Chapter 1: The Inspection
“Report.”
The voice cut through the hum, sharp as a shear. Thomas flinched on her skates, the wheels giving a tiny squeak against the wood. She’d been waiting, her heart doing a frantic tap-dance against her ribs.
Sir Topham Hatt stood behind Thomas,
“I… I’m ready for inspection, ma’am,” Thomas said, her voice too high. She straightened her back, pushing her chest out against the blue bikini top. The top hat perched on her head felt ridiculous.
“See that you are.” The tip o Sir Topham Hatt’s finger trailed over the yellow ‘1’ painted on the curve of Thomas’s ass, down the backs of her thighs, to the little blue wagon hitched to her waist by a leather belt. “The Island of Sodor faces a crisis.”
Thomas swallowed. “A crisis, ma’am?”
“The Great Tunnel has collapsed.” Sir Topham Hatt knelt behind, her hand, cool on untouched skin, landed on the small of Thomas’ s back. “Rockfall. Total blockage. The main line is severed.”
The hand began to move in a slow, circular inspection.
“We need to reopen it to save the railway. Massive boring shafts. Support cylinders. Pipeline sections. We have the equipment.” Her voice was a low, steady monotone, a recitation of facts, but her hand slid lower, fingertips tracing the upper edge of Thomas’s thong. "and you're the only one who can get it there. "
Thomas’s breath hitched. She stared straight ahead at the couch, her knuckles white where she gripped the wagon’s handle. “I can haul it.”
“Can you?” The hand cupped her ass, squeezing. “This will be the heaviest load of your career, Thomas" The other hand came up, fingers tracing the strap of the bikini top. “We must make sure your engine is running smoothly. That all your moving parts…” A tug, and the knot at the back of Thomas’s neck came loose. The blue fabric slithered down her front. “…are properly lubricated.”
Thomas bit her lip.
Sir Topham Hatt stepped around to face her. Her eyes, in the shadow of her hat brim, were dark and unreadable. She didn’t look at Thomas’s face, but at her bare chest. “And we must ensure each boxcar,” she said, her voice dropping to a gritty whisper, “is packed to absolute capacity.”
Thomas felt a flush burn from her neck to her hairline. A strange, hot pulse settled low in her belly. “I’m a Really Useful Engine,” she whispered, the slogan feeling like a plea.
“Mavis and Rebecca, your fellow engines, and myself will help make sure" S She took Thomas’s wrist and led her, stumbling on her skates, toward a worn pushed against a wall. Bend over, we'll start here.
Thomas’s mind went blank, subsumed by a throbbing obedience. She leaned forward, placing her hands on the cracked leather. The position arched her back, thrusting her painted ass into the dim light.
A warm, bare body pressed against her from behind. Sir Topham Hatt had shed her jacket. She felt her panties pulled to the side as she was prepped for her heavy load.