if its not your thing :-)

Chapter 12

Peeta's POV

The rain is coming down steady now, running in streams down the street, splashing round my feet and making every stitch I have on cling uncomfortably to my body. It might have been cold too though I didn't notice, I didn't notice anything much besides the girl standing in front of me.

Water runs down her face and drips of her nose and chin. Her long eyelashes curl darkly on her cheeks and even though it is raining, I can still make out the tears running in fat drops from her eyes. Her hair hangs wetly down her back and her orange dress clings tightly to her body making it transparent so every curve and dip is plain to see. She looks breathtaking. All I can do is stare. Her words have paralysed me.

Katniss lifts her eyes up to meet mine, her sweet mouth trembles slightly as she looks at me.

"Say something" she whispers, her voice catching on a sob. "Just tell me Peeta, I can take it. Is it too late?" Another tear runs down her cheek. Still I can't answer her, I'm locked in this surreal moment and I don't know how to proceed.

The silence stretches further and Katniss has obviously had enough.

"Look, forget it! This was a mistake…" She turns, wrapping her arms about her torso and starts to walk away. Finally I am shocked out of my stupor. I move after her and pull her back into my arms dropping my head to nuzzle her wet hair breathing in her natural scent which is all Katniss.

"You care…." Is all I can manage to mumble, shocked at how good it feels to have her back in my arms.

I have spent months dreaming of her saying or doing something to give me a sign that all is not lost and now the moment is here I am afraid to mess it up.

She turns slowly round to face me and I take a moment to speak the words I know she needs to hear.

"Katniss, these past few months have been killing me being so close to you and thinking I will never be more than a friend to you." I watch as she deciphers my words "It's not too late, it would never be too late."

All at once her face brightens and she grabs the back of my head as she rises up to meet my lips. My world explodes and I realise that this is what I have been missing since last March, this is why my life is nothing without her, every vein, every organ is electrified as her kiss brings me back to life. My hands cradle her cheeks as lips and teeth clash in the most powerful kiss I have ever experienced. Her lips feel as hungry as mine as they sweep across my cheeks and nip at my jaw, her hands curling and tugging at my hair as she plasters herself to my body. I can hardly breathe as I kiss and lick her neck down to her collar bone and her sharp breaths and moans are nearly my undoing.

"We need to move this out of public" I murmur into her neck.

She pulls away slightly and her eyes meet mine, burning full of passion. She gives me a small nod wrapping her hands in mine and my body trembles because I know what she is agreeing to.

"Are you sure Katniss? You'll allow it?"

"I'll allow it" she murmurs back and tugs me slightly forward.

I let out a small groan as I dive for her lips again, my tongue caressing hers and hands running through her soaking hair.

She breaks away first "Come on" she gasps and tugs me forward "hurry!" and we make our way through the rain to her house.

Before the front door closes she is on me again and I hoist her up in my arms as I make my way up the stairs, her legs wrapped tightly around my waist as her hands start to pull at my T-shirt. My heart is galloping wildly at the feel of her wrapped round my body, her centre pressing onto me.

I push open her room door and let her slide down my body and we both freeze as the enormity of what we are about to do hits us. I gently caress her cheek

"You're sure you want to do this?" I ask her seriously, watching her closely for any trace of doubt.

"I'm sure. I need you Peeta and I want to be with you" she replies and I can see the sincerity of her words written on her face. My hand slides into her heavy hair and I pull her face close to mine. "There is no going back Kat" I say gently and she nods her acknowledgement, knowing I mean once we take this step, she is mine.

Her hands move unsteadily to the top button of her dress and I am frozen as I watch her disperse of the saturated piece of material and kick it across the room. She stands in front of me in a lacy two piece that leaves little to the imagination.

"Fuck!" is all I can mutter as I drink her in from head to toe.

"I may like wearing jeans and combats but I like to feel like a girl underneath." She says gently making her way closer to me, her tongue sweeping across her bottom lip and I know I have never seen anything more beautiful in my whole life.

Her hand moves to the bottom of my t-shirt again and I pull it over my head tossing it over towards her dress. Her eyes darken as she traces through the light hair on my chest with her finger tips trailing them lower until they meet the button of my jeans. There her hand pauses and I stop breathing, waiting to see what she will do next.

Pausing for only a second she flicks the button open and hooks her thumbs in the waist line dragging them slowly over my hips. I let out a gush of air watching her drop to her knees in front of me as she pulls them down my legs. I step out of them as she rises to face me and I can see her swallow sharply as she looks down at my length which is not really hiding in my boxers.

"I'm a bit worried how that is going to fit" she whispers, her cheeks flaming red.

"We can go slow" I reassure her, my heart galloping "anytime you want to stop just say."

I know Katniss hasn't dated much since we started college, but I don't know how many people she may have been with last summer or really since Gale.

"I should tell you…. you should know… I haven't done this before" she stammers out dropping her head with embarrassment.

I freeze in shock

"What? What about Gale?"

"He wanted to but I didn't. It just never felt right with him." She lifts her head and all I can do is look at her with awe at the trust she is giving me. Love floods though me and I have to bite back the words that are bursting to be released.

"I've never done this either." I say gently.

Her head shoots up.

"What? You've had loads of girlfriends Peeta! You've never done this?" She asks in confusion.

"Don't get me wrong, I've done other things with girls but never sex."

I don't know if it's too honest but I'm in too deep now.

"I was waiting on you Katniss." I tell her gently.

She looks at me in shock, dumbstruck as she ingests my words.

"But I moved away" she wrinkles her forehead in confusion. "you may not have seen me again?"

"I know. I can't explain it but I knew …. you were it for me."

I am baring my soul here but I have to be honest with her before we do this.

"I never wanted to do this with anyone else but you."

I want to say more but I know it's too soon to reveal the extent of my feelings. She looks at me in shock.

"I'm nothing special Peeta" she says shyly "you could have anyone you wanted, you are so amazing any girl would be lucky to have you."

"Katniss. You have no idea of the effect you can have on people! Hell, half the boys in school wanted to get you naked. None of them tried anything because of Hawthorn though. Well that and the fact you glared at anyone who came within ten foot of you." I smile gently. "You are beautiful, smart, sexy as hell and the most selfless person I have ever met. The way you take care of your family... you're amazing"

Silver eyes stare up into mine and I feel myself burn just looking in them.

"You know something Mellark?" she smiles up at me "You talk too much!"

Before I can register what is happening her lips are on mine again and any response is forgotten as I lose myself in her. She pins me up against the wall as her lips trace kisses over my body, her tongue flicking across my nipples sending shocks straight to my groin.

"I think I better take over before this ends before its really begins" I say, my voice strained.

I lift her up, cradling her in my arms and carry her across to the old fashioned bed where I gently lay her down. She lies splayed in front of me and I can't help but drink in every curve, every freckle and every piece of tawny skin that is exposed to my eyes. She is stunning.

Pulling her ankles, I drag her towards me so her bottom is flush with the end of the bed. I dip my head to her belly button and flick my tongue against it. Katniss gasps and arches her back in shock. I continue on kissing across her flat belly and make my way towards the top of her tiny lacy panties where I lick a line from left to right making her hips jerk upwards in response. She is soaking wet. Her scent is intoxicating and I can't wait to taste her. I push my nose against her, feeling her her heat and she jerks up in response.

"Peeta?!"

"Do you trust me?" I look up at her from between her thighs.

She nods in response so I peel her panties slowly down her legs and toss them to the side. Taking her leg I place it over my shoulder and push the other open wider opening her up to my eyes. Her small moans and twitches are making me harder and I lean in licking her with the flat of my tongue from top to bottom. She lets out a loud moan as her bottom shoots up from the mattress. I lock her hips down to the bed and continue with my long slow exploration. She tastes amazing as I swirl my tongue up inside her hearing her moans become louder. I know she is not far away so I move my attention to her clit and flick over it backwards and forwards moving my hand as I insert one finger inside her hot, silky heat.

"Fuck Peeta! I can't ... I'm coming!" Her fists clench the bedding as her head tosses from side to side.

I move a second finger inside her, stretching her out, pumping in and out faster as I pick up the pace on her ball of nerves with my tongue. Her fingers pull at my hair as her body freezes mid air and she screams out her orgasm, her body pulsing round my fingers and I almost come just feeling her clench around me. I continue pumping her as shivers wreck her body until she is still and breathless.

Her hands reach down and pull me up towards her, reaching for the band of my boxers and sliding them down my hips. I pull away to retrieve a condom from my wallet, rolling it over me. I'm so hard now I know im not going to last long. For years, this moment has been the climax of many wet dreams. Dreams I now realise that were a poor substitution for the reality which overshadows any experience I have ever had. My whole body is burning in anticipation. She watches me through her lashes, her breathing slowly returning to normal and I moan as I feel her hand gently caressing me guiding me to her centre. Her knees bend and she wraps her legs round my waist. I drop my head to her bra, pulling down the cups and sucking a nipple roughly into my mouth, my breathing laboured.

"Now!" She moans arching herself into me so the head of my cock sinks partially into her wet heat.

I inch my way in slowly and the world blacks out as she encloses me in a tight hot clinch.

"You are so tight" I grunt out, beads of sweat forming on my brow.

I hear her groan as I inch in further

" Katniss, are you ok? Do you want me to stop?" I pant out as I watch her face in concern.

"No, keep going" she bites out and even though she is obviously in discomfort, part of me is relieved she is letting me continue.

I push forward until I am buired inside her to the hilt. She groans again and I stop, giving her a moment to adjust to my size.

"More" she urges, wrapping her legs tighter around me and I can't help but moan loudly as she clenches me tightly inside.

" Fuck Katniss! You feel so good"

I can't hold back any longer and I thrust in and out of her in long shaky strokes. She feels like nothing I have ever known and I know I will never be the same after this. I start to pump faster as I watch her begin to come apart again. Her back arches of the bed as her feet dig into my back urging me harder, faster and I hear her scream as I fall apart, lost in the most mind blowing orgasm I have ever experienced.

I fall down beside her, wrapping my arms tightly around her waist we both pant loudly, hearts hammering and sweat running down our bodies. Everything looks different, everything feels different. For the first time in my life I realise I feel complete, happy... wanted. I'm exactly where I always wanted to be.

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