Page 17 of Midnight Sun
Jamie
Hrafna’slodgeisanirritating white spot of minimalistic architecture in the breathtaking wilderness of the Highlands.
Jamie slips out of the car, breathing in the crisp air and letting his gaze travel over the red rhyolite mountains of the Kerlingarfjöll.
Finn opens the trunk for his dog to jump out. Snjórwags his curled tail happily and jumps around the car to nuzzle at Jamie’s hands. He doesn’t have a thing for pets, but he instantly takes a liking to this fellow with his fox-like face and his soft fawn and white coat.
“Didn’t expect it to be so barren, did you?” Finn says as he follows Jamie’s gaze over the rugged landscape.
“No. I thought there would be–I don’t know–more trees, maybe?”
“Soft Wessex knight,” Finn murmurs and bumps their shoulders.
Jamie wants to be mad at Finn, at all his talk about Jamie being soft and cute. But the problem is that it doesn’t bother him in the least, because Finn appears so sincere when he says it. Jamie never knew he found it hot to be taken care of. But to his chagrin, it’s uncomfortably arousing whenever Finn directs his special brand of chivalry at him. Hell, who on earth gets an awkward boner from watching a man carry his overstuffed backpack? Jamie, obviously.
He follows Finn inside the lodge and inspects the rooms. Although the interior is modern and stylish, the accommodations are far more humble than Jamie expected. There’s essentially one open space with a kitchenette, a dining table, a tile stove and a large couch. The only other room is a freshly renovated but small bathroom. There isn’t even a bathtub. And the bed is a mattress on a gallery above the main floor. Up there is room for more beddings, likely bedrolls laid out on the tiles. It’s cozy. But there’s no way Jamie is sharing the mattress with Finn. It’s too risky. As it is, he doesn’t trust himself to keep his fingers to himself, and hooking up with Finn would be a tremendously bad idea.
“You take the couch,” Jamie decides before he can get tempted to do something unwise.
“Come on, are you afraid to share?” Finn doesn’t seem impressed at all.
“Of course not! I just don't need anyone disturbing my sleep.”
Finn turns towards him with a glint in his eyes. Some strands of his coffee-brown hair have escaped his bun and fallen into his face. Damn, Hrafna should’ve casthimfor the second male lead. He certainly looks better than most actors Jamie has worked with, and he isn’t even trying. Finn reaches out for Jamie as if he wants to touch him, but stops before the tips of his fingers can brush against his face.
“So delicate,” he murmurs.
Jamie shudders.
“I’m not delicate!”
Finn only hums and shifts a little closer. But still, he won’t touch him. Jamie wants to be touched, craves it even, and dreads it at the same time, because if he allows Finn to get this close, he has no idea what else he’ll let him do.
“Yes, you are. But I can get a sleeping bag and let you have the bed. I’m not folding myself on the couch, though.”
“Do that.” Jamie makes a dismissive gesture. Making Finn sleep on the floor should be to his liking. Maybe he can even convince Finn to sub for him? Now, that is an idea! But Jamie can’t shake the vague feeling of disappointment that Finn yielded to his whims so easily.
He should’ve known better by now.
After sharing the dinner Peter packed for them, Finn vanishes to fetch his sleeping bag and a camping mat, and Jamie retreats to the bathroom. When he comes out again, Finn has laid out his things next to the bed. Jamie’s heart does a confused little flutter.
Somehow the sight of Finn camped out on the gallery next to his bed, blocking the way to the ladder like a guardian, is just as arousing as if he were sleeping right next to Jamie. It gives him a sense of security that he desperately needs after the uninvited visitor in his hotel suite.
“Do you need another blanket? Hrafna has some stashed under the couch.”
“No, I’m good.”
Jamie settles in on the bed, pulling a book out of his backpack. Although the temperatures aren’t exactly summerly, he doesn’t feel cold. Finn vanishes into the bathroom before pulling down the blinds in front of the large windows. It’s past midnight by now, but the landscape is still shrouded in twilight. Jamie realizes it won’t get any darker.
When Finn is finished, he slings a shipping tube over his shoulder and climbs the ladder. Jamie can’t help but stare at Finn, who’s wearing only loose-fitting pants and a faded gray t-shirt. He aches to beckon him over to come to bed with him, but restrains himself.
“What do you have there?” he asks to distract himself from the tempting sight of Finn’s muscled arms and the ethereal shine of his eyes.
Finn smiles at him predatorily. The sight makes a strange fluttery feeling bloom in Jamie’s stomach. Finn flips off the cap of the tube and pulls out a bundle wrapped in cloth. He pushes the fabric aside to reveal the hilts of two swords with short cross-guards.
“Carolingian swords. This one is mine. The other I picked for you. If you’re good during training, I’ll allow you to practice with it.”
“For me?” Jamie feels irrationally pleased.