Fic: Know Her (9/?) LoVe
Title: Know Her (9/?)
Author: lipstikstain
Pairing: LoVe, Ensemble
Word Count: 5,380
Rating: R for language and sexual situations, but eventually some NC-17 LoVe
Spoilers: Nothing at all - but to be safe all of season 1 and all episodes aired so far in season 2
Summary: Finally earning the right to know Veronica’s whereabouts, Logan only has a little less than 2 weeks to stop a wedding and win her back but is dealt with the blow of her resistance to his pleas for forgiveness and a second chance.
Disclaimer: Not mine - all Rob's.
A/N: As usual, closing song can be DOWNLOADED HERE or at the end of the chapter. I went overboard with this chapter, but I just couldn’t stop typing - you’ve been warned.
A/N: Also, please feel free to voice how you would have played out Duncan’s reaction to Logan. I’m very curious as to how many ways this could have played out if other people were writing this fic and if it’s close to what I have planned for him. Oh, and thanks again for keeping up with this story - I appreciate and love you for it.
Her sleep is interrupted by the sun peeking through her curtains. Veronica is surprised that she even got some rest considering that yesterday afternoon’s events rendered her agile, tossing and tumbling on her bed. She didn’t know how he could have found her, but that’s the least of her problems. She’s getting married in less than two weeks, and she has no time to investigate - she has a wedding dress to fit, and bridesmaid dresses to look over - her life is suppose to be consumed by her wedding not her ex-boyfriend.
The cold air bites her skin as she pulls the covers off her…she needs coffee and depends on her caffeine binge to restore her brain’s comprehension. She rubs her tired eyes, and desires more than anything to give in to her sleep deprived body and to hide under the sheets, but her conscience won’t allow it.
The ringing of the phone breaks the quiet air of her apartment and she debates whether or not to pick it up, her mind gnawing at her.
No doubt it’s Duncan.
She is about to reach for the phone, but then bypasses it on her way to the bathroom. He can wait till she’s showered, dressed and have had at least a double shot of some good Columbian caffeine…or tequila…whichever one is of arms reach.
This week is going to be more of a juggling act than she first thought it was going to be and even more so now that Logan’s in town. She will not allow herself to be distracted, and is resolute on making this wedding work. She’s going to tie together the last strings before the BIG day and placing any thoughts of Logan Echolls where the sun don’t shine.
Not only did she have a wedding to finish planning, she also has an engagement party to primp herself up for. But her mind’s too rattled and her hands shake as she dresses into her everyday street clothes, tying back her damp hair into a messy knot.
The unexpected knock on the door almost elicits a shriek as Veronica places a hand over her wildly beating heart. She eyes the door and annoyingly opens it for an elaborate arrangement of orchids. She hears a muffled voice behind the white perennials.
“Veronica Mars?”
“Uh, yes?”
“Where do you want me to put these?”
She steps aside and points to the coffee table only a couple of feet away from the door.
“Um…over there, I guess.”
She examines the orchids… she loves orchids. She hopes that it’s from Duncan, but she knows better than that. Duncan likes to overdo everything. These flowers would have been accompanied by a heart shaped box full of candies, a big, fuzzy bear and a singing telegram…it’s corny, but it’s his style.
She reaches for the neatly folded note carefully immersed in the soft petals and reads it over and over again.
Always, Logan.
Reading the words “always” and “Logan” seems like an oxymoron, Veronica thinks to herself.
She tosses the note next to the flowers and walks to the door, slinging on her beat-up messenger bag. She steals another glance at the cluster of white beauty sitting on her beat up table and rolls her eyes at her stupidity.
Veronica jumps at the sight of Duncan standing behind her door, his arm raised and hand ready to knock on it.
“Hey!”
He almost shouts his excitable greeting, and it echoes through the empty hallway.
“Hi. What are you doing here?”
“Well, I got worried. When my hot fiancé doesn’t return 10 of the messages I’ve left for her, I start thinking things like…that some dashing young man, other than myself, is trying to whisk you away.”
“You have no idea,” she says under her breath as he welcomes himself in her apartment, failing to hear what she had just muttered.
“I’m so sorry, I’ve just been so busy…”
Her words slur.
“It’s okay. I’m not giving you a hard time. I know the wedding’s coming up and everything‘s going to be perfect…”
He walks to her, and places a reassuring kiss on her cheek.
“Yeah, perfect.”
Veronica bites her lip and looks up to the ceiling…yes, she wants everything perfect because that’s what Duncan wants. He wants perfection and she couldn’t let him down. She didn’t even think about telling him about Logan because there is only one obvious answer: NO.
She knew that calm, rational Duncan would shrug his shoulders at her, give her another kiss on the cheek and ask his former best friend to attend the wedding and possibly even a last minute replacement as the best man, but absolving Logan isn’t really for Duncan’s protection, it’s more for Veronica’s.
“Well, try not to stress yourself out too much…I don’t want you to have a heart attack before the big - hey, these are nice.”
He approaches the expensive floral centerpiece and without a second thought, he reads the recklessly thrown note next to it. Veronica is ready to rip it from his hands but his questioning look freezes her movements.
“Logan? These are from him?”
She feels the distance between them recede as she’s inadequately petrified on the spot.
“Yeah…”
Unsure of how to continue she tucks her hands in her back pockets, a nervous habit she has developed over the years. Maybe she’s a fool to consider hiding Logan…in some ways it would have been like trying to hide one of the seven wonders of the world.
“Were you going to tell me? - and how does he know where you live? I thought you lost contact with him years ago?”
He waits for Veronica to answer him, his brows almost completely meeting in the middle.
“I did lost contact with him…I didn’t even know his physical state till yesterday.”
“What happened yesterday?”
I really should think before I say anything, Veronica scolds herself.
“I ran into him on the street while I was walking. He noticed the ring I was wearing and he just put two and two together, then that was it.”
As much as it guilt her to tell Duncan the PG version of the mishap in the lobby, she didn’t think it really mattered since that was the last time she’s going to see Logan for the rest of her life. She’s engaged to marry the most faithful and nicest guy on the planet and no way is she going to pass up on a safe bet just so her unreliable, selfish and deluded ex boyfriend decided to reappear from thin air.
Veronica runs her hands up Duncan’s shoulders, until her finger are affectionately laced behind his neck.
“I promise you. Seeing him yesterday, these flowers - they don’t mean a thing.”
She lifts herself on the balls of her feet and kisses Duncan soft and long but breaks away before he can deepen it. Hooking her arms around his, she leads him out of her apartment and locks the door behind her.
“Alright…I’ll see you later, and I promise to return all your calls today.”
Veronica doesn’t kiss him goodbye and slips from his arms while she runs to catch the elevator. She just doesn’t have time to stroke that deflated ego of his. She still has to pick up her Dad, Alicia and Daryl from the airport, then pick up the dress she’s going to wear for the engagement party at the alterations and a thousand other things that are all simultaneously flooding her mind that it’s impossible to choose which one to start with.
Duncan watches as she waves to him and disappears behind the metal doors. He waits for a minute before pulling out the note that he discreetly stashed in his pocket when Veronica kissed him earlier.
He reads the back of it, noting the name of the flower shop where Logan bought the orchids. He’s watched Veronica enough times to know how to handle situations like these. When he arrives at the flower shop, he tries to act cool, but only receives a patronizing smile from the gruff man behind the counter, but after he plops down the cash, he is quickly writing down the address that is provided to him.
Logan barely hears the knock on the door and his jaw drops when he sees Duncan standing in front of him.
“Hey man!”
Logan and Duncan exchange the manly handshake and the half hug with pat on the back. They laugh their excitement at the impromptu reunion, and Logan offers a chair for Duncan to sit in.
“Wow…so what’s going on? How’d you know where I was staying?”
Logan didn’t even think about the flowers, Veronica, or the wedding. Sure, his best friend is going to marry the love of life, but he still is his best friend.
“The florist. He said this is the address you gave him when you sent Veronica those orchids.”
Almost instantly, Logan looks away from Duncan and stares out at the space needle perfectly visible from his window.
“Logan, what are you doing here man? Why are you sending MY fiancé flowers?”
Logan knows that what he’s doing is shady. He knows that pulling the rug underneath Duncan to win Veronica back is not very sporting, but it’s the only way he knows how. He begins to weave a tapestry of lies to blindside Duncan - the less he knows, the better and Logan’s thankful that his former best friend trusts so easily.
“Dude, that’s nothing. I’m here to just enjoy Seattle - got too much sunburn from Mexico and wanted to give my skin some rest, and the next plane out was to Seattle. Then I saw Veronica, she said that you two were engaged and that was it.”
Duncan stands from his seat, resting his hands on hips as he travels around the small space of Logan’s room. He turns to Logan, who is watching him pace back and forth.
“Look man, you and Veronica are getting married. I obviously lost her a long time ago - she’s made her choice and I’ve accepted that.”
Logan offers his hand in a false gesture of defeat, and when Duncan takes it with the biggest grin on his face, Logan knows that he’s going to hell. Never mind purgatory - he has a one way ticket to hell, but he probably started heading that direction way before this moment, so he might as well enjoy the finer things in life like scheming to steal his ex girlfriend back from his best friend.
They enjoy a nice meal at a nearby restaurant. They discuss the events of the last six years while Logan practically dents the metal arm rest as Duncan vocally relishes in his supposed happiness with his and Veronica’s relationship and their honeymoon plans.
Before they say their goodbyes, Duncan invites Logan to attend the engagement party scheduled for the following night, and he doesn’t hesitate to accept. Duncan waits till Logan is completely out of sight before taking out his cell phone.
“Hey, it’s Duncan…yeah, Kane. Listen, I need you to do something for me…”
****
Veronica twirls in front of the mirror, the scarlet dress an amazing contrast against her pearly skin. She stashes the same colored lipstick in her clutch and struts her way to the living room where a very impatient Wallace is waiting. When he hears the clicking of her heals, his eyes travel from the perfectly polished toes, to the shapely legs that barely ever gets the air they deserve, to the tightly fitting red dress that could have been easily mistaken as second skin. He whistles his approval, and Veronica humbly smiles her thanks.
“I have to say V…Duncan is one lucky man…and so is that dress.”
She playfully slaps him on the shoulder, a little self conscious that perhaps she chose to wear a dress too inappropriate for the occasion, but she can’t help it. She’s only a single woman for a couple of more days - then after that it’s baggy sweatshirts and torn up jeans till death do they part.
When they arrive at the party, Keith and Alicia are already waiting for them and Veronica greets them with tight hugs and kisses. When she steps back, her dad is giving her that all-too-familiar worrisome expression.
“You know sweetie. I know you’re all grown up and crossing streets by yourself, but that dress is just….”
“Beautiful Veronica,” Alicia cuts in, eyeing her husband who immediately clamps his mouth.
“Sophisticated is actually a little more accurate. C’mon Papa Bear…let’s get you a drink before that vein completely pops out of your head.”
Alicia hauls him away, and Veronica smiles her appreciation. Thank god Alicia and her dad finally got married or else he would have started calling real estate agents when she decided to move to Seattle. She loves her Dad, but the over protectiveness gets old, especially when you’re almost 25 and engaged to be married.
Wallace leads Veronica into a group of people that really haven’t been together in the same room for almost 3 years. Mac is the first to break away from the crowd to kiss Veronica on the cheek, followed by Cassidy who is now sporting a goatee, and she almost drops her purse when she sees Weevil dressed in a crisp black suit.
“Looking shnazzy Weevs.”
“Well, I dress to impress V. Just be glad because besides my wedding, this is the only time when you’re going to see me in this get up.”
Weevil offers her a glass of champagne and she graciously takes it, thankful that no matter what has happened between them, they are still able to maintain a solid friendship.
Logan wouldn’t have been an hour late if he didn’t have such difficulty finding a suit to wear to the party. His last minute invite didn’t leave him with much choice and he definitely didn’t want to look like a penguin, especially since this isn’t the prom, but thankfully he found something but for a hefty price.
He pops the joints on his neck and fixes his collar before entering the softly lit ballroom. The room is decorated tastefully in a very simple, Veronica-esque way and he loves it. He could see Veronica’s style spread throughout the room from the table cloths to the centerpieces - even the way the lights are dimmed are so perfectly her and it reminds him of the many times he was in her room in high school and no matter how bright the sun shined, the light always seemed to coalesce with dark that it blended a palette of earth tones on her wall.
He hears her familiar laugh mingling with the music in the air and his eyes dart from corner to corner. A blond speck is visible in the crowd of black and brown hair and Logan steps back into the darkness to watch her carefully. He is the hunter watching his prey while lurking behind a black umbra to capture every head tilt, smile, and his breath hitched every time his eyes narrowed in on her licking those delicate lips.
As the crowd separates, he finally sees a full view of her and his heart races, the temperature of the room seeming to rise as saliva dribbles from his gaping mouth. Sure Logan has seen her naked before, but this dress clings on to her perfectly, hugging the right curves, accentuating her festoon body - it’s foreplay in red silk, and he is aroused just by looking at her.
It’s official - Logan is addicted to her and he knows that she still pulls him on a string. As she moves away from her circle of cronies, and languidly moves in between the multitude of friends and family members, Logan shadows her every step. When she would stop, so would he, when she would step to her left, he would step to his right, and he couldn’t take the chance of losing sight of her in fear that he might combust if she isn’t in constant eyeshot.
His perfect vision of Veronica is all too soon obstructed by Duncan’s familiar hunched structure and Logan’s hit with griping jealousy as he sees his best friend’s hand lands firmly on the small of her back. He decides to emerge from his hiding and approaches them, hands in pockets with a grin on his face. Veronica almost chokes on her champagne when she sees his tempting form nicely wrapped in a crisp suit and her mind becomes congested with a whirlpool of fear and confusion.
What the hell is he doing he -?, but Duncan answers her question.
“Logan - man, glad you could make it.”
Veronica’s head snaps to Duncan, feeling the world is against her and she’s trapped in this seemingly never ending circus act. Logan notices Veronica averting her eyes as she attempts to hide behind Duncan, which he mistakes as being affectionate, and he throws his arm over her.
“Sweetie, isn’t this great? You, me and Logan together again after all these years.”
He’s joking right? She’s glad that her fiancé is finally reunited with his best friend, but this is not the time to get sentimental - couldn’t he just have an epileptic attack and punch Logan in the face - that would sure wipe away that stupid smile.
“Oh fan-tas-tic!”
She gulps down the rest of her champagne then grabs two more glasses from a passing waiter, and doesn’t hesitate to empty both of them. Duncan continues to prattle about Neptune High memories, oblivious to Veronica’s sudden penchant for champagne and she honestly thinks that this as dense as her boyfriend’s ever been, but Logan recognizes her accelerating discomfort, something he anticipated from her.
“I agree Duncan. What a great way to come together - and at your engagement party!”
Logan places his arm around Veronica, squeezing her in the middle of two towering men, a pseudo enthusiasm creeping in his voice and she can’t help but be disgusted by what truly lies underneath his words.
“Sweetie, let’s dance.”
She shoves the empty glasses in Logan’s hands, pulling Duncan to the dance floor as his arms snake around her tiny waist. He’s a bit confused at first, but picks up the pace of her perfunctory stride to the dance floor. Duncan buries his face in her loose curls, inhaling her perfumed scent, while Veronica steals a peek at Logan. He isn’t looking away from her, and returns her watchful scowl with rapt eyes.
He doesn’t know what she is telling him, but it causes Duncan to respond, pulling him away from his trance. Veronica’s affectation of a woman in love irritates Logan - and he knows that she’s playing games. She exaggerates her laughs, protracting a smile wider than she is really capable of, and focusing so hard on Duncan’s face that she could burn a hole through him.
That’s it - he’s had enough.
“Can I have a dance with the future bride-to-be?”
Veronica grips Duncan’s hands tighter, but he’s already opening the space for Logan to step through and releasing her hands. She opens her mouth to protest, but Logan is hauling her away towards the middle of the dance floor and she has no choice but to watch her safety net walk away from a mistake waiting to happen.
She spits out her words.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“What a coincidence, I was going to ask you the same thing. I have to say, Meryl Streep herself couldn’t have done a much more convincing job…I almost believed that you really are in love with him.”
“Oh, ever so full of yourself Logan - can’t say I’m glad to see some things haven’t changed.”
He is getting under her skin - but he knows that her overt irritation is simply masking her true predilection for him and she is ashamed of her clandestine need of him.
“That’s not the only thing…”
He allows his bravado to pull Veronica closer to him, and she feels his dauntless arousal pushing into her. She blushes at how instant she remembers his impressive size, pulling away to place a thin distance between them, and he smiles at the knowledge of her response. He is tempted to roam his hands all over her buxom figure, but her warning eyes only allow them to be thoughts, rather than actions.
From afar, they look like two people in love and that’s exactly what Mac and Wallace are thinking as they watch them literally and proverbially dance their dance. Weevil approaches behind them, sipping a cold alcoholic beverage.
“What are you guys looking at?”
Weevil follows Mac’s gladdened grimace to the dance floor, becoming entertained at what he agreed to help Logan Echolls with.
“You guys are aware that she’s going to kill us when she finds out.”
Mac and Wallace nod in simultaneous concurrence, but know that either way, Logan would have found Veronica with or without their help, they just had to give destiny a little push.
As ineffable as this scene is to the trio, Veronica’s patience is wearing down and she can no longer be in such close proximities with Logan. She walks away from him without a word. That room is getting too congested, her mind is inebriated and she can’t think anymore. She needs air, she needs space - she just needs to get out of there and a minutia of fault urges Logan to follow her.
She stands near the edge of the rooftop, looking over the vastness of the city and sighs heavily when she hears his recognizable voice behind her.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell you how beautiful you look.”
He cautiously approaches her, knowing that he is pushing her too hard, too fast and he’s already walking on thin ice.
“What are you doing here Logan?”
He’s now standing next to her, the side of his body leaning against the rough cement.
“Hey, you have Duncan to blame for that.”
She faces him, her body invading his personal space.
“That’s not what I mean. What are you doing HERE - in Seattle?!?”
His wary demeanor becomes serious, and he steps closer to her.
“I meant what I said that day on the street. I’m here for you.”
His words are matter-of-factly, as if he’s telling her for the first time, but he’s willing to repeat himself over and over again until she starts listening.
“I’m not the reason and you know it. It’s all about territory for you.”
“Territory? What the hell are you talking about?”
“ Six years Logan without a word, not a clue if you’re okay - you went out of your way to make sure I don’t know where you are, but once you find out Duncan and I are getting married you suddenly realize you still want me? Bull shit!”
“That’s not true! That’s not what this is about at all!”
His frustration causes him to run his hands through his hair, and it takes almost every ounce of energy to not pull it from the roots.
“I’m not stupid Logan! I’m not just going to believe whatever it is that comes out of your mouth! I’m not that same person anymore!”
She digs a finger in his shoulder, his head jerking up to look at her ferocity. He sees the shadows of her jaws clenching under the silver moonlight, her eyes crystallizing as her emotions loom her face.
“Neither am I! I didn’t come here because someone else has you - stop making excuses!! I came here because I know that I want you - that I finally deserve to be with you!”
“Oh and it’s just a coincidence that you have this epiphany when I’m only weeks away from being your best friend’s wife? Okay Logan - let’s say, I decide that I want to give us another chance, then what huh? You’ll realize that it was all a mistake and leave the country again - leave me?”
His lust takes over as pounces on her, but she musters all the strength she has to push him away and her hands come in contact with his cheek. The tears collect on her chin and she can’t control them anymore as she stumbles away, but he isn’t ready to back down.
Logan grabs her arm, twirling her to him and his lips roughly land on hers. She feels his teeth grating her soft skin as he pries his way into her hot crevice. His long fingers dig into her arms, pulling her so close to him as if it were possible to permanently weld their bodies together. She struggles under his gruff invasion, but as his tongue slides into her slick alcove, she acquiesces from his imposing touches and allows him complete entry.
Veronica’s hands erratically explore his body up and down, mingling in his hair, clutching to his broad shoulders, and squeezing his ass. She squeaks as he lifts her lithe body and she reflexively wraps her smooth legs around his waist, grinding against his prodding member.
Her breathing becomes ragged, loose waves of hair unraveling from what was a neat do. Logan carries her to the nearest wall slamming her against it and drawing out an aroused groan deep down her throat which is replaced with moans of pleasure as he nibbles the crook of her neck. He pulls down the straps of her dress, licking her collarbone and his hands brazenly make their way to her breasts causing her hips to thrust forward.
She feels the violence of their act but is unsure if she’s fighting him or simply meeting his hungry consumption of her. She knows this is wrong, she knows that she’s still engaged to…what’s his name (she thinks his name starts with a “D”) - both good reasons why they need to stop. Relinquishing her self control will only make things worse, but her rationalism escapes her at the moment, especially now that his hands are gathering the materials of her dress around her hips to permit his fingers to lightly trace her inner thighs.
Logan’s always been such a tease when it comes to sex. Never applying enough pressure till she’s begging him for it and the way his hands explore her like he’s reading braille, but shifts to grips and claws that usually leave their mark on her the next day. He’s the amalgam of sweet and salty, rough and smooth which usually sends her spinning into such ecstasy that she can’t succor her screams.
The rebirth of her lust leaves her gasping for air.
“Touch me Logan…please,”
He ignores her request, and pulls away from feasting on her skin to nuzzle her hair, inhaling her toothsome scent. One hand busies itself with a pert nipple, while the other grazes her underwear.
“You are so wet…you’ve soaked your panties. I bet its lace and red… just the way I like them. Do you want to feel what you do to me?”
He asks, capturing a sensitive lobe between his teeth.
“Yes!”
Logan is unsure if this is the answer to his question or her pleasure, but he thrusts his aching erection into her core, hitting her clit briefly that her legs clamp tighter to his waist.
“I miss the way you scream my name Veronica, and…”
Logan slips a finger inside her moist center, his fingers exploring her before pulling out and she bites her lip in disappointment.
“…I miss the way you taste.”
She watches him closely as he licks his finger, and she ferociously kisses him. She takes his free hand and urges him to bury inside of her. Smiling between kisses, he thrusts two fingers into her, his thumb lightly stroking her sensitive bud. She breaks from their kiss, and her head rolls back.
“Oh god Logan, more…I want more.”
Veronica can feel everything building inside that her nails have officially imbedded themselves in his neck, but he is too engrossed in the friction she is creating between their bodies to feel pain.
She begins to loosen his belt, working her hands between their bodies to stroke his length. His forehead drops and leans against her.
“Grip it harder baby…”
She does what she is told, smiling her satisfaction.
“Veronica…god, I’ve missed you…”
Her motions halt as she is struck with the engram of the last six years.
Logan left.
He fucked around with other women.
She got engaged…
Engaged…Duncan!
She takes her hand out of his pants and starts pushing herself off him.
“Put me down Logan…now!”
He’s confused and doesn’t understand how they could be basking in foreplay one minute, and the next she is swinging arms and legs to get away from him. When her feet land on the ground, she rolls down her skirt and fixes the straps of her dress.
“What…what’s going Veronica, what’s the matter?”
“I can’t believe I let things go as far as they did.”
He starts approaching her, but she puts her hand between them to keep him at a safe distance.
“No - stay away from me Logan! I can’t believe what I just did…this was a mistake!”
“This wasn’t a mistake! I felt it - YOU know that there’s still something there! You still love me.”
“Who do you think you are Logan? You can’t just come here and take whatever you want whenever you want! It doesn’t work that way!”
“Hate to burst your bubble, but you had your tongue and hands all over me too! Takes two to tango!”
*(Closing Music Starts)*
She wipes her mouth with her hands and grabs her purse from the ground.
“Stay away from me Logan. I mean it.”
She locks herself in the bathroom before returning to the party. Veronica can feel her pulse screaming inside of her body as the heat between her legs continue spreading itself through every nerve endings. She scans her reflection, but doesn’t recognize the figure staring back at her. Her hair, although acceptable, is a bit of a mess, the smudged lipstick outlining her aroused lips and the traces of red marks on her skin are unmistakable signs of treachery.
A flash of what happened on the roof sneaks a guilty smile on Veronica’s face, and she immediately shakes the thought. She takes several deep breaths, smoothing her hands over her dress and reapplies her lipstick before deciding she has been absent from her friends too long.
She skims the room of people, telling herself that she’s looking for Duncan but truly keeping an eye out for Logan. Then she sees him from across the room. He didn’t use the shadows to conceal his watchful eyes on her - he wants Veronica to know that he’s there and that her protests did not affect him.
She tries to hide her hands behind her back pocket, but then remembers she is wearing a dress, not her usual comfortable pair of blue jeans.
Veronica’s unable to sever herself from his amorous look, and their eyes dance with each other as Logan follows her movements from the other end of the room. She can feel him stripping her with his eyes and fucking her with his thoughts, and she’s struggling to fight against the pull he has on her, but it’s as if she is hypnotized. Veronica is almost surprised at how he has managed to pin her down with something as simple as a seductive stare, piercing her very core.
Her skin tingles from the memory of his gossamer touches, and she shamefully wishes that she could take him home to feed what her body has been craving for 6 years, but coevally she is afraid of what she allowed to ensue on that rooftop and she realizes the modicum of truth entailed with the weight of his words.
I had to leave you. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do…
You’ll realize that I’m the one for you and I’m willing to wait forever until you can trust me again…
You’re suppose to spend the rest of your life with me…
You still love me…
Logan raises his glass of champagne to her then takes a sip without ever taking his eyes off her and she swallows the hard truth.
She’s trapped, and for the first time in a long time, she doesn’t know what to do.
Closing Music: Sarah McLachlan: Fear
Author: lipstikstain
Pairing: LoVe, Ensemble
Word Count: 5,380
Rating: R for language and sexual situations, but eventually some NC-17 LoVe
Spoilers: Nothing at all - but to be safe all of season 1 and all episodes aired so far in season 2
Summary: Finally earning the right to know Veronica’s whereabouts, Logan only has a little less than 2 weeks to stop a wedding and win her back but is dealt with the blow of her resistance to his pleas for forgiveness and a second chance.
Disclaimer: Not mine - all Rob's.
A/N: As usual, closing song can be DOWNLOADED HERE or at the end of the chapter. I went overboard with this chapter, but I just couldn’t stop typing - you’ve been warned.
A/N: Also, please feel free to voice how you would have played out Duncan’s reaction to Logan. I’m very curious as to how many ways this could have played out if other people were writing this fic and if it’s close to what I have planned for him. Oh, and thanks again for keeping up with this story - I appreciate and love you for it.
Her sleep is interrupted by the sun peeking through her curtains. Veronica is surprised that she even got some rest considering that yesterday afternoon’s events rendered her agile, tossing and tumbling on her bed. She didn’t know how he could have found her, but that’s the least of her problems. She’s getting married in less than two weeks, and she has no time to investigate - she has a wedding dress to fit, and bridesmaid dresses to look over - her life is suppose to be consumed by her wedding not her ex-boyfriend.
The cold air bites her skin as she pulls the covers off her…she needs coffee and depends on her caffeine binge to restore her brain’s comprehension. She rubs her tired eyes, and desires more than anything to give in to her sleep deprived body and to hide under the sheets, but her conscience won’t allow it.
The ringing of the phone breaks the quiet air of her apartment and she debates whether or not to pick it up, her mind gnawing at her.
No doubt it’s Duncan.
She is about to reach for the phone, but then bypasses it on her way to the bathroom. He can wait till she’s showered, dressed and have had at least a double shot of some good Columbian caffeine…or tequila…whichever one is of arms reach.
This week is going to be more of a juggling act than she first thought it was going to be and even more so now that Logan’s in town. She will not allow herself to be distracted, and is resolute on making this wedding work. She’s going to tie together the last strings before the BIG day and placing any thoughts of Logan Echolls where the sun don’t shine.
Not only did she have a wedding to finish planning, she also has an engagement party to primp herself up for. But her mind’s too rattled and her hands shake as she dresses into her everyday street clothes, tying back her damp hair into a messy knot.
The unexpected knock on the door almost elicits a shriek as Veronica places a hand over her wildly beating heart. She eyes the door and annoyingly opens it for an elaborate arrangement of orchids. She hears a muffled voice behind the white perennials.
“Veronica Mars?”
“Uh, yes?”
“Where do you want me to put these?”
She steps aside and points to the coffee table only a couple of feet away from the door.
“Um…over there, I guess.”
She examines the orchids… she loves orchids. She hopes that it’s from Duncan, but she knows better than that. Duncan likes to overdo everything. These flowers would have been accompanied by a heart shaped box full of candies, a big, fuzzy bear and a singing telegram…it’s corny, but it’s his style.
She reaches for the neatly folded note carefully immersed in the soft petals and reads it over and over again.
Always, Logan.
Reading the words “always” and “Logan” seems like an oxymoron, Veronica thinks to herself.
She tosses the note next to the flowers and walks to the door, slinging on her beat-up messenger bag. She steals another glance at the cluster of white beauty sitting on her beat up table and rolls her eyes at her stupidity.
Veronica jumps at the sight of Duncan standing behind her door, his arm raised and hand ready to knock on it.
“Hey!”
He almost shouts his excitable greeting, and it echoes through the empty hallway.
“Hi. What are you doing here?”
“Well, I got worried. When my hot fiancé doesn’t return 10 of the messages I’ve left for her, I start thinking things like…that some dashing young man, other than myself, is trying to whisk you away.”
“You have no idea,” she says under her breath as he welcomes himself in her apartment, failing to hear what she had just muttered.
“I’m so sorry, I’ve just been so busy…”
Her words slur.
“It’s okay. I’m not giving you a hard time. I know the wedding’s coming up and everything‘s going to be perfect…”
He walks to her, and places a reassuring kiss on her cheek.
“Yeah, perfect.”
Veronica bites her lip and looks up to the ceiling…yes, she wants everything perfect because that’s what Duncan wants. He wants perfection and she couldn’t let him down. She didn’t even think about telling him about Logan because there is only one obvious answer: NO.
She knew that calm, rational Duncan would shrug his shoulders at her, give her another kiss on the cheek and ask his former best friend to attend the wedding and possibly even a last minute replacement as the best man, but absolving Logan isn’t really for Duncan’s protection, it’s more for Veronica’s.
“Well, try not to stress yourself out too much…I don’t want you to have a heart attack before the big - hey, these are nice.”
He approaches the expensive floral centerpiece and without a second thought, he reads the recklessly thrown note next to it. Veronica is ready to rip it from his hands but his questioning look freezes her movements.
“Logan? These are from him?”
She feels the distance between them recede as she’s inadequately petrified on the spot.
“Yeah…”
Unsure of how to continue she tucks her hands in her back pockets, a nervous habit she has developed over the years. Maybe she’s a fool to consider hiding Logan…in some ways it would have been like trying to hide one of the seven wonders of the world.
“Were you going to tell me? - and how does he know where you live? I thought you lost contact with him years ago?”
He waits for Veronica to answer him, his brows almost completely meeting in the middle.
“I did lost contact with him…I didn’t even know his physical state till yesterday.”
“What happened yesterday?”
I really should think before I say anything, Veronica scolds herself.
“I ran into him on the street while I was walking. He noticed the ring I was wearing and he just put two and two together, then that was it.”
As much as it guilt her to tell Duncan the PG version of the mishap in the lobby, she didn’t think it really mattered since that was the last time she’s going to see Logan for the rest of her life. She’s engaged to marry the most faithful and nicest guy on the planet and no way is she going to pass up on a safe bet just so her unreliable, selfish and deluded ex boyfriend decided to reappear from thin air.
Veronica runs her hands up Duncan’s shoulders, until her finger are affectionately laced behind his neck.
“I promise you. Seeing him yesterday, these flowers - they don’t mean a thing.”
She lifts herself on the balls of her feet and kisses Duncan soft and long but breaks away before he can deepen it. Hooking her arms around his, she leads him out of her apartment and locks the door behind her.
“Alright…I’ll see you later, and I promise to return all your calls today.”
Veronica doesn’t kiss him goodbye and slips from his arms while she runs to catch the elevator. She just doesn’t have time to stroke that deflated ego of his. She still has to pick up her Dad, Alicia and Daryl from the airport, then pick up the dress she’s going to wear for the engagement party at the alterations and a thousand other things that are all simultaneously flooding her mind that it’s impossible to choose which one to start with.
Duncan watches as she waves to him and disappears behind the metal doors. He waits for a minute before pulling out the note that he discreetly stashed in his pocket when Veronica kissed him earlier.
He reads the back of it, noting the name of the flower shop where Logan bought the orchids. He’s watched Veronica enough times to know how to handle situations like these. When he arrives at the flower shop, he tries to act cool, but only receives a patronizing smile from the gruff man behind the counter, but after he plops down the cash, he is quickly writing down the address that is provided to him.
Logan barely hears the knock on the door and his jaw drops when he sees Duncan standing in front of him.
“Hey man!”
Logan and Duncan exchange the manly handshake and the half hug with pat on the back. They laugh their excitement at the impromptu reunion, and Logan offers a chair for Duncan to sit in.
“Wow…so what’s going on? How’d you know where I was staying?”
Logan didn’t even think about the flowers, Veronica, or the wedding. Sure, his best friend is going to marry the love of life, but he still is his best friend.
“The florist. He said this is the address you gave him when you sent Veronica those orchids.”
Almost instantly, Logan looks away from Duncan and stares out at the space needle perfectly visible from his window.
“Logan, what are you doing here man? Why are you sending MY fiancé flowers?”
Logan knows that what he’s doing is shady. He knows that pulling the rug underneath Duncan to win Veronica back is not very sporting, but it’s the only way he knows how. He begins to weave a tapestry of lies to blindside Duncan - the less he knows, the better and Logan’s thankful that his former best friend trusts so easily.
“Dude, that’s nothing. I’m here to just enjoy Seattle - got too much sunburn from Mexico and wanted to give my skin some rest, and the next plane out was to Seattle. Then I saw Veronica, she said that you two were engaged and that was it.”
Duncan stands from his seat, resting his hands on hips as he travels around the small space of Logan’s room. He turns to Logan, who is watching him pace back and forth.
“Look man, you and Veronica are getting married. I obviously lost her a long time ago - she’s made her choice and I’ve accepted that.”
Logan offers his hand in a false gesture of defeat, and when Duncan takes it with the biggest grin on his face, Logan knows that he’s going to hell. Never mind purgatory - he has a one way ticket to hell, but he probably started heading that direction way before this moment, so he might as well enjoy the finer things in life like scheming to steal his ex girlfriend back from his best friend.
They enjoy a nice meal at a nearby restaurant. They discuss the events of the last six years while Logan practically dents the metal arm rest as Duncan vocally relishes in his supposed happiness with his and Veronica’s relationship and their honeymoon plans.
Before they say their goodbyes, Duncan invites Logan to attend the engagement party scheduled for the following night, and he doesn’t hesitate to accept. Duncan waits till Logan is completely out of sight before taking out his cell phone.
“Hey, it’s Duncan…yeah, Kane. Listen, I need you to do something for me…”
****
Veronica twirls in front of the mirror, the scarlet dress an amazing contrast against her pearly skin. She stashes the same colored lipstick in her clutch and struts her way to the living room where a very impatient Wallace is waiting. When he hears the clicking of her heals, his eyes travel from the perfectly polished toes, to the shapely legs that barely ever gets the air they deserve, to the tightly fitting red dress that could have been easily mistaken as second skin. He whistles his approval, and Veronica humbly smiles her thanks.
“I have to say V…Duncan is one lucky man…and so is that dress.”
She playfully slaps him on the shoulder, a little self conscious that perhaps she chose to wear a dress too inappropriate for the occasion, but she can’t help it. She’s only a single woman for a couple of more days - then after that it’s baggy sweatshirts and torn up jeans till death do they part.
When they arrive at the party, Keith and Alicia are already waiting for them and Veronica greets them with tight hugs and kisses. When she steps back, her dad is giving her that all-too-familiar worrisome expression.
“You know sweetie. I know you’re all grown up and crossing streets by yourself, but that dress is just….”
“Beautiful Veronica,” Alicia cuts in, eyeing her husband who immediately clamps his mouth.
“Sophisticated is actually a little more accurate. C’mon Papa Bear…let’s get you a drink before that vein completely pops out of your head.”
Alicia hauls him away, and Veronica smiles her appreciation. Thank god Alicia and her dad finally got married or else he would have started calling real estate agents when she decided to move to Seattle. She loves her Dad, but the over protectiveness gets old, especially when you’re almost 25 and engaged to be married.
Wallace leads Veronica into a group of people that really haven’t been together in the same room for almost 3 years. Mac is the first to break away from the crowd to kiss Veronica on the cheek, followed by Cassidy who is now sporting a goatee, and she almost drops her purse when she sees Weevil dressed in a crisp black suit.
“Looking shnazzy Weevs.”
“Well, I dress to impress V. Just be glad because besides my wedding, this is the only time when you’re going to see me in this get up.”
Weevil offers her a glass of champagne and she graciously takes it, thankful that no matter what has happened between them, they are still able to maintain a solid friendship.
Logan wouldn’t have been an hour late if he didn’t have such difficulty finding a suit to wear to the party. His last minute invite didn’t leave him with much choice and he definitely didn’t want to look like a penguin, especially since this isn’t the prom, but thankfully he found something but for a hefty price.
He pops the joints on his neck and fixes his collar before entering the softly lit ballroom. The room is decorated tastefully in a very simple, Veronica-esque way and he loves it. He could see Veronica’s style spread throughout the room from the table cloths to the centerpieces - even the way the lights are dimmed are so perfectly her and it reminds him of the many times he was in her room in high school and no matter how bright the sun shined, the light always seemed to coalesce with dark that it blended a palette of earth tones on her wall.
He hears her familiar laugh mingling with the music in the air and his eyes dart from corner to corner. A blond speck is visible in the crowd of black and brown hair and Logan steps back into the darkness to watch her carefully. He is the hunter watching his prey while lurking behind a black umbra to capture every head tilt, smile, and his breath hitched every time his eyes narrowed in on her licking those delicate lips.
As the crowd separates, he finally sees a full view of her and his heart races, the temperature of the room seeming to rise as saliva dribbles from his gaping mouth. Sure Logan has seen her naked before, but this dress clings on to her perfectly, hugging the right curves, accentuating her festoon body - it’s foreplay in red silk, and he is aroused just by looking at her.
It’s official - Logan is addicted to her and he knows that she still pulls him on a string. As she moves away from her circle of cronies, and languidly moves in between the multitude of friends and family members, Logan shadows her every step. When she would stop, so would he, when she would step to her left, he would step to his right, and he couldn’t take the chance of losing sight of her in fear that he might combust if she isn’t in constant eyeshot.
His perfect vision of Veronica is all too soon obstructed by Duncan’s familiar hunched structure and Logan’s hit with griping jealousy as he sees his best friend’s hand lands firmly on the small of her back. He decides to emerge from his hiding and approaches them, hands in pockets with a grin on his face. Veronica almost chokes on her champagne when she sees his tempting form nicely wrapped in a crisp suit and her mind becomes congested with a whirlpool of fear and confusion.
What the hell is he doing he -?, but Duncan answers her question.
“Logan - man, glad you could make it.”
Veronica’s head snaps to Duncan, feeling the world is against her and she’s trapped in this seemingly never ending circus act. Logan notices Veronica averting her eyes as she attempts to hide behind Duncan, which he mistakes as being affectionate, and he throws his arm over her.
“Sweetie, isn’t this great? You, me and Logan together again after all these years.”
He’s joking right? She’s glad that her fiancé is finally reunited with his best friend, but this is not the time to get sentimental - couldn’t he just have an epileptic attack and punch Logan in the face - that would sure wipe away that stupid smile.
“Oh fan-tas-tic!”
She gulps down the rest of her champagne then grabs two more glasses from a passing waiter, and doesn’t hesitate to empty both of them. Duncan continues to prattle about Neptune High memories, oblivious to Veronica’s sudden penchant for champagne and she honestly thinks that this as dense as her boyfriend’s ever been, but Logan recognizes her accelerating discomfort, something he anticipated from her.
“I agree Duncan. What a great way to come together - and at your engagement party!”
Logan places his arm around Veronica, squeezing her in the middle of two towering men, a pseudo enthusiasm creeping in his voice and she can’t help but be disgusted by what truly lies underneath his words.
“Sweetie, let’s dance.”
She shoves the empty glasses in Logan’s hands, pulling Duncan to the dance floor as his arms snake around her tiny waist. He’s a bit confused at first, but picks up the pace of her perfunctory stride to the dance floor. Duncan buries his face in her loose curls, inhaling her perfumed scent, while Veronica steals a peek at Logan. He isn’t looking away from her, and returns her watchful scowl with rapt eyes.
He doesn’t know what she is telling him, but it causes Duncan to respond, pulling him away from his trance. Veronica’s affectation of a woman in love irritates Logan - and he knows that she’s playing games. She exaggerates her laughs, protracting a smile wider than she is really capable of, and focusing so hard on Duncan’s face that she could burn a hole through him.
That’s it - he’s had enough.
“Can I have a dance with the future bride-to-be?”
Veronica grips Duncan’s hands tighter, but he’s already opening the space for Logan to step through and releasing her hands. She opens her mouth to protest, but Logan is hauling her away towards the middle of the dance floor and she has no choice but to watch her safety net walk away from a mistake waiting to happen.
She spits out her words.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“What a coincidence, I was going to ask you the same thing. I have to say, Meryl Streep herself couldn’t have done a much more convincing job…I almost believed that you really are in love with him.”
“Oh, ever so full of yourself Logan - can’t say I’m glad to see some things haven’t changed.”
He is getting under her skin - but he knows that her overt irritation is simply masking her true predilection for him and she is ashamed of her clandestine need of him.
“That’s not the only thing…”
He allows his bravado to pull Veronica closer to him, and she feels his dauntless arousal pushing into her. She blushes at how instant she remembers his impressive size, pulling away to place a thin distance between them, and he smiles at the knowledge of her response. He is tempted to roam his hands all over her buxom figure, but her warning eyes only allow them to be thoughts, rather than actions.
From afar, they look like two people in love and that’s exactly what Mac and Wallace are thinking as they watch them literally and proverbially dance their dance. Weevil approaches behind them, sipping a cold alcoholic beverage.
“What are you guys looking at?”
Weevil follows Mac’s gladdened grimace to the dance floor, becoming entertained at what he agreed to help Logan Echolls with.
“You guys are aware that she’s going to kill us when she finds out.”
Mac and Wallace nod in simultaneous concurrence, but know that either way, Logan would have found Veronica with or without their help, they just had to give destiny a little push.
As ineffable as this scene is to the trio, Veronica’s patience is wearing down and she can no longer be in such close proximities with Logan. She walks away from him without a word. That room is getting too congested, her mind is inebriated and she can’t think anymore. She needs air, she needs space - she just needs to get out of there and a minutia of fault urges Logan to follow her.
She stands near the edge of the rooftop, looking over the vastness of the city and sighs heavily when she hears his recognizable voice behind her.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell you how beautiful you look.”
He cautiously approaches her, knowing that he is pushing her too hard, too fast and he’s already walking on thin ice.
“What are you doing here Logan?”
He’s now standing next to her, the side of his body leaning against the rough cement.
“Hey, you have Duncan to blame for that.”
She faces him, her body invading his personal space.
“That’s not what I mean. What are you doing HERE - in Seattle?!?”
His wary demeanor becomes serious, and he steps closer to her.
“I meant what I said that day on the street. I’m here for you.”
His words are matter-of-factly, as if he’s telling her for the first time, but he’s willing to repeat himself over and over again until she starts listening.
“I’m not the reason and you know it. It’s all about territory for you.”
“Territory? What the hell are you talking about?”
“ Six years Logan without a word, not a clue if you’re okay - you went out of your way to make sure I don’t know where you are, but once you find out Duncan and I are getting married you suddenly realize you still want me? Bull shit!”
“That’s not true! That’s not what this is about at all!”
His frustration causes him to run his hands through his hair, and it takes almost every ounce of energy to not pull it from the roots.
“I’m not stupid Logan! I’m not just going to believe whatever it is that comes out of your mouth! I’m not that same person anymore!”
She digs a finger in his shoulder, his head jerking up to look at her ferocity. He sees the shadows of her jaws clenching under the silver moonlight, her eyes crystallizing as her emotions loom her face.
“Neither am I! I didn’t come here because someone else has you - stop making excuses!! I came here because I know that I want you - that I finally deserve to be with you!”
“Oh and it’s just a coincidence that you have this epiphany when I’m only weeks away from being your best friend’s wife? Okay Logan - let’s say, I decide that I want to give us another chance, then what huh? You’ll realize that it was all a mistake and leave the country again - leave me?”
His lust takes over as pounces on her, but she musters all the strength she has to push him away and her hands come in contact with his cheek. The tears collect on her chin and she can’t control them anymore as she stumbles away, but he isn’t ready to back down.
Logan grabs her arm, twirling her to him and his lips roughly land on hers. She feels his teeth grating her soft skin as he pries his way into her hot crevice. His long fingers dig into her arms, pulling her so close to him as if it were possible to permanently weld their bodies together. She struggles under his gruff invasion, but as his tongue slides into her slick alcove, she acquiesces from his imposing touches and allows him complete entry.
Veronica’s hands erratically explore his body up and down, mingling in his hair, clutching to his broad shoulders, and squeezing his ass. She squeaks as he lifts her lithe body and she reflexively wraps her smooth legs around his waist, grinding against his prodding member.
Her breathing becomes ragged, loose waves of hair unraveling from what was a neat do. Logan carries her to the nearest wall slamming her against it and drawing out an aroused groan deep down her throat which is replaced with moans of pleasure as he nibbles the crook of her neck. He pulls down the straps of her dress, licking her collarbone and his hands brazenly make their way to her breasts causing her hips to thrust forward.
She feels the violence of their act but is unsure if she’s fighting him or simply meeting his hungry consumption of her. She knows this is wrong, she knows that she’s still engaged to…what’s his name (she thinks his name starts with a “D”) - both good reasons why they need to stop. Relinquishing her self control will only make things worse, but her rationalism escapes her at the moment, especially now that his hands are gathering the materials of her dress around her hips to permit his fingers to lightly trace her inner thighs.
Logan’s always been such a tease when it comes to sex. Never applying enough pressure till she’s begging him for it and the way his hands explore her like he’s reading braille, but shifts to grips and claws that usually leave their mark on her the next day. He’s the amalgam of sweet and salty, rough and smooth which usually sends her spinning into such ecstasy that she can’t succor her screams.
The rebirth of her lust leaves her gasping for air.
“Touch me Logan…please,”
He ignores her request, and pulls away from feasting on her skin to nuzzle her hair, inhaling her toothsome scent. One hand busies itself with a pert nipple, while the other grazes her underwear.
“You are so wet…you’ve soaked your panties. I bet its lace and red… just the way I like them. Do you want to feel what you do to me?”
He asks, capturing a sensitive lobe between his teeth.
“Yes!”
Logan is unsure if this is the answer to his question or her pleasure, but he thrusts his aching erection into her core, hitting her clit briefly that her legs clamp tighter to his waist.
“I miss the way you scream my name Veronica, and…”
Logan slips a finger inside her moist center, his fingers exploring her before pulling out and she bites her lip in disappointment.
“…I miss the way you taste.”
She watches him closely as he licks his finger, and she ferociously kisses him. She takes his free hand and urges him to bury inside of her. Smiling between kisses, he thrusts two fingers into her, his thumb lightly stroking her sensitive bud. She breaks from their kiss, and her head rolls back.
“Oh god Logan, more…I want more.”
Veronica can feel everything building inside that her nails have officially imbedded themselves in his neck, but he is too engrossed in the friction she is creating between their bodies to feel pain.
She begins to loosen his belt, working her hands between their bodies to stroke his length. His forehead drops and leans against her.
“Grip it harder baby…”
She does what she is told, smiling her satisfaction.
“Veronica…god, I’ve missed you…”
Her motions halt as she is struck with the engram of the last six years.
Logan left.
He fucked around with other women.
She got engaged…
Engaged…Duncan!
She takes her hand out of his pants and starts pushing herself off him.
“Put me down Logan…now!”
He’s confused and doesn’t understand how they could be basking in foreplay one minute, and the next she is swinging arms and legs to get away from him. When her feet land on the ground, she rolls down her skirt and fixes the straps of her dress.
“What…what’s going Veronica, what’s the matter?”
“I can’t believe I let things go as far as they did.”
He starts approaching her, but she puts her hand between them to keep him at a safe distance.
“No - stay away from me Logan! I can’t believe what I just did…this was a mistake!”
“This wasn’t a mistake! I felt it - YOU know that there’s still something there! You still love me.”
“Who do you think you are Logan? You can’t just come here and take whatever you want whenever you want! It doesn’t work that way!”
“Hate to burst your bubble, but you had your tongue and hands all over me too! Takes two to tango!”
*(Closing Music Starts)*
She wipes her mouth with her hands and grabs her purse from the ground.
“Stay away from me Logan. I mean it.”
She locks herself in the bathroom before returning to the party. Veronica can feel her pulse screaming inside of her body as the heat between her legs continue spreading itself through every nerve endings. She scans her reflection, but doesn’t recognize the figure staring back at her. Her hair, although acceptable, is a bit of a mess, the smudged lipstick outlining her aroused lips and the traces of red marks on her skin are unmistakable signs of treachery.
A flash of what happened on the roof sneaks a guilty smile on Veronica’s face, and she immediately shakes the thought. She takes several deep breaths, smoothing her hands over her dress and reapplies her lipstick before deciding she has been absent from her friends too long.
She skims the room of people, telling herself that she’s looking for Duncan but truly keeping an eye out for Logan. Then she sees him from across the room. He didn’t use the shadows to conceal his watchful eyes on her - he wants Veronica to know that he’s there and that her protests did not affect him.
She tries to hide her hands behind her back pocket, but then remembers she is wearing a dress, not her usual comfortable pair of blue jeans.
Veronica’s unable to sever herself from his amorous look, and their eyes dance with each other as Logan follows her movements from the other end of the room. She can feel him stripping her with his eyes and fucking her with his thoughts, and she’s struggling to fight against the pull he has on her, but it’s as if she is hypnotized. Veronica is almost surprised at how he has managed to pin her down with something as simple as a seductive stare, piercing her very core.
Her skin tingles from the memory of his gossamer touches, and she shamefully wishes that she could take him home to feed what her body has been craving for 6 years, but coevally she is afraid of what she allowed to ensue on that rooftop and she realizes the modicum of truth entailed with the weight of his words.
I had to leave you. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do…
You’ll realize that I’m the one for you and I’m willing to wait forever until you can trust me again…
You’re suppose to spend the rest of your life with me…
You still love me…
Logan raises his glass of champagne to her then takes a sip without ever taking his eyes off her and she swallows the hard truth.
She’s trapped, and for the first time in a long time, she doesn’t know what to do.
Closing Music: Sarah McLachlan: Fear