“It’s like a treasure trail. Each time you find one you get a clue.”
Hutch looked at the note written in Starsky’s strange left-handed scrawl and dropped the envelope onto his desk.

“Each time you find one,” he read aloud. “Each time you find one what?”
He was about to throw the envelope away when a piece of red foil wrapping fluttered to the ground. Memories of childhood visits to the candy store with Amy came back to him.
As a child Hutch had spent more time with Amy than with his own mother. Mom was too busy running toy drives for deprived children or one of her other good causes to notice the loneliness of her own little boy. But Amy, the housekeeper, saw it and understood. She took the child for treats. His favorite treat was a visit to the candy store; the outings had the thrill of a visit to a forbidden realm because his parents disapproved of him eating too many sweet things. His mother spoke of the damage that sugar would do to his teeth; his father only allowed candy when Ken deserved it…and in his opinion that was not very often. Little Ken had suffered the miseries of braces for years (although as Amy said his teeth were straight enough) it was all part of the perfection thing. Hutch had tried to shake it off but the traces were always there. It was his obsession with perfection – trying to please his demanding father’s standards; terrified of failing – that provoked his guilt trips. If ever something happened to Starsky he blamed himself. His partner teased him gently about it. “Hey was it your fault I fell my bike when I was ten?”
The piece of foil was a wrapper from a Candy Kiss. He caught sight of the writing on the back of the message card….”I already ate the first one. S.”

Hutch set off on his quest.
“You’re my White Knight, you know that Blondie?” Starsky had said it when they finally got him to the hospital from the Italian restaurant where he’d been shot. Hutch had taken it to heart of course; vowing to protect his buddy at all times.
OK Hutchinson, time for the White Knight to go search his Holy Grail.

Out in the corridor he noticed another candy wrapper – and another note-card. “I’m two up on you now. S”

The third wrapper was on the passenger seat of his car. “Three. See you back at the apartment.”
At least Hutch knew where he had to look. He drove home wondering what Starsky might have in store for him. The Torino was nowhere in sight.

The fourth wrapper was stuck to the door handle. “Getting warmer.” He opened the door.

Starsky had put something in the oven and Hutch sniffed the air. He smelled the tempting aromas of fried onion and garlic and browned meat. There was another note on the counter “I just ate one more – the rest are for you if you can find them. Don’t look in the oven it needs to cook long and slow. S.”
Knowing Starsky, whatever was in the pot was not the only thing likely to be cooking slowly that night.

Hutch noticed the candy by the couch. He picked it up and read the note beside it. ‘This one’s fudge….I know your favorite flavors. S’. Hutch popped it in his mouth and savored the memory of Amy’s wonderful home-made fudge that was her Christmas treat for him every year. He looked around the silent apartment. Where is he?”

Then he understood. He just had to follow the trail. He took off his jacket and holster and started to look around for the next candy. The sixth candy was on the low table next to a glass of red wine. “Cheers; ready when you are. S.” Hutch ate the candy and picked up the glass. He sipped as he scanned the room looking for the next clue. It took him a while but then he spotted it on the floor, in front of the bedroom door. The note said “knock before entering. S.”
Hutch knocked gently on the door. He heard a scuffling sound and then Starsky’s muffled voice called “come on in lover.”
He opened the door. The room was bathed in the glow of candlelight. The eighth candy was on the pillow. “Get undressed. S.”
Munching the caramel centered candy, Hutch slipped into the bathroom to pee then returned to the bedroom and undressed; he was sure that Starsky was watching him and that gave him an extra thrill. When he turned to the bed again he noticed another candy on the bed.
“Turn out the light. S.”
Hutch lay on the bed and turned off the light.

“Have yourself a very merry Christmas…” Judy Garland’s voice filled the apartment.
The Christmas tree in the middle of the living room gave the only light; Starsky had dimmed all the lights while Hutch was in the bathroom.

On silent bare feet Starsky came into the room. His eyes were already accustomed to the darkness and he stopped to look at his lover stretched out on the bed. He smiled and walked across the room.
Hutch felt Starsky’s weight on the bed next to him. He started to turn to his partner but Starsky touched him gently on the arm and said “sssh, don’t move.”
Hutch lay still and waited. His heart was beating against his ribs and he felt as if it would burst out of its cage if Starsky didn’t make his move. Soft lips brushed his face. Starsky took Hutch’s lower lip between his teeth and sucked gently. Hutch’s hormones started sending alarm signals to his crotch. Starsky ran his fingers down Hutch’s chest; playing his ribs like the keys of a piano. Hutch groaned. He opened his mouth to protest and Starsky popped the tenth candy into it. “Bite the bullet babe.” He said softly.
Hutch chewed the candy and tried desperately not to think of what Starsky was going to do next. His spine seemed to go into spasm as Starsky started to gently knead and caress his balls. “Oh god Starsk…I can’t hold on much more.”
“Sssh.”
Hutch was fully engorged now – his cock was standing to attention awaiting its master’s orders, and its master was far from ready to allow it to fire. Starsky ran his finger along the underside of the little soldier. “My my, we are excited.”
“Starsky please….”
Starsky took Hutch into his mouth. He was sucking gently – exerting just enough pressure to make Hutch scream in desperation. Starsky’s tongue played with the highly sensitive and stimulated tip of Hutch’s cock – he pulled off his usual trick of pushing back the foreskin with his tongue and licking the exposed tip. Hutch couldn’t hold it back any longer. His whole being was surging through his cock. “Staaaaaaaaaarsk!” He came in a flood and Starsky withdrew his mouth in time to catch the full force in his hand. He raised his cupped hand to his lips and sipped. “Nectar, the drink of the gods.” He held his hand to Hutch’s lips. Hutch took a little and grinned. “That’s the first time I’ve tasted my own cum.”
“There’s a first time for everything lover. Do you remember the first time you had a candy kiss?”
“Oh yes…I remember; it was a strawberry cream.”
He heard a rustle of paper and Starsky lowered his face to meet Hutch’s upturned gaze.
He held the last candy between his lips and brought his lips into contact with Hutch’s mouth once again. Hutch started to take the candy and Starsky bit it in half as he did. He locked his mouth onto Hutch’s and they kissed a long strawberry- chocolate kiss.

“Starsky?” Hutch opened his eyes to see that it was two am.
“Mmmm?”
“Whatever you put in the oven – won’t it be burned?”
“No; it’s best cooked overnight.”
“Oh, long and slow – just like you.”
“That’s right; now go back to sleep or you won’t get any candy tomorrow.”
Hutch rolled over and dreamed sweet erotic dreams of the candy kisses he was going to give Starsky.