Page 24 of Unbearable Player

Reid filled her in on Jake’s lead, watching as excitement and determination sparked in her eyes.

“A high-tech gamer lair?” Brianne repeated, her mind clearly racing. “That actually makes sense. It’d be the perfect place to crack the encryption on my game.”

Reid nodded. “My thoughts exactly. But infiltrating it won’t be easy. We’ll need to blend in, maybe pose as fellow gamers or cosplayers.”

A mischievous grin spread across Brianne’s face. “Cosplay, huh? I think I can work with that.”

Reid couldn’t help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. “I’m sure you can. But remember, this could be dangerous. We don’t know what kind of security measures they have in place.”

Brianne’s expression softened. She reached up, placing her hand over his where it still rested on her cheek. “I know. But I trust you, Reid. We make a good team.”

Her words warmed something inside him. “That we do,” he agreed. “Now, how about some breakfast before we start planning our grand infiltration?”

Brianne’s stomach growled in response, making them both laugh. “I think that’s a yes,” she said.

“Just tell me where things are and I’ll handle breakfast.” As Reid moved to the kitchen to whip up some pancakes - a guilty pleasure he rarely indulged in - he couldn’t help but marvel at how natural this felt. Brianne perched on a stool at the kitchen island, chatting animatedly about potential cosplay ideas while he cooked. It was domestic, comfortable, and everything Reid never knew he wanted.

But as he flipped a pancake, his bear shifter senses on high alert, Reid knew the comfort of this moment was fleeting. Soon, they’d be diving headfirst into danger. And while part of him was thrilled at the challenge, a larger part worried about Brianne’s safety.

He’d just found his mate. He’d be damned if he lost her now.

Hours later, Reid found himself questioning his sanity as he adjusted the intricate costume Brianne had somehow procured for him. He stood outside her apartment building, feeling exposed in the tight-fitting outfit that left little to the imagination.

“Remind me again why I agreed to this?” he grumbled into his earpiece as Jake monitored their communications.

Jake’s laughter crackled through the line. “Because you’re whipped, boss. And because it’s actually a pretty clever disguise.”

Reid was about to retort when the building’s front door opened, and his words died in his throat. Brianne emerged, and Reid’s world narrowed to her alone.

Her costume was a masterpiece of creativity and allure. She wore a form-fitting bodysuit that shimmered with iridescent scales, reminiscent of a fantastical sea creature. Ornate fins adorned her arms and legs, and a headdress of coral and pearls crowned her blonde curls. But it was her face that truly captivated Reid - her blue eyes were highlighted with shimmering makeup that made them appear even more ethereal than usual.

“Wow,” Reid breathed, forgetting for a moment that Jake could hear him.

Brianne grinned, doing a little twirl. “Like what you see, big guy?”

Reid cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. “You look... incredible,” he managed. “But are you sure this isn’t too conspicuous?”

Brianne laughed, the sound like music to Reid’s ears. “Trust me, where we’re going, we’ll blend right in. Now come on, we’ve got a prototype to recover.”

As they made their way to the location Jake had provided, Reid couldn’t help but steal glances at Brianne. Her excitement was palpable, a stark contrast to his own tense alertness. He admired her ability to find joy even in the face of danger.

“You know,” Brianne said as they neared their destination, “I never thought I’d be sneaking into a secret gamer lair to recover my stolen game. It’s like something out of one of my stories.”

Reid smiled despite his worry. “Life has a way of surprising us,” he agreed, thinking of how unexpectedly he’d found his mate.

They arrived at what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse in a quiet industrial area. But as they approached, Reid’s heightened senses picked up on the faint hum of high-voltage electricity and the mutter of voices from within.

“This is it,” he murmured to Brianne. “Remember, stay close to me and be on your guard. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”

Brianne nodded, her expression turning serious. “Got it. Let’s do this.”

They approached a nondescript metal door where a bored-looking guard in a gaming-themed T-shirt stood watch. As they neared, the guard’s eyes widened, taking in their elaborate costumes.

“Whoa, sick cosplay!” he exclaimed. “You here for the tournament?”

Brianne stepped forward, her voice taking on a confident, slightly haughty tone. “Obviously. We didn’t spend weeks on these outfits just to window shop.”

The guard laughed. “Fair enough. Go on in, the main floor’s straight ahead.”

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