9. Kiki

Chapter 9

Kiki

His voice rumbles through me like a drug eliciting a delicious shiver. Goosebumps rise on my flesh. I have to concentrate just to keep breathing. That voice should come with a warning label: caution, extreme panty-dampening, low, raspy growl ahead.

He stares at me with those deep, soulful eyes, looking all kinds of apprehensive, and...wait, what’d he say? Please don't scream?

Ugh! Again, I feel like such a bitch. This gorgeous giant went out of his way to present me with flowers, and I repaid him by nearly rupturing his eardrums.

I clear my throat, trying to find my voice. "I really am sorry. I was just caught off guard, is all. I wasn't expecting...well, any of this."

I gesture vaguely around us, at the glowing cave, the steaming pool, and of course, at his large, muscular, furry self.

I wince, guilt twisting my insides into a pretzel. "I'm so sorry about the screaming. That was incredibly rude of me."

He blinks like he can't quite process the fact that I'm apologizing instead of trying to summon the banshees again.

He is magnificent. And his fur doesn’t look at all coarse and wiry like I might have imagined. It looks silky. I have the sudden urge to run my fingers through it to see if it's as soft as it looks.

My gaze drifts lower, to where the water laps at his torso, and I can't help but wonder what's going on beneath the surface there. There’s a red glow near his groin area. I mean, how does Sasquatch anatomy even work? Is it like a human's or...

I mentally slap myself. Stop ogling him like he’s a piece of meat.

I force my eyes back to his face. It looks almost human. Almost. A human with a thick mustache and beard. But it's his eyes that really slay me. Right now, they're swimming with wariness. Like he's half-expecting me to start shrieking again.

"I understand," he says, his voice a soothing rumble. "This must all be very strange for you."

Strange doesn't even begin to cover it, buddy. We're in uncharted territory here, off the map and into the wild blue yonder of bizarre.

He gestures to the pool. "Please, join me, Maria. The water's very soothing."

I hesitate, eyeing the steaming water with longing. A nice, relaxing soak does sound heavenly right now. Should I have some kind of warning bells going off in my head? Red flags waving frantically? Cause I got nada. Zip. Zilch.

I shrug and find myself saying, “Well, when in Grotto, right?”

I'm proud of myself for sounding relatively calm and collected, even as my heart threatens to pound right out of my chest. With only slightly trembling fingers, I start to undress, very aware of his gaze on me.

I strip down to my bra and panties and slip into the pool, a small sigh escaping me as the deliciously warm water envelops my body like a hug. Oh yeah, that's the stuff.

I settle myself next to him, acutely aware of his large, warm presence. This close, his scent washes over me, earthy and masculine, with a hint of pine. It's intoxicating, and I find myself leaning closer, wanting to breathe him in.

I can feel his eyes on me, and when I glance up, I nearly gasp. He's staring at me like he can't quite believe I'm real.

It's strange. I'm used to men looking at me with desire, with lust, but his eyes hold something different. Pure, unadulterated adoration. It's humbling and flattering, and…

Just as I'm getting lost in those fathomless eyes, that glowing beneath the surface gets brighter and it starts to pulse and hum.

At first, I think I'm imagining it. But no, there's definitely a pulsing, red glow emanating from the water. From him. I’m pretty sure it’s coming from between his legs.

Quickly, he cups his hands over his groin area and I’m not sure, but I think I detect a blush creeping over his cheeks.

"Uh, you wanna explain that?" I quirk a brow and gesture with my head nodding toward his cupped hands.

“I suppose,” he sighs, looking adorably abashed. "That's my, uh, soulstone."

I blink. Once. Twice. "I'm sorry, your what now?"

"Soulstone," he repeats, like that clears everything right up.

I shake my head. "I'm gonna be real with you, big guy. I'm new to the whole Sasquatch scene. You're gonna have to give me more to go on than that."

He nods, taking a deep breath like he's steeling himself. "For my kind, a soulstone is a sign. A sign that we've found our match. Our other half. Our soulmate. It glows and vibrates."

“A soulmate beacon.” I nod. “Interesting.”

"Yes," he says simply. "Although it's actually quite rare for a true fated mate pairing to occur and for a soulstone to activate as mine has."

I'm trying to process all of this, but my brain feels like it's short-circuiting. Soulmates. Glowing crotches. This is some next-level romance novel stuff.

"So…this soulstone thing," I say slowly, trying to form the question in a way that won't sound offensive because when he looks at me, there's such raw vulnerability combined with reverence in his gaze that it takes my breath away. "Does that...Is that...I mean, it looks like a certain part of your male anatomy is glowing, if you know what I’m saying.”

He sits up proudly. "It is located near the head of my cock.”

Oh, right, of course it is. Now I’m a little embarrassed because, lord help me, my mind goes there. I can’t help but wonder what it might be like to have sex with him. I glance discretely at his rippling muscles that the soft layer of fur can’t hide. He’s big. Powerful. And the entire atmosphere—the warm, relaxing spring, the cavern lit only by the bioluminescence—and a dick that glows and vibrates…

"You feel it too, don’t you? This connection between us?" His voice, all low and growly, startles me out of my reverie.

I bite my lip, considering. There's no denying I feel drawn to him in a way I can't explain. Like a moth to a flame. Would I call it a connection, though?

"I...I don't know," I answer honestly. "Today has been so overwhelming, I'm not sure what I feel yet." Lie. I’m so turned on I’m clenching my thighs. I cross my arms so he doesn’t see my nipples pebbled hard enough to cut glass.

“Fair enough,” He nods, understanding shining in his eyes but I also think I see a tinge of disappointment. "I know this is a lot to take in."

He's got that right.

“Besides. I don’t even know your name.”

“Gruffydd. I’m Gruffydd.”

“So, Gruffydd,” I ask, trying to divert the conversation away from examining my own feelings, “Sasquatches believe in soulmates then?”

He chuckles, a deep rumbling sound that sends little shivers down my spine. "Absolutely. But it's incredibly rare for one of us to actually meet the person who makes our soulstone sing."

I raise an eyebrow. "Sing?"

"Figure of speech," he explains. "It's more of a vibration. I assume it might be similar for humans, just without the physical indication. Maybe it's more of an internal feeling?" His brows raise questioningly and he looks genuinely hopeful.

I think about all the rom-coms I've binged over the years. "Maybe."

"As I said," Gruffydd continues, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "it's rare. Most of us never get the chance to experience it or to find our true soul mates. Since we have a significant imbalance in our male-to-female ratio. For every female Sasquatch born, there are about twenty-two males."

My eyes widen. "Twenty-two to one? Yikes. Talk about a sausage fest."

He looks confused for a moment, then throws his head back and laughs heartily. He’s still chuckling when he repeats, “Sausage fest,” shaking his head.

And just like that, it clicks. "Wait, so that's why you brought us here? Me and the other women? It must be. Because there aren’t enough Sasquatch women."

“Yes. That's why we decided to explore the possibility of human-Sasquatch pairings. It wasn't an easy decision, believe me. Some of our kind are strongly opposed…" his words trail off.

I remember the commotion from earlier. "Yes, I gathered that. We were all set to go on a tour after dinner until there was a ruckus outside our dorm that caused it to be postponed. It sounded like some kind of anti-human protest going on."

Gruffydd's face darkens, a low growl rumbling in his chest.

"Are we in any danger?"

He shakes his head emphatically. "Absolutely not. No Sasquatch would ever harm a human female, I promise you that."

"But they're not exactly rolling out the welcome wagon either, huh?"

Gruffydd sighs, running a hand through his damp fur. "The protesters are just...a vocal minority. For our entire existence, we've had to hide from humans, to protect ourselves and our way of life. It's not easy for some to accept this change."

I nod slowly. "I can understand that. Change is scary, especially when it involves trusting those you've always seen as a threat."

"Exactly," he says, looking relieved that I get it. "But please, don't let them worry you. They're more of a nuisance than anything. If they bother you at all, just let me know."

There's a protective edge to his voice that sends a little thrill through me. "Thanks." I offer a grateful smile. "I appreciate that."

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, the only sound the gentle lapping of water against the pool's edge. It's peaceful, and I find myself relaxing more than I have in months. Maybe years.

"You know," I say, breaking the quiet, "Frank told us we could leave at any time if we wanted to."

Gruffydd's body tenses slightly, and I see a flash of worry in his eyes. "Yes, that's true. You're not prisoners here."

"But there's a catch, right? The whole memory wipe thing?"

He nods, looking a bit uncomfortable. "It's a necessary precaution. We can erase memories and implant alternate ones, but only for events that occurred within the last thirty days or so. Any longer than that and the outcome is iffy."

I whistle low. "That's some serious sci-fi stuff right there. So if we leave, we won't remember any of this?"

"That's correct," he confirms. "But if you choose to stay...well, that's a permanent decision. You'd have to commit to living in Grotto and give up the human world entirely."

The weight of his words hits me like a ton of bricks. Give up the human world entirely? Never leave Grotto? It sounds claustrophobic, terrifying even. But then again, what exactly do I have to go back to at the moment? A life on the run, always looking over my shoulder?

I must look conflicted because Gruffydd quickly adds, "But that's not a decision you need to make now. You have time to explore, to get to know us and our way of life."

I nod, grateful for the reassurance. "Right. Thirty days to figure out if I want to become a permanent cave dweller. No pressure or anything."

He chuckles at my sarcasm. "When you put it that way, it does sound a bit daunting."

"Just a bit," I agree with a wry smile. "But hey, at least the company's not bad."

His eyes light up at that, and I feel a warmth in my chest that has nothing to do with the hot spring.

"Well," Gruffydd says, his voice taking on an eager tone, "since your tour was postponed, would you like me to give you a tour of Grotto? I'd love to show you around."

I shrug. “Yeah, sure.”

A split-second later, he's already moving to get out of the pool. I catch a glimpse of his muscular backside as he stands, and wow, okay, that's...something.

"Wait. You mean now ?" I ask, a bit taken aback by his enthusiasm.

He turns, water dripping from his fur, one hand still strategically placed over his groin. "Yes, now. Or...whenever you'd like."

I can't help but smile at his eagerness.

But as much as I'd love to explore this underground wonderland, my body has other ideas.

A massive yawn escapes me before I can stop it. "Can I get a rain check on that?" I ask, not wanting to hurt his feelings. "Maybe after I've had some sleep?"

His smile returns, bright and genuine. "Absolutely. Whenever you're ready."

I move to get out of the pool, but when I stand, Gruffydd’s eyes nearly bug out of his head. I look down, suddenly remembering my current state of relative undress. Sure enough, my underwear is completely soaked through, leaving little to the imagination.

"Uh, hey big guy? Mind turning around for a sec? Give a girl some privacy?"

Gruffydd slaps a hand over his eyes comically, and he spins around so fast I almost laugh aloud.

I'm not exactly shy. I did a Playboy spread, for crying out loud. But this? This feels different. Intimate. And I’m not sure I want to give the big guy false hope.

I climb out, remove my underwear, and slip on my jeans and t-shirt.

“Okay. You can turn around.”

His eyes roam over me for a moment, and I see something in his gaze that makes my breath catch. It's not just attraction or lust. I've seen plenty of that in my life. No, this is something deeper, more intense, and a little overwhelming.

Most guys I've known have been arrogant, pushy, only interested in what I could do for them or how I could boost their image. But Gruffydd? He looks at me like I'm the most precious thing in the world, and he can't quite believe I'm real.

It hits me then that it’s been a very long time since I’ve had sex. Being in WITSEC, living under an assumed identity, it doesn't exactly lend itself to romance. Or friendships. Or any kind of meaningful relationship at all, really.

And here I am, feeling more seen and valued by this Sasquatch than I have by any human in years. What did he call it? A connection.

Wait a minute.

Wait a stinkin’ minute.

Hold up.

“Uh…big guy…” My voice is a bit shaky. "Earlier, when you were talking about soulmates and your soulstone singing and all that...were you saying that...did you mean that... I'm your soulmate? ME?! ”

Gruffydd's eyes widen, and he takes a step towards me. "Yes. That's precisely what I mean. You are my fated mate. We are soulmates."

I blink rapidly, trying to process this information. "Uh-huh.”

He places a hand over his chest, right over his heart. "You are the one I've been waiting for all my life."

My head is spinning. This is too much, too fast. Part of me wants to run, to laugh it off as some crazy misunderstanding. But another part...another part of me is intrigued, maybe even a little thrilled.

"So what does that mean, exactly?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Gruffydd takes another step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "It means that I will be a good male for you. The best mate. I will care for you, provide for you, and do everything in my power to ensure your happiness. You will be cherished, protected, and loved beyond measure."

Holy. Crap.

I've had guys promise me the moon before, but this? The sincerity in his eyes, the hope. This is on another level entirely, and I really don’t want to burst his bubble.

"Just like that?" I ask, hoping my voice comes out teasing rather than terrified. "We barely know each other." I chuckle nervously.

He smiles softly. "For my kind, when the soulstone sings, there is no need to question. It always sings true."

I shake my head, feeling a bit overwhelmed. "Yeah. Alright. Well, that's...that's not how it works for humans. We need time. We date. We get to know each other. We...allow relationships to develop gradually."

I don’t want to hurt the big furry mushball’s feelings. He’s sweet. And if I’m being honest, I like him. A lot.

To my surprise, Gruffydd's smile only grows wider. "Then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll court you, Maria Garcia. I will pursue you, date you, and prove to you what my soulstone knows, and what my heart already feels."

I can't help but laugh, grin at the sheer absurdity of it all. "You're really going all in on this, huh?"

He nods, his expression one of pure determination. "I’m up for the challenge. You’ll see. We’re fated. Destined."

And you know what? Despite all logic, despite the voice in my head screaming that this whole thing is ludicrous...I don’t hate it.

I offer him a small smile. "Call me Kiki."