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

“I just wanted someone to hold me, love me,


let me feel safe. But Kurt couldn’t, wouldn’t.”


“Oh, Parker,” to himself, Mason added, My


“Hey, stop that. I’m here now. I’m your


boyfriend. Any time you want a cuddle, you come to me.” Mason’s


voice rose in volume. “Any time you want someone to love you, you


find me. Because, Parker, you fucking beautiful person, if anything


bad was to happen to you I’d…Well I’d kick their asses good and


proper, and then kick yours for you letting them hurt you.”


“Bleck!” Mason said, but at least he’d put a


Mason watched over Parker as his eye-lids


slowly closed and his breathing evened out, all the while wondering


how the hell such a powerful, outwardly confident muscle stud could


be so vulnerable. Mason offered up a prayer that he would be strong


enough to meet Parker’s needs. He knew he had no choice. For better


Chapter 24