life.”
Jonah nodded. What the fuck was he supposed to say? There was silence, Jonah stared at his fists.
Maybe it would be better when Trey was gone. At least he’d get away from this stupid tension gripping
him.
“All right.” Jonah pulled in a breath and met Trey’s too-sharp gaze. “But I don’t see what I can say
about you leaving.”
“This isn’t about my leaving, it’s about you.” Trey pulled up the bench so he faced Jonah sitting on
the cot, their knees close but not touching. “First off, I’d like to come back here.”
“When?” Jonah said too quickly.
But Trey didn’t smile at his eagerness or his, let’s face it, desperation. In fact he looked more serious.
“That’s the problem. I don’t know when. It could be months, it could be more than a year. Longer, if I’m
unlucky.”
When Jonah didn’t respond—his heart was sinking over that amount of time, even if a part of him was
gratified that Trey wanted to come back—Trey reached over, wrapped a hand around Jonah’s knee and
gave it a shake, as if he was encouraging Jonah. He felt the warmth of Trey’s palm through his long johns.
He had kept on a long flannel shirt to hide any unwanted reaction to Trey, which was, God help him,
starting again.
“Jonah, I’d like you to actually tell me a little about 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 didn’t stop. So despite all of Jonah’s fears, he leaned towards Trey. When Trey didn’t back away,
when Trey stood strong as if ready to take Jonah’s weight, he nestled in Trey’s arm, asking for a hug that
was easily given, and Jonah buried his face into the crook between Trey’s shoulder and neck.
An awful relief flowed through him, like he’d been starving and hadn’t realized it. The knowledge
that Trey would have to push him away, and soon, didn’t stop Jonah from lifting an arm and hugging Trey
back. Still he was careful to keep his body angled away so Trey wouldn’t feel his erection.
“All right” was all Trey said, in that reassuring way of his, and even if he seemed resigned, he
sounded…affectionate. That was a good sign, right? Maybe Jonah wouldn’t wreck everything that lay
between them. They stood there for the longest time, Trey endlessly patient, until Jonah’s breathing came
under control. All the while Trey repeated his assurance that it was all right, that Jonah was fine.
Eventually, because it wasn’t in Jonah to end this, Trey set him slightly apart, and Jonah could feel his
gaze on him while he stared at the door he’d tried to escape through.
Trey cleared his throat, the noise more amused than embarrassed. “This wasn’t what I planned, for all
kinds of reasons, and I’m willing to explain some of them, but…you’ve convinced me we need to take care
of you.”
Despite being puzzled by Trey’s words and by the suggestive tone of his voice, Jonah couldn’t look
up and see what was on Trey’s face. Not quite yet.
Then ever so lightly, Trey passed a hand over Jonah’s rock-hard but flannel-covered erection. He
would have jumped twenty meters, except Trey’s arm around his shoulders held him steadily in place so he