by Alley Ciz
What the hell is he doing here?
My mind whirls. This is bad.
This is so, so bad.
The…incident in the tunnels was one thing, but showing up at what is essentially the U of J’s sport teams’ home base is a whole new level of stupidity. How did he even get in here?
If the way the team was during the game is any indication, there’s no way this showdown ends without bloodshed.
There’s a tremble in Mason’s hands as he lifts me with him as he stands. Jaw clenched, vein pulsing at the side of his neck, eyes never straying from the threat before us, he slowly lowers me until the rubber soles of my boots touch the hardwood floor.
A slimy feeling travels down my spine when Liam cackles at how Mase shifts so he’s in front of me, using his large frame as a barrier between myself and the threat.
“Wow, Kay.” Liam looks around at all the Hawks players shifting into the danger zone in support of us. I hope he’s regretting only bringing two of his teammates with him. “Guess you really are a full-service type of girl, huh? First the Royals and now a whole football team?”
“I told you…” Mase hooks a hand around my ribs and shifts me behind him more. “Keep her name out. Of. Your. Mouth.”
I grip the back of Mase’s polo, peering around him in time to see a smarmy smile overtake Liam’s face. This isn’t going to be good.
“Poor, poor Nova,” Liam coos in false sympathy, setting my teeth on edge. “How’s it feel to know it was my name she moaned first?”
There’s a collective hiss at Liam’s question, and my knuckles turn white around the fabric clutched in my hands.
“Stay the fuck away from my girl.” Mase takes a step toward Liam and I move from behind him, wrapping my arms around his middle like a snake to keep him in place. He’s a powder keg waiting to explode.
With the increased press coverage the rivalry game brings, the last thing Mason needs is to allow himself to be manipulated into a fight. Off-field antics and drama can have as much of an impact on a player’s chance at a pro career as those on it.
Liam tries again. “Tell me, Nova, does she still do that thing with her hips when she’s on top?” He gyrates in a way that looks more like a drunken monkey than anything sexual.
“Fuck. You,” Mase bites out, boiling in fury.
“Though I will say, having her flat on her back was fun too.” Liam taps his chin with the tip of his finger.
I shift my gaze to G, sending him a pleading look. I’m no match for Mason’s size, and I’m going to need backup if I have any hope of restraining him.
“You talk a big game, Parker.” Mase’s voice is an eerie monotone as he speaks, and goose flesh covers my arms. “But from my recollection, the only one having the experience of being flat on their back tonight was you.” The side of his mouth lifts then he says, “So why don’t you tell me…how’d the turf taste?”
Snickers sound from around the room, including some from both of Liam’s teammates.
Mase tips his chin down to check that I’m alright. In his concern for me, he doesn’t see Liam lunge for him.
I don’t think. I only react.
The drive to protect the man I love has instinct taking over and I jump in front of him, my only thought to push him out of harm’s way.
Pain explodes on the side of my face.
My feet leave the ground.
My head hits something sharp.
Then…
Nothing.
Everything goes black.
Okay, okay I totally hear your shouty capitals before you even type them. I’m sure you’re like WTF ALLEY!!! I need to know what happens.
Good news! Book 3 is available for preorder and will be out December 3, 2020. And there’s no cliffhanger!!!
Playing For Keeps (#UofJ3) PREORDER HERE!
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Need emotional support? Need a place where you can WTH did I just read and HOLY SHIT Alley really took her Evil Queen status to a whole new level?
Maybe you just have some crazy theories to run other likeminded people? Want to help plan Liam’s death? Flip off that gossipy UofJ411? Join the GC Spoiler Group.
Are you one of the cool people who writes reviews? Game Changer can be found on Goodreads, BookBub, and Amazon.
Dying to know more about the Royals? Well good news. Savvy King has forcefully shoved BTU6 out of the way and will be my first release of 2021. This Untitled Royalty Crew U of J Spin-Off Novel will be releasing March/April 2021 and is available for PREORDER HERE!
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Randomness For My Readers
Whoop!
Oh my goodness I can HEAR you all saying “What in the damn hell, Alley! Again?!” To be fair…any of you who have Died me or yelled in the LTS spoiler group my response *because I’m evil like that* was wait until book 2’s cliff.
Oopsie!
Have no fear book 3 is done and Playing For Keeps will be out December 3rd and you can preorder it here. And it DOES NOT end in a cliff!!! *Yay! Spirit Fingers!*
For those of you who have read my words before you may have noticed a few cameos from my BTU Alumni Squad. If you are new to my crazy and haven’t run screaming from the room you can be sure to check out the BTU Alumni while you wait for #UofJ3. Don’t worry these are stand-alones.
So I like to give you my fun facts in bullet style but I’ll leave this one out on it’s own because it’s special.
I actually wrote the U of J books before I ever published my first book Power Play. I had been invited—no idea how, so don’t ask me—to join a NaNo writing group on Facebook with so many of my favorite authors and thus this brain child was born.
So now for a little bullet style fun facts:
The U of J books went through some major rewrites and I made Jenny live the angst like 8365830 times while I changed things around, but what never changed was how this book ended. #SorryNotSorry
Jordan Donovan (E’s mentioned PR person) is the matriarch of the BTU Alumni world and you can meet her in Power Play if you were curious about her story.
I LIVED for the theories you all came up with in the LTS spoiler room, and I’m sure you noticed while reading, I was ALL ABOUT the misdirection in my teasers *evil laugh*
Most of the IG handles you see in the comments are from my reader Covenettes. So many are great bookstagrammers I would check them out.
If you don’t want to miss out on anything new coming or when my crazy characters pop in with extra goodies make sure to sign up for my newsletter! If my rambling hasn’t turned you off and you are like “This chick is my kind of crazy,” feel free to reach out!
Lots of Love,
Alley
Acknowledgments
This is where I get to say thank you, hopefully I don’t miss anyone. If I do I’m sorry and I still love you and blame mommy brain.
I’ll start with the Hubs—who I can already hear giving me crap again that this book also isn’t dedicated to him he’s still the real MVP—he has to deal with my lack of sleep, putting off laundry *because… laundry* and helping to hold the fort down with our three crazy mini royals. You truly are my best friend. Also, I’m sure he would want me to make sure I say thanks for all the hero inspiration, but it is true (even if he has no ink *winking emoji*)
To Jenny my PA, the other half of my brain, the bestest best friend a girl could ask for. Why the hell do you live across the pond? Mase is yours and yes he is the ONE hero I will confirm you can claim. I live for every shouty capital message you send me while you read my words 97398479 times.
To Meg for being my first ever beta reader who wasn’t related to me. I’m so grateful t
his series brought you into my life.
To my group chats that give me life and help keep me sane: The OG Coven, The MINS, The Tacos, The Book Coven, and Procrastinors & Butt Stuff (hehe—still laugh at this name like a 13 year old boy).
To all my author besties that were okay with me forcing my friendship on them and now are some of my favorite people to talk to on the inter webs. Laura, Maria, Kelsey, Lindsey, Kristy, Stefanie, Becca, Samantha (both of you), Renee, Dana, Lianne, and Anna.
To Sarah and Julie the most amazing graphics people ever in existence. Yeah I said it lol.
To Jules my cover designer, for going above and beyond, then once more with designing these covers. I can’t even handle the epicness of them.
To Jess my editor, who is always pushing me to make the story better, stronger…giving such evil inspiration that leads to shouty capitals from readers that even led to a complete overhaul of these first 3 U of J books.
To Caitlin my other editor who helps clean up the mess I send her while at the same time totally getting my crazy.
To Gemma for going from my proofreader to fangirl and being so invested in my characters’ stories to threaten my life *lovingly of course*.
To Dawn for giving my books their final spit shine.
To my street team for being the best pimps ever. Seriously, you guys rock my socks.
To my ARC team for giving my books some early love and getting the word out there.
To Christine and Wildfire PR for taking on my crazy and helping me spread the word of my books and helping to take me to the next level.
To Wander and his team for being beyond amazing to work with and this custom shoot for all of the Mase and Kay books. And Wayne and Megan for being the perfect models! Seriously I think the world can hear my fangirl squee whenever I get to message with you both on IG.
To every blogger and bookstagrammer that takes a chance and reads my words and writes about them.
To my fellow Covenettes for making my reader group one of my happy places. Whenever you guys post things that you know belong there I squeal a little. And for letting me use your IG handles.
And, of course, to you my fabulous reader, for picking up my book and giving me a chance. Without you I wouldn’t be able to live my dream of bringing to life the stories the voices in my head tell me.
Lots of Love,
Alley
For A Good Time Call
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Also by Alley Ciz
#UofJ Series
Looking To Score
Game Changer
Playing For Keeps- Preorder, Releasing December 3, 2020
*An Untitled Royalty Crew U of J Spin-Off Novel*- Preorder, Releasing March/April 2021
BTU Alumni Series
Power Play (Jake and Jordan)
Tap Out (Gage and Rocky)
Sweet Victory (Vince and Holly)
Puck Performance (Jase and Melody)
Writing Dirty (Maddey and Dex)
BTU6- Coming 2021
About the Author
Alley Ciz is an indie author of Contemporary/New Adult, Rom-Com, Sports Romances.
She's a stay at home mom to 3 amazing and crazy mini royals, a 95lb lab, and let's face it on some days her hubby is her 4th kid... But to be fair she totally loves him a a lot.
When she's not corralling her crazy mini royals she can be found writing the stories the voices in her head tell her. Caffeine is a staple in her daily diet since she does most of her writing late at night when the rest of her house is asleep, usually with her trusty dog Buke (short for Beukeboom reluctantly named after a NY Ranger even though she's a NJ Devils fan all the way) Is it any surprise she writes sports romances?
Pizza and mac-n-cheese are major food groups and she is a proud Potterhead and superhero buff.
She is a complete romance junkie and can always be found reading or listening to a book.
