Page 23 of Unbearable Player

He’d spent years living the single life and enjoying it. Secretly, though, he searched for his fated mate, all while building his empire and leading his sleuth. Now, in the most unexpected of circumstances, he’d found her. Brianne, with her quick wit, infectious laugh, and brilliant mind, had captivated him from the moment they’d met. But it was more than just attraction - there was a soul-deep connection that Reid couldn’t deny.

A fierce determination settled over him. Now that he’d found Brianne, he’d never let her go. But he couldn’t simply claim her as his mate - humans didn’t work that way. He needed to win her heart, to make her fall in love with him just as he had fallen for her from the moment he laid eyes on her.

Reid was used to taking charge, to having others follow his lead without question. But Brianne was different. She was strong-willed, independent, and not easily impressed. He’d have to approach this carefully, letting their relationship develop naturally while still protecting her from the dangers they faced.

His protective instincts surged. The memory of Brianne’s scream during the attack made his blood boil. He’d failed to prevent the theft of her prototype, but he swore he wouldn’t fail her again. Whatever it took, he’d keep her safe and help her recover what was stolen.

As if on cue, Reid’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. He carefully reached over to grab it, not wanting to disturb Brianne. The screen lit up with a message from Jake:

“Got a new lead. Call me ASAP.”

Reid’s pulse quickened. A lead could mean they were one step closer to finding the thieves and recovering Brianne’s game. He glanced at Brianne once more, then silently slipped out of bed. Pulling on his discarded pants from the night before, he padded quietly to the living room to return Jake’s call.

Jake answered on the first ring. “Reid, my man! Tell me you have time because I’ve got some juicy info.”

Reid rolled his eyes at his friend’s enthusiasm. “I have time. What’ve you got?”

“Okay, so remember those eccentric hackers at the underground gaming club? Well, one of them got chatty after a few drinks last night. Spilled some interesting details about a high-tech gamer lair that might be connected to The Glitchers.”

Reid’s interest piqued. “Go on.”

“It’s this hidden facility, right? Like something out of a sci-fi movie. Cutting-edge tech, top-of-the-line gaming setups, the works. But here’s the kicker - it’s not just for gaming. Rumor has it they use the place to crack unreleased games and leak them online.”

“And you think this could be where they took Brianne’s prototype?” Reid asked, his mind already formulating a plan.

“It’s our best lead so far,” Jake confirmed. “But getting in won’t be easy. The place is like Fort Knox for nerds. Security systems, traps, the whole nine yards.”

Reid smirked. “Good thing security happens to be our specialty.”

“True that,” Jake laughed. “So, what’s the plan, boss?”

Reid glanced back toward the bedroom where Brianne still slept. “We’ll need to infiltrate the place. Blend in with the crowd.”

“Ooh, undercover work! I love it,” Jake said enthusiastically. “Want me to assemble a team?”

“No,” Reid said quickly. “The fewer people involved, the better. Brianne and I will handle this ourselves.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Just the two of you, huh?” Jake’s tone was knowing. “Something you want to tell me, Reid?”

Reid sighed. Jake knew him too well. “Not now, Jake. Let’s focus on the mission.”

“All right, all right,” Jake conceded. “But don’t think you’re off the hook. I want details later.”

After ironing out a few more details with Jake, Reid ended the call. He turned to find Brianne standing in the doorway of the bedroom, wearing his T-shirt that hung to her mid-thigh. Her hair was tousled from sleep, and her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Morning,” she said, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “I hope you don’t mind, I borrowed your tee.”

Reid’s breath caught in his throat. The sight of Brianne in his clothes stirred something primal within him. “Not at all,” he managed. “It looks better on you anyway.”

Brianne’s blush deepened, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “So, um, about last night...”

“Last night was perfect,” Reid said firmly, closing the distance between them. He cupped her face gently, his thumb tracing her cheekbone. “I have no regrets. Do you?”

Brianne leaned into his touch, a small smile playing at her lips. “No,” she admitted. “I don’t regret it either.”

Relief washed over Reid. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Good. Because I have some news about your prototype.”

Brianne’s eyes widened. “You do? What is it?”

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