“No one has described me as ‘adorable’ before,” Ottis admitted.
“Well, I’m telling you now. You’re amazing,” Doc murmured in his ear.
“Fine.” Ottis’ insides fluttered. He snuggled into Doc’s chest, only to realize— “You sound good. Better than usual, because... Your breathing isn’t muffled by the scarves or masks.”
“Huh.” Doc leaned away slightly, a little tense.
“Why are you doing that?” Ottis asked.
When Doc didn’t answer, Ottis thought about what he had said. Then it occurred to him—the scars.
He reached behind, only to stop when his fingers met soft hair. “Can I, um, have another kiss? On my neck?”
Doc sucked in a quick breath. “You don’t mind?”
“Why would I mind kisses?” Ottis wriggled. “Yours felt good.”
Another moment of silence. “Even with my...?”
“Yes.”
Doc exhaled slowly, his pulse thumping louder. He seemed to hesitate, his fingertips pressing against Ottis’ chest. Then, ever so carefully, he leaned in, warm breath rushing over Ottis’ nape.
Ottis’ heart sped up. “You don’t have to kiss me, if you don’t want to.”
“I want,” Doc said. Then he huffed and closed the distance between them, his soft lips brushing just under Ottis’ hairline.
In the darkness, with nothing for his eyes to focus on, Ottis felt the uneven bumps around Doc’s lips. They reminded him of the scars on his own leg.
“Another,” he said before Doc could pull away.
Doc’s pulse stuttered. “Really?”
Ottis nodded quickly. Then he remembered that it was dark and no one could see a thing. “Yeah.”
He heard Doc swallow. Then the alpha brushed his lips against Ottis’ neck. This time, the kiss lingered, Doc’s breath feathering through Ottis’ hair, his bumpy scars raising goosebumps on Ottis’ skin.
“I like it,” Ottis said truthfully, surprising himself. “It feels different.”
“The... scars?”
“Yes.” Ottis wriggled closer to Doc. “I like the way they feel on my skin.”
“You’ve only felt a tiny bit of it.”
“So show me. Let me decide.”
Doc’s pulse sped up, like maybe he was nervous. But he leaned in anyway, pressing more of his face against Ottis’ neck.
There were more bumps now. Ottis rubbed himself against Doc. The scar tissue rumbled against his skin, feeling dry like Ottis’ leg often felt.
“You need some lotion,” Ottis said quietly. “Doesn’t it hurt?”
Doc inhaled sharply. “How did you know?”
“I have scars too, remember? It hurts when I don’t have money to get moisturizer for them.”
Doc stiffened. “I’ll have Jinks order some immediately. Do you have a preferred brand?”
