Page 37 of Unbearable Player

Brianne’s heart raced. Part of her wanted to throw caution to the wind and declare her undying love right then and there. But another part, the part that had been hurt before, held her back. “I... I need some time to process all this.”

Reid nodded, understanding in his eyes. “How about we head back to the room? I’ve got one more surprise for you.”

Back in their suite, Brianne was delighted to find a gaming setup had been arranged, complete with her favorite snacks. “No way!” she exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement. “You brought games?”

Reid grinned, clearly pleased by her reaction. “I figured we could use some downtime between all the excitement. Plus, I’ve been dying to see if you’re as good as you claim to be.”

Brianne’s competitive spirit flared to life. “Prepare to have your furry butt handed to you.”

As they settled in to play, Brianne couldn’t help but feel a wave of contentment wash over her. This - the easy banter, the shared interests, the thoughtful gestures - it all felt so right.

They were deep into their third round when Brianne remembered something. “You know,” she said, her tone teasing, “the week before I met you, I played against this guy online who had the sexiest deep voice. Kind of like yours. And he was impressive. Not as good as me, of course, but he gave me a run for my money.”

Reid’s eyebrows shot up, an odd expression crossing his face. “Oh? And what was this impressive player’s screen name?”

Brianne laughed. “Something ridiculous. UnbearableBeast, I think. Why do you ask?”

Reid’s face broke into a wide grin. “Brianne, what’s your screen name?”

A suspicion began to form in Brianne’s mind. “PixelQueen. Why?”

Reid burst out laughing. “Because, my dear PixelQueen, you’re looking at UnbearableBeast.”

Brianne’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding me! That was you?”

Reid nodded, his eyes dancing with mirth. “Guilty as charged. I don’t play often, but after a particularly stressful day at work, I decided to unwind with a game. Hadn’t played in months before then and haven’t since.”

Brianne shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe it. We were flirting with each other before we even met.”

They laughed about the cosmic coincidence. It was as if the universe had been conspiring to bring them together all along.

In that moment, looking at Reid’s laughing face, Brianne knew she’d fallen hard. The realization both thrilled and terrified her. It seemed too much, too fast. What if it all fell apart?

Reid must have sensed her sudden shift in mood. His laughter faded, replaced by a look of concern. “Brianne? What’s wrong?”

She took a deep breath, deciding to be honest. “This all feels so perfect, so right. But these types of things don’t happen to me. What if it’s too good to be true? What if we’re moving too fast?”

Reid set down his controller, turning to face her fully. He took her hands in his, his expression serious but tender. “Brianne, there’s something you should know. It’s about shifters and about us.”

Brianne’s heart raced. “Okay...”

“Shifters have what’s called a fated mate. One person who completes us, who we’re destined to be with. From the moment I met you, I knew you were mine. I sensed it from the moment I laid eyes on you as you walked into the café.”

Brianne’s eyes widened. “Fated mates? Like soul mates?”

Reid nodded. “Something like that, yes. It’s a bond deeper than anything I’ve ever experienced. A soul-deep connection that clicks into place the moment we set eyes on our mate. I know it might sound crazy, but I promise you, Brianne, what I feel for you is real. And it’s forever. There will not be another woman for me. Just you.”

“Me?”

“You, beautiful. Only you.”

Tears pricked at Brianne’s eyes. The enormity of what Reid was saying washed over her. “So, all of this - the trip, the flowers, everything - it’s because...”

“Because I love you, my PixelQueen. Because you’re my mate, and I wanted to help you understand that you don’t need to be afraid because I will never hurt you.”

Brianne’s breath caught in her throat. The sincerity in Reid’s eyes, the warmth of his hands holding hers - it all came together in a moment of perfect clarity. This was real. This was right.

“Reid,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I love you too.”

---