Tight Quarters: Strangers on a Train

by Samantha Hunter

  Brenna didn’t dare move with his hand still clamped around her arm. He might not be awake, or clear on what was happening.

  “Brenna?” he asked, sounding confused.

  “Yes. You were having a nightmare, and I was trying to wake you, and—”

  “Fuck, I’m so sorry.” He released her as if she were radioactive and swung his legs over the side of the small cot to stand.

  Light suddenly illuminated the berth.

  Reid looked like he’d been through hell—his hair tousled, his face still reflecting the pain he’d suffered in the dream. He rubbed his hands over his face as if trying to scour it away.

  “I thought this was over with,” he muttered, more to himself than to her.

  Sympathy welled and then turned warmth to heat as Brenna took in every inch of taut, hard muscle exposed and covered in a light sheen of perspiration. He wore only a pair of shorts to sleep in.

  “Are you okay?” she asked from where she stood by his bed.

  His eyes pinned her as he moved in.

  “I’m fine. Let me see your arm.”

  His face carved into a deep frown, his eyes still wild as he got up close and took her arm in his hands to inspect it. He winced as he saw the light marks from his fingers on her skin. Sitting down on the side of the cot, he pulled her down with him. Not that she had any choice—her knees didn’t exist. His hands were hot, and Brenna swallowed hard.

  “I’m so sorry,” he said again, shaking his head. “I’m not used to anyone being around when that happens.”

  Something hopeful in her heart jumped for joy upon hearing that.

  “It’s okay. Believe me, I know what it’s like. As long as you’re okay.” She tried to ignore the way his thigh muscles stretched and bunched as he moved.

  She wanted to slide her hand over them so much that she twitched slightly, holding herself back.

  He misread it as a flinch.

  “I know I was out of line earlier, but I’d never hurt you, or any woman, knowingly. I can get out at the stop tomorrow, and you can have the room. I should have done that in the first place, but I…well, never mind. I’ll pack it up tomorrow and reschedule the trip.”

  Panic fluttered in her chest that had nothing to do with fear. She reached out, covering his hand with her own.

  “I wish you wouldn’t. I’m fine, really. I promise.”

  Reid studied her hand on his for a long moment, and the air shifted, thickening around them. When he looked at her, embers of heat were banked behind the caution she saw in his gaze. His body had stilled but hardened. He kept himself separate, the only place they touched where her hand covered his. His eyes fell to where the thin material of her gown covered the slope of her breasts, and she saw him swallow, control making his jaw tight.

  He was being careful with her, and that tipped her over the edge. Made her brave.

  In this moment, Brenna was the one who could comfort Reid, make him feel better. He was the one who had turned the lights on, escaping the horrors that followed him back from his sleep. She suddenly wanted to try to make all of it go away.

  The train rocked slightly, and she let the motion ease her closer to him, her breath catching as her side, her breast, pressed against his torso.

  “If you leave, what kind of adventure would this be?” she asked, and then answered the shocked surprise in his eyes by pressing a soft kiss to his mouth.

  Brenna sighed into the kiss and closed her eyes, shameless as she threw her leg over his thighs, straddling him so that she could make the kiss deeper and feel more of him against her.

  Reid groaned into her mouth, his tongue rubbing against hers like she was the tastiest thing he’d known in some time, but he held back, not holding or touching her in any way.

  Didn’t he want to?

  No, he was being cautious with her, still shaken.

  “You can touch me, if you want,” she said against his mouth. It sounded gauche and stupid, and doubt started to tamp out her desire as long seconds stretched between them.

  But then he was there, big hands underneath her gown, kneading her back, her butt, then rising to bury his fingers in her hair as the kisses turned feral and hungry, more desperate than she would have imagined she could ever be. She met him where he was hard and needful.

  He was big. Not too big, but definitely big.

  Hunger shredded the rest of her inhibitions as she pressed down against him, soaked through the light material of her panties, seeking what she needed.

  “Sweetheart, we have to slow this down, or we’re not stopping at all.”

  He broke the kiss on a harsh breath, but she sought him again, not wanting to think or reconsider or question.

  He captured her face between his hands, and she focused on him, finding it utterly amazing that she had put that desire in his eyes. His heart pounded so hard, she could feel it where she pressed against his chest.

  “What?” she asked, dazed and wanting.

  “I don’t want to take advantage—”

  Brenna chuckled. She didn’t feel at all like herself, and that was…fantastic.

  Right now, she wasn’t herself. Not entirely. She was someone else, hurtling through the dark on a train in the middle of the night with a strange man whose eyes were devouring her as they watched each other.

  The sparks of adventure turned into a blaze. Whatever this freedom was that took her over, she wanted more of it.

  “Do you want me, Reid?” she asked as she pushed his hair back from his face, loving how silky it felt.

  “Yes, but—”

  “No buts.” She kissed him again, pressing her breasts against his massive chest. “I want you too.”

  Reid’s eyes widened at her statement, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. Brenna couldn’t quite believe it, either, but it made her happy somewhere deep down inside.

  Reid bit out another curse, his nostrils flaring as he banded his arms around her, apparently convinced. Falling backward, he brought her down on top of him, and as they kissed and touched, he paused to reach up above him for something.

  His bag. When he dragged it down, everything fell out of it, dumping everywhere around them, not that either of them cared. She focused on the planes of his chest, the scar at his waist. Where he was shot. She ran her fingers over it, studying the angry mark, fascinated.

  “Does it still hurt?” she whispered.

  “Sometimes, but not too bad. I still take pain pills, though, if I need them, though I need them less and less.” Brenna heard the sound of paper ripping, then foil, and her heart slammed hard into her chest.

  God, this was real.

  She didn’t think, didn’t look at anything except for Reid as he shucked the shorts and covered his erection while she stood and shimmied out of her underwear before crawling back over him.

  “What do you want, Brenna? What do you need?” he asked, taking command even though she was the one on top.

  “Just this,” she said as she planted her hands on his chest, finding a good angle. She enjoyed, for the sweetest second, the feeling of him poised at the center of her body, and she wanted to remember this particular moment forever. She rubbed back and forth against the broad tip of his cock, making both of them groan.

  “Honey, if we don’t do it now, I hate to admit it, but it’s going to be all over for me,” he said with a harsh chuckle, arching against her. “It’s been more than a while.”

  He couldn’t have said anything more perfect, and Brenna watched him, their eyes on each other as she took him slowly in until he was completely buried. The fullness inside her was incredibly erotic, more so than she had ever experienced before. Such sweet pressure. She rocked slightly, her own muscles tightening in response.

  “Oh, Reid. God,” she moaned.

  His fingers snuck down between her legs, played with her clit for a few seconds before she was rocking harder and digging her nails into his chest, flying apart in a blinding, soul-rendering orgasm. She wasn’t
even aware of his fingers digging in on her hips, holding on hard as he surged up under her. Then his neck arched back as he let out a moan rent with male satisfaction, collapsing back to the cot, his gorgeous chest heaving.

  Minutes later, the two of them were still fused together, breathing hard, bodies hot. Brenna didn’t feel like herself at all, but whoever she was right now, she liked her a whole hell of a lot better.

  Chapter Four

  Reid looked at his watch as he stood outside on the train platform, waiting for Brenna to emerge. In spite of their intimacy the night before, she’d insisted on leaving while he used the shower, and then he had done the same for her, since she needed to leave the door open. It was strange, considering that they’d seen each other naked from a variety of angles, but come morning Brenna had tightened up, closed off. She clearly needed her space.

  He’d gone along. It seemed like a small sacrifice to make her comfortable. Rome wasn’t built in a day and so forth. Not that they were “building” anything, but the thought still applied.

  But he’d been waiting an hour. The train had almost emptied out as passengers left to enjoy a full day in Saratoga Springs.

  He’d started to climb back on board when he saw her walking toward him. Any impatience evaporated immediately. She was beautiful, and there was an extra glow in her cheeks this morning. Hopefully he was the reason for that.

  “Hey. Ready to go? There’s a wine tasting in a half hour downtown.”

  When he leaned in to kiss her and she backed away ever so slightly, he knew something was wrong. Her body was tense, and she didn’t have a sweater or bag.

  “I think I’m going to stay in for the day. You should go have a good time, though. I’m sorry,” she said in a rush, turning away as if they would leave it at that.

  Reid stepped forward, stopping her progress by closing his hand over one shoulder.

  “Whoa. What’s this about? You were the one who was all excited about the town, seeing the historic buildings and the racetrack? And suddenly you don’t want to go?”

  She didn’t meet his eyes, wringing her hands. Reid dropped his from her shoulder.

  She didn’t reply.

  “Um, okay. If this is about last night, we can talk about that. It was a moment, Brenna. Neither one of us planned it, and if you’re feeling any pressure, don’t. We could spend some time together today, or not. We don’t have to be joined at the hip just because last night we…were,” he said, hoping to lighten the moment in spite of his own disappointment. “You can do your own thing, or go with someone else, if you want. No harm, no foul. You don’t need to hole up on the train just because of me.” He meant it. Mostly.

  He’d looked forward to spending some time with Brenna out of bed, but she obviously wasn’t feeling the same way. Okay, fine. They’d had a great night, and he could leave it at that. At least, he wanted her to believe that was true.

  “It’s not you. Really, it’s not.”

  “Brenna, are you really going to say ‘It’s not you, it’s me’?” He chuckled and tipped her chin up so they were eye-to-eye. “Listen, seriously, it’s fine. Last night was great, but you don’t owe me anything. We can go our separate ways, no pressure, okay?”

  She bit her lip in a way that made him want to lick it—especially now that he knew how she tasted—but he pushed the impulse away. Normally, Reid wasn’t so needy with women. He enjoyed them, and had even had a few almost-serious relationships, but overall, a one-night vacation fling would be fine with him, as well. Getting laid was getting laid, right?

  Except that deep down he wasn’t buying his own line. He’d been looking forward to spending some time with Brenna. He was disappointed. It had to be the influence of the pottery classes; maybe he should stop those.

  Brenna nodded, and he nodded back.

  “Okay. You have a great day, and…thanks. Last night was amazing, and so are you,” he said with a smile and leaned down to kiss her cheek before he turned back to the doors.

  “I’m afraid I won’t get back on,” she said as she rushed up behind him.

  He turned to find her looking panicked, her fingers digging into his upper arm.

  She’d grabbed on to him like that when he sat with her the day before, when he’d flirted with her, and last night, when she was flying apart around him. Like he was her anchor. Something solid.

  He liked it, but right now, it confused the hell out of him.

  “What?”

  “I want to spend the day with you, Reid, I really do. I’m not trying to give you the brush-off, please don’t think that. I don’t usually do…that…you know, like last night, with someone I don’t even know…” She trailed off, clearly stressed. “But as I was getting ready this morning and thinking about being off the train, I really started worrying that I might not get back on. That’s not just some lame excuse, and if I don’t get back on I’m really screwed. I’d have no way home.”

  He stared for a moment and wiped a hand over his face.

  “I’m sorry, Brenna. I thought you were just handing me a line. You’re really worried about that, huh?”

  She nodded. Relief almost made him laugh, and then he realized she’d think he was laughing at her and choked it back. But this he could deal with.

  “What if I give you no choice?” he proposed.

  She blinked. “What do you mean?”

  “You come spend the day with me, and I’ll make sure you get back on the train, even if I have to carry you back on,” he said on a low tone, pushing a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. “If you want me to.”

  “You’d do that?” He liked how her voice became breathless.

  “Whatever you need me to do, I can do. You set the limits, but I can do whatever’s necessary to make sure you get back on board.”

  The spark of excitement in her eyes set off responding ones inside of him.

  “You might have to restrain me, or keep me from screaming for help,” she said tentatively.

  By the way her lips parted, the color infusing her cheeks, Reid knew they were playing the same game now.

  “I can do that.” He stepped even closer. “Go get your stuff. I promise, no matter what it takes, you will be back on this train tonight. If nothing else works, I still own handcuffs, and I brought them with me.”

  “Why would you do that? Bring them with you, that is.”

  “Because you just never know when you might need them,” he said with a grin.

  Her eyes widened, and she popped up to plant a quick kiss on him before she turned and hurried back to the berth to get her things.

  Reid smiled. As much as he wanted to see Brenna successfully get over her phobia—and he did—a part of him truly hoped she wouldn’t be able to get on the train that evening. He would spend all day long thinking about what fun he could have keeping his promise to make sure she did.

  Brenna was having the best day she could remember in a long time. Quite the opposite of what she’d thought would happen as she had agonized alone in the room that morning, afraid to leave in case she couldn’t get back on board.

  The problem had never occurred to her before, as she hadn’t made it past departure any of the other times, and worrying about it had made her miserable until Reid had promised to help. She’d worried he would think she was a total whack-job, but he’d been there for her.

  How she’d come to trust him so quickly was a mystery, but one she was totally enjoying as her eyes met his over the glass of Shiraz they were currently tasting.

  “This one is sexy,” he murmured over the top of the glass, with a wink in her direction.

  She nodded, taking another sip. “But subtle. Mellow at first, but then it surprises you with some spice as it goes down.”

  His eyes darkened, and she fought a smile as she finished her glass, feeling a pleasant buzz set in. This was fun, and she was so glad he’d talked her into getting off the train.

  Clearly Reid had no long-term plans for what was happening between the
m. He’d made that clear back on the train, when he told her they didn’t have to spend any time together just because they’d had sex. But Brenna wanted to spend time with him.

  Maybe it was foolish, but she did. Partly because she wanted to have sex with him again. She hadn’t had much sex over the years, and she’d never had any that good. It seemed very likely at the moment that she’d get her wish.

  But she also wanted to be with Reid because when she was with him, she felt safe. She felt normal. When he’d promised her he would make sure she’d get back on the train, she’d believed him. He’d taken something she was self-conscious about and made it into a sexy game, taken it out of her hands and into his. It was good to be able to put those concerns aside and let someone else worry about them for a while.

  Today, she felt free. It was a heady thing.

  Her mind drifted to his comment about handcuffs.

  So many possibilities.

  “What next?” he asked. He stepped closer, his mouth near her ear.

  “There’s a buffet lunch downstairs,” she suggested, watching several other train passengers head that way. Spending time with the group didn’t seem as appealing as being alone with Reid.

  “I spotted a nice place down the street with an outdoor café in back that looks over a garden.”

  “Sounds nice.”

  “Glad you think so, since I already reserved a table,” he said with a grin.

  “That sure of yourself?” she teased.

  “I was hoping, that’s all.”

  Pleasure blossomed from her toes upward, and she let him steer her out of the tasting room toward the doors.

  “We have to do something first,” he said, and before Brenna could even ask what, he’d pulled her with him into a small alcove, his arms around her and his lips on hers, hot and demanding, wiping out any question she might have had.

  “The Shiraz is even better this way,” he whispered, licking at her bottom lip before invading her mouth again in a way that had her knees shaking.

  Brenna held on tight, returning the kiss without reserve, and she caught her breath as his hand found its way inside her top.