Ryan Talonovich is the star of his college hockey team, until an accident during practice leaves him confined to a wheelchair. The doctors say he'll walk again but a new season is already underway and he's been replaced on the team, which leaves him feeling alone and betrayed. What's the use of fighting to get back on the ice now?<br><br>Then he meets Dante Espinosa, a short track skater on the city's speed skating club. Though he has to work overtime to afford his sport, Dante is hell on ice, and dreams of making the cut on the U.S. Olympic Speedskating Team.<br><br>Their love of the ice brings them together, but too many obstacles stand in their way: Ryan's struggle with therapy. The memory of Dante's first boyfriend. Lack of funding to the event, Dante's harassing boss, a skating friend in love with him, and Wil Dietrich, who will do anything to win.

Power Play

When they break apart, Dante rests his forehead on Ryan’s and stares into him, his hand curving around the back of Ryan’s neck to keep him here. A smile toys at the edges of his mouth and under that intense gaze, Ryan feels his cheeks heat up again. “Damn,” he whispers. Dante laughs, breathless.


“You ever been kissed before?” Dante wants to know. He speaks low because it’s just them—the rest of the world has disappeared.


With a shy smile, Ryan admits, “Not like that.”


Dante’s response is another kiss, this one just as tender, and then another, and another. Somewhere between one kiss and the next, Ryan’s nervousness slips away and the next time their lips part, he tells Dante that he likes him, too. “I sort of figured that out,” Dante replies.


That sets them both giggling and leads to more kisses.


Chapter 32