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

“No,” Ryan agrees, “I can’t. But I can shut him the fuck up.”


Dante buries his face into Ryan’s neck and kisses the tender flesh. “If you want to walk,” he whispers, “let me help you. I’m right here, Ryan. You don’t have to do it alone.”


They sit on the floor for hours, Dante against the couch with his knees up and Ryan in the space between his legs, leaning back on his chest. His head rests on Dante’s shoulder and Dante’s arms encircle him, keeping him close. He’s not letting go.


The tears have passed, though Dante still trembles when the scene flashes through his mind unbidden, Ryan on the floor, his legs twisted. He can’t seem to push the image away, can’t seem to let it go, even though he holds his boyfriend tight and he knows Ryan isn’t hurt. But it shook him up more than he’d like to admit and every time he thinks of it, he kisses Ryan again, his neck, his cheek, his lips, anywhere to prove to himself that he’s okay.


Chapter 129