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

“I’d say kiss me but that might give her a heart attack,” Ryan jokes. Still, he frowns at him—Dante’s on one of the porch steps so he’s eye-level with his boyfriend—and it’s written in his face, he wantsanother kiss, which will lead to another, and another, and Dante will never get home. “I’m going to wait until tomorrow night to tell her about State,” Ryan says, just to fill the silence between them. They’re both reluctant to say goodbye.


With a grin, Dante asks, “Just in case I don’t advance?”


Ryan swats at his shoulder playfully. “Don’t talk like that, you’re going. If I have to get out there on the ice myself and push you, you’re winning tomorrow, you got that?”


“Yes sir.” Dante snaps to attention, a brisk salute that makes Ryan giggle. “I should go.”


Chapter 44