Pleasure Train (3 page)

“Door’s shut. We’re ready,” he said into the receiver then hung up.

When he straightened, she caught a whiff of his cologne. It was warm and spicy. She breathed him in deep.

“We’ll be leaving the station now. I’m so glad you could come with us.” He held out his hand. “Come with me, and we’ll join the others.”

Willow picked up her coat and scarf, throwing them over her arm, then snagged her purse. Taking his hand, she stood. The sound of the engine grew from a low rumble to a growl.

Josh tucked her hand around his arm. “It would be a good idea if you held on while we make our way to the observation car.”

She looked down the length of the car they were currently in. There was a row of bench seats on either side, lined up evenly with the windows, with a center aisle leading to a metal door at the back. It sort of reminded her of a bus except it was decorated with an art deco feel, distinct lines with crisp, curved edges, and there were overhead storage bins lining both sides above the seats. The main color throughout was a silvery-gray, but the seats had been redone in a blazing-red vinyl, which gave the car some “pop.”

“I think I can make it on my own down the aisle.” She looked up at him. “But it is sort of nice hanging onto your arm.” She gave his arm a squeeze, still amazed at how solid this man felt.

He looked down at her. “I like it, too.” His expression was neutral, but in his eyes was a glimmer. Could it be attraction?

Willow decided to continue holding his arm and even pressed up a bit closer as they moved down the aisle with her just a step behind. The train lurched suddenly, catching her off guard. She grabbed a hold of one of the seat backs, tightening her grip on Josh.

“Wow, a little jerky there,” she said then let out a giggle. Glancing at the windows, she noticed they were beginning to move. “Wait a minute, how long do we travel backwards?” As she followed Josh, she held his arm tightly, feeling the vibration of their movement beneath her feet.

“The train will go backwards all the way to the end of the scenic portion then we’ll stop.”

They were at the end of the car by the door. The train moved slightly faster, putting her a little off balance with its rocking motion. The sound was louder there.

Josh hesitated by the door, his hand resting on the handle. “After we spend some time at the end of the line,” he continued, “the train will go forward all the way back to the station.”

There was something about the thought of being aboard a train stopped on the tracks for any length of time that gave her the willies. “Why do you stay at the end of the line for a while instead of coming right back?”

“We’ll explain soon. Let’s continue on. It’ll be easier to talk in the observation car. It’s farther from the engine, so it’s a lot quieter.”

She nodded. “Okay, I’m ready.” She gripped his arm with both hands, her coat still slung over one arm. She’d never been on a train before, not to mention one as old as this, and she wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen when he opened that door and they crossed to the next car.

Josh pushed down the handle and pulled open the door.

Instantly the sound was amplified, even though the connection between the two cars was enclosed by an accordion-like sleeve that encased the passage. Josh stepped out onto the metal flooring, pulling her along with him.

Willow stepped next to him and let go of his arm so that she could plaster herself against his chest, her fingers clutching the material of his shirt. When she looked down, she could see flashes of the railroad ties beneath them as the train jostled over the tracks.

Josh pulled the door of the first car closed behind them.

The train lurched to the side, beginning to lean as it must have started going around a curve. Willow almost lost her footing when two strong arms wrapped around her and she was lifted off her feet.

Josh held her tightly to him, his gaze boring into her own.

Damn.

Then his mouth was on hers, crushing her lips beneath his assault. Willow closed her eyes, heat infusing her whole body. She parted her lips, her fingers digging into his chest where her arms were trapped in his embrace. Josh thrust his tongue into the wetness of her mouth, dueling with hers. He tasted of cinnamon, a liquid heat. She moaned, sucking at his tongue.

The sounds of clanging and creaking, metal against metal, engulfed them as the train rattled along, jostling them against each other.

Josh slid one large hand down and cupped her ass, pressing her tighter against him.

Willow sucked in a breath, breaking free from his hungry mouth for an instant. She locked eyes with him, the bulge in his jeans pressing hotly against her pelvis. She wanted him. It had been so long since…Her nerve endings were raw, every touch sending signals straight to her core.

She knew right then she was going to enjoy this train ride.

Josh managed to get both of them into the next car safely. Willow followed him through that car, hoping for a repeat performance when they entered the passageway again. That car was a dining car, painted yellow and orange with booths lining one wall. Along the other wall was a long counter and bar area where passengers could purchase snacks and drinks. There was no one behind the bar to serve them even though the shelves were stocked with single-serving-size bags of chips and candy bars. Then she remembered what the lady at the station said about how the boys didn’t want anyone to enter the last three cars of the train while they were aboard.

“I’m assuming if we get hungry, this is where we can grab a bite,” Willow said, trying to break the silence between them. Josh hadn’t said a thing since he’d kissed her.

He stopped suddenly, almost causing her to ram into him. “Are you hungry?” he asked, looking down at her.

The expression on his face was almost comical. Eyebrows raised, he was wide-eyed and looked like he had forgotten to ask her something very important and had just realized it. His concern was touching. Willow shook her head. “No, not at the moment. Maybe later?”

He let out a breath and smiled. “If you need anything, just let me know.”

“I will.” She gave his bicep a squeeze.

He turned and began heading for the door that led to the next car.

Again, as they passed through the partition between the cars, Willow was thrown into Josh. Thrown wasn’t the truth to it. Willow had only been jostled a little, but she wasn’t going to give up the chance to press up against that hard body again. This time she was prepared. One arm free when he wrapped his arms around her waist, she snaked her arm over his shoulder and cupped the back of his head, pulling him down into a hot, wet kiss.

Josh groaned into her mouth as she shifted her pelvis against his groin.

Willow gasped when his hand found her breast, squeezing it through her clothes. She pulled away from his lips and met his gaze, her hand brushing over his short-cropped hair. “I am really beginning to like trains,” she said, speaking loud enough that he could hear her over the squeal of the wheels spinning on the tracks.

With a crooked grin, he moved his hand from her breast to her ass. “We just might be able to show you how enjoyable a train ride can be.” Then he gave her a quick kiss on the lips and guided her toward the door and into the next car.

Willow felt heat begin to flare in her pussy, travelling up her spine. What had he meant when he said “we?” Did he mean all three of them? The comment definitely had sexual overtones. Just thinking about the three men made her nipples tighten, and she fought the urge to let out a tiny moan. She was already turned on, but—could she trust these guys? What are you thinking, she chided herself. They wouldn’t dare do anything to her that she didn’t want to do. Not only would Grace and George, the owners of the train, know it if something happened to her, Willow would make sure everyone in town knew.

They moved quickly through that car. It was another passenger car, exactly like the one behind the engine where she had boarded the train.

Josh pulled her through the passageway between cars without stopping, and they entered the last car of the train. This was the observation car. It was laid out differently than the others. Willow had to take two steps up, then there was a landing. Another small set of stairs led down from the landing, and she could see booths along the side of the car from where she was standing.

Another short stairway led upward to her left, and she could see a wide expanse of windows above. “Is the whole roof of the car glass?” she asked, excitement filling her.

“Yes, and it’s great. The glass is curved, and you can see for yourself.” He stepped to the right. “After you.” He took her coat and scarf from her, draping them over his arm. “Hold on to the handrail. Hate to have you fall.”

She grabbed the brass handrail and was immediately glad she did when the car shifted. Letting out a laugh, she started up the stairs. “This is almost like being on a boat, what with it moving all the time.”

“Yeah, isn’t it great?” Mikey asked from above.

Willow smiled, coming to the top of the stairs and stepping up onto the observation-deck floor. “It’s going to take a little getting used to.” She turned to Jack. “Hey.”

“Hey to you,” he said. Jack was leaning back against what looked like a ledge in the center of the car with his feet kicked up on a bench seat that ran from the ledge to the staircase. His glasses were perched on top of his head, pushing his hair back from his face, and his normal white button-down shirt was unbuttoned halfway to his waist with his sleeves rolled up. This was
not
the nerdy Jack she was used to. This Jack was hot enough for a romance novel or a perfume ad in a glossy magazine.

Mikey was just as mouthwatering. He was standing up, one elbow parked on the ledge, his eyes sparkling. “Come on in. Have a seat,” Mikey said, waving his hand toward the bench seat beside him.

Willow thought she had died and gone to heaven. Three hot men, alone with her on a train.
Whoa.
She dropped her purse on the seat but didn’t sit down. Instead, she moved to the center of the car and leaned on the ledge. “This is really cool,” she said, her heart thumping hard.

The ledge she leaned on spanned the width of the car at about her chest height. It was covered in plush carpet the color of a deep merlot, a dark-bloodred, as were the bench seats. She could look across the ledge to the other end of the car, which was a mirror image of the side they were on, complete with another staircase at the end she was sure led down to the seating area she had seen below.

Looking up, the thick glass curved over her head, the sun dazzling brightly, causing her to shade her eyes with her hand. She glanced out the left side, over Jack, and saw they were passing the metal bridge that spanned the river. They were heading west, she thought, and it wouldn’t take long to leave Forever behind and be travelling along in the country.

“You like?” Jack asked, swinging his feet off the seat and onto the floor as he turned to face her.

“Oh my gosh,” she gushed, turning toward him. “How could you not like this?” The town disappeared behind them, and they were entering a wooded area. The trees formed a canopy overhead, sunlight now flickering into the car like the lighting in some old-time movie.

“Well, sit down and relax.” Jack patted the seat beside him. “Let’s get to know each other.”

Willow glanced at Josh, who had seated himself across from Jack on the other side. He had his arm resting on the back of the seat and one ankle parked on the opposite knee. It didn’t look like it bothered him at all when Jack asked her to sit beside him. Good. She didn’t want to have to deal with any jealous posturing. She’d had enough of the snide remarks and accusations when she lived with Kenny.

She plopped down beside Jack and drew one leg up beneath her, getting comfortable. “Okay, first tell me why you guys ride this train every Saturday all by yourself.”

The three men traded glances and then turned their eyes to her.

“We like the train, the character of it, and it gives us a quiet place to do a bit of brainstorming about our projects.” Jack took her hand from her lap and rubbed his thumb across the back of it. “Don’t you think it gives a sense of going back in time?”

His thumb moving slowly back and forth over her skin was hypnotizing. It felt nice, almost as if it was hinting at how tender Jack would be as a lover. She drew in a breath and sighed. “It does remind me of maybe the forties. You know, when being a movie star meant being glamorous. Yes, that’s the feeling it gives me. Glamour.”

Mikey chuckled. “I’ve never thought of it like that. Great image if I do say so.”

Willow shook her head. “I would never peg you guys for getting into history though. I mean, you don’t look like history buffs, and you said you had a tech company. This actually seems a little outdated for guys like you.” She locked gazes with Jack. Shafts of sunlight streaked across his face, glinting in his dark, delicious eyes. His thumb was moving in circles over the back of her hand, generating heat inside her in more places than one.

“To come up with fresh ideas,” he said, his voice low and lulling, “we need to get away from all the computers and code and electronics for a while. It gives us a fresh perspective, and also, sitting here with the trees and sun and sky above us”—he gestured toward the glass ceiling—“refreshes our souls.”