Page 21 of No Harm No Howl

“Ha-ha. Funny, but I really feel like I’m forgetting something,” she said.

“You’re just nervous. And I get it. You’ve never flown before. Plus, from what Gerri says, this Russ guy is your one true mate. And … it’s Vegas. You better not come back married. I’ll be seriously pissed if I don’t get to be your maid of honor.”

Gia rolled her eyes. “There’s not going to be a wedding because there’s no relationship to speak of. You know how Gerri is. She gets it in her mind that every woman needs her mate. Not me. I’m perfectly fine concentrating on my career,” Gia said, digging through her briefcase one more time. “My charger. That’s what I need.” She quickly grabbed her spare phone charger and threw it in the bag. “Crisis averted.”

“Yes. Good lord. Heaven forbid you forget your charger. It would truly be the end of the world.”

“Whatever. I don’t want to have to try to track down a charger in Vegas. I’m going to be busy with meetings and stuff.”

“Like marrying your mate.” Kendall laughed.

“Hush. I’m serious. Nothing is going to happen between Russ and me. Our relationship is strictly …”

“So he’s Russ now. Not Mr. Waters? You know, that’s the first step in jumping in with both feet and going against your own rules,” Kendall laughed.

Gia threw a pillow at her. “It is not. I can do this. I have to … for my future, for my career. I’ve worked so hard for an opportunity like this. I will not throw it away just so I can end up barefoot and pregnant in a kitchen with fifteen screaming pups running circles around me, driving me crazy all day … every day. I will pass, thanks. My life has to be about more than that. Not just popping babies out left and right to keep the numbers up in our species. Uh-huh. Not me. Never will be.”

“Wow. That’s quite a rant. Did you get it all out of your system?” Kendall asked.

“I think so. I just … ugh! I’m tired of hearing that I need a mate, a man, or whatever. I wish people would just leave me alone when it comes to this subject and let me live my life the way I want to live it.” Gia was so sick of hearing about it. The teasing, the suggestions, the blind dates, the setups. All of it. Just completely done.

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop. Just try to have fun when you’re gone. Now, get some rest. I’m going to head home. You have an early day tomorrow. Text me when you get to Sin City,” Kendall said, standing to leave.

“Hey, I’m sorry for being such a bitch. You don’t have to leave.” Gia felt bad for snapping at Kendall like that, but damn, between her and Gerri, she was losing her mind.

“We’re good. No worries. But I’m going to turn into Cinderella soon. I need to get my ass home.”

“Cinderella? It’s nowhere near midnight.” Gia tapped her phone to see what time it was.

“Look. I’m old. My midnight rolls in closer to eight. I need my beauty rest. Plus, I have to be up early.”

“Fine. Leave me here to my own devices. Let my mind wander all the possible disaster scenarios until I’m curled up in a fetal position on my bed … alone.” Gia may have been joking when she said it, but the words that came out of her mouth were the cold, hard truth. She had been grateful that Kendall had shown up when she had. The snarky banter between them had kept the ridiculous disaster scenarios to a minimum.

“Don’t be such a drama queen. It’s time to pull your big girl panties up and realize you got this. You don’t need Gerri or me to guide you or sit on your shoulders like little angels and devils. You know what you want. So, go get it. Now, give me a hug before my car turns into a pumpkin.”

“I love you,” Gia said, wrapping Kendall in a tight hug before letting her go.

“I love you too. Stop overthinking everything and just enjoy this new adventure,” Kendall said before leaving.

* * *

Gia tossedand turned as the minutes ticked by. After taking a hot shower and spending several minutes meditating to clear her mind, Gia found herself in bed by ten o’clock so she could be wide awake in the morning and not struggling with life itself.

Those days sucked. She hated everyone and everything around her on those days … including herself.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she was determined to sleep. She would count fucking sheep if she had to. She sucked in a deep breath, followed by another, and another until her mind started to relax.

She found herself sitting at her desk working on a report when Russ strolled in, looking far better than any man she had ever laid her eyes on. Heat flooded her body instantly despite her trying to control it.

His nostrils flared, and his eyes started to glow with passion. Kicking her office door shut, he marched over to Gia and plucked her out of her chair. Lifting her off the floor, he plopped her ass on her desk and pushed her thighs open with his legs.

His scent wrapped around her, enveloping her in a hazy cocoon of want and need. His mouth closed over hers as his hand wrapped around the back of her neck, holding her tight. She moaned into his mouth. Her hands were on him in an instant, diving in under his shirt, needing to feel the heat of his skin.

Russ tore her blouse from her body and her bra from her chest. She growled before tunneling her fingers through his hair and pulling his head down to her rock-hard nipples. They needed attention too.

His mouth closed over one of her peaks, sucking it into his mouth.

“Mmm,” she moaned, tossing her head back to give him more room to work.

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