Two men trapped in an elevator are about to discover they have more in common than the inconvenience of lost time. Dr. Mason Grant recognizes Parker Collins, whom he had loved during their senior year in high school, but Parker does not immediately recognize Mason. Maybe it’s the passage of time that has dulled his memory ... or maybe it’s the wheelchair in which Mason is confined. As the two wait to be rescued, Mason recalls their six month love affair -- its uncertain beginning, its athletic highs both on and off the field, its romantic peacefulness spent at the Grant’s remote lake cabin, as well as its painful lows and horrific conclusion. The teenage Mason realized there were two sides to his lover -- the confident Parker, an athletic hero popular with both teammates and female students, and the private Parker, who is unsure, sexually submissive, and needs to be cuddled and petted. All Mason wanted then was for Parker to love him, and not diminish what they shared by giving in to the social pressures that demanded he play out the role of football jock and studly lady killer. Now that they’re grown men, what happens when Parker sees past Mason’s wheelchair and realizes who’s trapped in the elevator with him?

Trapped Nerves

After ten minutes had passed, Mason was


starting to get worried. Had Parker forgotten, had he left him


standing there deliberately? Was all that had happened—earlier that


day, the ride to school, the lunch room, and the events of


“Hi bud, sorry to have kept ya,” a voice said


Mason spun round and was immediately captured


by a pair of soft grey eyes. “Oh, that’s okay, I just arrived


myself.” Mason was relieved, aroused, happy.


“Coach wanted a word with me after practice,


and…” The shy side of Parker seemed to be coming to the fore. Up


until Friday night when his mom had poked her head around the


French doors, Mason hadn’t known there was a vulnerable side to the


star jock. He couldn’t help but fall even more in love with Parker


“No problem. Uh, you said you wanted to


“Yeah.” Parker unlocked the door to his truck


Chapter 10