Tom Hamilton, kicked out of the family's Arizona ranch by his Marine step-dad, instantly falls in lust for Mike Kelly when he arrives at prestigious ivy-covered all-male Ridgeston College. But Tom's not queer and neither is Mike, his twenty-eight-year-old Dormitory Master and one tough Marine. One misstep at Ridgeston and Tom will find himself drafted into the Vietnam War. A stunningly handsome swimmer, Tom is hardly cut out for the fast-paced sophisticated life and his fragile innocence is prey for women, his fellow swim teammates, and Jim Bradley who owns him with booze and taunting secret sexcapades, all things he fights to shun. Tom, confused and plagued by inner demons, is driven to the brink before he bares his soul to Mike. Both men are brought to their knees and Tom discovers who Mike truly is-a warrior to his very core-in the incident at Zhenbao. Tom grasps perfection for a moment. But a moment cut short by Fate.