Dinner was amazing from the deliciousness of the food to the lovely conversation. We really learned a lot about each other. I found out we have a lot in common. I have to say this night has been perfect. I just hope it remains that way.
Now that dinner is finished I think it's the perfect time for her surprise. "Would you care to accompany me to a late-night stroll on the beach princess?" I ask and Marie smiled and nodded as a response. "I would love that" I smile and take her hand on mine and lead her outside towards the beach.
"The sky is beautiful isn't it?" Marie asked as she gazed at the stars. I couldn't help but focus on the beautiful woman beside me, my princess. The way her skin glowed and her eyes sparkled as the moonlight reflected on her skin. The way her black hair shined and flowed freely as the wind blew. All making her look like a goddess.
This was the moment I realized that there is no doubt in my mind and heart that I am in love with this girl. I always knew I was but now I truly understand that there will never be anyone else but her. "Yes it sure is" I reply not once taking my gaze off my princess, not once looking at the sky.
This was it, it's now or never. "Marie?" I asked nervously. I am not sure if what I'm about to do is a good idea or if it's a big mistake but right this second I don't want to think. I don't care of what happens after I just want to share this with her. I want to be with her the right way. I want to give myself to her, I want her to love me, all of me, the real me.
No more masks, no more lies, no more nicknames, or secrets, no interruptions, or danger just her, I and our feelings. "Yes?" she responds still keeping her gaze in the sky. "Well, I have been thinking and I want to show you who I am, you know the real me, all of me." As I finish speaking her gaze immediately drops from the sky and lands on me.
"What? Are you sure? Shadow you don't have to if you don't want to. I know that you are not ready and I don't want you to think that just because of what happened this morning you have to. Don't think that I will feel bad if you don't I understand I truly do and I care about you with or without the mask."
My stomach turns at her words. I feel like millions of butterflies invaded it. I smile at her. I know that she had been curious before but she has always respected my decisions. I know I want to do this. She deserves that much.
"Luke, my name is Luke." I replied nervously. She smiles at me "Luke is a beautiful name. You know I once knew someone with that name. Well, I know him sort of. We go to school together but we don't really talk. Anyways I love that name." She blushed and looked away nervously, I mimicked her actions. Yeah you do princess, you do.
"I am ready princess and I really want to show you. I want to share this with you, I want no more secrets between us, I want to be here by your side but I need to know if this is something you want as well. I need to know if you are ready for what could come from this. Princess Things can get real dangerous after and all I care about it's your safety."
I need her to know the truth. I need her to be aware that if anyone knows that she is aware of my identity the will come after us. They will try to hurt her, me, and our families. I trust her with my life but is she ready to face what there is to come?
My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of her beautiful words. "Luke I am ready for anything. I am not afraid, not anymore, not as long as I am with you. I will always stand by you whether you are wearing a mask of not." Marie then grabs my hands and our eyes meet. I can see love and care in her eyes and I begin to feel insecure.
Will she still look at me the same after she finds out? What if she is disappointed? What if she hates me? What will happened when she finds out I am that same boy in her classes? I decided to voice my thoughts but my voice begins to tremble cracking towards the end. "What if you hate me? What if you are disappointed? I don't"
"Shadow you could never disappoint me, I will never hate you. Even if you happened to be my worst enemy I couldn't hate you. You have been so good to me and I will be by your side no matter who you are. Mask or no mask you are you. You are amazing."
My heart filled with joy at her words. There are no words to describe what she just made me feel. I really love this girl. I can't believe that me Canada's most wanted assassin is here in the beach, under the moonlight, with the woman he loves, listening to her caring words and actually feeling love.
If she wasn't holding my hands right now I could swear I was dreaming. "May I?" Marie asked as she lets go of my hand and places it in the corner of my mask. I gulp and without being able to form out words I simply nod as a response. Marie then starts to gently remove my mask. I close my eyes trying hard not to see the face of disappointment she would most likely have. As she removed my mask completely I hear her let out a hard gasp and my eyes immediately flutter open.
"It's you!" she whisper yells making my heart drop at the sound of her words. I knew she would be disappointed. She is probably feeling a mixture of confusion and disillusion. I then take a step back and turn my back towards her trying to hide the heartbreak and fight back tears. "I knew you would be disappointed, I am so sorry."
This night did not go as I hoped it would. I always knew there was a possibility it would end this way but I sort of hoped that her words where true and she would be ok with who I was. Not being able to handle the silence I begin to walk away. I take one step then another but I come to a stop when I feel her soft hand on my wrist.
"Shadow turn around." I hear her but I refuse to turn "Shadow please look at me" She repeats but I just can't. I can't imagine what I would feel when I actually see her face of disappointment. As Marie notices that I won't be turning she walks around to face me but I lower my head and gaze at the sand. "Luke look at me, please" she says one more time as she places her hand under my chin and lifts my head up forcing me to look at her. Are my eyes deceiving me? Is she happy?
Marie looked happy, maybe a little relieved but definitely ecstatic. "I am so happy it's you" Marie whispers with a smile. "Look at me Luke do you see disappointment?" I shake my head as a response. "I told you once and I will tell you again I could never be disappointed in you.
I care about you whether you are Shadow Cat or Luke Smith I will always feel the same. I want to be with you, I want to walk by your side and be your partner always. Whether we are running from the police or living in this beautiful beach house I will be by you always. I mean I am seriously lucky. I just found out that my all-time crush and the criminal who stole my heart are one and the same." Marie then laughs. Wait did she say crush?
"I was your crush? You like-liked me?" she nodded as a response but the quickly added. "Yeah, you were, are but you never did speak to me again after that day so I kept quiet. I thought you hated me for bumping into you and let's face it I never thought that a gorgeous guy like you would ever like someone like me."
"Like you? What is that even supposed to mean? Why wouldn't I like someone as amazing as you? Marie you are gorgeous, sweet smart, caring, down to earth, humble, and a million other things. It is me that is not good enough. I never hated you.
In fact I tried so hard to stay away from you but I couldn't. I never spoke with you because my father prohibited me to. He said in our line of work love was classified as a weakness. He said if I didn't stay away from you I would end up putting us both in danger and he said that I didn't stay away from you he would make sure I would never see you again.
So I did or tried to anyways." As soon as the words left my mouth I felt ashamed. How dumb was I? I can't believe I stayed away from the girl I love, I can't believe I let fear dictate my life. I could have had it all instead I chose the business.
I tried to leave my thoughts and focus so I continued "Well, until that night. That night I kidnapped you and looked into your eyes I just knew I couldn't let you go again. My father was no longer here to prohibit me from being with you. I didn't think of the consequences I just thought about you and me.
I thought of us being together with no one in between. I figured if loving you would put you in danger then I would keep you with me always. I was aware the second we bumped into each other while I was wearing the mask would automatically place you in danger so I thought that if I kidnapped you not only will I keep you safe but I could have my wish of being with you. Marie I need you to know that even if I could go back do things different I wouldn't have because at the end it lead me here in the beach with you." I poured my heart out.
"Cat I am so happy you kidnapped me that night. There is no place I rather be than here with you." I immediately pull her into a passionate kiss. This time it felt different, better. No more lies, no more secrets, it was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulder. I had nothing in the middle stopping me from loving her. I made sure I showed her how much I loved her through the kiss and I felt the same from her.
After what was the best kiss of our whole lives I spoke again. "Now that this has been said and done. How about we get to your surprise?"