Nose in the air, Gryff let out a long wolf-like howl, then waited for praise.

“Good job, Gryff. Perfect.” Bull scratched behind one fluffy ear and grinned at Frankie. “He’s been practicing.”

Laughing, Frankie patted the fluffy fur. “That was amazing, Gryff. You’re a great dog.”

“We want you to stay,” Bull said in a smug voice. “You wouldn’t want to hurt Gryff’s feelings, would you?”

Hearing his name, Gryff wagged his tail and licked her hand. He had the pleading-brown-eyes down to an art.

She scowled. “Using a dog is an underhanded technique, Skull.”

With a whine, Gryff decided the bed shouldn’t be only for humans and jumped up, curling in a circle at the foot.

Frankie eyed him. What a smug expression on the furry face.

“Ah…does having Gryff on the bed bother you?” Bull asked—and she had to suppress a smile. The man was so damned self-confident that a bit of worry looked good on him.

Now how would Mama say this? Frankie assumed the ice queen’s expression and voice. “You do know that animals don’t belong on the furniture.”

“Right.” Bull sighed. “Gryff, buddy, you—”

She burst out laughing.

“Fuck, woman, you played me?” Bull’s eyes crinkled.

Still laughing, Frankie sat up long enough to tousle Gryff’s fur and kiss his fuzzy head before nestling back against Bull’s side. “I love that he sleeps on your bed.”

“I’ll be damned.”

She sighed. “I used to beg for a dog or cat; there were so many that needed homes. As far as Mama was concerned, the only fur in a house should be the kind worn as a cape.”

“I can just see you dragging home some stray and asking to keep it.” Bull cupped her cheek in his palm, grazing his thumb over her skin, and the sympathy in his voice was almost her undoing.

She swallowed. “Anyway, I’m glad you have Gryff and that he gets to be on the bed.”

“There’s a relief.” Bull relaxed, pulling her up and closer.

“However, I really shouldn’t spend the night.” She rubbed her face against his shoulder. “You know how I feel. Morning sex is like friends with benefits. Spending nights, sleeping together leads to relationships and—”

“Sweetheart.” The amusement in his voice stopped her cold.

She eyed him.

“You’re too late. We already have a relationship, no matter how you label it. Making love is just that—whether the sun is up or not.” He stroked her back.

Her breathing stopped as she heard the certainty in his words. He was right. They didn’t fuck; they made love.

“I know you plan to leave at the end of summer,” he said gently. “Let’s be together while we can.”

“Yes.” The word slipped out of her, because there was nowhere else she’d rather be than with him. In his bed with his arms around her, with Gryff’s head resting on her foot.

It felt like a perfect moment of pure contentment and happiness. Like there should be starry skies and haunting violins and…