Page 9 of Finding my Shifter Soulmate

"You have a history with a monkey?" He stares at me with an inscrutable expression. Then, a slow smile stretches across his face, and it's so beautiful that I can hardly stand it.

"In some ways, yes."

"You and your cryptic phrases. What does that even mean?"

He shrugs, and his t-shirt ripples against the motion, revealing a smooth expanse of chest muscles. He must work out. Like all the time.

When he starts talking again, it isn't to me, and it isn't in a language I understand. It's guttural, with a slight chattering, and a few monkeys jump around us in glee. I want to ask questions, but I'm too astonished.

All of the monkeys obey his commands, gathering by my feet and chattering back at him. Two of the smaller ones screech, and Gede scoops them up, showing them to me.

"Hold out your hands, Sabrina." I do as he asks and he hands me a tiny creature.

"Oh!" I fuss. "Gede, I'm not..."

"Be at ease. Do not take fear. Touch. Feel."

"What if I drop it?" I wrinkle my nose as it sniffles my finger, and I try to calm my breathing. "Aww. It's so sweet." I stare into its gentle eyes, and I'm enchanted by the wise look on its little face.

"And down you go, little friend." Gede takes the baby monkey from my grasp and lets it scurry back into the bushes. "Come, Sabrina."

He waves his hand in the air, beckoning me to follow him, and I slip through some dense ferns. The pathway opens up and the stream appears right in front of us. The noise of the water flows over the rocks in a continuous sheet of water, launching over a ledge and landing on a bed of stones far below. Gede takes my hand and leads me under a rocky enclave, showing me hidden foot holes carved into the graying wall.

The air inside is cool, and a mist falls over the stone passages. Inside it smells earthy, like the cedar trees back home. Gede lights a torch on the wall and then another, filling the space with a golden glow.

"I want to show you something." We edge our way further down the hall, and the light diminishes with every step we take. I cling to the sides of the walls, using the grooves as grip along the slippery floor. Up ahead, there's a wall of grey slate and indentations are carved into the smooth surface. Two hollow eye sockets above a muzzle and a snout stare back at me.

"Welcome to the Temple of the Barong." His baritone voice thunders throughout the cave.

As I get closer, the walls come alive with bright colorful depictions of the ancient Balinese protector in battle. The panther-like creature is twice the size of anyone around him. Along its sides, shadows are painted in attacking positions. The Barong here looks fierce, wrestling over beasts and saving villagers.

"I'm glad you decided to come here with me," Gede says.

"These are extraordinary paintings, Gede. How did you find this place?"

"I think it's better to say it found me," he replies in his cryptic fashion.

Gede stands beside me, his shoulders wide and blocking me in the cavern. My hip touches his and the tips of his fingers press against my waist, slightly guiding me to his touch.

I push back a stray strand of hair that's falling in his eyes. "You are a strange person, you know that? And I mean that in a good way. A great way, actually." I'm usually terrible with men. Why am I doing so well with him?

He leans in closer. The light from the torches accentuates the dark and tanned angles of his face, he looks more than simply handsome.

"I am not like other humans," he admits. "Nor will I ever be."

It shouldn't make me giddy when he says that. If anything, it should set off warning bells, but I choose not to listen to those, not right now.

"You are different," I murmur. "But that doesn't scare me." There's an inviting pull drawing me into him, and I feel brave and reckless. I move forward and rise onto my toes. Closing the distance, my lips brush against his.

A muffled, surprised huff comes from deep within his chest, and a guttural moan follows. His lips are lush and searing. I keep my mouth closed and pucker against his, my heart beating wildly. Then, he deepens the kiss, opening his mouth and leaning over me.

I drop a hand to his shoulder, steadying myself. His soft lips demand my attention, and all I can do is comply. He kisses the corner of my mouth, my cheek, and then licks down the sensitive edge of my neck.

His breath is hot, stinging my dampened skin, and he groans before his soft tongue glides across my throat. Instinctively, I cradle my palm against his head and twist my body to face him. When he adjusts with me, his muscular thigh presses against my leg, firm and unyielding. I'm in trouble.

I close my eyes and savor the sensation as he lap at my nape. With his face buried in my hair, he inhales deeply, and emits another groan. His scent is rich and heady. Leather and spice. It mingles with the scent of the sweet, wild roses.

Hooking his arm underneath my legs, he effortlessly lifts me up and cradles me to his chest. With every step, I bounce against his firm and solid body. I can't fight the rush of heat that clouds my judgment as I slip my arms around his neck. He lays me down on the smooth rock surface, lowering me down onto a natural cushion of wild grass.

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