Catching Fire (Katniss loves Peeta)

Chapter 14

The citizens of the Capitol have been drooling over him ever since.

Because of his youth, they couldn't really touch him for the first year or two. But ever since he turned sixteen, he's spent his time at the Games being dogged by those desperately in love with him. No one retains his favor for long. He can go through four or five in his annual visit. Old or young, lovely or plain, rich or very rich, he'll keep them company and take their extravagant gifts, but he never stays. And once he's gone he never comes back.

I can't argue that Finnick isn't one of the most stunning, sensuous people on the planet. But I can honestly say he's never been attractive to me. I prefer Peeta so much more.

"No thanks," I say to the sugar. "I'd love to borrow your outfit sometime, though."

He's draped in a golden net that's strategically knotted at his groin so that he can't technically be called naked, but is about as close as you can get. I'm sure his stylist think the more of Finnick the audience sees, the better.

"You're absolutely terrifying me in that getup. What happened to the pretty little-girl dresses?" He asks. He wets his lips ever so slightly with his tongue.

"I outgrew them," I say. Literally.

Finnick takes the collar of my outfit and runs it between his fingers. "It's to bad about this Quell thing. You could have made out like a bandit in the Captiol. Jewels, money, anything you wanted."

"I'm very content with what I have. What do you spend your money on anyway, Finnick?" I say.

"Oh, I haven't dealt in anything as common as money for years," says Finnick.

"Then how do women pay for the pleasure of your company?" I ask.

"With secrets," he says softly. He tips his head in so his lips are almost in contact with mine. I push him away immediately. Though I can't exactly push him far. He weighs to much.

"What about you, girl on fire? I'm sure you have some secrets worth my time." He says smirking.

For some stupid reason, I blush. "Yes, but none of them concern you." I smart back. He smiles. "You can allow it to concern me." His eyes flicker off to the side.

"Peeta is coming. Goodbye Mrs. Mellark." He says, emphasizing Mellark like he's laughing at me. He tosses another sugar cube in his mouth and saunters off.

Peeta is beside me, dressed in an outfit identical to mine. He grabs my hand and I holdfast.

"What did Finnick Odair want?" He asks curiously. I put my lips close to Peeta's and drop my eyelids in imitation of Finnick.

"He offered me a sugar cube and wanted to know all my secrets," I say in my best seductive voice. Peeta laughs.

"Ugh. Should I try to kill him in the arena for you or where you fine with it?" "I pushed him away. Don't try to kill him though he's lethal." I warn.

"Do you think we'd have ended up like this if only one of us had won?" He asks, glancing around at the other victors.

"Just another part of the freak show?"

"Sure. Especially you," I say.

"Oh. And why especially me?" He says with a smile.

"Because you have a weakness for beautiful things and I don't," I say with an air of superiority.

"They would lure you into your Capitol ways and you'd be lost entirely."

"Having an eye for beauty isn't the same as a weakness," Peeta points out.