Chapter 13

Robert’s eyes softened. “You’re not going to lose me,” he said gently.

Noa shook her head. “I can’t take that chance. Not again.” She got up and threw the bloody rag into the trash and slammed the first aid kit shut. Robert tenderly reached out and gently pulled her back down onto the sofa with him.

He cupped her jaw in both of his hands. “The day I lost you, was the worst day of my life. After you were gone, I was alone. I had no one. I missed you every single day since you left. I mourned you. I never thought I would see you again. I just got you back, I will not lose you again.” He gently wiped her tears away. “I may have fallen for Princess Eveline, like the stupid, reckless person that I am, but you, Noa, Pirate Captain of the seven seas, you have my heart.”

She smiled at him through her teary eyes. “And you have mine.” She leaned forward and captured his lips with hers. Robert let his hands wander down to her waist and pulled her into his lap. They eventually had to pull away from each other to grasp for air. “I can’t lose you again,” Noa said quietly. “The last time broke me into a million pieces, but I fear that if I ever lose you again, that it might actually kill me.”

“I promise you, you will not lose me. Please, let me help.” She bit her lip and looked at him sadly, but Robert did not let up. “Look, I know their strategies. I know how they operate. Please let me help you. I promise you, I will not go anywhere. No dying, no getting hurt.”

“No.” She sat up. “You need to swear it. No idiotic choices. Not almost dying. No damsel-in-distressing.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not a damsel in distress.”

“Sure you aren’t.” She held out her pinky. “Now swear it.“

He wrapped his pinky around hers. “I swear.”

“Welcome aboard, Mr. Thorne. Now get your ass up, we have some planning to do.”