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

Ryan watches him walk away, wondering just how much he’d inspire the team to score by sitting on the sidelines in a wheelchair. He’s sorry they’re doing so poorly, true, but he’d be lying if he didn’t admit to that tiny part of him that likesthe fact that they’re struggling without him. It’ll just make his comeback that much sweeter.


Dante climbs over the seats beside him. “Hey baby,” he murmurs, sitting down where the coach was a few minutes before. He touches Ryan’s arm to get his attention and Ryan turns to him, already smiling. “That your coach?”


“Yeah.” Ryan takes Dante’s hand in his, wishes he could steal a kiss but he can’t, the hockey team’s still out on the ice. “I missed you,” he tells him. “How’d you sleep last night?”


Leering at him, Dante wiggles his eyebrows and says, “Alone. I can’t wait ‘til Wednesday night. Just you and me and—”


“Condoms,” Ryan interrupts. Dante starts to laugh. “What?”


Chapter 91