Chapter Two
Veronica's senses were reeling. They had been wordlessly swaying for what seemed an eternity. From the initial violence of his hold, Logan's grip had softened, but not so much as to allow space between their bodies. And at some point, their bodies had responded to that closeness, long before their hearts or minds thought to follow, or not. For Veronica, the ache of her breasts, the twisting of her gut and the heat of her loins was unexpected and unwelcome. Sort of.
Her voice was low and strangled as she pleaded, "Logan. Logan!"
Logan didn't respond. Response would mean an end, a return to a reality. To his father and whatever punishment would be meted out for his defiance. To his half-sister's mocking exposure of his youthful feelings. To a girl he hated made aware of his attraction by the betrayal of his own body. Worst of all, response would mean letting go.
"Logan, let's leave, before your father sees you."
Whatever he was expecting, it wasn't that.
Logan looked down at Veronica, pushing her slightly away and dropping his hands. He hated that bitch of a sister of his for blabbing in LA.
"Too late now, Veronica Mars. If Trina doesn't tell him, someone else will. Besides, have you done your thing?" As Logan said this, he made jazz hands and grinned.
"No. Ladies, particularly those with my reputation, and thanks for reinforcing that by the way, are not being allowed upstairs."
"So what? Don't tell me Phillipa Marlowe doesn't have a backup plan? What were you saying at the bar?"
Veronica hesitated. She was going to suggest they pretend to want to get hot and heavy together and get upstairs that way. Now that idea seemed very, very bad.
Thinking quickly, she said, "I thought maybe you would stand a better chance and I could tell you where-"
"Liar."
Logan had understood enough before Trina interrupted to know where Veronica was heading. And he knew why she wouldn't suggest it now.
"Come on," she said, grasping his hand and leading him out of the throng of dancing couples. They stopped by the stairs. Veronica settled against the wall with Logan facing her. She took a deep breath.
"I thought we could pretend to make out. A couple going upstairs, with…" she stalled and then raced on, "… with sex on their minds might be less threatening."
"I always knew you wanted to get into my pants," Logan quipped, trapping Veronica against the wall as he placed his hands high on the wall on either side of her.
"Yeah, just like you always knew there was a Santa Claus."
The move to the wall and the sniping had created a welcome diversion for both of them, cooling the heat but things were warming up again. Veronica looked past Logan's chest to watch for the waiters from guard school at Alcatraz. It looked clear. She needed to get this done before things got out of hand.
"Now's our chance," she muttered.
Before he could say word, Veronica ducked under his arm, took the first couple of stairs and then turned back and coyly beckoned him with her index figure. She giggled. Logan glanced back at the room and then took the stairs in a single stride. She turned but before she could get any further, Logon slapped her on the ass. She let out an involuntary yelp and ran the rest of the way. Logan was right behind her.
Once they were clear of view from downstairs, Veronica raced forward, very conscious of Logan at her heels. John had told her where Ashley's room was and she was keen to get in and out as quickly as possible. It was a big house but after a few twists and turns, she found the room and entered.
"Keep watch", she whispered to Logan as she surveyed the room. The computer was on which meant she didn't need to turn the lights on. Good. Veronica reached under her dress and pulled out the disc she had brought with her. Logan whistled.
"Shut up!"
Veronica ran to the computer display, tapped the keyboard to find what she was looking for and started to download John's stuff.
It was taking an age.
"Come on, come on," she muttered.
"Someone's coming," Logan whispered urgently.
"Just a few more seconds."
Veronica was on her knees in front of the computer.
"Shit! It's Ashley." Logan left his place by the door and stood in front of Veronica, shielding both her and the computer screen from the door. As he put his hands on either side of her head, he said quietly, "You'll thank me for this."
Ashley stood in the doorway, incredulous. Logan Echolls was getting a blow job! In her bedroom! She was about to scream when Logan moaned. She froze, now fascinated by what she was seeing. She knew who the girl was. She had spotted Veronica earlier, and had a brief tantrum with her mother as a result. She could see the red satin spread out behind Logan's legs. The slut! What Ashley didn't see was Veronica's arm reaching back and popping out the disc.
Veronica, her face mashed close to Logan's groin, struggled to slip the disc back under her dress. It wasn't just her position that made it difficult. Logan was, not unnaturally in the circumstances, fully aroused and Veronica found it hard to concentrate. She finally managed and looked up at Logan. He was staring down at her, his eyes dark and liquid. He held her for a moment and then gave a load groan. He let go of her head and pretended to zip up. Veronica sat back and could now see Ashley in the doorway. She drew her forearm across her mouth before acknowledging Ashley's presence with a soft moan.
Ashley jumped when she realised Veronica had seen her. She turned and ran back downstairs. Wait 'til the 09ers heard about this!
Veronica didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Logan broke the silence.
"Well there goes my reputation. Lucky you don't have to worry about yours."
"Oh, I don't know. At least before I was just a slut. Now I'm Logan Echolls' girlfriend."
They stared at each other, then all the tension was blasted away by the sound of their laughter.
Recovered, Veronica and Logan made their way back to the stairs. As they passed yet another room, Logan paused. Veronica could hear a faint thumping from the room and raised her eyebrows. Logan grinned, put his finger to his lips and crept towards the door that stood slightly ajar. Veronica waved frantically at him, urging him away but Logan was determinedly curious, perhaps thinking that someone else could at least share the gossip spotlight that was about to descend on him. He pushed the door. Despite herself, Veronica peeked under his arm to see.
Women had always thrown themselves at him. It came with the territory. This one was as buxom and as accommodating and as disposable as the rest. She was making all the right noises as he pounded into her against the wall but for Aaron, it was all so much routine, a necessary precursor to the moment of release. "Face it," he thought, "I'm bored." So it was almost exciting to hear a gasp from a direction from which there should be no sound. Aaron, trousers round his ankles, turned his head and froze when he found himself staring into the eyes of his son.
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Veronica pulled Logan out of the room with all her might.
"Come on!"
Logan stumbled into the opposite wall, eyes unfocused. Veronica grabbed his arm and marched him to the stairs. "Logan, come on," she urged, trying to get him away. She got him to the top of the stairs and looked down.
"Damn it."
A lot of eyes were glaring up at them from the room below, specifically those parts of it where the 09ers had congregated. Ashley had worked fast. Veronica glanced at Logan. He was staring straight ahead, unseeing. Veronica got him down the stairs and towards the door before she was surrounded by hostile 09ers.
"Dude, scrapping the barrel or what?"
"I always knew she was a whore."
"Veronica, me next!"
Logan stopped but it wasn't because of the 09ers. He looked back up the stairs just as Aaron, together and impeccable, came down them. Aaron took a sharp turn at the bottom of the steps to go into one of the side rooms. Logan looked down for a moment, searching inside himself and then wrenched his arm from Veronica's grasp. He followed Aaron.
"You bastard! She's not even cold!"
Aaron shut his eyes as if in pain, a gesture which impressed the startled and uninformed audience, composed of some of Neptune's finest. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, "He hasn't gotten over it, you know." Aaron turned to face his son.
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"You bastard! She's not even cold!"
Veronica struggled to get through the throng of 09ers that had swept forward to get a good view of the scene. She used her elbows with abandon as she fought to get to Logan before he did something stupid.
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"Come on, Logan, let's go home," Aaron said gently.
Aaron tried to put a fatherly arm around his son but was stunned to find himself on the floor. Logan stood over him, panting, quivering hands turned into hard fists.
"If you ever touch me again, I WILL kill you."
