Lynx Northern Shifters 3

orgasm as long as possible, and only when Jonah was completely lax did Trey withdraw.
His eyes crinkled, warm and loving, his face open and smiling, and this was perhaps his greatest gift to Jonah. Or so Jonah thought until Trey said, “Do you really want me?”
Though Jonah felt boneless, all tension gone, he nodded, because the offer sent a thrill through him, and he knew he would tighten with passion in no time at all. “You have to make sure I don’t hurt you.”
Trey’s eyelids went to half-mast. “I can do that.”

Chapter Eleven
    Jonah found he was more nervous now than at any time since before Trey had made it clear he was interested in Jonah sexually. He watched Trey move, all muscle beneath the too-tight clothing, Jonah’s clothing, that he wore. He declared it his turn to stoke the fire and heat the food, told Jonah to keep warm.
    As if sensing his nervousness, Trey glanced over at Jonah. “You need to eat a bit more. You’re on the thin side.”
“I’ve always been.”
Trey inclined his head in acknowledgment. “It can be dangerous for a shifter, given the way we can use our resources too quickly and become weak.”
Jonah had noted that Trey ate with due diligence more than gusto but had put that down to him not being terribly enthusiastic about the food supply here.
“I’ll try to eat more,” Jonah offered.
“Good.”
They settled on the cot, facing each other as they ate out of the wooden bowls his mother had carved all those years ago. He should try to focus on her good points more, what she’d set up for him here, how she’d loved him. But sometimes, her inadequacies overwhelmed the better memories. She’d been unable to keep shitty men out of her life, and she’d favored him over Craig. You couldn’t say such favoritism had led to Craig’s death, but Craig’s anger and stupidity had been driven in part by his dysfunctional family.
“Who are you thinking about?”
Jonah sighed. He hadn’t wanted his mind wandering this way, not when they were running out of time, but that was why of course. Craig had left him by dying, though, and at least Trey wasn’t doing that. “My brother.”
Quiet-faced, Trey asked, “Did you find him?”
Jonah closed his eyes on a nod. “He got lost in a blizzard. He shouldn’t have gone out.” He jerked his head towards the door that led outside. “The weather was like today’s, a storm calling. He got pissed off at me and I let him go, he was so angry. I thought I could find him before it was too late. I didn’t even wait that long to follow him. But I was wrong.”
“I’m so sorry.” Trey’s gaze wasn’t pity so much as fellow-feeling.
“I failed Craig. So did my mother. It was very hard on him, this kind of life.” Jonah was worried Trey would tell him Craig had chosen to go out in that blizzard, and he didn’t want to hear it.
But Trey just quirked his mouth, more commiseration than humor. “This life is hard.” With a sigh, he added, “I failed my brother. Left him when he was a toddler, when he adored me, left him to my asshole father. My brother never forgave me.”
“You were twelve.”
Trey lifted one shoulder and let it drop. Jonah was tempted to say it wasn’t his fault, he’d been a child himself and unable to care for another child, but he hadn’t wanted such assurances from Trey so he held his tongue.
“I leave people,” Trey continued, “and they become damaged or they die.” He gazed directly at Jonah. “You mustn’t do that. You wait here for me and I’ll come back.”
Jonah could wait, and the idea that it was important to Trey that he stay here made his chest tight with hope and pain. The waiting was not going to be easy. Still, he nodded. “As long as you don’t die, it’s a deal.”
“I’m a shifter. I won’t freeze in this blizzard or another.”
“There are other ways to die.” Jonah didn’t like the sounds of Trey’s FBI work.
“Don’t worry, I’m good at my job.”
This time Jonah liked to hear Trey’s arrogance, he made it sound true.
As he washed the dishes, Jonah’s tension returned, and he wasn’t sure if it was because Trey was leaving or because he felt a little at sea about this next step.
Trey’s arms came around him from behind, one over his shoulder, one under the other, locking his back to Trey’s chest in a way that made him feel very secure. Trey’s erection pressed against Jonah’s backside.
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want,” Trey murmured.