Page 9 of Between Two Thorns

The Kiss Quest

T his time, there was a remarkably unfamiliar tension that spiked through the chilly air at Rose’s request—but she still welcomed Sam’s rich laugh.

Del had just rubbed over his sleeves, obviously not warm enough without his jacket, and slid in behind Rose under the crinkly aluminum blanket.

There wasn’t enough room for anyone to lie on their back, so Sam, Rose, and Del were packed like sardines on their sides. All using the lumpy duffle bag she’d filled into a pillow. And…her body was vibrating with the intimate press of their strong and warm bodies on all sides.

Sam had his head propped up on his elbow, facing Rose, rolling those deep eyes at her joke. “Single-minded, aren’t ya?”

Rose gave a brief hum and a shrug. Double-minded, she would say—because why choose between them? They were both gorgeous in their own way.

There was no denying Sam’s appeal. Just how he carried himself and the square of his shoulders pulled her into his orbit.

Del was a less imposing figure. But there was something about his quiet demeanor and his facade of aloofness that Rose just wanted to unlock and figure out.

“I mean, if it is the end of the world after all.”

“It isn’t gonna be the end of the world.” Sam dismissed, though she could tell he was trying to be comforting. “Just some sort of outbreak.”

“Zombie outbreak.” Rose said, “Beginning of the apocalypse, just saying.”

“Well—” Sam cut her off, and she could tell that he was trying not to dwell on possible impending doom and the end of civilization as they knew it. Rose, on the other hand, had felt like the world was ending every other year since birth—maybe she was just used to it.

“ If ya still want that Cinderella kiss after midnight…”He looked at her eyes, and her gaze darted right down to his lips instead. Hoping, wondering, hanging on their next movement, whether they formed a word or pressed against her own. “Y’should ask Del if he’s alright with it.”

That threw her for a loop. Was it a rejection? Was he trying to push Del out front? Did this have to do with their conversation about how she was good with him? How they seemed to have a connection with Del that it had taken Sam years to form?

After what felt like a beat of stunned silence from behind her, Rose felt a derisive huff of breath blowing the hair at the back of her neck.

Giving her another pleasant shiver.

“Ain’t no prince charming.” Del said from behind her, his low gravelly voice even more pleasant on her ear than his breath playing across her neck. “That’d be him.”

Sam had a scoff of his own. “Oh please, I’m bout twenty years too old to be anyone’s prince.”

“For the record,” Rose interrupted the argument. “I think you’re both charming.”

Another laugh came from Sam, and she was sure she heard another little snort of a chuckle from Del.

He shifted behind her, up a bit towards the bench seat they were pressed up close to, until the fake plastic leather gave. And Sam turned his gaze towards him. And Rose could feel that same moment. That silent conversation passing through the air—literally over her head, on a frequency she couldn’t pick up at all.

Del was silent—and no, she realized, she couldn’t read his mind like Sam thought. Not when she couldn’t see his face and pick up on his vibe.

Whatever expression she thought she was going to see, she wasn’t prepared for the look on Del’s face.

It wasn’t hard, closed off, or pretending to be aloof anymore. It was the opposite. Grass green eyes were open wide in the dark, his chapped and bitten lips parted. Like he was in the middle of asking a question. Like his entire affect had been softened by the flicker of hope.

And Rose could feel her heart break right there. Wondering…why in the world he thought someone wouldn’t want to kiss him?

“It’s alright, go on…” Sam encouraged from behind Rose’s head. And her heart sped right back up into an even faster tempo.

Del’s gaze fell to her, looking at her own hazel irises, like he was making sure that Rose was alright with this turn of the tide.

She was more than alright kissing this sweet guy who hid it all in a tough shell.

Del ducked his head down, and Rose closed her eyes at once. Because, that was what you were supposed to do with your first kiss—the movies also told her she was supposed to pop her ankle—but that seemed like a distinctly bad idea with her wrapped foot.

Then, Del’s lips were on hers.

And, finally, a first kiss was everything Rose Woods had been dreaming of.

A little timid, a little unsure, but warm and sweet. After a fraction of a second, Del seemed to melt. The trepidation sank away, and he tilted his head to hers, sending the most delightful thrill through her. Like she could feel him opening up to her enthusiasm, melting under her touch.

Until he pulled away with a soft protest from Rose’s lips.

Her eyes opened, checking his face, wanting to make sure that he was okay—only to see him quickly glancing up. Over her head.

At Sam, like he was waiting for approval. Rose turned her upper body towards the older man, admitting to herself that she wanted to know what his reaction was.

“Wow.” Sam whispered.

And Rose felt a surge of…pride. Really. Accomplishment. That she had pleased him.

“Maybe…” Sam started, trailing off, his lips twisting like he was thinking. And Rose could feel herself and Del hanging on to how he would finish the sentence. “One more?”

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.

But Rose had felt the impulse of an aching longing from him the first time she saw his eyes land on Sam’s. He’d wanted this guy he’d always known to see him in a new, rose-tinted light.

So to speak.

The timid brush of lips heated up when the younger man tilted his head and pressed forward, inviting more.

It was like the traffic light above his head turned to bright ass green.

Sam moved in, deepening the kiss in turn, angling their mouths together.

Rose squirmed inside, but kept her damn mouth shut. Like she was going to jinx it.

She caught the shine of Sam’s slick tongue sneaking into Del’s mouth, making the younger respond with a heated moan.

Arousal rushed through her, warming Rose hotter inside than any shock blanket could ever do for her.

When Del shifted against her hip, Rose could help the squeal of delight that escaped her. Because he was hard against her.

That was what she was feeling, right? It wasn’t just the thick damn jeans all bunched up against Rose.

The guys broke apart at the sound, and the redhead wondered for a hot minute if they forgot she was there. She had to bite her bottom lip against a wide smile.

“Wow.” Rose giggled, repeating Sam’s single-syllable inhalation from earlier.

The tension broke and settled with another deep chuckle.

Del shook his head, reaching a hand up to brush his loose bangs away from his face. She saw him sneak a glance over at Sam before focusing back on her.

“Not bad?” He asked. And Rose didn’t know if it was directed at her or at Sam, but the hitch of his voice was certainly asking for approval.

“Not bad at all.” Sam confirmed, in that sweet and low twang of his.

Rose couldn’t help but let out a little bit of a snort. “Not bad? Just not bad.”

She leaned up on her elbows, looking back and forth between the two of them. “I’d say that was pretty freaking awesome.” She beamed.

Del blushed. Actually blushed enough that she could see it in the dark, which had to be actually one hell of a blush.

“Freaking?” Sam asked, cocking a bushy eyebrow at her.

Rose huffed, though her own face was warm. She was kissing two guys who were hot and older than her. She could do better than just that juvenile word.

“If ya want me to say fucking awesome, it’s gonna have to get a little more R rated in here.” She challenged right back.

And Sam, as he always did when she gave him sass, he wasn’t expecting. Tilted his head back and gave a rich laugh.

“Well, let’s see what we can do about that.”