Page 4 of Midnight Sun

“Sorry,” Jamie mumbles, although he doesn’t usually apologize.

“Don’t worry about it.”

The soft voice with the melodic accent sends a shock ofsomethingdown his spine. Why must he run intohimof all people?

Jamie’s eyes have adjusted to the darkness enough to make out more details. His gaze is drawn to Finn’s broken nose. What should be a flaw makes Finn look even more handsome. Jamie’s fingers twitch with the urge to trace its outlines, but he restrains himself.

Finn helps him back into an upright position with surprising ease. Jamie’s stomach does a little fluttery swoop.

“Are you okay?” Finn’s hands don’t leave his shoulders as he leans down to have a proper look at Jamie’s face.

“What kind of question is that?” Jamie snaps and brushes the lingering hands from his shoulders. “I stumbled, that’s all.”

“You're the cute guy from the first row,” Finn chuckles.

Jamie chokes on his next breath. The cute guy?

“Then you must be the amateur who tied the sloppy harness. Your sub was lucky he didn’t land on his face.”

“Halldór's not my sub. And you’re sassy.”

Jamie’s phone pings. A glance at the display shows him that the car is ready, but Jamie feels reluctant to leave.

“Your friend from earlier?”

“My friend? Shouldn’t you expect him to be my sub?”

“No. He would like that, though. But you’re not interested.”

Jamie tilts his head. Everything about this guy makes him curious, and at the same time he wants to run away. It’s disconcerting.

“What am I interested in, then?”

Finn smiles at him. It’s a soft thing that makes his eyes crinkle.

“You were very interested in the suspension I demonstrated earlier.”

“It wasn’tthatintriguing.” Jamie scowls.

“And still you couldn’t take your eyes away. Did you imagine yourself in Halldór’s place?”

Jamie feels his cheeks heat up.

“You read me wrong. I’m a rope top myself. I’m not interested in bottoming.”

Finn hums and studies him. Usually, when Jamie treats other Doms like they’re beneath him, they react angrily or defensively in no time, but not Finn. He seems slightly amused by his antics, that’s all.

“Have you tried being a rope bottom, though?”

Jamie feels his jaw clench. “No,” he grits out, knowing very well that the admission makes him look like a moron. Everyone in the community he knows has been a rope model in one workshop or another. “I prefer to take private lessons. And I bring my rope bottom. I'm not interested in wasting time modeling for somebody else.”

“What a shame. You would look beautiful tied up.”

Jamie is speechless. Who does this guy think he's talking to? Seeing his incredulous expression, Finn’s gaze turns rueful.

“Sorry, this was uncalled for. I didn’t want to freak you out.”

“You didn’t. I just–don’t bottom,” Jamie stutters.