#*~*~*~*~*~*#

Day 2

The daylight encroaching through the cheap curtains and the loud street noises below woke the couple the next morning. Both were light sleepers – Veronica because of her bad dreams and Logan because he grew up on alert for the sounds of his father's footsteps approaching his room.

Brushing her bed-head hair off her face, Logan greeted Veronica with a soft kiss, ""Mornin' beautiful."

"G'mornin'," she returned his greetings. "Somebody's up early," she teased pressing herself against his morning wood.

"I got to sleep with an angel last night," Logan assured her running his hands over her body.

Veronica moaned softly. Bringing her hand up to caress his cheek, she looked deeply into the depths of his bottomless brown eyes. Even though she wasn't ready to say it or hear it, Veronica couldn't mistake the love she saw expressed there. She hoped her own feelings were equally visible to him. "Make love to me," she whispered.

Logan swallowed and blinked a few times, struggling to convince himself that he wasn't dreaming. He wanted nothing more, but he had to be certain that's what she wanted. "Are you sure?"

Nodding she reassured him, "Yes. I want this day to start out perfectly and get better from there."

"No pressure," Logan quipped but he didn't need to be asked twice. When Veronica had been in the shower yesterday, Logan had dropped a box of condoms into the nightstand between the beds. While he was fishing one out, Veronica was exquisitely teasing him under the covers, running her finger lightly up and down his shaft. Holding the foil packet out to her he asked, "Since you're already down there, do you want to do the honors?"

Veronica smirked at his statement but let go of his penis long enough to open the condom and unroll it onto his length. Never one to stand – lay – idly by, Logan had begun nuzzling her neck and stroking her folds to assure that she was ready for his invasion. When one, then two fingers slid in easily he knew that this was it. Rolling Veronica onto her back, Logan shucked the constraining covers off his back before taking himself in hand. He rubbed her entrance experimentally as she began to beg, "Logan, I need you. Inside. Please."

With practiced patience he didn't feel, Logan entered her torturously slowly. Not that he made it a point of checking out other guys, but Logan knew he was bigger than Duncan. He also knew that Duncan had been gone for a few months. Veronica was even tighter than he'd imagined she would be so the deliberate pace was as necessary as it was delicious. Once he was fully sheathed inside her depths Logan stilled. "Open your eyes," he told Veronica who obeyed. Her mouth fell open in a silent "Oh" when the windows to their souls bared their inner selves to the other.

Looking into Logan's eyes Veronica realized that her feelings for Duncan had merely been a school girl's crush, a mere shadow of the emotions she was experiencing now.

When she let out a deep breath, Logan shifted to keep more of his weight off her diaphragm as he rocked his hips gently. Little by little he lengthened his strokes and quickened his pace. Veronica struggled to keep up and match his thrusts. She had kicked off the remaining blankets that had covered his lower body. This enabled her to tilt her hips up more and deepen the angle of their joining. Finding their perfect rhythm didn't take long. Both were relatively quiet; their vocalizations were barely above a whisper. The familiar tingling in his balls told Logan that he wouldn't last much longer so he wormed his hand between their bodies.

Veronica started to still. "What are you doing?"

"Just let me," Logan entreated as he found her magic button. All speech and reason left Veronica when he touched her there. Her hips involuntarily sped up their pace milking Logan's orgasm from his body. "Come with me," he ordered her as he burst forth into the latex receptacle. She could do nothing but comply.

Spent, Logan partially flopped down on top of her, careful to keep most of his mass off her because he outweighed her by about 75 pounds. Rolling off her, he carefully held the condom in place until he could remove it. "I wanna wake up like that every day," he vowed.

"Umhummm," Veronica agreed nuzzling into his chest and stoking her hands idly over the contours of his muscles.

"So what do you want to do today?" Logan asked.

"Stay here and do that over and over and over," Veronica responded playfully.

Logan chuckled, "Not that I don't like the way you think but this is your big New York trip. Your father will be very suspicious if all you've seen is the ceiling in this hotel room."

The mention of her father quelled Veronica's libido faster than a bucket of ice water. "How about the Guggenheim?" she suggested.

Logan shook his head. "It looks like a giant toilet bowl. Modern art really isn't my thing," he grumbled. "How about the Museum of Natural History? They have dinosaurs."

"Dinosaurs? What are you 12?" Veronica teased. "What about the Met?"

"We could get tickets, I suppose. I'll make a call. But they don't open until tonight," Logan replied.

"I thought all the museums opened at ten on weekdays," Veronica offered.

"They do," Logan confirmed, "But curtain at the Metropolitan Opera is at eight."

"Opera? I don't wanna go see some opera. I was talking about the Metropolitan Museum of Art," Veronica clarified.

"Oh. That Met. Art it is." Stroking his hand down side, Logan added, "I could get into looking at nudes all day."

Veronica playfully swatted him, "Logan!" With that, she climbed over him to get out of bed.

He grabbed her hand, "Where do you think you're going, missy?"

"To take a shower," she explained pulling her hand away and sauntering toward the bathroom.

"Not without me!" Logan declared jumping out of bed to follow her before turning around to grab a condom from the nightstand.

#*~*~*~*~*~*~#

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a two million square foot monolithic building in the 80's, part of the so-called Museum Mile on New York's Upper East Side. The structure itself is almost as impressive as the collection housed inside. As a photographer, Veronica enjoyed studying composition and shape. Logan's mother had tried to instill a sense of art appreciation into him from a young age; he'd visited this museum with her on a trip when he was fourteen. On this occasion, however, all he wanted to study was Veronica. Nevertheless, they both enjoyed the old masters and the various sculptures. Neither cared much for the modern art collection but had fun mocking it which earned them glares from other patrons and an occasional snicker from the guards in the various galleries. They had a light lunch in the museum's cafeteria. Veronica bought some souvenirs for Mac, Wallace and Cliff. Logan hadn't realized that Veronica's relationship with the sarcastic lawyer included gift giving.

Tired, but happy, the couple exited the museum at closing time. Because it was such a balmy evening, they decided to stroll back to the hotel despite the fact that it was over 30 blocks. They were young, healthy and in love. Nothing else mattered.

As usual Veronica was hungry. On the northern end of Central Park they spotted a hot dog vendor where Veronica acquired her very first dirty water dog with the works. Ever the gentleman, Logan couldn't let her be the only one with onion breath, so he ate one too.

"So," Logan began. "Did you pack anything dressy for this trip?"

"I brought my black graduation dress, why?" Veronica answered.

"Well, last night we ate where you wanted. Tonight's my choice. I made a reservation at some place I think you'll love but it's kind of dressy and if you didn't have anything I was gonna drag you into a store to get something," Logan explained.

Veronica let out an exasperated breath. "You can't just buy me clothes, Logan."

"Sure I can," he reasoned. "What's the fun of having all this money if I can't buy my girlfriend pretty dresses?"

"You just can't." Veronica wasn't the type to be swayed by money, power or influence. She was never with Logan, or even Duncan for that matter, because of their money.

Logan just smiled beneficently at her. It was a moot point. She had a dress.

Veronica changed the subject, "Girlfriend, huh?"

Reaching over to tap her on the nose with one finger, Logan confirmed, "Girlfriend."

"Were you gonna ask me this time or were you just going to assume again?" Veronica challenged.

"You asked me, remember?" Logan retorted.

"No, I don't. We never talked about any of this," Veronica corrected. They hadn't defined their relationship before Logan announced it to all his friends the last time either.

"Sure we did," Logan assured her. "This morning. We just didn't use words."

Veronica looked at him quizzically and Logan stopped walking. "I am a reformed man. I am also and have always been a one woman man and you, short stuff, are the woman for me. When we made love this morning . . . you're my girlfriend and I'm your boyfriend and that's all there is to it."

There really wasn't anything to say after that so Veronica simply reached up and kissed him. They walked companionably back to the hotel swinging their joined hands between them.

Realizing how late it was, Logan shoed Veronica into a solo shower while he called to change their reservation. "If I join you, we'll never make it to the restaurant. Now hurry up."

Veronica took a quick rinse but didn't wash her hair. Logan was also in and out in less than ten minutes. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Logan watched as Veronica put the finishing touches on her make-up. When she stuffed everything she needed into a small evening bag, he grabbed her hand to twirl her around. "Gorgeous!" he praised as the full skirt billowed away from her legs. Taking her into his arms after a complete spin, Logan caressed her bare back then slid his other hand into the deep V of the plunging halter neck line. Flicking a nipple he grinned, "I didn't think you could get a bra under there!"

Tugging his hand away, Veronica admonished him, "Logan!"

He didn't look even remotely chastised.

"You promised me dinner!" Veronica reminded him. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise," was the only answer Logan would give her.

From the hotel, they strolled the few blocks to the edge of Central Park. They looked like an elegant young couple in love. Her black dress was sleek and sexy but still age appropriate. Although her high heels weren't made for walking, Logan was grateful for the extra three inches they gave her. Logan's black dress shirt was open at the neck to reveal his trademark puka shell necklace. He also had on nice khaki pants and a black linen blazer. He looked like he just stepped out of GQ magazine. For a California surfer, he had done an impressive change into a quintessential New Yorker.

When they reached the park, Logan led Veronica over to one of the horse drawn carriages that take tourists for rides. "Your chariot, milady," he announced as he helped her into the livery. Leaning over he whispered their destination to the driver.

Veronica was awed. Something about the way those horses were treated bothered her but she was caught up in the classic romance of the whole setting.

Logan had his arm around her as they rode through the park.

"First time in New York?" the driver inquired.

"No," replied Logan as Veronica simultaneously said "Yes." When he looked back, the driver realized his passengers were so in love and so intent on each other, that further conversation was unnecessary. Between kisses, at various spots Logan would point things out to Veronica: the zoo, the lake, the fountain, the Boathouse restaurant etc.

A few moments later they arrived at their destination. "Tavern on the Green!" Veronica squealed before immediately regaining her composure. "You shouldn't have. This is too much, Logan."

The driver couldn't help himself. As he assisted Veronica down from the carriage, he gave her a piece of advice. "For a beautiful woman, there is no such thing as too much. A man only asks the reward of her smile. Let your young man shower you with love." With a flourish, he gallantly kissed her hand before giving her back to Logan. While Logan usually wasn't keen on other men flirting with his girl, he liked this guy and gave him an extra-large tip.

Dinner was magical. Veronica was mesmerized by the stained glass as they walked through the restaurant to their outside table. The twinkling over head lights in the garden, made Veronica feel as though she was the star of her very own fairytale. Like the night before, given the posh cut of Logan's clothes and his debonair manner, the waiter brought them a bottle of expensive champagne without questioning their ages. New York, like LA, was a town where money talked and b.s. walked.

"Do you want to go to a club, or something?" Logan asked as dinner was ending.

"Not really," Veronica admitted. She wasn't much of a party person, but she knew Logan was. "We can if you want."

Shaking his head, Logan demurred, "Nah. I'd rather have you all to myself then fight off other guys for your affections."

"So what do you want to do?" Veronica inquired, hoping she knew the answer.

"Well, it should be something to burn off all these calories," Logan teased, rubbing his stomach. "I have to keep my girlish figure."

Pondering his desire for activity, Veronica suggested, "I hear there's some kind of rock and bowl place near Chelsea pier. How about a game of midnight bowling at 11:15?"

As they walked out of the restaurant and hopped in a waiting cab, Logan rejected her suggestion. "Sutcliff Hotel please," he instructed the driver. Turning back to her, Logan whispered, "I was hoping for an activity that didn't require me to change my shoes."

Veronica squirmed excitedly as Logan's lips found that spot behind her ear that drove her so crazy with desire. She barely notice his other hand snaking under her skirt to caress her bare thighs while they made out in the cab on the ride back to the hotel. Somehow between the champagne and Logan's intoxicating proximity, the uncharacteristic public display didn't make her self-conscious.

Another hot make out session of them twirling down the hall locked together in a passionate embrace was only broken up by Veronica having to stop while she pulled the room key out of her purse. Logan tried to distract her by attempting to slide his hands into her top. The dress hit the floor almost as soon as the door was closed. Since he was wearing considerably more, it took a few moments to divest Logan of all his clothes. Then the lovers were immediately lost in a bonding as old as time.

They made love three times that night. Logan introduced Veronica to a variety of positions. She was a quick student, eager to learn and to please. With each new skill, Veronica's confidence grew. By the time morning dawned any fears she may have harbored about her own sexual prowess had all but disappeared; the feisty woman who stole the heart of an obligatory psychotic jackass was branding him as her own. For Logan, watching Veronica's sexual awaking and knowing he was partially responsible for both her new-found enjoyment and skill was almost better than the act itself.