Back Door Neighbors
Francie Mars
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2012 Francie Mars
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The sun peeked through the branches of the tall pine trees that ringed the neighborhood. Crisp rays pierced the still, moist morning air, scattering off the dew on the manicured lawns as Kevin passed. His breath puffed in front of him before he moved through it. Outwardly, he made very little noise as he jogged. His breathing and the soft padding of his running shoes were the only sounds on the street. Inwardly, Kevin was lost in the music of his running playlist on his mp3 player.
It was just after five in the morning as he ran down the familiar streets of his neighborhood. He loved this time- it was like he had the whole place to himself. He rarely saw even a single car as he jogged. The quiet streets would soon be filled with commuters heading to work.
His tight shirt stuck to him as he approached the sixth mile of his run. Even though it was somewhere around forty degrees outside and he wore only running shorts and a shirt, he was sweating through his clothes.
He came to the small local park and turned in. It had a grassy field for soccer and baseball and a forest along one side with trails running through it. He always took the trail through the park, putting him back on to the street he lived on. Running through the trees was a great way to end a run.
The trail forked off several times, but Kevin knew the way to his street. He could do this part with his eyes closed, but instead he preferred to peer up through the branches at the first rays of sun struggling to reach the forest floor. He rounded a familiar curve in the trail and fell face first onto the dirt.
Kevin sprawled out on to the trail bed, his music player launched from his armband, pulling his earphones out with it.
“Shit,” he said, turning over. He saw what he had tripped over: another jogger. He was getting to his feet and looked surprised.
“Damn, sorry,” the man said, extending a hand to Kevin.
“No, I’m good,” Kevin said, standing up.
“Are you OK?”
“Yeah. I didn’t see you there.”
“Sorry about that, I was tying my shoe.”
He paused and Kevin looked at him.
“ I’m Dan. I just moved in not too far from here,” Dan extended his hand to Kevin again, this time to shake.
“I’m Kevin,” he shook Dan’s hand. His grip was firm.
Kevin stooped over to pick up his music player- it was still blasting a song from the tiny earphones.
“Well, welcome to the neighborhood,” Kevin said, putting his earphones back in.
“Thanks-“
Kevin turned and left, looking in front of him as he went. His chest and palms hurt from face-planting. He shook it off and finished his jog, only a few hundred yards back to his house.
The next day Kevin saw Dan in the same area of the forest. He was careful to watch for him, and sure enough he was in the same spot, jogging toward him. Kevin had a bit more time to look Dan over: he was tall and athletic, his narrow shoulders and chest were covered by a tight tank. He had black running shorts on and bright-green running shoes. He looked like he ran a lot, Kevin thought. He waved as they passed, Dan waved back.
Kevin was unsure how he felt about Dan’s intrusion on his private time each morning. It wasn’t his private trail, after all, but he had enjoyed the solitude before going to the office every day. He decided that, since he can’t do anything about it, there was no use in getting upset.
Kevin saw Dan every morning in the same place in the middle of the forest, they hadn’t spoken since the day Kevin tripped over him, but they waved each time they passed. Kevin was always cautious to watch for Dan as he ran through the trees, he even found himself looking forward to seeing him- he had become part of the routine.
Today Kevin came around the usual corner and found Dan sitting on the ground, his outstretched leg clasped in his hands. He was leaning over it in pain. Kevin slowed to a stop, taking out his earphones.
“Dan, what’s wrong?”
“Shin splint, I think.”
“Ouch. You far from home?”
“Yeah, kinda. About a mile.”
“Well, we’re pretty close to my place. Why don’t you come with me and get some ice on it?”
Kevin leaned over and offered his hand to Dan. Dan took it, letting Kevin pull him to his feet.
“Ow,” Dan said, taking a step.
“Here, come on.”
Kevin put Dan’s arm over his shoulder and let the injured runner lean on him.
“Thanks,” Dan said, hobbling along with Kevin.
They made their way slowly toward Kevin’s house. Kevin supported Dan’s lean body all the way back. The cool morning air was chilling him as they approached his front door. Kevin helped Dan into his house and back to the kitchen. He seated Dan in one of the chairs around the table and started cracking ice cube trays into a plastic bag.
“Hey, thanks a lot,” Dan said as Kevin handed him the bag.
“No problem.” Kevin pulled another chair over and positioned it in front of Dan. He put his injured leg up and held the ice in place below his knee.
“Listen, take it easy. I’ve got to get a shower and get to work. I can drop you off at your house on the way. Sound good?”
“Thanks. This is feeling better already.”
Kevin left Dan in his kitchen and went to the master bedroom. His house had two stories, but the master was down stairs. It was off the great room, at the far end, opposite the kitchen. He walked in to his closet and stripped his cold, wet clothes off. He crossed from the closet to the bathroom, completely forgetting that he had company as he did. He turned the shower on, only then realizing he had just given Dan an eye full. Maybe he wasn’t looking this way, he thought as he stepped in to the big glass enclosure.
He let the water run through his short hair and down his broad shoulders. It felt good on his chilly skin. He closed his eyes and faced the spray, thinking about how Dan’s body felt against his as he helped him back to his house. He pictured Dan as the warm water enveloped him. Dan looked like a career runner- he had a narrow build with strong, toned legs. His muscular thighs bounced slightly with each step, his tight butt was clearly defined under his running shorts. Kevin felt his cock twitch as he went over Dan’s body in his mind. He began to get hard, recalling the athletic man’s body pressed against his as he helped him home.