Lynx Northern Shifters 3

what’s going on inside your head.”
“Well, Trey,” began Jonah, irritated by the tone Trey was taking and irritated by himself for responding so sexually to what was a friendly gesture. “I’m thinking a year is a fucking long time. Is that what you want to hear?”
“Sure.”
“Sure?”
“It’s great to hear anything when you’re trying to get a conversation going.” Trey dipped his head slightly so Jonah had to meet his gaze. He didn’t want to meet that gaze which saw too much, but he couldn’t resist. Trey continued, “Of course it’s a long time. Too long. I’m concerned about it. If I don’t get back before the summer, you need to go down to the town where you buy supplies and mingle a little more.”
“Mingle,” Jonah repeated in disbelief.
“It’s not healthy for you to stay alone up here all the time. You’ve done great for three years, but you can’t keep pushing it.”
“ Mingle ?” The anger was building and he set his jaw when he looked at Trey. “That’s unsafe. I need to get in and I need to get out.”
“That’s your mother talking and I understand why—”
“You understand nothing,” Jonah seethed. “You come in here, live with me for a few days, and before you take off you think you can tell me what I need to do to stay healthy ?”
Trey looked annoyed, which normally would have upset Jonah, but not once he’d lost his temper. “Grow up and learn to listen to someone who has something useful to tell you.”
That’s it. Jonah stood, partly to get away from Trey who was too close and too warm and too intent. “You’re a tourist, passing by and impressed by my woodsman-style life, and then you’re gone. I don’t need your advice. And I’d like to end this less-than-helpful conversation.”
Trey stood too, stepped towards him, when Jonah wanted more of his own space. But he would not back up, give way. Trey, however, had gone all earnest again, not intimidating, and that made it worse because some of Jonah’s anger faded and he was left with an awful yearning that made it hard to breathe.
“I am not a tourist. Like you, I’m a shapeshifter and I’ve done my share of living in the wild. And I will tell you that shapeshifters don’t do well if they remain isolated.”
“You’re a wolf . A pack animal. I’m not. It’s hard to be around you at times.”
Instead of being shocked by this information, or offended, Trey’s expression gentled, as if he understood that Jonah was attracted to him, which, Jesus, maybe he did. Jonah’s face flushed deep red and he found he needed to get out of here, forget about standing his ground with Trey, forget about not giving way. As Jonah attempted to pass by, a hand wrapped around his upper arm and he couldn’t reach the door. He tried to shake off Trey’s grip.
Trey held on. “Uh-uh. You’re not going out there to freeze your ass off again. You did that yesterday, remember?”
Through clenched teeth, Jonah said, “Let me go. I need some fresh air.”
“For God’s sakes, fresh air is about the last thing you need. I’ve never met someone who had so much fresh air in their life.”
“Let. Me. Go.” Jonah was ready to snarl.
Trey slowly released his hold, and with some dignity, Jonah stepped towards the door, careful not to act like he was bolting. He still needed to get outside. But when he reached for the handle, Trey’s hand slammed down on the door, keeping it closed.
“Not today, Jonah,” he said softly, and there was something beguiling about the voice, a little huskier than normal though maybe Jonah’s imagination was making that up. If Trey only knew what was going on in his mind, he would be pushing Jonah out the door not holding the door shut.
Jonah stared at the hand, large and broad, powerful. Like Trey himself. He wanted to stay here, to be honest, to spend as much time as possible with Trey before he vanished, but it wasn’t possible with these feelings of longing, of desire. Bowing his head, he waited it out, though what exactly he was waiting for, he didn’t know. He felt like a condemned man.
“Jonah,” Trey murmured.
A shiver raced through Jonah and he couldn’t speak.
“Trust me a little, okay?” With that Trey ran a palm down Jonah’s spine, once, twice.
It was intoxicating, that caress, and though Trey did it to reassure him, not to arouse him, Jonah’s body didn’t understand that. Jonah’s body refused to flee, it shuddered under Trey’s touch, and Trey felt it all and