The train was less crowded than usual even as the summer holiday period drew to a close. There was even a seat still empty opposite me which was unheard of in the evening rush hour crush of bodies desperately trying to get out of London as quickly as possible. There were still a few minutes to go though until the train was due to depart and begin it’s slow route through the rolling countryside, stopping frequently to drop each of us at our chosen stations. The monotonous commute continued daily, early morning ride in and evening crush back out. It was hot on the train I thought, the air conditioning not functioning, that too was a part of the normal journey. Crammed bodies added to the summer heat. I was lucky tonight I thought. At least I had a seat and by the looks of it with no one in the seat opposite I’d have room to stretch out my tired legs. I couldn’t wait to get home and kick off my shoes, even though I’d changed into flats for the journey, my heels stuffed into my bag in their place. I started dreaming of the cool shower and chilled glass of wine in the fridge that awaited me at home. I could almost feel the water splashing over my body, cooling it as the bathroom filled up with steam despite the heat of the day. I was so far into my daydream that I didn’t see him approach. Only when I heard his softly spoken words did I look up and realise it was him.

“Is this seat taken?” the first words he’d ever ushered to me.

His voice was like cream, silky smooth and his blue eyes smiled with his mouth as he spoke. I fumbled for words. Finally, he’d spoken to me. The tall stranger that often shared my journey but with whom I’d never spoken. I knew nothing about him, didn’t know his name, what he did. I didn’t even know his stop because it was further down the line than mine. I’d admired him from a distance, almost daily. His slim frame perfectly dressed in a city suit. A crisp collared shirt was always perfectly ironed, he must be married I’d always told myself. Stop dreaming Marie he must be taken already.

“Uh, yes, I mean no,” I struggled to give any sort of sensible response to his perfectly normal question.

He looked at me questioningly until I finally got a string of words together that made sense.

“It’s not taken, no.”

“Are you sure?” he smiled again, I loved the way his eyes lit up when he did that. His whole face seemed to smile as I tried to reply.

“Y, yes, I’m sure.”

“You don’t seem to be sure, is everything ok?”

Oh gosh, now he was talking to me properly. I mean a proper conversation, he’d just asked me how I was feeling. I felt hot all of a sudden, I’d already been too warm thanks to the summer weather, the lack of air conditioning and the build-up of people around me. Now though I was hot.

“Yeah, I’m fine, thanks, it’s just a little warm in here.” I wafted my hands around my face miming fanning myself. Why did I do that? I must look a complete idiot now.

“Ah yes, it’s a hot one again,” he continued, removing his suit jacket before sitting down opposite me. He folded it neatly across his knees which pressed against mine as he shuffled into a comfortable position.

“Sorry!” He spoke the word softly as he tried to manoeuver his long legs into the small space between us. Instinctively I parted mine as he extended his and so we sat his legs between mine, his knees pressed against mine. My navy blue dress rode up higher as my legs spread slightly. I wanted to squirm, I was tingling from that slight contact.

A jolt, as the train departed. His legs bounced with the movement of the train, they slid against mine. Every bump of the train over the tracks was now emphasised by the slight bounce  of his knees. I closed my eyes. It didn’t help. My mind wandered. In my thoughts we were in bed, his legs between mine. No, no. I couldn’t think like that. He was just a stranger on a train. Yes, I know, I’d admired him from a distance for months. Occasionally I’d thought about him at home.

Come on, get a grip Marie. He’s just a passenger sat opposite you. It happens all the time.

Yes, but not like this, he’s never sat opposite me. He’s never spoken to me before, and now we’re touching each other.

So it’s not deliberate, Marie, it’s just a cramped train. It’s happened numerous times, a stranger bumps you. The train jolts. Another bump. It’s just part of the journey.

But not him!

So give him space then. Yes that was it, space. Slowly I eased my legs a little further apart, our knees lost contact. Was that better? Yes, no, maybe. Now I was aware of spreading my legs, not a ladylike position at all. How many times had my mother always said. Close your legs Marie, it’s not polite for a girl to sit like that. Nobody wants to see your underwear.

Oh no! I hadn’t thought that through until now. Could he see my panties? I tried desperately to remember which ones I’d put on that morning at the same time trying to calculate mathematical angles between his blue eyes and the edge of my short dress. A dress that continued to ride up my thighs as if it had a mission of its own. A mission that only had one ending it seemed, a mission to expose my underwear to the stranger’s gaze. What must he think of me? I wriggled in my seat now, trying to pull the hem of my dress back down to my knees, but it didn’t really work. Instead it just increased the rubbing of my inner thighs against his knees. I stopped, still, resisting the urge to clamp my legs shut. My heart was now beating rapidly in my chest. I was sure he could hear it pounding above the constant noise of the train clicking over the tracks. I looked up, he was staring at me. He smiled again as our eyes met. I melted into those eyes and smiled back at him.

It was him who broke the gaze first. I watched as his eyes dropped to the floor. What was he looking at? My feet? My slender ankles in the worn silver pumps? No, he was looking higher than that. My calves? No his own legs must block that view? My knees? Oh, gosh he was looking directly at my thighs, at the hem of my dress. Was he peeking? He was! I couldn’t help it I was excited now. I’d never done anything like this before. I sat on this train daily and nothing like this had ever happened. The beautiful stranger was trying to peep up my dress. So naughty. Yes naughty, but I was enjoying it. I’m such a bad girl, enjoying watching a strange man sneak a look up dress. I should stop, this voice in the back of my mind cried out.

“Close your legs girl, that’s not the way a young lady should sit.”

“Go away, Mother.”

“Let him look,” another voice was crying out in my mind. “When will you get another chance?” It would be easy, just allow my legs to fall apart with the constant swaying and jostling motion of the train. Let him look.  I was about to give in to this voice, to let my legs slip. To enjoy the sight of him realising there was a little bit more on view than he thought. All it would take would be one more small movement.

“The next station is….” The almost robotic woman announced, breaking into my thoughts. My stop! Too late we were pulling into my station. I jumped up anxiously, my body on automatic as I grabbed together my bag whilst trying to smooth down my ruffled up dress, then came the jolt. The carriage lurched as I was turning. I was unbalanced, his legs were still between mine as I stood up. That was all it needed, before I could catch myself I leaned towards him, my hands full I couldn’t stop until, firm hands. He’d caught me. One hand on my forearm the other firmly planted on my bum. Was that deliberate? Who knows?

“Whoah, there,” his silky voice spoke to me again. “You ok?” I nodded as I regained my poise and managed to step over his legs to the aisle.

“Yes, thank you. Sorry,” were the only words that left my mouth.

“You’re welcome.” His hands dropped back to his lap as I stepped away and made for the door. A moment later the train stopped and the automatic door opened, I stepped out onto the platform, the cool evening air hitting me and inducing a chill down my spine.  The train moved off behind me and I turned towards it, just in time to catch his face in the window. It wasn’t clear and I couldn’t hear but I understood as he mouthed one word to me.

“’Bye.”