Not In Our Favor - Chapter 17 teaser!

I tossed and turned, the wine from dinner giving me a slight headache.  Sleep was eluding me.  I kept thinking of my mother and Prim – had anything changed since I’d been gone?  Of course Prim had my number; she could call me at any time.  But what if she didn’t?  I felt guilty for leaving her.  And for leaving my mother. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong. 

Maybe I was suddenly too happy and it didn’t feel right. 

Figuring it was useless; I tossed back the covers and padded my way over to the balcony that overlooked the living room.  Below, the street lights shone through the glass onto Peeta as he lay sprawled on the couch.  I could see his eyes as they flicked up to meet mine.

“You awake?” he called. 

I nodded and heaved a sigh, making my way over to the stairs.  I padded down to the living room as he sat up. 

“I can’t sleep.”

“Me either.  Care if I make tea?” he asked, stand up. My eyes could see the outline of his bare chest in the darkness.  The streetlamp behind the curtains helped illuminate it just enough for me. My cheeks grew a little hot, but I had to remind myself that it was dark and he couldn’t see me. 

“Sure.”

I sat on the plush sofa, letting my toes dig into the edge of the blanket.  I smiled; it was still warm from him.  I pulled my sweater tighter around my body and waited as I listened to the kettle boil I the kitchen area. 

“Here.”  A mug, my mug, was set in front of me.  I picked it up and inhaled the steam. 

“Chamomile?”

He nodded, settling back into the sofa with a few bones cracking along the way.  “Yeah.  Always best when you can’t sleep.”

I gave him a smile in the darkness and sipped it slowly.  I could feel his leg against mine as he stretched out and propped his legs up on the ottoman in front of us.  I laughed and pulled the blanket over our feet and let myself enjoy the feeling of sitting up next to him, our legs, arms, and shoulders touching.  We were silent for a few moments, just sipping our tea when I finally spoke. 

“I had nightmares when I was there.”

He turned to look at me in the dim light, the only sound his even breaths. 

I continued.  “I dreamt some really awful things when I was….in the hospital and at the Hawthorne’s.”

Peeta exhaled slowly.  “And here?”

I shook my head.   “No, not here.  Not so far.”

Stories4Animals

Good news guys!  

Stories for Animals (@Stories4Animals) has decided to extend the donation deadline to November 21st!

That means you have until then to make your donations!  When you donate to their cause, you will not only get the work of a slew of great authors but you will also receive the EXCLUSIVE 'Love This Pain' outtake named 'Finally'.  It is a peek at Seth & Regan's Isle Esme Honeymoon.  Who would want to miss that?

For more info, visit their site! http://storiesforanimals.blogspot.com/

***Banner created by TwistedInMasen***

Cruel Summer: Chapter 32- Getting There

Exibit A.

Stories For Animals teaser!

So, when I was asked to donate a bit of writing to the @Stories4Animals cause, I couldn't help but want to write something for 'Love This Pain'.  As many of you know, I posted the Epilogue last week and I'm feeling sort of...hungover from the whole experience. 

Hungover, you ask?

Well, yeah.

I wrote it, it was awesome, and it hurt to give it up.  Hungover.  I wanted to write more.  So, when I was presented with the opportunity (and honor) to write a little more of  LTP for a cause, I jumped. 

Donations are due Sunday, Oct 14th - a minimum of $5.  Many of you know I am a pet lover, so this cause is very near and dear to me.  Please consider donating!  You'll get some great stuff! 

In case you weren't convinced, please check out a teaser of the 'Love This Pain' outtake I'm planning on submitting.  If you've read LTP, this is an outtake of Seth & Regan's Isle Esme honeymoon.

To donate, here is more info: http://fandom4causes.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-cause-stories4animals-info.html

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

This wasn’t the first sex we’d had as a married couple.  I knew I’d barely be able to control myself once we got to the island, and I wanted our first union as an officially married couple to be something sweet and passionate and something Regan would always remember.  We’d had a night alone at my house together before we left for the island, and that had been the night of intense lovemaking that I had always pictured on my wedding night.  

Tonight however, was the night to get a little drunk and go all caveman on her.  I mean, if not on the honeymoon, then when?

“Which bedroom?” I asked, letting her go long enough to playfully slap her ass through her sundress.  I had her thrown over one shoulder like a sack of potatoes.  She screamed through her giggles as I marched through the hallways, trying to pick a room to start our honeymoon in.  

“The….the blue!” she managed to laugh as I held her over my shoulder.  I tromped into the blue room and promptly dropped her on the bed where she collapsed in a fit of giggles.  I poured her another glass of champagne before taking a long drag from the bottle and setting it on the nightstand.  She sipped her glass and leaned back on the pillows like a princess with her lips pressed together and her dainty ankles crossed.  

“What now?” I asked, standing at the foot of the bed with a smirk.  

“Hmmm,” she hummed, eying me up and down.  She pressed her pink lips together before taking a long drag of champagne.  “Strip,” she stated simply, popping the ‘p’.  I grinned.  This was a game we played occasionally.  Somehow Claire had gotten ahold of some movie about male strippers.  Needless to say, the girls had watched it many times and practically had it memorized.  Regan claimed it was only because the men in it reminded her of me; one in particular.  I had rolled my eyes and played along, stripping off my clothes for her enjoyment.  The first time I had done it and she had touched herself and watched me from the bed, well….from that point on I was a more willing participant in that game.

“Do married people strip for each other?” I teased, standing at the foot of the bed.  She sipped her glass again and shrugged.

“Sure.”

“I’m not sure they do.”

Regan’s head fell to the side as she gave me a woeful, pleading stare.  “We can,” she pleaded.  “Now strip.  Like in Magic Mike.”

I groaned but caught myself eventually laughing.  Regan chewed her lip and wrinkled her nose in excitement as I reached behind me and flipped on the stereo.  I punched a few buttons before finding some kind of weird, exotic sounding techno music that was most likely local.  It was strange, but had a good beat and would do the trick well enough.  I gave her my best sultry look as I removed my watch and let it fall to the floor with a thump.

I saw her toes curl against her sandals.  

Cruel Summer Banner!

I made it myself so be nice....but here it is! 

Cruel Summer

The bracelet Peeta gives Katniss in Chapter 27: A Million Reasons.  

Cruel Summer FAQ

So, I get a lot of the same questions in my reviews, so I thought I would take a second to answer a few of the ones I get a lot.  If you see something I didn't answer, please feel free to leave me a comment and I will do my best to cover it.

Q: When will we see more of just Katniss/Peeta alone?  (AND) When will we see more of the other characters?
A: You guys go back and forth, so I do try to switch it up.  If I have one chapter that's heavy on the Katniss/Peeta, I try to add in some of the other characters in the next chapter.  Many of you want to just see them, however, many of you want to see Finnick/Annie, Clato, etc.  I do the best I can to weave them in.

Q: Will Katniss and Peeta ever have sex?
A: The story will earn it's rating, yes.

Q: How far apart are their colleges?  Will they see each other this fall?
A: I made a point in this new chapter to mention that yes - their schools are about a 45 minute drive apart.  And on the second question - you'll just have to wait and see.

Q: Will Prim be annoying and tell everyone about their relationship?
A.  No.  Prim is 14 going on 15, and I believe that given the circumstances of their family she would be very mature and sensitive to what Katniss would want.  She would know that this would humiliate her sister, so no, she will not tell everyone.