A/N – Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful 2016. I've absolutely enjoyed hearing from so many of you over the past year and hope you all continue to enjoy my stories too. Hopefully you'll all like this latest chapter. Please take a minute to leave me a quick note if you can. One thing I miss about being able to do more frequent updates is getting to hear from all of you more often.
Also, for any of you who haven't discovered it, I did post a one-shot Christmas LoVe story that you can find in my story list called 'Have Yourself a LoVely Little Christmas'.
Thanks again to my fabulous beta, Bondopoulos, who I couldn't do this without! She also co-wrote a fabulous Christmas LoVe story called Trading Spaces that's on AO3. Be sure to check that out too if you haven't yet. It's an amazing AU version of LoVe.
Disclaimer: All original VM characters belong to Rob Thomas.
Chapter 37
Veronica felt strong arms around her waist and a swaying sensation. Even with her eyes closed, she felt warm and safe. She took a deep breath, inhaling that scent that was very uniquely Logan. Right before she opened her eyes, she realized that she could hear music. It was a song she hadn't heard for quite a while, but every time she did it took her back to one specific moment in time. When she finally opened her eyes, she was shocked to actually find herself there again. She looked up at Logan, who instead of giving her the uneasy apprehensive look that he'd originally given her, was staring at her with love and tenderness.
"I've missed you," he whispered, just loud enough that she could hear him over the song that was playing. He was dressed exactly as he'd been then, with his olive green short-sleeve t-shirt over a lighter colored long-sleeve shirt. The first chorus of the song had just finished, and the lyrics that came next tore at her as she thought back to how things had been between them then.
I look at you and see a friend… I hope that's what you wanna be… Are we back now where it all began? ...Have you finally forgiven me?
Veronica's pulse quicken as she moved one of her hands from where they'd been positioned behind Logan's neck so that she could caress his cheek. He turned his head just enough to place a tender kiss against her palm, closing his eyes as his soft lips made contact with her hand.
"Why couldn't it have been like this the first time?" she asked as he turned so that he was looking into her eyes again.
"I think in both our hearts it was," he said softly as he reached up to touch her face as well. She always loved how tenderly he would stroke his fingers across her cheeks. Even if he had violent rage at times, whenever he touched her there was nothing but warmth. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes again. She felt his warm lips press against her forehead and kiss her as the chorus of the song filled her mind again.
I don't wanna hurt you… I don't wanna make you sway… Like I know, I've done before… I will not do it anymore… I've always been a dreamer… I've had my head among the clouds… Well now that I'm coming down… Won't you be my solid ground?
When Veronica opened her eyes again, the light was much brighter than it had been only seconds before. The music was also gone, but she still felt a strong arm wrapped around her waist and the same swaying motion. Her dream about the Sadie Hawkins dance was over, and she realized it was the gentle rocking of the waves in the cove that was causing them to rock slightly. She twisted her head up so she could look at Logan. He had fallen asleep as well, and even with her moving a bit, he was still sleeping soundly. She couldn't help but wonder how much sleep he'd gotten the night before. She had a feeling he'd stayed awake worrying about her.
While she'd had her head resting on his chest, her body was actually on the bed next to him. Veronica slowly moved her hand from where it had been resting over his heart and moved it down his chest toward his stomach. He remained completely still other than his chest rising and falling as he slowly breathed in and out. She couldn't help but think back to all the other times that she'd awoken before him when they'd been together. She knew from experience that a sleepy Logan was always easily aroused. She slowly licked her lips and then pushed his shirt up slightly so she could run her fingers over his tan, toned abs. He let out a soft moan, but still didn't seem to be waking up at all. A devious grin spread across her face as she slowly shifted so she could place kisses on his now exposed stomach. She heard another soft moan, but the rest of his body remained motionless.
She bit on her lip for a moment, knowing he probably wouldn't approve of what she was thinking of doing, but she just wanted to be with him again so badly. She'd also warned him, whether or not he took her seriously, that she planned to have her way with him after lunch. After waiting so long to be with him again, the overwhelming desire coursing though her quickly pushed any rational thoughts out of her mind. She carefully started to unbutton his jeans and then unzipped them as well. She traced a line of kisses down from his navel to the top of his silk boxers. Even though his jeans were undone, she hadn't tried pulling them down because she was sure that would wake him up, and she wasn't quite ready for that yet. She glanced up to be sure he was still sleeping before she decided her next move would be to push his shirt up farther. She slowly retraced the path her lips had just taken, gently pushing his shirt even higher as she continued to kiss his body. She had been able to push his shirt up high enough that she was able to run her tongue over one of his nipples, eliciting another low moan from Logan.
She was caught slightly off guard when his arm that was still underneath her tightened a bit around her waist, and then he shifted them both so that she was on top of him. His other hand came up and gently landed on the back of her head, both arms pulling her up enough so he could capture her lips with his own. Even though his eyes were still closed, the kiss was intense and quickly took her breath away. Logan was breathing hard as well, and she took advantage of both of his hands sliding down to her thighs to lift herself up slightly and pull her shirt off over her head.
She could tell from watching his expression that he was starting to wake up more and was probably starting to realize what they were actually doing. Before he could say anything, she captured his mouth with her own and kissed him desperately. His hands slowly moved from her hips to caress her now exposed back.
"I thought…" he mumbled against her lips when she had finally stopped kissing him to catch her breath. "That we were going to wait… longer."
"Please don't make me wait anymore, Logan," she pleaded softly against his skin as her mouth moved from his lips to an ear. She ran her tongue teasingly around the shell of his ear before sucking and then biting slightly on his ear lobe. "I need this…" she whispered into his ear. "I need you."
She heard him let out a soft growl as one of his hands grasped the back of her head and turned her so he could kiss her lips again. After a few seconds of kissing, he effortlessly rolled them so that she was on her back, and he was above her. He paused and stared down at her, obviously much more awake now, and clearly very aroused.
"I've missed you," he said with exactly the same expression that he'd given her in the dream she'd just had.
"I love you so much," she replied as she reached up and stroked his cheek. And just like before in her dream, he turned his head so he could place a tender kiss on her palm. She sucked in a steadying breath, not wanting to get overly emotional, but feeling right on the edge again. "Please make love to me," she asked as he turned his face back toward her.
Veronica could tell that he was just as overwhelmed with emotions as she was. He swallowed hard and nodded before pressing his lips to hers again. After that moment, every movement… every kiss… every caress… seemed to be slow and deliberate… filled with so much reverence and adoration. He slowly helped remove the rest of her clothing, all the while placing warm tender kisses along every inch of her body. He of course was extremely careful of her injured arm, but luckily it wasn't too much of a hindrance for them. While a part of her wished they were going faster, she forced herself to slow down and enjoy the chance to explore his body again. She couldn't help but notice a few new scars that she knew he hadn't had before and wondered if they were work-related injuries. She placed soft kisses along them, saving her questions for another time.
By the time he'd finally grabbed a condom out of the nightstand drawer, she was more than ready to move on to that stage. He'd ended up sitting with his back against the headboard and pulled her onto his lap. She'd never had sex on a boat, and the rocking motion the waves provided made it even better than she could have ever imagined. Of course Logan was more than capable of pushing her to complete euphoria even on solid ground.
Being with him again combined with the swaying motion of the boat and the familiarity of his touch was intoxicating. Everything about it was perfect. He knew just what she liked, and it didn't take her long to climax. Logan's release followed immediately after hers. They were still sitting with his back against the headboard and her body pressed tightly against his when they were done.
Both of them were completely out of breath and she just couldn't help saying the first thing that popped into her mind when she could form some sort of cohesive thought again. "Woof," she said with the softest of laughs. Logan let out a surprised chuckle as well and tossed his head back so that it was rested against the headboard as he panted loudly. His hands had moved to a relaxed position on her thighs and he gently stroked her legs with his thumbs.
"Woof, yourself," he said as he stared at her with a look of amazement.
She couldn't quite believe the complete sense of bliss that she felt and laughed a bit more as she sat up higher on her knees so she could capture his lips with hers. Even though she should probably have been exhausted, being with him again was so exhilarating that she still felt invigorated. His hands went from being relaxed to grabbing her hips firmly as her breasts pressed into his chest. He laughed against her mouth a few seconds after they started kissing.
"I don't think even nineteen year-old Logan would have been ready for round two this fast," he said in a husky voice. "But, god do I wish I was," he added before placing another ravishing kiss on her lips.
She gave him a skeptical look, but decided that he probably did deserve a short reprieve before they started round two. "How about a swim instead?" she asked as she leaned a little bit away from him.
Logan's eyebrow quirked up in an all too familiar way and she could easily tell he was thinking of something salacious. The way his eyes slowly raked down and then back up her naked body before he spoke, didn't really help to hide what he was thinking either. "Skinny dipping?"
Veronica wasn't terribly surprised by the suggestion, and while she was feeling more confident in bed with him now that she was older, the thought of skinny dipping out in the ocean in the middle of the day where other people could see her was still a little terrifying. She tried not to let her reaction to his question express that though, but before she could even answer, his expression suddenly changed to be a bit uneasy.
"I was just teasing, Veronica," he said as the salacious grin was replaced by a hesitant smile. "A relaxing swim sounds great." He seemed to be searching her eyes as he spoke, and she wondered if he was worried he'd upset her with the suggestion.
"I have been skinny dipping in the ocean before," she countered with her own suggestive smile.
She was surprised by the expression that spread over his face next. She had expected him to either challenge her about it, or get excited wanting to know more details. But instead, he looked almost embarrassed and quickly looked away from her for a second before regaining eye contact again. There was only one explanation for that reaction.
"You saw me?" she asked incredulously. He'd never mentioned that to her in the years since her impromptu swim right before their junior year homecoming dance. She'd noticed that he wasn't at the dance when they'd finally made it there, but had never asked him what he'd ended up doing that night.
Logan glanced away from her for a moment before looking at her again. His lips curled up into a chagrined smile as he nodded slowly. "Well, it was dark, so I didn't really see you." Her puzzled expression must have made him feel like he should elaborate, because he continued after a moment's pause. "I was drowning my sorrows in a bottle of tequila a little farther up the beach up by the boulders. I'd parked up the beach at the public lot, and wandered for a while before settling there. I was surprised when I heard a car stop nearby and then even more surprised when you got out of the limo. It was too dark to make out much down by the water, but I could tell that you had undressed and then jumped in."
"Why didn't you ever say anything about it?" Veronica asked. Thinking back to how rocky things were between them at the start of their junior year, she was absolutely shocked that he hadn't tormented her with that at some point.
Logan shrugged for a moment and let out a soft sigh. "It was right after you'd helped me with the memorial video… so I guess I was feeling unusually sentimental or something. And then later… when we did get together… I guess I was worried you might get upset or be embarrassed if I mentioned it." She could certainly understand his uneasiness about bringing it up.
"Yeah, I guess I was feeling pretty sentimental that night too," she replied wistfully, thinking back to why she'd had the limo stop in the first place.
His expression softened a bit more as he reached up to stroke her cheek. "Lilly would have loved that you did that, of course."
Veronica inhaled slowly as she nodded in reply. He leaned toward her to place a tender kiss on her lips. "I um…" He glanced down between them. "I should go clean up a bit…" He gestured his head toward the bathroom door and she nodded in understanding. "But swimming does sound great."
Veronica nodded again and leaned toward him for another quick kiss before she slid off his lap. She couldn't help the appreciative smile that spread across her face as she watched him climb off the bed. He glanced over his shoulder and chuckled slightly at her.
"Are you ogling me?" he asked with a sly grin. She bit seductively on her lip and shook her head. He winked in reply and swayed his hips slightly, causing her to laugh before he disappeared into the bathroom.
As Veronica went to climb off the bed, she moved her left arm at an odd angle and instantly felt a wave of pain wash over her. She sucked in a sharp breath and held it until the pain started to subside a bit. She'd planned on putting on her bikini while Logan was in the bathroom, but hadn't really thought through all aspects of swimming with an injured arm. It wasn't like she could just stand in the water since they were much too far from the shore for it to be shallow enough. Logan had brought along the waterproof bandages for her, so keeping it dry wasn't a concern, but she knew she wasn't really going to be able to swim like this now.
She was still just standing naked next to the bed when Logan came out of the bathroom in a pair of swim trunks. "You okay?" he asked as he walked toward her and gently caressed her right arm.
Veronica shrugged in reply. "My arm's hurting a bit again."
"I've got a great floating lounge chair if you want to use that. You can still enjoy the water without actually having to swim," he said as he gave her an understanding smile. After a second though, he narrowed his eyes in a playful way and glanced down at his shorts and then back up at her. "I feel a bit overdressed now. Did you decide to take my skinny dipping suggestion seriously?"
She laughed and shook her head. "No… but I might need some help getting my top on."
"I'm not sure if I'm actually skilled enough to put one on… I'm more the expert remover, you know," he replied flirtatiously.
"I do know that," she purred as she walked closer to him and lifted up on her toes so their mouths were closer together. She gave him a little wink as she wrapped her right arm around his shoulder, causing her bare chest to press against his. "I'm sure you'll have lots of fun trying to figure out how to do it right, though."
"Mmmm…" he moaned softly as he quirked an eyebrow and then brushed his lips gently against hers. "I always did love a challenge."
"That's the spirit," she replied softly right before he kissed her. He reached down and lifted her up by her hips so it was easier for them to kiss. There was a small dresser in the room, and he spun them so that he could set her on it as they continued to kiss.
"Swimming?" she asked a bit breathlessly when their mouths finally separated again.
"Right… sorry… for some inexplicable reason I'm finding it really difficult to focus at the moment," he answered before reaching up and brushing his thumb over one of her nipples. She let out a shaky breath and then a small moan. Now she was certainly having a tough time focusing too. He used his other hand to shift her slightly on the dresser so that he could press his hips closer to her. "I think I'm actually ready for round two if you are," he whispered into her ear, his voice dripping with desire and lust.
"I'm pretty sure the ocean will still be there later," Veronica replied as she started to push his swim trunks off his hips, appreciating his firm muscles as her hands shoved the fabric out of the way.
While the first time had been slow and tender, the second time was a bit more passionate and heated. Even though at times Logan seemed to be completely overcome by his desire for her, she noticed that he was still being mindful of her injury, moving her into positions that wouldn't risk her being in more pain. The second time seemed to exhaust them both much more than the first time had, and when they were finished, they both ended up panting on their backs, staring up at the ceiling with blissful smiles on their lips. Logan reached down and grabbed her hand so he could pull it up to kiss the back of it.
"I'm going to need another nap soon if we keep going like this," Logan commented as he rested their joined hands on his chest.
"I'm going to need food soon if we keep going like this," Veronica copied back, earning a chuckle from him.
He lifted her hand to his lips again and placed another kiss there. "Then we should probably figure out our dinner plans," he suggested with an amused tone to his voice. "Dine on the boat, or go onto the island? Which would the lady prefer?"
"Any particular place on the island you'd like to go?" Veronica asked as she continued to stare up at the ceiling, still trying to completely catch her breath. When he didn't answer immediately, she turned onto her side so she could see him. He shrugged and shook his head, but she could easily see there was something he wasn't telling her. "Spill," she said as she narrowed her eyes at him.
He let out a deep breath before he shrugged again. "Ristorante Villa Portofino," Logan replied in a way that she thought he was expecting it to mean something to her, but it didn't. She gave him a slightly puzzled looked and waited for more, but he just stared back at her instead.
"Is that your favorite place to go in Avalon?" Veronica asked as she became a bit impatient with his lack of response.
Logan shook his head and reached up with his free had to brush some hair off her face. "Nope, I've never actually been there before." She was even more confused now by his behavior and gave him a more inquisitive look. "I did make reservations there once… about six years ago…" he continued a bit hesitantly.
It didn't take more than that brief explanation combined with his overall behavior for Veronica to know exactly what he was talking about. He'd made reservations there when she had stood him up for their trip to Catalina after she found out he'd had GHB at Shelly's party. She reached up and gently stroked his cheek. "And you never went there any other time you came to Catalina… with anyone else?" she asked, slightly amazed by that. She'd almost forgotten how sentimental he really could be sometimes.
He shook his head as the side of his mouth quirked up into a sad smile. "I just couldn't bring myself to go there… I know that probably sounds totally stupid… it's just a restaurant, but I don't know…"
"I think it sounds terribly romantic," she replied wistfully. "And I'd love to go there with you tonight."
His expression brightened a bit before he leaned toward her and kissed her firmly on the lips. "Shower with me?" he asked after the kiss as he looked lovingly into her eyes. She took a deep breath and nodded. This was the Logan she'd missed. The one who was sentimental and passionate. The one who seemed to never be able to get enough of her. And after missing him for all these years, she knew that feeling all too well herself. He leaned in and kissed her one more time before scooting off the bed and reaching his hand out for hers.
By the time they made it back to Avalon, it was already starting to get close to sunset. As expected, being wet and naked in the shower led to another round of getting reacquainted with each other again. They had never been very good about just showering without it leading to something else. There was just something about the hot water and steam that always resulted in more than just getting clean.
Logan wrapped his arm protectively around her as they left the dock and headed toward the restaurant. She'd caught him looking at her with the same slightly concerned look from earlier after they had showered and were getting ready to go to dinner, but he hadn't said anything and she hadn't pushed him about it. She just wanted to enjoy being with him for the rest of the night and didn't want to think about anything else. She wrapped her arm around his waist, and glanced up at him, earning her a soft kiss on her forehead. It was a pleasantly warm evening, and even though the restaurant was a bit farther than the one she'd visited for her case, it didn't take them too long to arrive.
Logan had called ahead and made a reservation at the restaurant, so they were promptly seated at a cozy table for two in a back corner. It was a very romantic setting with soft candlelight flickering from the candle in the center of the table. The overall ambiance of the restaurant was definitely romantic as well. Their chairs were close enough that Logan could still easily wrap his arm around her shoulders and lean in to place tender kisses on her temple and cheek. After Logan requested a bottle of wine for them to drink, they started looking over the menu. Veronica's mouth started to water as she read the descriptions for the various Italian dishes that they offered. She hadn't realized how famished she actually was until all the delicious options were right in front of her.
Logan must have noticed and leaned in closer to her. "I'm almost jealous at the way you're lusting over the menu," he whispered softly in her ear with just a hint of amusement in his tone. "If I'm not mistaken, I think it's actually the same look you had in your eyes when you ogled my naked body earlier today."
Veronica laughed softly and turned so that she could press her lips quickly to his. "What can I say? I know a delicious dish when I see one," she replied playfully after the kiss. She loved the way his lips curved up into a thoroughly pleased smile.
Logan shifted his head so that he could whisper in her ear again. His lips gently grazed her cheek as he moved. "Well for me there's absolutely nothing on earth more delicious than you," he whispered lustily before placing a slow heated kiss on her neck right below her ear. She let out a slow shaky breath, starting to wish they'd chosen to just eat on the boat so she could have her way with him at that moment rather than having to wait until later. Logan chuckled softly at her physical reaction and then placed a more tender kiss on her temple before turning his attention back to his menu.
The dinner was even more delicious than Veronica had expected. She'd really agonized over which dish to choose, but since she hadn't had gnocchi in a very long time, settled on that with gorgonzola sauce. Logan had suggested the Carciofi Ripieni for an appetizer and the instant Veronica tasted the savory artichoke dish, she was so glad he had. Logan had opted for the lamb dish for his main course and, just like so many times in the past, he'd graciously shared at least a fourth of his meal with her without a single complaint.
"Dessert?" Logan asked as she finished off the last bite of her gnocchi. She tried to pretend to have to actually think over the question before answering, which earned a soft chuckle and headshake from him. "It was rhetorical, Veronica," he teased before leaning in to place a quick kiss on her lips.
Choosing which dessert she wanted proved almost as challenging as deciding on her main course, but she finally settled on something. Logan gave her a devious grin after he took a bite of the amaretto torte with raspberry sauce that he'd selected for his dessert.
"I may have to rethink that comment I made earlier about the most delicious thing on earth," he commented thoughtfully. Veronica gave him a less than pleased expression before he leaned in and captured her lips for a sensuous kiss. "Nope… still you," he playfully amended.
Veronica slowly licked her lips after the kiss and waggled her eyebrows at him. "You taste pretty delectable yourself."
Logan laughed before placing another quick kiss on her lips. "That's just the raspberry sauce, my dear," he replied with a twinkle in his eye that she loved seeing there again. It struck her for the first time, that whatever that look was, it had been absent since she'd been back. Even when he'd been with Bex around her, that special way his eyes would light up in the past when he looked at her was never there. Veronica realized that it was a bit egotistical to think that she was the only one who could make him look like that, but still couldn't help considering it. She wondered if that's what she'd been waiting for… searching for, ever since he barged into her room at the hospital and declared that he was still madly in love with her. That magical connection that we used to have… that I longed to get back with every fiber of my being… whether I ever consciously realized it or not. After leaving the hospital though, all she kept seeing was his worry and concern for her, rather than this… whatever this was. But it was theirs. It always had been and always would be.
"I love you," Veronica said lovingly as she reached up to touch his cheek.
He seemed a bit thrown by her sudden change in demeanor, but still looked at her with the same intensity that had been there a moment before. "I love you too," he said before placing another lingering kiss on her lips.
After they finished their desserts, they slowly made their way back toward the dock. It was starting to get a little chilly, so Logan kept her close to his side as they walked and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Even though there were lots of other people out enjoying the island, they were still able to feel like they were in their own little private world. Veronica stopped for a moment to enjoy the serene view of the harbor at night, which was lit up by the moon as well as sparkling lights from the boats in the water. She leaned against a railing while Logan stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, placing a few kisses on her head as they stood there together just enjoying the peacefulness. Veronica had heard Logan's cell phone vibrate a few times throughout the evening, and even when he did glance at it, he hadn't said anything about the messages. As they were standing there enjoying the view, she heard it go off again.
"You can get that if you need to," Veronica commented as she turned in his arms so she could see him. She was wondering if he had glanced at some of the earlier ones and decided not to tell her what they were about.
Logan let out a soft sigh as he studied her carefully. "I wanted you to have a nice evening," he replied as he reached up and brushed some hair off of her forehead.
"I am having a nice evening," she replied and then felt a tightening in her chest. "Is there an update on Doug… did things…" she paused and sucked in a sharp breath.
"No," Logan replied quickly as he shook his head and moved his hand so he could more firmly cup the side of her head. "Leo sent a quick message earlier that Doug was still in the ICU and there hadn't been any change in his condition yet. They're even more optimistic now that he'll pull through."
"Okay," she replied a bit hesitantly. "Then what is going on?"
"You must know how worried everyone is about you, right?" he asked as he gently stroked her cheek with his thumb. "And since you haven't turned your phone back on, they keep messaging me."
"They?" Veronica asked, wondering who other than Mac might be checking on her through him. Although she could imagine that Brandon and Norris might also be trying to check on her through Logan.
"Norris… Mac… Wallace… your Dad…" Logan rattled off.
"Wait…" She knew Mac had texted him the night before and wasn't surprised she'd text Logan again and Norris made sense too, but she wasn't expecting her dad or Wallace to have Logan's number. "They've all been texting you?" Logan nodded in reply. The questioning look she gave him must have been enough for him to know that he needed to elaborate.
"Leo gave your dad my number when he couldn't reach you, and Mac gave my number to Wallace. They're all just worried about you."
Veronica let out a huff of frustration. "I'm fine, and I sent them all texts letting them know as much. I'm sorry they've all been bothering you. They really shouldn't be doing that."
Logan gave her a compassionate look. "Think about it from your dad's perspective though. You were shot, Veronica. I'm sure your dad just wants to hear your voice. I know I'm not Heather's real father, but if she was in a potentially life threatening situation, I'd damn well want to hear her voice to know that she really was okay."
Veronica sighed and felt some of her frustration fade away, but she still wasn't ready to deal with all of that yet. "I'll call him tomorrow," she replied as she turned to start walking toward the dock again. She didn't get more than a step or two, before Logan grabbed her hand, causing her to stop and turn back toward him. She could instantly see the same worried expression that he'd had the night before. "I'm fine, Logan. I just want to enjoy the rest of the night with you." She held out her other hand toward him. "How about we send him a picture of us from your phone to help ease his mind?"
Logan quirked an eyebrow at her in a questioning manner, but then took his phone out of his pocket and pulled up the camera. She took the phone from him and leaned against his side. "Smile," she said before making sure her own smile would exude. "There," she said after taking the picture and handing it back to him. "You can text him back and let him know I'm perfectly fine."
Logan glanced down at the photo for a moment, with a troubled look still on his face. "Almost feels a bit 'proof-of-life'-ish, doesn't it?" Veronica scoffed softly and shook her head. Logan let out a soft sigh, likely still a bit frustrated with her, but started sending the message to her dad.
"I promise I'll call him in the morning," she said reassuringly as he finished up the text message. Time for a new distraction. She gave him a flirty smile, hoping she would be able to ease his mind. "I know skinny dipping wasn't going to work out with my arm, but I'm sure we can think of some other fun activity that doesn't require clothes after we get back to the cove," she suggested seductively.
He gave her a placating smile and nodded, although she could tell that he was still worried. She tugged a bit on his arm and gestured with her head toward the dock. "Come on, sans clothing fun only begins after we're back on the yacht."
He nodded again and started walking with her this time. She really hoped that was the end of this conversation and that he wouldn't bring it up again once they were back on the yacht. She was sure she'd feel more like talking to other people after a good night's rest, but right now, that really was the last thing she wanted to do.
Logan took them to a different cove for the night, rather than going all the way back to Goat Harbor. It was closer to Avalon, and she noticed there were some lights on the shore after they were anchored. Logan saw her staring at them and explained that the Catalina Island Marine Institute was located there. It was a different cove than where they'd spent the afternoon when he was diving for Benjamin's case, but she didn't think it was too far from that location. After the boat was anchored, Logan took her hand and started to lead her back into the cabin but she stood still, causing him to turn back toward her.
"I thought you said you loved sleeping out on the deck at night listening to the waves and watching the stars," she said as she gave him a sensuous smile. "We could do that…" she was about to say, like you and Bex, but stopped short of saying that much.
He gave her a tender smile and took a step closer so he could wrap his arms around her waist. "It can get a bit cold… it's okay if we just go inside."
She suddenly felt a bit slighted and jealous that he would have done that with Bex and not her. It was probably just from being on an emotional roller coaster for the past twenty-four hours, but his comment pushed her right into irrational territory again. "So you would do that with Bex, but not me?" she found herself saying in an angry hurt tone before she even realized what words were leaving her lips.
"Whoa, no… wait… where did that come from?" he asked with a look of utter confusion on his face.
"You told me…" she started to explain, frustrated with both herself for getting mad about it and him for not wanting to do that with her.
"No… I never…" he took a deep breath and shook his head slightly, tightening his hold around her slightly. "I may have said I liked doing that… but it was always just me… Bex would never have slept outside," he explained, obviously trying to remember when they'd even had that conversation.
Veronica closed her eyes and took a deep breath. And there I go jumping to conclusions and attacking him all over again. She felt frustrated tears start to roll down her cheek, which only made her more angry at herself.
"Hey, it's okay, Veronica," Logan reassured her as he reached up to wipe away her tears. "I'm sorry," he said as he leaned in and kissed her forehead.
Veronica huffed slightly and shook her head. "No, you don't have to apologize… I'm the one… I keep doing this to you… I'm so sorry, Logan."
Logan wrapped his other arm around her again and pulled her against his chest. She inhaled shakily, feeling terrible that she'd already broken the promise she made earlier that afternoon. "It's okay… I know it's tough to change old habits," he said as he nuzzled his nose against the top of her head and placed a kiss there. "I really do want you to feel like you can talk to me though… ask me anything… instead of jumping to conclusions and getting upset."
She nodded against his chest and took a calmer, deeper breath. "I will… I'll at least really try to."
He kissed her on the top of the head one more time and then took a small step away from her. "Wait here," he said with a tender smile and a small wink, before he turned and went back into the cabin. He returned a minute or two later with a large pillow and a heavy blanket. "Problem solved," he said with a sly smile as he took her hand and led her over toward a large lounge chair. He'd turned off the lights in the cabin when he'd come back out, but there was enough light from the moon to still see their way around the deck.
He took a seat on the lounge chair and then reached out his hand for hers. She was glad that there didn't seem to be any frustration in his expression as he looked at her. She certainly wouldn't have blamed him if he had felt that way after her reaction. She snuggled up next to him and wrapped an arm around his waist as he covered them with the blanket. Being away from the city, it was amazing how bright the stars looked and how many they could see. And Logan had been right, the gentle rocking and soothing sounds of the waves against the boat quickly melted away the frustration that had been there moments before.
"It really is beautiful out here," Veronica said softly as she gazed up at the stars. She felt Logan place a kiss on the top of her head before he replied.
"Yeah, and so much better sharing it with you," Logan replied in a hushed tone. "You have no idea how many times you would pop into my thoughts when I was all alone just listening to the waves and watching the stars. I know we never went out sailing before, but I never forgot all the times we'd sneak down to the beach behind your apartment with a blanket and lie in the sand watching the stars when we were dating."
Veronica let out a soft chuckle. "I seem to remember a lot more than just star gazing down on that beach."
"Mm hmm," Logan replied and she could easily hear the appreciation in just those two small sounds. "I never forgot any of that either."
She turned her head so she could see his face and saw the lust that was building up in his eyes again thinking back to their late night star-gazing sessions. "Maybe we should make some new memories under the stars," she suggested sensuously. Logan reached up to gently stroke her cheek, and she could see that spark from dinner in his eyes again. He nodded slowly before leaning forward to capture her lips in a passionate kiss.