"'Rena, you've been saying that you want to get fit for ages. While I think your body is delectable the way it is, I am tired of listening to you moaning about this so you are coming with me!" Bernie exclaimed as she pulled on her trainers, listening to Serena argue once again that she never said she wanted to go running, her stamina was quite fine apparently. "Shoes. On. Now!"
"Bernie, I don't want to! This is like slave labour, I didn't ask for this." Serena complained despite the fact that she was already lacing up her trainers resoundingly.
Serena stood up looking less enthusiastic about the next half an hour, than the 12 hour shift she had tomorrow. Bernie, on the other hand, couldn't wait to get out and put Serena through her paces; she also looked forward to the opportunity of massaging Serena when she was complaining about her aching muscles and the shower that was likely to take place when the pair returned home. It had been months of living together, months of listening to Serena moan every morning that her trousers made her arse look like an overfilled shopping bag, and she was tired of listening to it so she had persuaded her that joining her on her daily run was a good idea.
"Come on! Half an hour and then you can come back and complain for the rest of your life about the fact that I've forced you in to this against your will. We'll celebrate with wine when we get back, and I'll help you work out those leg muscles." Bernie flirted as the couple walked out of the front door and in to the street. "I know it might be too difficult for you, but I promise that I'll go easy."
The brunette simply scoffed at her before she took off running, suddenly encouraged to prove her own abilities. Serena maintained a strong pace for at least a quarter mile before she started to slow, forcing steady breaths out as not to show that she was struggling already. Bernie held back laughter as she jogged along happily, easily holding Serena's pace and nudging forward in an attempt to push her girlfriend along. Serena was hiding her hindered breaths though it was becoming apparent in her slowing pace that she wasn't going to hold out for much longer.
"Bern'-" Serena uttered, panting a little as the word escaped her mouth desperately. "You wanna- take a break or-? You look like you're struggling."
"No, I'm fine! You struggling?" The blonde teased, sniggering as she felt herself start to sweat just a little as they ran in the gentle warmth of the day. "Because we can stop, if you need to."
Serena answered with a whimper of the negative, forcing on in her innate determination to prove capable. Bernie pursed her lips as she slowed her own pace, knowing that Serena would sooner give herself a coronary than admit defeat, but Serena pushed on in an attempt to show off and Bernie got the most glorious view of her backside as she ran along in her leggings. Her breath hitched as she watched the way that it bounced just slightly with every stride in a way that made Bernie's chest heave, more so than any running could.
As she forced through her pain and ignored the pounding behind her ribs, Serena focused on how marvellous Bernie looked when she had just been to the gym and how the glistening of sweat on her taut flesh made her even more desirable. She thought about the bitter, saltiness of her skin as she kissed it, and she remembered how amazing it felt to have Bernie's weight resting against her in exhaustion. Her legs were throbbing so hard she could almost feel blood pumping through them eagerly, and she was ready to give up.
"Serena-" Bernie called, emphasising her own breathing as she hurried to catch up to the brunette. "You're too good at this, I concede defeat. I'm knackered, let's go home."
There was no mistaking the way that Serena's eyes lit up at hearing that her torture was finally over and she came to an abrupt halt, exhaling heavily as her legs gave out underneath her and she flopped to sit on the curb of the road. Bernie couldn't help but find it slightly endearing how much Serena had exerted herself, even if it was just to show off; she had known that she was bad at failing, but not to such an extent. The two women sat at the side of the road as they regained their breath for a few minutes before Bernie's hopped up enthusiastically and offered Serena a hand.
"I don't think I can walk. My legs feel like the jelly at Elinor's 6th birthday party, and it never set because there was a power cut in the night." Serena uttered, still struggling to speak between harsh breaths and Bernie held back laughter as she tried to pull Serena up, only to find that her legs literally failed to support her. "This is why I don't do exercise! You're the fit one, you tried to break the natural order and this is the comeuppance I face as a result."
"Come on, woman, let's get you home!" Bernie responded, rolling her eyes as she leant down and hooked one arm under Serena's bent knees and the other around her back as she hoisted her easily off the ground. Serena squealed in alarm as she wrapped her arms around Bernie's neck and clung to her anxiously while incessantly telling her to let go. "Stop fussing or I'll make you an ice bath when we get home!"
People walking down the street gave them odd looks that neither of them paid attention to, and Bernie made sure Serena had her head tucked snugly in to blonde curls as the pair happened to walk past Ric Griffin driving down the street.
As she carried her lover over the threshold, Bernie ignored the twinge in her back and set Serena down at the bottom of the stairs, smugly observing her damp, pink complexion as she kicked off her trainers. Wine certainly sounded like a good idea, as did that massage.