Part 2 – Chapter 32

The sun beat down during the afternoon of Monday. Starsky had woken early and had felt good, the residual aches and pains in his body having slid into the background. The cuts on his neck and arm were healing well and showed no further signs of infection and although he still tired fairly easily at least he wasn't sleeping for large parts of the day.

The brunet couldn't express his gratitude to both Juanita and Miguel Cortez. Neither was rich, in fact they seemed to exist on the borders of poverty and yet they shared their house and food with this relative stranger as though he were a close relative. In repayment, Starsky did what he could in the garage, and he took pleasure in the fact that while his mind seemed a painful blank, for some inexplicable reason he seemed able to remember how to piece the cars back together when they came in to be fixed. Several times during the occasions he was up to his elbows in car engine, the brunet had had flash backs of the same red car. It was big and shiny and he thought it had a white stripe along its side, but each time he concentrated on the thought, the familiar agonising pain would cut across his forehead and double him over with its intensity until he stopped. Eventually, Starsky learned not to think and instead just to go with his emotions. When he was under the hood of a car, he seemed to be at home and his hands seemed to know exactly what they were meant to do, and so he let them.

So, on that Monday, he got up from the sofa in the lean to, had a little breakfast and then walked into the garage. Miguel had gone up to Mesa Verde to buy new supplies for his work and had left a large pick up, rusty around the edges, but still able to work. Its hood was popped and Starsky opened it and gazed inside at the mechanical gubbins. Gently he started to probe the engine like a surgeon would probe a body. Slowly but surely the engine gave up its secrets and the brunet started to understand the problems, his hands working firmly and surely to solve the mechanical problems.

The curly haired man became lost in the game of fixing the car and time escaped him. Lunchtime came and went and still Starsky was intent on fixing the engine faults and it wasn't until five o'clock when Juanita came into the garage that Starsky stopped and looked up. The woman looked at him worriedly.

'Have you been here all day?'

The brunet looked up, suddenly aware that his back and chest ached like never before. With a hiss, he straightened, his legs now rubbery from standing for so long without a break.

'Guess I got carried away' he mumbled, wiping his hands on an oily rag.

'What is it with men and cars?' Juanita asked angrily. 'I take time and trouble to nurse you back to health and you pay more attention to a car!' With a toss of her black hair, the woman turned on her heel and marched stiff backed into the house while the brunet stared open mouthed at her retreating frame.

Slowly the curly haired man put the hood of the car down and tried to walk towards the house. But having bent over the hood of the car all that time had taken its toll on his healing body and he staggered, barely keeping his balance as he made it to the small patio surrounding the house. He grabbed for the chair on the patio and sagged down into it, groaning quietly as he put his head in his hands. Dammit, he'd done too much. Far too much, and yet the tiredness felt good – painful, but good. Starsky closed his eyes and tried to wait out the pains, but the ache was bone deep and he found himself moving and shifting to try to alleviate them.

'Dave? Are you alright?' Juanita's concerned voice sounded by his shoulder.

'Dunno…. Hurts.' he managed to gasp.

The woman put her hands on his overheated shoulders and started to kneed at the knotted muscles there, but the pressure was too intense and Starsky yelped in pain. Juanita stopped and came to kneel in front of him.

'I'm sorry. I should not have lost my temper. You were only helping. What can I do for you?'

'Jeez, I don't know. I ache like nuthin else. Feel shattered. M'sorry.' The brunet muttered.

The young woman stood up. 'I know what will make you feel better. Wait there, I will be back soon.' She left Starsky on the patio and rushed inside and he could hear her clattering about in the living room and beyond. She must have been gone for at least a quarter of an hour and during that time, the curly haired man's muscles burned and seized up and he felt like he was dying.

Eventually Juanita reappeared and gently helped Starsky to his feet. His back had completely seized up and he had difficulty straightening and he shuffled behind her into the small bedroom at the back of the cottage like an old man. There, he saw the same old tin bath that they'd used to cool him over a week ago, but this time it was filled with hot soapy water and the woman walked around behind him and started to peel of his shirt.

'I can do it' Starsky rasped, not unkindly.

'I know, but you're exhausted. Let me help. Or do you not wish me to be here?'

The brunet snorted huskily. 'Honey right now I wouldn't care if the whole Mormon Tabernacle Choir were here. I couldn't raise a smile let alone anything else.'

Juanita smiled. 'But it's amazing what a refreshing bath can do. I'll let you get undressed and soak.' The woman left and Starsky managed to peel off his pants and stagger over to the tub. He got himself in and with a few groans and a quiet hiss he lowered himself into the hot water. It felt so good on his overworked muscles and with a sigh, the brunet lay back in the water and closed his eyes. The soap bit at those wounds that still hadn't healed fully, but the caress of the warm water was more sensual that that of any lover and slowly but surely, Starsky felt his knotted and tired muscles relax as he kept his eyes closed and breathed deeply and easily.

How long he stayed that way he did not know, but suddenly he was aware of another person in the room and he cracked one deep blue eye open, shifting self consciously in the bath as Juanita walked in and knelt by the side of the tub.

'Um…. I can do that' Starsky muttered as the woman soaped a large soft sponge and started to rub at his chest.

'Let me do it for you' she said simply. 'Its nothing I haven't seen before. You were very sick for a few days.'

'Well yeah, but I was well out of it then. I couldn't um…. complain.'

She smiled shyly. 'Are you complaining now?' she asked, the sponge heading dramatically southward.

Starsky squeaked and unsuccessfully turned it into a cough and his hand grabbed for the sponge.

'Not complainin', no. But um…. Well I'm not used to women giving me baths – I don't think – and um….'

'Um?' Juanita asked with an intent look in her eye.

'Um, if you keep on doin' that honey, I can't be held responsible for my actions.'

She smiled again, her whole face lighting up. 'And what actions would those be Dave?'

'These' Starsky said, grabbing the woman round her waist and pulling her bodily into the tub with him. She yelped and batted at him with soapy hands, splashing the water over the side of the tub. 'Noo! I'm all wet' she said, trying to push herself back from him.

'Uh huh. That's what baths do for ya. You know what's supposed to happen now?'

'No.'

'Well now, we get out of the tub and towel each other dry.'

She looked at him curiously. 'That doesn't sound too exciting.'

'Depends where you towel' he growled with a grin.

Together they managed to lever themselves out of the bath and before Juanita could protest, Starsky had gathered the wet woman up into his arms and carried her over to the bed. Her wet blouse clung to her body, her nipples peeping out darkly through the white cotton and her skirt clinging to her legs. She looked up at the brunet with trust in her eyes as he grabbed a towel and started to rub her legs gently.

'Dave, I…. you don't have to do this' she said in a small voice.

'Don't have to….. hey who's forcing me. Unless you want me to stop' Starsky stopped and looked down at her, suddenly shy in case he'd made a huge mistake. The girl's eyelids drooped and she looked up at him coyly.

'It's not that I don't want you to. It's just…. I'm not one of your American girls Dave. We are a small village and I have lived here all my life. I've…. I've never been with a man before, not this way' she blushed and looked away, trying to straighten her skirt. Starsky sat down by her side, naked but not ashamed of his nakedness. Gently he picked her up and held her to him, nuzzling his face into her neck.

'I'm so sorry honey. I never meant to force you. I shouldn't have…..'

'You didn't do anything. I know what I'm doing. I just wanted to tell you that I'm a …. well I'm not experienced.'

'But you still want to….?'

'With you, yes. You're kind and gentle and I know you wouldn't hurt me.'

Starsky felt a lump grow in his throat and he kissed the woman gently on her lips. 'No, I won't hurt you' he said softly. 'As long as you're sure…'

'Oh yes' she breathed as she felt his hands on her body. Gently he unbuttoned her blouse and pushed it from her shoulders, exposing her breasts and Starsky bent to kiss them, licking gently at her pink nipples. Juanita sighed beneath him and lifted her hips as he deftly helped her out of her skirt until she lay before him naked and waiting.

Starsky lay down beside her, holding her and stroking her arm and the side of her neck until the woman relaxed. Knowing how important it was to take it slowly, Starsky dotted little kisses along the line of her jaw, ending with his mouth covering hers. She moaned into his moth and her hands started to work at the muscles of his back, running her fingers down his spine from neck to the top of his butt. As Starsky continued kissing and nuzzling at Juanita's neck, she reached down and took a handful of butt on each hand, kneading them and eliciting a groan of contentment from the brunet. He stopped his ministrations and gazed at her.

'Woman you are beautiful' he murmured.'

'And you are handsome Senior. More handsome than any man I have seen before.' her hand reached down between then hesitantly and hovered just above Starsky's waiting cock. Gently he took her wrist and guided her to him, feeling her fingers close around him as he shook, her body testing his powers of control to its limits. Slowly. But with increasing confidence, she started to stroke at his shaft, feeling him warm and hard in her hand and while she brought moans of enjoyment from him, Starsky guided his hand between her legs and dipped into the core of her body. Juanita stiffened for a second before relaxing as his fingers played her body and brought such joy as she'd never thought possible.

Pretty soon, Starsky knew he wouldn't be able to hold out much longer and quietly he whispered in her ear 'Are you ready honey? Are you absolutely sure?'

Beneath him, she nodded her eyes sparkling as he manoeuvred himself between her legs, Raising up on his elbows her looked into her eyes. 'It may hurt' he said softly.

'I know. Please…. Take care of me.'

With a sigh, the brunet lowered his body to the girls and she hitched a breath as she felt him push at her opening. Forcing herself to relax, she allowed him to push just inside and there Starsky rested a moment, giving her time to adjust to his bulk. He gritted his teeth against the urge to push further in, knowing that he mustn't hurt her, but the pressure was increasing and slowly he guided himself further inside. There was a moment's resistance and Juanita gave a small cry before he was seated right inside her. Gently he started to move in and out and the girl started to move her hips in time with him.

Their pace picked up until they were dancing to the same tune and Starsky could feel the build up of tension in the centre of his body. Still he refused to allow himself to give full reign to his feelings, wanting this to be a special time for the girl. Finally he felt her stomach muscles contract and her body sucked him more deeply inside her. Knowing she was close, the brunet gave one final push and allowed himself release just as Juanita's body arched up against him and she cried out his nae, her hands clawing at the sheets on the bed.

Finally she relaxed and the brunet rolled off her onto his side, stroking a strand of hair from her damp forehead. Juanita opened her eyes and smiled at him.

'Thank you' she whispered.

Starsky grinned. 'Believe me honey. The pleasure was all mine.'