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“You are never gonna believe this,” Katniss fumes as she bursts into Peeta’s house and glares at him.
Looking up at her calmly from his place on the couch, he puts a finger in the book he’s reading to mark his spot and pats the cushion next to him. As she flounces over and flops onto the couch, he chuckles at her thunderous expression.
“I probably won’t, but feel free to tell me anyway.”
“The contractor can’t get the pipes he needs to finish my plumbing until after the holidays. No water at my house for the next two weeks.”
“Oh, that’s…yeah, that’s not good.”
With a dejected slump to her shoulders, she leans her head on his bicep and heaves a put-upon sigh. “It’s not going to be very festive using bottled water to brush my teeth, cook, bathe—all that when I can’t even escape to work. Stupid renovations messing up my plans.”
Wrapping his arm around her, he pulls her close. “Katniss, you’ve been my best friend since we were five years old. Do you really think I’m going to let you live like that during the happiest time of the year? No, come on. Go home, and pack a bag. Of course, you’re staying here until your bathroom and kitchen are working again. That’s just…duh.”
“I can’t—”
“Katniss Lily Everdeen, stop being stubborn and go home and pack. You’re staying with me over the holidays. I’ll get your stuff myself if I have to, and I have a feeling you don’t want me up to my elbows in your underwear drawer. Besides, I might forget your vibrator or something if you have me fill up your suitcase.”
“Peeta! I don’t—”
Laughing at her deep blush, he places a big smack on her cheek. “Don’t even front. We’re best friends. You’ve told me everything. I know you have three, and I know which one is your favorite. Just because you were drunk doesn’t mean you didn’t give me all the details.”
“Oh my God,” she mumbles as she hides her face in her hands. “I am never drinking again.”
“I call bullshit. We’re doing shots as soon as you get here.”
“Then, I better take a really long time figuring out what I’m bringing, huh?”
When he tries to smack her on the ass, she scoots away from him and flips him the bird. Calling over her shoulder, she lets him know she’ll be back and heads out the door. He figures he has at least a few hours, so he sets down his book and heads upstairs to air out the guest room before going to the kitchen and pulling out the ingredients for sugar cookies and cheese buns. Katniss has always been a sucker for a combination of sweet and salty, so it only seems right to have some of both ready for her when she comes back to stay.
As he mixes and kneads, he can’t help but smile at his good fortune. As close as they’ve always been as friends, Peeta’s also been in love with Katniss for at least a dozen years. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when it happened, only that he entered puberty and realized how his body reacted to hers every time he thought of her. Thankfully, she’s never figured out how he feels, so he’s safe, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t dreamed of a future with her. If he could only be so lucky.
“Oh, hell. You’re the perfect person, aren’t you?” she asks when she returns and sniffs the air. “Why can’t you be slightly less flawless and give the rest of us a chance?”
Grinning at her, he pushes a plate of cheese buns and a mug of cocoa toward her and motions for her to sit. When she rolls her eyes, he quips, “What good would it do to try to hide my perfection? The world should not be deprived.”
“Shut up,” she retorts, but her wide grin gives away her amusement.
“So, my house is yours while you’re here. Or ours, I guess since I’ll be here too.” Propping his head up on his fist, he leans forward against the bar and asks, “What kind of holiday things do you want to do to pass the time? Movies? Baking? Snowball fight? Decorating the house? You know it’s always more fun when we do that together, anyway.”
“You just love me for my free labor.”
“Yes, and your docile and submissive personality. Oh wait…you’re snarky and sassy. That’s not right at all.”
“Can you not?”
“I really can’t. All the joy in my life is wound up in my ability to give you shit. Now, what’s on the agenda for tonight?” Sighing heavily, she takes a massive bite and smacks loudly. “Fine, then. I’ll choose. Tonight, we’re sitting down and going over your Christmas list. I’m about 98% positive that you haven’t ordered a single thing for anyone, and you’re going to have to pay express shipping to get anything to your family on time. Tomorrow, we’re going shopping because, hell no, you’re not going to be here on Christmas morning with me and not having something for me to unwrap. That’s just ridiculous. After that, I’ll let you make some choices.”
“You don’t know me,” she sniffs but cracks a smile when he just stares at her. “Okay, okay. You’re right about all of that. The only problem is that I have a report that has to be filed by midnight, so can we do the online shopping tomorrow night after you force me to buy you something? After that, I’ll be a good girl.”
“You are never good. Naughty but nice. That’s my Katniss.”
Sticking out her tongue, she leans over the countertop and kisses him on the tip of his nose. “Well, you’re always a good boy, so why don’t you put my stuff up in the guest room and cook me dinner while I finish this stupid thing for work. I’ll be in your office.”
“When I said this was our house, I meant there’d be an equal division of labor.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she says as she waves her hand over her shoulder. “Let me know when you whip up a feast fit for a king. Love you!”
“Love you, too,” he confesses quietly as she disappears around the corner.
As his heart aches, he wonders if he’s made a terrible mistake inviting her to stay. It’s going to be harder than normal to keep his hidden feelings a secret from her, especially when they just keep growing whenever he’s around her. With a lump in his throat, he shakes his head and checks the fridge. He’ll have to try to distract her with an amazing dinner and a million activities. It’s the best plan he has because there’s no way he can stop loving her, not when he’s been head over heels for her for so long.
Three days later, he’s pretty sure he’s living in hell. They’ve spent every second of the time since she moved into his guest room together, and he’s on Katniss overload. She’s helped him bake and cook and volunteered to do the dishes against his express wishes. When they went shopping, she wound her arm through his and didn’t correct anyone who assumed they’re a couple. She even suggested watching movies on the couch and shared a blanket with him when he offered her one. As wonderful as it’s been to spend so much time with her, it’s also really uncomfortable to be semi-hard all the time. If he doesn’t get some relief, it’s going to be a blue Christmas for a very specific reason.
“We’re going to decorate the house tonight, right?” Katniss asks as she stumbles into the kitchen on Christmas Eve morning. “It’s almost too late now, but…”
“But?”
Twisting her finger in her braid, she ducks her head before perching on one of the stools at kitchen island. When he slides a mug of hot chocolate to her, she blinks at him with a small smile and lifts it to her lips with both hands.
“I just…you always have the best trees. Must be the artist in you,” she mumbles. “I know I always pretend like I don’t like the fuss of Christmas, but if I’m going to be here, it would be fun to have the rest of the house match. A decorated tree with nothing else to complement it doesn’t exactly give off Christmas vibes.”
Taken aback by her request, Peeta studies her for a few seconds before asking, “Are you going to help?”
Hunching her shoulders, she tries to shy away, but he won’t let her. Finally, she grimaces and agrees. “Fine, I’ll help. Although, I might just sit on the couch and tell you where to put everything.”
“Only if you tell me I have a nice ass while you do.”
“Deal!” she agrees eagerly.
By the time he drags all the decorations down from the attic, he’s pretty sure Katniss isn’t nearly as bah humbug as she likes to pretend she is. As he opens each box, she pulls out several items and exclaims over them like they’re old friends. She’s been around his house for long enough to be familiar with everything he has, but he’s fairly certain she’s never shown this much enthusiasm during the holiday season.
“I love this one,” she announces wistfully as she sets a carved olivewood nativity on the mantel. “It’s so simple.”
“You like simple,” he says with a shrug. “That’s part of why I hadn’t put anything else up.”
Blushing, she ducks her head as she reaches into the storage bin and pulls out a roll of glittering tinsel. “Well, yeah, but this is really pretty. Sparkly. Reminds me of that one lady that works in the fashion department. What’s her name? Effie?”
“Effie Trinket, yeah.” Taking the tinsel from her, he chuckles at her observation. It’s a perfect comparison, and it makes him like her even more than he always has. A rush of longing surges through him as he strings the tinsel around the windows and wraps them with twinkling lights.
“Thanks again for doing this,” she says softly as she walks over to stand behind him and wraps her arms around his waist.
Placing his hand over hers, he closes his eyes as she leans her head against his back, right between his shoulder blades. Christmas carols waft from the sound system, and she hums along with the familiar tunes. He can’t get enough of her voice, has never been able to resist the beauty of the high, clear tones. Breathing as quietly as possible, he refuses to move until she finally pulls away from him and crosses back to the boxes.
“I guess that’s pretty much everything.”
The melancholy in her tone makes his heart clutch in his chest. Desperate to bring a smile to her beautiful face, he spins his mental rolodex for further suggestions. Thanks to his father, he’s always celebrated Christmas well. It’s just a matter of deciding which of the options will appeal to Katniss. They’ve already built snowmen and dug out his cross-country skis for a hike. The day before, he baked sugar cookies, and they decorated them together. All her shopping is done, and his presents are wrapped and placed carefully under the tree.
“Movie marathon?” he suggests.
Shrugging, she flops onto the couch. Her brow is creased in a frustrated frown, and she fidgets for several seconds before looking up at him with wide, gray eyes. “Can we go for a walk? Look at all the lights?”
“Sure! Of course!”
Bundled within an inch of his life, he holds the door open and waves her out before him as the wind pierces his cheeks. She’s wearing a deep green stocking cap and gloves with a gray peacoat that hugs her tiny waist. Boots with a fur lining keep her feet warm while the thick, black leggings tuck in at her ankles. Her long braid rests on her right shoulder, and he longs to reach over and wrap it around his palm. Even more than that, the tip of her nose is perfectly pink, and he has to hold himself back from tugging her to him and kissing her there.
Shoulders hunched, Katniss shuffles along beside him. She seems distracted, like something’s bothering her despite nodding and grunting in agreement with everything he says. He can’t figure out what it could be that’s upsetting her. He’s done everything she’s asked and more since she came to stay with him, but she still seems troubled and sad.
“Missing your family?” he finally asks when she remains silently lost in a reverie.
Blinking at him, she cocks her head. “Huh?”
“Your family,” he repeats. “Are you missing them this Christmas?”
“Oh, sure,” she answers, but it’s obvious she’s still preoccupied. Whatever it is that’s bothering her must not be the distance between her and her mother and sister.
“Time to go back?” he finally suggests when he’s so cold he can hardly feel his lips. “The ham I put in the crockpot should be about done by now. You can help me prep the side dishes if you want. It’ll get dinner on the table quicker.”
“’Kay.”
Noncommittal is the only word he can think of to describe her monosyllabic response, and he tries not to let that irk him. Her silent distance as she meticulously follows his cooking instructions grates on his nerves, but he’s probably being too critical. After all, she is helping, even if it feels like they’re in two separate rooms.
Their dinner conversation doesn’t go much better, and he’s uncharacteristically irritated by the time the dishes are done and they’ve settled onto his couch with steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Surprised when she cuddles into his side, he leans his head against hers before taking a sip and allowing the sweet flavor to spread over his tongue.
“Merry Christmas Eve, Peeta,” she says softly before taking a drink. “I’m so glad I’m here with you this year.”
Maybe he should leave well enough alone, but he can’t quite make himself let this go. He’s aggravated by her at the same time he wants to spend every second glued to her side the way he is now.
“Are you sure?”
Tensing, she lifts her head and looks up at him. Confusion and anxiety swim in the silver depths of her eyes, and he has to bite his lip not to lean down and brush his mouth over hers.
“Of course, I’m sure,” she insists quietly. “We don’t lie to each other. Do we?”
Unsure, he schools his expression and a myriad of emotions flits over her dainty features. “No, we don’t lie to each other,” he reassures her in a deep growl.
A beat of silence echoes between them. Finally, she whispers, “Peeta?”
Inhaling sharply, he can’t tear his eyes away from her beautiful face as he leans over and sets his mug on the coffee table. Reaching for hers, he takes her drink from her slack fingers and places it next to his. Scooting closer, he cups her face in his palms and strokes her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs.
“Katniss,” he finally answers as her eyes grow wider with every second that passes.
He can feel it in this moment, the energy that pulses between them. In all the years they’ve known each other, he’s never told her how he feels, how deeply his affection for her runs, but neither has she. When she blinks and imperceptibly nudges forward, a sudden clarity washes over him.
She feels exactly the same way he does.
Lowering his head, he tilts her head as his eyes close. The brush of her lips under his is the best Christmas present he’s ever had. She tastes just like the holiday. Peppermint and sweet chocolate cling to her tongue as it rubs against his. Moaning at the touch, he nudges into her and chases her mouth.
A soft whimper escapes from her, which seems to shake her into action. Climbing into his lap, she shoves him backward against the sofa and grinds into his lap. Breathless, she kisses him with a passion he’s never seen in her, but it’s as welcome as the feel of her in his arms. He’s wanted her for so long that finally having her seems like all his deepest desires have been fulfilled.
He’s desperately hard. Unable to hide his arousal, he wraps her tightly in his arms and allows her to slide over him in short, jerky movements. Gliding his hands up and down her back, he’s tempted to take everything, but he manages to drag his fingers to her hips and still her in his lap.
“Sweetheart, stop,” he begs, his voice hoarse with want.
Hazy eyes stare at him as she pants. Her beautiful tawny skin flushes under his scrutiny as she attempts to scramble off him. Grabbing her wrist, he flinches when she freezes and lets her go.
“I didn’t mean—”
“I’m sorry—”
Grinding to a halt, they look at each other for several seconds before she slides off him and onto the couch. Before she can bolt, he places his hand on her thigh. Turning so he can fully face her, he tucks his left leg under his right and inhales sharply.
“I’ve been in love with you since forever,” he admits in a rush. “Maybe I should have told you before now, but I was terrified I’d lose you. Katniss, I…”
“I love you, too,” she blurts and flushes a dark red. “I mean, I—”
“You can’t take it back now,” he asserts and immediately bursts into laughter. “You can’t take it back! You love me. Katniss Everdeen loves me! Holy shit!”
Sticking out her tongue, she scrunches her nose and leans away from him. “You’re going to be insufferable now, aren’t you? Why isn’t my house done so I can go home and escape your gloating?”
“Because it’s a Christmas miracle that you’re here with me.”
Melting at his confession, she slots right back into his arms. Christmas Eve is magical, but waking up together on Christmas morning is the miracle Peeta never thought he’d have.