Before the Game

by Ryan Moore

Before the game there was power, there was desire. And one man who made control feel like chaos.

Dominic Vale rules his world with discipline, wealth, and detachment. Every encounter is calculated.
Every feeling—silenced. But the auction world he observes so clinically is about to flip the script.

Before the games, before the power plays—there was him.

This is the origin story of a man who never meant to feel, and the moment that cracked everything open.
Inside this seductive prequel to the Power & Possession series, you’ll A ruthless billionaire with secrets even he won’t admit💔 A slow unraveling of control in the face of temptation🖤 Elite underground auctions that test every moral line🔥 Luxury, tension, and emotional hunger at every turn✍️ A raw, literary MM romance with powerful interiorityBefore the Game is where obsession begins—and nothing will ever be the same again.

For fans of dark heat, psychological depth, and dangerously irresistible men.

61 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 22, 2025

About the author

The Billionaire’s Game hit #1 in 3 categories! 🎉 Free to download—> https://a.co/d/7qDMgiZ

Unforgettable Encounter hit #1 in 3 categories! 🎉 Free to download—> https://amzn.to/4k0NDQT

Ryan Moore is the #1 bestselling author of steamy M/M romance stories that mix irresistible heat with heartfelt emotion. With over 50 books released and multiple titles hitting the #1 spot, Ryan has quickly made his mark with short, punchy reads perfect for devouring in an hour, from forbidden age-gap hookups to impulsive dating app flings.

Based in Seattle, he’s been writing and publishing for over a year, building a catalog known for slow-burn seduction and explosive chemistry. When he’s not crafting stories, Ryan can be found kayaking, hiking, or fueling up on too much coffee. He lives in West Seattle with his golden retriever, Alex, who’s always nearby during late-night writing sprints or early morning plotting walks.

Dive into the Private Encounters series and discover your next obsession.

Reviews

[Monikat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a study of a man ruled by his own stubborn restrictions. A very grim existence. I have to be honest, this was a difficult read for me. Dominic is so cold and precise and robotic. It's disturbing, not a fun read. I felt like I was walking barefoot in that cold, steel and marble penthouse exposed to the frigid temperament of a man wasting away to his own stubborn cowardness to live.
Even knowing what I know from what is to come in his future, he seriously creeps me out and I almost wish he doesn't find happiness. I know that's counter intuitive for a romance reader, but I cannot stress how successful R.M. was in writing this 2025 incarnation of Scrooge. He really needs his three ghosts to wake up and live.

Dominic's Story: Silent Keys
I wish I'd never read this.
It's been a while since I last hated a fictional character.
I have absolutely no kind feelings toward Dominic.
Ryan Moore has once again wrapped us in a story we can't escape.
Unfortunately I found no joy in it.

[Korkoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living in His Own World -
This is a slow build, entertaining quick, but complicated read. The story seems to be a detailed glimpse into the character’s personality and mindset, as well as the numerous secrets that could destroy him. This is a deeply emotional story where relationships aren’t mutual, but rather based on pay for play. I felt like this story is setting the foundation for the wild ride that is sure to be explored in future books.

I received an advanced review copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really didn't like Dominic at the beginning, because he seemed arrogant, untouchable , and anally retention. Probably a left over from potty training!!
Can he have an awakening by the end of the story? Will he let love in or remain alone??? Another hot winner.

[Samantha Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before the Game offers a compelling glimpse into the life of Dominic, the enigmatic billionaire whose guarded persona captured readers’ attention in The Billionaire’s Game. This prequel strips back the layers of his carefully constructed image, offering rare insight into the formative events that shaped the man he would become.

Through intimate moments and subtle reveals, we see the vulnerabilities behind Dominic’s calculated exterior, it paints a quiet, powerful portrait of ambition, sacrifice, and emotional isolation. Fans of the series will appreciate how this backstory deepens their understanding of his character, giving context to his choices and his reluctance to let anyone in.

[Misty Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. This is part of the Private Encounters short stories. Each of these MM books are standalone and can be read in any order.
Dominic is very explicit on the details in his life. He has an assistant that makes sure everything is as it should be. He is looking for someone with certain qualities but hasn't found them yet.
This book was very different from others by this author. I was very interested and confused by some of it. It's leaves you wanting the rest of the story. Hopefully we get it soon.

[Wilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful

Can't wait to SEE! Just enough to let you almost see. Keeps me hooked. Wanting to read ahead but afraid I'll miss something. Soooo good.

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was "What the Hell is going on" intriguing and I loved it! Now I must reread "The Billionaire's Game" (sorry, for some reason I can't insert the link to the book!) I wish I had this story so I could have read them in order but it wasn't available at the time, oh well.

So off to reread "The Billionaire's Game" it's been a few books ago and I can't remember exactly what happens.

[Jooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review/opinion. Thanks to the author for this opportunity.

This short story is atypical from what I've read so far by this authors hand. It doesn't have a quick encounter that evolves in a steaming and unforgettable sexperience. It is as mentioned in the blurb a prequel and to me doesn't stand on it's own.

Dominic is a very intriguing person with a very strict and peculiar routine. I definitely want the chance to analyse him further and learn who this mystery man labeled "L" is and what he did to mess up Dominic for all future encounters. No escort is good enough, no matter how good their training is. There is definitely a story to discover and unravel. Guess I'll need to continue with the next story.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I have to say this was my first Ryan Moore book (I won in a Goodreads giveaway) and it was very well written. Now for the hard part. I finished this book 2 days ago and waited this long to write a review because I’m still not sure what I think about it. Dominic is a very hard character to like right from the beginning. His whole world is calculating and cold and everything is viewed with a detachment that is borderline (or maybe over the edge) obsessive. And even though I couldn’t find anything to like about Dominic, it was still very hard to watch him fall apart as the book continued.

As this was a prequel, I am going to read the next book to get a better idea of Ryan’s work.

[Cindy Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Ryan Moore book. The book evolved differently than I expected and it was very interesting. I was caught with the first page and by the end I had so many questions that I want answered. Yes, there's MM however it's very subtle and if you didn't know it was there you might miss it because of the way that it's written. I'm very interested in reading more books by Ryan. Overall good read.

[Author Mike Froom · Rating 4 out of 5]

when I started this book I forgot how short it was. So when it ended so quickly I was a little sad. I'm really excited to read all of the other books by this author and I really want to know who L is. The buying of people made me a little uncomfortable but I'm very interested in finding out where the story is going.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather painful tale as an extremely wealthy man keeps himself isolated in his pent house. We get a few brief clues that he may have lost someone, and that experience turn him to stone. It's a good but sad read with a frustrating ending.

[Eyzhip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a way to be introduced to Dominic Vale! We get just enough to get us interested in his character. And we are Left anxious to read the next book! Can’t wait!

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning prose! No other notes. <333

[bwrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Ryan Moore's prequel to the Billionaire's Game.
- Cool, curated like the art gallery the story begins with, Dominic's world that he has created for himself. It reflects the control he needs, he desires, he believes ideal. Beautiful things should be witnessed, not possessed; everything decays. "Nihilism," observes the warm and disarming Lucas at their first meeting; honesty and dishonesty are both dangerous, Dominic prefers control. 'The hardest kind of honesty' per Lucas. The Mark Rothko painting they've been discussing isn't about restraint or hunger, but about the 'moment before choice', when all possibilities can occur. Cool flirtation, tension, currents of possibility between them. Carefully, calculated but uncharacteristic, Dominic calls Lucas months later; Lucas notes the careful precision when he comes to Dominic's edited, emotionless apartment. He invites Dom to play his own piano, and finally elicits emotion as Chopin is played.
- Others have disliked Dominick, while noting Moore's depth and precision in scripting his short story. I felt sadness for a man so closed-off, so afraid of himself that he must control everything in his life. I recognize elements of myself in this, it is the desire not to be hurt, to not allow the world in. When Fate intervenes, Dom's father dies, he shuts out Lucas, after 8 novel months of being together. Death, grief can create barriers, walls that go up to protect against the world, the sadness. I remember my own reaction to that situation, at the same age as Dom; luckily Mother suggested therapy and I listened.
- My reaction to this story is personal, I felt the claustrophobia of sadness again, change is hardest when it is observed by friends and lovers, and it is easier to create a mask to keep them out. This is the route Dominic chooses, as we see him deleting Lucas from his life, and finally beginning to compose a contract for his future 'Encounters.'
- 'Control over connection, safety over love' are the wrong choices. Dominic will wait years to loosen and lean into love and kindness. Ryan Moore again elicits emotional response from this reader, and maybe I should look at some of my own choices, in my twilight. Readers have said 'complicated,' I say it is Truth. A writers goal should be to show Truth. Well done.

Received an ARC copy for my honest review.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before the Game is the prequel, well, for me it's the prequel to The Billionaire's Game.

The book is Dominic at his purest, robotic, unfeeling, addicted to schedules and habits. Nothing changes, everything is perfect as it is, with rules, even his encounters with other men. But nothing could be further from the truth, because behind it lies a loss, a longing, a someone who was there, who will never return and who is missed. Because that's the impression it gave me. How to surround oneself with rigid customs and protocols in order not to feel longing.

For me it is the psychological study of a loss that has not been overcome and that is disguised with rules, control and discipline beyond what is psychologically healthy. Thank goodness we know that Theo appears.

[Robert Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part of the problem is that this is a prequel although I can’t imagine wanting to read more about this character. As written here, he has set himself up as an automaton with precise actions/thoughts/patterns. It is tedious to read about and I don’t know why I should care about such a bloodless character. Although cracks are showing, even those cracks seem fairly dry. Maybe this is interesting in the next volume, but I will never find out.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story, we see a glimpse into why Dominic is so cold and in control. He goes through escorts but finds himself not being able to really find what he's looking for in them. I admit, it wasn't my favorite due to Dominic's personality, but hopefully we see more with his new relationship since this was a prequel.

I received an ARC from Ryan and this is my honest review

[Carpaxis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again Ryan pulls me right into the story, tempting me with secrets held just off the page. I can sense so much more to Dominic as we slowly get glimpses of him. He observes life around him, yet holds himself apart. Control has been his armor, his refuge, his prison, and he’s not sure he wants to escape. He’s restless, detached, exists without leaving a trace, his encounters clinical. I think he doesn’t know what he would do if he lost control, how to deal with all he’s kept contained.

Harcourt is an interesting character. He reads people so well. He tells Dominic “You curate your ghosts.” Wow, that just cuts right in there! I’m curious about Harcourt. He talks about Dominic observing others, yet he’s aware and observant himself. What is his story???

I also have to say that I love the sweet little sentences that aren’t required, but the words, something about the words. How a sentence about crema can have me daydreaming about the universe, AND craving a decent cup of Joe. How I can picture the Chrysler Building almost human like, “disappearing into the fog now, swallowed whole by the indifferent night.” It brings back memories of bay area fog so thick I couldn’t see the tip of my nose, air damp yet thick, like it will pull me in and never let me go. I just love the way his descriptions of ordinary things make me visualize the various observations and scenes so fully.