Chapter 13

THIRTEEN

B rianne's heart pounded as she and Reid made another circuit of the tournament floor. The flashing screens and raucous shouts of excited gamers provided the perfect cover, but also made her hyper-aware of how exposed they were. Despite the elaborate cosplay outfits, she couldn't shake the feeling that at any moment, someone might recognize them.

"See anything?" she murmured to Reid, her eyes darting from one group to another.

Reid's jaw tightened, his dark eyes scanning the crowd with laser focus. "Nothing concrete, but something doesn't feel right. We should go."

Brianne nodded, relief and disappointment warring within her. They'd come so close to the heart of the Glitchers' operation, but the risk of staying any longer outweighed the potential gains.

As they made their way to the exit, Brianne's costume fins caught on a nearby gaming setup. She stumbled, her heart leaping into her throat as she imagined their cover blown in such a ridiculous way.

But Reid's strong arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her. "Easy there, mermaid," he said, loud enough for nearby gamers to hear. "Save the swimming for the cosplay contest."

A few chuckles rippled through the crowd, and Brianne forced a laugh, playing along. "My hero," she cooed, batting her eyelashes exaggeratedly.

As they stepped out into the cool night air, Brianne let out a long breath. "That was too close," she whispered.

Reid nodded, his hand still resting protectively on the small of her back. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver up her spine, a reminder of their earlier kiss. Focus , Brianne , she chided herself. Now wasn't the time to get distracted by how good Reid looked in that ridiculous sea god costume. Or how much better he'd look out of it. The memory of his naked body was burned into her brain. She'd replay that bit of action on a loop.

They hurried down the street to where Jake waited in an unmarked van, his fingers tapping away on a keyboard. He glanced up as they approached, a grin spreading across his face.

"Nice fins, boss," Jake quipped, eyeing Reid's costume. "Very... majestic."

Reid rolled his eyes. "Status report, Jake."

Jake's expression turned serious. "The backdoor Brianne set up is working perfectly. We've got eyes and ears inside their system. If the Glitchers so much as sneeze, we'll know about it."

Brianne let out a sigh of relief. At least they hadn't risked everything for nothing. "Any sign they've detected the intrusion?"

Jake shook his head. "Nada. As far as they know, it was just a system glitch. You did good, Bri."

A warm glow of pride spread through Brianne's chest at the praise. She'd been worried her hacking skills might be rusty, but it seemed her gamer instincts had served her well.

"So what's our next move?" she asked, looking between Reid and Jake.

Reid's expression was grim. "We regroup, analyze the data we've gathered, and plan our next strike. The Glitchers won't know what hit them."

As they drove back to Reid's place, Brianne found herself stealing glances at him. The determined set of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes – it stirred something in her she couldn't quite name. More than just attraction, it was a sense of shared purpose, of being part of something bigger than herself.

"You know," she said, breaking the comfortable silence, "I have to admit, you pull off the whole ‘sea god' look pretty well. The fins are very fetching."

Reid's lips twitched in a suppressed smile. "High praise coming from the most beautiful mermaid I've ever seen."

Brianne felt her cheeks heat at the compliment. "Flatterer. I bet you say that to all the game developers you rescue from evil hacker groups."

"Only the ones with star-shaped birthmarks and a knack for creating interdimensional portals," Reid shot back, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Their banter continued as they arrived at Reid's penthouse, the adrenaline of their escape slowly giving way to a different kind of excitement. As Reid ordered Chinese food – "A must post-heist," he explained with a wink – Brianne found herself relaxing in the comfortable atmosphere of his home.

She wandered over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, taking in the glittering New York skyline. It was strange how quickly her life had changed. Just days ago, her biggest concern had been meeting her game development deadlines. Now here she was, plotting to take down a criminal organization with a man who made her heart trip over itself, her pulse race, and her knees buckle every time he looked at her.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Reid's voice startled her out of her reverie. He handed her a glass of wine, his fingers brushing hers in a way that sent sparks shooting up her arm.

Brianne took a sip, savoring the rich flavor. "Just thinking about how surreal this all is. A week ago, the most exciting thing in my life was debugging a particularly tricky bit of code. Now I'm living an action movie."

Reid chuckled, the sound sending a pleasant warmth through her. "Life has a way of surprising us. Though I have to say, I'm glad this particular surprise brought you into my life."

The sincerity in his voice made Brianne's heart skip a beat. She turned to face him fully, struck by the intensity of his gaze. "I'm glad too," she said softly. "Even with all the danger and stress... I wouldn't trade this experience for anything."

They stood there for a moment, the air between them charged with unspoken emotions. Brianne found herself leaning in, drawn by an invisible force. Reid's hand came up to cup her cheek, his touch impossibly gentle.

The doorbell chimed, shattering the moment. Reid pulled back with a rueful smile. "That'll be the food. Rain check?"

Brianne nodded, trying to calm her racing heart. "Rain check."

As they settled in front of the fireplace, containers of Chinese food spread out before them, Brianne felt a sense of comfort she hadn't experienced in a long time. There was something so domestic about sharing a meal like this even with the lingering tension of their mission hanging over them.

"So," Reid said, expertly wielding his chopsticks, "tell me more about your game. What inspired you to create Shadow Realms ?"

Brianne's eyes lit up at the question. "Oh man, where do I even start? I guess it all goes back to when I was a kid. My brother and I used to spend hours making up these elaborate fantasy worlds, you know? We'd pretend our backyard was this mystical realm full of portals to other dimensions."

She launched into an explanation of her game's concept, gesticulating excitedly with her chopsticks. Reid listened intently, asking thoughtful questions that showed he was genuinely interested.

"...and that's why the choices the player makes really matter," Brianne concluded. "It's not just about winning or losing, it's about the journey and how it changes you."

Reid nodded, a look of understanding in his eyes. "Like how sometimes the challenges we face shape us more than the victories."

"Exactly!" Brianne exclaimed, pleased that he understood. Then she paused, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "You know, I never would have imagined that creating this game would lead me on a real-life adventure like this. Infiltrating secret lairs, outsmarting thieves."

Reid chuckled. "Life imitating art, huh? Though I have to say, your outfits are much more practical in the game. I'm not sure how actual merpeople would feel about that seashell bra."

Brianne snorted, nearly choking on her lo mein. "Hey, don't knock it 'til you've tried it. I'll have you know that seashell bra was surprisingly supportive."

Their laughter filled the room, easing the tension that had built over the day. As the evening wore on, they found themselves sharing more than just the details of their mission. Brianne opened up about her fears of failure and the pressure she put on herself to succeed in a male-dominated industry.

"Sometimes I worry that if this game doesn't take off, it'll be my last chance," she admitted, her voice soft. "There's always someone younger, someone with fresher ideas nipping at your heels in this business."

Reid's hand found hers, his touch warm and reassuring. "Brianne, from what I've seen of your work, you have nothing to worry about. Your creativity, your passion – those aren't things that can be replaced or outdated. They're what make you unique."

His words warmed her from the inside out. Brianne squeezed his hand, grateful for his support. "Thank you. That means a lot coming from someone as accomplished as you. I mean, running a whole security firm and a... what do you call it? A sleuth of bears?"

Reid's eyebrows shot up. "You know about that?"

Brianne grinned. "I may have done some research after our first meeting. Turns out there's a whole online community dedicated to shifter lore. Did you know some people think bear shifters hibernate in the winter?"

Reid threw his head back and laughed, the sound rich and full. "Oh man, I wish. Imagine getting to sleep through tax season."

As the night wore on, their conversation meandered from topic to topic. They discovered a shared love for cheesy 80's action movies. "Die Hard is a cinematic masterpiece and I will fight anyone who says otherwise," Brianne declared, and an unexpected mutual appreciation for retro video games.

"No way," Brianne gasped when Reid admitted to owning an original Nintendo Entertainment System. "Please tell me you have Duck Hunt."

Reid's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Duck Hunt, Super Mario Bros., and a fully functional zapper gun."

Brianne clutched her chest dramatically. "Be still my beating heart. I think I'm in love."

The words slipped out before she could stop them, more honest than she'd intended. But as Reid's eyes met hers, soft and warm, she found she didn't regret them.

"You know," Reid said, his voice low and intimate, "I have a confession to make."

Brianne's heart sped up. "Oh?"

Reid leaned in closer, his breath warm on her cheek. "I... am absolutely terrible at Duck Hunt. Like, embarrassingly bad. My sister used to beat me every time."

The tension broke as Brianne burst into laughter. "Oh no, how will I ever respect you now? My illusions are shattered."

Reid grinned, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I guess I'll just have to find other ways to impress you."

The air between them thickened with possibility. Brianne found herself leaning into his touch, her eyes dropping to his lips. "Any ideas?" she murmured.

Instead of answering, Reid closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a kiss that made her toes curl. Unlike their earlier kiss in the gamer lair, this one was slow, deep, and full of promise. Brianne melted into it, her hands coming up to tangle in Reid's hair.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily. Reid rested his forehead against hers, his eyes dark with desire. "Was that impressive enough?" he asked, a hint of his usual cockiness in his tone.

Brianne pretended to consider it. "Hmm, I don't know. I might need another demonstration to be sure."

Reid's answering growl sent shivers down her spine. He pulled her close, his strong arms wrapping around her waist. "Challenge accepted."

As they lost themselves in each other, the dangers of their mission faded into the background. For now, there was only this moment, this connection that had sparked between them against all odds. Tomorrow would bring new challenges and new dangers to face. But tonight, Brianne allowed herself to revel in the warmth of Reid's embrace and the safety she found in his arms.

In the back of her mind, a small voice whispered that this was more than just physical attraction or the adrenaline of their shared adventure. This feeling, this connection – it was something deeper, something that both thrilled and terrified her.

But as Reid's lips found hers again, Brianne pushed those thoughts aside. There would be time for analysis later. For now, she would live in this moment, savoring every second of this unexpected joy she'd found in the midst of chaos.

The night stretched on, filled with laughter, tender moments, and heated exchanges. They talked for hours, sharing hopes, dreams, and fears. Brianne found herself opening up in ways she never had, feeling safe and cherished in Reid's presence.

As the first light of dawn began to creep through the windows, Brianne snuggled closer to Reid on the couch, her head resting on his chest. His heartbeat was steady and strong beneath her ear, a comforting rhythm.

"Reid?" she murmured, her voice thick with contentment.

"Hmm?" He stroked her hair gently, the gesture so natural it made her heart ache.

"Thank you. For everything. I don't know what I would have done without your help."

Reid pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You're stronger and more capable than you give yourself credit for. But I'm glad I could help."

Brianne tilted her head up to look at him, struck by the tenderness in his gaze. "It's more than that, though. You make me feel... safe. Understood. Like I can be myself without any pretenses."

Reid's arms tightened around her. "That's because you can."

She glanced around the room and sighed. "You're gonna have to give me a tour of this place. It's amazing."

"Come on, beautiful."

"Really?"

"I want to share my space with you."

Her heart tripped over itself. Why did he have to make her want him even more?