A Matter of Taste

I still saw indecision in his eyes and I wanted more than anything to reassure him. It was hard to see Starsky vulnerable and know that I was the reason for it. But I understood it. He’d been raised in an environment where the things we were about to do were dirty words, the people who did them the worst kind of perverts. I shook my head. ‘How could love like this be anything but a gift and worth anything that we might have to go through because of it?’

Sorry this has been so long in materializing. A knee replacement, Christmas, buying a new house and trying to get settled have all stalled my efforts.

Many, many thanks to Annie Booker for cleaning this up for me!

Considering what I’d been through during the night, I woke up feeling pretty good. The pain in my head had receded to just a mild, achy feeling that I thought I could control with aspirin. I had a lot to look forward to and wanted to put the hospital behind me and get the discharge papers signed and filed.

The hall lights had just come on, so I knew it was still early. I’d learned from a wealth of experience that hospitals were a conflicting environment; a place where they were liable to wake you up to give you a sleeping pill, get you up at the crack of dawn just when you’d finally gotten to sleep, send you up your first menu list to fill out when you were getting ready to leave and so on. And what was the fascination with Cream of Wheat, anyway? A healthier choice than bacon and eggs, if you could break through that scum that had formed on the top of it by the time it reached your room.

Thinking about food brought Starsky to mind. I smiled, wondering if he’d gone hungry the night before. The ‘fruit’ basket had been kind of a joke that I knew he’d pick up on. And I’d purposely chosen a hotel without room service, because of my partner’s fascination with all things edible. It would have been a distraction we didn’t need. And there were some great restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. He and I were such opposites in many ways. I allowed myself to wonder what it would be like to live with the man. Starsk could be aggravating, aggressive and demanding, but his enthusiasm, childlike wonder, strength of spirit and heart filled with love made him a gift that I longed to unwrap and play with.

We’d been drawn to each other from the first day at the academy, literally. I grinned as I thought about it. I had been so preoccupied with studying the map of the campus as I tried to find my next classroom that I’d run right into another cadet and we both landed on the floor. The other man had jumped up first, held out his hand and hauled me to my feet. He’d flashed me a lop-sided grin and cautioned, “Pace yourself, Blondie. You’re probably going to the same place I am and it’s not in the direction you’re headed. We might as well go together, so I can watch your back. Spend much time runnin’ into things and they’ll bounce you right out of here.”

I couldn’t even remember what I’d mumbled, but I somehow had instantly known that this brash, cocky stranger could be counted on to protect me or anyone else, for that matter, even if he had to sacrifice his own life to do it. A bond had been forged that day and we’d helped each other over many hurdles during our time in the academy. And then my fiercely protective friend had talked me through my guilt and sense of failure when my short, ill-fated marriage to Vanessa had ended. And we’d been there for each other every step of the way since then. ‘Which of the gods had been on duty that day and decided that the many differences between the two of us could possibly meld together to make us soul mates?’, I wondered.

The overhead light suddenly flashed on and I had to blink a few times before my vision cleared and the stern face of my nurse, who’d become somewhat less of a tyrant after Starsky left, swam into view.

“And how are we feeling this morning, Mr. Hutchinson?” she chirped.

“‘We are ready to get out of here as soon as possible,” I replied enthusiastically, starting to jump out of the bed.

“Not so fast. We need to check you out one more time.” She plodded through the same routine we’d rehearsed every two hours out of the last six, right on the dot.

“Okay, you pass. First, try sitting up on the edge of the bed for a minute.”

I managed that quite easily.

“Do you feel lightheaded?”

“I don’t think I’m going to pass out when I stand up, if that’s what you mean.”

She studied me closely. “You’ve been through this before, haven’t you?”

“A couple times. It’s fairly common in my line of work.”

“And that would be…?”

“I’m a cop back in Bay City. I’m visiting my friend…you met him last night.”

“Yes, your Mr. Starsky. You should go back to California. That one is trouble.”

I laughed. “You noticed. But we’ve been friends far too long to give up now. I’ll try to keep an eye on him. Now…how soon can you spring me?”

She smiled for the first time. “It’s really not up to me. I have to go give report and then I’m going home and get some sleep. Your doctor will be in later. You probably have time to take a shower and get dressed before your breakfast comes.”

The shower made me feel human again. I had to put the same clothes back on, as Starsky had taken the luggage to the hotel with him. Most of the meal wasn’t edible, but I at least had some toast and orange juice in my stomach. I knew that the wheels turn slow in hospitals and I probably wouldn’t get discharged until early afternoon, but I was ready to sign myself out against medical advice if I had to.

For about an hour, I nervously paged through the newspaper they’d brought me. I didn’t want to wake Starsky up too early. I knew he must be feeling guilty and disappointed with the events of the day before.

At nine o’clock, I figured he was probably up, but I’d given him the business card from the hotel. I talked one of the nurses into looking the number up in the phone book and got an outside line. I dialed the number that had been given me and a pleasant voice answered.

“Good Morning…Hotel Deauville. How can I help you?”

“Could you put me through to room 312, please.”

“The gentleman in room 312 asked me to tell anyone who called that he was headed for the bank down the street and then he would be taking a cab to Bellevue Hospital, sir.”

“Thank you, that’s good news.”

Relief that Starsk would soon be here calmed me and I began to feel drowsy, so I stretched out on the bed and fell asleep.

I was awakened by a candy-striper bringing me a lunch tray. Immediately concerned, I asked her the time and was told that it was 11:30.

‘Where the hell is Starsk?’ I wondered. ‘He should have been here long ago.’ I left the lunch untouched and called the hotel again. The same pleasant voice told me that he hadn’t returned to the room.

My anxiety made the time advance with the speed of a tortoise crawling across a long sandy beach. The doctor arrived, checked me out one last time and discharged me, so I grabbed my jacket and persuaded the nurse to park the inevitable wheelchair in the lobby to wait. I thought of going to the hotel, but decided to wait another half hour. I didn’t want to miss him.

The television was on, but I paid no attention until the man sitting next to me remarked. “Never a dull moment in New York, huh?”

“Why? What’s going on?”

“Where have you been, man? There was a robbery attempt at First Commerce this morning and now it’s become a hostage situation.”

“First Commerce Bank?” A hot feeling started in my stomach and traveled upward until even my ears burned. “Where is it?”

“East 29th St., right downtown.”

“Is that anywhere near the Hotel Deauville?”

“About two blocks away, I’d say.” He looked at me anxiously. “Hey, are you okay? You look a little pale. Would you like me to get a nurse…?”

I was headed for the big double doors by the time he stopped speaking.

I made a quick stop at the hotel for my gun and badge. I had no authority here, but it might be helpful to have it with me. The desk clerk pointed me in the direction of the bank and I started jogging.

Reaching the outer fringe of the crowd, I could see several police cars and NYPD officers trying to keep the mob at bay. I flashed my badge and crept closer to the front lines.

When I got to the barricades, I was stopped by one of the officers. I explained that I was an off-duty detective from Bay City and I asked if I could be of any help.

“We’ve got a standoff going on and they’ve killed one of the hostages already, so we’re in a position where we have to wait for a hostage negotiator.”

That made my heart beat faster and I was trying to figure out how I could get to Starsky. I knew he must be in there, because nothing else would have kept him from getting to the hospital. ‘What if he’d tried something and was already dead?’ The thought was unbearable and I knew I had to do something.

“Hostages coming out,” somebody yelled. I took advantage of the distraction to work my way up close to the action.

About ten very shook-up people filed out of the bank’s double doors. I stopped an older woman who seemed dazed and frightened. I was surprised that she had tears in her eyes.

“What’s going on in there?” I questioned her.

“A very brave man talked the bank robber into letting us go,” she answered. “He told the man that he only needed one hostage and that he was an undercover policeman and they would be more likely to meet his demands if he released the rest of us.” Her tears ran down her cheeks and she dug a handkerchief out of her bag.

“Are you hurt?” I asked.

“No, I’m just afraid he’s going to get himself killed. Such a sweet man.”

“Yes, he is, and I’m going to do all I can to stop that from happening.”

“I really hope you do, young man. There are very few people, especially in this city, who’ll go out of their way to help someone else.”

The officers were distracted questioning the hostages, so I slipped through the door before anyone could stop me.

The gunman was covering Starsky, but evidently he thought he had everything under control and wasn’t expecting anyone to just walk in. The same kind of connection we’d always had alerted my partner to my presence. I knew intuitively that once I got into position, he would somehow create a diversion. I grinned when I heard him start with his repertoire of trivia, which could drive even the sanest person crazy. As he babbled on, I worked my way behind the furniture and ended up behind the counter.. Once I was sure that the gunman had let down his guard and was totally flummoxed by Starsky’s rhetoric, a feeling that I knew well, I waited for my partner to make his move.

He suddenly kicked the man’s gun hand and the weapon went flying. Immediately, Starsky was on him and it didn’t take long to subdue him. Once the man was down, I made sure that he knew I had a gun and would use it if he so much as twitched his finger. A group of officers flooded in, handcuffed the would-be robber and hustled him out of the bank.

I grabbed Starsky and drew him down onto one of the couches.

“Are you hurt?”

“Do I look like I’m hurt?” he answered me. “I was doing just fine. I didn’t need rescuing.”

Paramedics came rushing in to make sure everyone was all in one piece. Starsky explained that he was fine, but that the manager was in a back room and he was most likely dead.

Fueled by a wave of adrenaline, I rounded on Starsky.

“What am I gonna do with you? I can’t leave you alone for a couple hours without you getting in some kind of trouble.”

“It wasn’t my fault. I just came in here to get some money for a cab. How was I to know I was walking into the middle of a bank robbery?”

I grabbed his forearm in an iron grasp. “I wish I had my handcuffs…I’m not letting go of you until we get to the hotel.”

He grinned for the first time. “Am I under arrest, officer?”

“Let’s just say you’re in my custody. I’ve had enough of waiting for you,” I snapped.

“I’m all yours, Blondie,” he smirked. “I’ve never seen this side of you before.”

As it turned out, the police had a lot of questions for us and we had to promise to come down to the station to help them sort out the events of the day. I steered Starsky past a crowd of reporters, with a firm ‘no comment’ and finally we were in the clear.

“Look, Hutch, there’s a restaurant open. I haven’t eaten all day.”

“So, eat an apple. We’ve got fruit, we’ve got wine…what more could you ask for?”

“It’s a loaf of bread, a jug of wine. Fruit’s not very filling,” he said petulantly. “Hey, there’s a doughnut shop.”

I sighed. “Okay, go get something that’ll rot your teeth. But, for gods sake, get it to go.”

“Uh, I’m strapped for cash…I never did make it up to the teller. Do you…?

I threw him my wallet. “Just hurry up!” I hissed.

He came back out like a little kid with a box of candy and I couldn’t help grinning. He was such a bundle of contradictions…tough on the job…like a child when he was at play…passionate in his love…quick to get angry when someone was wronged…yet so tender with the ones he loved. I couldn’t wait to get to the hotel, yet he seemed to be dragging his feet.

“Happy now?” I asked.

“Yeah, I got us some of those long johns, you know the kind that have chocolate on top and the cream filling.”

“You know you’re going to end up a paunchy old man with bad teeth, don’t you?”

“At least I’ll have a great head of hair.”

“Oh, that hurts.” I groaned. “Starsk, are you sure this is what you want?”

He stopped poking around in the doughnut box, licked his fingers and answered my question with one of his own. “Why would you ask me that?”

“Seems like your mind is on everything but us. I’m getting conflicting signals from you and it makes me a little nervous.”

Starsky stopped walking and looked at me. His eyes, dark with concern, searched my face for a minute.

“It isn’t that I don’t want you, Hutch. God knows I’ve been in love with you forever,” he whispered. “I know that when we get to the hotel room and close the door, our lives are gonna change forever. I’m afraid that I won’t be enough for you. I’m not your normal kinda date, you know.”

I put my hand on his shoulder. “You think I’m not scared? That I don’t have the same thoughts? But, Starsk, has there ever been anything that we’ve done together that hasn’t been special?”

He grinned. “Well, there was that house we bought together…I remember you weren’t too excited about that.” His face sobered and his eyes glistened in the sunlight. “Who do we trust time again, huh?”

“Me and thee, always together.”

“Okay, but just so you know…we passed the hotel a couple doors back.”

I grabbed his arm again. Whirling him around, I pulled him in the direction of the hotel. “C’mon, babe, I’m gonna make you mine.”

Once we got to the room, I wanted to pin him against the wall and make him so needy that he forgot any doubts that he had, as well as everything else other than what we were doing. But I was in yesterday’s clothes and I knew that he’d been through a traumatic day. I wanted things to be good.

“I’m headed for the shower…you’d better call your mom and let her know what’s going on. She’s expecting us to stay there tonight,” I suggested.

“What am I supposed to tell her?” he asked plaintively. “Ma, I won’t be home tonight ’cause Hutch and I’ll be getting’ it on?”

I’d never imagined that I would be the one who had to take the lead, but I had no qualms about how good it could be for us, so I wrapped him up in my arms. He melted against me and we just stood like that for a few minutes.

Then I released him and, tangling my fingers in his hair, I pulled him to me and took his mouth with mine. I put every bit of love I had for him into kissing him and was gratified to feel him grab my hair and hold me there, sucking, nipping at my lips and exploring my mouth with his tongue.

I stopped it before we reached the point of no return and pulled back to see him…his mouth red from my kisses and his eyes…passionate, dazed and slightly unfocused, the lids heavy with desire. It almost broke my resolve when he reached for me again.

“Hold up, Romeo, we’ve waited this long. I think we can hold out a few more minutes.” I turned him around, smacked that firm, rounded ass of his and said, “Call your mom!”

“Easy for you to say. I’m not sure I can even remember the number now.”

I chuckled. “If you get stuck, my address book is on the nightstand.”

When I came out of the shower, he was sitting on the bed, looking a little dazed.

“Everything okay with your mom?”

“You know what she told me?”

“That you were adopted and are really the devil’s spawn?”

“Funny.” He rolled his eyes. “She told me that we should enjoy each other and that we have her blessing.”

“So did Huggy.” I added, smiling. “His exact words were that us turkeys had been lighting flames all over Bay City for years. Now go take your shower.” I tossed him a clean towel.

He headed for the bathroom muttering something about everybody in the free world knowing he was gay before he did.

I loved the look of Starsky when he was fresh from the shower. He looked like he had diamonds in his hair from the glistening droplets and his body was flushed from the hot water. I took the towel from around his waist and started to wipe him dry, enjoying the way the hair on his chest made little whorls as it dried. I bent to take one of the dark nubs of flesh I found there in my mouth and he threw his head back and sucked in a gasp of air.

I pushed him down on the bed and continued to explore his body with my mouth. I feasted on nearly every inch of his body with lips, tongue and teeth until he started moaning. My hands were busy discovering all of his secret places. When he tried to get into the act, I restrained him with one hand and kept going until he cried out my name and I thought he couldn’t last much longer.

I pulled back to see his face. His eyes were closed and his face was flushed. He was beautiful and I loved seeing him like that, but knew I’d have to finish fast. I slid down his body and took his straining cock in my mouth quickly, before he had time to object. He nearly arched off the bed and it was all I could do to hang on as the bitter, salty fluid started to leak into my mouth. I wanted to share this new experience with him, so I slid back up his body, grasping his cock with my hand and rubbing it against my own weeping organ. I attached my mouth to his and we shared the essence of Starsky together as we flew skyward in sync, just as I’d imagined we would.

I collapsed next to him and there were no words for long moments as we both basked in the afterglow, or so I thought. I should have known better.

“Does it always taste like that?” he asked.

“If this is your idea of pillow talk, it’s no wonder you couldn’t keep a woman very long,” I griped. “I don’t exactly have a wealth of experience to draw on, but I would imagine that part doesn’t get much better.”

“I was just thinking, if it’s true that you are what you eat, maybe those last two long johns and a little more wine would sweeten things up a little.” He kissed me on the cheek before jumping up and heading out of the room totally naked, that magnificent ass tempting me. “Don’t go anywhere.”

I was left with equal feelings of contentment and aggravation. Starsky was Starsky and I knew that making a life with him would be a never-ending adventure…a journey that I was thrilled to be starting.

I relaxed and was almost asleep when his warm, naked body blanketed me and chocolate-flavored lips covered mine.

“Now it’s my turn,” he growled. I shivered in anticipation as I gave myself up to whatever he had in mind. I knew I was finally safe, protected and loved…in his arms.

Never the end