A Dandelion in the Sun - 2
Title: A Dandelion in the Sun
Author: exquisite_ugly
Fandom: The Hunger Games
Rating: T
Characters: Katniss/Peeta
Genre: Romance/Angst
Warnings: Some sexual situations, though not overly descriptive.
Summary:
Some of Katniss and Peeta's moments together after Mockingjay that lead to discovery, understanding and healing for both of them. Multi-chapter, romance
*~*~*
*~*~*
"To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage." - Lao Tzu
*~*~*
The night I felt the ache of hunger again was when Peeta gently woke me from a nightmare of lost children in the Capitol. The images were horrific, and I had trouble releasing myself from it even with Peeta's arms holding me against him tightly. He tilted my chin up, and I felt his warm lips press against mine. The warmth of his mouth was comforting.
My lips moved against his without thought - we had shared so many since I gave him the okay to try a real relationship - and I wrapped my arms around him. The touch of his tongue against mine ignited a curious, melting feeling in my stomach. My arms held him tighter, closer, and I felt his body shift against mine.
"Katniss…" he whispered against my mouth. His breath feathered warm and sweet against me.
I knew what he was feeling. I was feeling it, too, and I slowly slid my hand up under his t-shirt. I didn't want to talk; I just needed to go with what I was feeling. My words weren't like his - easy to come by and just right - and I didn't want to say something wrong. His breath was a little shorter now as he pulled back slightly. My hand dared to reach for the waistband of his shorts, and I felt the small exhalation of breath again and smiled.
"Are you sure?" he whispered thickly.
There was no denying what I felt, what he felt, and I wanted to be with him in all the ways a girl could be with a boy. He had been so good to me, so gentle and patient and sweet, and even when I hadn't been so nice he still stuck by me. He loved me… and I was beginning to realize that I was in love with him.
I was in love with Peeta Mellark. It still felt strange, but good, to feel that way.
My hands began tugging his shorts down as I said simply, "Yes."
I had grown up knowing the mechanics of sex and that it was a way of life, but never thought much about it. It was a way to create a life and a way to express your love for someone, but I never thought about the feelings in relation to it.
I had an inkling of knowledge with the hunger I had felt while kissing Peeta before, but the actual feel of it took me by surprise. Peeta's body pressed into mine and his kisses were soft as he explored my bare skin with shaky hands. The feeling was really nice, and I liked the way my body went from cool and shaky to really warm and pliant under his touch.
His hair tickled my skin, and I wound my fingers into it as I felt the brush of his fingers over my bare breasts. Shivers slid their way over my skin, tickling over my nerve endings, and I wrapped my arms around Peeta. I wanted to feel him even closer.
I stroked the tips of my fingers, followed by my lips, over his burn scars. I felt the moment of tensed hesitation in him, but when I continued and proved nothing on his body could disgust me, he relaxed.
It wasn't easy to allow someone to see the physical scars, but we had seen each other's emotional scars and had been through so much together. Peeta was one of the few people I trusted implicitly. I allowed him to do the same and closed my eyes as his lips smoothed over them.
Our hands explored, our mouths came together in heated pants, and I found my legs winding around him as I felt him move and press against me. The heat and hunger began building higher as the lengths of our bodies were pressed against each other.
His soft skin, mixed with some of the roughness in certain areas, and the soft golden hair on his body was enough to have my pulse racing. His soft moan of pleasure when I touched him was intoxicating and when we joined together it was just right.
"I love you, Katniss," he gasped as our bodies began to move in tandem.
"I love you, too," I said, and I felt his smile against my neck, and then I forgot everything.
When morning had dawned, I woke, and there had been no nightmares. My body was still tangled with Peeta's, and I could see he was still asleep. He was usually awake first, so I took advantage of the opportunity and propped my head on my hand to gaze down at his face.
His tangled blonde hair was soft to the touch as I smoothed it back carefully. The sunlight trickling in the open windows lit his golden eyelashes and I found myself transfixed by them yet again.
I stroked a finger down the bridge of his nose, gently sliding it across his cheek and jaw. To my surprise, I felt slight stubble and investigated further. There was definitely some there; fascinated, I slid my fingers along the smooth roughness of it. My mind wandered to the night before as I explored, and I was still amazed at the intensity of our love-making and how pleasurable it had been.
Somewhere amidst my daydreaming, Peeta had woken and was watching me.
"You have stubble," I told him with some surprise and uncertainty.
I didn't like being caught unawares with my feelings, but he seemed to be feeling the same tenderness as I did, judging by his look, and he smiled at me.
I got distracted by the curve of his mouth when he smiled and found my thumb smoothing over his lower lip which made him chuckle softly. His warm breath spread over my fingers.
"Did it just start growing back? And how?" I questioned.
His hand rested on my bare hip and he said, "It did. It was some kind of smelly cream they smeared on our faces to stop the growth, but apparently it only works for so long. I'll shave it if you…"
"Not yet," I interrupted. I liked it, but felt a little strange saying so. The newness to our relationship would take a little time to adjust to.
He took my hand and lightly tugged on me until I was straddling him. I gazed down at him with something akin to tenderness flaring inside me, and he sat up partially to kiss me. I explored his body further with hands and lips and heard him give a soft sound when I pressed a kiss to the stump of his leg. His eyes locked with mine.
"You love me. Real or not real?"
He deserved to hear it again and as many times as I could say it. "Real," I whispered.
*~*~*
A year passed with comfortable ease, and I passed my days with Peeta and occasionally Haymitch; when he was at least partially sober. Peeta taught me to bake a few things, and after a few bad attempts, I got better at it. One morning Greasy Sae had made a breakfast of pancakes, crispy bacon, and an array of fruit and mugs of hot chocolate one morning for me and Peeta.
Once we finished breakfast and helped to clean up - and after I gave Buttercup some bacon - I had the idea of taking Peeta into the woods with me to hunt. We hadn't been in the woods together since the Hunger Games, but I thought we could turn it into a peaceful activity to overcome all the death we had encountered in other forests.
He seemed hesitant when had I brought it up, but agreed to go with me if he could show me how to bake a cake later. I had a sneaking suspicion he wanted me to know how because we had inadvertently found out Haymitch's birthday was coming up. It was a warm spring day, so I decided to forego my father's coat and just pulled on my boots and picked up my bow.
"Sorry, I'm being loud," he said quietly after we had walked for a little while.
"I'm used to it," I said giving him a teasing smirk. Something I had found annoying and distracting had now become endearing. "We're going to be hunting from one spot, though, so it won't matter."
We reached one of my favorite hunting spots. There was a lot of heavy brush, and it was a comfortable enough spot to perch and wait for prey. He had seen me load my bow before and had even practiced a little bit in training, but I showed him some of the tricks I knew. It didn't take long for a rabbit to appear, and I instructed him quietly. He released the arrow and it grazed the rabbit. It didn't kill it, though, and it escaped.
It was a good shot for a beginner, and after a few tries, he managed to kill one. We put the rabbit into my bag. By then both of us were hungry as we had spent a couple hours sitting in the brush. I unpacked some of Peeta's cheese buns - my favorite - and cut up an apple for us to eat.
I leaned back against the trunk of a tree, nibbling on a bun, and I watched Peeta eat. He seemed comfortable enough being in the woods. I figured I would show him where I swam with my father one of these days, and we could try fishing some time.
Suddenly, his body spasmed slightly, and I looked over at him in alarm. His eyes were squeezed shut and his fists were clenching. I knelt next to him, rubbing my hand over his hard fists, and then lifted my hand to stroke his face.
"Its okay, Peeta. We're both okay," I said quietly.
His facial muscles relaxed after a moment, and I lay my head in his lap, letting him feel me against him. It was what soothed him the most. His fingers began playing with my hair, and I turned so I was looking up at him. He looked tired and a little worn, but I could see the little light of happiness beginning to warm his blue eyes again.
The sun was lit behind his head and his blonde hair glowed. "Katniss?"
"Hmm?" I murmured lazily as my eyes traced over his features kissed by the sun. I was beginning to feel those stirrings again and wondered if I could have him right here.
He bit his lip. "We have been together for a little while now…"
He had trailed off, and I gazed up at him in confusion, waiting for him to continue. "Yes?" I prompted.
He looked down at me again. "So… um, you know I love you, and you love me."
When I nodded, he continued. "Katniss Everdeen, will you really marry me this time?"
It was so different than how he had proposed before - no matter if it was a fake proposal - I almost felt like it was just another show. But it wasn't. He was holding a small box and looking really nervous.
"Really?" It was the only thing I could think of to say.
He flipped the lid open and showed me a very simple band with triangular markings. "I mentioned it to your mother," he said a little shyly. "She said your father gave her this ring when he proposed to her. He had saved up to buy it for her."
My eyes widened as recognition swept over me. I reached out and touched the band in awe; something my father had picked out. It was truly the way to my heart. I swallowed nervously. Could I really get married and be a good wife to Peeta? It was a scary, exhilarating thought.
"I do love you, I'm just not sure I'd be a very good wife," I said jumping up and pacing nervously.
He watched me for a moment. "I think you would make a fantastic wife," he said calmly.
"Why? I know I'm good at hunting, killing, and having plenty of nightmares. Does that translate into being a good wife?" My voice had risen higher than normal as I spoke.
Peeta stood, laying his hands on my shoulders. "You also care a great deal or it wouldn't bother you so much. You have a tough exterior, but it hides someone who knows how to love. Just think of Prim, Katniss. It was obvious how much you loved her; your mother, too."
Peeta's words sank in, and I mulled over them. I had loved Prim; I still did even though she was gone. I would have done anything for her. The pain came, but the panic ebbed a little, and I glanced up at him.
She would have loved a wedding.
I looked into Peeta's blue eyes, and I relaxed. I was in love with him. If he was willing to take me as I was, then I was willing to marry the man I had fallen in love with. I deserved a little bit of happiness after all the devastation, right? If the past year was any indication, I had learned to make Peeta - and ultimately myself - happy by being together.
"Yes," I whispered. His lips met mine immediately.
I was going to get married.
*~*~*
AN: Since I couldn't respond personally, I wanted to thank Megan, Tori, and alycat for their reviews! Hope everyone enjoys chapter 2. :o)
Author: exquisite_ugly
Fandom: The Hunger Games
Rating: T
Characters: Katniss/Peeta
Genre: Romance/Angst
Warnings: Some sexual situations, though not overly descriptive.
Summary:
Some of Katniss and Peeta's moments together after Mockingjay that lead to discovery, understanding and healing for both of them. Multi-chapter, romance
*~*~*
*~*~*
"To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage." - Lao Tzu
*~*~*
The night I felt the ache of hunger again was when Peeta gently woke me from a nightmare of lost children in the Capitol. The images were horrific, and I had trouble releasing myself from it even with Peeta's arms holding me against him tightly. He tilted my chin up, and I felt his warm lips press against mine. The warmth of his mouth was comforting.
My lips moved against his without thought - we had shared so many since I gave him the okay to try a real relationship - and I wrapped my arms around him. The touch of his tongue against mine ignited a curious, melting feeling in my stomach. My arms held him tighter, closer, and I felt his body shift against mine.
"Katniss…" he whispered against my mouth. His breath feathered warm and sweet against me.
I knew what he was feeling. I was feeling it, too, and I slowly slid my hand up under his t-shirt. I didn't want to talk; I just needed to go with what I was feeling. My words weren't like his - easy to come by and just right - and I didn't want to say something wrong. His breath was a little shorter now as he pulled back slightly. My hand dared to reach for the waistband of his shorts, and I felt the small exhalation of breath again and smiled.
"Are you sure?" he whispered thickly.
There was no denying what I felt, what he felt, and I wanted to be with him in all the ways a girl could be with a boy. He had been so good to me, so gentle and patient and sweet, and even when I hadn't been so nice he still stuck by me. He loved me… and I was beginning to realize that I was in love with him.
I was in love with Peeta Mellark. It still felt strange, but good, to feel that way.
My hands began tugging his shorts down as I said simply, "Yes."
I had grown up knowing the mechanics of sex and that it was a way of life, but never thought much about it. It was a way to create a life and a way to express your love for someone, but I never thought about the feelings in relation to it.
I had an inkling of knowledge with the hunger I had felt while kissing Peeta before, but the actual feel of it took me by surprise. Peeta's body pressed into mine and his kisses were soft as he explored my bare skin with shaky hands. The feeling was really nice, and I liked the way my body went from cool and shaky to really warm and pliant under his touch.
His hair tickled my skin, and I wound my fingers into it as I felt the brush of his fingers over my bare breasts. Shivers slid their way over my skin, tickling over my nerve endings, and I wrapped my arms around Peeta. I wanted to feel him even closer.
I stroked the tips of my fingers, followed by my lips, over his burn scars. I felt the moment of tensed hesitation in him, but when I continued and proved nothing on his body could disgust me, he relaxed.
It wasn't easy to allow someone to see the physical scars, but we had seen each other's emotional scars and had been through so much together. Peeta was one of the few people I trusted implicitly. I allowed him to do the same and closed my eyes as his lips smoothed over them.
Our hands explored, our mouths came together in heated pants, and I found my legs winding around him as I felt him move and press against me. The heat and hunger began building higher as the lengths of our bodies were pressed against each other.
His soft skin, mixed with some of the roughness in certain areas, and the soft golden hair on his body was enough to have my pulse racing. His soft moan of pleasure when I touched him was intoxicating and when we joined together it was just right.
"I love you, Katniss," he gasped as our bodies began to move in tandem.
"I love you, too," I said, and I felt his smile against my neck, and then I forgot everything.
When morning had dawned, I woke, and there had been no nightmares. My body was still tangled with Peeta's, and I could see he was still asleep. He was usually awake first, so I took advantage of the opportunity and propped my head on my hand to gaze down at his face.
His tangled blonde hair was soft to the touch as I smoothed it back carefully. The sunlight trickling in the open windows lit his golden eyelashes and I found myself transfixed by them yet again.
I stroked a finger down the bridge of his nose, gently sliding it across his cheek and jaw. To my surprise, I felt slight stubble and investigated further. There was definitely some there; fascinated, I slid my fingers along the smooth roughness of it. My mind wandered to the night before as I explored, and I was still amazed at the intensity of our love-making and how pleasurable it had been.
Somewhere amidst my daydreaming, Peeta had woken and was watching me.
"You have stubble," I told him with some surprise and uncertainty.
I didn't like being caught unawares with my feelings, but he seemed to be feeling the same tenderness as I did, judging by his look, and he smiled at me.
I got distracted by the curve of his mouth when he smiled and found my thumb smoothing over his lower lip which made him chuckle softly. His warm breath spread over my fingers.
"Did it just start growing back? And how?" I questioned.
His hand rested on my bare hip and he said, "It did. It was some kind of smelly cream they smeared on our faces to stop the growth, but apparently it only works for so long. I'll shave it if you…"
"Not yet," I interrupted. I liked it, but felt a little strange saying so. The newness to our relationship would take a little time to adjust to.
He took my hand and lightly tugged on me until I was straddling him. I gazed down at him with something akin to tenderness flaring inside me, and he sat up partially to kiss me. I explored his body further with hands and lips and heard him give a soft sound when I pressed a kiss to the stump of his leg. His eyes locked with mine.
"You love me. Real or not real?"
He deserved to hear it again and as many times as I could say it. "Real," I whispered.
*~*~*
A year passed with comfortable ease, and I passed my days with Peeta and occasionally Haymitch; when he was at least partially sober. Peeta taught me to bake a few things, and after a few bad attempts, I got better at it. One morning Greasy Sae had made a breakfast of pancakes, crispy bacon, and an array of fruit and mugs of hot chocolate one morning for me and Peeta.
Once we finished breakfast and helped to clean up - and after I gave Buttercup some bacon - I had the idea of taking Peeta into the woods with me to hunt. We hadn't been in the woods together since the Hunger Games, but I thought we could turn it into a peaceful activity to overcome all the death we had encountered in other forests.
He seemed hesitant when had I brought it up, but agreed to go with me if he could show me how to bake a cake later. I had a sneaking suspicion he wanted me to know how because we had inadvertently found out Haymitch's birthday was coming up. It was a warm spring day, so I decided to forego my father's coat and just pulled on my boots and picked up my bow.
"Sorry, I'm being loud," he said quietly after we had walked for a little while.
"I'm used to it," I said giving him a teasing smirk. Something I had found annoying and distracting had now become endearing. "We're going to be hunting from one spot, though, so it won't matter."
We reached one of my favorite hunting spots. There was a lot of heavy brush, and it was a comfortable enough spot to perch and wait for prey. He had seen me load my bow before and had even practiced a little bit in training, but I showed him some of the tricks I knew. It didn't take long for a rabbit to appear, and I instructed him quietly. He released the arrow and it grazed the rabbit. It didn't kill it, though, and it escaped.
It was a good shot for a beginner, and after a few tries, he managed to kill one. We put the rabbit into my bag. By then both of us were hungry as we had spent a couple hours sitting in the brush. I unpacked some of Peeta's cheese buns - my favorite - and cut up an apple for us to eat.
I leaned back against the trunk of a tree, nibbling on a bun, and I watched Peeta eat. He seemed comfortable enough being in the woods. I figured I would show him where I swam with my father one of these days, and we could try fishing some time.
Suddenly, his body spasmed slightly, and I looked over at him in alarm. His eyes were squeezed shut and his fists were clenching. I knelt next to him, rubbing my hand over his hard fists, and then lifted my hand to stroke his face.
"Its okay, Peeta. We're both okay," I said quietly.
His facial muscles relaxed after a moment, and I lay my head in his lap, letting him feel me against him. It was what soothed him the most. His fingers began playing with my hair, and I turned so I was looking up at him. He looked tired and a little worn, but I could see the little light of happiness beginning to warm his blue eyes again.
The sun was lit behind his head and his blonde hair glowed. "Katniss?"
"Hmm?" I murmured lazily as my eyes traced over his features kissed by the sun. I was beginning to feel those stirrings again and wondered if I could have him right here.
He bit his lip. "We have been together for a little while now…"
He had trailed off, and I gazed up at him in confusion, waiting for him to continue. "Yes?" I prompted.
He looked down at me again. "So… um, you know I love you, and you love me."
When I nodded, he continued. "Katniss Everdeen, will you really marry me this time?"
It was so different than how he had proposed before - no matter if it was a fake proposal - I almost felt like it was just another show. But it wasn't. He was holding a small box and looking really nervous.
"Really?" It was the only thing I could think of to say.
He flipped the lid open and showed me a very simple band with triangular markings. "I mentioned it to your mother," he said a little shyly. "She said your father gave her this ring when he proposed to her. He had saved up to buy it for her."
My eyes widened as recognition swept over me. I reached out and touched the band in awe; something my father had picked out. It was truly the way to my heart. I swallowed nervously. Could I really get married and be a good wife to Peeta? It was a scary, exhilarating thought.
"I do love you, I'm just not sure I'd be a very good wife," I said jumping up and pacing nervously.
He watched me for a moment. "I think you would make a fantastic wife," he said calmly.
"Why? I know I'm good at hunting, killing, and having plenty of nightmares. Does that translate into being a good wife?" My voice had risen higher than normal as I spoke.
Peeta stood, laying his hands on my shoulders. "You also care a great deal or it wouldn't bother you so much. You have a tough exterior, but it hides someone who knows how to love. Just think of Prim, Katniss. It was obvious how much you loved her; your mother, too."
Peeta's words sank in, and I mulled over them. I had loved Prim; I still did even though she was gone. I would have done anything for her. The pain came, but the panic ebbed a little, and I glanced up at him.
She would have loved a wedding.
I looked into Peeta's blue eyes, and I relaxed. I was in love with him. If he was willing to take me as I was, then I was willing to marry the man I had fallen in love with. I deserved a little bit of happiness after all the devastation, right? If the past year was any indication, I had learned to make Peeta - and ultimately myself - happy by being together.
"Yes," I whispered. His lips met mine immediately.
I was going to get married.
*~*~*
AN: Since I couldn't respond personally, I wanted to thank Megan, Tori, and alycat for their reviews! Hope everyone enjoys chapter 2. :o)