Page 13 of Unbearable Player

Their eyes met across the table, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The connection between them hummed like a live wire, full of potential and promise. Brianne felt her cheeks warm, and she quickly looked down at her now-empty coffee mug.

“We, uh, we should probably call it a night,” she said, hating how breathless she suddenly sounded. “Long day tomorrow, what with all the detective work we’ve got planned.”

Reid nodded, his expression unreadable. “You’re right. I’ll reach out to my contacts first thing in the morning. You focus on those online forums - see if anyone’s bragging about their new acquisition.”

They exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet the next day to share any new information. As they left the café, the cool night air seemed to clear Brianne’s head a little. She turned to Reid, suddenly feeling shy.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “For everything. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there tonight.”

Reid’s expression softened. “You’re welcome, Brianne. We’ll get through this together. I promise.”

When they arrived at her car, she turned to Reid and wasn’t sure what to say. The fact he’d come to her rescue meant more than she could express. Instead of words, she lifted a hand to his jaw. She’d been dying to caress his short beard.

“Reid?”

His gaze held her entranced. “Brianne, you should-”

“You should kiss me.”

“Are you sure?”

She gave a quick nod. “Yes, please. I’ve been wondering what that would be like and I don’t want to wait any longer.”

He swooped down and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was raw, deep, hard. Just like Reid. It was addictive and sexy as sin. Their tongues entangled, dancing in a sensual caress that made her body go up in flames. She wanted him. Oh, my gosh, did she want Reid. She’d never had that intense, bone-deep desire for any man in her life.

The need to take him home and let him have his way with her became her entire thought process. Why the heck now? The thoughts turned hazy as he pressed her against his body, his hardness pushing at her belly. They broke apart, both struggling to catch their breaths.

She licked her lips and cleared her throat. “Good…uh…goodnight, Reid. Thank you for saving me.”

She slipped into her car and watched him staring at her drive away. What had she done? Now that she’d had a taste of Reid, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop. She didn’t need to think about a relationship now. She had too much going on. But she wanted Reid and she wasn’t going to deny it. No. She was going to get her game back, but she’d also get Reid out of his clothes in the process.

Back at her brownstone, Brianne sat at her computer, fingers flying over the keyboard as she delved into gaming forums and chat rooms. The memory of Reid’s protective embrace fueled her resolve. She was not some newbie. She was a badass creator of worlds and conqueror of code. And with Reid Parker by her side, she’d take on anyone who dared to steal her dreams. And that game was her baby.

“Game on, you prototype-pilfering punks,” she muttered, cracking her knuckles as she prepared for a long night of cyber-sleuthing. “Team Brianne and Reid is coming for you.”

And if her heart gave a little flutter at the thought of seeing sexy-pants Reid again tomorrow? Well, that was just part of the game.

SEVEN

The first rays of dawn barely peeked through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Parker Security Solutions when Reid strode into his office. The city below still slumbered, but Reid’s mind raced at full throttle, fueled by a potent mix of determination and black coffee.

He settled into his leather chair, the rich aroma of his Colombian brew wafting up as he set the mug down. Brianne. Fuck. That kiss had kept him up all night. She was the one. His mate. And he knew there was no way he was walking away from her. Even before their kiss, he knew that. But now that he’d had a taste of her, he was damn sure not going to let anyone stand in the way of claiming her. He was certain his eyes, usually cool and calculating, now burned with an intensity that would have startled his employees - if any had been brave enough to arrive this early.

The events of the previous night played on a loop in his mind: Brianne’s laughter over dinner, the sudden chaos of the attack, the helplessness he’d felt as the thieves escaped with her prototype. Reid’s jaw clenched. He’d failed to protect her once. It wouldn’t happen again. And the kiss. The kiss. That kiss had changed everything.

With a determined exhale, he reached for his phone. Time to call in some favors.

“Logan,” Reid barked as soon as the call connected. “I need everything you can dig up on a group called The Glitchers. They’re our prime suspects in last night’s incident.”

Logan Harris, Reid’s head of security, responded with his usual efficiency. “On it, boss. Any particular angle you want me to focus on?”

“Their known associates, hangouts, and any chatter about recent activities. And Logan? This is top priority. I want updates every hour.”

“Understood. I’ll get the team on it right away.”

Reid ended the call, his mind already racing to the next step. He pulled up the surveillance footage from the area around the restaurant, his eyes scanning for details others might’ve missed. A flash of movement caught his attention - a figure in the background, watching the attack unfold. Reid leaned in, enhancing the image. The face wasn’t clear, but something about the stance, the way they held themselves...

His musings were interrupted by a knock at the door. Jake sauntered in, a grin on his face despite the early hour.