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

When the beeper sounds, the swimmers arc gracefully into the pool in a cascading wave. But Chase isn’t the first one in—no, he hesitates a full half-second, maybe more, before pushing off to soar into the water. He’s the last in his lane, fuck.As Chase struggles to catch up with the others, Rory stomps his foot in frustration. “Damn it the hell!” he swears out loud.


Sweeney appears beside him. “He choked at the last minute just like you did in practice,” she remarks dryly. “Hope he can make that up.”


“I didn’t choke,” Rory mutters. Already the first swimmer has touched the far end of the pool and tumbled around to return to the blocks. Chase is still half a lane back. There’s no way he’ll make up the time and Rory knows it.


Sweeney gives him an appraising look. “What do you call it, then?”


Chapter 19