landed in a pool about his knees.
Suddenly, something hard pressed against her soft wet flesh and she gasped as she remembered her lesson from earlier.
Slowly, he pressed inside her, and she was amazed how large he felt, her body stretching to accommodate him.
“Penny,” he said with his teeth gritted. “This first time it can hurt, love. I need to deflower you.”
Why did everyone keep mentioning flowers? Her insides were burning. But she wanted to be his and so she held him tighter. “I’m ready.”
He thrust into her, breaking something inside. She only just managed to keep a cry of pain from escaping her lips. “This…this feels good to you?”
He was inside her, holding still, but he dropped his head against her shoulder. “Yes.” Then he drew in a long breath. “But it will feel better when I start to move.”
“Move?” she asked but then she remembered the rhythm he’d set to bring about her pleasure.
He slowly slid out of her and back in, a groan tumbling from his lips.
He did it again and again and with each thrust the pain lessened until he felt nice moving inside her. And then it was a whole lot better than nice.
Clutching about his neck, her own pleasure built again. She tried to hold back her release. This was his turn. But as his body tensed, hers did too and suddenly they were both crying out, her body convulsing in pleasure even as he gave a moan, his eyes squeezing shut.
Shudders wracked his body and then he collapsed on top of her, covering every inch of her with his large frame.
“Logan,” she murmured, her eyes drifting closed once again. What was it about being together that sapped every ounce of her energy?
“Yes, sweetheart?” he asked as he slid to the side, cuddling her into the crook of his shoulder.
“We still haven’t discussed the Earl of Baxter’s offer. Whatever that is.”
“Who cares,” he answered, snuggling her closer. “I’ve decided what’s important to me. You. The children. I don’t need society anymore.”
But her eyes snapped open. “Is he really offering you a chance to be part of society. Because I won’t give that to you and—”
“Penny,” he murmured against her hair. “Sleep.”
She let out a sigh. This conversation wasn’t over.
Chapter Seventeen
In the end, Logan mused, he was pleased with what they’d decided. They lay in bed, their soft voices holding an intimacy he’d never experienced in his life. It made him ache with tenderness.
He was going to join the Wicked Earls’ Club. Penny had been adamant. She wished for him to have the connections he’d worked so hard for.
And though he’d happily give them up for her, he understood. Her dream, the orphanage, was coming true. She wished to do the same for him.
He reasoned that with this new club, he’d have access to all sorts of new donors and so he relented.
But he wouldn’t be a partner in the Den of Sins.
He’d be a consultant instead. That would have to suffice. In exchange, he’d accept no money, his name wouldn’t be on any papers. But the men who did own it would have to become yearly donors to Penny’s cause.
Baxter had rolled his eyes when Logan had shared the news.
The man had leaned over, raising a single brow and asked, in all seriousness, “Now you’re trying to be the Earl with a Heart of Gold, aren’t you?”
Logan had shrugged. “I am trying to become a man married to the woman I love.”
Baxter had shaken his head. “It’s amazing how one woman, not even of the peerage, can make an earl beg for her hand. Change him inside forever.”
Logan paused, hearing the almost sad tone in Baxter’s voice. There was a story here. But it wasn’t Logan’s place to ask. “Are you satisfied with our bargain?”
Baxter gave a curt nod.
They’d hastily concluded their meeting. He had another far more personal discussion to conduct and he didn’t wish to waste any more time with this errant earl.
After heading up the stairs, he knocked on the nursery’s door. Clarissa answered, opening it wide for him to come in.
The three other girls sat about the table in the corner, working on their letters.
“May I interrupt?” he asked.
They all rose, bobbing curtseys as they lined up in front of the table. He smiled to see them. Soon enough, he’d outfit them in proper clothing.
“Please sit back down. May I join you?” He gestured toward the table.
As they nodded, he crossed the room and folded himself into one of the tiny