The Rebel Queen

23

Pulling my nightgown over my head, I shake my wet hair out with a towel. It falls to the middle of my back as I pull my hand away, strands of it stuck in the little nooks and crannies of the new, unfamiliar jewelry on my left hand. I carefully pull the wet hair from the ring, and sigh, shaking my head. I look at the pearl as it reflects with a little crescent of fire light, the moon resting upon the back of Skoll as she circles my long, slender ring finger. I turn my hand and pull it towards my chest. Feeling arms snake around me, I lean back against the owner.

"Second thoughts already, with that great big sigh?" Peeta asks and I shake my head, looking at the ring again.

"No," I say softly. "Just something to get used to. It isn't as though I have ever worn a ring before." I glance at him, and step away and walking over to where the warm meal Tigris had prepared for us. "Do you wanna go ahead and dig into this bird?"

"I am a tad peckish," He says and I look over at him, kneeling by the fire and starting to pull off pieces of the tender, juicy meat. He slowly comes to sit next to me and starts to pull off a few pieces for himself. I take a bite of my small plate and groan, feeling the warm meal hit my hungry stomach. I look over at Peeta and he too looks happy to finally be able to have a warm meal, the last one having come the night of the solstice. 

"I hadn't realized how hungry I was," I say. 

"How couldn't you?" He asks. "Your stomach has sounded like an angry dog all the way back on the horse." 

"I'm used to an empty stomach in winter," I say, carefully picking at my meal. "Before you started figuring out the rationing problem here, it was nothing for us to only eat a meal once every few days." I look down and sigh, shaking my head. "If not for you, it would only be the same now." Peeta looks at me and shakes his head

"You give me too much credit, Lady," He says and I shake my head.

"Not from where I am positioned, Lord," I reply, leaning forward and kissing his cheek. I pull away and move some of his wet hair from his face. "You fed our people, just as you told me to trust you would."  Peeta smiles at me and I can feel his hand on my waist. "You are very much worthy of being my Lord." He looks up at me and I smirk, feeling my heart beat rising as I lean against him. He looks me up and down, smirking as he rests his hand on top of my necklace.

"What are you trying at, looking at me like that?" He asks. I lean forward and kiss him, the feeling going from soft and sweet to hungry. I break away and run my fingers down his cheek.

"Whatever I can to to serve you, Lord," I whisper and we both laugh as I lean down, kissing him again. Peeta reaches up and cups my cheek, making me arch my body into him. His hand runs down my neck and rests just above the swell of my breast. I pull away a little and start kissing his neck, my belly twisting and turning as I do. His  pulse is quick as mine under my lips and feel my hand come to rest on his chest as just lean against him. "So I ask you, how would you like me to do that?" He swallows nervously and I pull away, running my fingers slowly down the the lines of his well muscled abdomen. He watches as my hand stops just above the line of his pants and he shakes his head.

"You're getting bolder," He remarks and I glance up at him, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. He carefully kisses me again. "But still, you tremble." I pull away a little and look at him as he cups my cheek. "You know if you don't want to do anything, you don't have to." I look at him and slowly move my hand down lower, biting my lip.

"Well," I say softly, "Maybe it should be time for me to get over a little of my fear. That way, later, say our wedding night," I carefully rub my hand over his pants, feeling the throbbing underneath my fingers. "We can avoid any hang ups that might  interrupt what we set out to do." He looks at me and tilt my head a little, continuing to rub my hand across him. "Unless you don't want me to return the favor you gave me." He looks a little surprised and his own cheeks turn a little red.