Blind dates

A few weeks later, Katniss was in the shower after another long run. A fortnight of intensive training had seen her return to the peak physical condition she had been in before the Games.

She always waited until evening or nighttime to do her runs; she would rather experience freezing temperatures than being seen naked in a busy street. Her feet were badly bruised from repeatedly punishing them on the hard sidewalks of the Capitol, although her stomach and limbs were well-toned. While it was embarrassing to have her breasts bouncing and swaying freely whenever she exercised, Katniss was glad to have something else to do.

Katniss jumped when she heard someone call her name.

Screaming, Katniss spun around in the shower, one arm thrown across her chest and the other hand wedged firmly between her legs. A young woman stood on the other side of the transparent shower screen, holding a clipboard.

"Get out!" Katniss yelled, bright red in the face. Of all the times for someone to intrude on her! A curtain of dark hair was plastered across her face, impairing her vision, but she couldn't move it without exposing herself.

"Sorry to disturb you, Miss Everdeen," the woman said, "we're just setting up out there and Mr. Flickerman will be here soon, so unfortunately I''m going to have to ask you to cut your shower short."

"W-what?" Katniss said, bewildered. Twisting round, she turned the shower off before replacing her arm across her chest and shouldered her way out of the stall. She followed the woman back out into the apartment and let out a whimper, her legs shaking.

A camera crew was setting up in the middle of the living room, checking light and sound levels. A team of stylists hurried over to the shivering, naked, soaking wet girl that was leaving a pool of water around her small, bare feet.

Her arms were pulled away from her body as the stylists got to work. For the first time since the Games she was allowed to dry with a towel, her dark hair squeezed and rubbed thoroughly to remove every last bit of moisture. She let out an involuntary moan and blushed furiously as one of the stylists dried between her legs; having not pleasured herself for weeks, even the lightest touch would set her off.

"I'm sorry, Katniss," the stylist giggled. "I know you're innocent down there."

They soon moved on to fixing her hair and makeup. She giggled as makeup was applied to her feet to cover the bruises. Product was again applied to her beasts, which sparkled under the bright lights, as well as between her legs. Katniss thought she was going to climax right there as hands worked skilfully on her thighs, which everyone present found very funny.

Her chest was heaving and her breathing very shaky as the hands were finally withdrawn, but somehow she managed to contain herself.

As her breathing was returning to normal and her heart rate slowing down, Caesar Flickerman greeted her, looking garish as always.

"Hello, Katniss. I'm happy to tell you that we've been working very hard on something for the past few weeks and we're going to launch it tonight."

"What is it?" Katniss asked, hands cupping her breasts.

"Every weekend or so, you'll be going on a series of half-blind dates with different Capitol citizens. We'll be running competitions and game shows, with you as the prize, but you don't need to worry about any of that. All you need to do is enjoy yourself."

They took seats on the couch as the final checks took place.

"There's nothing to be scared about, Katniss. No one will be forcing themselves on you, so if you don't fancy going all the way with any of our award winners, you don't have to. The prize is the date, anything else is just a bonus."

"So I can just leave after the date?" Katniss asked.

"Well, you could..." Caesar replied, confused. "But surely you want to lose your virginity as soon as possible? You're missing out and far too innocent for someone of your age." Caesar squeezed her hand reassuringly as the cameras started rolling.

xxx

Caesar got the show underway with his usual charming style and charisma. Katniss massaged her thighs, trying to keep her hands busy to stop herself from throwing them across her chest and tapped one foot on the wooden floor.

"So, Katniss," Caesar said, turning to her, "Why have you decided now to start exploring life sexually? I don't know anyone who's reached your age and is still a virgin. What's changed?"

"To be honest, Caesar," Katniss lied, "I've been starting to feel a bit jealous of everyone. Sex sounds like it's really fun and I think I'm missing out."

"Oh, you definitely are, Katniss," Caesar laughed, winking at the camera. "Far too many years without sex and weeks without an orgasm, I think it's safe to say that you're overdue."

Katniss shuddered and felt her skin crawl at those words; it was still abhorrent how Panem was able to intrude on her privacy like that.

"Well, I can't wait for tonight," Katniss smiled, secretly terrified. "After all, I can't stay an innocent little girl forever."

The cameras were switched off and the set was packed away. When Katniss was alone, she curled into a tight ball on the couch, sobbing.

She had told herself she wasn't going to submit to Snow and have sex live on TV, but could she really keep saying no? Weeks and weeks of dates, countless different men and women, and with every rejection she would become more of a frigid virgin, a little girl inside a woman's body.

But to lose her virginity in front of the entire country...it didn't bear thinking about.

What was worse: being a porn star, or being a virgin?