Rory Holt is the best swimmer on the team at State U. and he knows it. Swimming is his life, and if Rory hopes to attain his dreams of Olympic gold one day, he can’t let anything distract him. Every morning finds him practicing at the campus fitness center, and every afternoon he blows his teammates away with his speed and finesse in the water. The new semester brings with it new tryouts, including the bright, up-and-coming Chase Cohen. Chase is sexy and sure of himself, both in and out of the pool, and seems determined to catch Rory’s eye. Rory doesn’t want to share the podium with anyone else, and he doesn’t like hearing his coach say Chase might even be better than he is when he already knows he’s the best. Chase’s attentions are annoying at first, but the more he persists, the harder Rory finds it to ignore him. Soon Rory can’t deny the growing attraction he feels towards his new teammate. But when that attraction costs him his top spot on the leaderboard, Rory is pissed. Is Chase after Rory’s position on the team, or Rory himself?

Playing the Field: Getting Wet

If he didn’t train so early, he might have asked his roommate to time him, but his roommate is more into parties than sports, and usually doesn’t roll out of bed before noon, not even for morning classes.


Speaking of, Rory doesn’t really talk to anyone in his classes, either. All he thinks about is swimming, day in and day out, and he doesn’t think he has anything in common with anyone else on campus. No one on the team is as dedicated as he is, and no one noton the team would even begin to understand.


He knows no one feels the same way he does about swimming because he’s the only one bothering to practice at this ungodly hour, isn’t he?


Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he releases it as his body slowly settles into starting position. He glances up at the clock on the opposite wall and holds still as he waits for the second hand to sweep around again. As soon as it lands on the twelve, he dives.


Chapter 5