Survivor's Remorse

(XXIII) The Interview

Peeta looked over at the cart by the door and almost let it go, until his stomach rumbled, reminding him that you hadn't eaten dinner yet. Your dinner was strangely late tonight. Your appetite was one of the many things Peeta adored about you but, that also meant keeping you well fed was non-negotiable to him. If he was hungry, you'd be ravenous after the passionate romp you had two hours before, in the window seat as the sunset.

Peeta loved watching the sun set across your olive skin, casting it in a soft glow that made it seem as if the stars waiting to cross the sky, rested against your chest instead. Nipples pebbled and swollen from his greedy suckling mouth, something he was tempted to do again. Well, if he could bear to tear his eyes away from the vision that you were at the moment.

Yeah, it was safe to say, 13 had been a living hell for him. But, he'd brave it again if it meant he could have you beside him like this. Covered in his love and affection from the imprints of his fingers on your soft skin, down to those of his teeth on your thighs and shoulders. Both at your request and his own loss of restraint as he drove you into the mattress. His seed still inside you, since you'd been too exhausted to even take a bath, simply requesting a nap before you had a late dinner.

Now that he thought about it, he'd been provided with condoms but hadn't even thought to use them, so delirious with your heat as he'd been. You'd never had the conversation about birth control before either. You'd been having amazing sex for a little over 7 months yet, he hadn't even thought to ask you about any kind of birth control.

If Peeta was being honest with himself, in the back of his mind he knew it was because he'd always envisioned himself having a happy, loving family with you. If he never brought it up and it just happened, he wasn't going to have any complaints. But, he didn't know how you felt about the subject and didn't want to push it. He was, admittedly enjoying being able to indulge in you, whatever you wanted and desired selfishly for a little while longer. It was better to bring the subject up when he was much more clearheaded anyway. It was making it hard not to want to put a baby in you, his heat entangling his sexual and emotional desires. Shaking his head again, Peeta pulled a pair of briefs up his legs and threw a robe around his shoulders.

He had to grit his teeth, when he opened the door and looked back at your dozing form on the bed. Shit. It was harder than he thought it'd be, even after a week of your heat slowly waning down. Food. Feed. Love must eat. Heat made everything so primal, it was hard to have too long pure lucidity around you. Peeta had to keep repeating this mentally as he forced his feet forward. Closing the door behind him, he let out a deep exhale, then held his breath until he reached the end of the hall. Once he turned the corner, he sped up, the haze of the heat lifting slightly the more distance he put between you.

"Lamb. She hasn't had lamb in weeks. She'll be so happy", Peeta mumbled happily to himself as he headed for the kitchens. "Buns, cheese buns too"

He grew hard beneath his briefs as he thought of how cute you looked when your cheeks were full, lips pouted from your overly stuffed cheeks, covered in herb butter. Yes. He wanted to taste your lips after you were fed. Every single flavor mixed with yours on his tongue, as he lavished you-

Focus Peeta!

As he rounded the corner to the kitchen he gasped loudly, the wind knocked out of him from behind, as he toppled forward. The only thing that stopped him from lashing out and defending himself out of pure reflex, was the scent of vanilla, maple and citrus that always clung to your skin. Peeta quickly flipped onto his back to make sure you hadn't been hurt during the topple down. His pupils dilated widely as they took in your half-naked visage straddling his lap. You were wearing nothing but one of his button-down shirts, not one button fastened, so your skin was on full display to his greedy eyes. Your hands were splayed out across his chest and trembling, as was your bottom lip, silver eyes wide and full of tears. Peeta felt his heart pick up pace with realization as he took in your terror filled face, his hand immediately reaching up to tenderly cup your cheek.