Author's Note:

Thank you for the follows, faves, and reviews.

The bright light of the morning sun shines thru the large floor to ceiling window in the master bedroom of the penthouse, causing Coriolanus to groan and blink his groggy eyes open. He craned his head down, only to see that June was still fast asleep and tucked into his side. The sight of her sleeping soundly with his arm protectively wrapped around her brought a smile to his usually stoic face.

He thought that she looked beautiful as you slept. Well, he thought that the raven haired girl looked beautiful no matter what, truth be told. She could be wrapped up in his silk sheets, in the most expensive designer dresses, or in a sack dress and he'd still think she's beautiful.

To Coriolanus, June's more beautiful than any of the rarest diamonds in Panem. Hell, the world. And she's all his. His precious gem to polish and cherish.

To own.

He was disappointed that he couldn't see the love bites and bruises he left on her due to the sleeping position she was in. He really wanted to see his marks on his darling's radiant skin. Just thinking about it made his morning wood even harder than it already was.

If June wasn't having so much trouble sleeping due to nightmares, he would've waken her up and had her suck his cock. Of course he also wanted to feast on her pussy for breakfast as well, but sadly he couldn't. He had to let her get some rest, plus he needed to get to the Citadel.

He had a busy day ahead of him, so despite how much he wanted to, he couldn't spend the entire day in bed with June. Damn his duties. One day when he's all powerful (the President of Panem) if he wants to spend his entire day in bed fucking her then he will.

Hell, maybe he'll even make a national holiday where all citizens get a day off in June's honor just so he can stay in bed having his way with her once he's Mister President. Yes, that's a lovely idea. He'll make June's birthday a national holiday; name it Darling Rose Day.

With a heavy sigh, Coriolanus gently untangled himself from his darling rose and went to take a shower. It doesn't take him long before he's back in the room he shares with June, towel wrapped around his waist and a smirk plastered on his face as he takes in the sight of her snuggled into his pillow. Seeing June long for his scent, for him, in her sleep gives his already inflated ego a boost.

He doesn't want to disturb her by turning on the lights, so he uses the sunlight streaming into the room to help him see what's in his closet. He didn't have much in there, just a few suits and dress shirts, but it was enough to ensure he looked presentable on the days he chose to seek refuge in his penthouse from his bitch on a wife.

A bitch of a wife that would be no more after tonight's dinner at Avelina's.

A lush that would choke on her own blood after eating a couple bites of their appetizer.

Their seafood appetizer.

Yes, he had everything planned out perfectly considering he literally concocted the plan last night (around midnight or so).

Coriolanus' smile went from ear to ear as he thought about how he was going to be running the Cardew (now the Snow) bank since Livia was the only one in her family left (damn those deadly shellfish allergies) along with having June. And if that wasn't enough to make him happy, well he'd soon be announcing that he's putting his name in the hat as one of the men running for president (President Ravenstill would be getting a bit sicker within the next few days and his cabinet along with the ministry would have to announce a campaign season and voting season for a new president.).

Deciding to pull out a white jacket to pair with the white shirt and black pants he wore last night to pick June up (they were perfectly clean given he only had them on for roughly half an hour or so), he quickly dressed and left the bedroom he shares with June.

Once in the main room, he called Tigris on the video phone and told her to come to the penthouse to watch over June while he was at the Citadel. The response expected wasn't the one he got.

No…

What he got from Tigris was a sour look paired with the question of, "Why did you sign her out of the hospital if she's not ready to be alone, Coriolanus?"

He let out an aggravated sigh. Why couldn't his cousin just say yes and leave it at that. Did she have to push back about this?

"Tigris, she's perfectly capable of being alone." He told his cousin, not wanting her to think that hus victor was a basketcase when she wasn't.

Tigris was about to say something, but Coriolanus beat her to it with the long-winded remark of, "It's just that I don't want her to be alone in the penthouse after everything she's been through. I thought a friendly face might make her first day out of the hospital easier for her."

Once June felt more comfortable in the Capitol, Coriolanus planned on introducing her to Clemmie. He felt that she'd be a good friend for June; could help her navigate the social circles of the Capitol housewives and socialites.

Clemensia Docecote was known for serving cunt everywhere ahe went and that was just the kind of friend June needed in the Capitol.

Between him being June's lover, Clemmie being her friend, and Tigris being herr personal stylist (and friend as well) he was sure June'll quickly learn how to fit in.

Then, another reason for Tigris to come see June popped into his head. "Plus you do need to work on both her exit interview and crowning dresses." Smirking, he finished his thoughts with the rhetorical question of, "What better way to start working on her dresses than to spend the day with her?"

Tigris' warm blue eyes turned frosty as she disdainfully bit out, "You're concerned about her being alone after what she's been through as if it isn't your fault that she experienced all those horrors in that beautiful deathtrap of an arena you designed special for that Quarter Quell?" Giving him a look full of judgment, she said, "Oh, that's rich coming from you, the head gamemaker."

Oh how Coriolanus wanted to reach into the video screen and smack Tigris upside her light blonde and black highlighted head. How dare she speak to him like that?

If it wasn't for him being head gamemaker she wouldn't have a fucking job since he's the one that made her into one of the most sought after stylist in the Capitol.

Hell, bitch should be grateful.

But no…ever since he got back from his summer stint as a peacekeeper in District 12 she's been cold and offish to him.

One day he's going to say enough's enough and cut her off, but today isn't that day. He needs her to be June's friend; to design her dresses and be her personal stylist. Hell, he still needs her to be his stylist.

She knows all his measurements and inseams; he doesn't want to have to deal with somebody new learning all of that.

"Tigris, I need to go to the Citadel soon so just come here with Junes's clothes and spend the day with her."

"Why do you care so much for Coriolanus? She's just another district gutter rat that won those barbaric games you design."

The platinum blonde's icy eyes turned hateful upon hearing his cousin call his darling rose a district gutter rat.

How dare she?

June wasn't like the rest of the people from the coal district. She was different.

A diamond made out of the pressures coal undergoes.

His rare diamond that was too good; too beautiful for district life.

"She's not a district gutter rat; she's going to be my wife. Now, are you going to come over or do I have to have somebody go and fetch you?" Coriolanus snapped, feeling rage consume him.

Tigris' eyes (which were heavily lined with too much black eyeliner and made her look like a cat if you asked him) went wide. "Your wife? But, Coriolanus, you're already married!"

"Well, I see I'll be sending somebody by to fetch you. Make you to bring your key, I'll be at the Citadel when you arrive." He told his cousin in a clipped tone before hanging up and ending the call.

He ran a hand thru his flawlessly slicked back hair and let out a long sigh. That call was worse than some of the ones he has with political sponsors and that's saying something.

He turned his head and looked down the hall, to where June was still sleeping soundly in his bed, before rising from his chair and making his way over to the foyer. With a smirk on his lips he walked out of the penthouse. He knew that the next time he walked thru the door he'd be free to be with June.

Forever and ever.

When June woke up it was alone in the large king sized bed. June was still in the same spot that she fell asleep in, the only difference being that she's clutching onto Coriolanus' pillow. Her nose was buried into it as well, breathing in his scent that was a mix of roses and musk.

She let out a groan from how brightly the sun was shining thru the window; burying her dace deeper in Coryo's pillow. The strong scent of roses was intoxicating; nearly overpowering June's senses, as she hid away from the bright sunlight.

The raven haired girl didn't have the opportunity of using the platinum blonde man's pillow as a shield from the sun for long.

The door opened followed by Tigris' cheery voice proclaiming, "It's nearly noon, June. It's time to get up."

"Close the drapes, it's too bright in here." June complained.

"My cousin doesn't have practical drapes, just decorative curtains that don't close." Tigris told June, a suitcase full of June's clothes from her time as a Hunger Games tribute rolling behind her as she walked further into the room. "I brought your clothes; I figured Coriolanus wouldn't have any for you here."

"He let me borrow a shirt last night; said he'd have you come over with my things." June explained while lifting her head from the rose scent pillow it was buried in.

Tigris' brows furrowed. June said Coriolanus gave her a shirt, but her back was bare. Surely he didn't…

As June sat up in bed the blanket around her shifted, causing the stylist (whose blonde and black striped hair along with her heavy lined eyes made her look similar to her feline name) to gasp.

Her hand shakily covered her mouth as her eyes took in the bite marks on the petite girl in her cousin's bed. Silently, she counted them. A large one on June's collarbone that seemed deep. Looked as if it went down to the bone, as if her cousin sunk his teeth in deliberately to brand the victor. Then June had a one on the side of her left breast. It was plum and dark purple; it looked angry and ugly.

And if that wasn't enough, the left side of her cheek had a purplish-reddish bruise on it.

A bruise that was a large imprint of a hand.

She looked at June like she's broken while rushing over to her. "Sweetheart, did he hurt you?" Tigris asked, sitting next to her on the bed and reaching out to gently touch the girl's swollen cheek.

June's brow scrunched up, wondering why she asked that. Then June realized the blanket had shifted and she probably saw the marks Coryo left on her last night (err this morning?) when they were fooling around.

Oh how embarrassing.

"No." June quickly shook her head. "He didn't hurt me."

"But, June, it looks like he did."

"But he didn't, Tigris." The dark haired girl protested.

"Did he-" June knew what she was going to ask and the question disgusted her. So she cut her off.

"God no, he didn't make me do anything!" June quickly shouted at her.

Despite being a bit dominant and slap happy, Coriolanus did respect June enough to ask her what she wanted. To tell her to use herr words; tell him what she wanted to do.

He knew how far to push and when to ease up. Honestly, June felt that her first sexual experience with him was breathtaking.

It was an experience she'd never forget.

The fact that Tigris could think her own cousin could do something so horrible to her pissed June off. How could she think so low of him? Was it because he had marriage problems or was it because she knew he liked her?

The stylist shook her head, only to sadly say, "He did something with you, sweetheart or you wouldn't have a bruised cheek and such painful bite marks on you." A look of pity flashed in her eyes. "He's too old for you and you're an innocent girl. Coriolanus should've never coerced you to do whatever happened last night."

"He didn't coerce me into anything. Whatever happened between me and Coryo was consensual." June told Tigris, taking her aback since the dark haired girl used her cousin's nickname.

Coriolanus never let anyone call him Coryo anymore. Him telling June to use it meant that things were worse than she thought. That he was probably going to keep hold her hostage in the Snow penthouse to earn her trust and break her in before he turned June over to the highest bidder.

Oh yes, Tigris knew all about her cousin's disgusting side hustle of pimping out desirable victors to rich capitolites for cold hard cash.

She hates that he does it. Every time she tries to confront him he just tells her that she has no room to judge since she sold herself to buy them half rotten food and outdated ill fitting clothes.

That at least he was doing something useful with the money.

She never asked him what he was doing with the thousands if not millions of money he made being the biggest pimp in all of Panem. She was too hurt that he cruelly threw a very painful part of her past up in her face.

Tigris honestly should've cut him out of her life years ago. Sadly, despite all of his evil deeds, she still loves him. Also, she feels that she sort of owes him for her stylist job so she deals with him occasionally.

He does have the power to get her fired; take away her boutique and condo if he wished.

Tigris couldn't help but think that Coriolanus was full of shit this morning when he told her that he wanted to marry June. She thinks he just told her that so she'd come over and make the raven haired girl look pretty for him.

June didn't like the way Tigris was looking at her as if she's a wounded animal. She wasn't giving June the same warm and friendly looks she did before she went into the arena.

Now she looked at June as if she should've died back in the games.

Her blue eyes held so much pity in them that you couldn't handle it.

Coriolanus didn't look at June as if she'd crumble so why was Tigris looking at her like that?

"He's a married man, June. He's also heavily involved in politics." The stylist reminded the victor, making the younger girl feel sick to her stomach.

How could June forget about his wife, Livia?

Now June felt bad. Oh no, she's the other woman. Even though he said that he was getting rid of her it didn't stop June from feeling guilting about being an accomplice in his infidelity.

Feeling dirty, June looked at Tigris and asked, "Can you show me where the bathroom is? I'd like to shower."

"Of course, sweetheart."

After opening the bathroom door and giving June a gentle push inside, Tigris told her she'd bring her a change of clothes and left June to her own devices.

June felt so small in the large, navy blue tiled bathroom. Hell, the bathroom was larger than her bedroom back home.

Why was the bathroom so big?

The raven haired girl slowly moved her head this way and that, taking in the large layout of the room.

One wall was lined with shelves; you assumed they were for towels. Also against that wall was the toilet, a marble topped vanity, and a large mirror.

A vanity in which the sink looked a bit lost in the middle of it.

Oh…

This was Coriolanus' private bathroom.

And the reason June knew that was because of the shaving kit, jar of shaving cream, and bottles of aftershave and cologne stacked on the vanity- neatly below the bathroom mirror.

Of course, he has the biggest bathroom in the penthouse.

Shaking her head, June placed her focus on the large shower in the far back corner of the room. It looked to be an octagon shape, which she thought was weird. The door to the shower was frosted and larger than the front door of the mayor's house back in 12.

Wow…just…wow…

And alongside the shower stall was a large claw bathtub. It baffled June how somebody needed both a shower and a bathtub in a room larger than some people's houses back in District 12.

Never in June's wildest dreams did she ever think she'd be in the large and over the top bathroom of Panem's head gamemaker, Coriolanus Snow, but here she was.

Should she pinch herself to make sure this is real?

Nah. The aches on June's body from the activities her and Coryo had partaken in are enough of a reality check for her.

Hearing the click-clanking of Tigris' heels coming from down the hall, June rushed into the shower and turned on the water.

She wasn't used to hot water flowing out of a showerhead (having lived in the Seam her entire life June, sadly, was used to tin tub baths with lukewarm water that was heated on top of the stove) so when the water hit her body, June jerked in surprise.

June also let out a hiss, but that was because of how the scalding hot water felt like daggers piercing the deep teeth marks on her collarbone.

Teeth marks that Coriolanus left last night when he got a little carried away with his nips and suckling on June's neck and chest. Or at least she thinks he just got carried away because he always seemed like such a put together and reserved man.

Or at least that's the image he portrayed publicly for the media.

A knock sounded on the door, followed by it slowly breaking open. "I'll put your dress on the vanity.' Tigris told June while walking into the room. "There's a towel on the rack by the shower door."

June already knew that. She saw it.

"Thank you." June called out while reaching for the nearby bottle of shampoo.

A pink bottle with roses printed all over it.

What the hell's with Coryo and roses?

She noticed though that the bottle of conditioner was purple and couldn't help, but wonder what that smelled like.

June heard Tigris leave the room as she began to lather up her hair with the strong floral scented shampoo.

The scent of roses.

Coriolanus' scent; a scent that June'll share with him til the end of the line.

After leaving June's clothes on the vanity, Tigris laid out her sketch book and sample swatches on the dining room table. Then, once her impromptu work space was set up to her liking, she went into the main room and called her cousin on the video phone.

After about 3 or 4 rings Coriolanus' face appeared on the phone's tv screen. "Tigris, how is June this afternoon?"

Tigris just gave her cousin a disgusted look. "She just woke up and she's in your shower right now trying to scrub off all the filth leftover from your unwanted touch last night." She bluntly told Coriolanus since she felt she needed to be June's voice.

That since June's so young and innocent that she needed to try and stop her dark souled cousin from corrupting her.

From ruining her life.

Coriolanus' icy blue eyes went wide at his cousin's words. Was she implying- fucking hell! "I didn't touch her in any unwanted ways, Tigris. Believe it or not, I am a gentleman when it comes to such matters."

"I saw the bruises and the bite marks you left on her, Coriolanus! Don't tell me she wanted you to do that to her, no woman in her right mind wants that done to her!"

Ah, so this wasn't about June and him, but about the stylist's past demons haunting her. Oh, she just has to let go of the past. Whatver happened to her, well, she was paid for it.

Projecting her feelings onto his darling rose wasn't the answer tho. It wouldn't make Tigris' shame go away.

Why couldn't she just be grateful that he made her a fashion icon and just befriend Jund like he asked? Why does she have to make everything so complicated with her soft ways and overly compassionate feelings.

That quality is going to get her hurt one day…

"Did you talk to her about it? If so, then you should believe what she told you." The head gamemaker told his cousin while looking over the paperwork on his desk for his darling rose's Capitol residency permit.

A permit that was a K-1 Visa.

Better know as the 90 Day Fiance Capitol Citizen Sponsorship Immigration Form.

Yes, he was going to marry June to keep his darling rose tied to him forever.

It was the only way to keep her safe. To keep the rich and vile creatures of the Capitol from trying to steal her away from him.

Nobody would dare try to steal his wife. Everyone was afraid of him; knew trying anything with Mrs. Coriolanus Snow would get them a certain date with death.

One that he'd personally send them on with the aid of his many poisons.

Tigris' looked towards the hall, checking to see if June still in the shower, before telling Coriolanus, "That girl"s too sweet and innocent for you, Coriolanus. She's been thru so much at your hands already; just let her go." Feeling her resolve grow, she added in, "Don't use her as your mistress because your bored with Livia; don't break her in for your clients either. Just send her home to her family."

The head gamemaker looked up from the paperwork in his hands, only to let out a dark chuckle. "I see you don't listen to me anymore. I told you this morning that I'm going to make June my wife."

"Coriolanus, you can't divorce Livia to marry the latest victor. It'll sink you politically."

Coriolanus knew that. It's the reason why he's slipping some poison into the wine glasses at dinner tonight.

He needed Livia dead and buried so he can spin a second chance love story narrative concerning him and June to the Capitol.

"Tigris, as much as I want to continue this conversation, I need to complete some important paperwork." He told his cousin before abruptly hanging up on her.

Tigris just stared at the black screen of the video phone. She couldn't believe how insane Coriolanus was acting over a girl he barely knew.

Oh god, she hoped he wasn't obsessed with her because she was the first victor (and a female) from District 12 in the last 15 years. The first being Lucy Gray, who she assumed he loved. Who, as she understood, mysteriously disappeared around the time Coriolanus was discharged and returned to the Capitol to study under Dr. Gaul at the University. Around the same time he became the heir to the Plinths fortune.

Oh no…

She hoped her cousin didn't hurt or kill Lucy Gray. She hoped he didn't have a hand in Sejanus' death as a traitor either.

But somewhere deep inside of her soul, Tigris knew that Coriolanus did something horrible to both his first love and the true heir of the Plinths fortune.

"Coriolanus, what are you doing going to your study? I thought you were taking me to Avelina's for dinner?" Coriolanus heard his wife's screeching voice ask as he walked down the hall, away from where she was in the main foyer.

She was sitting on an entry bench, dolled up and waiting on him to take her to dinner.

She'd just have to wait a little bit longer.

"I need to put away some paperwork, Liv. Then I'll be right there to take you to Avelina's." Coriolanus told his wife because he couldn't tell her the real reason he was going to his office.

Poison.

He kept a case of poisons and antidotes locked up in the bottom drawer of his desk. Tonight, he was getting a vile of sweet, but deadly tasting poison to dump into their drinks.

Both of them will choke on their own blood tonight, but only one of them's dying.

And it ain't him since he's built up a partial immunity to this specific poison he'll be using.

"Hurry up, Coriolanus! I don't want to get stuck at a table by the kitchen door like last time!" Livia shouted as Coriolanus entered his study and made a beeline to his desk.

She acted like it was his fault that her favorite restaurant was a hot spot for every fucking socialite under 40 in the Capitol; that seating was hard to get and wait times were atrocious.

Oh yes, everything that went wrong in Livia's life seemed to be Coriolanus' fault. Or at least that's how her endless nagging made him feel. Like she was blaming him for dumb, petty bullshit.

Whatever. It didn't matter anymore because she'd be dead within an hour.

Quickly, he pocketed his vial of poison, locked up his bottom desk drawer, and exited his office. "I'm on my way, Livia. Car's outside with Bentley; just have him let you in." Coriolanus called out to his wife as he started walking down the long hallway leading to the main entrance of the house.

Livia didn't reply back to him, but Coriolanus knew that she heard him since he heard the front door slam shut. He couldn't help but chuckle manically. For once in her life the shrew actually listened to him. And it was on her last night breathing too.

How ironic was that?

Oh, he was going to enjoy dinner tonight. Maybe he'll sue Avelina's for a wrongful death suit; bankrupt the owners and take everything they have?

After all, everything that's going to happen tonight's only business.