Ripple (Persy & Sully) (Seaside Valleria #2)

by Marianne Knightly

  Her fingers drew absent patterns on his chest. “Did you want to stay longer at least? Spend more time with them?”

  “No, I need to get back.”

  “When will you find out? About your job?”

  “Probably when I go back to work the day after next.” Honesty, he reminded himself. “I should tell you that I’m not sure if I’ll still have the opportunity when I get back.”

  “Was it because you took all this time off for me?”

  He kissed her head. “I took this time off for me. It’s true that taking a vacation probably didn’t help my job chances, but I’ll never regret it. Being here for you is more important than any job opportunity.”

  “I’m sorry I can’t come back to Ireland, not to live,” she blurted out.

  “It’s nothing to apologize for.”

  “I know your family—”

  “Will miss me, but they understand. They’ve met you, they’ve seen us together, and they like you. Even Lucy. They understand.”

  “If I had to come back here to live, though, I’d do it for you.”

  Christ, his Persy. “I realized a while ago that you couldn’t live here anymore. You’ve also mentioned it a few times and, honey, I was listening when you said it. There’s no shame in that decision, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

  She rubbed her lips together. “So, what does that mean for us?”

  He cradled her face and brushed his thumb over her lips to stop her fidgeting. “It means I’m moving to Valleria, no matter what happens with my job.”

  “But—”

  He kissed her, which he found was usually the best way to shut her up. “We’ll come back, we’ll visit. You’ve got family now—my family—as well as yours. We’ll visit.

  “But, Persy, you’re my home. It doesn’t matter to me where we are, as long as we’re together.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Your job—”

  He kissed her again. “Will be fine. I’ll see if I can transfer and retain my Irish citizenship. If I can’t, I’ll see if I can extend my assignment. We’ll work it out.”

  “What if you couldn’t be a cop anymore because of me?”

  “If I couldn’t be a cop, I’d still be okay. I can always find a job working security, if nothing else.”

  “But would you be happy doing that? You deserve to be happy.”

  God, his Persy. Just when thought his heart was filled up with love for her, he found room for more. “I will be happy, honey. I love being a cop, but I love you more. I’ll be happy as long as we’re together.”

  “Even if we don’t get married?”

  He stilled. “What, honey?”

  Her eyes were locked with his, taking in his every reaction. “I’m not sure I’m ready to get married again.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  They stayed silent for a few moments. He could understand where she was coming from but…he wanted a wife, maybe even children.

  “I…Seeing Tom helped. A lot. Before I had that closure, I never wanted another marriage. Now, I feel like I could get married again, but not yet. I don’t know how long it will take me to get ready.”

  “I understand that.”

  “You do?”

  He brushed a hand over her hair. ‘Married someday’ he could accept. For Persy, absolutely. He realized in that moment that even if she never wanted to marry again, he’d still accept it, because living without her, well, he didn’t want to think about that. “Of course, honey. You take the time you need and let me know when you’re ready. I do have another question.”

  Her eyes went wary. “Okay.”

  “Do you think you might want to have children again? Someday?”

  She let out a short breath and stayed silent for a minute before she answered. “I…I don’t know. I need more time to heal before I can answer that. Right now, I just don’t know. I can’t even tell you if it’s a ‘maybe’ because right now, it’s not.”

  Not unexpected. “All right, honey.”

  “Does…I mean, does that change things for you? With me?”

  He rested his forehead against hers and brought her even closer against him. “No, it does not change anything. I’m not gonna lie, honey, not ever to you. I want kids, and we’d have beautiful ones. But I love you. You decide you can’t have any more, I’d accept that because I love you and it’s your decision as much as mine.”

  “But you could change your mind later on—”

  He kissed her quiet. “It’s true I dreamed of becoming a da, because I grew up without one and I wanted a family I could love. But I’ve got that, with you. You’re the dream I never thought to have, Persy. I never really thought of the woman I’d love and be with for the rest of my life, but you are the woman of my dreams.”

  “Sully…thank you, that’s so sweet.”

  “I meant it. Every word. We’ll weather these storms, and the next ones besides. Being honest, if I can’t be a father then I will be sad, but I’ll never be sad or disappointed in you. Trust that, honey, believe in it. We’ll both get through this and get to the other side.”

  “You don’t think I’m selfish?” she blurted out. “I’m asking all these things of you and—”

  Another kiss. “No, absolutely not. Your needs are not worth less than mine. We are partners, equals. If you don’t want another wedding, we won’t have one. It’s okay because we’ll still be together. I might want you to take my last name and wear my ring, because I’m possessive and I want other men to know you’re mine, but your feelings matter. Always. You got married once when you weren’t sure; I will never push you into that, not even for me.”

  Her arm around his waist squeezed tight. “Thank you.”

  “The same is true for children. I’d never push you in this. Never. I need you, Persy, first and last. We’ll handle everything else in-between.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He nodded. “We’ll work it out. Now stop worrying and go to sleep. We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

  “You can’t tell me what to do, Ronan Sullivan.”

  Another kiss.

  “And you can’t just keep kissing me to—”

  A harder kiss.

  “I’m not telling you what to do, honey. I’m telling you how it is. We’ll figure things out. In the meantime, if something’s bothering you, you don’t hold it in anymore. I’m not like your parents who forced you to keep it all bottled up. I’m not going to force you to pretend everything’s good when it’s not. And the same goes for me. If I have a problem, I come to you. I didn’t tell you how tenuous the job opportunity was because what you were dealing with was much more important. But I promise that from here on out, we’ll face everything together. Hear me?”

  She nodded.

  “I need the words, honey.”

  Her voice was soft and a little hesitant. “I hear you.”

  “I know you’re not used to living this way. It’ll get easier.”

  “How do you know? What if I—”

  “I know. Just look at Millie. She kept a lot of pain close to her, didn’t she? But now she’s getting more comfortable in her own skin. You will, too. You’ve already got a lot of confidence. Once I give it to you good and sweet for a while, you’ll realize it’s not going away.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yes, honey. With everything I’ve got, I promise I’ll take care of you. I’ll love you. I’ll believe in you.”

  Her eyes welled up, but she took some steadying breaths; she still wasn’t used to crying, to showing emotion. She’d learn that, with him, she wouldn’t need to hesitate to show him any part of her.

  “Thank you for letting me be me.”

  He smiled. “Thank you for leading me to the man I wanted to be.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, honey.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No need to thank me for loving you. It’s a privilege, I assure you. And one I’m go
ing to try really hard not to fuck up.”

  The corners of her mouth tipped up. “You’re doing a good job so far.”

  His eyes flared, going from that rich brown to dark chocolate. “Good to know. Now I need you to do me a favor.”

  “Anything.”

  “Stop looking so damn sexy and get to sleep.”

  Her smile got deeper, and she shifted against him.

  Fuck.

  “You know, it’s been a while since we…”

  Didn’t his cock know it? “So?”

  Her hand started wandering down his chest. “So, maybe we should…”

  He caught her hand. “I’m not fucking you with my ma and sister down the hall, especially not the first time after we’ve admitted we loved each other.”

  She pouted. “I can be quiet.”

  “Maybe you can, but I don’t want you to be. I want to hear every sound from your lips as I move inside you. I want to feel the way your pussy grabs my cock and won’t let go. I want to consume you, Persy, and that means both of us making noise when it happens.”

  Her face flushed. “Oh.”

  “Yeah, honey, so rest up. Once we’re back in Valleria, we’ll figure out a time to make some of that noise.”

  “How about tomorrow night? Your place?”

  He grinned. He loved that she couldn’t wait either. “Like my place?”

  “Your bed is amazing.”

  He chuckled and held her tighter.

  They’d be all right. No matter what happened with them—whether that was no marriage or kids, or even his uncertainty with work—they’d be all right. Because they’d be together through all of it.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sully always stood prouder when he wore a uniform, as he did now. He’d become a cop because a cop had helped him once, when he’d been a newly-teenaged boy and had done something stupid. He hadn’t been bad, not like some of the street kids he’d known in Dublin, but he’d been heading there.

  That cop—Officer Ben Richardson—had talked to him, learned that he was the only boy in a house of women and girls, and had told him what to do to be a good man. He’d never seen that officer again, had even looked him up once he joined the Garda, but he’d retired by then.

  That conversation had changed Sully.

  He had a feeling, as he entered the Cap’s office, this conversation would change his life, too, no matter how it turned out. The Cap had called him and asked him to come in barely five minutes after he and Persy’s flight had landed and, taking in the Cap’s expression, Sully knew something serious was about to happen.

  “Captain.”

  “Sullivan. Have a seat.”

  Sully sat down. The Cap was already seated, his penetrating gaze on him.

  “How was your time off, Sullivan?”

  “Good, sir.”

  “Did you feel it was an efficient use of your time, given the discussion we had a few weeks ago?”

  No hesitation. “Absolutely, sir.”

  Cap nodded once and leaned back in his chair. “That was a decisive answer, Sullivan.”

  “It was an easy question, sir.”

  “All right. Perhaps this one will be more difficult. What would you do if you couldn’t be a cop anymore?”

  Sully had always wanted to help people, as someone had once helped him. In some ways, in the Garda, he was an outsider. Many of his fellow officers were just the next generation of cops in their family. His father hadn’t been a cop.

  If he left, he’d miss the camaraderie and his fellow officers—both here and back in Ireland. He’d miss the respect of the uniform, even if that respect was dwindling these days. There were still good cops, lots of them, but not all cops were good; that was something else he’d learned.

  He was a good cop, and the world needed more of them, but there were other ways he could help. He’d have Persy and whatever future they made together. He’d still have his and Persy’s families in Ireland, and the new family and friends they’d made here in Masillia.

  He’d feel a loss if he left, but he wouldn’t feel lost.

  Therefore, he again answered with no hesitation. “Sir, I hope that won’t happened, but I’ll be prepared to handle it if I do. Life goes on, whether we want it to or not. I’d find a new living.”

  Cap assessed him for several moments. “Have you given any thought to the opportunities that may be open to you? Does one sound more appealing than the other?”

  Did that mean he might get offered one? Or was he getting kicked out of the force? “Yes, sir. I have.”

  He and Persy had spent the flight home talking about it, debating the different options he could be offered. “Sir, I’d like the opportunity to stay here in Masillia.”

  A few moments pause. “I see. And would that be in your current role as liaison?”

  If he stayed in that role, there was always the chance he’d get called back to Ireland. Persy didn’t want to live in Ireland.

  He knew, however, that if he got called back, she would go, for him. She’d make that sacrifice to be with him, give up her peace in Masillia for him, because what they shared was deep and she didn’t want to live without him.

  Just like he didn’t want to live without her.

  But his Persy had earned her peace, and he’d do what he damn well needed to for her to keep it. “No, sir. I’d like to pursue other opportunities here in Masillia once my post as liaison is finished.”

  Cap’s eyes narrowed. “You’d give up your Irish citizenship?”

  “I’m not going to lie to you, sir. If there was a way to stay in Masillia and keep that, I would. But, yes, I am prepared to give that up.”

  “I see.”

  When the Cap didn’t say anything for several moments, Sully took a deep breath and just asked what he most wanted to know. “Sir, is anything even on offer here? Or should I start planning to live a life here not as an officer?”

  “Your timing for leave was not ideal, I’ll give you that. But both the Chief and I understood your need to do it. The fact that you still feel it was important—even if your job is on the line as a result—proves to me you are ready for what we’re offering.”

  Cap turned to a folder on his desk and flipped it open. Then he spun the folder around so Sully could read the document there face-up.

  He took the folder and the letter inside it. His eyes got wider and wider as he made his way to the bottom of the page with the Chief’s signature.

  They were offering him—officially now—the opportunity to stay in Masillia. He’d become a full-fledged member of the MPF and transition into a specialist role assisting other agencies ‘as needed’.

  And he’d get to keep his Irish citizenship. He’d become a dual citizen of both Valleria and Ireland.

  Holy Christ.

  “Sir?”

  Cap grinned. “Any questions?”

  Only a hundred. “I thought I couldn’t retain dual citizenship.”

  “Prince Marcello has recently passed a rule allowing it for transfers. Though you may at some point be asked to relinquish that citizenship, at this time you are not. Valleria is in need of good, experienced officers, thus the prince is allowing exceptions in this case.”

  Holy Christ.

  “Think it over tonight. Talk to…whomever may be important in your life and affected by this offer. If you’re signing this, I expect it on my desk by noon tomorrow. You’re dismissed.”

  He stood slowly, dazedly. “Yes, sir.”

  “Noon, Sullivan.”

  He glanced at the letter in his hand, then at the Cap. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank the Chief for this offer, too.”

  Cap nodded and focused on some papers on his desk.

  Sully turned and walked out. By the time he left the Cap’s suite of offices, he was full-out smiling.

  Persy was nervous. Really nervous. She hadn’t heard anything from Sully, and she wondered why their meeting was going on so long.

  What if he’d been fired?

/>   What if they hadn’t made him an offer?

  What if—

  “More water, Persy?”

  She jerked on the barstool at the sound of Daley’s voice. The Seashell was a little closer to his station than either of their apartments, so they’d decided she would wait for him there. She’d inhaled two glasses of water already, a feeble way to keep calm. She wanted something stronger, but her nerves were already on edge. “No, thanks.”

  “Something else?”

  She shook her head. When the door opened, she jumped then sagged when she saw it was just Hector.

  He caught sight of her and walked over. “How are you? How’s your father?”

  “He’s okay. Thanks for asking and for the time off.”

  He gave her a small smile. “Don’t mention it. Anything you need, you just let me know.” He glanced around. “Sully here?”

  “He had a meeting at the station.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Something wrong?”

  “I don’t know. I—” She cut off herself when she saw Sully enter. He scanned the pub, his eyes settled on her, he made his way to her, and he put a folder on the bar.

  She couldn’t read his expression. He was trying to hide what had happened.

  Oh God! What had happened? “Sully—mph!”

  This time Sully cut her off by pulling her off the stool and into his arms. He then dipped her as if they were ballroom dancing and kissed her long and hard.

  She vaguely heard the clapping and cheers as he finished and pulled her up to standing again. Dizzy, she grabbed on to him. “What happened?”

  “We’re celebrating, honey. Hand me that folder, would you, Hector? Thanks.”

  He started moving her through the pub. It wasn’t until they’d hit the bright day outside that her fogginess cleared.

  “What’s going on? What happened?”

  He told her what he was being offered as he walked them back to his apartment.

  “Oh my God. Sully! Are you gonna take it?”

  “Can you think of a reason I shouldn’t?”

  It all sounded amazing.

  Perfect.

  Maybe too perfect. She knew firsthand that a ‘perfect’ life could turn instantly.