They had been friends for years. The four of them were as different as night and day, but they all complimented each other in one way or another. Two girls and two guys, of course they'd tried dating each other once upon a time, but all found out that their friendship was better off without the dating.
The girls were at opposite ends of the spectrum. Both were attractive and athletic, but Beth was a little taller and more muscular. She had long blonde hair that hung straight to her hips. Her dark hazel eyes were as brooding as her personality. Lily was tall, but still fell a couple of inches short of Beth's 5'10" frame. She was curvy and graceful and at times could be quite eloquent. She was, by far, their favorite storyteller. Lily was friendly and outgoing, her personality sparkling like her sapphire eyes. She was often called "Lil Red" because of the coppery red hair that tumbled down her back in a wash of fiery curls.
The guys were a little more alike. Both were easy-going and good natured. Gabe stood at 6'3". His love of water was evident by his well-toned swimmer's body and a head full of thick sun streaked blonde hair that made his emerald eyes sparkle. Quieter than Jack, Gabe still had an open and inviting personality. Jack was the joker of the group. He was always ready with a wisecrack that would make them all laugh. At 5'9", with shoulder length brown hair, his brown eyes always shone with merriment and his mouth was always turned up in a perpetual smile.
Life was hectic for all of them, but they got together as often as they could. Rain or shine, hot or cold, if they could find the time, they'd grab the tent and hit their favorite camping spot by the river.
The weather had warmed up nicely and the four of them were stretched out around the crackling campfire listening to the crickets chirping. Fairly close by, a lone wolf began to howl. They all sat up and looked around.
"What's the matter, Lil Red? Afraid of the big bad wolf," Beth laughed.
Lily smiled and Gabe, being her very best friend, caught the wicked gleam in her eye that meant a story was quickly brewing in her mind.
"Mmmm...the big bad wolf. Would you like to know the truth about Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf," Lily asked the trio.
"Hell yeah, Red! Let's hear a story," said Jack, who was always a fan of Lily's tales.
"Alright," she said, and Lily began her story.
"A long time ago, in a small cottage in the woods, there lived a young woman of exceptional beauty. She had smooth pale skin and large blue eyes that always shone with kindness. Because of her fiery hair, she was simply called 'Red'. Orphaned as a small child, Red had been raised by a not-so-kind old lady that the girl had accepted as her grandmother.
Red was made to do all of the cooking and cleaning. She drew water from the well and chopped all the wood. Once a week, Red went into the village to trade some of the fabric the old woman wove for supplies that they would need. Occasionally the old woman would send extra cloth to trade for wine and cheese, a luxury she never shared with Red.
'Stay on the path! There are wild animals about and I don't want you losing my supplies,' was always the warning that the old woman gave.
Red safely made her way to the village and everyone there was happy to see her. She always had a smile or a kind word to share. She went from shop to shop, trading the fine cloth for the various items the old woman wanted.
'Red, when are you going to leave that old harpy and move into the village?'
The question was always the same, as was her reply.
'She took me in when I had no one. If I leave her now, who will take care of her?'
Red finished her shopping and said goodbye to her friends.
It was still bright and the sunlight played through the leaves as the trees danced in the slight breeze. Red would stop here and there to smell the different flowers that were in bloom. The deeper she went into the forest, the denser the trees became and soon the light faded to a murky green.
Red wasn't worried. This was her favorite part of the forest. This was where her imagination came to life and she could lose herself in her daydreams. Red had begun to feel enslaved in her life of servitude to the grandmother, but her sense of duty refused to let her leave. She would often fantasize about a mysterious stranger who would appear and whisk her away to a happier life. Sometimes her fantasies weren't so innocent. Sometimes they were filled with passion and heat and raw sexual energy. Those were her favorites.
Little did she know, but Red was not alone in the woods today. Today, she was watched. Deep green eyes with flecks of gold followed her every move.
As she came to the small clearing where she stopped to rest every week, a man stepped from between the trees. Startled, Red's hand flew to her heart, drawing the stranger's gaze from her face to her ample breasts. She wore a short cotton summer dress and she knew that through the thin material he could see the curves of her body.
Red felt herself flush with embarrassment, but also with an excitement she had never felt before. Here stood a man who could have been pulled straight from her fantasies. He was very tall, well over six feet. His broad shoulders and muscular frame were barely concealed beneath his clothing. She had never seen eyes so piercing. Gold-flecked emeralds that seemed to look into her soul and know every desire she ever dared to have. Oh, how she longed to wrap her fingers in his thick black hair and taste his sensual lips!
'I'm sorry,' he said. 'I didn't mean to frighten you.'
His voice was soft and deep with a slight accent that she couldn't quite place.
'Startled, perhaps, but not frightened,' she said.
He stepped closer to her and Red found herself held in his gaze, unable to move.
'I don't frighten you,' he asked, smiling.
Red was mesmerized by those perfect white teeth and those beautiful lips. She was also stubborn and wasn't about to admit that maybe she was just a little frightened.
When she didn't answer, he took another step toward her. Her rosy lips parted in protest, but no sound came out. He stepped closer to her. He was close enough that she could touch him, close enough that she could smell his earthy scent. Red trembled with desire.
He reached out and lightly caught a lock of her copper curls between his fingers. Gently, as though lifted by the breeze, he brought her hair to his face and brushed it along his cheek, breathing in her scent. She saw a small ripple go through him, as if someone were trailing her fingertips down his spine. He let her hair fall back to her shoulder.
'So, my little woodland nymph, what shall I call you?'
Breathing deeply, she found her voice.
