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

As if feeling his frustration, Dante massages Ryan’s shoulders and whispers, “It’s okay. Just ignore him.”


Only it’s notokay, and Ryan fights against every instinct that wants to pull him to his feet just to show Dietrich how terrified he should be.


“I’m going to hurt him,” Ryan says for the hundredth time since they got on the shuttle. His hands are still fisted on his thighs and he stares out the window at the desolate gray streets of early morning Atlantic City.


“I know,” Dante replies. He pats Ryan’s knee quickly and pulls his hand away.


A few minutes later, when Ryan can’t stand the anger swirling around inside, he mutters again, “I’m gonna hurt him.”


Dante’s hand finds his knee again. “I know, baby,” he murmurs. “I know.”


He’s reaching a boiling point, dwelling on this, but he can’t get that damn smirk out of his head. “Where the fuck—” Ryan starts.


Chapter 148