Page 24 of Midnight Sun
Jamie regards him with a strange expression.
“You really want to date?”
“I told you I’m not interested in meaningless sex.”
“You do realize that I’m not the most convenient person to be in a relationship with, right? And my job is a mess.”
“I know. I’m not particularly fond of that side of the business. But you’ve grown on me. You should know that I’m not really interested in the glamorous side of the filming industry. But if you want some good old-fashioned normality in your private life, I’m more than willing to offer.”
A bright smile lights up Jamie’s features, and he wraps his arms around Finn’s shoulders, snuggling closer.
“I don’t know, the sex was far from ‘normal’,” he chuckles.
“Good.” Finn feels contentment spread in his gut. “Then rest some more before we return to the lodge.”
The sun is low over the horizon, bathing the landscape in a golden light. Finn runs down the steep slope of the trail and chases after Jamie, who has gained some distance. Reddish dust is stirred up under their feet and Snjór’s fur is already more red than white. The thrill of chasing Jamie is exhilarating.
It’s the third day of their training in the Highlands. They’ve made good progress, and spending time with Jamie is even better than Finn imagined. He’s kept his promise to take it slow, so they’ve mostly been kissing and cuddling after the hot spring incident. Finn never expected Jamie to be so snuggly, but he craves physical contact and praise. It’s endearing.
“Are you coming or have you already given up?” Jamie shouts over his shoulder. It’s like an invisible weight has been lifted from his shoulders after he allowed himself to submit to Finn. Finn loves to see him carefree and happy. He picks up his pace, and Jamie squeals as he takes a glance over his shoulder and finds that Finn has almost caught up with him.
Finn bumps into him and wraps his arms around Jamie’s waist, lifting him off his feet. They’re both laughing and clinging to each other. Jamie twists in his embrace to press an open-mouthed kiss to his lips. It feels surreal. They connect on a deep, visceral level, as if they were made for each other. It feels like they’ve known each other for ages. Finn dreads the moment when they’re going to leave the Highlands eventually and have to face the outside world again. He has no problem imagining Jamie in his life, but he suspects it’s not that easy for Jamie.
They jog back to the lodge side by side, Jamie retelling an outrageous story about a party gone slightly sideways. A strange foreboding feeling washes over Finn as soon as the lodge comes into view.
“At heel!” he barks at Snjór, who comes running back to them immediately. Finn quickens his gait until he is walking half a step ahead of Jamie. A rusty, sickly sweet odor tickles his nose.
“Do you smell that?”
“What?” Jamie sends him a confused glance. Snjór stops, his hackles rising before he growls, low and angry. Finn has never heard him make a sound like that.
“Something is wrong here.” Finn stops too and puts a hand on Jamie’s forearm to pull him closer. His heart does a pleased flutter as Jamie complies with his nonverbal command willingly, their shoulders bumping together.
Jamie sniffs the air. “Is that blood?”
“I think so.”
“Are there wolves around here?”
“No. There were wolves and bears in the old days. But they’re extinct now,” Finn says not without regret. Wild animals wouldn’t be that bad, but the stench of blood permeating the air comes with the notion of something destructive that can only be human in nature.
“Let’s have a look,” Jamie says, nudging Finn’s shoulder. Judging by his voice, he dreads what they’ll find as much as Finn does.
“Okay,” Finn says. He has to speed up his stride to make sure that Jamie doesn’t step in front of him. Finn coos inwardly; Jamie is adorable.
As they round the lodge, the stench of blood gets even more pronounced and Finn has to put a hand on Snjór’s neck to keep him from running off. A shocked little gasp escapes Jamie, and the color drains from his face as they spot the source of the stench. There, on the porch of the lodge, lies the severed head of a ram. It stares at them with unseeing eyes, and its blood is smeared across the door and poured all over the floor. Finn growls. He pulls out his mobile.
“What are you doing?” Jamie’s voice sounds strained.
“I’m calling my brother.”
“No! Don’t you see what a PR nightmare this is? We can’t call the police.”
“Are you kidding me? This was the same person who tried to kidnap you at the airport, and don’t you dare deny it. How long have they been terrorizing you? We’re not ignoring this again.”
“It’s not like that,” Jamie says weakly. “Come on, it’s a poor joke. We can’t undermine the filming by making this public and attracting a bunch of paparazzi.”
“My brother won’t sell this story to the press, you arrogant git,” Finn snarls. Why is Jamie so set upon endangering himself? And why doesn’t he trust Finn enough to let him help?