To keep fit I like to go hiking. Not great long hikes, but a hike in the local mountains following circular trails that put me back where I started from. These hikes generally take a couple of hours, giving me the exercise I need and a chance to commune with nature. I have my phone with me so I can still be reached or, if I run into trouble, I can call for assistance.
On this particular occasion I had a day off work in the middle of the week and I'd been feeling bored. All my friends were working and the weather was good, so why not take a hike? I considered that a very good question and I considered go for it a perfectly reasonable answer. I put a few supplies (snacks, drink, small first aid kit, and phone) in my back pack and headed out.
Having the day to myself I took one of the longer trails, intending to take a small break at the top to eat my snack before continuing. The weather remained fine, warm with just enough of a breeze to make things pleasant. I ambled along, keeping a lookout for any unusual birds or any animals. Animals are hardest to see. They hear you coming and hide. Birds hear you coming and ignore you, because you're down below and they're up above.
I reached the top and had my snack and then just stood and looked around. To one side the mountain dropped away, giving a spectacular view. I just stood there enjoying it for a few moments.
"A magnificent view isn't it?" said this deep voice and I gave a startled yelp.
"Sorry," said the same deep voice, sounding most un-sorry. "Did I scare you?"
"Certainly not," I said a trifle huffily. "Startled, yes, but scared, no."
I turned to look at the speaker and there was a big man standing there. He must have come up the trail from the other direction. He was a big man, making me feel quite petite standing near him. He looked fit, healthy, and friendly. I'm not sure what made me think he looked friendly - he just did. He wasn't particularly handsome and certainly wasn't plain. Just wholesome looking, if you know what I mean.
"If you look over there," he said, "you'll see the cathedral."
I looked but couldn't pick it out. He must have guessed that because he handed me a pair of binoculars.
"Try these," he said, and the horizon just leapt into view.
He indicated where I should look to pick up a few other landmarks and I was pleased to be able to see them from up here. Normally all I could do was stare and imagine where they were. I'd have to get myself a pair of binoculars.
"Thank you," I said, handing them back to him.
"You're welcome. Do you come up here often to commune with nature?"
"Not as often as I like," I admitted, "but when I can."
"Uh-huh. Of course, to truly commune with nature you really need to do it au natural, being one with your surroundings."
I nodded my head while making an agreeing noise, then what he'd said sunk in. Au natural? Naked? Time for Mrs Kelly's little girl, Vicky, to continue her hike. So I continued to stand there.
"Au natural?" I repeated, hearing the touch of shock in my voice. "You mean naked? You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
"Naturally," he agreed, "but so would you, enjoying the freedom to be yourself out in the wilderness."
"It's not a very wild wilderness," I said dryly, "although I'm sure there are dangers that would appear if I was silly enough to strip off."
"Dangers? Not really. No big cats, bears, or wolves in the area."
"I could dispute the no wolves part of that sentence," I told him and the fool managed to looked shocked.
"Me? Are you inferring that I might be a wolf? I am shocked. Truly shocked," he said, sounding genuinely mournful.
"Ha! So you're saying that if I was naked you wouldn't even try to make a pass?"
"Hum. Let me consider that for a moment. Okay, I've considered. Instead of making a pass I'd just lower you to the ground, ignoring anything you said, and make exquisite love to you."
I blushed, wondering what it would be like to have him do just that. Perhaps I should slap myself for being stupid. Definitely time for little Miss Vicky to be continuing her hike.
"So are you going to commune with nature or not?" he asked.
"Not," I said quickly. "You just said you'd rape me if I did."
"No I didn't. If you get undressed then you'll be agreeing to me making love to you. That's not rape. So, how about it?"
I blushed again. Imagine getting undressed in front of a stranger, knowing he's going to have sex with me as soon as I do. It didn't bear thinking about. So why was I thinking about it and wondering? Why wasn't I running away?