Page 24 of Between Two Thorns

Rose nodded at once. More. Whatever more was being suggested, she wanted more. She wanted more of…

And then, Sam was cupping her face. She wasn’t turning towards Del, and after the two made eye contact, he wasn’t pushing closer.

Sam cupped her chin, drawing her to face him, as he ducked his head and kissed her.

And Sam’s kiss was entirely different.

There was no hesitation in it, at all. He pressed close with a confidence that was breathtaking. His lips moved against hers in a practiced way, sliding together, warm and wet.

And then there was the feeling of his stubble. It prickled across her skin, tickled her nose, and Rose felt herself gasp as it tickled her nose.

Sam immediately pressed his advantage, and Rose was delighted with the feeling of his tongue brushing hers. The tips touched together first. Then he was exploring every inch of her like he owned her.

And it made her head spin in the most wonderful way.

This was not the sweet kiss at the end of the kids’ movie. Not the delicate but long awaited brush of lips… and the tilt of the head meant to make the moment more meaningful, but definitely not any more steamy.

Nope, Sam’s kiss meant to swallow her whole. And she wanted to let him.

He was the one to pull back, because she sure as hell wasn’t going to.

Rose had a breathless joy on her face as she let her head fall back onto their lumpy pillow. “Wow,” she repeated.

When the redhead looked up and her eyes focused, she caught the look on Del’s face—that was when she felt a sudden surge of worry. Would he be upset? Had she reacted enough for both of them? Was she supposed to react the same to the two very different kisses?

Del was biting his bottom lip. Looking back and forth between Rose and Sam, as if waiting for a queue from either.

Rose reacted on instinct. Raising up up at once, and just like Sam had done with her, she cupped Del’s face and pulled him into another deep kiss. A soft sound came from him before he pressed to her. Letting her tongue dance against his.

And Rose felt like she was floating, gloating, glowing over two damn good first kisses.

***

Rose didn’t think it was possible to have a better first kiss in her life. Sure, they’d had to survive a zombie hoard first—but if that was the price she had to pay for being sandwiched between two gorgeous guys and being kissed like their lives depended on it…

When the redhead looked up, she thought it might have just gotten even better. Sam and Del had both leaned in to kiss her again.

Instead of bumping into each other and laughing about it, they had paused face to face, staring at one another.

Even in the moonlight drifting in through the back windows of the ambulance, Rose could see their expressions; the way the full moon reflected off of Del’s wide, light irises, and seemed to swirl in Sam’s deep eyes.

The younger was barely moving, like he was holding the breath in his lips. He looked up at the older man. Like he was waiting for the other man to tell him what to do. Asking Sam to lead and let Del follow.

The medic took a sharp breath in. Was he surprised at the development in the younger man’s feelings? Rose didn’t know how long they’d known each other, but it was obvious they were close. Though maybe not as familiar with the side of the other that wanted to be kissed.

Rose’s heart beat up faster in her chest. Waiting to see what they would do. Resisting the urge to just smush their faces together like her Ken dolls.

In slow motion, Sam inclined his head to Del, asking permission to close the distance between their lips.

The dirty-blond hesitated. But Rose could see the way his mouth opened in a silent gasp. It was like a pure, wild, unadulterated hope.

The anticipation that this was finally going to happen. The same sort of thing she had been feeling for weeks as she planned her birthday escape from the Ranch and all it might entail. Sure, the zombies were a twist. But so were the two guys pressed against her hips.

Del nodded, and Sam finally moved.

A delicate brush of meeting lips. An unsureness that Rose hadn’t felt when the curly haired man pressed his mouth on hers. Maybe because she wasn’t exactly subtle about how much she wanted him.

Del’s want was beyond subtle; he almost seemed repressed.

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