King of Pain // The Police

"We have arrived." Micah sweeps his hand dramatically as the cabin comes into view.

Alison's friend, Misty, pulls her car up to the sidewalk, after diligently following Micah's directions from the venue. He and I had walked over to the festival from the cabin, so Misty offered to drive us back rather than try to remember the directions Micah rattled off. Some of the roads directly through the resort don't show up on a map so Google wasn't going to help the girl out.

"Are you kidding me?" Misty says, taking in the accommodations with wide eyes. "I thought, cabin; rustic and dirty, maybe an outhouse. I don't know. But this is like a luxury vacay hot spot."

The cabin porch is lit up, too bright for my liking, and showing off the fact that this is no sloppy backwoods lean-to. Most of the surroundings out here are pitch dark, so the buildings on site tend to have harsh exterior lights. Micah's uncle must have been sued or something. Why else would he ruin the sense of nature with these blinding spotlights? I bet someone with an axe to grind, or who needed a cash payoff, tripped on a step in the dark and sued the pants off of Micah's uncle.

Or I have trust issues and an active imagination. Both are possibilities.

"It's huge!" Misty is still gaping as we climb out of her car. There are several multi-level cabins in this section, all private and separated by a bunch of trees for a feeling of seclusion. Each of them have sitting porches, fully functional chef's kitchens and up to six bedrooms. There are private spas in the back and trails that lead right to the creek. The three bathrooms, each with multi-spray showerheads and jacuzzi tubs, are a far cry from a dirty outhouse. Much more than a group of college students here for one night could possibly need, but Micah's motto is, go big or go home.

"Where's Charlie?" I ask, wondering if he'll ever go big with her. It's obvious he's got a boner for the girl but the guy refuses to admit a thing. She didn't follow behind us to the cabin. Now that I think back on it, she jumped in her car and took off the second Micah claimed shotgun in Misty's car. Alison and I took up the backseat. I can still feel the heat on my arm from when I had it slung across her shoulder.

"She had to check on her sister and thought she'd run home to grab some spare clothes for our tag-alongs."

I punch him in the arm. "Be nice."

"Trust me I am. I kept my mouth shut the entire drive here, man. I could have back seat shamed you...but I didn't. Don't think I didn't see the moves you were making." He doesn't give me a chance to set him straight before he turns to Misty and Alison who are both staring at the cabin. "Let's get this afterparty started." Micah rubs his hands together, a wicked glint sparkling in his eye.

Maybe this was a crap idea after all.

Alison slides up next to me as we ascend the few steps to the door. "After party? I thought we'd all just crash."

"You can if you want. No pressure. I'm kind of amped so I'll probably be up for a while. I'm not sure Micah ever sleeps, to be honest."

"How long have you known him?" she asks as we step through the front door. The girl stops in her tracks to check out the interior of the cabin.

"Holy crap."

Alison is as struck by the inside as she was the front porch. I've been coming here so long, been living the so-called luxury life since I was born so this is nothing out of the ordinary. I take a look around and try to see it from her perspective. Micah's already got a fire in the fireplace, just a switch for the gas to pop on. The living area blends in with the kitchen and dining rooms, the open space filled with upscale furniture. Everything is luxury. Floor to ceiling picture windows in the back of the main room overlook an amazing view of the mountains, even better in the winter when the snow covers the entire scene. Overstuffed couches and loungers surround the sitting area. The kitchen is packed with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. I doubt any of it will be put to use before we have to book it home.

"Let me show you around," I say as I grab her by the hand. Alison looks down at our entwined fingers then back up into my eyes. There's a soft smile on her lips and I'm tempted to kiss her.

But I don't.

Instead, I tour her around the kitchen and down the hall to the first of four bedrooms. Micah took the master on the ground floor, so I don't bother showing her inside. We hit the stairs and I show her my room. As we step inside, the atmosphere changes. Dramatically.

Suddenly I'm noticing the bed and the girl standing next to me seems to as well. I look over to Alison, catching her shooting me a glance before she turns to the window.

"Um, this is nice."

I know she's feeling what I'm feeling based on the way her voice breaks. Heat. It's not awkward between us. No, it's something else that's keeping both of us from lunging for each other and tearing our clothes off. I'm not Gio, a total player with questionable morals. In the month that I've known him, he's had a different girl every other day. That's not me. I don't do hook ups. I don't want Alison to think that's what I'm expecting.

"Yeah, the resort is pretty sweet. I'll show you where you and Misty can sleep. You're probably tired." I give her an out if she's feeling like she needs space.

"Okay."

I resist the sigh of disappointment. I want to hang out with her more. But I tell myself tonight doesn't have to be the end. I'm determined to see Alison again. Hopefully she'll want that, too. We check out the other bedrooms and Alison picks the one across the hall from mine. I try not to wonder if that's a sign.

"I'm going to grab a late-night snack." I'm standing in the doorway watching as Alison explores the room. I hesitate to ask her to join me, not wanting to pressure her, then tell myself to stop with the second guessing. The girl is into me. I can tell. That's not in question. What I haven't figured out is what she wants to do about it. And what I'm ready to offer her.

Fuck it. I walk over to where she's standing next to the dresser. My fingers find hers, gently gripping her hand, and lower my voice.

"Are you hungry?"

Alison looks up into my eyes and I can't resist anymore. I lean down, closer to her, as she seems to rise up to meet me.

And then I'm kissing her. Our lips brush together, warmth coursing through me. It's gentle, tender. I don't grab her and pull her closer, I don't wrap my arms around her and press myself against her. I don't open my mouth and let my tongue find hers.

But I want to. I want all of those things and more. It's overwhelming how strongly this attraction to Alison has gripped me, only hours after first setting eyes on her.

Instead, I let my lips brush against hers once, twice...a third time, before pulling back to gauge her reaction. By the peaceful look on her face I know it was perfect.

"I don't do this," she says.

"Me neither." We both whisper the confession.

"What is this?" She looks at me with wide, innocent eyes.

"It's what I said before. Meant to be." I press my forehead to hers. "Listen, I don't want to come on too strong. Or push you away. Or pressure you at all." Alison nods but says nothing so I continue. "The second I saw you I felt this. I don't want to ruin it by moving too fast."

Alison closes her eyes and leans into me, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me close. "I don't either."

Other guys might be disappointed, but I only feel relief. I kiss her cheek, grab her by the hand and pull her with me downstairs. We grab some ice cream that Micah's uncle stocked for us and go sit on the floor by the fireplace. I have no idea where Micah went but Misty is sitting on the couch digging through a bag.

"Charlie brought us some emergency supplies. I think she and Micah are going in the spa, but I'm beat so I'm going to scrub this clown makeup off my face and go to sleep."

"Sounds good. Jeff and I are going to have a snack. Our room is the top of the stairs on the right."

Misty pulls some clothes out of the bag, waves us goodnight and heads upstairs. Alison and I are alone once again but this time its comfortable. The heat between us has cooled in the sense that we're both on the same page.

"So, you really never do this?" Alison asks, her tone teasing and light.

"Nope." I grab another spoonful of ice cream. "I'd rather get to know someone than wake up next to a stranger."

Alison smiles. "Good to know."

I take a minute to really look at her. The firelight is casting a warm glow over us. Her long hair spills over one shoulder in waves. We took our boots off when we walked in and now Alison has her sock covered feet curled up under her. She's perfect.

The sliding door squeaks open as Micah steps inside followed by Charlie. She looks pissed and doesn't say a word as she stomps to the stairs and disappears.

"What happened?" I ask watching her go.

"Who knows," Micah says with a shrug. He plops down on the sofa and locks eyes on us. "So has the camp counselor made his move?" He wiggles his eyebrows at Alison.

"You sound like Gio. Leave us alone." Micah doesn't usually give me a hard time but tonight he's been dishing it out. "What's up with you?"

He groans, runs his hand through his hair and slouches into the cushions. "I don't know." I don't miss the glance he throws to the stairway.

Ah. I lean toward him and lower my voice.

"Just tell her."

Micah shoots a glare my way. "Nothing to tell." He stands up abruptly and stomps into the kitchen. We can hear him opening and closing cabinets, grumbling unintelligibly before he apparently gives up and walks to the hall.

"Good night."

"Good night," we both say.

When we hear his bedroom door close Alison looks at me.

"Wow. He's got it bad."

I nod. "Total denial. Gio was right."

"So, how do you all know each other? High school?"

Right, she had started to ask me when we got here but then the home tour and the kissing took over.

"Nah. Football. We just met when team practice started. But these guys have already become good friends. I'm also playing with my friend, Matt. We did go to high school together, and now we're at the same University. But he's in love, so I never see the guy."

Now that he's dating my cousin, Hannah, you'd think I'd see him more rather than less. But that hasn't been the case. The two of them are inseparable. They spent a few months getting to know each other over text so once they were together in person, they haven't looked back. I'm proud of the guy for how far he's come. I would never have supported him with Hannah if he hadn't made a huge attitude shift. But I saw it with my own eyes through senior year. He's a new man. I'm glad he and Hannah found each other.

"It was like that with Misty for a while. She dated a guy all through high school, moved in with him the day after graduation. Then a week later she found him cheating on her with the neighbor."

"Damn."

"Yeah." Alison clears her voice before speaking again. "So, what university do you go to?" She sounds apprehensive and it makes me wonder if she's worried that I go to school far away.

"Just down the hill. Fallbrook."

I watch as Alison swallows then looks up at me. Something's changed in her eyes but I can't put my finger on it.

"Oh yeah? What year?"

"Freshman."

She nods. "Me, too."

"You go to Fallbrook?" That would be awesome.

"No. I meant I'm also a freshman. But I'm just doing an online degree."

"Nothing wrong with that." I hate that she sounds embarrassed.

"Not everyone agrees." She shrugs.

That's my cue to scoot closer and wrap my arm around her. "Well, then they suck."

She looks up into my eyes. A warm energy stirs between us and I can't help myself. I dip down and capture her lips with mine, this time letting the heat between us lead me. I press closer, moving my mouth over hers, swallowing her sigh as I tease her with my tongue. I'm rewarded as she opens for me, allowing me to explore, and I do. I've never been so content, so absolutely drawn to someone the way I'm drawn to her.

We spend a while making out, something I haven't done in a long time. I'm the guy who's usually on the edges of the scene. The girls I disappear with at parties end up spilling all of their frustrations to me instead of hooking up with me. I've always been okay with that. I don't want notches on my bedpost.

But this, with Alison, is what I've been missing. Connection and desire mixed with a level of restraint.

I just hope we both still want more tomorrow.

Ugh! This was so hard to write for some reason! And I'm not satisfied with where this chapter went. Once again, ugh. I'm hoping the next part starts flowing. I have a full novel outline (which is really just a bullet point for each part) but if you read my stuff you know that really means nothing. I think I'm trying too hard to control them, and maybe I need to let them take over.

We'll see...

But music! I realized the other day that Jeff's sound is The Police. It's got a beat, a slight edge without being harsh, and the lyrics are a contradiction to the sound. You'll see what I mean as the story progresses. King Of Pain is Jeff's character. He feels like he's destined to be the buddy, the third wheel, the one who never gets the girl. So Alison is not what he ever expected to find. BUT you should know by now that its WAY TOO EARLY for things to be smooth sailing.

More about that as the plot unfolds!

https://youtu.be/SZlRX03BzeA

If you are just starting the Fallbrook Hills Universe, you will want to check out the other stories in this series:

Not Quite Enough (April and Nico), More Than This (Amber, Garret and Matt), All There Is (Matt and Hannah) and then this story, All It Took. Inevitable also takes place in the same Universe but its timeline is before this series.