Chapter 99

Her mind was whirling with thoughts of Parker, who was in the opposite room. A confusing mix of fear and desire washed over her as she turned and tossed on the bed. Her body yawned for the man in the room opposite. Parker. Her former student and a younger man. A pang of desire stabbed her, a sharp, sweet ache was burning from her core. She wondered if he was already sleeping or thinking about her, too.

“Parker,” she whispered his name in the darkness of her room. Then she heard a soft knock on the door. She was so sure it was him; her heart leaped, a joyous, frantic bird trapped in her ribcage.

“It had to be Parker,” she thought to herself and scrambled out of the bed.

There was another soft knock as she got to the door.

“Who is it?” She asked tentatively.

“Parker,” he rumbled from the other side of the door.

She unlocked the door, and he was standing there with a slow smile playing on his lips.

“I can't seem to fall asleep,” he said.

“Me too,” she replied, her voice a warm care