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One thing Greyson never really understood was his mate’s obsession with his lop ears. Like now, said mate is securely holding him in his lap, nuzzling his ears and catching the edges in a nibble from time to time. Greyson’s pretty sure no amount of shampooing today would get his mate’s scent off of him, and maybe it’ll bleed out until tomorrow.
Thank heavens tomorrow is still his day off so Yvonne wouldn’t have the opportunity to tease him about his overprotective mate. Which has happened more than enough times that Greyson remembers the sequence of her teasing by heart, yet he still couldn’t find a good counter for them.
Caleb nuzzles his nose to his nape again, obviously scenting and marking him. Next is-
Greyson shudders as he felt Caleb’s tongue swipe across his nape. It shocked him the first time they kissed that Caleb’s tongue was pretty smooth despite being a wolf. He thought it would be covered in tiny bumps just like a cat’s. But even after feeling Caleb's tongue… fairly speaking everywhere on his body, Greyson still couldn’t get used to the sensation.
His body jolts forward by the second lick, causing Caleb to tighten his hold around his waist. One arm now moved to wrap around his shoulder and kept him impossibly closer in the embrace.
“Where are you going?”
“Y- you shocked me.”
“Hmm?” Caleb loosens his hold and looks at Greyson’s face. “Did I do something?”
Greyson gulps. “No, I was just surprised by you licking me.”
“Surprised?” Caleb tilts his head a bit, processing the word before laughing. “But I licked you multiple times before?” licking the edge of Greyson’s lop ear for emphasis.
Caleb continued by nibbling there, grazing his fangs softly on the flesh. He’d softly bite at a spot before licking it, a way to soothe the sensation, and then going back to nibbling. Caleb will usually do this all around the places he can reach. Once he’s down with one ear then he’ll travel and do the same to the other one. He does it all with care, mindful of how much strength he puts since Greyson's ears are sensitive.
To Caleb, Greyson's ears are better than any chew toy he's had. As a wolf it was natural for him to chew on something, yet his strength control usually went awry when he used chew toys, even ones specially made for wolf teeth. His body just instinctively registered them as inanimate objects and he'd bite on them until they break. Caleb can’t risk a harder material chew toys either since he doesn’t want to risk his teeth.
He'd found no solution so far. Until he dated Greyson.
At first he only wondered how it would feel to just... nibble a bit on Greyson's ears after he got to feel them for the first time. They're soft, a bit like jelly but with more give which makes them bouncy. The warmth and slight pulse when he touches them made his body understand that this is a living thing. His touch by then mellowed, turning into pats that Greyson nuzzles into. His mate was clearly relaxed, completely trusting Caleb's touches as Greyson extended his body and flops down to his lap, his tail twitching from time to time.
Caleb had the urge to just bend down and nibble at Greyson's ears, but seeing his mate feeling safe and sound like that, how could he disturb him. So he held back.
Multiple times.
Eventually Greyson noticed Caleb biting his bottom lip during one of those petting sessions.
Maybe Caleb shouldn't have teased Greyson about his shock of being licked cause now he remembered how humiliating he felt when confessing that he wanted to try and nibble on Greyson's ears for the first time.
He remembered how Greyson softly asked him if he’s alright, rubbing his thumb on Caleb’s bitten lip, worrying but also curious. He felt bad for disturbing Greyson’s comfort, but avoiding the question would worry Greyson even more. Lying isn’t on the table either, not that Caleb would ever lie to him, since Greyson is oddly good at spotting lies.
So Caleb confesses that he wanted to try and nibble on Greyson’s ears. Instead of the negative responses, or even the lightest the expected which is laughing and making fun of him - Greyson offered him to try.
“I might hurt you.”
Greyson shook his head. “I trust you.”
Caleb suddenly stops nibbling on Greyson’s ear.
And that threw Greyson off, the loss of sensation making him wonder, an expression Caleb is acutely aware of.
“What’s wrong?” Greyson asks.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made fun of you about the licking thing.”
“Hmm?“ Greyson turns around, straddling Caleb’s legs.
Greyson nuzzles his nose into the top of his head. Caleb’s hair smells of muted apples, since he’s a wolf, he’s a lot more sensitive to smells so most of the things in their condo are either unscented or has a muted scent.
“Did you remember something?” Greyson asks again. A different question this time, but this one is more direct in the sense that the answer is one of the few things that would make Greyson stop in his tracks.
His mate is silent for a while. Caleb’s hands grips at the side of Greyson’s shirt - loose, but still tight. They’re hesitant.
Eventually, Caleb lets his head fall on the crook of Greyson's neck. Inhaling the scent of sunshine of newly dried laundry, it’s gentle, it’s home, it’s Greyson.
“You didn’t laugh when I first asked to nibble on your ears - I should’ve done the same when you told me licking your nape shocked you earlier.”
“Hey,” Greyson moved his hands from the back of Caleb's head to his cheeks, cupping them as he moves his gaze upwards, meeting Greyson’s, “That’s just an instinctive response, you don't need to think about it too much.”
“But I-”
“You did. But you do have a point. How long have we been together? 2 years?”
“7 months, and 11 days.”
Specific as always but that's one of the traits that Greyson appreciates. Caleb's attention to detail was a lifesaver. Greyson's job often muddled things in his daily life; it's not rare for him to forget dates or Important events. By then, Caleb would've sent a text or voice mail, a week or two in advance to remind him since it is difficult to get a day off when you're a cardiac surgeon. Sometimes Greyson wishes he can do the same, being a colonel was not an easy job either. But whenever the feelings wells up, Caleb would always reassure him that it was ok.
He’s glad that he can be Greyson's reminder, the sticky note on his calendar for him. He considered it a privilege once and Greyson had to stop him from exaggerating things. But Greyson knew that's the type of romantic Caleb was.
“2 years, 7 months, and 11 days,” Greyson repeats, "you've licked me everywhere but I guess it’s just been a really long time this time, how about that?” Greyson plants a kiss on the space between Caleb's eyes.
“A long time?”
“Let's fool ourselves like that, hmm?”
“We’ve been apart longer-”
“Oh so you want us to be apart even longer?”
“No!” Caleb finally used the grip he has on Greyson’s shirt to pull him closer.
“Then don't argue with me.”
Caleb’s breath rags as the possibility of them being apart longer than their previous record washes over him. It’s harrowing, being without his mate for close to 9 weeks felt like dulling his senses, the world felt too big. The deepspace he frequently traveled felt unfamiliar week by week, his hands remembered the maps but his mind saw nothing.
The only reprieve being the once in a week video call he has with Greyson. Sometimes Greyson would already be in bed, heavy eye bags and clearly tired from work, but he'll still make time to talk with him as long as he’s awake. Of course, Greyson will eventually fall asleep in the middle of Caleb telling him stories of what happened aboard for the past few days. And Caleb would stay there watching the sleeping figure on the other side, lop ears falling across soft cheeks and nose twitching from the sensation.
His own wolf ears droops. It’s nice seeing his mate finally asleep. Caleb just wishes he’s there every time. Arms around the other, humming quietly as he brushes rogue strands of hair from Greyson’s forehead. The dream - heaven incomparable.
“I trust you, Caleb. I always do.” You’ll never hurt me, I know that - left unsaid but loud to Caleb's heart.
He pulls Greyson closer one final time. “I love you. Thank you.”
Ah, this love of mine - Greyson gives one of his wolf ears a peck.
“I love you too. You’re welcome.”