Knights & Cookies

Knights & Cookies

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Knights & Cookies Scanning, uploading and/or Distribution of this book via the Internet, print, audio recordings or any other means, without the permission of the Publisher, is illegal and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, events and characters are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Knights And Cookies Copyright©2005 J.J. Massa ISBN 1-4116-7185-6 Jan 2006 Cover art and design by Nix Winter All rights reserved. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation. Published by Yaoi Tales 2005 www.yaoitales.com Kindness given for the sake of giving heals the soul.

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Knights & Cookies

Knights and Cookies J.J. Massa

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Knights & Cookies

Dedication: To Nix Winter, I love you with all my heart. But you knew that.

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Knights & Cookies Chapter One The cafeteria was full when the door opened to admit the thin and diminutive young man. When he entered the room and all conversation stopped, there was an imperceptible break in his pace as he continued towards the buffet line. Collecting a tray of food, he crossed to a table. “May I join you?” He asked in his soft European accent. The two men at the table looked up. “Sorry we’re expecting a couple more people here,” they replied looking just beyond him. He went towards another table and met with rejection again. Galahad watched as group after group turned him away. “Why the cold shoulder?” He asked the curvy blond sitting with him. She smiled at him. “Oh! That’s the Russian. You know Professor Ela... whatever. I don't think anyone really wants him here.” He frowned at her in disbelief. “The University President wants him here. The Board of Trustees wants him here. What's wrong with him?” he asked, incredulous “You haven't met him?” she asked, focused on him. Galahad shook his head slowly. “I was away at my brother’s wedding during the summer break.” He looked at her waiting.

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Knights & Cookies “Well besides being a Soviet, he has no social graces and he dresses like a street person,” she said, her voice sounding a bit shrewish. Galahad saw another table refuse to let him join them and he looked around, doing a quick survey of the room. Nothing made him angrier to see someone ostracized like that. And to do such a thing because of the man’s nationality was unconscionable. He raised his hand and waved the younger man over to his table. He suppressed a laugh at the twin expressions of surprise on the young man’s and the woman’s faces. He looked at the fine-boned European, assessing. The brown rumpled suit he wore looked like someone’s castoffs – someone much larger. His straight hair was a dark red-gold color and to call it mussed would have been an understatement. “May I join you?” he repeated the same request to Galahad and his date that he had made of the other diners. “Please do,” Galahad stood and extended his hand when the young man had lowered his tray to the table. He heard a choking noise from the girl still seated, but ignored her. “Galahad Miller,” he introduced himself, his mouth forming a wry smile when the other man’s lip twitched. His rugged good looks garnered him plenty of attention but his name always drew more. “Is your father’s name “Lancelot”?” the smaller man asked, taking the proffered hand and shaking it. 6

Knights & Cookies “It is,” Galahad nodded with a long suffering sigh, though he couldn’t help but grin at the wide smile that softened the younger man’s face. For once he was glad to be named after the famous knight of the round table. “My friends call me G,” he finished. “Vanko Elaschuk,” the other man presented himself. His hand felt small and soft in G’s much larger, callused mitt. “I teach Bio-Chemistry and have some research projects going on in Science Department,” he explained. “I am from Crimea State Medical University in Ukraine.” “I’m the chief of security here for DeLane University,” he turned to introduce the lovely young woman lunching with him. “This is Stephanie Warren, she works in the Registrar’s office.” The blonde woman inclined her head and moved her mouth in what could have charitably been called a smile. “Pleasure,” she murmured, making it sound anything but. Vanko sat down across from them and began to apply himself to his very full lunch tray. He had three sandwiches, two pieces of fruit and two cartons of milk as well as a slice of devil’s food cake and a piece of cherry pie. “Are you afraid you’ll never get to eat again, Professor Ela… Professor?” Stephanie said with a smirk, nudging Galahad. Vanko’s face flushed and he dipped his head mumbling, “I had early -- small breakfast.” Galahad was surprised and angry at the woman’s 7

Knights & Cookies behavior. The other man quickly washed the remainder of his first sandwich down with one of the cartons of milk and rose from the table, lifting his mostly full tray. “Professor, please stay and finish your lunch,” Galahad said, placing a hand on his forearm. “I must go,” he answered, not lifting his head. “I have business to attend. I thank you for your company.” Galahad watched as Vanko stopped at the cashier’s counter and requested a bag, placing his leftover food into it haphazardly. His first impulse was to jump up and go after the young man. He turned to Stephanie. “What was that all about?” he asked, confused and more than a little angry. “I just wish he’d go on back to Russia,” she pouted. “Why are you being so nice to him, anyway?” “He isn’t from Russia, he’s from the Ukraine – it’s not part of the Soviet Union any longer,” he looked hard at her wondering what he’d seen in her that he’d been after her to go out with him in the first place. “Well, it’s all the same,” she huffed, flouncing back into her chair. “Is that why you were so rude to him? So he’ll go back home?” he asked with a half smile, no warmth anywhere to be found. “I wasn’t rude and besides, we don’t need him here,” she 8

Knights & Cookies pouted. “We were supposed to have lunch together. We haven’t even discussed what time you’re picking me up tomorrow night,” she whined. “About that,” he pushed his chair back, suddenly wanting nothing more than to get as far away from her as possible. “I’m afraid something’s come up. I’ll have to cancel,” he informed her, no regret in evidence on his face or in his voice. He reached down and patted her arm, standing at the same time. “G,” she objected, annoyed. “What night did you have in mind to reschedule? I might be busy you know,” she said archly. He shrugged, backing away. “It’s a chance I’ll have to take,” he told her. “I’ll just call you sometime,” he called over his shoulder, turning and walking quickly away. <<>> Fighting despair, Vanko tossed his bag of lunch randomly onto a high table and shrugged out of his shabby suit jacket. Tugging at the knot of his frayed tie, he scooped up his white lab coat pulled it on. The only solace he’d ever found had been in the pages of his books or through the lens of a microscope. With that in mind, Vanko slipped his thick horn-rimmed glasses up onto his nose and slid onto an elevated stool. Determined to forget his unpleasant lunch, he began leafing through a stack of project notes. So engrossed was he in his quest to establish whether 9

Knights & Cookies reduction of metal contaminants is mediated principally by direct, enzymatic reduction or by geochemical reduction dependent on products of microbial metabolism that he didn’t notice anyone entering his lab. “That’s a good look for you,” he heard Galahad say, causing him to startle and bump the high-powered microscope at his elbow. “Gospodi pomiluy!” Vanko sputtered in surprise and alarm. He saw Galahad’s questioning eyebrow and translated, “Means-- ahh,” he reached for the right words, thinking hard, “Lord give mercy,” he supplied finally. “Here we say, “Damn! You scared me!” or words to that effect,” Galahad smiled wryly. “I noticed you didn’t finish your lunch,” he went on, his deep voice smooth and melodic. “No,” Vanko looked down at the counter and back up at him, feeling anxious suddenly. “Am no more hungry,” he explained, wrestling the unfamiliar language. “Articles,” Galahad blurted with a self-satisfied grin on his face. Vanko shook his head in confusion. “You’re leaving the articles out of your speech,” he proclaimed proudly. “I did learn something in English class after all. And it makes you sound foreign.” “Americans do not like foreign things then,” Vanko stated sadly. “And so,” he shrugged fatalistically. “I am foreign.” When he thought about it at all, he’d thought that 10

Knights & Cookies Americans did like things and people who were different. He was obviously very wrong. “Americans like all kinds of things, both foreign and… and domestic,” Galahad proclaimed. “Like beer!” his chuckle was rich and deep. Vanko wanted to hear it again. “But you, my Ukrainian friend, are a discerning man who always likes to do things the proper way,” Galahad declared, sliding an arm across Vanko’s shoulders. He was absurdly pleased that Galahad had made such a judgment about him. And this big American man had called him friend! He worked to keep the giddy smile from his face as he looked up at the security chief. “Is proper if I publish article?” he asked, making his eyes wide and confused-looking. “Shall I call newspaper?” A deep baritone laugh rang across the large and empty laboratory and Vanko felt warm all over. The heat of a blush burned up his face when the big man’s arm and hand tightened along his back and shoulder drawing him closer in what could only be termed a hug. “I’ll help you,” Galahad promised, sliding him off the tall stool so that he was standing. As he continued talking, he slid the lab coat off of Vanko’s thin shoulders and tossed it aside. “There’s a little poem I learned that you can remember.” “What poem? You are undressing me!” he squeaked, alarmed. 11

Knights & Cookies There was that rich chuckle again. It was like hot cider on cold nights or a crackling fire fed from fragrant oak making Vanko feel safe and warm. “I was for a second,” Galahad laughed, tapping Vanko’s nose with one long finger. “Now, I’m dressing you again.” He held the rumpled old suit coat up so that Vanko could thread his arms through the sleeves. Vanko turned and slid his arms into the coat, freezing when he felt Galahad’s warm length pressed behind him, large hands cupping his shoulders. “Let’s get you fed and comfortable,” the big man said, his breath tickling Vanko’s ear as it stirred the hair there. “We’ll see about undressing you another time, hmmm?” Before Vanko could answer, the big hands squeezed slightly and the warmth was gone from behind him. “How about we go split a pizza?”

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Two Foxtails, baby foxes tails! That’s what Vanko’s hair reminded him of. It was soft and sleek and maybe a little fluffy. Galahad had wanted to rub his face in that feather satin drift and never come up. He glanced over at his companion who fidgeted at a table while Galahad ordered the pizza and beer. The young man’s eyes darted around the room with open curiosity as he took in every detail. Maybe he’d never been to an American bar before? Vanko was, Galahad couldn’t deny it, he was beautiful. So pale, his soft skin was nearly translucent, though the dimmer light in the bar gave it a hint of golden color. His velvety hair was a shade darker than a fox’s ear. His cheekbones were high and elegant, his jaw firm, and those intriguing violet eyes were set at a fascinating slant. Although Vanko was slightly built, Galahad had felt the whipcord muscles under his hands as he’d helped him with his coat. The Ukrainian’s skin had been soft when he’d brushed that aristocratic nose with his fingertip. G shook his head and grinned sheepishly at Vanko, walking the short distance across the pub, a pitcher of beer and two glasses in hand. What must the young man think of him, he wondered. He’d approached him in friendship and now managed to keep his hands to himself only with difficulty. “Have you ever had American beer, Vanko?” G asked, 13

Knights & Cookies filling the two frosty mugs from the pitcher he’d brought. “Is same as Budweiser?” Vanko asked, squirming in his seat like a child eager for dessert. “Exactly,” Galahad agreed, ridiculously pleased at the younger man’s enthusiasm. “Ah, but we were going to talk about articles, weren’t we?” he reminded Vanko, sliding a frothing mug of beer in front of him. “Yes,” Vanko smiled shyly. “You have poem, you said.” “Here goes,” Galahad sat up straight and folded his hands on the lacquered wooden table in front of him. He cleared his throat as if to orate a soliloquy, “Three little words you often see are articles: a, an, and the. Thank you. Thank you very much.” “Bravo! Encore!” Vanko applauded enthusiastically, clapping and cheering. “Thank you,” Galahad grinned, taking a sip of his beer. He said nothing for several minutes but finally, his curiosity overruled his common sense – he had to know. “So, Vanko…” Vanko looked at him expectantly over the rim of his mug. “Yes?” he encouraged as he took a mouthful of the icy beer. “Do you date men or women? Are you gay or straight?” G blurted in a rush. Vanko choked on his beer, coughing, sputtering, and fighting to breathe. Galahad shot to his feet and rushed around the table catching his thin wrists in one hand and pulling them above his head, rubbing small circles on his back with the other. 14

Knights & Cookies As Galahad bent over the younger man who had turned against him, coughing and wheezing, he reveled in the sweet smell of him, clean, pure, and soft. His suit may have been old and rumpled but he was obviously very fastidious. “You okay?” Galahad asked after several long seconds as the choking noises subsided. Vanko nodded. “Good, that’s good,” he said, releasing the limp young professor and moving back to his chair. “Napkin?” He held out a few white squares to him, noting his still streaming eyes. Finally breathing normally again, Vanko looked across at Galahad. “Americans are very blunt, are they not?” G shrugged. Yes the question had been blunt but he still wanted an answer. “So? Which are you?” he persisted. Vanko looked at him intently, bringing his index finger to his mouth and chewing on the tip, no doubt considering how best to answer. Galahad wouldn’t blame him if he chose not to answer at all. At last he cast his violet gaze to the tabletop and muttered, “I am nothing.” Raising his eyes to G’s he restated, “I am nothing, neither one nor the other.” Vanko moved as if to rise from the table but the server delivered the pizza at the same time that Galahad reached over and placed a hand on his wrist. “Don’t go, please,” he entreated, softening his plea with a smile. “You don’t have to be anything at all. It was very rude of 15

Knights & Cookies me to ask you that,” he apologized, giving Vanko his best soulful look. “Stay and have pizza with me?” Vanko offered him a crooked smile. “I am rather hungry,” he confessed. Galahad laughed out loud, whether in relief or actual amusement, he couldn’t have said.

Chapter Three The next afternoon, Vanko was lost in a happy fog as he walked from his auditorium style classroom and lecture hall to his laboratory. He’d left several gel slices of viral stock and recombinant proteins on slide trays, having treated them with various chemicals, and he was anxious to inspect the results. He’d been distracted all morning thinking about his dinner with Galahad the night before. He’d had good dreams and woken in a good mood. For some reason, he’d found himself glancing at the door every so often and had to struggle to stop that. As he was nearing his building, he noticed a small crowd gathered at the entrance. “Can you believe it happened here, right under everyone's noses?” he heard a woman say. Another piped up, “How did they get in there anyway?” A disdainful sniff. “Doesn't say much about our own security does it? 16

Knights & Cookies “How bad is it?” one young man asked another as Vanko pushed through the crowd. “Well, I heard everything was ruined,” the female voice answered. Vanko pushed and shoved through the milling crowd as best he could and finally made his way to the door. His heart pounding, he elbowed his way through the door and when he saw Galahad standing there, he halted and took a good look around. The lab had been vandalized. Shattered glass was all over the floor. Even though he was stunned, Vanko couldn’t miss the fact that Galahad held one young man by the arm and two more were being handcuffed by local policemen. He was thinking about how handsome the other man was in his cold anger when Galahad looked up. “This is Dr. Elaschuk and he’ll have to be the one to direct the clean up,” he stated in a clipped voice, striding over to Vanko. Confused by this frigid anger seemingly directed at him, Vanko’s glance took in the policemen. “Entire area here is,” he waved his hand in front of him, searching for the right words. “Is contaminated area,” he supplied. “Many virus samples on slides,” he nodded at the broken glass and ruined microscope on the floor. Vanko turned toward the area that he thought of has his office area. The counters were bare, everything had been thrown to the floor, and if it hadn't shattered, it had been trampled on. In 17

Knights & Cookies between the shards of glass and pieces of metal were thousands of tiny pieces of paper. Taking in the horrific vandalism, Vanko had never felt more desolate and alone. This was no random act of violence. It was purposeful and directed right at him. Someone wanted to make a point by not leaving a single thing whole or useable in the entire lab. He noticed that a tarp had been taped to the wall and moved to it, dodging under Galahad’s outstretched hand to do it. He stopped in front of the wide tarp and reached out to tug on it. In huge black letters someone had spray painted two words on the wall: Go home. Simply that. Squatting, he reached down and picked up pieces to his microscope. “Nothing can be saved,” he murmured, dropping the shattered convex mirror that he’d blindly picked up. A wave of sadness swept over him and he started toward the door. Head down, he was moving quickly when Galahad stepped in front of him and gripped his upper arm in an iron hard clasp. Without a word, he led Vanko into the adjacent laboratory classroom and closed the door behind them. In a graceful half turn, Galahad reached forward and gathered Vanko against him. Taken aback, Vanko at first didn’t move but stood rigid in the larger man’s embrace. “This is not all right, Vanko. I can't tell you how sorry I am,” he murmured into his hair. “I’m so 18

Knights & Cookies sorry.” The words seemed rip through him, taking with them his wobbly stoicism and he crumpled against Galahad, shaking. Vanko clung to the big security chief as if he were his only port in the choppy waters he found himself. His arms around the bigger man, he allowed himself to rest and enjoy the safety he’d found in this cruel new country. For all that America had been presented to him as a shining example of freedom, Vanko felt trapped and hunted and frightened inside. After what felt like an hour but was surely only a few minutes, Galahad pulled back, shocking him by cupping his face in one broad palm and pressing his lips against Vanko’s forehead in a kiss. “Come on, let’s wrap this up and I’ll take you home,” he told him gently.

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Four Galahad knew the younger man was functioning on autopilot and that was fine with him. He guided Vanko back out into the main lab and allowed the other officers to question him briefly while he finished securing the area. By law, the university had to have a team equipped and trained in biohazard clean up so Galahad and Vanko waited for them to appear. By the time Vanko had explained the nature of the chemicals and viruses to the crew, the sun was setting behind the campus’ stately administrative buildings. Appearing paler and more translucent than he had seemed the day before, the wraithlike young man silently followed wherever Galahad lead in a dazed state. Mutely Vanko slid into the front seat of G’s sports car and sat unmoving as they drove away. Although Vanko lived on campus, Galahad decided to take him to his own home in a neighboring town. Certain that Vanko wouldn’t rest well so close to the scene of the violence against him, he was equally positive that he’d be worried every minute if he let the diminutive professor out of his sight. “You hungry, Vanko?” Galahad asked, unlocking the door to let them in. “Ni spasybi,” he mumbled, stumbling into the other man. “You’re all tuckered out, aren’t you?” G cooed in a soothing voice. He felt like he was calming an injured animal. 20

Knights & Cookies “Here, come in here and take a shower. I’ll leave some clothes out for you. You can take a little nap and I’ll get us some grub. How’s that sound?” “Sound?” he looked blankly up at G. “Okh, zvuchaty, sound. Is good. Spasybi,” still staring at Galahad almost vacantly he translated, “means thank you.” G smiled and squeezed his shoulder, turning to lead the younger man down the hall to the bathroom. “When you’re done, just come on in here and lay down for a while. I’ll shower and fix some supper and come back and get you, okay?” “Dobre,” he colored and mumbled, “is good.” Galahad showed Vanko how to operate his temperamental shower controls and tossed a pair of old sweat pants and a tee shirt onto the bed. When the shower went off and all was quiet for several minutes, he peeked into the shadowy room and located the huddled lump of Ukrainian in the middle of his bed. Wanting nothing more than to join the sleeping man, he forced himself from the doorway. Quietly he retreated to take his own shower, dressing in a pair of sweats and a tee shirt that he’d had in his laundry room. He cast one last worried glance at the other man curled in a fetal position under his covers and left for some errands. <<>> “Vanko!” Galahad called from the living room. “Come 21

Knights & Cookies and eat!” He’d left the traumatized professor to sleep while he had gone out and gotten them some sandwiches and vodka, thinking that maybe the ethnic alcohol would make Vanko feel more at home. He’d popped the bottle into the freezer and left it there awhile, cutting the sandwiches and organizing them on a plate with other finger foods. Hearing a noise behind him as he lifted the tray of food, he nearly dropped their little feast. Vanko stood in the kitchen doorway dressed only in G’s simple white tee shirt, absurdly large on his slim body, covering him to his knees. His feet and arms were bare and Galahad could see the flush of sleep still pink on his face. Desire whipped through him in zips and zings of electric heat. He wanted badly to wrap both arms around his defenseless little genius and nuzzle his face into that tousled nest of soft hair. Instead he grabbed the plates and nodded toward the vodka and glasses he’d left on the counter. “Grab that will you?” he smiled, and fighting the urge to lick his lips and pounce, he led the way into the living room. Both were silent for long minutes as they ate their way through sandwiches, chips, and finally several chocolate chip cookies apiece, washing the odd assortment of food down with first ice water and then chilled vodka. Halfway through their eclectic repast, Galahad got up and turned on some smooth jazz to 22

Knights & Cookies accompany their meal. For a while, the two men sat and enjoyed the music, sipping at the cold vodka with each keeping his own counsel. Again and again, G found himself looking over at his guest, admiring the sweep of his burnt red lashes against those high and delicate cheekbones, admiring the play light in that soft strawberry red mane. “You’re looking at me,” Vanko whispered. “A lot.” His skin is flushed and pink. I wonder if it feels warm. Galahad reached out and laid the back of his hand against Vanko’s soft cheek. “I like looking at you,” he murmured. Yes, his skin does feel warmer. Vanko shifted slightly as Galahad caressed his cheek. “You’ve never been attracted to anyone?” G asked, inching closer on the wide couch. “Ever?” “Toy niyakyy, um, no one,” Vanko gasped, beginning to shake slightly but otherwise sitting very still. “No one?” Galahad murmured leaning still closer. “No one’s touch has ever made you tremble?” he asked, feeling it, knowing that he was causing that reaction in Vanko now. “No, no one,” Vanko said again, pressing his face against G’s large hand. G leaned forward a little more so that his lips just barely brushed Vanko’s forehead, his breath stirring the satin strands nearby. “You’ve never shivered at the feel of another person’s hot 23

Knights & Cookies breath on your skin?” Galahad purred low against the smooth flesh. “No, no one,” Vanko whispered, shivering now. “Are you cold?” Galahad asked and Vanko shook his head, barely. “So you’ve never kissed before?” he asked, sliding his arms around the quaking, t-shirt clad professor and pulling him closer. Vanko’s bright violet eyes were round and wide as he looked, almost pleading into G’s own dark gray gaze. “Can I kiss you now, Vanko?” he asked pressing his lips to the other man’s temple and feeling his racing pulse. “I don’t know how,” Vanko choked nervously. “I’ll do it wrong. You won’t like it.” “Shhh, it’s okay,” he wrapped both arms more tightly around the anxious form. “I’ll take care of everything, okay?” “Tak, yes, okay,” Vanko stirred against him restlessly, angling his head back a little to keep eye contact. Slowly, Galahad leaned down and covered Vanko’s soft, trembling lips with his own. “Mmmm,” he groaned against that beautiful mouth, brushing his lips back and forth and just learning the feel of it. Hungry, hard, overwhelmed, awestruck, Galahad was all of those things as he deepened the kiss, lightly touching his tongue to the seam of Vanko’s closed lips. He lathed that full lower lip with his questing tongue gently prodding it. 24

Knights & Cookies Vanko opened his mouth just a little and Galahad eased his seeking tongue into the other man’s sweet depths, tasting him, sucking on his tongue; exploring the mouth under his own. Oh, Vanko was floating. He’d never felt like this before. Just the touch of the other man’s mouth, lips, and now his tongue – Vanko felt weightless, boneless. Something like electricity flashed through him, causing his nipples to tighten. That was bad enough but now, now he felt himself getting hard between his legs. Oh no! What would Galahad think? He would be … he would be disgusted, wouldn’t he? Frantically, he pulled away, frightened and mortified. Hating to lose the warmth but sure he was going to lose so much more than that. “Sorry, am sorry, so sorry,” he babbled as he squirmed away from Galahad. One hand covered his betraying genitals as, with the other, he felt behind him, scooting away, sliding off the couch and backing across the room. “Vanko?” Galahad was on his feet now, a frown creasing his brow. “What’s wrong, Vanko? Did I hurt you?” “No,” Vanko denied, backed against the wall, and in his fear, thankfully, his hardness had seeped away. “Is me. So sorry.” He wanted to cry, he felt so bad. It had all been so wonderful and now, now he’d ruined it. There was no way that Galahad hadn’t felt Vanko’s erection poking his leg. He had no doubt about it. 25

Knights & Cookies Galahad moved to stand in front of him, tilting his chin up with the tips of his fingers. “What happened, Vanko?” he asked, not angry, just concerned. A large thumb swept his cheek in a caress and Vanko bit his lip. Surely he would disgust Galahad when he confessed, but he would, there was nothing else for it. “It was hard,” he mumbled, trying to turn his face away. He felt the heat surge up his neck and burn his cheeks. Galahad’s large hand cupped his jaw, gently but firmly turning Vanko’s face back to him. “Hard?” he asked, waiting. “Um, cholen,” he said, waving a hand below his waist. A dark brow arched above one of Galahad’s confused eyes. “My, um, my sex, it was hard.” And oh, how he wished he could just die, right there on that spot, pressed up against the wall in Galahad’s small living room. “Oh, Vanko,” Galahad sighed, sliding his arms around him and gathering him close. “You have no idea. You just have no idea about all this, do you?” Vanko tipped his head back to look up at the taller man, his eyes filling now. How he hated that, but Galahad was right, he just didn’t know. And now, now Galahad knew exactly how much he didn’t know.

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Five What Galahad might have replied was pushed aside by the ringing of the phone. He felt like swearing. Instead, he dropped a kiss on the silky hair dusting Vanko’s forehead, patted one firm, round bottom cheek covered by his enveloping t-shirt, and turned to answer the demanding instrument. “Miller,” he snapped into the telephone. “Sir,” it was Officer Alvarez from campus security. “There’s a problem. Is Dr. Elaschuk there with you?” “He is,” Galahad gritted. “What seems to be the problem, Officer Alvarez?” “Sir, there’s been an… incident. We need to see him at his quarters here on campus.” The younger officer’s voice sounded strained and G, though he was close to the very end of his patience due to this intrusion, managed to get himself under control. “What is it?” he asked. “Um, sir, its … unless Dr. Elaschuk is a really bad housekeeper, his home has been vandalized. I really can’t go into details,” the nervous man hedged. “That’s fine, Alvarez. We’ll be there in about ten minutes, all right?” He dreaded telling Vanko that there had another incident, but he had no choice. Best to just get it over with. “Thank you, sir,” Alvarez sighed, sounding entirely too much like he’d dodged a bullet. 27

Knights & Cookies Galahad turned to look at Vanko. The young professor stood against the wall, arms angled a little and palms pressed to the paneling. The look on his face said clearly that he knew something was wrong and that it had to do with him. “Vanko,” Galahad said gently, “That was campus security.” Vanko nodded, braced for the worst it seemed. “You… your house,” he sighed, “we need to go over there.” Those wide violet eyes seemed to take up his entire face. “Is broken, yes? Is because me? Is I am foreign and not domestic,” he said with certainty. “No, Vanko, no,” he wanted to hold the smaller man, hug him, make everything better. That thought brought him up short. What the hell was wrong with him? He barely knew this man and he wasn’t equipped to deal with his needs, he just wasn’t. He was so much more experienced than the little professor. Time to back off. “Let’s get ready and go, hmmm?” <<>> Vanko said little on the car ride back to campus. He’d been sure that Galahad would be uncomfortable with him and now it was true. The large man had kept his distance since that last phone call. He wouldn’t meet Vanko’s eyes either. The car pulled up in front of Vanko’s small university bungalow, parking in front of a Campus Security SUV. “Captain,” a younger man with an accented voice walked 28

Knights & Cookies up, opening the door on Galahad’s side of the car. Vanko opened his own door, moving toward the entrance to his small house. The only house he’d ever lived in alone. It was his pride, his safe retreat. Only it didn’t seem all that safe right now. The place was surround with campus security officers. “Are you Dr. Elaschuk?” a middle-aged man asked him. “Yes, is me,” Vanko told him, trying to look past and into the house. He didn’t’ need to, though. He could see the word ‘COMMIE’ spray painted in red on the front door. “Dr. Elaschuk, there’s been a break-in here,” the man started talking right away. “We’ll take it from here, Jonas,” that was Alverez, he thought. The man who’d met them, who’d called. “I want to see inside,” Vanko demanded. “Is my house.” “I know, Dr. Elaschuk,” Officer Alverez tried to placate him. “We just need to ask you a few questions first. The furnishings inside were pretty sparse. Can you give us an inventory of your possessions?” “Um,” Vanko tried to watch as Galahad wandered away and inside, face closed, guarded. “Is I only had bed, chair, table and other chair. Books. And clothes. Towels and sheets for bed.” “Thank you doctor, I just need to warn you, there are racial slurs painted in different places throughout your house. We’ve taken pictures.” 29

Knights & Cookies Vanko nodded curtly and walked into his home. Commie, Red, Pink Stain, these were some of the nicer words he found painted in red, silver, green, all bright colors and all over his walls. Moving through the small bedroom, Vanko noticed Galahad glancing over at him and looking away. Paper from some of his books was shredded all throughout the house. The kitchen had been trashed, but Vanko never kept much food in there. He didn’t drive and had yet to master the local transit system. Most of his meals were taken in the college’s cafeteria. In this case, ‘trashed’ consisted of water everywhere and plastic dishes and cups strewn about. Someone moved into the room where he stood, surveying the damage. A covert look told him that it was Galahad. When he turned toward him, the other man turned aside to survey the damage. “Big job, cleaning this up,” Galahad observed, eyes fixed on the floor. “No,” Vanko disagreed, “Is only water, paper. I can do it.” “We’ll be looking into this, trying to discover who did it,” G went on. “Yes,” Vanko nodded. Galahad shifted, stuffed his hands into his pocket. “Sure you don’t need any help?” he flicked a glance over and away again. “Um, no,” Vanko wished desperately that they would all 30

Knights & Cookies just leave. He so wanted to be alone, to lick his wounds in private. He hadn’t really known what he was missing until he’d gotten a taste of it. He’d gotten just enough to want more and given just enough to drive Galahad away. Yes, it hurt. It hurt a lot. “I’m sure maintenance will be over to paint and things. Um,” he shifted uneasily, “I can take you somewhere else if you want…” he trailed off, the pause stretching out uncomfortably. “Uh, you could stay at a motel or, ah, my…” “No,” Vanko cut him off quickly. “No, am fine, much thanks.” He bent to pick up some dishes on the floor. “Will only take hour to clean. I had sleep before,” he reminded Galahad. “If you’re sure,” G acquiesced, already moving toward the door. “Yes,” Vanko murmured, bending to pick up another plate. Galahad stopped in the kitchen doorway and Vanko could feel his eyes raking over him. Determined, he ignored the sensation as best he could, picking up another and another wet plate and depositing them in the sink.

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Six “Galahad! Galahad Miller!” He moved through the line in the cafeteria, stopping to acknowledge the woman who was calling his name. It was his date from two nights ago. Laura was her name, he reminded himself. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of silky cinnamon hair. Galahad fixed his gaze on the hair and the man it belonged to as Vanko hurriedly paid for his meal and left the cafeteria, not looking back. “Uh huh,” he responded to the chattering blonde woman nattering at him. He’d taken this woman out to supper. They’d gone to a nightclub. After that, he’d taken her to her home and fucked her. It was what she wanted. It was what he thought he wanted. The only way he’d managed to find completion was by closing his eyes and picturing Vanko beneath him, moaning with pleasure, touching him, loving him. He shook his head to clear away that memory. One more second and, yes, there he went, into the lab at the end of the quadrangle; he was out of sight. Gone. G felt an ache in his stomach, tightness in his chest. Why did he feel so bad? He was doing the right thing. He was. Wasn’t he? Galahad walked away from the woman, never hearing a 32

Knights & Cookies word she said. He walked through the rest of his day the same way. He was completely on autopilot. It had been a week since he’d last seen Vanko and he missed him. Why did he miss a man he hardly knew? It was as if he had a hole in his life. A sweet and shy Ukrainian professorsized hole. It was difficult, but he ignored it. His feelings became much more difficult to ignore as he drove his SUV out of the main campus grounds and through the residential section. It was merely coincidence that made him turn his vehicle toward Vanko’s house. That’s what he told himself. He was several blocks away from the small bungalow when he noticed the disturbance. And was that someone running? He was sure that there were three men chasing… there! He saw one lone figure running ahead. He sped up. The lone figure would be caught any second now. There was nowhere to run to. G turned his truck down a side street and angled it to block the thoroughfare. Yes, he could see that the single man was trapped. Two people were closing in on him and one was moving up from the back. G threw the door open and sprinted toward the group. He saw the glint of a knife blade in the moonlight. These guys weren’t playing kids’ games. The knife was at the throat of the single man. He was putting up a hell of a fight but he would lose. He wasn’t that big and there was only one of him. The man was obviously not trained to fight, even though he seemed to be holding his own. It 33

Knights & Cookies was hard to beat a knife when two men were holding your arms. Galahad kicked at a cola can in the road. It seemed as if he had miles to run instead of just a few feet. The noise he’d made had alerted the group to his presence. The person behind the single man swung him, and then shoved him hard; causing him to stumble across the road, stumble right into Galahad’s arms. There was no mystery about who the trapped man had been. G recognized him immediately. “Vanko,” he croaked. It was Vanko with blood running down his throat. “Oh god, Vanko are you hurt?” He held him tight to his body, shaking as hard as Vanko was. “Let me see, talk to me,” he insisted, pulling back just a little. “No, is okay,” Vanko rasped. “Is just scratch. He… um, he was not to hurting me, only taunting.” G held onto Vanko with one arm, brushing his hair back from his face and neck with the other hand. “Taunting?” he wasn’t sure what that meant. It seemed that the injury wasn’t serious, though. Vanko pulled back, wrenching free. For as lively as he was, the cut couldn’t be all that deep. Galahad reached out for him, not ready to be apart from him yet, needing the reassurance of his warmth, his life. Vanko had other ideas. “Thank you for your saving me,” Vanko called, walking quickly away. 34

Knights & Cookies “Vanko! Stop,” Galahad grabbed at him but he ducked between two thick hedges, the greenery too full for his larger frame. What was he playing at? Anger whipped through him. Yes, he’d saved Vanko and now he was worried. What kind of thanks was this? Vanko could have been hurt, killed. That thought only made him angrier. He quickly returned to his SUV, started the engine and hit the gas. Damn it, Vanko wasn’t getting away with this. Chapter Seven The air was cool on his face as Vanko hurried through the hedges and backyards that separated the street where he’d been caught and his own home. He brushed a humiliated tear from his cheek, gritting his teeth and forcing himself on. No doubt Galahad was angry with him now. Once again he’d embroiled the security captain in a drama. Once again he’d pressed himself against him. And Vanko had felt himself getting hard. There was no way around it. He was attracted to Galahad but the other man wasn’t attracted to him. Or he was a little, but was repelled by Vanko’s lack of experience. It probably embarrassed him. When G had said to stop, he’d been calling Vanko back to report this incident. Probably. And Vanko would. He’d call as soon as he got home and tell whomever all the details. There weren’t many but he’d tell. But no way was he going to stand in the street, his sex hard, while G 35

Knights & Cookies pitied him and refused to look at him. Life in the Ukraine wasn’t as luxurious as it was in America, but it was straightforward. Honest. He hadn’t really felt lonely before Galahad had taken him in his arms. He’d never minded not kissing, not hugging, not touching. Now he did. He missed it desperately, but not just with anyone. His heart beat fast when he caught a glimpse of G. His throat felt tight and his hands felt shaky and funny. But Galahad hadn’t liked his inexperience. He hadn’t been able to stand his ignorance. Well, he’d taken steps to do something about all that. He’d gotten books about sex at the library. He’d picked up a newspaper and read through the singles’ listings. It said right on the top that if he wanted companionship, he could find it there. Perhaps if he knew more about having sex, Galahad would kiss him again. He just needed education and experience, the same as being a professor. Once home, Vanko went straight into his bathroom, unbuttoning his shirt to dab at the cut across his throat. It wasn’t deep. Still, he had to treat it. He’d only been there a second when he heard a familiar voice bellow, “Vanko Elaschuk, where the fuck are you?” a second later he heard, “And what the fuck is this?” bellowed even louder. Vanko peeked around the corner nervously. Once he did, he wanted nothing more than to slink away. Galahad had found 36

Knights & Cookies his books and he looked very angry. In one hand, he held Vanko’s library copy of The Ins and Outs of Gay Sex by Stephen E. Goldstone and the copy of The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Men by Bill Brent. In the other hand, he was holding Vanko’s recently purchased singles’ paper, complete with circled ads that seemed like likely candidates. Squaring his shoulders, Vanko marched up to Galahad and reached for both the books and the paper. “Is for me, not you,” he snapped. The books G released easily enough but the paper he snatched away. “This is for you?” he asked, his voice low, an edge to it. The hairs on the back of Vanko’s neck rose in warning. He cleared his throat, hiding behind his own righteous anger. “Is not your concern,” Vanko insisted. “Give it back,” he demanded. Galahad’s eyes narrowed as he considered Vanko at length. “If I didn’t know better,” he said in that same soft, dangerous sounding voice, “I’d say you were studying something.” He reached over and tapped the books that Vanko clasped to his chest. Vanko felt his face flush but he stood his ground. “If that’s true, this,” he brandished the singles’ classified paper, “is the exam. Am I right?” Vanko turned away. “Well?” “You said it yourself, I have no idea about… about that. So I want idea.” He felt tears threaten and forced them back. “Leave me alone. Is not your concern.” 37

Knights & Cookies “I. Will. Be. Damned!” G growled and Vanko heard the rustling of the paper. Before he knew what was happening, he felt himself wrenched around and pinned against the wall in his little hallway. “You think this is the way to find out? Shit! You’re going to get yourself hurt!” Vanko pushed at Galahad’s solid bulk. His hurt was turning into fury now, “You said I have no idea!” he roared, shoving for all he was worth. Stunned, G stumbled backward. “You were disgusted by my inexperience! You are not wanting me! You make me want you and you do not! Leave me alone! Somebody will else want me! Maybe you don’t be disgusted then!” Vanko whirled and marched away, the fight leaving him by the time he reached his Spartan bedroom. He hoped Galahad would leave soon. He hoped the college would take his request for days off and maybe a transfer. He couldn’t fight the bitter tears of self-loathing and disappointment any longer. <<>> Rage drove Galahad down the hall after Vanko. Who did he think he was, pushing G around? And what the hell did that tirade mean? Someone else? Vanko wanted someone else to want him? Or Galahad? Did he want G to want him? He burst through the bedroom door, dragging Vanko into his arms. “What the fuck do you want from me?” Galahad 38

Knights & Cookies growled, pressing his lips to Vanko’s. Vanko just shook his head, eyes closed. “I’m not sweet, I’m not nice. You need someone else.” Vanko tried to pull away and G noticed the tears running down the other man’s face. His heart felt like someone was digging it out of his chest with a serrated spoon. God, he was an ass. He should leave Vanko alone and let him find someone else. That thought was a kick to the stomach. He couldn’t do it. Galahad leaned down, his lips chasing the falling tears. His mouth found the corner of Vanko’s, kissing tears away, tasting, nipping. Vanko’s shirt was open and G couldn’t resist the invitation of soft, smooth skin as his palm slid inside, spanning a lightly muscled ribcage. “You… you’re touching my skin.” Vanko’s voice was a husky whisper. “You’re so soft,” G rasped. “But… I, um, it is to getting hard again,” Vanko protested, worry coloring his voice. Galahad took his hand and pressed it to his own hardening cock. Vanko’s eyes were as big as saucers as his fingers automatically fit to the hard length. “You, too?” He whispered. G nodded. “Is bigger than mine,” he observed in a quiet voice. “Is it?” Galahad asked. “Can I see?” Vanko nodded hesitantly. Galahad unfastened Vanko’s suit pants and unzipped them, dipping his hand into the front of 39

Knights & Cookies the exposed white briefs. His hand skimmed down the soft skin covering the hard erection. He pumped it once, delighting in the groan that Vanko couldn’t hold back. “Is, is touching, not seeing,” Vanko gritted, widening his stance a little and grabbing at Galahad’s biceps to hold on. “You’re right,” G murmured, pushing the front of the briefs down and raking his fingers through those dark ginger curls. “Now it’s touching and seeing. Do you like that?” he asked, cupping Vanko’s balls gently and fondling them. “Yes,” Vanko hissed, violet eyes tightly closed and a splash of silky red velvet lashes fanning each pale cheek. “Can I show you, Vanko?” The dark red swept up and Vanko fixed his wide stare on Galahad. Nervous, not sure why, Galahad asked again, “Let me teach you the things you don’t know. Study on me, Vanko.” He continued caressing the length of Vanko’s rigid erection, his own hard and leaking now. Vanko nodded slowly, as if he were expecting Galahad to take his suggestion back again, change his mind. Galahad walked Vanko backward to the bed, sliding his pants off and removing his shoes and socks when he stumbled backward to sit on the mattress. His own shoes he kicked away, socks following, shrugging out of his shirt and tossing it aside. Vanko tracked his every move as he unfastened his belt and pants, dropping them on the floor and stepping out of them. 40

Knights & Cookies When he approached the bed, Vanko swallowed loudly, scooting back to make room. Galahad sat down next to him and held an arm out. “It’s okay, Vanko,” he murmured. “We can start slow. Sit next to me and let me put my arm around you. We can talk.” “You are naked,” Vanko croaked. “So are you,” Galahad smiled. “C’mere.” Shyly, Vanko scooted next to Galahad and allowed him to drape a heavy arm across his shoulders. G could see him glancing from his own lap, complete with ruddy curls and full erection, back at Galahad’s lap, black curls surrounding a slightly larger erection. “I like how you look,” Vanko spoke up hesitantly, flicking a glance toward his face. Galahad snuggled Vanko into the crook of his arm, sliding them both to lay side by side, Vanko resting on his arm. “I like how you look, too, Vanko,” G murmured, his hand trailing over one pebbled nipple and down a ginger trail of fuzz, stopping to tease the indented belly button. Vanko snickered, his foot coming over one of G’s shins. “Am I the first to ever see you this way?” Galahad asked, his voice strained. Suddenly, suddenly, it was more important than anything that he be Vanko’s first. His first everything. Suddenly, he wanted to be the one to show Vanko how to love and be the one to receive that love every single day from then on. 41

Knights & Cookies “Yes,” Vanko looked up, into Galahad’s eyes. “Yes, is so. You are first. You know this.” “I realized,” Galahad rolled them over until he was on top of Vanko, both weeping erections gathered in one large palm. “I want to be the one for you. I want to be yours and you to be mine, Vanko.” He watched, satisfied as Vanko’s eyes squeezed closed, heels digging into the bed, back arched. Pumping both cocks slowly, Galahad leaned down, kissing and caressing that firm jaw with his lips. “Will you try that? You being mine and me being yours?” “Uh, um, what means you that?” Vanko forced his eyes open, though it was obvious he was having trouble focusing. “I’ll explain it all later,” Galahad assured him. “Just say yes,” he murmured, his thumb sweeping across Vanko’s weeping slit. “Y-yes,” Vanko hissed, pumping into Galahad’s hand. G smiled in satisfaction, his mouth covering the soft pink lips of the other man, tongue dipping deep inside. He began to pump his hips in time with Vanko, hot hard flesh skating across its mate, rubbing, feeling so, so good. Vanko was groaning now, clinging to Galahad, sucking on his tongue, lot in sensation, seconds from coming. And then they were both free, hot seed pouring over G’s hand and onto Vanko’s flat tummy, on and on. White cream sealing them together and Galahad dropped to his side, taking Vanko with him to hold, but 42

Knights & Cookies not too heavy. He stroked Vanko’s shoulders and back, down his side and over the firm curve of Vanko’s rear end, and then up again. Finally, the tickling of soft sweeping on his chest told G that Vanko had floated to earth. “Okay?” G asked him. “Most okay,” Vanko answered. “And now I have said I am yours? What means you that?” he repeated his earlier question. Galahad rubbed his cheek against the soft, fluffy red hair. “It means that I care more about you than anyone else. It means I don’t want to have sex with anyone but you and that I don’t want you to have sex with anyone but me.” Vanko looked hard into his eyes, making Galahad a little nervous now. Finally he answered, “Is much good except…” he trailed off, looking away. G felt his heart squeeze tight. What could Vanko be afraid of? “Except what, Vanko?” “I don’t know many things, is the same as before. You will leave again and not talk to me.” He still wasn’t looking at Galahad. “I’m so sorry I did that, Vanko, so sorry. Please forgive me, okay? I just thought I was too experienced for you. …That I was wrong to want you. Now, I realize that it’s better because I care about you. And maybe you care about me, too? Do you?” 43

Knights & Cookies Galahad waited for Vanko to answer. He felt sure that he knew the answer but he really wanted to hear it anyway. “Is so,” Vanko’s voice was a husky whisper. “Is how come I study.” “Well,” G cleared his throat, surprised to find it sticky and tight. “From now on, I’ll be your only study-buddy and you’ll be my only one.” He saw Vanko’s lips turn up in a smile, just before the other man slid out of the bed. His eyes were riveted to that perfectly rounded derriere and he almost missed Vanko’s parting comment. “So now, you are my girlfriend, yes?” Vanko called before Galahad heard the bathroom door snap shut. “Yes, that’s …Hey!” he yelped, shooting to his feet and following Vanko into the bathroom. Girlfriend, indeed.

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Eight Vanko scraped another virus sample onto a treated slide, forcing himself to pay close attention. His wandering mind had already caused him to drop a slide, which resulted in an entire write up in addition to the complex clean up required for this particular bio-toxin. He’d awakened this morning looking into Galahad’s sparkling dark gray eyes. In fact, he’d draped himself across the larger man like a blanket. He felt his face flush just thinking about it and managed to put the slide down safely into the tray where it belonged. Only after he had the entire tray safely stored away did he cast his mind back to the events of the night before and then the morning. He’d been so upset last night. More so by Galahad than by the bully who’d threatened to cut him and called him such demeaning names. He couldn’t remember ever being so mad at another person as he’d been at G. In fact, his emotions had run the entire gamut from furious to desolate to finally happy and excited. And then in the shower, how G had touched him. He’d put his finger inside Vanko and stroked his prostate. Vanko swallowed a moan, remembering how that felt. They’d been playing a little, soaping each other. Vanko had thought himself bold for soaping and stroking Galahad’s quickly hardening sex. He’d been very impressed that G had 45

Knights & Cookies gotten hard again so quickly after they’d just cum together. Galahad had reached down and taken hold of Vanko between his legs, and surprise, he too was rigid. And then Galahad had whispered, his voice ragged as if he were confessing a secret, that he loved Vanko’s ass. Vanko’s face burned as he remembered Galahad telling him how hard he got just looking at it, thinking of it and of burying his cock deep inside. During the telling, Galahad had pulled him close and soaped his fingers, slowly pushing one of them into Vanko’s most private place. It had excited him, and worried him. He’d been so afraid that it would hurt. But it hadn’t hurt because Galahad had moved slowly and used lots of soap. It had been wonderful, titillating, naughty, and oh, so exciting. “This is what it will be like,” Galahad had whispered into his ear as he slid his finger in and out of Vanko’s hole while Vanko clutched at him and held on. “I’ll fill you up with my cock and fuck you until we both come.” The sound of his gravely voice, the deliciously course words he’d used, Vanko couldn’t hold back as Galahad stroked over that special little bump. He’d erupted all over him and G had cum, too, reacting to Vanko. This morning, Galahad had kissed him, long and slow, humping against him as they both strained toward completion. He could tell right now that he’d need another set of sheets, maybe two. He would have Galahad take him to a big store where they 46

Knights & Cookies sold such things. The smile on his face would surely show the world what was on his mind, he decided, trying to control it as he removed his lab coat. Vanko hurried out of the lab, slipping his suit jacket on as he went. G had asked him to go to a movie with him later and he wished he could rush through his classes so that it would be time. Ah, but there was no way. He would simply do his best and the time would pass. For now, he would enjoy the dream world he had found himself in. Easing his hand into his pocket, Vanko found a square of paper. He didn’t think it was a note from Galahad, since the other man had left to change clothes before Vanko had dressed that morning. Sometimes, he wrote himself notes so he wouldn’t forget things. Perhaps that’s what this was. Withdrawing his hand from the pocket, Vanko thought no more about it as he hurried toward the lecture hall where he had a biochemistry class to teach. “Oomph,” Vanko hadn’t noticed anyone nearby but he recognized the woman G had been sitting with the first day they’d met. “Please excuse,” he mumbled, trying to move away. “I can’t believe how clumsy you are,” she sneered. “Or did you do that on purpose?” “Oh, no, of course not. Was accident,” he didn’t bother trying to talk to her anymore. She was determined to pick a fight. “You come back here!” she shrieked, but Vanko didn’t. 47

Knights & Cookies People were turning to look and he shrugged, still moving away.

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Nine Galahad stood at the back of the lecture hall not understanding a single word being spoken. It was obvious that the students in the hall each knew what Vanko meant, however. Biochemistry had never been one of his strengths. Besides, he wasn’t’ there to try to learn anything. He used the excuse that Vanko hadn’t eaten yet to watch him while nobody knew. Standing there in the dark, Galahad marveled at all the facets of the compact, titian haired professor explaining the finer details of how a virus attaches itself to a blood cell. Vanko was perfectly serious and focused, not a trace of the teasing young man who’d declared Galahad his girlfriend anywhere to be seen. Galahad grinned to himself, remembering that and thinking about how angry Vanko had been before. He was nobody’s doormat, that’s for sure. Watching him now and considering all that he’d learned about him thus far, Galahad was proud of Vanko. He was anxious to get to know more about him and spend more time with him. He counted himself lucky that he’d gotten a second chance. “Excuse me.” The lights were coming on and students were filing past him. The lecture was over and G had daydreamed his way through it. He was glad he wasn’t there for a grade. Vanko’s eyes lit up when he spotted Galahad. That in itself was worth showing up for, but G held up the white fast food 49

Knights & Cookies bag he brought with him. Vanko’s grin was all the reward he needed. He so wanted to sweep the other man into his arms and kiss him until he was dizzy. Unfortunately, he still had a couple of students lingering and Galahad didn’t want to embarrass him. He felt reasonably certain that it wouldn’t bother Vanko, but he had enough trouble here at the college that G didn’t want to bring more. And speaking of trouble… “Vanko,” he spoke up, voice tight. “What’s that on your suit coat?” Vanko looked down at the spreading stain of red beginning near his hip pocket and fanning out and down to the bottom edge of the coat. “Is…is… Um, I don’t know,” he said, reaching into his pocket. “You’re not bleeding are you?” G dropped the bag of burgers onto a seat and headed over to Vanko. “No, no, not bleeding,” Vanko reassured him, dipping his hand into his pocket. He pulled out the folded paper he’d noticed in his pocket earlier. It was dripping red ink. Once unfolded, the words “Better dead than red” could be seen white against the red background. “Drop it on the floor, Vanko,” G instructed, pulling out his radio. “It looks like the old invisible ink writing we used to have as kids.” He ordered his assistant to call the local police department. 50

Knights & Cookies Chapter Ten Vanko couldn’t get terribly worried about words on paper, regardless of how they got there. He took himself over to the front row of lecture seats while Galahad spoke to the university dean and then to the Los Angeles police detective that had arrived a little while ago. That detective interested Vanko a great deal. He sat watching and munching happily on one of the hamburgers from the bag Galahad dropped when he’d seen the stain. It was like a stage show that any minute now might become a drama. The new man had brassy blonde hair that turned dark at the very top, only visible when he bent over. He’d arrived on a loud machine, a goddamned motorcycle, according to G, which he’d driven right up to the door. His clothing was interesting; not at all like the detectives Vanko had seen in the movies. This man wore an undershirt and faded denim pants with a hole in them, which made Vanko feel kindred to him. His own clothes were old and frayed also. But this man looked much better in his than Vanko did. “Vanko, this is Detective Morgan, from LAPD, Vice,” Galahad introduced him. Vanko got a close look at the newcomer. “I am Vanko Elaschuk,” he stuck out his hand. “You are like me, yes? Foreign and not domestic?” “Vanko, Detective Morgan is American, he just has 51

Knights & Cookies parents from another heritage,” Galahad began to explain. Vanko was sure he’d insulted the policeman. Feeling terrible, he began to apologize, “So sorry, is just…” “Ne, don’t worry. I’m both. I’m foreign and domestic,” Detective Morgan winked at Vanko. He couldn’t help but smile back at the man. “So where are you from?” Vanko liked him immediately. “You would like French fry?” he offered. The other man accepted and sat down next to him. Galahad sat on his other side, almost crushing the hamburger still in the bag that Vanko had left in the seat. “I am from Ukraine,” he explained. “Ahh, part of the former Soviet Union. Oh, and call me Taylish,” the detective offered. “Is nice name. Taylish,” he repeated, rolling it around on his tongue. “Is nice name, yes, Galahad?” he asked, wanting to include G in the conversation. “Very nice,” Galahad agreed in a hard voice, “pretty name.” Vanko beamed at Taylish who grinned back at him. “Now Vanko, you don’t mind if I call you Vanko, do you?” “Is good,” Vanko nodded, happy to have made a new friend in this unfriendly country. Galahad shifted beside him, placing a hand on his lower back. Taylish squeezed his shoulder, smiling. “Vanko, where were you when you noticed the paper in your pocket the very first 52

Knights & Cookies time?” Vanko considered the question for a few moments. “Oh! Very first time? Was in lab, putting coat on.” He looked sadly over at his ruined suit jacket, folded on the lectern with the red pocket showing. “Was good coat, only little old.” He glanced at Taylish’s exposed knee, embarrassed. To change the subject, he asked, “Why sparkles are on your eyes? And lines? Its nice, though.” He turned to Galahad. “I should do that?” “Your eyes are beautiful, just as they are,” Galahad assured him, giving Taylish a hard look. “They certainly are,” Taylish moved to his feet, taking Vanko’s hand and pulling him up. “What color are they?” He turned Vanko toward the door to the lecture hall. “Would you show me where you were when you found the note? You know, I have a thing for redheads, I can tell you that, right? We’re friends, aren’t we?” <<>> Grinding his teeth, Galahad followed Vanko and the irritating detective out of the building. He couldn’t imagine where in those skintight jeans Detective Morgan had been hiding a notebook but right now he was taking notes as Vanko gestured. “This is where lady yelled at me,” he was saying now. “She said I’m clumsy and then I walked away.” “I bet she was a real bitch,” Taylish replied, patting 53

Knights & Cookies Vanko’s arm. “Was your lady friend, Galahad,” Vanko turned to him now. Behind Vanko’s back, the detective arched an eyebrow at Galahad. “From that said I eat too much.” Vanko’s sweet mouth turned down at the corners and Galahad wanted to kiss him and put a smile on his face again. First, however, he wanted to do something decidedly unkind to Detective Taylish Morgan who wouldn’t keep his hands to himself. “She’s just bitter and narrow minded, Vanko,” Galahad rubbed Vanko’s shoulder, stepping in between him and the annoying detective. “She was who said I’m clumsy but she runs into me!” Vanko was clearly put out and G couldn’t blame him. “She ran into you?” The arch and playful demeanor was gone now. Detective Morgan was all business. “Did you feel anything when she hit you?” “Um, no,” Vanko seemed a little nervous at the change. “It’s okay, Vanko, how about you show me where you keep your coat?” The easy good humor was back and Galahad had to grudgingly give the bleached blonde detective credit. Vanko, normally shy, was at ease with him once again. The two chatted companionably as they entered the lab, Vanko pointing out the place where he hung his coat. “My hook was over by desk before,” he waved toward the 54

Knights & Cookies back of the room. “Since broken in, the sciences head says hook must be there.” Vanko’s frown made it clear what he thought of the new positioning. “Wait a minute,” Taylish interrupted. “What broken in? When and what was broken?” “Is my lab got broken,” Vanko explained, biting his lip. “Someone is not liking me because I’m foreign.” Galahad realized that it was only the three of them were present and decided to kill two birds with one stone, as it were. He pulled Vanko into his arms, rubbing his cheek on the silky soft burnt fire hair. “Its only one or two idiots, Vanko. Not everyone feels that way.” “Your boyfriend’s right, Doc,” Taylish wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at Galahad, “Everybody I know thinks you’re great!” He tugged Vanko away from G, sliding an arm across his shoulders. “Now show me what you’re working on. Is it the same thing you were working on that was broken? Explain all this to me.” He looked over his shoulder at G. “You too, Sir Knight, I have a feeling I’ll need you to translate.” Galahad curled a lip at him but moved to follow. He’d taken two steps when his radio crackled. “Sir, we have a … we need you here, G,” it was Alverez. “The Dean and the head of sciences are arguing over here.” “Where are you?” he asked, watching as Taylish and Vanko walked slowly around the room. He wasn’t fooled by 55

Knights & Cookies Taylish’s seeming absorption in what Vanko was saying. He knew the young detective was listening to everything that was said over the radio. Alverez’ voice was lower now but still discernable over the small radio. “The science department head is mad that you called the police. The Dean is arguing with him about protocol. Can you just…” “I’ll be right there,” Galahad snapped, irritated. The last thing he wanted to do was leave Vanko in the clutches of this bad boy, oh-so-smooth detective, but he didn’t appear to have a choice. “Vanko?” he waved Vanko over and leaned down for a quick kiss, ignoring the blonde’s smirk. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, okay?” Vanko’s face took on a worried look. “Is Dr. Jones, yes? >From head of my department?” “Yes it is, Vanko. What’s wrong?” Galahad noticed the sharp interest of the blonde detective, but focused on Vanko. “He is not liking me or my work. He was mad at me when my lab was broken in,” Vanko fretted. “How come you didn’t tell me this?” G grunted, frustrated. “You were disgusted with me for my not knowing. Remember?” Galahad wished with all his heart that he had more time to talk with Vanko about this, and even more, he wished Taylish Morgan was engrossed in anything besides their 56

Knights & Cookies conversation. “I wasn’t… Vanko, I was… I just thought it was better for you if I left you alone. But we’re past that now, aren’t we?” G’s radio crackled again. “Captain, you there?” came Alverez’ strained voice. “Is okay, is okay,” Vanko assured him, standing on his toes to kiss Galahad’s cheek. Galahad had never been one to waste an opportunity once presented. He turned his head and kissed Vanko full on, his tongue parting his lover’s lips and making its way inside. The kiss was brief but thorough. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Maybe you should tell Detective Morgan all about Dr. Jones and everything, hmm?” He brushed Vanko’s cheek with his fingertips and was gone.

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Eleven “That looked like a pretty good kiss,” Taylish observed from behind Vanko. Startled, Vanko spun around, hands to his cheeks. “It was most good,” he admitted, blushing. “Is he your first?” Taylish asked. At Vanko’s furrowed brow, he furnished, “Your first lover, I mean.” “Um… is lover you mean intercourse?” When Taylish nodded, Vanko, face burning, answered, “not yet. But he is to be first and only, I think.” “I don’t mean to be nosey,” Taylish offered. “Its just that I haven’t, you know, done that yet. Never found the right one, I guess.” Vanko nodded his understanding. “Is important to find right one. But I thought to find someone to practice.” Taylish looked both alarmed and surprised. “Really? You were going to practice on someone else even though you liked him?” Vanko knew his face was as red as his hair by now, but the blonde detective had been so open with him about his own inexperience. It made Vanko feel better to know that such a worldly person as Taylish could be without sexual experience. “He is… was… Um, he felt bad I wasn’t knowing about it,” Vanko did his best to explain. “He thought he was bad for me.” 58

Knights & Cookies “Ah, the noble, I-don’t-want-to-corrupt-the-innocent thing, huh?” Taylish guessed shrewdly. Vanko shrugged and nodded. “Do you have someone in your mind for to experience with?” He felt bold for asking such an intrusive question, but these Americans didn’t seem to think that anything was too personal to talk about. “Nope,” Taylish answered offhandedly. “I’ll letcha know when I do though… if I ever do. So, tell me about what you do in here?” Vanko breathed a sigh of relief at the change of subject. This topic wasn’t at all personal, though it did mean a lot to him. “Here,” he picked up reams of notes, “this is theory of how to fix nerve tissue if it breaks. Here,” he opened one small refrigerator at the back of the lab. “This is nerve tissue and various chemicals. And this…” Vanko trailed off, confused. “What is it?” Although Taylish didn’t know Vanko well, he apparently realized that there was something wrong. Vanko looked at him and back at the shelf in the refrigerator. “Is missing,” he mumbled, squatting in front of it. “Was faulty serum, but had promise. Is missing.” “Uh, okay,” Taylish scratched his head. “I’m not sure I get what you mean. Are you saying that something’s been lost or stolen?” “Yes, is so,” Vanko confirmed, agitated now. “This is important to prove theory is correct. Nerve research is highly 59

Knights & Cookies specialized. Many people interested, for war, for health. Is important and delicate.” Taylish rubbed his hands together. “Ohhh-kay! Now we’re getting somewhere. Let’s talk about security… Uh, besides your boyfriend there. When you’re not here, you do lock up, right?” “Most especially!” The very idea of not locking up made Vanko shudder. “Must keep door locked all times. Is only people with appropriate keys who can come in.” “Even when you’re here?” Taylish verified. Vanko nodded. “So, Captain Miller, Dr. Jones, and maybe some other folks can get in? Who else has keys to most of the buildings? Who else could come in whether you were here or not?” Vanko considered that carefully. “Maintenance can come in… um and Registrar has keys. Is all, I think.” “Oh, and that bitch who ran into you was from the Registrar’s office, wasn’t she?” Taylish had a suspicious glint in his eye now. “She is, but she didn’t come in while my coat is here. Only Dr. Jones and Lyle, to change light bulb.” “Did either of those people get near your coat?” Taylish rubbed his chin. “They must to come in door. The coat is next to that and then me on this side of room.” “Okay, we’ll come back to that. Tell me what happened last night,” Taylish was scribbling in his little notebook again. 60

Knights & Cookies Vanko blushed scarlet. “Galahad found my books and we got in argument,” he mumbled, embarrassed. Taylish laughed, bumping shoulders with Vanko. “No, not then! Before you got home.” “Oh. Oh!” Relief colored his voice as he realized what Taylish meant. The smug detective didn’t bother to hide his knowing smile either as he arched a brow, waiting for Vanko’s response. “Some men chased me. When they caught me, they taunted me with knife.” He loosened his tie and opened his shirt collar to show Taylish the small cut on this throat. Taylish leaned in close, taking his chin in hand and tilting it up so he could inspect the wound carefully. <<>> “Huh hmmm!” Galahad cleared his throat strenuously, more than a little irate at what he’d walked in on. Unless his eyes deceived him, and he so hoped they had, Detective Taylish Morgan was kissing Vanko’s throat. Vanko didn’t seem to be enjoying it especially but that was hardly the point. It was high time to put some distance between Vanko and this eye shadow wearing, tight jeans clad, bleach blonde detective. “Oh, hey there, Chief. What’d ya find out?” Taylish asked him. 61

Knights & Cookies Galahad ignored him in favor of Vanko’s happy smile. “Is it okay? Everything is okay?” Vanko asked hopefully. G sighed. He’d like to tell Vanko that they’d all live happily ever after, but that was not realistic. It wasn’t honest, either. The last thing he wanted now was to mar his burgeoning relationship with Vanko by being dishonest. “Dr. Jones is displeased,” he told Vanko, and by default, Taylish. “He wants to put you on probation. He and the Dean went back to the Sciences office to talk about it.” Before Vanko could respond, Taylish did. “I think that’s my cue. Sounds like a perfect opportunity to interview Dr. Jones. I’ll catch up with you guys in a little while. Don’t do anything naughty.” Galahad watched him go before turning back to Vanko. “What was he doing when I came in?” he asked. “Oh, he was looking at my cut, see?” Vanko pushed his shirt collar aside and G leaned down to look. “He is good detective, yes?” “You like him a lot?” Galahad asked, stroking Vanko’s collarbone where the cut stopped. “He is nice friend.” Vanko tentatively placed both hands at Galahad’s waist. “You are friend and lover, yes?” G grinned before leaning to place his lips on the healing line of flesh. His arms went around Vanko as he pulled him close, his mouth traveling up the supple neck and stopping to nibble at a 62

Knights & Cookies soft, round ear. Cupping Vanko’s rear, he pulled him close, feeling their growing erections rub together through layers of fabric. “Yes, he can be a fine friend, as long as you remember I’m your friend and lover. I like that.” “I like that, too,” Vanko gasped as Galahad slipped a hand down the back of his pants. “Can’t, um you will cause me to make… discharge,” Vanko got out with difficulty. Galahad lightly caressed the parting between Vanko’s cheeks, glancing at the door and considering. He was right. They really didn’t have time or privacy for anything serious right now. Reluctantly, he eased his hand out of Vanko’s pants. “Remember where we were for later, hmm?” He kissed Vanko long and leisurely, lips caressing lips, tongue stroking tongue as he eased back, slowly pulling away, planting light, butterfly kisses on Vanko’s face, eyelids, chin. Finally, they stood together, leaning on one another, collecting themselves, and coming down from passion’s high.

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Twelve Vanko walked slowly down the street in the gathering dusk. The shadows and night sounds always made him uneasy. He was still new here and the events of the night before made it even harder for him to walk down this dark street. Galahad and Taylish had both been needed in conference with the college Dean so Vanko left at the end of his day. Most of his afternoon was spent cataloguing what he did and didn’t have in his lab. Given the security there, he’d never worried about theft. He’d simply followed his experiments and reveled in the freedom to do so. When the time came to leave, Vanko hadn’t heard either from Dr. Jones, nor had he heard anything from Galahad or Taylish. He was disappointed about not going to the movie as G had promised, but the evening was young. Perhaps they still could go. He was busy distracting himself with thoughts about what movie they might see and if Galahad would hold his hands like he’d heard some couples do when someone came up behind him. “Hey, Ruskie,” came a grating voice in his ear. The man took one arm and someone else took his other. “Thought I told you to clear out. You Soviets don’t hear too good, do ya?” “Am not Soviet,” Vanko answered back, wrinkling his nose. “I have breath mint, if you like,” he offered hopefully. “Why you little bastard,” the man with the bad breath 64

Knights & Cookies growled. “Ah, ah, ah,” came Taylish’s voice. Where had he been hiding, Vanko wondered. How was it that he’d followed so well without being heard? Click. Click. Handcuffs, Vanko guessed. “You got that one, Prince Charming?” “Yeah.” That was Galahad! “Here you go,” he shoved the other man at Taylish who caught him with what looked like a smirk. “Come here, love?” G said to Vanko. “You okay?” “Oh, god! He’s queer, too? Shit!” this from the man with the bad breath. “Yeah,” responded Taylish dryly. “Better watch out, we’re all queer. Maybe it’s contagious.” “Oh, fuck!” The man moaned. “Hey, don’t worry, sport. I don’t wanna get my dick dirty sticking it in you. You’re safe right now. Course, I can’t make any promises about the holding cells. Some of those guys are stuck in lockup for weeks… longer.” “Hey, we wasn’t doing anything, c’mon. We was just walking with him. You can’t arrest us for that!” This was the other man who, so far, hadn’t said a word. “Vanko, do you think you can identify these men from having seen them at any other time?” Taylish sounded very official now. Vanko nodded. “Is so. Both were taunting me last night. This one,” he pointed at the man who’d just protested. “He is man 65

Knights & Cookies with knife. Other man, with bad breath, he is holding me yesterday. Third man… I could tell you if he comes again.” “Good enough for me,” Taylish proclaimed. He pulled out a small radio and spoke quietly into it. “Don’t run,” he growled when one of the handcuffed men made a sudden movement. “That will really piss me off.” He gave the man a hard look. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about this,” Galahad murmured to Vanko. “Taylish has a theory. I’ll tell you all about it at home.” “Which home?” Vanko asked, not angry, just unsure of what was happening around him. “No movie tonight?” He tried to hide his disappointment. “We’ll see lots of movies, I promise,” Galahad had steered him a little away for the two sullen men, handcuffs jingling as they awaited their fate. “Let’s go to my house. I think Taylish is going to be pretty busy. We can watch a video—a movie on tape. How does that sound?” “Will you,” Vanko looked over at Taylish and bit his lip. He wasn’t fooled by Taylish’s seeming preoccupation with his radio and his prisoners. A covert glance showed Taylish’s eyes flicking from Vanko to Galahad, as if to say Go ahead, go ahead. Vanko furrowed his brow at the nosey detective but turned back to Galahad. Not before he saw Taylish’s silly grin, though. “Will you hold my hand?” he asked in a low voice. “While we watch movie, I mean.” 66

Knights & Cookies Galahad smiled warmly. “I’ll put my arm around you and hold your hand, too, okay?” Vanko dipped his head, feeling the heat climb up his cheeks when Taylish winked at him and grinned. Before Vanko could respond in any way, Taylish snapped his cell phone closed and walked up to them. The trio and assembled prisoners were bathed in the light of an oncoming police car as Taylish began to speak. “I’m going to take your new friends over to the station and see how much they want to tell me about all this,” he looked pointedly at Vanko. “You may be needed to press charges. Would you be willing to do that?” “I can press charges even when I’m not citizen?” Vanko asked, amazed. Taylish patted his shoulder. “Buddy, you’ve got rights you’ve never even dreamed of. I can’t wait to fill you in. Later. So you’ll press charges?” “Most certainly,” Vanko agreed, glaring at the man with the bad breath. “Good man,” Taylish nodded sharply. “Where’re you guys gonna be later? Your place?” he nodded toward Vanko. “My place,” G corrected with a slight growl in his voice. “How about we get together tomorrow?” Vanko hid a grin when Taylish rolled his eyes. “Okay, tomorrow morning. I’ll bring the coffee.” 67

Knights & Cookies “Fine,” snapped Galahad, his palm settling at the small of Vanko’s back, steering him away. “See you!” Vanko called over his shoulder. “Yeah, you will!” Taylish called back.

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Thirteen Galahad was pleased to settle Vanko on the couch with an assortment of cold cuts and vegetable sticks, a bowl of popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, and two bottles of root beer. After the day they’d had, neither really needed anything stronger. He’d surfed the movie listings on HBO and found Anaconda. Telling Vanko it was an action-adventure; he leaned back and put an arm around him, waiting patiently for the action to begin. He didn’t have to wait very long. The movie started slow, allowing them to eat and relax. By the time the snake had consumed its second victim, Vanko was pressed against him, violet eyes wide. A short time later, the snake was satiated and Vanko was ensconced on Galahad’s lap, face buried in his chest. “Maybe we should turn it off?” Galahad suggested, wrapping his arms tightly around Vanko and thanking the denizens of movie magic for guaranteed results. “Come on, we’ll go in the other room, away from the television.” It didn’t take much convincing on G’s part to get Vanko to change out of his work clothes and into one of Galahad’s large white t-shirts. G quickly cleaned the dishes off of the coffee table while Vanko made himself more comfortable. The smaller man wouldn’t be wearing that t-shirt for long, but Galahad found him very sexy in it. Galahad took the time to brush his teeth in the spare 69

Knights & Cookies bathroom, remove his shirt, and kick off his shoes and socks before moving into his bedroom. He was sitting on the bed checking the alarm setting when Vanko peeked around the door of the master bathroom. “You all ready for bed?” Galahad asked him in a low voice, aware that Vanko was probably nervous. Vanko swallowed audibly. “Um, yes.” He stepped into the room, swathed in white cotton that brushed his knobby knees. Galahad opened his arms to him and Vanko hurried across the room into them. “This is only you and me, Vanko. We can just lie down and go to sleep. That’s enough for me, okay?” Vanko’s thin hands rested on Galahad’s shoulders, his slim form fitting easily between G’s thighs. “But is hard already,” Vanko glanced down at G’s zipper and back to his face. “You’re right, it is. You’re very exciting to me.” He reached out and placed his hand on the front of the t-shirt, just below the waist. “Yours is hard, too.” Vanko shifted under G’s palm, pressing into it just a little. “Is. Is hard,” he murmured. “We don’t have to do anything about that if you’re uneasy, Vanko. Or we can do all kinds of things that don’t make you feel nervous.” He knew what was on Vanko’s mind. But he wouldn’t push. When he’d found those books the day before and considered the idea of Vanko and anyone else, something had 70

Knights & Cookies changed in him. Gone was the carefree, bisexual playboy. Here to stay was the committed life partner to one Vanko Elaschuk, whether the other man knew it or not. In time, Galahad would say it out loud and they would make it official somehow. One thing at a time, however. Vanko glanced down at G’s hand and back to his face. Those violet eyes were set, determined. “Um, no. Is I want you to… um… to…” He took a deep breath. “I want you to do what you said in the shower before.” Galahad’s mouth curved in a smile. He knew what Vanko wanted, even if he was too shy to ask for it. That was why nobody else could be with Vanko. They didn’t know him like Galahad did. Leaving his flat palm to press against Vanko’s erection, Galahad slid his other hand under the hem of the pristine white shirt, found the waistband of those so utilitarian white briefs, and reached in. Cupping the warm and supple, muscular buttock, he scooted forward, at the last second, he moved his hand, pressing his aching hard-on to Vanko’s. Both hands now cupping Vanko’s rounded ass, Galahad parted the cheeks, sliding one finger into the cleft to stroke the tight star buried there. Vanko released a ragged breath and Galahad put his lips to a soft, round ear. “You want me to bend you over, stretch your tight hole with my fingers, and fuck your ass until I cum inside of 71

Knights & Cookies you.” Vanko moaned and swayed against him. Galahad slid his hands out of the briefs and up Vanko’s torso, taking the large tshirt with him. He pulled it over his head and tossed it aside. The plain white briefs, so snug around Vanko’s thin hips, his rigid erection pushing against the stretchy cotton fabric, it was all so hot to Galahad. He hooked his thumbs in the waistband and slowly, slowly, pulled them down, making sure the rough elastic stroked down Vanko’s hard length until he could see ginger-wine colored curls. He pushed the briefs the rest of the way down and tugged until Vanko stepped out of them. Stroking up and down his sides, Galahad stared, drinking his fill of the pale, slender body that soon would be his in every way. “I want you, Vanko, I want to look at your hole. I want to fuck you. Will you let me?” Galahad’s voice was thick with want, need. He was so hungry for this man, he didn’t know how he managed not to throw him down and plunge into him. Vanko nodded quickly, swallowing again. “Yes,” he whispered, finally. “Yes for you and me.” Galahad pulled Vanko forward against him as he scooted backward onto the bed. The naked man lay atop him and he maneuvered until Vanko was stretched across his lap, plush buttock cheeks begging, hard cock and soft balls pressed against his thigh. 72

Knights & Cookies “I’m going to open you now,” Galahad husked, running a hand over the soft curve of flesh, at the same time, reaching back for the tube of lubricant. He’d realized quickly that hearing the words and descriptions of what he was doing to him titillated the other man as much as the touches and strokes. Lube close at hand now, Galahad placed an open palm on each ass cheek, pulling them apart. He was so excited, he wished he’d taken his own pants off before he’d started all this. They seemed to have shrunk four sizes since Vanko had come out of the bathroom. <<>> Vanko groaned again, feeling his cock leak onto the smooth fabric of Galahad’s pants. The naughty words, the idea of what G was seeing, what he was doing, it was all so exciting to him. Stretched wide open over this man’s lap, exposed and so vulnerable, Vanko was right where he wanted to be. Now Galahad stroked a fingertip over his anus and it felt so good. Vanko just knew he’d cum any second. He wanted to hold on, though. He was a little afraid of what they were going to do tonight. He was a little nervous about having Galahad’s large cock forced into him. But the books had said it wouldn’t really hurt – maybe a little for a short time and then the next day, some residual soreness. That didn’t matter so much to Vanko. He’d been half in love with Galahad the first time the other man had put an arm 73

Knights & Cookies around him. He’d fallen the rest of the way the night they’d kissed. He wanted to belong to Galahad and wanted the other man to always want him and to belong to him in return. He wanted this. “Is good,” he moaned, bending his knees, froglike, opening himself more, “Is good, Galahad.” Galahad’s lips grazed Vanko’s left buttock cheek, a cool, slick finger gently prodding his opening. “You like this?” Galahad murmured, in the rough, gravelly voice that Vanko loved. His finger slipped deeper into Vanko’s hole. “You liked when I fucked you with my finger yesterday, didn’t you?” “Yes, yes,” Vanko pushed against the invading finger, excited. “More. Please more,” he begged. He felt a second finger being added as they went deeper and deeper into him. He rocked up onto his knees now, back onto the fingers, moaning again and again as G found his prostate, deep inside. “Going to…” he panted. “Is going to…” “No!” Galahad barked, pulling his fingers away. The rasp of a zipper punctuated his sharp command, so exciting it caused chills to whip through him; and then Vanko felt Galahad’s warm thighs against his. “You won’t cum until my cock is buried deep inside of your tight ass,” Galahad growled. “Do it,” Vanko growled back. “Is time to do it!” Galahad’s rusty chuckle sent shivers over his entire body. 74

Knights & Cookies Suddenly, something else was prodding against his opening, something big and round. “You’re right, Vanko love,” Galahad agreed, his words coming in a low purr as he pushed the blunt, slicked head of his cock against Vanko’s stretched entrance. “It’s time for me to make love with you all the way.” “Yes,” Vanko grunted, a searing flash of pain and then a steady ache splitting him as Galahad’s girth began to fill him. “Tell me… when,” Galahad gritted. For a minute, Vanko was sure he’d never want to say when. He was sure this was what the women giving birth had felt when he’d helped deliver babies during his residency. He couldn’t imagine why anyone would do this… but the book had said it would hurt. Suddenly, if was fine. He felt full, very full, but not like he was about to be split in half. He shifted his hips a little, testing. “When,” he said, pushing back a little. “Oh my god,” Galahad groaned. “So tight.” One strong arm went around his waist as Galahad pulled out and pushed slowly in again. Vanko gasped, seeing stars. He’d thought the finger brushing over his prostate had felt good, but this was incredible. That large organ pushing on his gland over and over as it moved in and out of him was amazing. “G?” he managed. “Yes, love?” Galahad’s arm slipped from his waist and a 75

Knights & Cookies slick hand wrapped around Vanko’s throbbing cock. “Oh, oh!” Vanko gasped. It felt so incredible to him. The slick hand stroked over his hot skin, nerves tingling, sacs tightening. “Can’t, I can’t…” “Cum, Vanko. I’m fucking you and now I want you to cum in my hand. I want to shoot my load inside your ass…” “Ahh!” Vanko yelled, the sensations, the words, everything overwhelming him and he did cum, as ordered, all over Galahad’s hand. Those clenching muscles tightened on Galahad’s thrusting cock and then he was cuming too, deep inside of Vanko. Heat and sensation suffused his midsection. Stars flashed in front of his eyes. Black edged at the corner of his vision while at the same time, his energy, his strength, all of it left him, causing him to collapse in a heap. Galahad somehow managed not to collapse on top of him, instead rolling them to the side. They stayed like that, back to front, for long minutes, coming down together from an incredible high. Finally, Galahad’s spent cock slipped out of Vanko in a gush of fluid. “Ick,” Vanko mumbled. “Will be cold.” “I’ll get a towel or something in a minute,” Galahad answered, pulling Vanko closer to him. “In minutes,” Vanko sighed. “You… you okay, Vanko love?” Galahad asked, sounding 76

Knights & Cookies a bit hesitant. Vanko turned to face him, rolling over in Galahad’s arms. “Love? You call me love. Means… means what?” Galahad’s strong, masculine face lost it’s worried lines, melting into a soft smile. “Yeah,” he murmured, kissing Vanko’s nose. “I did call you that. Did you like what we did together?” Vanko felt his face flush. He wrapped his arms around Galahad, pressing his entire body against the larger man’s, his face into the crook of his neck. “So wonderful it was, Galahad. I’m so glad it was you into me.” Galahad’s arms tightened around him. “Promise me, Vanko, promise me you won’t ever…” he stopped short, gusting a heavy breath of air. “What?” Vanko pulled back, looking up into Galahad’s strained face. He couldn’t imagine what had upset him so quickly. “What’s wrong?” Galahad leaned down and kissed Vanko’s forehead, raising a hand to brush his hair back. “I want to get you to promise that I’ll be the only one for you. I want to bind you to me somehow, but you’re so much smarter than me. You’re so brilliant, Vanko. I think I know what you need, I believe it so much.” His fingers carded through Vanko’s bangs. “Just give me time to show you how good we can be together. That’s all I ask. I can’t stand the idea of you going to someone else. I think I love you, Vanko, I’m pretty sure I do.” 77

Knights & Cookies Vanko blinked his eyes slowly, trying to process what he was hearing. Some part of him wanted to leap up and do a victory dance like the football players he’d seen at the college. The larger part of his brain threw out an arm, stopping him from anything more than cautious hope. Galahad wasn’t sure he loved him. He was pretty sure. It wouldn’t do to bind the other man to a lifetime together based on maybes and possibilities. Vanko knew he loved Galahad. He knew without a doubt. He also understood that it was daunting to feel inferior to someone. That was the sort of thing that could make G hate him. His mind whirred a mile a minute as he considered this set of circumstances. He loved Galahad. Galahad was certainly jealous of him and most likely loved him, but felt uncomfortable with Vanko’s superior intelligence. There was no way for Vanko to pretend he wasn’t intelligent. Besides, that was lying. He wouldn’t do that. What to do, he wondered. “I am only smart about some things. And you are very much smart about other things. And, and… Um, I want only you in me. So is good, yes?” “Is very, very good,” Galahad murmured, gathering Vanko close again. “Very good,” he mumbled. “How about a little nap and we talk about this some more, hmm?” “Yes, please,” Vanko smiled. He felt sure that the two of them were on the right track. Time. That was the answer. More 78

Knights & Cookies time.

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Fourteen Galahad hit the alarm clock a second time before realizing that the noise that woke him hadn’t come from it. In fact, the noise was nothing like any alarm he’d ever heard. “Is Taylish,” muttered a sleepy voice into his neck. “Huh?” he grunted, sweeping a hand down the soft body covering him like a Ukrainian blanket. Vanko kissed the hollow under his earlobe. “Is Taylish,” he repeated in a stronger voice. G sat up, reaching for Vanko as he slid backward off the bed. He could hear it clearly now. Pounding on the door. It probably was damned Detective Taylish Morgan, he thought to himself, climbing out of the bed. “You get dressed and I’ll go answer the door,” he growled, pulling on a pair of sweat pants and stomping out of the room. The pounding continued until G jerked open the front door. “Hi, White Knight!” a cheerful bleached blonde breezed past him. “Whoa, check out those washboard abs!” he patted them with one hand. His other seemed to be carrying a rather large deli bag. “Hey there, Doc! God you’re hot!” In a lower voice Galahad heard him whisper, “so, didja get lucky?” “What are you doing here, Detective Morgan?” Galahad asked through gritted teeth. “I said I’d see you this morning. Hey, I brought coffee and 80

Knights & Cookies donuts, come on!” “So is true about police and donuts?” Vanko asked, moving around to take a paper cup full of coffee from Taylish. He had managed to avoid answering the “getting lucky” question, G noted. “Chocolate cookies?” Vanko asked hopefully. Galahad’s eyes widened when he saw that Vanko was clad in one of his overlarge t-shirts. He was going to have to make sure the other man kept clothing there from now on. It was all G could do to keep from blocking Vanko so that Taylish couldn’t even see him. “Thank you,” he said grudgingly, taking a cup of hot coffee Taylish pulled from the large deli bag. “I assume there’s more to this visit than a cup of coffee?” Taylish grinned boyishly. “Don’t you think I bring all my cases coffee in the morning?” “Not if you work vice you don’t!” Galahad snapped, taking a long sip from the paper cup. “Touché, Sir Gawain,” Taylish laughed, offering Vanko a donut. By unspoken agreement, they’d all headed into the kitchen and G made sure that Vanko was as far from Taylish as he could arrange. “You can sit next to Taylish,” Vanko smiled, as if sitting next to the detective was a privilege and he wanted G to know it was his turn. 81

Knights & Cookies Taylish was a little too amused by this as far as Galahad was concerned, but he simply sat down and scooted his chair around so that he was a tiny bit closer to Vanko. “To what, exactly, do we owe the pleasure of your company?” Galahad asked firmly. “Ahh, the heart of the matter,” Taylish quipped. He sat up straight, all business. “After thoroughly interrogating the city’s latest guests, it seems that they were paid to harass Vanko.” “What?” growled Galahad. “Yes, what?” Vanko echoed. “I’m not saying that the men that grabbed you weren’t … racist against you, Vanko,” Taylish focused his attention on Vanko. “But I did wonder how they even knew you were there--I mean, most colleges have educated people around. People who are not likely to attack you just because you aren’t from here. And, come on, this is Los Angeles. There’s so many different races to choose from, I had to wonder how they tracked you down.” “Okay, I follow what you mean… but do you have any idea who or why?” G answered him back, stunned. Vanko laid a hand on Galahad’s arm. “I don’t,” he murmured. At G’s confused look, he went on. “I don’t understand what means what he says,” he clarified, looking worried, almost afraid. Galahad turned in his seat to face Vanko. “He means that 82

Knights & Cookies even people who don’t like foreign people wouldn’t know you were here unless someone told them. You stay almost exclusively on campus, after all.” Understanding dawned on Vanko’s face and he smiled. “Thanks you,” he said, looking up through his lashes at G and then down again. Galahad grinned, leaning down to steal a kiss. “You’re flirting with me aren’t you?” A quick glance to his right surprised a soft look on Taylish’s face. Galahad arched a brow and Taylish shrugged. Galahad shook his head. So much was clear now. The irritating detective was a romantic. Taylish was romantic who was pulling for, and apparently identified with, Vanko. Upon reflection, Galahad decided, maybe he was smart enough for his little professor, after all. **** Vanko injected his new serum into three different samples of nerve tissue. One he left on the counter, one he placed in a small refrigerator, labeled carefully. The third he put in a small centrifuge and set it to a consistent speed. Turning, he repeated the process with the nerve tissue he’d treated with an approximation of his last antitoxin. His mind skipped between the startling news that Taylish had presented this morning and the events of the night before. He’d been nervous thinking of making love with Galahad, 83

Knights & Cookies nervous but determined. He shivered, remembering. Stepping back from the counter, Vanko thought about how much he liked not only what Galahad had done with him, but also what he had said while he was doing it. The other man seemed to know instinctively just what Vanko needed, what he liked. Galahad knew things about him that Vanko had never had the opportunity to learn about himself. He thought about the things Galahad had said to him and shivered. Just the memory had him half hard. The feel of G’s hand on his bare bottom. The finger as it stroked him back there. The very idea of his lover spreading him open and looking at his most private place. Vanko groaned, eyes closed tightly as he leaned on a microscope platform away from his developing nerve tissue experiment. “Are you okay, Dr. Elaschuk?” came the deep voice of the college dean. Startled, Vanko stood up straight, pivoting on his heel to face his employer. “Mr. Inkleman! I wasn’t hearing you come in!” he yelped. “You did seem quite engrossed in your thoughts,” the older man nodded, moving closer. Vanko didn’t know why he hadn’t heard the door. He needed to put a bell on that thing. That’s what was called for. A 84

Knights & Cookies bell would keep people from sneaking up on him all the time. “Yes, is okay. Was thinking of yesterday,” he hedged with a weak smile. “Was most different day.” “It certainly was. I’m sure you rue the day you ever stepped foot on America’s unfriendly shores, don’t you? Why, I wouldn’t blame you if you just decided to head back to your homeland,” Dean Inkleman moved even closer to Vanko, causing him to step back to the counter where his nerve samples and serums were developing. “Um, was only some people. Not all people are not liking me.” He looked closely at the older gentleman. “You like me nicely.” Once again he offered a feeble smile to punctuate his comments. “In point of fact, Dr. Elaschuk, I neither like you nor dislike you. Because of your heritage, I could easily hate you. But I’m far to enlightened for that.” Vanko frowned. Could the dean be saying what he thought he was saying?

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Fifteen Galahad entered the security office a quarter mile from Vanko’s lab. He wanted to go over there but Taylish had been adamant that whomever was threatening Vanko would reveal him or herself this very day, if they were given enough time. On top of that, he had had numerous nuisance calls all over campus. Now, entering his office, his eyes went straight to the face of the man seated behind his desk focused intently on a mini monitor. Taylish stared fixedly at the screen, brow furrowed and rubbing his chin. “What’s wrong, Taylish?” G murmured, stepping in behind the chair and peering over the blonde man’s shoulder. Now that he knew the detective had no designs on Vanko, he felt very comfortable with him. Taylish glanced back at him and focused on the screen again tapping it with a thin forefinger. “That guy, that’s the dean, right?” Galahad put a hand on the back of the rolling office chair, steadying himself as he leaned closer to see. “Yeah, that’s Dean Inkleman. Didn’t you meet him yesterday?” “I did, briefly. What’s he got to do with the science department?” “Well, Vanko’s work over there is good for a lot of funding for our school. And if he has a breakthrough or discovers anything noteworthy, it’s good for enrollment, name recognition, 86

Knights & Cookies and money, of course,” Galahad began. “I would guess that anything so important would garner the dean’s attention.” “Okay, yeah. I can see how that might be but…” Taylish’s statement trailed off as he stared at the screen as if the people on it had begun speaking a foreign language. “What’s the problem?” Galahad pressed. They were both law enforcement officers of one kind or another. G knew that pushing too hard would get him nowhere. “I was so sure that Dr. Jones was our bad guy here. But look at that. The body language, everything. In fact, this guy is talking so low, I can’t really hear him. But check out Vanko’s expression.” Galahad leaned even closer, cheek-to-cheek with Taylish. He was right. Vanko looked alarmed. Confused, but definitely alarmed. He turned to speak and found himself lip to lip with him. It wasn’t a kiss, not at all. But it was still far too intimate. Both men jerked back as if burned. “I’m so sorry, Tay,” he choked, “I didn’t mean…” “Ne, don’t worry, it was just one of those weird things…” Taylish absolved him quickly, his voice strained. “Not too weird I hope. I don’t have dragon breath or something do I?” he asked, chuckling, trying to relieve the tension. Taylish started laughing now. “Oh man, if you did, Vanko would let you know in a heartbeat, wouldn’t he?” 87

Knights & Cookies G burst into real laughter now, remembering the night before when Vanko had offered his assailant a breath mint. “Only Vanko!” he snickered, and then stopped short. “Vanko!” he gasped. “Yeah!” Taylish groaned, turning back to the screen. Vanko was pressed against the long counter, both arms spread and hands gripping the lip as if to hold himself up. His expression was somewhere between shock and horror. Mere inches separated the two men as the dean leaned close to Vanko, speaking in a low voice, his face set as he spoke. “That does not look good,” Taylish murmured. “No,” Galahad agreed, tone flat, worried. “Okay, we’ve got to keep them in the building. Shit. I was so sure it was the sciences guy,” Taylish spoke rapidly, pushing the chair back and walking as he talked, Galahad following close behind. “I can get another man or two but I think we ought to get a black and white over here. I don’t know what’s going on in there. Whatever it is, it’s pretty risky for the DeLane Dean of the college to risk everything.” “Yeah,” Taylish agreed regretfully. “Yeah, the more they’ve got to lose, the more dangerous they are. Or something… shit, I don’t know.” “I don’t really know either. Just it can’t be small if he’s involved.” Galahad pulled out his radio. “Ray!” he called to the 88

Knights & Cookies dispatcher in the outer office. “We’ve got a situation over at the Randall lab. I’m sending for Alverez and Franklin. Anything else comes up, send it through Lieutenant Briskin, will ya?” “Yes, sir!” the dispatcher chirped, turning to his switchboard. The other dispatcher leaned close, whispering rapidly. G left them to it. “Big set up ya got here,” Taylish approved, looking around and nodding. “Big campus, it’s nicely organized. Regular force.” “It is,” G agreed as they headed toward the lab. “Twentythousand students. But we know when to call in the big boys.” Taylish snorted, leveling a palm on the top of his head and hitting Galahad in the chin with it. “What can I say, Chief?” he laughed, “What I lack in stature, I make up for in personality.” Galahad barked a laugh. “Yeah, you do,” he agreed, patting the other man on the shoulder. “You sure do!” They were within sight of Vanko’s laboratory now and Galahad keyed his radio, lifting it to his mouth. “Alvarez, round up Franklin and meet me outside the Randall Lab. Dr. Elaschuk’s lab, yeah,” he said in response to Alvarez’s static-filled question. The other officer would need to know that this could be serious, not just another spat among students, although one of those could turn dangerous at a moment’s notice. “Okay, Sir G,” Taylish leaned close to avoid being overheard by the groups of milling students moving between the 89

Knights & Cookies buildings. “You’re the only one with a key. I know there’s got to be more than one way in and out of there, though.” “There is,” Galahad confirmed. “Its code, you know that. The door is recessed in the wall right about parallel with where you saw Vanko and the dean.” Taylish ran a hand through his wavy, too long hair, thinking. Galahad looked him over covertly. He knew that he’d have been attracted to the cocky detective if not for Vanko. In spite of his innate strength and brash demeanor, there was a vulnerability about him. He hoped that Taylish found what he was looking for, or whom. “How about this? You go in the main entrance and I’ll go in the emergency exit. He’s only one man. He can’t keep an eye on both doors at the same time. We’ll surprise him and maybe stop this before it gets too far. If he’s not our bad guy, no harm no foul.” Galahad nodded sharply. He could find no fault with that plan. Quickly he lifted his overcrowded key ring selecting one and separating it from the others. He handed that to Taylish and watched as the other man disappeared around the side of the building. <<>> Vanko fought to keep fear at bay. He’d been in many different situations in his life. Some life threatening, some distasteful, many, many unpleasant situations. Right now though, 90

Knights & Cookies he was more frightened than he had been in many years. Possibly, he decided, because he had more to lose now than he could remember ever having. Of all the things he imagined going wrong when he’d prepared to come to America, and he’d imagined plenty, never had he considered that the college dean would be trying to get rid of him. He’d met a number of people since his arrival in California. Many of them had been cold and standoffish. But Dean Inkleman had treated him nicely. Learning that the very same man he’d come to respect and admire not only wanted him out but was prepared to kill him rocked him on so many levels that he couldn’t begin to take stock. “You had every opportunity,” the dean was saying now. His voice was low and smooth, making it all the eerie in the quiet lab, only the whir of the centrifuge to counter the words he was saying. “I tried to be nice about this. All you had to do was go home.” Vanko leaned away from him, bending backward over the counter, his hand bumping the vial of toxin he’d been working with. Some part of his brain registered the thought that there was such a thing as bad good breath, too. The dean seemed to have a special fondness for spearmint and it was making Vanko nauseous . “Wasn’t nice. You, it wasn’t nice,” Vanko countered. “They cut me, that man cut me that you paid.” 91

Knights & Cookies “Mm hmm,” Dean Inkleman nodded, one hand in his pocket, the other hooking into Vanko’s collar. Wishing now that he’d grabbed a tie this morning, Vanko jerked backward still more when the older man jerked his collar, popping several buttons. “I was told that there was a hint of bloodshed.” He looked Vanko over speculatively. “You’re an attractive young man, it’s a shame.” “What is shame?” Vanko despised the squeak in his voice, though it couldn’t be helped. He was frightened and nervous. “That you would hurt me?” An eerie smile crossed the dean’s face. “Hurt you? Yes I would. And if you were American, or anything but a Communist, I would make you enjoy it.” Vanko shuddered, revulsion coursing through his body. This man was making him so sick. He didn’t bother to consider how he’d feel if Galahad were the one making these statements— he wasn’t, after all. “Am not communist. Am socialist,” Vanko objected. “Your father probably killed mine,” Dean Inkleman growled back, for the first time openly threatening. “You were born dirty.” “Um…” Vanko couldn’t imagine what to say. The man had to be unbalanced. “Um, is why you want me to go?” he asked finally. “No,” the dean stroked two fingers down the think line of 92

Knights & Cookies the cut on Vanko’s throat. “It’s money, my little Soviet, pure and simple. Who is in a better position than I am to ensure that certain things do not succeed here? I am, of course. A guarantee to pharmaceutical companies that their best-selling pain killers and trademarked drugs will not become obsolete—that’s worth a great deal of money.” “But is wrong,” Vanko countered. “Is bad.” Dean Inkleman shook his head sadly. “Your view of the world is so narrow,” he tsked. “It’s all subjective, Dr. Elaschuk. Bad is different to different people,” he murmured, pulling his hand out of his pocket. Vanko gasped. “Gun? Is gun to me?” His grasp on the unfamiliar language was fading fast. Some part of him was completely stunned that this was happening. He fought to keep control of himself. “Very good, Doctor,” Dean Inkleman oozed, pressing the very small handgun into Vanko’s stomach, just to the left of his bellybutton. “But not to shoot me!” Vanko objected. “I have love for someone. I must tell him!” “Hi!” Taylish called out exuberantly, throwing open the recessed emergency door. “No!” Vanko gasped as Dean Inkleman whirled around, squeezing the trigger on the tiny gun. Events unfolded in a scene that Vanko knew he would relive the rest of his live, assuming he 93

Knights & Cookies lived through the next little while. A bullet from the small gun struck Taylish somewhere on his torso causing him to jerk back in shock. “Fuck me! Son of a bitch shot me!” Taylish complained angrily. He reached behind him, producing a much bigger gun and aimed it at the dean. “I think not,” the older man murmured, gun pressed to Vanko’s temple now. “Back off, Dean Inkleman,” growled Galahad, moving into Vanko’s line of vision. “I would,” the dean replied smoothly, “but I seem to be neatly trapped. A standoff of sorts really,” he went on, his rusty chuckle sounding tinny in the large room. Vanko squirmed against the barrel of the gun, eyes wide with horror at the spreading red stain on Taylish’s shirt. Dean Inkleman gripped Vanko’s left forearm, not noticing his inching right hand, moving closer to the syringe of toxin on the counter. “Is impossible, Dean Inkleman,” Vanko protested, more to distract the other man than anything. “It appears that way, doesn’t it, Dr. Elaschuk?” he commented, “But I have a plan, would you like to know it?” He smiled secretively at Vanko, moving in behind him and crossing an arm over his chest. “I’m going to cock this hammer back, that’s what it’s called, right? A hammer? Well, I’m going to pull it back and get behind you, using you as a shield. Captain Miller will not want to risk your life, he is a friend of yours, isn’t he?” 94

Knights & Cookies Vanko felt his face flush. “Yes, is friend,” he mumbled. “Why, Captain Miller, you dark horse! Here I thought you were a ladies’ man,” Vanko’s captor chuckled. He nudged Vanko forward, pulling the hammer back on the small revolver. Vanko pretended to stumble, palming the lethal syringe. “Can’t get a good shot,” Taylish complained, and Vanko could hear him moving, but he was out of his line of vision. Vanko could see Galahad now, his face strained and worried, eyes hard and desperate as he searched his mind for a way to free Vanko. Dean Inkleman could see the same things as Vanko apparently. “Don’t do anything stupid, Captain,” the dean cautioned, shielded by Vanko so that neither Taylish with his large gun, nor Galahad with his slightly smaller one, could get a shot at the man. “My love to you, Galahad,” Vanko murmured, eyes blurring for a second. “Vanko,” G sighed. “Shit!” Taylish barked, apparently moving with them, hoping no doubt for any kind of a shot. Galahad moved, peering down the thin barrel of his gun, tracking them as they backed toward the wall and the door. Dean Inkleman moved the gun from Vanko’s temple to wave it at G, threatening. Vanko felt his heart squeeze tight. “NO!” he shouted, and 95

Knights & Cookies brought the needle up in an overhand arch burying the sharp metal spine in his right bicep and pushing the plunger. A shot rang out, and then another, wild, one grazing Vanko’s left hip as the dean sank to his knees. He grabbed at the syringe protruding from his suit jacket, hand flailing but missing once, twice. “What,” he gasped, “what was that? I feel numb…” “Was nerve toxin,” Vanko said coldly. Galahad rushed to him, both arms going around him. Vanko felt like ice, hatred he’d never experienced washing through him in frigid waves. “Faulty it was. Perhaps it won’t paralyze you. Maybe American drug company can find antidote.” He stood in the circle of G’s arms as the other man fussed and prodded, trying to determine his injury from the wild bullet. “I expect my father did kill yours. I didn’t meet him, but he had strong genes, to be sure,” he said frostily, watching as paralysis claimed the older man until even his eyelids drooped, no longer in his control. “Shit, Doc,” Taylish crouched down next to the fallen man. “That gonna be permanent?” He lifted one limp wrist and snapped a handcuff on it, repeating the process with the other one. “Maybe not… maybe so… was faulty,” Vanko pulled his eyes from the prone figure. “You were shootted!” he remembered, taking in the bloodstain just above Taylish’s waist. “Nah, it just grazed me, see?” he pulled his t-shirt from his jeans, to show Vanko his injury. 96

Knights & Cookies “Come to here so I can fix,” Vanko said, stepping away from Galahad. He saw the two men exchange glances but he ignored it. He felt better doing something than thinking about what had taken place. “Thanks to you for being my friend. I am there for you, too, yes?” Taylish nodded, not responding, his eyes suspiciously bright. While he treated Taylish’s deep cut, he heard Galahad calling in the appropriate authorities. It was a mental wrestling match to keep his thoughts at bay, but he managed it. Somewhere in his subconscious, he knew he’d have to face what he’d done. In addition, he was fairly sure he’d be the only doctor on this continent capable of saving Dean Inkleman. He’d have to do that, too. And he would, assuming he wasn’t arrested or something for what he’d done. He would worry about all that later. Galahad was safe and so was Taylish. He had more time. That is, he had more time if Galahad wasn’t disgusted by what he’d done. He’d held Vanko and worried, so that was unlikely, but if he was, at least he was uninjured at the same time.

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Knights & Cookies Chapter Sixteen Galahad moved over to his couch, bending to lift Vanko and scoot under him. “You okay?” he asked, truly concerned. “Am fine,” Vanko answered, sounding clipped and not really fine at all. “Vanko? This is me… talk to me, love,” Galahad urged, one arm tightening around the slight figure as he cupped a soft cheek. “How is it you have no facial hair?” Galahad blurted. “Or chest hair? You must be in your twenties.” Vanko pulled back and looked up into Galahad’s face. “Am twenty-six,” he said, his voice softening for the first time since the shooting and other events of the afternoon. Galahad shifted Vanko on his lap so that he rested on one hip, the injured one, barely grazed by the stray bullet, had a light bandage on it. Taylish had fared worse, the bullet that had hit him had dug a deeper groove at his waist. When he’d refused to have it sutured, Vanko had insisted upon a tetanus shot, regardless of when the blonde had claimed he’d had his last one. “I’m sure the bullets were clean!” Taylish had objected petulantly, all to avail. Vanko had been resolute and seeing that, he’d finally given in. Afterward, the young detective had taken himself off to his favorite bar to nurse his offended dignity and soak up whatever kudos and sympathy that he could for helping to solve what had seemed like an innocent and innocuous, nothing case. 98

Knights & Cookies “Vanko?” Galahad prodded, sure there was more going on in his lover’s mind but not sure the best way to get him to talk. Vanko leaned against his chest, violet eyes filling as he looked off into memories or thoughts that G couldn’t share, at least not unless Vanko chose to. “Is my upbringing, is my parents, my life,” he explained obliquely. Galahad shook his head, not understanding. “As a small child, a baby, my father was at war, my mother died from lack of medical care at my birth. There was small food, little vitamins. Lack of proper nourishment inhibited my growth, my maturity of body.” He was silent a few minutes. “Dean Inkleman… he says my father killed his. Is not likely. My father is his own age if he lived. Still, his father got him to place for food, health.” “Oh Vanko,” G sighed, unsure what to say. They sat together, each thinking his own thoughts for a time, until something occurred to Galahad. “You said you loved me!” he remembered. “Before all hell broke loose, you said you loved me, didn’t you?” Vanko turned a little, burying his face against Galahad’s throat. “I thought we wouldn’t have more time.” He murmured. Galahad sighed. It had been said in the heat of the moment. Vanko hadn’t meant it. But then, “I was might die. I had to tell you so how I felt. Even if it was too soon. No more time. No more chocolates cookies. No more together.” 99

Knights & Cookies Galahad’s lips curved, a smile slowly blooming across his face, buried in the soft and fluffy hair under his cheek. Vanko did love him. He already knew he needed him. They needed each other. “Oh, Vanko,” Galahad laughed, relief rising in him, a happy tide, overflowing. “Will you tell me now? Now that you’re not going to die and you can have all the cookies I can give you?” Vanko kissed Galahad’s jaw, his cheek, his chin, his lips, happiness evident in his every move. “Is I love you, my Sir Galahad,” he grinned. “I am most pleased to have a knight of my very own.” “Is I love you, too, cookie-eater,” Galahad smirked, quickly covering Vanko’s mouth in a hungry kiss. He had been so afraid, seeing Vanko with a gun to his head, so worried. “You’ll stay? You’ll stay with me?” he murmured against Vanko’s lips a short time later. “Stay?” Vanko breathed, leaning away. “I might go to jail… how can I stay?” he asked, surprised, confused and confusing Galahad while he was at it. “You’re safe, love,” Galahad promised him, losing himself in those beautiful eyes. “You injected the dean in selfdefense and you saved the asshole afterward. He’ll eventually be fine, right?” he decided it was best to be sure. “Yes, asshead will be fine,” Vanko grumbled. Galahad threw back his head and laughed out loud. Vanko 100

Knights & Cookies was a precious bundle of contradictions. Soft, hard, sweet and deadly. “I love you, Vanko, stay with me, marry me if we can. Yes?” Vanko looked hard at him for a moment. “Marry you?” he breathed. Galahad nodded. He squinted, glaring as if he were trying to look right through him. “Really?” “Really,” Galahad assured him, trying to look sincere. “Yes,” Vanko said firmly. “Yes?” Galahad verified. Vanko grinned nodding. Galahad let out a ‘whoop’ rolling Vanko carefully under him. “I love you, love you,” Galahad murmured, nipping at him through the large white t-shirt. “This is so sexy,” he confessed. “Is all of you sexy,” Vanko smiled up at him. “My knight in shining… ardor,” he laughed. For a long time, only heavy breathing and sucking, loving sounds and murmurs were heard. Finally, Galahad lifted his life partner and made his way to what would soon officially be their bedroom. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he intended to provide cookies and vitamins for Vanko in the morning. Tonight, he would fulfill his role as Vanko’s knight in shining ardor. After that, they would live happily ever after.

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