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The bed begins to shift and creak, and the warm, solid lump Katniss has previously been snuggled up against moves away from her. An inadvertent groan of protest escapes her at the loss of him. Eyes sealed shut, she reaches out, smacking at air until she latches onto some part of him; she’s so sleepy she’s not sure which part it is.
His arm. It’s his arm. She winds both of hers around it and nuzzles it with her cheek like she’s seen Buttercup do.
“It’s time to get up,” says Peeta gently.
“Mmm, nooo,” she whines childishly, hitching a leg over his leg. “Not yet.”
“Sweetheart, I have to-”
“No,” she cuts him off. She doesn’t care what he says. There’s no bakery, as far as she’s concerned. There’s nowhere to be. And there is no discussion to be had. Peeta is staying here, in this bed, with her.
“But Katniss, the customers...” Peeta starts to sit up, causing her arms and leg to slide downward, but she doesn’t release him.
What customers?
“They can wait,” she mutters.
“Katniss, that’s not...”
She’s being selfish, she knows. People are going to be waiting for their bread and pastries, and she doesn’t blame them-Peeta’s the best. But still, he’s hers. And she doesn’t want him to go yet.
But she never wants him to go. After all they’ve been through, now that they’re finally together and happy, she just wants him by her side at all times.
Oh, she’s no longer afraid something terrible will happen to him when he’s out of her sight, but she just...likes it much better when he’s around.
Katniss knows the first rays of sunlight will be invading their bedroom window, and she’s not ready for its piercing brightness, but she chances opening her eyes, anyway.
Beautifully highlighted by the sun, Peeta is staring down at her, brow creased and full lips slightly jutted out. She can tell there’s a mental war going on inside. Oh, nothing related to his hijacking, just a debate as to whether or not he can stay in bed with her a little while longer. She watches him glance over at the clock.
While he’s distracted, she takes the opportunity to yank him down, and whether he wasn’t ready for it, or simply had no willpower to fight it, she doesn’t care, because it works. He’s flat on his back again, and she wraps her arm around his stomach, tangles her legs with his, and holds on tight.
He finally gives and wraps his arms and leg around her until they’re sandwiched together. He presses a kiss atop her head. “You know, you’re a bit troublesome,” he teases his wife affectionately.
She smirks against his chest, knowing he secretly likes it when she is. When he starts peppering her neck with warm, wet kisses, she’s even more convinced that he’s not complaining. Katniss sighs pleasantly.
“I do have to get up eventually,” he presses, between kisses.
“Yeah, well, you did this to me just last week, so I owe you one.”
It’s true. Last week, Peeta had pulled her back into bed when she’d wanted to get up early and go hunting, and she’d given in, getting a much later start than she’d intended.
“Can’t argue with that,” chuckles Peeta.
She looks up at him, and he kisses her lips. “I suppose I’ll just have to stay here.”
Katniss grins, loving how easily he gives in to temptation with her. “I suppose so.”
“Either that or take you with me.” He grins, stroking her back lightly.
Katniss laughs at the thought. She can just imagine Peeta hauling her off to the bakery while she’s wrapped around him like a little monkey. He’d probably do it. And he’d certainly be strong enough to.
But she won’t make him do that. She’ll enjoy her time just a little while longer, then release him.
Katniss closes her eyes and burrows into his chest like it's a cave. “I love you,” she murmurs against his chest. The words just tumble out, because it’s moments like these when she’s at her truest, and her most vulnerable, and she doesn’t care.
“I love you, too,” he says.
Bliss washes over her, and Katniss is so peaceful she isn't even sure what happens next. She must drift off to sleep at some point, but all she knows is this: This is her favorite place in the world.