Always

Chapter 23: I Want Her

After our time at the lake, we go home soon after that. He picks me up bridal style. "Peeta! Put me down!" I punch his chest, playfully.

"Never." He whispers, kissing my cheek. He ended up carrying me all the way home. "You didn't have to do that." I say, smiling up at him.

"I wanted too." He kisses me softly.

We climb into bed, his arms wrapped around my waist. "You make me so happy." He whispers.

"Don't leave me. Ever." I whisper, then I fall into a deep sleep. Peeta guarding me from nightmares to come.

*

What wakes me is a phone call. I groan and look at the time.

3:47

Why the hell do people always call me in the middle of the night? I turn over to see Peeta staring at me. I jump in surprise.

"God Peeta. Don't scare me like that!" I push him playfully. "I'm sorry, baby." He croaks.

I start to get up, but he stops me. "Let me." He whispers, kissing my lips softly. But I pull him down, putting more passion into the kiss.

He walks downstairs and I lay back down, looking at where he was five minutes ago. Wishing he could come back upstairs, and wrap me in his warm arms.

*

Peeta's POV

I stumble down the stairs, still not awake yet. My hand reaches the phone and I pick it up.

"Hello?" I say.

I'm still not are who would call in the middle of the night. Even if someone did It would most likely be an emergency.

"I want her."

I look at the phone. Is this a prank? Because if it is, it's not funny. At all.

"If this is a prank I swe-"

"I want her." The voice cuts me off again.

"Who?" My only thought as to who this person wants is Katniss.

"The girl with you. Right now." My first question is, why?

"Why in the hell would I give her to you?" I snap.

I hear the guy laugh. "Because I want her, and I get what I want." He says coldly.

"No. I'm not going to give her to you."

He laughs again. "Suit yourself." He pauses. "She actually looks really cute sleeping." I then drop the phone, and run upstairs.

I then see Katniss, sleeping just like what the guy said. I go over towards her and pick her up. "Peeta." She whispers.

"I'm here. It's okay." I kiss her temple.

"I had the weirdest dream." She whispers. I smile down at her, walking down stairs.

"What was that sweetie?" I whisper, sitting on the couch with her in my lap.

She looks around for a moment. "Why are we downstairs? On the couch?"

I look at her. "I just wanted to come down here. Is that okay?" I smile at her. She smiles back.

"As long as I'm with you, I'm okay." She kisses me softly, wrapping her arms around my neck.

"What was your dream about?" I whisper in her ear.

She looks up at me. "It was of a man staring at me, in our room." She says before falling asleep.

My heart stopped when she said that. I end up staying all night watching over her. Protecting her.

Because that's what her and I do, protect each other.