Steamy Sentiment Pt. 02

Ben’s life was moving as fast as the train he was riding. Patches of forest and farmland sped by, washed away by the clacking of the cars. He looked down at the basket on the red leather bench beside him. Thanks to Sephie’s cute wit and smooth talking and the coin she had received last night, the basket held two loaves of expired bread and a wedge of cheese.

He looked over at his sister to see her kneeling on the seat next to him, face plastered to the window, and excitedly watching the ever-renewing scenery.

“Not the most ladylike way to sit, Sephie,” Ben chided as he tried pulling the hem of her skirt down. “I’m concerned about others seeing your butt.”

She looked over her shoulder. “We have this car all to ourselves and no indication of anyone joining us. Stop brooding and take this opportunity to enjoy the scenery both outside and inside.” She winked, wiggling her butt. “Or, cop a feel… whichever gets your mind off of things.“

Ben considered her suggestion before reaching out and giving her butt a loving squeeze.

“Hmm, that’s better. Touch it as much as you want,” she purred.

“As nice as this is, your smile puts me more at ease… and your laugh…” He reached higher to attack her unprotected sides, tickling her until her eyes watered.

“I give! I give up!”

He let up, pulled her onto his lap, and held her. “I love your laugh.”

Sephie wiped her eyes. “And I love your cuddles.” Starting with his lips, she trailed kisses down to his neck. As she laid her head on his shoulder, she relaxed in his warm embrace. “Have you ever thought about living in the country?”

“Not especially. Why?”

She tapped the window. “Look how much room is out there. Just trees, meadows, and no one to bother us. I’m tired of living in damp, cramped alleys filled with garbage.”

“Where would we go? I don’t know the first thing about building a shelter, much less a house.”

“Maybe we won’t have to. How about moving into an abandoned home?” Sephie suggested. At that, Ben absorbed the idea and mentally chewed it for several minutes. She abruptly sat up and pointed to a clearing.

Ben caught the fleeting glimpse of a dwelling as they rushed by. “I don’t see why anyone would abandon a house, but I suppose we can go take a look.”

—-

A short time later, the train pulled into a rural station. The siblings stepped off and onto the wooden boarding platform. As the train huffed away, Ben took stock of their surroundings. All was quiet except for the rustle of leaves and the occasional lark call. “Looks like we are the only ones here.”

Sephie sat down on a blue, weathered bench next to a faded signboard showing train arrival and departure times. She looked around and announced, “Smell how fresh the air is — so cool and sweet!”

Ben took a deep breath, his first one in a place devoid of the scent of humanity. Following a nod, he said, “Looks like a good place to eat. Hungry?” Her stomach gave her response.

Taking a seat next to her, he handed her half of their meager fare. “It’s so quiet out here; no steam, no horns, no dogs barking.”

She layered the cheese between the bread and took a bite. “And stale bread is definitely a step up from moldy.”

Eager to explore their destination then eat, they quickly finished.

“Perfect sunny weather for walking. Shall we go?” Ben asked. Not waiting for her to answer, he held the basket and took Sephie’s hand to help her stand from the bench.

Two miles later, Sephie was scouting ahead. She picked wildflowers and kicked rocks, her hair fluttering whenever the wind blew. She exuded youthful vigor and, despite their destitute life, happiness.

Ben enjoyed seeing her so alive. Even though it had only been forty-eight hours, he had to mentally pinch himself a few times to remind himself that this was real. His secret, unspoken yearning had actually come true — not that it changed many things in their relationship.

Because they were now seeing each other as lovers, he was excited about what new facets of each other’s personality their intimacy would reveal. He wanted to deepen their bond even more until they were blissfully drowning in each other’s love.

“It’s kinda cute the way your brows furrow when you’re thinking about something.”

Ben was startled out of his thoughts by his sister’s sudden closeness. She was right in front of him, having stopped their walk.

“Whatcha thinkin’ about?”

“Us.”

“What about us?”

“Just… how much I’m hopelessly addicted to loving you.”

She pushed up under his arm and clung to him. “I’m sorry it took so long for me to notice how you felt about me.”

“You shouldn’t be sorry! The point was so you wouldn’t notice.”

“Well, I’m glad I know now, and I don’t want to waste any time catching up,” Sephie said with enthusiasm.

He put his hand on her head. “It’s not a race. Just continue being who you are: my little sis, who I love and cherish more than anything else in the world.”

“Dumb puns included?” she teased.

“Yes, even those.”

“But we are going to have to do something about your clothes. In the direct sun, I can see your,” he waved his arm, “everything.”

“Maybe I don’t mind it, or maybe I should just take everything off,” She taunted.

He chuckled at that. “Then I wouldn’t be looking where I was going.”

“That is a conundrum. Maybe I should grab your arm like this, then,” Sephie proposed as she walked beside him, their arms entangled.

“Now I’m able to see down the front of your shirt.”

“You like them? My boobies?”

“Of course, I like them.”

“What about them do you like especially?”

“Fishing for compliments?”

“I might be.” She grinned and turned slightly to press her chest against his arm.

“Well, I like how perky and cute they are with the beauty mark under the right one and the slight bounce when you walk.” He reached with his left hand and gave one a squeeze. “They are the perfect size for my hands.”

She kissed him. “I’ll accept these compliments and cherish them.”

Then she brushed her hand over his pants and giggled. “We better stop there, or it might get a bit hard to walk.” She giggled at her unintended pun.

—

“I think it was around here.” Sephie stood on tiptoes, trying to see through the underbrush. “There it is… and more than that,” she declared and stooped down to part the bushes. “One eroded path to guide our way.”

The two-story, supposedly abandoned house sat forlornly at the end of a trail overgrown grass. It was built mostly of wood, except for copper pipes bolted with iron bands snaking their way along the edge of hollowed out gear and sprocket windows.

Sephie swiped her sleeve across the dusty glass. “Wonder how old this place is.”

Ben kicked against one of the pipes. “Not old enough to start falling apart, at the very least. Door’s locked, and I’d hate to break a window. Let’s try the back.”

Sephie ran ahead, stopping in front of three fallow beds covered in weeds and overgrowth that formed a semi-circle around the back porch. “Hey, a garden! Well, what was once a garden.”

“Looks like a window will have to be sacrificed,” Ben lamented after trying the door.

“A regrettable sacrifice.” Sephie found a rock and chucked it through with a crash. “Boost me up.”

He grabbed her hips, lifted her up, and was rewarded with a momentary flash of her pantiless pussy.

As she slipped through the hole, another crash erupted inside. “I’m ok — the shelf maybe not so much. Also, who puts a bucket under a window?” Three clicks later, Sephie stood in the open door with a bucket on her foot. “I need to find better clothes to move in.”

“You got off to a good start with your new shoe,” Ben pointed out.

Sephie rolled her eyes, stepped outside, and kicked the bucket off and into the garden. “Wonder if they left any clothes here that’ll fit. Maybe we’ll find pants or a dress for special occasions.”

“Special occasions? What kind?”

“How about you pick me up, and I’ll show you.”

“Pick you up? Um, ok.” Ben lifted her underweight frame with his arms behind her back and legs. “Now what, princess?”

“Now you can carry your bride across the threshold,” she commanded, pointing her head toward the open door.

“That’s… extremely old-fashioned,” he groaned.

“Things like this only happen once!” she cheerily countered.

“I’d say finding a conveniently abandoned house that is not falling apart goes beyond happening… ever!”

She placed a finger to his lips. “Shush. Enjoy the moment.”

Ben stepped inside, disturbing the dust that lay over everything.

“Needs a little cleaning, but it’ll make a cozy love nest, but first, time to explore!” She wiggled out of his arms and disappeared further into the house.

Ben looked around the dim room. Noticing a nob by the door, he turned it to no effect. ‘I don’t know why I would have thought there’d be power,’ he chided himself.

Pulling the shades on the window caused an animated dust show. Ben coughed and walked toward what he guessed was the living room. The kitchen and adjoining section were separated by a utility room with a typically large domestic boiler.

The boiler could provide hot water and dry heat to every room, and these types of residential units typically received their steam from a central power plant. The owner of this home, however, seemed to have custom modified the boiler to be manually fed with wood and water from a hatch accessible from outside the home.

“You ok, Sephie?” Ben shouted.

“Ya,” came her muffled reply. “I’m looking through some old clothes I found.”

“I’m gonna go outside and try to get the boiler going!”

“K.”

Making his way to the side of the house, Ben found the furnace door. Its rusted hinges complained loudly as he unlatched the bar. He saw a shovel leaning against the wall, so he scooped the ash out and added kindling he found in the yard. With some effort, he lit a fire and watched the flames grow stronger until he was sure they wouldn’t go out. Opening the flue halfway, he closed the door.

“Glad whoever built this place made sure it was near the well.” He said to himself.

The turn handle and pulley for the well were broken, so it took considerable time to haul bucket after bucket to the water tank above the furnace. With that task done, he checked the steam gauges.