I lay in the sleeping bag with Katniss for hours, just staring at the cave door and running my fingers through Katniss's hair. Hunger eventually takes over, my stomach grumbles and my mouth waters at the thought of the goat cheese and apples. I carefully remove my arm from under Katniss's head, trying to move as little as possible so as not to wake her. I look through the food basket until I find what I want – a bread roll, cheese, and an apple. Hopefully Katniss won't mind I ate without her. I would wake her up, but she looks so peaceful and warm… she can eat when she wakes up.
I spread the cheese on the roll, cut the apple in small slices and place them on top of the roll. The exquisite flavor fills my mouth, and I all but moan at the sensation. How long has it been since we last ate the portion of lamb stew? I guess I lost track of time. I mean, how can I not when the person I love the most in this cruel world was in my arms? Too aware of her steady warm breath blowing lightly against my neck through her slightly parted lips, her hand laying limply on my chest, the warmth emanating from her body…yeah, I got distracted.
I eat the roll slowly, enjoying each bite. I decide is time to wake Katniss up. She opens her eyes slowly, and then fixes them on the half bread roll on my hand.
"Don't be mad," I tell her. "I had to eat again. Here's your half."
"Oh, good," she says and then takes a huge bite. "Mm."
"We make goat cheese and apple tart at the bakery," I say.
"Bet that's expensive," she says.
"To expensive for my family to eat. Unless it's gone very stale. Of course, practically everything we eat is stale," I say glumly. I pull the sleeping bag up and around me, and let unconsciousness take me under.
A slight shake on my shoulder wakes me up. I open my eyes slowly and find Katniss's lovely face inches away from mine. I cup her face in my hands and pull her down for a kiss. She doesn't resist and her soft, warm lips move with mine. I could kiss her all day, but unfortunately I need to breathe, and so does Katniss. She pulls back slowly, almost unwillingly, I think, to catch her breath.
"We're wasting hunting time," she says.
"I wouldn't it call it wasting," I grin. I stretch my arms and sit up. "So do we hunt on empty stomachs to give us an edge?"
"Not us," she says. "We stuff ourselves to give us staying power."
I like that idea. "Count me in," I say.
She divides all the food in half. "All this?" I ask.
"We'll earn it back today," Katniss says with a confident voice, and digs in. after a minute she g
Ives up on the fork and uses her hands. "I can feel Effie Trinket shuddering at my manners," Katniss chuckles.
"Hey, Effie, watch this," I call out. I toss my fork over my shoulder and lick my plate clean, making loud, satisfying sounds. When I'm done I blow out a kiss in a general direction to her. "We miss you, Effie!"
Katniss covers my mouth before I can say anything else, laughing. "Stop!" she says still laughing. "Cato could be right outside our cave."
I grab her hand away from my mouth. "What do I care? I've got you to protect me now," I say and pull her to me for a kiss.
"Come on," Katniss complains and tries to pull away from my grasp. I pull her to me again and give her another kiss. She laughs, and kisses me back.
Once we're packed up and outside our cave, our moods shift to serious. Though the day is sunny and warm, we both sense we're really back in the games. Katniss hands me a knife and I slip it into my belt.
