CHAPTER 5

Veronica looked out over the ocean and gasped as she watched the sunset. The bright orange orb was half into the water, looking as picturesque as any postcard she had ever seen.

Logan was up the stairs at the wheel of the yacht. He had told her a few hours ago that he knew somewhere that they could stop for the night. The smallcraft they were on wouldn't be able to last out on the open sea without someone staying up. It wasn't safe. Neither of them wanted him to stay up tonight.

Veronica hugged her arms to herself, feeling the cold night air all the way down to her bones. It was cold out on the water, and now with the sun setting, it would only get colder. Part of her wanted Logan to hurry and get them docked so that they could warm up in the cabin; but another part of her wanted it to take all night. She knew that they would be sharing the small fold-out bed in the cabin, and the thought made her nervous. She had only slept with one person her whole life and Logan had been with…more than that.

"Almost there" Logan called out to her from the wheel. Veronica blinked and refocused her eyes. The sun had set completely without her even noticing. She turned her back to the now almost completely dark view and looked up at Logan's back.

"I don't see anything" she called back to him.

She could hear his chuckle and saw him turn to look at her over his shoulder. "That's because you're not up here with me" he teased. There was just enough light left in the sky for her to see him wink at her.

Veronica's tension eased. Everything would be fine; Logan wouldn't pressure herinto something she wasn't ready for.

She smiled and climbed the stairs to join him at the helm.

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Logan could hear Veronica climbing the stairs behind him and smiled. He wanted her to see the view before they were too close to get the whole picture. They were about a mile away from the coast of Mexico and getting closer by the minute. He could see the lights of Ensenada already.

"Logan, where are we?" Veronica asked as she put an arm around his waist and nestled into him. He put an arm around her shoulders and glanced down at her. He hadn't told her where they were heading when they had started back in form international waters. He had pushed the yacht hard until they had made it out there, then they had coasted for a while. He had kept the boat headed in the right direction and relaxed. It wasn't that long of a trip; but they had gone pretty far out into the Pacific.

"That, my love, is where we are docking for a couple of days. Beautiful Ensenada awaits us" he finished by using his other arm to gesture theatrically at the coast. He was a taller, manlier Vana White for about two seconds. Veronica's laugh warmed his heart. "There's always a spot open to dock at Estero Beach. That's where we'll go"

He took back hold of the wheel and manoeuvred them in.

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"I didn't know that you spoke Spanish" Logan said to Veronica as they waited in their seats at the local cantina. The place wasn't the nicest, but it wasn't a tourist spot either. They could go unharassed there. You never know how manytourists would recognize Aaron Echoll's son.

"It's easier to spy on people when they think that you can't understand them" Veronica explained with a grin. "So I kind of keep it to myself"

"Oh? Then I'm honoured that you would let me know" Logan retorted with his own grin.

Veronica laughed. "Don't be" she said, teasing him. "I can't use it against someone who doesn't speak Spanish"

Logan rolled his eyes exaggeratingly. They shared another laugh as their order was called. Logan went to get it.

Veronica looked around the area. They tables were more picnic tables then anything; with wooden benches along each side of the medium sized circle of the table. The wood was scarred but clean. The paint on the cantina was peeling, a faded light orange. There were a lot of people there to eat; people who lived in the area. You could tell from the clothes. They were normal; in a place where the tourists wore the bright colors of the Mexican culture.

Logan put her order in front of her and she dug in. She had chosen the chicken fajita and it was delicious. Logan had gotten a couple of tacos and some fries; not exactly trying out the local food too much. He ate the same food back in Neptune.

When they finished eating they walked back to the dock holding hands. It was really dark by then, but Veronica felt completely safe with Logan. She had seen him take down guys before. The memory that stuck out in her mind was when he had punched out that ATF agent for her. Seeing that guy with a messed up face the next day was…satisfying.

Veronica stopped Loganby stopping herself,and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him briefly. Logan's lips followed hers for a second after she pulled away. His head rose again. He gave her a bemused look.

"What was that for?" he asked her with a small smile.

"For being my hero" Veronica whispered to him meaningfully. Logan kept up their stare for another few seconds, his look heating. He broke off with a curse and had them moving again. Veronica laughed.

"I don't think that the locals would like it if we started up on their street" Logan muttered. Then he gave Veronica a mischievous smile "Or they'd like it too much" he said with an eyebrow wiggle.

Veronica laughed again, hitting Logan playfully on the arm.

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When they reached the Estero Beach docks, Logan picked Veronica up in his arms. She squealed out in surprise and wrapped her arms around his neck. She clung to him and giggled as he walked her down to the yacht. He lowered her slowly onto the boat when they reached it, not willing to risk jumping on with her in his arms. When she backed up he followed her onto the deck.

Veronica sat on the circular padded bench on the deck as the small craft rockedfrom Logan's jump. Logan laughed and joined her; putting his arms around her and pulling her close until she was sitting on him, her knees resting on either side of his hips.

Because she was sitting on him, their eyes were about level. He put a hand in her hair and closed his fist, catching the silky strands tightly. Veronica tilted her head back to relieve the pressure, exposing her neck. Logan took advantage of her position ruthlessly; nibbling and kissing her neck heatedly.

Veronica gasped and rocked on his lap, making Logan's head snap up and forcing a groan from his throat. His other hand had settled on her waist and he kneaded her flesh there. Logan let go of her hair and used his now free hand to join the other one at her waist. He rocked her once more; slowly.

"GOD!" Veronica gasped, her hands going to his shoulders, her nails digging in there. "Logan, the…the cabin" she said, another gasp catching her last words when he rocked her again, this time moving his own hips at the same time.

Logan growled out her name and lifted her off of him, planting her on the floor. Veronica's legs shook as she stood. Logan held on to her waist to steady her and his eyes took her appearance in.

Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes heavy. Her hair was mussed and fell around her shoulders, contrasting against the black of her tee. The tee was a little wrinkled from his arms, but was fitted to her body. His eyes took in the shape of her breasts in the shirt and his mouth watered. His eyes continued on to her jeans. They looked innocent enough, but he knew that they rode low on her hips, showing a lot of her stomach. His hand itched to pull the tee up and caress that skin. His hands were actually moving to do just that when he caught himself. He wasn't going to strip her when they were out in the open like this.

He would wait until they were in the cabin.

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Veronica saw a grin spread across Logan's face and her breath caught. It was a smile of intent; sexy and dangerous. It was the kind of smile that would make a nun fan herself. A shiver went down her spine as she imagined what would happen when they went downstairs to the cabin.

She could already picture herself pulling his shirt up over his head. She had seen him without a shirt before, they had gone swimming, but it wasn't the same. This time she would be able to touch him.

She shota grin of her own his way and started backing up slowly, moving her body teasingly. She went up the stairs backwards, giving him seductive looks the whole time. When she reached the top she turned and opened the catch to the cabin, moving quickly so that she could be down there before he caught her.

She hurried down the steps and turned to watch him follow. He was moving slowly, a predatory glint in his eyes. Veronica's heart began to beat quickly and her hand pressed down at it. It felt as if it would leap right out of her chest.

"Veronica" his voice was rough with arousal.

Veronica laughed nervously and wagged a finger at him. "You'll have to pull the bed out first. Our first time won't be up against the wall of this boat's cabin" she said with a playfully lecturing tone to her voice.

Logan's grin came back at her words. "You're right" he said, his voice still hoarse. "That's for the third time"

Veronica's eyes closed as she processed that information. She could hear Logan setting up the little bed for them, opened her eyes when the noise stopped. Logan was just standing there looking at her. He noticed her eyes opening and his hand stretched out to her. She knew that this was his way of letting her decide. She could say no if she wanted to.

Thoughts raced through her mind as she watched him. What if this was a mistake? Her dad didn't like him; and neither did any of her friends, Wallace and Weevil being foremost on that list. What if they disapprove? Or drive them apart? It only took a few seconds of hesitation for Veronica to decide.

She went willingly into Logan's arms.

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The next morning was rainy and Veronica and Logan decided to spend the day on the yacht. They talkied and made love all day, only stopping to eat once. Each told the otherabout what had been happing in their lives for the past few months; Loganhaving anuncomfortable moment about Kendall and Veronica feeling self-conscious about Duncan.

"I don't think that Duncan is going to get over this" Logan said on a groan when they started talking about him. Logan had tried to push his best friend from his mind, but he was back now; and guilt was eating at his insides. It didn't help that he was tangled with Duncan's girl right at this moment. And he wasn't planning to detangle any time soon. They were squished together on the little bed, Veronica half on Logan, half off.

"No, he probably won't" Veronica said sadly. "I'm sorry Logan, I know how close you guys were" Veronica stroked a hand through Logan chest hair, petting him in an effort to comfort. Logan pressed her hand into his chest to stop her.

"Getting me hot while talking about it probably won't make me feel better" he snarked at her ruefully. He smiled at the ceiling and sighed. "Oh well, too late now" he said with mock sincerity, rolling her over and making love to her again.

The day went something like that until the Yacht's phone started ringing. They had been in the middle of making love and were too distracted to think it through before Logan automatically answered. He didn't bother moving from Veronica when he answered, moving slightly inside her.

"Yeah?" he said roughly, his breath laboured as he looked down at Veronica. He moved a little and had her gasping and clutching at his butt.

"Logan?" Dick's voice came through the phone, static marring the sound because it was long distance. Logan's head cleared a little and he gave Veronica a scared look. This could only mean one thing.

"Dick?" he said tensely. Veronica's eyes widened and she wriggled a little bit, wanting to get closer to the phone so she could hear. The movement sent ripples of reaction through both of them and Logan had to grit his teeth to keep from crying out loud.

"Logan, what the hell are you…" Dick started but was cut off. Logan could hear what sounded like a struggle for the phone.

"LOGAN?" Keith Mars' voice boomed out, making Veronica wince and fall back down on the bed. Logan made sure not to make a noise to alert Veronica's father of what they were doing. The man was probably going to kill him; and he didn't want to make it a certainty. "Where's Veronica?" Keith barked out.

"She's here Sheriff" Logan answered, automatically calling him by his old title. That Lamb guy had always seemed like such a dumb ass that Logan hadn't really thought of him as sheriff.

"Put her on then" Keith demanded. Veronica heard and shook her head frantically.

Logan looked at her panic and blurted out the first thing that came to his head. "She's busy"

"Busy doing what?" Keith yelled into the phone.

Logan's mind froze. He couldn't think of one thing that Veronica might be doing other than lying underneath him. When he didn't say anything Keith must have put two and two together and he roared in rage. Logan winced and held the phone from his ear as the older man yelled out curses. He didn't replace the phone until the sounds stopped.

"Sir?" Logan said nervously.

"PUT HER ON" Keith yelled, making Logan jump a little. This time he barely noticed the sensations that the movement gave.

Veronica sighed and took the phone. "Dad?" she said meekly.

"Veronica, what the hell were you thinking running off like that? Do you have any idea how worried I am right now? Where are you?" Keith said in an angry tirade.

"I needed some quiet after you told me about mom's…I needed to have some space from everyone" Veronica answered his first question slowly, wanting him to calm down. "I didn't want to worry you and I'm sorry. But I'm okay" she added hurriedly, not wanting to enrage him again. "And we're in Ensenada" she finished.

Logan groaned and rested his head against Veronica's neck. She made room for him and they settled comfortably as she positioned the phone again. Her father was talking. She stoked her free hand down Logan'd back as she listened

"…getting you in a few hours. Don't move" he finished.

"Dad, you shouldn't come" Veronica said quietly. "Logan and I will just take the boat back tomorrow and see yo…"

"No!" Keith cut her off. "You will wait there for me and not move until I get there, do you understand me?"

"Yes" she answered softly. "We're at the Estero Beach docks" she added.

When he hung up she turned the phone off and sighed, closing her arms around Logan. "We should start getting ready, he's coming. You probably should take off before he gets here" she said into his neck.

Logan lifted his head and looked at her incredulously. "You think that he'll ever let me see you again if I take off?" Logan asked her. Veronica started to speak but Logan kissed her quiet. "I love you too much to not try to get your dad's approval" he whispered.

They started getting ready an hour later.