“I’ll give you an objective ranking on who kisses best.”
Finn recovered first, his grin going maniacal. “I”m in. What does the winner get?”
“Nope. Not making that kind of deal.” Ronan held up a hand. “You consent to the kiss and that’s it.”
Afor nowburned the back of my throat. I wanted so much more from them than a kiss, but having them agree to kissing seemed innocent enough to gauge any deeper interest.
Declan ran a hand through his hair. “This is a terrible idea.”
“Probably.” Ronan stood and moved toward me in that slow, precise way of his. “But I’m not letting Finn be the only one who gets to kiss her.”
Oh god. My pulse couldn’t handle much more of this.
“We should draw straws. See who gets to go first.” Finn was already moving toward the bar, grabbing three straws from the container near the soda dispenser. He cut them into three different lengths, then hid them in his fist and shuffled them around before holding out his hand.
“Bree, are you sure this is okay?” Declan stayed by my side. He didn’t touch me.
He didn’t have to. Tension rolled off him in waves.
I tried to speak but words were too complicated. I nodded and rubbed my throat. “It was my idea. I wouldn’t have suggested it if I wasn’t willing.”
“Rules.” Ronan plucked a straw from Finn’s fist. “We need rules before this starts.”
Of course he’d be the one to say that.
Declan took his straw, leaving Finn with one. They revealed them to each other. Finn had the longest straw, so he’d go first. Declan the shortest, making him last.
“What are the rules, Bree?” Ronan tossed his straw into the trash and settled on a stool behind me.
I turned, pulled in by the magnetism stretching between us. “Needs to be a time limit. Let’s say two minutes. You’re allowed to touch.” I drove my nervousness aside. “Arms. Face. And back. Nowhere else.”
“Let your lips do the talking. Got it.” Finn bent his straw into a series of Z shapes. He threw his straw onto the bar. “Ready?”
Was I? Not really. Too many nights of imagining them kissing me rushed up, and I worried I’d put too much pressure on this whole situation.
Finn closed the distance in two strides and framed my face in his hands. “Tell me if you want me to stop.”
“Oh, you’ll know.”
Ronan sniggered and Declan gave me a thumbs up behind Finn’s back.
I must have lost my mind.
Finn kissed the same way he did everything, with complete commitment and zero hesitation.
His mouth moved against mine, coaxing my lips apart and sliding his tongue inside.
Warm, firm lips teased and pleased.
His hands stayed on my face, soft and certain. He took his time, deepening the kiss by degrees until my knees went weak.
When he slid his hand around to the back of my neck, I grabbed his arms to keep myself upright. But then he angled my head for better access and I turned liquid in his arms.
“Time’s up.” Ronan’s voice came from far away and right in my ear all at the same time.
Finn ended the kiss with a satisfied smile. “Memorable enough this time?”
My brain short-circuited somewhere, and I didn’t want it back.
