Seven Silver Handcuffs
Starsky slipped out of bed and looked at his partner sleeping. The words of the old Leonard Cohen song drifted through his mind…”your hair upon the pillow like a sleeping golden stone.” Well his lover certainly slept like a rock!
He went into the kitchen and started the coffee. He set the oven to warm the bagels that he had brought home from the bakery the night before. He set a tray with butter and honey and blueberry jelly and padded into the living room. He carefully opened the drawer of his desk and took out the small package that he had so lovingly prepared a few days earlier when he had the place to himself. He looked at it with pride. It was wrapped in red paper and had an elegant gold cord around it. He put it on the tray alongside the coffee and sweet rolls and plates and cups and carried it back to the bedroom.
It was a beautiful morning; he threw back the drapes eliciting a moan of despair from the sleeper.
“Come on sleepy head; it's Christmas and Santa seems to think you've been good.”
Hutch opened one eye. “He wasn't in here last night was he?”
“Only us. But I'm one of his official little helpers and I reported back in your favor.”
Hutch sat up. “It was good wasn't it?”
Starsky dipped his finger in the honey and licked slowly it with half closed eyes; “very good.” He slipped back under the covers and pulled the tray towards them.
Hutch focused on the tray and swore inwardly. He'd left Starsky's gift over at his place – but on the other hand maybe that wasn't too bad. He decided to find a way of luring his partner over to Venice later that day. It shouldn't be too difficult to do.
Starsky poured coffee and started to butter half a bagel. He spooned a little of the blueberry jelly onto it and held it out to his partner.
Hutch went to take it and Starsky pulled his hand back smiling. “Oh I get it.” Hutch grinned and he opened his mouth to be fed. Some of the jelly fell on his bare chest and Starsky leaned forward to lick it off.
“Don't start now Starsk? We'll spill the coffee!”
His lover lifted his curly head and nodded solemnly. “Yeah.”
Starsky prepared the other half of the bagel for himself dripping honey onto each bite with a spoon. They munched in silence and drank the whole pot of coffee.
“Aren't you going to open it?”
“Huh?”
“Your gift dummie, aren't you going to open it?”
Hutch blushed slightly and stammered; “I- uh – I – uh…”
“Just open it. Hey you can give me my voucher for a tree or whatever later.”
Hutch grinned. “You never forgave me for that one did you?”
“No more than you forgave me for the ant colony!” They laughed and Hutch ruffled Starsky's wild curls. He gazed into the deep blue eyes that held so much mystery and yet spoke so eloquently when they had to. “I love you.”
“I know. Now open the gift before I change my mind.”
Hutch turned the little elegant package over in his hand; he shook it – but heard nothing to reveal its contents. Starsky grinned and encouraged him with a near-imperceptible movement of his eyes.
Hutch carefully undid the cord bow and unfolded the paper, marveling at how his friend could make a package like this without using scotch tape. He always had to ask the sales assistants to wrap his gifts – and this time he hadn't even had the chance to do that.
The paper slid off to reveal the kind of leather box that jewelry comes in. He glanced at Starsky who was sitting sipping the dregs of his coffee and deadpanning.
Hutch opened the box and whistled.
“Starsky it's beautiful.”
“I designed it myself.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. I found this little silversmith workshop over in Santa Monica and they made it for me. If it's not a good fit they can add to it.”
Hutch tried it on. The bracelet made of seven tiny pairs of handcuffs fitted his wrist perfectly.
He leaned over and kissed Starsky full and hard on the mouth.
Starsky returned the compliment and before they could stop themselves the empty coffee pot and the contents of the tray fell off the bed. By then the two lovers were oblivious to the mess.