This was one of the best days of Kristina's life. She was so wired up and giddy that it was almost midnight before she could finally settle down. She could barely eat dinner, she showered with a smile on her face that she couldn't wash off, and when she spoke to Molly, and then to Alexis that evening, they both asked if she was okay. Kristina tried to catch up on her Tweets, watch a movie, read through her Facebook feeds but she just couldn't concentrate. She even turned down a couple of texts from her friends to meet up. Her mind kept on wandering back to the car ride with Parker.
Parker, she thought dreamily.
When Kristina finally tore herself away from the Professor's inviting touch in the car and had reached the front steps of her place, the Professor rolled down the driver's window and called out her name, motioning for Kristina to come back.
Kristina tipped her head into the open window. She was close enough to see the smile lines around the Professor's mouth, the wise lines that crossed her brow, and the thoughtful lines about her eyes. They were beautiful. They made her beautiful. Kristina was close enough to...
"I'm glad we had this time together," the Professor spoke before Kristina could act on her impulse. "It was more than I expected, from you or any other student I've taught. I really want you do well on the midterm."
"Thank you, Professor," Kristina acknowledged.
The Professor smiled in a way that made Kristina feel like she was being laughed at her or poked fun of.
"You can call me, 'Parker', Kristina. You can call me 'Parker' now."
And at 'now', Parker placed her hand atop Kristina's which rested on the window frame.
Later that evening during a phone call, Molly had asked if she was drunk or high and Kristina defended that she wasn't but couldn't find the words to tell Molly why she sounded like she was walking on a cloud.
Lying in bed, Kristina played back the car ride with Parker, their conversation, Parker touching her hand the first time and then again. Parker's hand had fit like a shell of warmth over Kristina's. Parker was still with her; her palm, her fingers, their strength. The way she sheltered Kristina's hand, held it and streamed life into it; poured life into her.
With sheer delight Kristina silently screamed into the palms of her hand and kicked her feet wildly on the bed. And that's when she smelled her. Parker's scent was on Kristina's hand. Kristina inhaled again.
Parker smelled like a sprinkling of confidence, integrity, and intelligence with aromatic hints of responsible power, sincerity, and certainty. It was a perfect combination and Kristina wondered what Parker tasted like if she smelled that good.
Parker. Kristina formed the name in her mind, then mouthed the name on her lips.
She passed the back of her hand against her cheek, then nose. Parker's scent seemed to have an energy, freedom, and movement of its own.
"Parker," Kristina whispered over and over again.
The scent found its way to a special place where it waited, contemplated, and teased. It peaked and, with a mischievous wriggle, slithered on knowing exactly where it wanted to go; where it needed to go.
Parker's scent was gentle but persistent. It was playful, yet determined. It sought and found and was now committed. Committed to making Kristina breathe a little faster, her heart beat a little harder, her body feel a little warmer. Committed to losing Kristina in its rapture. It lapped Kristina up like an unquenchable thirst. In deep waters, there was treasure. It simultaneously suspended Kristina above reality and made her forget who she is and made her forget who she was. And made her forget who she was before she met Parker and made her wonder who she was becoming now that Parker had come into her life. And she was coming, and she was coming, and she was coming…
"Parker," Kristina said aloud as a series of rocking spasms tore through every inch of her.
When the waves of pleasure subsided and soothed her into a slumber, Kristina curled up against her pillow and tucked her hands under her cheek. She took a deep breath and giggled to herself. Parker's scent was still on her hand.