Page 26 of Unbearable Player

“That was close,” Brianne whispered, her breath ghosting across his lips.

Reid nodded, finding it difficult to form words with Brianne so near. The urge to kiss her was overwhelming, but he forced himself to focus on the mission.

“They’re talking about your game,” he said, his voice low. “We must be close.”

Brianne’s eyes lit up with determination. “Then let’s go get it.”

As they continued down the corridor, the sexual tension between them was palpable. Reid couldn’t help but steal glances at Brianne, admiring the way her costume hugged her curves. For her part, Brianne seemed equally affected, her cheeks flushed and her breathing slightly uneven.

As Reid and Brianne made their way through the labyrinthine corridors of the high-tech gamer lair, the air between them crackled with unspoken tension. Reid found himself hyper-aware of Brianne’s presence, his bear shifter senses picking up on the quickening of her pulse, the subtle changes in her scent that hinted at her growing attraction.

“You know,” Brianne whispered, a playful glint in her eye, “for a big, tough security expert, you make a surprisingly convincing sea nymph.”

Reid raised an eyebrow, fighting back a smile. “Are you implying I look good in scales?”

Brianne’s gaze raked over him appreciatively. “Let’s just say the costume leaves little to the imagination.”

Heat flooded Reid’s body at her words. He leaned in close, his lips brushing her ear. “Careful, Brianne. Two can play that game.”

She shivered at his proximity, and Reid had to resist the urge to pull her even closer. Instead, he let his hand rest lightly on the small of her back as they continued down the corridor, relishing the warmth of her skin through the thin material of her costume.

“So,” Brianne said, her voice slightly breathless, “do you often find yourself sneaking around secret lairs with geeky women, or am I special?”

Reid chuckled low in his throat. “Trust me, you’re one of a kind.”

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the playfulness faded, replaced by something deeper, more intense. Reid felt an overwhelming urge to confess everything - about his bear-shifter nature, about her being his mate. But before he could speak, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the moment.

“Someone’s coming,” Reid hissed, looking around frantically for a place to hide.

Brianne’s eyes widened in panic. “What do we do?”

In that split second, Reid made a decision. He backed Brianne against the wall, caging her in with his arms. “Trust me,” he whispered, and then his lips were on hers.

The kiss was electric, sending shockwaves through Reid’s entire body. Brianne melted into him instantly, her arms winding around his neck. Reid lost himself in the softness of her lips, the sweet taste of her mouth, the warmth of her body pressed against his.

He was vaguely aware of voices nearby, of someone chuckling and muttering, “Get a room, lovebirds.” But it all faded into background noise as Brianne’s fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily. Reid rested his forehead against Brianne’s, struggling to regain his composure. Her blue eyes were dark with desire, her lips slightly swollen from their kiss.

“I think they’re gone,” Brianne whispered, her voice husky.

Reid nodded, not trusting himself to speak just yet. He knew he should step back, should focus on their mission. But having Brianne in his arms felt so right, so perfect. It took every ounce of his considerable willpower to put some distance between them.

“We should... we should keep moving,” he managed, his voice rough with restrained emotion.

Brianne nodded, a becoming blush coloring her cheeks. “Right.”

As they continued down the corridor, Reid couldn’t shake the kiss. It had been meant as a cover, a way to avoid detection. But he’d also been dying to have her in his arms again. There was no denying the passion between them, the way they had both gotten lost in the moment. It seemed like neither one of them could control themselves around the other.

He glanced at Brianne, noting the way she kept touching her lips absently as if still feeling the imprint of their kiss. A primal part of him growled in satisfaction. His mate. His.

But the rational part of his mind reminded him of the dangers they still faced. He needed to stay focused, to keep Brianne safe and complete their mission. There would be time for exploring these feelings later. Later when they were alone. In bed. Naked. Images of her naked filled his mind from the previous night. Fuck.

They came to a junction in the corridor with no clear indication of which way to go.

“Any ideas?” Brianne asked.

Reid closed his eyes, focusing his heightened senses. After a moment, he pointed to the right. “This way. I hear the hum of bigger equipment.”