Breathing heavily and with my heart pounding I completed the final few meters of today's run. As I passed the tree used to mark the finish I was greeted with smiles and encouragement by the other members of the running group. I smiled back and checked my time, not bad but not my best. I staggered back to where everyone was gathering around our bags.
I was not in the best shape for running but getting out and joining the running group was improving my fitness. Running with the others I had gained more and more confidence and now the runs didn't seems so daunting.
There were about 12 of us at today's meet mostly dressed in tight running gear and lycra and me in my black shorts and gym t shirt. There were a couple of lean men and women organising the event but most were more average types just trying to keep fit. Everyone was friendly and there were a couple of nice looking women who it was hard not to notice. I opened up my bag and searched for my bottle of water to cool me down but there was nothing there.
"You alright?" asked one of the runners who looked like they had already cooled down.
"Yeah, I think I've left my water at home." I explained feeling hot and sweaty. A couple of the others noticed my situation and offered me water but I didn't like the idea of sharing bottles and germs so I declined.
A fellow runner Claire came to my aid,
"I only live a few streets away, you can get some water at my place," she offered.
It was nice of Claire, she was one of the more friendly members and always in a cheerful mood. She had a nice smiley face and thick dark hair to her shoulders. She wasn't one of the tall, super fit members she was a bit shorter than me had some curves but despite this she regularly over took me on the weekly run. I had watched her nice shapely behind overtake me on several occasions and not minded too much. She wore the skin tight black legging that most of the ladies wore and today was wearing a mottled pink short t shirt that clung to her top half nicely with a black sports bra underneath.
"Yeah, thanks that would be great," I replied it would be nice to spend some more time in her company. Claire's house was more than a few streets away but it was nice too cool down on the walk and chat. When we reached her house it was sweet relief to finally have some water.
"Water tastes so much better after a run." I'm sure everyone said that but it was true. She drank down a large glass standing next to me in her kitchen.
"Take your time, I'm just going to go and get changed," she said heading upstairs, "Help yourself to anything."
I finished my glass of water and started another and had a little look around Claire's place. It was small and cosy just wide enough for a big three seater sofa in the middle of the lounge which was joined onto the kitchen at the back. The lounge had shelves of books and DVD's; Harry potter, the twilight saga, and several other quite girly fiction books. From the look of her house, the pile of small trainers by the door and the general state of mess I guessed she lived alone. After satiating my interest in her book collection I realised Claire had been gone a while and I wondered if she was coming back down. I was planning to head off and didn't want to just walk out without saying thanks and goodbye.
I headed up her creaky stairs it was fairly dark but I could see a few doors off the landing. I could hear the shower running from what I thought was the bathroom. I guess Claire was just showering off after the run.
"I'm just going to be heading off now" I shouted at the door "Thanks for the water."
As I made my way down the stairs the bathroom door opened and Claire's head and shoulders leaned round still dripping from her shower.
"Ok, that's fine. Sorry, I just really needed a shower. I hope that's not rude of me," she said her hair dripping onto her bare shoulders.
"No, I understand. I need to get home and get wet, showered, clean I mean." I replied awkwardly. I was a little startled by her wet body.
I walked downstairs a little dazed, Claire was quite trusting to let a near stranger into her house and then go off and have a shower. I rinsed out my glass and placed it on her draining board. I could just hear the sound of cascading water from upstairs and for a second I pictured her naked in the shower rubbing herself down. I left her house with a sizeable swelling in my boxers and a growing fascination for Claire.
So began a habit for the next few weeks, walking back with Claire to her house. Sometimes I went in for a drink but most times we just chatted and got to know each. Claire was separated from her last long term partner about six months ago. She worked for the police but in a administrative role, "so no uniform" she knew that disappointed most men. I was impressed by her confidence to work in a mostly male environment. Her reason for joining the running group was to help her train for a marathon, something she was trying to tick off her bucket list. She certainly had determination and stamina. I shared my hope to regain my fitness, lose a few pounds and maybe take on a half marathon sometime. We reached her house again.
"Come in for a drink?" She offered with a smile.
"Yeah, that would be great." I was enjoying spending time in her company.
"Are you ever going to tidy up those plates I think they were here last week." I has got quite used to her messy house and enjoyed teasing her about it.
"The benefits of living alone, I can clean up when I like." she wasn't one to be pushed around.
"I really need a shower," Claire said pulling at her black sticky bra under her top. She had worked up quite the sweat as I had too. I could see her vest top clinging to her skin and revealing the outline of her rounded breasts.
"Yeah It was a hot one today I need one too."
"You can always use my shower if you like," she offered.
"I don't want to keep you waiting," I was being the perfect gentleman.
"Oh, it's big enough for two." She said as if she was describing a feature of the house to a prospective buyer, with only the slightest twinkle in her eye.