I know I said I would update within in a couple days of my last update, but my writing spirit went when someone decided to steal all four wheels off my car. My rims weren't even that flashy or expensive, but I guess it's always easier to steal from someone else then to earn your own. Safe to say, it was a very eventful Memorial Day weekend. My car was up and running later that day but a week + later and my soul is still kind of reeling, as I'm sure the police will never find my rims.

With that said, I'm taking a slight break from writing because I feel that I'm not really in it at the moment. I will definitely finish this story because I can't leave things unfinished. Hopefully, this chapter isn't a complete disappointment and if I lost any followers or fans, that's just the way it is.

Thanks again for all the followers/reviews/favs/etc. I'll get out of my funk eventually.

I own nothing. Just working with the idea.

Flashback

It was round three that night. After sex in the kitchen, he got her on the couch. Then, his voice demanded her upstairs. She remembered being ready to go up them, but she made the mistake of turning to watch him. He was kneeling on the couch, where they had just finished having sex. He was quickly stroking himself, trying desperately to get himself ready. Katniss licked her lips as she waited for him on the stairs. She watched as he put a condom on then Peeta turned and caught her stare. He turned his head and gave her a devilish smile. Katniss swallowed before attempting to ascend the stairs. Unfortunately, she tripped at the top which gave Peeta the chance he needed to catch up to her. Before she could even get up, Peeta was on her. She tried crawling away from him, but he pulled her body to his.

"What did I say?" His voice was low and menacing. Peeta had Katniss on all fours in front of him. He ran his hand down her spine, then ran it down to her ass.

"Peeta..." She tried pushing back into him, but he held her steady. Peeta dropped his hand below her to cup her sex. He ran his fingers down her slit and found that she was still deliciously wet from their recent encounter on the couch. He gripped her waist firmly with his other hand.

"You have no idea the effect you have." He whispered next to her ear, before thrusting into her.

"God..." Katniss moaned. She folded her arms in front of her on the stairs and buried her head into her arms. From this position, Peeta was deeper then he had ever been. "Peeta..."

He didn't let her rest long as he leaned over her body. One hand still firm on her waist, the other went to the bottom of her chin, lifting her up. Katniss unfolded her arms, fully extending them to support herself. Her body jerked forward with every hard thrust he gave.

"Peeta...I can't...I'm gonna-" Katniss couldn't even finish her sentences at this point. Her arms gave out as her orgasm hit her. Peeta's strong arms kept her from crashing onto the floor. He pulled out of her, still hard and flipped her onto her back. She breathlessly reached out for him. He lowered himself over her body, so she could wrap her arms around his neck. Peeta kisses the crook of her neck and trails his kisses upward towards her ear.

"One more time?" Peeta whispered to her. Katniss couldn't answer him. She furiously nodded her head at him before she gasped as he thrust into her again. "You feel so good, Katniss."

"Yes, Peeta!" She moaned against him. When she finally wrapped her legs around him, he lifted them off the floor and carried her into the bedroom. Peeta crashed them onto her bed. They both groaned at how deep he got when they hit the bed.

Katniss was sure she was going to be sore. Going four rounds with Peeta, was not what she had in mind, not that she was complaining. His erection slipped out when Katniss scooted herself backwards, so her back was against the headboard. Peeta looked at her a little disappointedly, but then she bit her lip and gave him the sexiest smile he had ever seen. He smiled back as he scooted closer to her. Katniss bent her knees around his torso as he reached for her and gave her a passionate kiss.

"This position is going to be awkward." He said against her lips. His arms strained to reach his lips up to hers. From there, Katniss pushed off his shoulders, flipping them over so she was on top.

"This one not so much." She told him as she captured his lips in another kiss. Before he knew it, Katniss lowered herself over his hard on. Peeta threw his head back in a moan. Katniss braced herself against Peeta's chest. She knew he had to be close, so she rocked hard against him. The headboard rattled rhythmically against the wall.

Peeta reached for her breasts. Katniss moaned as his hands explored her body. He sat up, lavishing her breasts with his mouth. Katniss gripped his head tightly against her breasts.

"Yes, Peeta!" Peeta thrusted up against her, desperate to find his release.

"Katniss," he groaned. Peeta matched her last thrust perfectly, sending them both over the edge. They both moaned against each other as their climax subsided.

Peeta fell back onto the bed, completely spent, with Katniss against his chest.

"Wow!" Peeta whispered.

"One time, huh?" Katniss laughed against his chest.

"Had to get it out of my system." Peeta sighs. "Katniss, this can't happen again."

"Why not?" She quietly asked him.

"You know why," He feels Katniss rubbing his chest. He sighs again. "I couldn't take it if something happened to you and I was literally caught with my pants down."

"But Peeta, what better way to protect me then to be here, with me?"

"Katniss, maybe in another life, under different circumstances, we could be together."

"Let's not talk about it anymore." Katniss pulls away from him. She turns away and drifts off to sleep.

She wasn't going to work today. Of course, Peeta didn't know that. She waited for him to drive away before she ran for her sanctuary, that being a relatively generous plot of forestry about a mile down the road from her work. She had been sneaking over to it any chance she got; her break, canceled class, etc.

Katniss sat leisurely against a tree on the floor in thought. It had been about two weeks since they had finally sealed the deal. Damn him, was the only thing that went through Katniss' mind. How could they have such amazing sex and then expect it to be just that one night? Not to mention that Katniss felt all these conflicting feelings. She liked Peeta. She cared about him. The sex was great. And he didn't want anything to do with her. True to his word, well almost, it was only that one night they had that great sex Katniss remembers, but since then, everything was awkward.

By job description, Peeta had to be near her as much as possible, if not all the time. For her protection, she had to remind herself. She groaned. But she liked him, she really liked him. Possible more than like, but he kept her at arms length. He didn't allow anymore physical contact, no more then necessary. She felt like she had been rejected and just couldn't understand why they couldn't be in a relationship.

But it was her fault she felt that way. Right? She had been the one to initiate their game and now she was on the losing end. From the moment they met, she had found him attractive in more than just the physical. He was everything she could have hoped for in a man, but he was just to be her protector. But he was so sexy, and funny, and smart. She cursed herself for letting her body dictate what was right for her.

Katniss had never gone any further in the forest then where she was currently sitting. Mostly because she didn't have the time. So today, with all the time in the world, she stood up and continued walking through the forest. Her ears picked up a sound behind her. She stilled in an attempt to listen closer. Nothing. She kept on walking. Katniss reached a small creek, she figured the creek probably doubled back somewhere behind her, so she dismissed the sound from before. That was until she picked up the sound again; it was closer now. Katniss quickly climbed up a tree, giving her a perfect vantage point as well as a decent hiding spot.

Katniss watched as a hooded figure ran through, stopping right underneath the tree she was in. The man never looked up as he continued walking through the shrubbery. She followed him with her eyes, watching as he disappeared into a densely tree covered area. Katniss waited a few minutes, making sure the man wouldn't return before jumping down from her tree.

As soon as her feet hit the ground, a set of arms tightly wrapped around her waist from behind. Katniss tried breaking free, wiggling and even kicking off from the tree she was just in. The force of the kicked propelled them onto the man's back, with Katniss on top. His grip loosened a bit allowing Katniss to slip lower against the man's body. The man's grip returned, one arm around her chest, the other right underneath her chin.

Once he pulled them back up, Katniss noticed her elbow was right near the man's crotch. Katniss elbowed him in the sweet spot as hard she could. The man groaned painfully as he fell to one knee, letting Katniss go. Katniss ran in the direction she came from. She stumbled when jumping back over the creek, but the man was still hunched over in pain somewhere because he didn't catch up to her.

She cried out painfully when she tried to put weight on her left ankle; she must have fallen badly on it. Katniss still managed to keep running, not as fast, but something was better then nothing.

Katniss suddenly stopped. She was sure she should have been out of the forest by now. She was lost. She spun around for a second trying to regain her sense of direction. Katniss didn't get a chance when she saw the hooded man round a tree towards her. She didn't have time to run as he tackled her to the ground. She flipped around under him. She couldn't see his face under the hood as she tried hitting him. The man grabbed her hands in one hand and placed them above her head. She tried jerking her hips, attempting to toss him, but he was too heavy. When she tried to kick, the man had already wrapped his legs around hers effectively stopping her from moving.

"What do you want?" Katniss tried. The man chuckled.

"You have no idea what to do in this situation, do you?" Katniss looked at the man curiously. That voice...

"Peeta?!" He used his free hand to push his hood back. There was Peeta, with rosy cheeks and damp hair from giving chase.

"What are you doing out here, Katniss?" She turned her head from him defiantly. "Still not talking to me. Fine, I'll talk." He released her hands and stood up. He extended his hand for her to take it. Katniss sat up and pushed his hand away. "I could have been a killer, Katniss! You can't just leave and go places without me knowing!"

"What the hell do you care?!" Katniss yelled back from her sitting position.

"How dare you, Katniss! If there is anything between us, it's that I care! I fucking care!"

"Part of your job!"

Peeta ran his hands furiously through his hair. "Damn it Katniss! You know better than that!"

"Do I?! We fuck and you just dump my ass like a cheap hooker!"

"You know why that has to be like that!" Peeta yells. Katniss stands up, fuming. She stands right in front of him now. She slaps him.

"I don't know! You keep telling me you can't this and you can't-"

"I care! That's the problem!" Peeta interrupts. "I like you Katniss! I can't stop thinking about you! Even before we 'fucked,' as you so put it. I felt it when I first saw you! I don't know what the hell it is, but I can't let it interfere with my job!" Peeta turns from her. He plops down next to a tree and puts his head in his hands. "Alright?"

Katniss walks over to him and takes a seat next to him. She runs her hand soothingly across his back. "I feel it too!" She whispers.

Peeta looks up at her and asks, "What the hell is it?" Katniss looks at him and laughs. Peeta laughs along with her. He brings his hand up to caress her face. "Katniss, I care deeply for you. More than I should. That scares me."

Katniss puts her hand over Peeta's. "It scares me too, Peeta."

"I shouldn't feel this way about the woman I have to keep alive. It's going to hurt like hell if I fail."

"Then don't fail! For both our sakes." She runs her hand lovingly through his hair. "By the way, I like you too, Peeta." She drags her hand over his lips and he kisses it. Katniss leans in for a kiss, Peeta meets her half way. Katniss snakes her arm around his neck, pulling him closer. Their kiss intensifies, then suddenly Peeta groans and pulls away.

"We can't do this Katniss." She makes a disgusted sound before trying to push away from him. Peeta holds her in place and laughs. "Not because I don't want to." He chuckles trying to meet her gaze. She looks up at him. He gives her a sweet kiss. "I do. I really do." He whispers against her lips.

"Then why not, Peeta?" Katniss asks pleadingly.

"Because someone elbowed me down there and it's hurting now as it gets hard." He chuckles with a slight blush.

"Oh." Katniss says. "Well, maybe if someone wasn't trying to kidnap me, it wouldn't have happened!"

"Maybe if someone would have let me explain-"

"Maybe if someone-" Peeta cuts her off with a kiss.

"Shut up, will you?" He kisses her again as he lays on top of her. He groans into her mouth and stops. "Ow!" Peeta crawls off of her and rubs his aching manhood. He stands along with Katniss. He throws an arm around her shoulder. He notices Katniss limping under him. "Katniss..."

"It's nothing. It's just a little swollen that's all."

"I'm sorry. You want me to carry you?"

"No. It's okay." Peeta looks unconvinced. "Really." She gives him a kiss and they continue walking. "What I do want is to know how you knew where I was."

"I'm a cop! I know everything!" He laughs as Katniss pushes him playfully. "I'll tell you later." Pulls her to him. Every step he took, reminded him of the pain in his groin. "That was one hell of an elbow, but you have a lot of learning to do."

"Maybe you can show me..."

"Oh I will..."