Cover art by Renee George

Master Game

ISBN (13): 978-1-59596-865-4
Genre(s): Futuristic, Sci-Fi, BDSM
Length: Novella

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When Cally Thaykes is pitted against the mysterious Kye Jaks in the Shri-La combat championship finals, she’s only intent on winning the game. But the blue-skinned Kye is on a mission and during the combat transports Cally to Aylora, an all-male mining planet on the edge of the galaxy. She’s to provide an heir to Prince Hermes, ruler of Aylora, and will be the prize in a planet-wide contest to find the next male consort to the Prince.

Cally wastes no time in escaping, with Kye and Orantes, captain of the Prince’s bodyguards, in hot pursuit. Trapped together by a sudden storm, Cally, Kye and Orantes find their volatile feelings turning to lust, and form a bond in ways they never before experienced.

When the tyrannical Prince finds them, jealousy forces him to pursue a savage revenge. But will the trio be able to overcome their punishment or be separated forever?

EXCERPT

There was nothing in the world that beat running into the arena, knowing you were about to kick someone’s ass, to the cheer of thousands.

Cally Thaykes reminded herself of that as she tightened the straps on her gloves and flexed her fingers. Her knuckles cracked, still a little swollen from previous fights but nothing to stop her from winning. She slid her hands down her thighs to make sure her skin-tight suit had enough ease at the hip and thigh, then ran them over the tight thong holding her long, blonde hair in a ponytail. Letting out a deep breath to ease the pre-game tension, Cally felt her heart do a slow flip as she heard the roar of the crowd from the arena.

Game time.

The Dancing Pirates’ coach, Bobi Woodlam, poked his head round the door to the Players’ Room. “Ready, Cal? You’re up next.”

Cally followed Coach through the labyrinthine stretch of corridors beneath the Chasker Stadium where the Shri-La Combat World Championships were currently underway. She stopped near the entrance to the arena as she saw Daw Anson limping out, supported by two medics, his face bloody.

“Watch out for that Ayloran, Cal,” Daw said when he saw her. “He’s got a mean left hook.”

Coach touched Cally’s shoulder and said, “We’re being crucified by that new Dragons player, Kye Jaks. Cal, we’re relying on you to put him in his place. You got that?”

“Sure, Coach. You can depend on me.” She bared her teeth in a grin. “What do you want me to break?”

Coach smiled. “Break a leg, chicky.” He slapped her on the back, pushing her toward the entrance to the arena. “That’s my girl.”

Cally had been playing professional Shri-La since her teens, but the moment before going out into the arena always made her feel nauseous. A mixture of fear, adrenaline and anticipation caused her belly to go queasy. She loved the game, loved every moment spent before the adoring crowds, but most of all she loved being the best. And she was. She’d given up her private life, had watched her diet like a hawk and trained like a maniac for this moment: the last Golden Dragons player against the last player for the Dancing Pirates in the play-off for the finals.

Cally waited at the entrance to the arena as the commentator reeled off the names of the sponsors. The stadium was at full capacity, with fifteen thousand people all waiting restlessly with her as the stadium flunkies re-aligned combat mats, wiped and dried any spots of blood and spit as they set up for the last game. A troupe of Tourellan dancers came out and jumped and somersaulted over each other in displays of gravity-defying choreography, whipping the crowd into a frenzy of excitement.

Adrenaline coursed through her. She was impatient to go out and claim her victory. Cally saw her opponent approach the entrance to the Dragons’ area across the arena. She hadn’t played him in any of the games, but recognized him immediately. He was Kye Jaks from the planet Aylora -- a tiny mining-planet on the edges of the Rim that no one had ever heard of -- and he’d joined the Dragons seemingly out of nowhere.

Cally was almost six feet tall and solidly built, but the Ayloran had at least six inches on her. His heavily muscled shoulders were wide enough to comfortably sit a Tourellan dancer on each side, but his long lean body displayed the necessary agility for Shri-La combat. Blue-tinged skin, a mass of thick blue hair tied back in a braided knot, and what looked to be a permanent scowl completed the picture of aggressive Ayloran masculinity.

She’d come across bigger and more aggressive players, but there was something about Jaks that sent a shiver down her spine. He stared at her with a brooding intensity that set her internal alarm bells ringing. This guy was not to be underestimated.

She tensed as the commentator went into the pre-game spiel. When he called out her name, Cally jogged into the middle of the combat mats next to the waiting referee and was almost deafened by the cheers and whoops from the crowd. She grinned and waved. A minute later her opponent’s name was called and she was joined by Jaks. Immediately, the crowd’s cheers became boos and hisses.

She was definitely the favorite to win.

Cally and Jaks turned to face each other. Up close, she noted that the Ayloran’s eyes were black, ringed in gold. A scar clipped his right eyebrow. Interestingly, his mouth was finely molded, hinting at a contained sensuality. Cally experienced a sudden clenching between her legs. If he wasn’t her opponent -- the man she had to beat the crap out of in the next few minutes -- she could easily imagine herself sucking at that beautiful mouth.

Then all thought flew as the bell sounded for the start of the first round and, like Pavlov’s dog, she immediately crouched into combat mode.

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2007 Cassandra Kane

Reviews

Joyfully Reviewed
"Master Game is a scorching story of lust, longing and learning to love.  From kidnapping, to an all male society with m/m sex, mild BDSM and a ménage-a-trios Master Game is loaded with sizzling encounters of all sorts..."
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5 Cherries from Whipped Cream Reviews
"This adventure has some dramatic twists and turns that propel the story to a wholly satisfying conclusion... The love scenes are exquisitely written. Although explicit, the intimacy is tender and alluring, and you experience the genuine love and warmth that each feels equally for the other two..."
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4½ Lips from Two Lips Reviews
"Master Game is an exciting thrill ride of a book... Cassandra Kane weaves an intricate plot with twists and turns that grabbed me from page one - not to mention that the sex sent the sparks flying in all directions. The characters were brilliantly written, and Ms. Kane’s imagination is terrific."
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4 Stars from Just Erotic Romance Reviews
"This story combined all of my favorite things: a kick-ass heroine, two lusty male heroes, a nasty villain, and a unique futuristic setting... I can’t wait to check out another tale by the talented Ms. Kane."
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