An Acquired Taste

by Kelly Cain

  “I know right? That’s mind-boggling.”

  There’s a mind-boggling price to go along with it. “You remember that you don’t have a job, right?”

  He chuckles, rubbing his hand across my thigh. “I can manage. I spent this much on your lunch the other day. And that was just for you. Did you really have to order a $500 bottle of wine?” He shakes his head still laughing.

  I don’t even feel bad. He deserved it. “It was really good though.”

  One of the chefs comes over and explains how the food will be made inches from us. They utilize ancient cooking methods, so this should really be interesting to see up close. They’ll also bring out pre-determined drink pairings throughout the courses. I’m glad we aren’t driving.

  “I’m happy you enjoyed it. So, sit back and enjoy tonight just as much. It’s a special occasion after all.”

  I raise an eyebrow and tilt my head. “Is it?”

  He grins and leans in close, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “I was hoping we could make it official. You and I.”

  “I dunno. You don’t have much to offer. You’re arrogant, impulsive, petty as fuck… Oh, and unemployed with no prospects. Do you still live at home?” Before I can continue, I break out into a huge smile because Knox Everheart just asked me to go steady.

  His expression doesn’t change. Amusement plays at the corners of his mouth and his topaz eyes gleam. Even with no job, Knox exudes confidence.

  “Of course, Knox.”

  *

  I run water in the Jacuzzi tub and wipe the steam from the mirror to check out how my hair has held up tonight. I wobble a little and giggle.

  Knox appears in the mirror behind me, then his arm circles me, his hand grasping my belly. “You’re a little tipsy.”

  Words die in my throat because the image of him behind me, appearing more beautiful than anyone has a right, snuggling my neck, has me forgetting who I am. I mentally shake myself. “You aren’t? Thirteen courses and countless drinks. Seriously, I literally lost count.”

  He grins and spins me around, and I fall into his arms because although I’m not drunk, he’s right, I’m definitely tipsy. “I was wondering if you’d go to a thing with me tomorrow.”

  “A thing?”

  “It’s my aunt’s actually. Weston and Declan will be there too.”

  I lean back in his arms to see his face. “Um, Flynn’s sister? Is she here to watch the finals?”

  “Definitely not. She was Mom’s sister. She lives in Berkeley, and she invited us over for lunch tomorrow.”

  “Oh wow. How long has she lived here?”

  He puts his fingers in my hair, dragging his nails across my scalp.

  That starts the tingles rolling down my spine.

  “My mother’s family is from here. She met Dad in culinary school. She said it was love at first sight.”

  I move my hands under his jacket and push it down off his arms, careful not to let the beautiful fabric hit the floor. “I had no idea. I just figured she was from Austin.” I take his jacket to the closet and hang it up.

  He follows me into the room. “Dad’s family is, for generations.”

  “So the whole time we were in school, you had an aunt right down the road.”

  He nods. “Grandparents too. They’re in the Oakland Hills. I spent almost all my free time there.”

  “Really? I just assumed you were out in San Francisco like the rest of us. That’s a coincidence, because my father has a cousin in the Oakland Hills. We could have been blocks away from each other sometimes.” I unbutton his shirt and he watches me with a wicked grin.

  When I get to his belt buckle, he puts a hand on mine. “First, is that a yes, you’ll go? Second, what’s happening? I want to make sure we’re on the same page here before I get too excited.”

  “First, yes I’ll go. Second, I thought we’d take a little soak.” I pull the belt out of the loops and throw it in the closet.

  “I thought you wanted to wait. How tipsy are you?”

  “While I appreciate you asking, I’m not that tipsy.” My tuxedo dress is a wrap-style and ties at the waist. I pull at the knot and it slinks to the floor, leaving me in my heels and red lace bra and panties.

  Is it possible for someone to turn both red and ashen at the same time? Because Knox’s beautiful olive skin has turned a color I can’t describe. He bends on one knee and takes the shoes off he buckled earlier. When he stands, I’ve returned to my normal height, fitting perfectly into the base of his neck. He holds me for a long time, our hearts beating hard against each other’s chests.

  I finally step back and go to turn the water off, then call from the bathroom. “Can you bring my purse with you?” I survey my feelings while I wait. Seems like I should be nervous—first times with anyone are a little unnerving—but I’m not. Knox and I have been in each other’s heads for years, at times more intimate than what we’re about to do. Plus, it feels so right for us after fighting against it for so long.

  He walks into the bathroom in blue boxer briefs and nothing else, holding my purse in one hand and something clutched in the other.

  I set the purse on the tub ledge and reach behind me, unhooking my bra.

  Knox is still standing by the entrance of the small bathroom, watching me with intense eyes, his excitement evident through his briefs.

  I drop my bra to the floor and secure a finger in the band of my panties, all the while staring at Knox. I’d love to say he’s looking longingly into my eyes, but his gaze is planted decidedly south of there.

  He closes the small distance between us and hooks one of my legs behind his back, rubbing his hardness against my swelling nub. He runs his tongue against my mouth, then nips at my chin and neck, finally pulling one of my hard nipples into his mouth. The sensation is glorious—he circles my nipple with his tongue and gently bites. The other one gets attention from his skilled fingers, tweaking and rubbing.

  I lean back against the sink, enjoying the pleasure he’s giving me, dragging my fingers through his silky curls, but I want more. “Get in the tub, please.”

  He grins and grazes a kiss on my shoulder before taking off his underwear and submerging in the water.

  I get a good eyeful of his firm backside before he glides into the hot water. I bend over and turn on the jets and watch the bubbles maneuver around Knox’s strong body. When I remove my own underwear, he lays his head back and closes his eyes with a groan. I step into the water carefully and stand over him, reaching for my purse. “Open your eyes, Knox.”

  When I pull out the condom, he chuckles, showing me the one in his hand. “I guess we both came prepared this time.”

  “I guess we did.”

  He slides the condom on and starts to stand, but I hold on to the shower rod and place one foot on his chest, shaking my head. His eyes are dark and lust-filled, and he runs a hand up the leg holding him down.

  I linger there for a few moments, our eyes linked as he strokes my leg, water sensually gliding down from his caressing hand.

  I remove my foot and bend on one knee, balancing myself over his erection which is straining toward me, like it has its own will. I look at his face, and he’s gazing exactly where I wanted him focused. As I lower myself down his shaft, he bites his lip and grabs my hips, watching my slow descent the entire time.

  Knox’s cock stretches and fills me, and I feel like I momentarily lose consciousness because then we’re moving together and I can’t remember starting. My skin is hyper-sensitive wherever he touches, licks, sucks. Our movements are in lustful sync, and my insides are on fire.

  I lean down and when our lips and tongue connect, it’s my undoing. The orgasm hits out of nowhere as my clit rubs perfectly against him. I ride it out with delicious wonderment.

  When I come down, Knox pulls out. His gravelly voice says, “Turn around.” He moves my boneless body around to where I’m positioned on my knees, grasping the lip of the tub. The warm bubbles charge against my already sensitive skin and w
hen he enters me from behind, I gasp.

  He moves slowly at first, kissing the back of my neck, reaching around to caress my breasts, then something changes. His movements are more urgent and his fingers move to my clit, circling and pinching.

  “Yes, that’s it, Knox.”

  Soon he’s pounding into me and his breath is ragged against my ear. “Jesus, Rowan.”

  My release comes again, expected this time, but no less satisfying. Knox lets go with me with one forceful push, hanging onto my hips, the spasm of his cock vibrating inside me.

  After taking care of the condom, he pulls me back with him in the tub, positioning me on top of him, my back to his front. I never want to move from this spot, cooling water be damned.

  *

  We take the BART to Berkeley alone. Knox says Declan’s too good for public transportation and is taking a ride-share instead. Weston decided to ride with him. Which is fine because it’s nearly an hour ride and we have to change trains twice plus have his cousin pick us up from the station. The more alone time I spend with Knox, the better.

  I’m wearing a white sundress today because the weather should be milder in Berkeley. It’s June after all. I brought a sweater though, because we still have to go back to the city and I have no idea what time we’ll return. Knox opted for dark jeans and a long-sleeve Round Rock Express baseball shirt. I tried to convince him that it would be warmer where we’re going but he said he knows better than me.

  When we get off at the North Berkeley station, there’s a midnight-blue Tesla waiting for us. I turn to Knox before getting in the back and whisper, “Loaded on both sides I see.”

  He grins and shrugs, and shuts my door. If I thought he’d be embarrassed about coming from money, I must have forgotten who I’m dealing with.

  I watch the cousins hug in the front seat, then they turn toward me. “Rowan, this is my cousin, Carlo. Carlo, this is my girlfriend, Rowan.” It could be my imagination, but it sounded like he put a bit of emphasis on “girlfriend.”

  Carlo reaches over the seat to shake my hand. “It’s nice to meet you after all this time.”

  I shake his hand, but Knox talks over him before I can ask what he means. While they chat, I compare them. Carlo is handsome in a classic way: straight nose, green eyes, thick dark hair; but he’s not as pretty as Knox or either of his brothers. He’s nowhere near as tall either, probably closer to my height, although I can’t be sure since he’s sitting down. And although his hair is dark, it’s not as inky black as Knox’s either, plus his is straight where Knox’s is curly. His skin color is much darker than Knox’s too. Knox’s skin is fair with olive undertones whereas Carlo’s is closer to the color of my skin only his is more olive where mine is golden. It interests me to compare the differences, because I’ve never seen a picture of Knox’s mother and he doesn’t look anything like Flynn except in height. Flynn is Irish and Welsh, but his boys didn’t pull any of those typical Celtic genetic traits.

  We pull up to a surprisingly modest stucco house with a small front yard. There’s a driveway with a large wooden gate, and Carlo pulls the Tesla up to it on one side. I figured he was going to get out and open it, but he cuts the engine. “Home sweet home.” He jumps out of the car before Knox undoes his seat belt, and opens the door for me. It’s on the opposite side from where I’m sitting, so I scoot across the faux-leather seat and take his proffered hand to help me out.

  Knox makes it around the car and punches his cousin in the arm, then grabs my hand to stroll up the walkway. “Such an ass.”

  Carlo falls out into fits of laughter and then I really see the similarity between the cousins. That uninhibited laughter is totally a family trait.

  Knox opens the door without knocking and my stomach flutters. I’m actually meeting his family as his girlfriend. Surreal to say the least. There’s talking and laughter coming from another room, and Knox ushers us that way, but then I spot paintings on a photo wall in the foyer leading into the living room and freeze, holding Knox back. There’s a rendering of the tattoo on his chest and a couple other landscapes that are probably from the same area along with one of a beautiful manor house. Then there are paintings of several people. The one that brings me up short is of a beautiful woman who has to be Knox’s mother because the resemblance is striking. The only thing that throws me off is that she’s…blond.

  I look at Knox, then back at the painting. “She’s gorgeous.”

  He nods, sorrow creasing his brow even though he offers me a smile. “She was.”

  “And you are her spitting image.” I look up at his hair and trace my fingers through the glossy strands.

  “Ah, yes, except the hair.”

  Carlo enters through the front door as a woman about Mama’s age strides through the living room toward us. She’s blond as well, and I look between her and Carlo who is her twin. What’s with this family’s weird genetics?

  Knox drops my hand and throws both arms around his aunt, lifting her off the floor. She’s petite and pretty, although not as beautiful as her sister. When Knox lets her stand on her own again, she hits his chest. “Ah, caro. Silly boy. It’s good to see you too.” Although she uses the Italian endearment, she speaks perfectly NoCal-accented English.

  She looks past him to me, and a wide smile splits her face. She looks back to Knox. “Amore?”

  Matching blue eyes swing my way. Knox says, “Aunt Kara, this is my girlfriend.” He pauses, then sighs heavily, resignation tinging his voice. “Rowan Townsend.”

  She gasps, placing a hand over her mouth. Then she strides to me and spreads her arms wide.

  I stumble into them, thoroughly confused. “Hi, um, Ms. Kara?” Hopefully that works because Knox failed to say her last name.

  She hugs me so hard and she’s so tiny, I could lay my chin on top of her head if I chose to. This embrace I know though because it’s just like Mama’s. She leans back but doesn’t let go. “I never thought I’d see this day.”

  Carlo cackles on his way back to the front door, answering the doorbell.

  I look back at his aunt, confusion straining my thoughts. “I don’t understand.”

  Knox’s brothers join our strange foyer party, take one look at my bewilderment, Kara’s elation, and Knox’s embarrassment, and fall out laughing. Even Declan.

  Knox disentangles me from his aunt and pulls me into his side, placing an arm around my shoulder. “Okay, show’s over. You’re embarrassing her.”

  “I’m not embarrassed, just confused.”

  Since Kara is the only one not laughing, she explains. “I’m sorry, cara. This is just a surprise because we’ve been hearing about you for years, and we never thought we’d get to meet you. We’re happy because Knox has wanted this for so long.”

  I glance at Knox who’s staring at the ceiling, rubbing his free hand over his face. I center back on Kara. “Huh? Wanted what?”

  She opens her mouth to reply, but Knox cuts her off. “If it’s okay, can I explain to Rowan?” He slides his hand from my shoulder, down my arm, then to my hand, leading me up the stairs.

  Declan shouts from below, “Don’t stay up there too long, bro.” More laughter breaks out.

  Knox returns the jab. “Shouldn’t you be worried about Kasi instead of what I’m doing?”

  That silences Declan and puts a scowl on his face. He spins around and goes out the door he just came through, slamming it as hard as humanly possible.

  Weston stares wide-eyed at Knox. “You haven’t heard?”

  Knox curses under his breath, then sighs. “Heard what?”

  “Kasi broke up with him and went back to LA. She blocked his number even.”

  Knox drops my hand and walks down a few steps before Weston holds up his hand. “I’ll go. You finish with Rowan. We’ll meet you in the dining room in a few minutes. He just needs time to get it back together.”

  I’m stunned in place. Who knew Declan was capable of feelings?

  Knox nods once and turns back to me, shrugging. �
�Sorry. Where were we?”

  We pass family photos, and I get a quick look at a picture of Kara, Carlo, and a girl with dark hair a couple of years younger than Carlo, and a man I can assume is Kara’s husband. His hair is jet-black. Okay, that explains their kids, but what of the Everheart brothers?

  Knox strides down the hall with me in tow, then hooks a corner into an upstairs game room. This house is a lot bigger on the inside than it looked on the outside. There’s a pool table that doubles as a Ping-Pong table, a set of arcade game machines, and decorative boxes full of board games. He finally stops at the farthest couch in the room, sitting down and pulling me into his lap.

  I adjust the skirt of my dress because it had ridden all the way up, nearly exposing my underwear.

  If Knox notices, he doesn’t say anything. There’s no leering at me, and when I look into his eyes, they’re topaz which I’ve come to realize means love.

  He places his hands on the sides of my face and pulls me down for a sweet kiss.

  I smile at him, understanding finally making a blessed appearance. “You love me.”

  He huffs, offering me a lopsided grin.

  “How long?”

  “Always, Amber. Apparently love at first sight runs in the family.”

  “Say it.”

  He pulls me closer into his chest and cups the back of my neck where our noses are inches apart. “I love you.”

  I’m sure the smile that breaks out on my face is blinding, is jaw-splitting, is so wide, it hurts my mouth, but I can’t help it. I place my forehead on his and breathe him in, the familiar citrus-pineapple scent comforting me. “I love you too.”

  He’s serious, his face strained. “Do you mean it?”

  “Yes, Knox. Maybe not as long as you, but for a while. It was hard admitting it to myself, but when I left your room last month, I knew it, although I didn’t want it to be true. I thought maybe you were messing with my emotions.” I shrug, but my voice hitches. “And when you told everyone that you didn’t need to try to beat me, it broke my heart.”