Red and her Wolfe: A Sexy Present Day Fairy Tale

by Blythe Reid

  She opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, her phone rang. With a glance at me, she pulled it from her pocket and answered.

  “Hello?” she said. There was a pause and then. “Oh, Mom! How are you doing?”

  I listened while my mom spoke to my grandmother. Ever since my grandfather passed away, they tried to talk more often. Before, we only called my grandmother on holidays and special occasions. We almost never went to visit, and she rarely every came to see us. Still, she was my mom’s mother, and they loved each other.

  “What do you mean?” I heard my mom ask. She frowned, listening closely. “Mmhmm. Yes, I understand. Yeah. Okay.”

  While my mom talked, I thought about returning to my book. She would be distracted for another few minutes, giving me time to read at least a page or two. Once she got off the phone, she would berate me again, but it would be worth it. I’d been waiting weeks to delve back into the world of Flames of Sorrow.

  Just as I inched my hand under the pillow and closed my fingers around the book, she hung up. I sighed and released the book, leaving it hidden. When I turned back to my mom, she was staring at me with concern etched on her face. I immediately forgot about my book and sat up straighter. It wasn’t often that my mom looked at me that way. Her usual expression was somewhere between fear and disappointment, but she’d never seemed so worried before.

  “What?” I asked. “What’s wrong? Is Grandmother okay?”

  “Physically, yes,” she said. She sighed and sat down on my bed, placing her hand gently on my knee. “But she isn’t doing well. Emotionally speaking.”

  “Because of Grandpa?” I asked.

  My heart ached for my grandmother. I couldn’t even imagine what it felt like to be in love, let alone to lose that love. She’d been married for years, my entire life, and I knew they loved each other dearly. Even though I only saw them occasionally, I could tell how connected they were. When he died, we were all sad, but I knew it was worse for my grandmother. It broke her.

  “Yes,” Mom nodded. “She’s just struggling right now. I’m not sure how much longer she can be alone, if I’m being honest. She needs help.”

  I placed my hand on top of my mom’s and squeezed gently. She smiled at me gratefully, and we sat together in silence. Mom sheltered me because she loved me. That much, I knew. Despite my desire to run away from home and start my own life, I knew her intentions were good. She wasn’t a bad mother. She was simply a scared mother.

  “Will you go stay with her?” I asked softly.

  Part of me hoped she would say yes. Then, maybe I’d be able to sneak out for a few nights. She’d be gone, so she would never know. I felt guilty for thinking of myself in that moment, but I couldn’t help it. Any way I could achieve some semblance of freedom was appealing, no matter what I had to do to get it.

  “I can’t,” Mom said. “Not with business the way it is. This is peak season for the fashion industry. I can’t just up and leave right now.”

  I could tell from her tone that she felt guilty. It was eating her alive that she couldn’t help her mother. I knew she would fly to New York tomorrow if she could. My selfish thoughts flew from my mind, and I wrapped my arm around my mom’s shoulders. She sighed and leaned into me, letting me comfort her for a moment.

  As we sat there, my mind began to spin. I didn’t want to continue thinking selfishly, but my brain took over. My thoughts went wild as I realized there was a perfect option, something that would make everyone happy.

  “What if I went?” I asked, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice.

  “What?” Mom asked.

  “It could work,” I said simply. “Grandmother needs the company, and you’re too busy, but I’m not. I could finish my final year of college there, in New York. I could take care of her and still get my degree. It’s perfect.”

  Before I even finished speaking, my mom was shaking her head. Deep down, I doubted she’d ever go for it, but the idea seemed so perfect to me. Grandmother needed companionship, Mom needed to stay in France, and I needed freedom.

  If I could transfer to college in New York, we could all get exactly what we needed. To my mother though, it was the beginning of the end. If she even considered letting me leave the country, she would have to relinquish her control over me, which she was not ready to do.

  “No,” she said firmly. “I don’t like it.”

  “Mom,” I said calmly. “Just think about it. This could be the perfect solution. For everyone.”

  “I don’t think so,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s too dangerous. There are too many things that could happen.”

  “Bad things can happen here,” I reminded her.

  “Yes, but I’m here,” she said simply.

  “And Grandmother is there,” I argued. “She’ll keep an eye on me.”

  “I don’t like it,” Mom said. “I just don’t. No.”

  I groaned and threw myself back against my pillows. While we talked, I tried to keep myself calm and relaxed. There was no reason for my mom to say no. She knew, even if she wouldn’t admit it, that this was a perfect plan. She just wasn’t ready to let me go.

  “I’m twenty-one,” I said softly. I stared up at the ceiling and tried to keep my anger at bay. “I’m an adult.”

  “But you’re still my child, and I said no,” she snapped. I didn’t have to look at her to know she was angry. I’d pushed her too far, and now, she was laying down the law.

  “What will you do about Grandmother, then?” I asked. My voice was light, but we both knew I meant it as a challenge. If she wasn’t going to let me go, then I wasn’t going to be nice. It was immature of me, but I didn’t care.

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I’ll figure something out.”

  With that, she stood up and left me alone in my room. I rolled my eyes and continued staring at the ceiling. As much as I wanted to continue the argument, I knew it was no use. When Claire Timms made up her mind that was it. No one, not even God himself, could change it.

  As I laid on my bed, I let my mind wander to New York. I imagined what it would be like to live with my grandmother for a time. I didn’t know her well, but what I did know was good. She was nice and real. When we saw her, she was always blunt with her opinions. When I was little, it made me blush, but the older I became, the more I appreciated it. I wished I could be more like her.

  I pulled my book out from beneath my pillow and opened it. Resting it on my lap, I tried to focus on the words in front of me, but I couldn’t. My head was still spinning with thoughts of New York. My mom was probably right, men like Diego didn’t exist in real life. Real men were sex crazed and selfish, or so she said. Still, I hoped she was wrong. I hoped that somewhere, there was a man out there who would sweep me off my feet.

  As I returned to the world of Annabella and Diego, I pictured myself in New York. I wondered if the man of my dreams was somewhere in the world. Maybe he wasn’t in Paris or even France, but he could still exist. Who knows? Maybe he was waiting for me in New York. I would never have a chance to meet him if I wasn’t allowed to leave France.

  Sighing, I sunk down in my bed and disappeared in my book, wishing my mother would find a way to change her mind.

  Chapter 3

  Lucien

  Adam and I partied our way through France. We mostly stayed in Paris, venturing out only a few miles in each direction. There was so much to do in Paris that we were never bored. Our days were spent sleeping and eating, while our nights were filled with reckless debauchery.

  When we planned this trip, we swore we would return to the States with unforgettable memories and insane stories. So far, we’d managed to obtain both. I was satisfied with our vacation, but I wasn’t at all ready for it to end.

  We’d been in France for a month, and our last day approached ominously. We left our hotel rooms and walked down to the lobby. The hotel had a restaurant where we ate most of our meals. They served breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the location c
ouldn’t be more convenient.

  We made our way to our usual table and sat down heavily. Adam and I were both hungover from the previous night, and neither of us could wait for a good meal. We ordered a huge breakfast and ate everything in sight, not bothering to speak until the food was gone.

  After guzzling coffee, I began to feel human again. My head was still heavy, but I could think clearly again. Without looking, I knew my eyes were bloodshot. They burned slightly from the sunlight, and I wished I’d brought my shades down. Across from me, Adam leaned back in his chair. His eyes were squeezed tightly closed, and his hand rested on his stomach. I could tell he wasn’t feeling well yet, but the food had helped us both.

  “God,” Adam moaned. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this hungover.”

  “You said that yesterday,” I reminded him. “And the day before that. And the day before that.”

  “Well, I meant it every time,” he said. “I’ve just gotten progressively more hungover throughout this entire trip.”

  “You wanna call it?” I asked. “Just stay in tonight?”

  “Hell no,” Adam said, sitting up abruptly. His eyes locked on my face, and I could tell I’d pissed him off. I grinned and he rolled his eyes. “You were just fucking with me, weren’t you?”

  I shrugged. “Of course. It’s our last night in France. I’m not letting you waste it.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said. “But I will need more sleep before we commence with the festivities.”

  I nodded. “Agreed. You go up, and I’ll pay the bill.”

  “Meet back here at six?” he asked.

  “Seven,” I corrected. “Nothing good opens until eight anyway.”

  Adam nodded and stood up. With a wave, he left the restaurant and headed toward the elevators. I watched him go for a few seconds before I pulled out my wallet and threw some money on the table. It was too much, but I didn’t care. When the waitress tried to hand me change, I waved her away and leaned back in my chair.

  I knew I should follow Adam’s lead and go upstairs. I desperately needed to rest if we were going out again that night, but I wasn’t ready to move yet. The coffee and food revived me slightly, but not entirely.

  Sitting there, I watched the other hotel guests wander by. Most of them seemed to be American, and I figured they were also on vacation. I’d heard about this hotel, and I knew it was mostly home to tourists, which was why I chose it. Single women flocked to tourist traps. It was the best way to pick up easy women.

  Neither Adam nor I had any trouble picking up women during our trip. France was full of available, gorgeous, exotic beauties. Whether they were locals, students, or tourists, they were all just looking for a good time. A good time was exactly what Adam and I provided. In total, we’d had close to fifty women that month between the two of us.

  Part of me knew it was excessive, but I didn’t care. My motto during this vacation was “Fuck it.” Whatever happened, happened, and I was open to anything. My entire life would be drastically changing course soon enough. The least I could do was let myself enjoy a little reckless abandon in the meantime.

  When I finally felt strong enough to move, I pushed myself up and left the restaurant. I stumbled toward the elevators and pressed the button for my floor. Adam and I were in adjoining rooms on the fifth floor. We thought about sharing to save money, but ultimately decided it wasn’t worth it. After the second night of us both bringing women back to the hotel, we knew we’d made the right decision. No one wants to fight for privacy while on vacation.

  I made it to my room and shoved open the door. My eyes were already starting to droop as I collapsed on my bed. The food in my stomach was nice, and I finally felt well enough to get some real sleep. I hugged my pillow tightly to my chest and drifted off, not waking until the sun was beginning to set.

  Frantically, I searched for my phone and checked the time. It was after eight, and I had three missed calls from Adam. I groaned and called him back.

  “Where are you?” he asked by way of hello.

  “I’m on my way,” I muttered. “Just woke up, man.”

  “Get down here,” he snapped. “I’m ready to go.”

  “Let me shower first,” I said.

  “Seriously Lucien?” he asked.

  “Dude, I stink,” I said bluntly. “No woman will give me the time of day smelling the way I do.”

  “We’re already late,” Adam whined.

  I rolled my eyes and sat up in bed. Adam was a fun wingman, but I was growing sick of him. After an entire month in his company, I was ready to be done with him. I missed the other guys at Delta Pi. There, I could have a new wingman every night, trading them out as I needed.

  “I’ll hurry,” I said. “Stop being a whiny bitch and wait.”

  Adam started to argue again, but I hung up on him. This was supposed to be a vacation. I didn’t need my friend nagging me for being late. Besides, it was our last night in France, and I wasn’t going to let his annoyances ruin the evening.

  I climbed out of bed and hurried to the bathroom where I quickly jumped in the shower. Washing myself took only two minutes, but I stood under the stream of warm water for another five. I let it wake me up, rejuvenating me.

  When I was done, I turned off the water and got dressed. That night, I wore black jeans and a tight-fitting v neck t-shirt. It hugged my biceps perfectly and showed off the sleeve tattoo on my left arm. I knew no woman would be able to resist me. I quickly styled my short black hair and brushed my teeth. Once I was ready, I glanced in the mirror and grinned. This was going to be a fantastic night.

  When I stepped into the lobby, I half expected to find Adam gone. He’d been so pissed on the phone that I didn’t think he would wait around for me, but he did. He was sitting on a couch just beside the hotel entrance. I grinned at him when I walked up. He jumped to his feet and left the hotel without a word. I chuckled and followed him outside.

  “Still pissed?” I asked as we walked down the sidewalk.

  We knew where the closest bars were and which ones to frequent. There was one just two blocks away that was always a great time. It was mostly locals, which gave it a more authentic French feel. We loved it. I knew without having to ask that Adam was leading us there.

  He ignored my question and continued walking. I shrugged, not bothered enough to press the issue. If he wanted to act like an angry girlfriend, then that was his loss. I was ready for a great last night. He could sulk all he wanted. I wouldn’t let it bother me.

  When we reached the bar, we stepped inside and moved immediately toward our usual barstools.

  “Back again,” the bartender asked in English, his French accent heavy.

  “Closest bar to the hotel,” I said. “It’s our last night in town, so we didn’t want to venture out too far.”

  “Last night?” he asked. “Well, these are on the house then.”

  He poured us each a shot of whiskey and placed them in front of us. We raised our glasses to him and took a drink while he turned to help another customer. Adam and I sat in silence, drinking our whiskey and surveying the bar.

  Despite my being late, it was still early in the night. The bar was mostly empty except for a few groups spread out sporadically. I scanned the room, searching for a suitable conquest. Out of the five women in the bar, only one was mildly attractive. I shook my head and turned back around.

  “Nothing,” I groaned. “Not a damn thing.”

  “What?” Adam asked.

  “Women,” I said simply.

  “Ah,” Adam nodded. “Well, it’s still early. More will show up.”

  “Exactly,” I said. “Which is why you shouldn’t be pissed at me for being late. If anything, you should thank me.”

  “Sure,” Adam said. He sipped his whiskey and shook his head. “You’re a real dick sometimes, Lucien.”

  “Don’t I know it.”

  It was another hour before the bar began to fill. I kept my eyes peeled, constantly searching for som
eone who might catch my interest. No one did. I was beginning to give up hope when two blondes stepped through the door and caught my attention. I grinned and nudged Adam with my shoulder.

  “What?” he asked. I nodded toward the women. They were settling into a table by the door. Adam just shook his head and said, “Go for it.”

  I shrugged and jumped off the barstool. Adam had become less and less fun with each passing night. I knew he was growing exhausted with the constant drinking and sex, but I wasn’t ready for it to end.

  I was charismatic and charming as hell. Women flocked to me like lambs, so of course I was going to take advantage of it. It didn’t make me a bad person. It just made me a man.

  Adam didn’t seem to understand the life I led. The first couple weeks, he was totally on board. He had as many women as me, and he loved it. Then, he slowly stopped enjoying himself. I didn’t care enough to find out why. This was my vacation, and Adam was just along for the ride.

  The blondes looked up as I sat down at their table. They smiled nervously while I struck up a conversation. I could tell they were taken aback by my confidence, but deep down, they loved it. Not five minutes later, I had them eating out of my hand. Two hours later, we were all drunk and ready for the real fun to begin.

  I led the women over to Adam and slapped him on the back. He winced and spun around to face me.

  “Come on,” I whispered. “I got you one, too.”

  “Nah,” he said. “I need some sleep tonight. I’m just gonna head back to the hotel.”

  “Suit yourself,” I said.

  With that, I turned back to the women and offered them each an arm. They giggled and let me escort them into the street. We walked together all the way back to the hotel where I led them to my room. We were all laughing as we stumbled through the door.

  The girls found their way to my bed without coaxing. I watched them lie down beside each other, stroking each other’s legs gently. My jeans were tight around my dick as I turned to close the door. Adam was walking past right at that moment. I caught his eye, and he shot me a thumbs-up sign. I wiggled my eyebrows at him and shut the door, ready to partake in my last French adventure.