Emma arrived in the train’s dining car, wearing a stunning, strapless red dress she had impulsively bought before her trip aboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr route. It was nearly Christmas, and the car was festively decorated. She found a table by herself, setting her camera next to her. She was still reeling from the previous month, where her long-time boyfriend abruptly broke up with her, resulting in a creative void for the 24-year-old photographer with curly red hair and green eyes.
She stood up and reached for her camera to take some photos when she felt the clasp on her dress let go. Before she realized it, the top of her dress fell away, leaving her topless. It felt like an eternity before Emma finally covered her breasts, bending over in her seat with flushed cheeks.
“Miss, may I?” one of the passengers asked, offering her his blazer.
“Uh, thanks…” Emma accepted as he covered her.
“May I escort you back to your room?”
“Yeah…”
The man escorted her to her cabin, where she changed back into normal clothes before returning the blazer.
“May I ask what your name is?” he asked.
“E-Emma,” she reluctantly answered. “And you?”
“Noah,” he smiled. “I was wondering if you would join me for dinner?”
Emma sighed deeply. “I don’t think I can show my face back in there tonight.”
“Tomorrow for breakfast then?” Noah suggested.
“I’ll see.” She wasn’t sure, as she was considering hiding for the duration of the trip. “Thank you for the jacket.”
“It’s no problem. Have a good rest of the night,” he remarked, before giving a nod of farewell.
Emma threw herself on her bed. She wanted to sleep the night away at this point. But Noah kept lingering in her thoughts. His kindness had saved her, and now that he was gone, she found it touching. Maybe she would go see him the next morning after all.
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Emma smiled softly as she saw Noah waiting for her the following morning.
“Good morning,” she said, taking a seat next to him.
“How’d you sleep?”
Emma sighed. “Okay, I guess. I feel slightly less mortified than last night.”
Noah laughed. “I can imagine. Did you eat anything? You must be starving.”
“No. I wasn’t very hungry, but now that you mention it…”
They ate their breakfasts before Noah invited Emma to join him in the observation car.
Sitting beside each other, Emma talked about her photography while Noah explained he was an architect on his way to work on a project. She felt a growing bond between them, his charm making the previous night feel like a distant memory.
“Looks like we’re crossing the Sierra Nevadas,” Noah noted as the train wound through snow-capped mountains.
Emma savored the view, but she couldn’t get her mind off Noah. She stared into his brown eyes as they met. Without thinking, she leaned in and briefly kissed him, giving Emma a feeling of immense satisfaction.
“Emma…” Noah began, his voice uncertain.
“Do you want to come back to my cabin?” Emma suggested, her cheeks reddening and noticing the other passengers around them.
“Are you sure?”
Emma nodded. “Please.”
The pair quietly returned to Emma’s cabin, which she discretely locked.
“Look Emma—” Noah started, but Emma didn’t let him finish. She kissed him again, more passionately this time, her hands grabbing his shoulders.
This felt right to Emma, but she didn’t want to use Noah as an emotional outlet either.
Emma slowly broke the kiss. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s just, things have been rough and—” She didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
Noah gently smiled at her. “I don’t want you to do something you may regret. I appreciate your feelings. I feel like there is a connection there as well. But I don’t want to take advantage of your pain.”
Noah’s understanding made Emma fall for him even harder, and she hugged him. “Noah. If you will allow me, I—I want this.”
Noah kissed her cheek, and he responded with a simple “okay.”
They sat down on the bed, slowly undressing as they shared gentle and caring kisses. Once naked, their kissing became more passionate, their hands exploring each other, stimulating each other in preparation for what was coming.
Noah paused one final time. “Are you absolutely sure about this?” he asked, looking into Emma’s eyes.
“Yes,” Emma responded without hesitation.
The pair grasped each other in bed, Emma gasping as he entered her. They grooved their bodies together, kissing between gasps and moans. As the passion intensified within her, Emma’s kisses became ever hungrier. She wanted Noah, even if just for this one moment.
Emma let out a strained moan as the past month’s pain released itself all at once via the orgasm that rocked through her. Moments later, Noah also released, spilling his seed deep within Emma. The two grasped each other tightly until their climaxes finally subsided.
The pair lay there catching their breaths before Emma finally spoke up.
“Thank you,” she smiled, before giving him another peck on the lips.
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The train arrived at its final stop in Emeryville, California where Emma and Noah lingered near the station’s exit where Noah’s company car was waiting for him.
“I wish we had more time to spend together,” Noah softly lamented.
Emma blushed. “I am here all next week, including Christmas, before I head back. Maybe we can find some more time.”
Noah chuckled. “Maybe. If my schedule allows for it, I’ll text you.”
“I’d like that,” Emma smiled before getting serious. “I just want you to know how much you helped me.”
Noah brushed his hand against her cheek. “You are talented and wonderful, Emma. Never forget.”
Emma nodded before leaning in and kissing Noah one final time.
With that, the pair exited and gave each other one final wave before Noah departed. Emma felt bittersweet, but not too much. Somehow, she knew this wasn’t going to be a final goodbye.
