Chapter 228

They sat in silence for a while, Muell running off to deal with Adrian. Noah was at a loss of words as to how to respond to Kyle. He was being as stubborn as ever, but maybe she was also being stubborn. They were both believing that they were in the right: Noah for going off into the hotel and exposing it for what it really is, and Kyle for wanting to keep Noah safe and protect her from harm. 

“Answer me something, Noah.” 

Noah looked away from Muell, busy supervising Adrian, and moved her gaze back to Kyle. His hand was outstretched, like he wanted to touch her but was too afraid of how she would respond. He clenched his hand into a fist and let it drop into his lap. 

“Let’s say you want to go on another wild adventure like this one. You want to go uncover another mystery and throw yourself head first into danger. Can you at least promise to take me with you?” He looked at her, his eyes staring straight into her soul. “That is all I am asking. For me to accompany you next time you do something like this. For… For both of our sakes.” 

Noah bit her lip and sighed. She knew that Kyle would be incredibly overprotective of her, especially after this whole ordeal. His eyes kept flicking back to where the bruise had been on her collarbone. She hastily fastened her shirt back up. 

“I’m fine now.” She said, holding her hand up to her neck even though there was nothing there. 

“Just because you’re not injured now does not mean you haven’t been hurt in the past, or will be hurt in the future.” Kyle said, his voice with a hint of sadness Noah had never heard before. “Allow me to be selfish for once and say this: it hurts me every time I see you getting injured. Seeing you slammed against that railing… I never want to see such a sight again.” 

“Oh…” Noah paused. She thought that Kyle was just saying those words to make her see his side, but he said it with such conviction that she almost believed what he was saying. “Do you really mean it? That you will always be by my side when out and about like this?” 

“I do.” Kyle inched closer, reaching out to Noah’s hand. Unlike the last time he tried, Noah did not pull her hand away. She allowed him to clasp his hands around hers, the callouses from years of training rubbing against her smooth skin. 

“No matter where or when?” She whispered, scarcely loud enough for herself to hear. 

“No matter where or when. I promise.” Kyle repeated, his thumb stroking over the back of her hand. Noah finally looked at Kyle, truly and honestly looked at him, for the first time since the start of their conversation. His violet eyes, which she had always secretly thought were pleasing to look at, were full of an affection she had never seen from him before. 

“If you promise,” Noah said after a brief pause, “Then you can’t leave me when I start to get on your nerves.” 

Kyle laughed, a soft sound that Noah couldn’t help but laugh along with. 

“Not going to happen, I’m afraid.” Kyle lifted Noah’s hand up and, after a moment of hesitation, pressed a kiss so light that Noah barely felt it. But it was enough to cause her face to burn up slightly. “It is not going to happen in this lifetime.” 

“That’s a bit dramatic, Kyle.” She said, her skin flushed. “But I appreciate the sentiment all the same. And if I wake up one day and find that you have left me over night, I will track you down and kill you.” 

“Guess I won’t run away then.” Kyle inched closer so that their faces were close. So close that Noah’s nose was almost touching Kyle’s. There was a brief moment, a thought that passed through Noah’s mind that she was close enough and should pull away, that there was nothing between her and Kyle, but all thoughts left her mind when Kyle closed the gap between them and kissed her. Her brain went haywire as she processed the kiss, and how it was over before she could fully take in what had happened. 

Kyle, his face flushed, got to his feet and held out a hand for Noah to take. Still too stunned and in awe to say anything, Noah willingly took his hand and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. Her knees were shaking from the nerves, but she was able to walk with Kyle as they went over to collect Muell and Adrian. And as she looked down at their hands linked together, she wondered if this was where she belonged. With Kyle.