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

Rory pushes harder, trying to catch up, but he knows when Chase passes him that it’s a losing battle. Thisis why he doesn’t socialize at practice, why he stays focused, why he stays centered. Thisis why he doesn’t let his teammates get to him, in any way, at any time.


He can’t believe he might actually lose.


The thought is so foreign to him that, for a moment, he almost thinks he wins, even though he hears the coach’s whistle while he’s still pulling through the water. Then he thinks maybe the heat’s being called for some reason—the coach realizes something’s wrong, there was a false start, something happened, and they have to retake the starting blocks. It’s only when he reaches the end of the pool and surfaces that he sees Chase towered above him, that damn shit-eating grin in place. Chase leans down, water dripping off his arms and chest, goggles still firmly in place over his eyes, and offers Rory a hand.


Chapter 15