Our Love is Real

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Peeta," I whisper against his chest.
He responds immediately. "Yeah?" he says.
"Do you know how happy I am right now?"
I hear Peeta's smile even though I can't see it. He says, "As happy as me?"
"Probably a little more." Peeta hugs me against his chest. I lift up my chin and kiss his cheek. I grabs my hand and touches the pearl with his fingers. Then, I ask him a question.
"Peeta," I say, "Have you really wished every birthday for this?"
His face doesn't have a touch of embarrassment on it. He hesitates.
"Yes," he starts, "And it was worth it."
I blush. "But, I'm just a girl from the Seam. I'm not special or anything. I look like everyone around me. I-"
"Katniss," he whispers, "You're not just a girl from the Seam. You're a brave girl who volunteered for her sister at the reaping. You're a girl who has survived the Hunger Games, twice. You're a girl who has overcome starvation and sadness. You're a girl who, has against all odds, survived. And I love you."
I'm speechless.
But Peeta fills in the blanks by grabbing me under my arms and pulling me so that my lips meet his. I rub my hands through his curls as his hands make their way up my back. Then his thumbs are on the top of my pajama bottoms and I stop his hands. "Peeta," I mumble, "I am nowhere near ready."
And of course, being the good sport he is, removes his hands and just holds my face in his hands instead. I look into his eyes and he says, "Okay." And that's it. The end of the exchange. I just keep running my hands through his hair. I tilt my head so his chin is resting on my head.
And that's how I fall asleep.