The cords in his neck stood out, and she reveled in hearing his low growl of satisfaction as he came inside her.

After a bit, he drew her down on top of him. With a sigh, she laid her head on his wide chest. Her heart was still racing, and her muscles felt limper than over-cooked pasta.

“Mmm.” His purr of satisfaction was something she’d never tire of hearing.

Before she drifted off completely, he gently pulled out, eased from under her to dispose of the condom, then cleaned them both up.

She should get up, too. She needed to get back to her own place. Somehow, she’d stayed longer at the dinner than she’d planned. Caz kept refilling her wine glass, and Audrey brought out a board game she thought Regan would like. It felt so much like being at Nonna’s that Frankie hadn’t been able to leave.

“You’re thinking too hard, sweetheart.” Pulling back the covers, Bull slid her under and tucked her against his side, his body dwarfing hers.

“I should be going,” she whispered.

“I want you to stay.” Bull pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “We want you to stay.”

She lifted her head to stare at him. “We? Your family tells you what women to take to bed? That’s simply wrong.”

He was laughing too hard to speak for a moment. Then he snapped his fingers, and Gryff planted two paws on the mattress. “Gryff, tell Frankie you want her to stay. Howl, buddy.”

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.