Title: Earshot
Summary: Kate reflects on her favorite part of Rick's body.
Disclaimer: I don't own most of the characters I write about. If you recognize a name, odds are it isn't mine. But seeing as this is a fanfic website, you probably knew that already.
Thanks again to Sunshiny-Kate, the best beta a writer could ask for!
There was a lot of things Kate loved about Rick. His sense of humor. His skill with words. His ability to think outside the box. The way he fiercely loved his family. She could try to list all the things she loved about him, but the list would never end. At the moment though, she was only thinking about one thing. Well, two. His ears.
Yes. She loved his ears. She loved the way they allowed her to control him.
She could cut off an inappropriate comment with a quick flick of her fingers to the cartilage.
She could bring him back from a tangent and make him focus with a firm tug.
Seducing him was rarely necessary, but a gentle nip to a lobe or a slow lick along the outer shell of either ear would always leave him hungry for more.
Rick didn't wear ball caps often, because they made his ears stick out. He hated it but Kate found it adorable.
She loved the way his little sideburns framed his ears. Something about those short hairs drew her fingers in. She would find herself absentmindedly stroking the fuzzy spot when they were watching a movie or reading together.
When they took a bath together, the bubbles would cling to his ears.
His ears made perfect handles when they kissed, allowing Kate to hold him close as long as she wanted.
All in all, Kate loved everything about Rick's ears. They made her laugh, gave her power, and helped her share her passion. But there was something new she loved about his ears. Something she loved more than anything else about them. And that something was currently sleeping on her chest, worn out from eating his second meal ever.
Their son was warm and heavy in the best possible way as he slept soundly. Kate couldn't stop staring at him, at his lips moving slightly as he breathed, at his fingers twitching along with whatever he was dreaming. And sticking out from his cotton cap were two tiny replicas of the ears Kate loved so much. He was only twelve hours old, but there was no mistaking that he had his father's ears.
Kate heard a click and looked up towards the door. She smiled at her husband as he walked in and then held a finger to her mouth. He nodded in understanding and closed the door silently, then quietly crossed the room to her bedside. Kate took a hold of his hand and he squeezed softly, but his eyes were on his son.
She let him stare for several minutes, then tugged on his hand. He turned to her and the smile that was already on his face grew impossibly wide. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. When he started to stand back up, Kate dropped his hand and grabbed his right ear gently. She pulled him back to her and their lips met in a lovingly slow dance.
Yeah. Kate really loved Rick's ears.