Running High

[Angeleyz]

So busy kicking herself for her inability to do something as benign as having coffee with a good-looking guy without getting herself all tied up in knots, Nicole didn't hear anyone coming up behind her until a loud "You made it!" nearly had her screaming in fright. As it was, she knew she must have jumped a mile as she looked over and saw the gentleman in question as her heart pounded fiercely in her chest.

Struggling to keep the panic at seeing him from becoming visible, she listened to his apology and tried to figure out a way to politely excuse herself from the outing he apparently thought was still going to happen. Oh dear this was awkward. How could she beg off without looking like a complete idiot?

Before Nicole could think of something, he was holding out his hand and introducing himself. She didn't really have any other choice than to accept his handshake with a quick one of her own, although somewhere in the back of her mind, she did note how nice his hand felt as it temporarily held hers.

Here, take this. It has all the information about me, hand it to whomever and ask them to give it to the police if needed.

Nicole looked up at JC, down to the proffered bracelet and back up, completely and thoroughly befuddled. This was something totally out of her comfort zone, and she wasn't sure how to process the offer. Just the mention of police had her ready to take off, but she was mostly sure that he had meant to be reassuring. Holding the bracelet loosely in her hand as if it were somehow armed and dangerous, she wasn't exactly sure what to do with it.

I need to get to know you, and I know you aren't comfortable, yet. Think of this as a token of my earnestness and willingness to be open and honest with you. Ask anything at any time and I will answer honestly.

Torn between feeling flattered and flat out overwhelmed, Nicole bit her lip before admitting in a soft voice, "JC, this is... rather... odd... to me." Taking a breath, she continued, "Is this what people do these days?"

 

[a_libertine]

"You mean run?" He quipped, "No, I fear we are a minority there." He smiled broadly as he continued, "If you mean get to know a beautiful woman, I haven't seen anyone quite like you so this is new territory for me. And I doubt that either of us fit the norm anyway."

He saw her blush after the compliment sank in. His heart was pounding in his chest like the war drums in The Lord of the Rings movies and his mouth had to be the driest place on earth at that moment. They walked a moment or two when he admitted, "This is nearly as scary for me as I think it is for you. "

He stopped and looked at her, and for the eternity of a heart beat he swam in the glory that was her beauty. "I know it is probably just me, but there is something there." He waved at the space between them for a moment. "I can't explain it, at least not well. But I know I will hate my life if I don't get to know you better. I think or hope you feel something as well. Otherwise I doubt that you would have came this morning."

He gave her a crooked grin as he jested, "Unlike what Mom did to Pops, I won't run home and tell everyone that I am getting married before the first date. "

 

[Angeleyz]

His teasing remark about running had her feeling like a complete idiot, and Nicole wished the sidewalk would open up and swallow her whole. Here was proof positive that she wasn't ready for this - that she was still too rusty and ill-prepared despite how appealing his smile was.

If you mean get to know a beautiful woman, I haven't seen anyone quite like you so this is new territory for me. And I doubt that either of us fit the norm anyway.

It took a second or two for Nicole to process what he said, and her cheeks turned a fiery red as soon as she did. Unsure if she was supposed to thank him for his kind words, she looked away as her mind raced around for a little more neutral topic. She mentally scoffed at his comment about it being nearly as scary for him. Unless he was afraid of what she might do, there was no way a guy as good looking as he was could have insecurities about something as simple as just talking.

When he stopped walking, Nicole stopped as well, steeling herself for the excuse she expected him to make so that he could take off now that he realized how difficult it was for her to talk. She looked up at him and felt herself grow warm once more under his regard. There was something in the way he looked at her that held her breathless even as his words would have her looking at her toes.

Her full lips pressed tightly together as Nicole struggled to respond to his comments. Part of her wanted to tell him that he had been mistaken and that she hadn't planned to come at all, but the part of her that wanted desperately to come out of her shell wouldn't have it. Eyes cast down, she managed to murmur, "I don't know what I feel, but I think... I think I'd like to... Get to know you, that is."

 

[a_libertine]

J.C. reached out and caressed her cheek a moment smiling as she blushed and looked up at him a moment. "Good," he whispered.

His voice was strong and warm as he said, "Let's start with that cramping calf of yours. Come over here."

He stepped over to a lamp post. "Follow me," he said as he began by placing his foot against the base of the lamp post. He began a short routine stretching his calves and thighs. "If you follow along, it will help with the cramps."

As she began, J.C. stopped and knelt down next to her. Place his hands on the lowest part of the leg, he felt a shock fire up his hands as he stammered, "K-keep your heel down, i-it increases the stretch."

 

[Angeleyz]

Nicole could only stare up at JC as he reached out and caressed her cheek, fighting the urge to press into his hand like a kitten who was ready for some attention. She could feel the fire in her cheeks ratcheting up even higher and had to force herself to blink when he whispered 'Good' in that husky voice of his.

Surprised that he had noticed her cramping calf, Nicole followed him obediently to the lamp post as directed and then did her best to follow his motions. Despite having to grit her teeth a couple of times, she could tell that his series of stretches were indeed helping. So busy concentrating on the stretches, however, she hadn't noticed JC kneel down beside her until she felt something touch her leg.

K-keep your heel down, i-it increases the stretch.

Totally conscious of the gentle, but firm grip he had on her leg, Nicole tried not to imagine his hand gliding higher up her leg, caressing it to the point goosebumps formed on her skin despite the warm sun.

"Yes... I can feel it...," she murmured, and then hurried to add, "The stretch that is.."

 

[a_libertine]

As she spoke, J.C.'s eyes traveled up Nicole's body until he looked into her eyes past those glorious breasts that he hadn't fully appreciated before that very moment. "G-good," he whispered.

His breath swept across her skin a moment and he cleared his throat trying to get his breathing and his blood flow under control. He was worried that the blood was collecting in his groin, and that she would notice. As it was, he didn't try to stop hmself as he whispered, "God, you are beautiful."

His hands were still on her lower calf, his thumbs caressing her gently, as they swept away the sheen of perspiration from her. He stood slowly, his eyes locked on hers as he did.

For a moment his jaw opened and closed as he tried to say something witty, but nothing came out. He was vaguely aware that he hadn't gotten the blood flow issue under control and he tried to keep the head from brushing against her leg.

Finally, "I want to take you to dinner tonight. Okay?"

 

[Angeleyz]

It wasn't possible, of course, but Nicole would later text Malinda and swear to the heavens that she could feel the path that his brilliant green eyes took as he looked up from her feet. Add to the mix the little puff of warm breath on her rapidly cooling skin, and it was all she could do not to shiver in reaction.

She looked down as he mouthed something she couldn't quite catch, but before she could admit that she hadn't heard what he said, she was distracted by the butterfly like caresses he did against her calf. Her heart fluttered in her chest and she was unable to look away as he slowly stood back up, so close that had she been more like Malinda she could have leaned in ever so slightly and given him a kiss.

There was a moment of charged silence where the two of them simply looked at each other, both apparently wanting to say or do something... but neither able to do so. Finally JC said,"I want to take you to dinner tonight. Okay?"

Nicole shook her head reluctantly and replied, "Yes... No... I mean..."

Forcing herself to slow down, Nicole tried once more to explain her disjointed answer, "I can't, JC... I appreciate the offer... I really do, but I have to work tonight." She still didn't think she would have said yes even if she hadn't, but she was surprised at how disappointed she was that she had agreed to take the back-to-back shifts.

 

[a_libertine]

J.C. smiled, "Keeping your commitments is important, I understand."

His eyes went off into the distance a moment then he dived right back into the warm honey pools that were her eyes. The breath caught in his throat as he looked into her, and she back into him.

He offered her his hand and once she took it, he turned and began walking. "What night could you do dinner?"

 

[Angeleyz]

JC took the news that she had to work graciously, although Nicole noticed that he looked away and felt bad, thinking perhaps that she had hurt his feelings. She really had promised to take the extra shift, but now she was partially wishing she hadn't.

When their eyes met again, Nicole's stomach did a few somersaults. The way he looked at her left her breathless. She had no idea of how long they stared at each other, but when he reached out his hand, it seemed perfectly natural for her to place her hand in his larger one. Nicole couldn't explain why she did it when she normally shied away from even the most casual of touches, but here she was walking hand in hand with someone whose name she had just recently learned.

What night could you do dinner?

Carefully keeping her eyes straight ahead, Nicole tried to figure out what to do. Torn with indecision, she felt flattered and terrified at the same time. Flip flopping multiple times, it was the handholding that swayed her, giving her a warm connected feeling that she rarely had outside of her family and Malinda.

"Tuesday would work for me," she offered shyly, mentally crossing her fingers that she wouldn't chicken out.

 

[a_libertine]

He hadn't realized that he had stopped breathing, holding his breath as he waited for her to respond. Once she did he let out his breath and damn neared shuddered in pleasure.

J.C. smiled, squeezing her hand gently and quipped, "I do hope you meant day after tomorrow, and not a random Tuesday in 2025."

It was a heartbeat later when he said, "Okay, maybe a bad joke."

He didn't say anything for a couple minutes, completely enjoying her hand in his, her shoulder against his bicep. He couldn't but help wonder how wonderful it would be to hold her tight against him.

Then it dawned on him, "Why did you start running recently?"

 

[Angeleyz]

I do hope you meant day after tomorrow, and not a random Tuesday in 2025.

Nicole smiled back weakly at JC, already starting to feel the slight tendrils of panic set in at the thought of actually going out. A date. A real date. Well somewhat of a real date. Just a friendly getting to know you type of thing. But a date for the first time since...

Okay, maybe a bad joke.

She almost chickened out then... almost made a lame excuse about a suddenly remembered prior engagement, but she couldn't get the words out. In the end she stayed silent and simply enjoyed the simple act of walking hand-in-hand with him.

Why did you start running recently?

The seemingly out of left field question startled a small laugh from her, and Nicole surprised herself with the teasing response, "What makes you think that I've just recently started running?" Merriment danced in her eyes as she waited a moment before admitting, "Actually, the heavy breathing and awkward gait probably give me away, but my best friend signed us up for a 10k in, and I'm trying to follow her training regime to get ready for it."

She didn't want to admit the other reason behind Malinda's insistence... To get her out of her shell and meet new people since she rarely interacted with others outside of work since relocating to Austin. That would beg questions as to why she moved here and she wasn't ready to talk about Jason.

 

[a_libertine]

Maybe something sometime may have felt as nice as having Nicole next to him, but for the life of him, J.C. couldn't think of what it would have been or when. From what his vague recollection of his first couple of trysts were, not even those events felt quite as right.

As she responded to his question, J.C. nodded and smiled, "FANTASTIC!"

His body virtually vibrated in excitement for Nicole, "When is the run? How long have you been going and you can make it!"

 

[Angeleyz]

Nicole smiled a little to herself at JC's enthusiasm, surely a sign of a serious runner to get so excited about a race. If Malinda were here, she'd be regaling him with the day to day breakdown of the training program she had laid out for her, and she could just envision the two of them chattering away.

Eyes straight ahead, but hand still clasped in his, she responded with the barest trace of dread, "I think the race is in two months. I've been trying to follow my best friend's program for the last two weeks, although she needs to come home and do an assessment to see if I'm ready for her to bring it up a notch."

One corner of her mouth lifted higher than the other as she smiled ruefully and continued, "After today's experience, I'm not so sure that would be a good idea..."

 

[a_libertine]

J.C. saw the trepidation in her eyes about the race. He nodded sympathetically, "I understand. Like anything worth having, it takes time and patience."

"I had an uncle that was diagnoses as diabetic because of his weight. He weighed a ton, and looked horrible." J.C. waived vaguely toward the northeast as he started his story. "At the time, I think I was ten, maybe eleven. He started walking every day, and lost maybe fifteen pounds. When I conned him into running with me, he started losing weight rapidly."

He saw her confused look, and summed up, "The point is, if a forty five year old man who weighed 290 pounds can get up to a 10k in a short time, you can too."

He looked at her and said, "All you need is a motivation. What makes YOU want to do it?"

 

[Angeleyz]

Nicole listened as JC talked about his uncle and tried to understand what his point was. The thought that he was indirectly trying to tell her that she needed to lose weight was easily dismissed since she was finally starting to regain the weight she had lost after Jason's accident.

Thinking about Jason made her feel oddly disloyal for walking down the street, holding JC's hand. Her fingers twitched with the sudden desire to drop his hand, but she couldn't think of a way to do it without appearing rude.

The point is, if a forty five year old man who weighed 290 pounds can get up to a 10k in a short time, you can too. All you need is a motivation. What makes YOU want to do it?

Nicole seized on his question as if it were a lifeline instead of a distraction from her feelings of disloyalty. She hesitated, however, in responding since on one hand she didn't want to insult him but she didn't want to go into the tragic events of the last year either.

"I recently moved here, and my best friend is determined to help me become acquainted with the area," she began. And every stinking trail in a 10-mile radius... Glancing over at JC, she offered him an apologetic smile as she continued, "I really don't see the point in running if there's no ball movement involved, so my motivation is to keep Malinda from nagging the heck out of me."

 

[a_libertine]

J.C. watched Nicole ' s face cloud over a moment and he knew with some certainty that he was on some precipice; but, he wasn't sure how dangerous it was, or why it was there.

He listened to her explanation and quipped, "Sounds like the nagging worked."

His eyes were dancing as he bite back another mischievous comment. As it was he asked, "Did you come to Austin to go to UT?"

 

[Angeleyz]

Sounds like the nagging worked.

Nicole's lips twitched at the comment. Oh the nagging had definitely worked, although she had found over the years that it was usually best to let Malinda have her way, nagging or no nagging. Glancing over at him shyly, she was struck by the merriment in his eyes and how it seemed to light up his entire face and make him oh so approachable.

Did you come to Austin to go to UT?

Her hand twitched in his hand at the innocent question, and she struggled to formulate an answer. She wasn't ready to talk about Jason with anyone outside of Malinda and her family, but it would be hard to explain why she wasn't perusing her master's degree yet either.

Swallowing hard, she opted for a partial truth, "Yes, although I'm waiting for some funding to come through first." Quickly turning the attention back to him, she asked, "Do you go there?"

 

[a_libertine]

Everything about her response screamed she wasn't being honest. Or at best she was giving a partial truth. Ultimately he nodded, and replied, "Yeah, financing can be a problem."

He looked down at her, and into her eyes, and for a moment felt himself beginning to fall into them. For a moment he considered how long he could sit there looking into those warm caramel orbs, and then wondered what they would look like in the throes of passion.

"Yeah, I do. It's my senior year studying finance. Mom wanted me to go to A&M, and Dad wanted TCU. I figured I would piss them both off with UT." J.C. was grinning from ear to ear like a Cheshire Cat. "Needless to say, neither of them are happy with me."

They were approaching one of the turn offs to a parking area, and he asked, "Are you parked here, or live close enough to walk?"

 

[Angeleyz]

Yeah, financing can be a problem.

Nicole glanced down a little guiltily at JC's easy acceptance. It wasn't that she had outright lied, but even partial truths didn't sit well with her. Her cheeks flushed with the discomfort of someone not well practiced in being anything but totally straightforward, but she wasn't ready to open about Jason, especially not to the first male to break through her reserve in almost a year.

Sighing softly, she looked up just as he looked down at her, and what followed was surely the oddest non-verbal conversation she had ever experienced. She thought she caught sight of skepticism, like he knew she had prevaricated somehow, but she quickly told herself it was only her guilty conscious. Then, there was a moment of entrancement, like he couldn't get enough of her, which made her feel giddy and alarmed at the same time. Finally there was a second of pure, unadulterated heat, which burned along every nerve-ending in her body, and then it was gone as if she had imagined it.

Yeah, I do. It's my senior year studying finance. Mom wanted me to go to A&M, and Dad wanted TCU. I figured I would piss them both off with UT. Needless to say, neither of them are happy with me.

The irreverent tone in his voice and the wide smile on his face caused her to laugh out loud, eyes twinkling in return. She shook her head slightly, wondering if she'd ever do such a thing - to be so contrary just because, although she sensed his affection for his parents in his laughing words.

Are you parked here, or live close enough to walk?

Looking around to gain her bearings, she replied, "Oh... I'm staying at my friend's townhouse." She added shyly, "It's within walking distance of the trail."

 

[a_libertine]

J.C. knew that she felt the same thing he did, what ever it was. He wasn't sure what to call it just yet. It was more than lust, less than love at first sight. Or was it love at first sight. At this moment in time, much like any other moment since he met her, Nicole was near the top of the things he thought about.

Not that she was a thing. Way more than a thing. Or a fuck.

But she was scared of something, her whole body screamed it; he suddenly realized. That realization almost made him verbalize the question. His mouth opened a moment and he swallowed the question. Instinctively he knew if he asked she would disappear like a puff of smoke to never be seen again. Frankly that would not due.

She was hurting, and J.C. didn't know how to help, but he would be damned if he wasn't going to try somehow, someway.

Oh... I'm staying at my friend's townhouse. It's within walking distance of the trail."

He nodded sagely, as if he expected the answer, still he couldn't repress the grin as he said, "Okay, well I will walk you home, so I know you get there safely."

His faced cracked as he stage whispered, "And I will know where to pick you up on Tuesday."

 

[Angeleyz]

Nicole watched as JC opened his mouth as if he were going to speak and then close it, which she found odd given his direct approach previously. It worried her a little... that hesitation. If even JC paused before saying something, she was pretty sure it wouldn't be about anything she'd want to hear. She tensed up, dreading what he might say next, and was relieved when he merely asked if she lived nearby and had answered without thinking.

Okay, well I will walk you home, so I know you get there safely. And I will know where to pick you up on Tuesday.

Nibbling her bottom lip, Nicole wondered if his escorting her home was such a good idea. It wasn't like she was in any danger walking home in the middle of the day, and she had assumed that she would just meet him on Tuesday... Assuming she didn't freak out and cancel. His offer, well really statement, caught her off guard.

Sighing softly, she studied his smiling face and felt a little ridiculous. Surely it wasn't that big of a deal for him to know where she was staying, and with Malinda not home... It wasn't like she'd be inviting him in anyway. And considering she had been holding his hand while they walked, the reluctance to have him escort her home seemed silly.

Even still, Nicole felt compelled to say, "That really isn't necessary... I'm pretty sure I can get home in one piece, you know..."

 

[a_libertine]

This was unraveling, and he knew it. He had no confidence that she would show up at where ever they agreed to meet on Tuesday night. He mulled it over and over, deciding what he should do.

He thought to himself, "Fuck it, straight up and find out if she felt the same way."

J.C. stopped and gathered Nicole's hands in his. He brought her right hand up and kissed her palm directly in the center. "Okay, then I will trust that you show up on Tuesday night."

He looked at her, again his eyes falling into hers, "All you need to do is tell me is where and when. Pick wherever you feel the safest, most comfortable, hell bring,,," he paused searching his memory a moment, "Malinda along if you want."

His voice was low and earnest. His normal good humor cast aside for the moment, trying to impress upon her his intentions. "All I promise is that I will give you my very best effort, all I will ever ask is the same in return. IF," stressing the monosyllabic escape clause for her, and him like, "things don't work out, then we have tried. IF they do, then all the better."

 

[Angeleyz]

Nicole was surprised when JC stopped walking, and she looked on with a puzzled look on her face as he brought both of her hands together in his. Her heart raced when he kissed the palm of her hand, the gesture both sweet and erotic at the same time.

Okay, then I will trust that you show up on Tuesday night.

She blinked a couple of times before realizing that somehow he must have sensed her reluctance to show him where she lived, and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment as it seemed logical given his emphasis on the word trust then to assume that he might have deduced that she might try to back out of their date as well.

All you need to do is tell me is where and when. Pick wherever you feel the safest, most comfortable, hell bring... Malinda along if you want.

Nicole nibbled on her bottom lip, trying to decide what to do. There was something appealing about JC, but she couldn't put her finger on what exactly called out to her. However, this sudden attraction was totally foreign to he as she and Jason had been childhood friends long before they became romantically involved.

All I promise is that I will give you my very best effort, all I will ever ask is the same in return. IF things don't work out, then we have tried. IF they do, then all the better.

Her mind quickly clicked through possible options, knowing that there was little chance of Malinda being home and not wanting to disappoint JC. She wasn't much of a drinker, having a low alcohol tolerance, so going out for drinks was out. Going out to dinner filled her with dread, imagining the awkward silences likely to occur with her darned shyness.

"How... about.... a .... movie?" she finally suggested, thinking that would be a good compromise, although she was at a loss for what was currently playing in theaters.

 

[a_libertine]

He knew she was attracted to him. Her hands were still in his, she hadn't tried pulling them away, and her breath hitched ever so slightly when he kissed the palm of her hand.

"Fuck," he thought to himself as Nicole chewed on her lower lip. It was so sexy, so demure, so innocent, that he wanted to snatch her up in his arms and pin her to a tree so he could ravish her in a way that something told him had never happened to her before. He wondered what the press of her heavy tits against his chest would feel like. The heat of her core as he caressed it, kissed, loved it with tongue and fingers until she screamed in pleasure. For that matter was she quiet or loud as she came?

All these thoughts forced blood down into his loins and he felt himself begin to stir.

He was so lost in the mental illusion of her body pressed against his that he almost didn't hear Nicole as she responded. He nodded, a movie. It was a safe choice alright. More witnesses than necessary perhaps. Dark so she could hide if she wanted, and big enough she could slip away in the crowd and lose him if she chose to do so.

He rubbed his thumbs gently across the back of her hands as he said, "Okay, the closest mega plex is either the Cinemark Tinseltown 17. Meet there at 6:30 Tuesday night? That would give us 45 minutes to pick a movie, unless you have one in mind."

 

[Angeleyz]

Nicole shivered as JC absently rubbed his thumbs across the back of her hands while explaining which movie complex was closest. She wondered if he realized what he was doing as his thumbs continued to move.

Meet there at 6:30 Tuesday night? That would give us 45 minutes to pick a movie, unless you have one in mind.

Looking down at their clasped hands for a moment, she looked up at him with her mouth partially agape before she licked her lips nervously and said, "Um, okay". She tried to recall what movies she had seen advertised on television recently, but was completely distracted by his constantly moving thumbs.

---------------------------------

Two days later, Nicole still cringed at her reaction over what had happened at the tail end of the discussion with JC. One minute, she had been looking up at him, trying to think of possible movies, and the next she was caught up against him as he kissed her. Shock had held her motionless under the onslaught of his passionate kiss, and he had pulled her even tighter against him.

It had only taken a moment under the kiss that practically melted every bone in her body for her to be completely overwhelmed. Feelings of betrayal swamped her, competing with breathless anticipation of what might happen next. As wonderful as the kiss made her feel inside, the betrayal won out and caused her to raise her hands push hard against him.

Later she would realize how quickly JC had complied with her unspoken demand, but at the time, all she could think of was the need to get away. Pushing away from him, she raised troubled eyes to his handsome face and tried to speak. She couldn't even remember if she managed to say something before tearing off like the hounds of hell were at her heels.