A Trial of Strength

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 375 By Rob Williams

CHAPTER 375 – "THE AUSSIE VERSUS THE GYPSY"

IN THIS CHAPTER:

Pete, the handsome Forest Ranger, smiles down at his boy Brandon. "That's how I want my boy – butt naked – `cos this Ranger is horny as hell and he wants your ass, boy." Later Pete joins Adam and Jason in a plot against boss Randy. Adam grins, "Hell, a rugged Aussie, a muscle-jock fireman and a macho forest Ranger – pretty tough group. So let's do it, guys. Let's teach that big stud gypsy a lesson." _____________________________________________________________________

************ In the previous chapter *************

The tribe was still reeling from the rift between its two founders – Bob and his long-time lover Randy. The hotheaded construction boss Randy had become infatuated with the newcomer, the macho Hispanic Miguel, and they had spent time together on a fishing trip, having more-or-less nonstop sex, ignoring any ramifications that might result in the tribe.

What made it much worse was that when they came back to the house Randy was still all over Miguel, ignoring and humiliating Bob. That had set off a chain of sometimes violent events that only now were calming down.

Miguel had made his peace with the man he really loved, Zack. And he had also sought forgiveness from Bob, who understood how Miguel, new to the tribe, could so easily have been seduced by Randy's sexual magnetism, as so many men had been before him.

Any lingering ill-feelings between Bob and Miguel had quickly transformed into mutual respect – and lust. After an intense sexual workout Miguel gasped, "Man, that was out of this fucking world – a great revenge fuck."

"You can call it revenge if you like, buddy," Bob smiled. "I think of it as a forgiveness fuck."

But there still remained the seemingly unbridgeable chasm between Bob and Randy. Bob had made the first move by telling the chastened Randy that he could move back into the master suite with him, but he had installed a second bed in there. "And no, Randy, that does not mean things are back to normal between us. At this point I'm not sure they ever will be. But we can still be civilized about this, even though I am still too mad at you to even share a bed with you.

"I'm still angry and disappointed about the way you ... well, the things you did ... and I'm sorry for the rift between us. But it's different from the other times, Randy. This time you met another man and ... fell in love, lust, infatuation, whatever ... and ignored and humiliated me. It looked to the whole tribe as if I had been kicked to the curb like yesterday's trash.

"Oh, and full disclosure, since there's no reason now to be coy about it, this afternoon I made my peace with Miguel by having sex with him." Seeing that familiar spark of resentment in Randy's eye he added, "No, he didn't fuck me, though there's no reason any more why he shouldn't. But this time I fucked him ... and it felt great."

So that night they slept apart, though when Bob heard the unmistakable sounds of Randy masturbating he smiled to himself in the absolute certainty that when Randy shot his load it was Bob's image he saw in his mind.

Earlier, Bob and Randy had had an uncomfortable dinner with a few of the other guys and their boys, including the Aussie from next door, and the cop Mark. The two men barely spoke during the meal and after they left the table early Adam gave a mock shiver and said in his Australian drawl, "Brrr ... was it just me or did any of you blokes feel hell freezing over tonight?"

In his frank Aussie way, he added, "Look, I think it's about time some of us guys nudged things along a bit. Mark, you and Zack are too close to this, but some of us kept our heads down when the bullets were flying. Me, Jason, Pete and our boys, we all kept our distance. So we weren't seen as taking sides, which makes it easier for us to do something now, with no worries. I'll have a chat with Jason and Pete and see if we can come up with something."

"Can't do any harm," Mark said. He grinned, "Hell, an Aussie, a fireman and a forest Ranger will make a pretty tough group – not to mention knock-em-dead gorgeous. So go for it, guys."

Adam put their plan into action the next morning. When Bob stirred awake the first thing he became aware of was that his chest was smothered in semen. He looked over at Randy's empty bed and realized that Randy must have got up early and jerked off over him while he slept, before going to work. Bob got hard at the thought of the big naked gypsy spilling his load all over him. He lay back with a smile and was stroking his cock slowly when the phone rang.

It was Adam. "Hey, Bob, sorry to wake you so early but I'm about to go to work and I wanted to catch you before I left. I was talking to Jason, saying that we haven't spent much time with you lately. A bunch of us guys – Jason, Pete, me and our boys – are getting together Wednesday evening to work out at Jason's place, then hang out and eat dinner. Seeing as how you're spending a lot of time alone these days, we'd really like for you to be there."

After a moment's hesitation Bob said, "Well yeah, Adam, that would make a nice change after everything that's been going on here. So sure, thanks."

Adam added, "Oh, er, probably better you don't mention it to Randy, seeing the way things are between you two. Don't wanna stir up any more animosity, eh mate?" Bob found that comment rather odd but agreed. He probably wouldn't have mentioned it to Randy anyway.

Next door Adam put the phone down and grinned at Jason who was standing next to him. "It's in the bag ... your turn now, fireman." Jason dialed Randy's cell phone and delivered an almost identical request to him.

Randy was a bit taken aback but said, "Hell, god knows I've got nothing else going on these days, Jason, so sure, thanks, I'll be there. It's always kinda hot working out with our musclehunk fireman, watching you flaunt those muscles in the mirror."

"Oh, and Randy," Jason added, "probably best not to mention it to Bob, seeing the way things are between you two. Don't wanna stir up any more animosity, eh?"

"Shit," Randy said with a note of bitterness, "why would I tell him? We ain't exactly on speaking terms these days – not so you'd notice. So good, see you Wednesday."

Jason put down the phone and high-fived Adam. "I hope you know what you're doing, stud," Jason chuckled. "When they see each other there it could lead to the mother of all fights."

"Ah, no worries there, mate," Adam drawled. "I know those blokes real well and I can see that iciness between them is beginning to thaw. We just need to turn up the temperature a bit is all."

"Well," Jason chuckled, "turning up the heat should be no problem for three hot guys like us, eh? Hell, an Aussie, a fireman and that that hunky Ranger Pete? We'll be more than a match for them. Should be quite an event."

******************** CHAPTER 375 *********************

Adam had talked about the ice beginning to thaw between Bob and Randy but there was not much evidence of that when the two men were together. At mealtimes they mostly talked to the other guys, and conversation between the two didn't rise much above the `pass-the-salt' level.

At night when they were alone in the master suite the tension was even more pronounced. Their stiflingly polite but soulless remarks to each other only accentuated the bleakness of the atmosphere in the room – silence would have been more bearable. Bob found himself spending the after-dinner hours with the twins, returning to the bedroom only when it was time to sleep.

The one blatantly incongruous factor in this arctic climate was that both men sported stiff boners at night, which they took pains to hide from each other. Their erect dicks were beyond their control, as the mere physical presence of the other man always had that effect. Lust had no respect for hurt feelings ... cocks had a life of their own.

The absurd result was that both men, who had barely exchanged civil words all evening, surreptitiously masturbated under the covers after the lights were out, each fantasizing about making love to the other. And in the morning Randy always left for work early so as not to have to fumble with polite breakfast conversation.

But there was no breakthrough in sight. Bob's hurt went deep and he was determined not to repeat his reactions of the past when Randy had misbehaved. At such times Bob had, after a short period, forgiven him and they had healed the breach by making love. But not this time.

And Randy, fully aware of the mistakes he had made and the humiliation he had subjected his lover to, was now lost in the weeds, with no idea what to do, and he reacted instinctively with an obstinate, sullen silence. It was a standoff, and Bob found himself looking forward to the evening at Jason's with Adam, Jason, Pete and their boys. At least there would friendship and laughter and he would be free of Randy's company for a while.

Of course, he was unaware of the tangled web being weaved by those men, a web that would ensnare both Randy and Bob like two trapped, hostile flies.

One of the couples who had managed to stay clear of the recent mayhem were Pete and his boy Brandon. The handsome forest Ranger was low-key by nature, a strong silent type who looked on with amusement (or disapproval) at the volatile events of the tribe. His boy Brandon, despite being in a wheelchair, was fiercely independent and more gregarious than his master, talking frequently with the other boys Eddie and Ben – the self-styled `three amigos'.

Brandon also kept in close contact with his friend Brian at the Grady House, also in a wheelchair and the much loved boy of Grady and his Italian lover Mario. Grady was the new big-budget movie Tarzan, and the pressure was building on him as the movie's premiere approached. Privacy and security were adamant at the Grady House and Brandon was one of the few to have the gate code so he could come and go without being announced.

In fact Brandon had been visiting with Brian at the big house when he received a call from Pete that he was already home from work, earlier than he expected. Brandon said to Brian, "Oops, gotta go, dude. My man's home, and I'm always there to help him unwind after work."

He quickly hauled himself into his truck and pulled the folded wheelchair in after him. The truck had been adapted for hand controls by Pablo and Darius, the senior boys and the company's mechanics. He now sped down the hill to the bungalow he shared with Pete, half a mile up the road from the tribe's compound. Pete was at the door waiting for him and smiled affectionately and proudly as Brandon expertly lowered his wheelchair to the ground then eased himself into it and rolled over to Pete.

"Sorry, sir," Brandon said, "I should have been here to meet you with the cold beer and snack you always like. I didn't realized you would be back so soon, or I ..."

"Hey, hey, don't beat yourself up, kiddo," the Ranger smiled, ruffling Brandon's hair. As they went indoors he said, "I wish you'd quit that master/boy thing. I think of us as good buddies, here to love and help each other, so whoever gets home first gets the beer. See?" He indicated the two beers on the table in front of the couch, along with chips and dip. "Here, come sit with me."

"Just a sec," Brandon said. He wheeled himself to the kitchen and came back with wedges of lemon. "Dos Equis is always better with a squeeze of lemon," he grinned. He maneuvered his chair round the table and eased himself out of it and onto the couch next to Pete. Pete knew better than to offer help to his boy, especially as his independence in the house had been assured by Randy.

When Randy and Bob had bought the bungalow Randy had completely retrofitted it to make it totally wheelchair accessible before they rented it to Pete. So to Brandon, Randy was a hero, as he was to so many of the boys, with his often-proven fierce protection for all the young guys. Of course, like all the other boys, Brandon also loved and respected Bob for his unfailing kindness to them all, so the rift between the two men had been especially painful to him.

And it was this subject that now, predictably, came up first. "So," Pete said, sliding his arm round Brandon along the back of the couch. "Tell me all about your day up at the Grady house. You have fun with Brian? Did you see Grady?"

"Oh sure, sir, me and Brian always have fun. He is totally changed from the shy, insecure kid I first met. Comes from being loved by a movie star I guess. While I was there Grady came home from the studio all tense after a tough day. So Mario whisked him off to the bedroom where they fucked, as always, and when Grady reappeared he was totally relaxed, as gorgeous, kind and funny as ever."

"Er, did they mention anything about this party at Jason's tomorrow that we're going to?"

Brandon eyes opened wide. "It was all anyone talked about. `Course, you know how Grady loves gossip, but he and Mario have been real troubled by what Randy did with Miguel and the split between him and Bob. Well, Jason's party seems to have something to do with that, but ..." his eyes opened wider ... "no one knows anything about it – even Eddie, and he knows everything. Sir, you know the grapevine, how the boys get to know stuff. Well not this time. It's something cooked up between Adam and Jason and they're being real tight-lipped."

"But how can that involve Bob and Randy?" Pete asked. "I mean, Jason and Adam can't have invited both of them there together. That would be crazy. The way things are between those two right now it would be asking for trouble. And anyway, they'd never show up."

"I know," said Brandon conspiratorially, blinking behind his black-rimmed glasses. "We called Ben and even he don't know much even though he's Jason's boy, except that they've ordered up dinner for at least six' whatever that means. Course, Ben can't cope with that so he's called the twins and they're going down to help in the kitchen."

He paused, tapped his nose and smiled another conspiratorial smile. "If you ask me, sir, the twins may know something no one else does, but you know them. You couldn't get a secret out of those guys with a stick of dynamite."

Pete roared with laughter and ruffled Brandon's hair again. "You boys do love a good mystery, don't you? Well, I guess we'll find out for ourselves tomorrow evening." He smiled suggestively. "In the meantime, kiddo, when I was driving home it wasn't just a beer and a lemon wedge I was looking forward to. You know what a hot day patrolling the forest can do to a Ranger."

"I'm on it, sir. Leave everything to me." Brandon pressed closer to Pete, reached over and unbuttoned his shirt. He ran his hand under the shirt and over his T-shirt, feeling his pecs flex underneath.

"Now we're getting somewhere," Pete grinned. He took off his shirt, pulled his T-shirt off over his head and sprawled back on the couch. He man-spread his legs, displaying the bulge under his uniform pants.

Brandon took off his glasses, leaned over and licked the Ranger's muscular chest, bit his nipples lightly then ran his lips down the cleft between his pecs, over his washboard abs, then down to the belt of his pants. Then suddenly he clamped his mouth over the bulge in his pants and breathed hot air over it. Pete raised his hips and moaned, "Shit, boy, you know what I want. I want your fucking mouth on my prick. Come on, boy – eat my cock."

Brandon loved it when the usually soft-spoken Ranger raised his voice in simulated anger, which spurred Brandon on to greater effort to please him. With his teeth he pulled down the zip of the pants, reached inside with his tongue and, after much tugging and sucking, succeeded in pulling out the thick hard rod.

"I said eat it, boy," the Ranger growled.

"Yes, sir," Brandon said crisply, and licked the whole length of his master's long shaft. Then he lowered his mouth over it and didn't stop until his face was buried in Pete's damp pubic hair, without gagging once. "OK, kiddo, give me the full treatment your pal Eddie taught you."

"Yes, sir," came the muffled sound from the cock-stuffed mouth – and Brandon went to town using all the tricks of the technique he had learned from Eddie. His head pistoned down and up until the head of the cock swelled in his mouth on the cusp of orgasm. Then he stopped and licked the cock before swallowing it again, gently this time, feeling the Ranger's body shudder under him straining for release.

"Fuck you boy, you're playing with fire. I could bust my nuts any second and we both know where I really wanna shoot – inside my boy's sweet ass."

Having been toyed with, moaning with frustrated desire, the macho Ranger took charge. He grabbed the boy's hair and pulled his face off his cock. He got to his feet, his huge cock still protruding from his pants, picked his boy up bodily, carried him to the bedroom and laid him gently on the bed.

He reached down, pulled off Brandon's T-shirt, then his shorts and stood back. "That's how I want my boy – butt naked – `cos this Ranger is horny as hell and he's gonna fuck your ass, boy. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir. Definitely, sir."

Pete knelt between the boy's legs that lay lifeless on the bed. Brandon reached down, curled his hands behind the knees, pulled his legs up and draped them over Pete's shoulders. Pete smiled, "Always independent, eh, even when you're about to get butt-fucked."

"Pretty much, sir," Brandon replied proudly. "Only one thing I couldn't do is if you ordered me to `go fuck myself'."

"Why would I tell you to do that when your ass belongs to me, kiddo? Though come to think of it, it would look kinda hot. But until your pal Eddie teaches you how to do even that you're stuck with a Ranger's cock in your ass. You ready for that?"

"Ready and willing, sir."

Pete chuckled, "I love you, kiddo. OK, here it comes." The shirtless Ranger pressed his cock against the boy's warm, moist hole and entered him. Brandon gazed up adoringly at the Ranger's lean muscular body and his handsome face with the smiling pale blue eyes. He took a deep breath and exhaled with a sigh as he felt his master's rod slide inside him. This was the moment he loved best, when he gave his ass to the man he loved.

Pete reached down and teased Brandon's nipples with his fingertips. "Feel good, kiddo?"

"Your cock feels so good in my ass, sir. I love it when you make love to me."

"Well there's plenty more where this comes from, kid. Now like you said to me earlier – `I'm on it – leave everything to me'."

So Brandon relaxed in his little patch of heaven. His disability had given him a hilly road to climb in his young life but he had ended up here, living in a California bungalow with a handsome man, a macho Forest Ranger, who loved him and who, right now, was filling his ass with his dick.

"How do you want it, buddy?" Pete smiled.

Brandon's eyes sparkled. "Hold me down, sir."

Pete leaned further forward and pinned Brandon's wrists to the bed above his head. "My hot young prisoner," Pete said, "arrested by a Forest Ranger who pins him down and fucks his ass. The Ranger's gonna keep the young dude locked up, his property, and he's gonna face-fuck him and butt-fuck him every day.

"He's never gonna let him go. He'll force him to be his houseboy – clean the house, cook his meals, take care of all his needs, and whenever the Ranger feels horny he's gonna rip the boy's clothes off, throw him on the bed and fuck him. You're trapped boy – never gonna get away."

"Who says the boy wants to, sir?" Brandon smiled. "Maybe that's all the boy ever wanted, to be safe and loved." He grinned roguishly. "That, and forced to bust his load all over himself."

"Ah, so that's what the kid wants. Soon take care of that." Pete pinned both of Brandon's wrists with one hand and grabbed the boy's cock with the other, all the while driving his cock deep in his ass. "Now, the other thing the Ranger wants is to make the captive boy fall in love with him. And to prove it the boy will have to cum all over himself while he looks in the Ranger's eyes."

As their eyes locked Pete stroked Brandon's cock and fucked his ass in sync so Brandon felt he was fucking and getting fucked at the same time. But the most important thing was that Pete was making love to him, and the joy that gave him was enough to make him cum. "I'm real close, sir. It feels so good. That Ranger who's kidnapped the boy, is he gonna let him cum?"

"He's gonna make him cum. Like this ..." Pete drove his dick in faster and pounded the boy's cock harder. Brandon looked up and watched the Ranger's body flex, saw it shudder, saw the head thrown back, heard the howl ... and felt the cock erupt inside him as his own semen raced up from his balls and splashed over his tingling body. It was the moment of ultimate union between man and boy as they stared into each other's eyes and climaxed together.

When their cocks had drained Brandon looked up at Pete and blinked his big round eyes. "Sir, is that mean Ranger still gonna keep the boy prisoner?"

"Forever and ever," the Ranger said, pulling out and lying beside him with his arm round him.

Brandon gave a long, satisfied sigh and surrendered to the magic of the moment, imagining the future Pete had described. But in looking forward there was a small cloud hanging over the picture. After a long silence he said, "Sir, I was thinking. See, the other men have senior boys – Randy has Pablo, Bob has his twins, Zack has Darius, Mark has Jamie, Adam has Nate. And I'm just a junior boy. Does that ever bother you, sir? I mean, me being handicapped and all."

"Hey, that's enough of that, kiddo," Pete said sternly. "Those guys are only senior boys `cos they've been in the tribe longer than you. But you, kiddo, are the toughest and bravest boy I've ever met – senior, junior, whatever. And the most important thing ... look at me kiddo." Brandon gazed into his eyes. "The most important thing, Brandon ... you're my guy. Simple as that. You're all I could ever want."

Brandon snuggled against him and, after a long, comfortable silence, Pete asked, "Er, do you like this bungalow, Brandon?"

"What? Of course, I love it, sir. It's our home."

"Good, `cos I've decided to buy it and put it in both our names. You know we rent it right now from Bob and Randy, but I've been speaking to Bob and he's agreed to sell it to us. So it'll be all ours, our home, forever."

Brandon's eyes misted over and he kissed Pete. "Thank you, sir. Thank you so much ..." then he choked up.

"Hey, kiddo. How about we stay home for dinner tonight just the two of us? We'll both cook and hang out here all evening. Sound good?"

"Sounds perfect, sir. But, er, you know what that Ranger said about ordering the boy he's captured to cook for him? Well it don't quite work like that. See, the Ranger gives orders – except in the kitchen. When me and the Ranger are in the kitchen together, I'm in charge, that has to be understood. And the Ranger takes orders from the boy."

Pete threw his head back and laughed. "Aye-aye, sir. You're the boss."

Pete came home from work early the next day and he and Brandon got ready to go down to Jason's house. "It's always real casual at Jason's place," Pete said. "Seems it'll start with a workout session in the gym Jason's got there on his patio. He always works out when he gets home, and you know how addicted he is to that – and the sight of himself in the gym mirror. I guess if you're as gorgeous as that guy you're allowed some vanity."

Brandon grinned. "Especially if you're in a fireman's calendar where every boy's August page is sticky with cum that he's spurted all over it. Eddie and me did a survey and it seems every boy in the tribe has a copy of that calendar under his bed. Ben, Eddie and me, the three amigos, have often sat and watched Jason work out, jerking off and seeing who cums first. Eddie always wins, him being `Hassan's little gusher' and all. Er, is it OK with you that I jack off looking at Jason, sir?"

"Huh, I'd think there was something wrong with you if you didn't kiddo. And if it happens today, that's fine with me too."

They drove down the hill in Brandon's truck. Pete always took every opportunity to let Brandon take charge, and driving his own truck was one big way of demonstrating his independence. They crossed Figueroa and went down to the rustic Arroyo Seco where Jason's house was nestled in trees by the stream. When they went through the gate Ben came rushing up to them.

"Dude, you made it," he said, bending down to the wheelchair, and hugging his buddy. "Hello, sir," he said, holding out his hand respectfully to Pete, always slightly intimidated by the imposing Ranger.

"Hey, Ben," Pete smiled, shaking his hand. As always Pete was taken aback by how much Ben was a junior version of his big brother Randy. His youthful, dark gypsy looks, long black hair and compact, muscular body made it likely he would grow into a man much like Randy, on whom Ben naturally modeled himself. But for now he was very much one of the fun-loving `three amigos' and a best buddy of Brandon.

"The twins are already here," Ben said, "doing their thing in the kitchen. I tried to help them, show them where everything was, but I was just getting under their feet so they kinda hinted I should come out here and watch the men work out. See, Jason and Adam are already at it."

They were indeed. They were a stunning sight and Pete, Brandon and Ben stood at a distance to admire. The blond fireman and the tall, dark Aussie where both wearing only gym shorts and sneakers and their workout was as competitive as usual, with definite sexual overtones.

Right now they were hanging from facing chin bars in friendly rivalry, pulling themselves up in a series of chin lifts, watching and admiring each other's straining, sculpted physique, in a race to see who would give up and drop to the ground first. The bars were so close that, if they eased their hips forward, their bulges under their shorts would scrape against each other, prompting lecherous taunts and curses.

They were so equally matched that eventually exhaustion overcame them at the same time and they dropped to their feet together. They laughed through heaving breaths and Adam said in his Australian drawl, "You cheated, mate, with that crotch thing you did. Hell, staring at you and feeling your dick pressing against him would weaken any man ... make him as useless as a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest."

"Bullshit," Jason laughed and turned to the mirror. "Look at that fucking body – you may have been the hottest guy in Sydney but you're no match for that." To prove his point he flexed in a few bodybuilder poses that Adam immediately matched, posing beside him."

"Good on ya, mates," came a shout from Adam's boy Nate who had just come out from the kitchen, applauding as he watched the two gym jocks in their homoerotic pose-off. Then he caught sight of the new arrivals. "Hey, Pete, Brandon. Good to see ya, mates. Come and watch the show."

They pulled up lawn chairs and sat on either side of Brandon's wheelchair. Jason and Adam, still engrossed in their spirited rivalry, had eyes only for each other as Jason lay back on the bench-press and Adam stood behind his head to spot him. Adam curled his hand lightly round the bar as Jason took the strain and did ten easy reps raising and lowing the bar to his chest.

As he lifted, Jason looked up at Adam standing over him and saw his long cock hanging down in his shorts. After he dropped the bar in its cradle he suddenly reached up under his shorts and grabbed his cock. "Aaagh, fuck you, man," Adam howled. He leaned forward, grabbed Jason's crotch and squeezed it hard, and within seconds they were wrestling on the ground in a tangle of rippling muscles and churning limbs.

Awestruck, Brandon reached over and grabbed Ben's hand and they grinned at each other, eyes sparkling. Pete chuckled. "You guys wanna jack each other off, go for it. Don't get much hotter than that."

But just at that moment the two wrestlers rolled off the patio and onto the lawn, only feet from the onlookers. Suddenly they stopped and looked up from the ground at Pete and the three boys. "Hey," Jason said, pulling himself up on his knees. "Well that goes to show just how rude a host can be – ignore his guest while he gets it on with his gym buddy."

"No sweat, Jason," Pete grinned. "That floor show was worth the price of admission any time."

Jason reached forward and hugged Brandon in his chair. "Let that be a lesson, Brandon, on how not to host a party. I am no role model. Like I always say to Ben, "Don't do as I do, kid – do as I say."

All three men got to their feet and they were effusive hugs all round. "Hey Ben," Jason said, "how about you bring out the snacks the twins have made?"

"Let me help," said Brandon. "I wanna say hi to the twins."

After they left Pete said to Adam and Jason, "OK, guys, so when are you gonna tell me what gives here? What's all this in aid of?"

"OK, mate," said Adam. "I'm real sorry about all this weird cloak and dagger stuff but we have a plan that'll only work if we keep it quiet. Hell, you know that if one hint gets out on the grapevine it's common knowledge in minutes. So we kept it just between us two and Nate here." ..."

"Though I have a feeling," Nate grinned, "that the twins may have worked it out. You know how those guys get wind of everything, but they seem to communicate with each other by telepathy and their lips are shut tighter than a fish's arse. Sorry, mates – an old Aussie saying."

When the laughter died down Adam said, "OK, Pete, here's the deal ..."

When he'd heard their plan Pete smiled, "Well I'm all for it guys, but you really think it'll work? Seems to me there's a lot could go wrong."

"Too right, mate, that's why we all gotta play our parts carefully. As for the last bit, I'm betting that no matter how bad Randy's feeling there's one thing he would never let happen."

The boys came out with the refreshments, mostly piled on Brandon's tray table so he could barely see over them. Just as they were spreading them out on the low table in front of the chairs, the gate opened and Bob came in.

Jason jumped up, walked over and hugged him. "Perfect timing, dude. We were just taking a breather and your twins over there in the kitchen have come up with these nibblies. Sit down, man, take a load off."

After the heavy atmosphere up at the house it was like a breath of fresh air for Bob to be greeted by the handsome fireman's smiling face, especially as his flawless body was pumped and gleaming under the late afternoon sun. "I came prepared for a gym workout and here you are stuffing your faces," Bob laughed.

"Ah, you missed the warmup but we got more things planned if it's action you want, mate," smiled Adam as he came up and gave Bob a man-size hug. Feeling the rugged Aussie's hard, muscular body pressed against him, Bob's cock stirred in his gym shorts. He said a warm hello to Pete, then Nate, then scooped Ben into his arms and swung him round. "Hey there, my gorgeous young gypsy boy. Looking better and buffer than ever."

When they came to a halt Bob hugged him longer than usual, a subtle hint that whatever animosity existed between him and Randy it certainly did not extend to Randy's kid brother.

Then Bob dropped to his knees to give Brandon a hug and a kiss on the lips. "How you doing, kiddo?" Then lowering his voice, "How's that big mean Ranger been treating you?"

Grinning behind his glasses Brandon said, "He treated me real mean last night, sir, but nothing I couldn't handle."

"You can handle anything, I know that, stud – even a horny Ranger – especially a horny Ranger. Hey, so congratulations, you and Pete are gonna buy the bungalow. I couldn't sell it to two nicer guys."

"Thank you, sir. I'm real excited ... I got plans for the garden already."

And so the company settled into a light-hearted, boisterous half hour of laughter and gossip, especially about Grady and his upcoming movie premiere. "And," Nate said, "drumroll please ... rumor has it that our very own movie star Brandon here is gonna be at the premiere and is actually gonna roll down the red carpet."

Brandon blushed and blinked hard. "Well, I only had two short scenes in the movie, and they were almost by accident. You know Grady took me to visit the set one day and the boy playing the kid in a wheelchair supposed to be lost in the jungle and rescued by Tarzan didn't show up. So the director used me. That's all."

Pete beamed proudly. "Kid, what have I told you? Modesty will get you nowhere. Fact is, guys, he was so effective that they wrote in a second short scene where Tarzan delivers him safely to his parents. It turned out to be a real moving family kinda thing and, as proceeds from the premiere go to a charity for handicapped kids, the studio decided that when Grady shows up on the red carpet with his leading lady who plays Jane, Brandon's gonna be there with them."

"Just a gimmick," Brandon mumbled but Ben said, "Dude the crowd's gonna go wild. You'll prob'ly be blinded by flashbulbs."

"And talking of flashbulbs," Jason said, "how about we strut our stuff a bit more. Bob, you came ready for action so let's have it. Adam, you gonna do the honors?"

Adam went over to the patio gym and said, "OK, guys, here's the deal. You know how me and Jason get real competitive when we work out, so we thought we'd have a real contest – arm wrestling – involving all four guys here, two to a team. There'll be heats first, and the two winners will go on to the final. And that's where it gets interesting, `cos the winner of the final gets a prize which is ... another drumroll, Nate ... the loser's ass!

"And just to make it a bit more colorful, the loser also gets this ... ta-da!" Adam pulled a black leather collar from a hook on the wall. There were a few groans from the others and Bob said, "Bit corny, don't you think, buddy? Kinda `been-there-done-that'."

"Hey, don't rain on my parade, buddy. You know me – hottest leatherman in the Sydney leather bars – so indulge me a bit, eh mates? It'll look real pornographic – the loser on all fours, collar round his neck for that extra bit of humiliation, getting his ass ploughed by the victor."

"Well," Bob said with a grin and a shrug, "if you put it like that, stud. What do you think, boys? There were loud enthusiastic shouts from Ben, Brandon and Nate with much pounding on the table. "Well, I guess we can take that as a yes," Bob grinned. "OK, Adam ... you're on."

The four men, all now in just gym shorts, gathered on the patio and Nate joined them as referee. Hearing all the noise the twins came out of the kitchen and sat on a bench beside Brandon, with Ben on his other side. The men drew straws and Nate announced the teams. "Here we go mates – it's Jason versus Bob ... Adam versus Pete. OK, gentlemen, take your places."

Just then they heard the screech of tires on gravel outside the gate. There was a long, silent pause, the gate opened and Randy came in, straight from the construction site. "Sorry to be late, guys. Work was a bitch. What did I miss?" Then suddenly he froze as he caught sight of Bob in the group on the patio – the last man he expected to see here.

"What the fuck?" the gypsy growled, clenching his fists. "What the fuck's going on here?"

Adam was the first to react. He broke into a beaming smile, strode over to Randy and shook his hand, forcing him to unclench his fist. "Glad you could make it, Randy ... better late than never. Actually you arrived at an interesting moment – the games are about to begin."

"Cut the crap, man," Randy growled. He pointed at Bob. "What's he doing here? You told me not to tell him I was coming here."

"They told me the same about you, Randy," Bob said, recovering from his surprise. "I swear I knew nothing about this until you walked in."

"This is fucking bullshit," Randy snarled, "and you're all a bunch a' assholes. I'm outa here?" He turned on his heels and nearly stumbled over the wheelchair that Brandon had rolled up behind him. "Oh, it's you," Randy said, his tone softening. "You in on this plot too, kid?"

Brandon looked up and blinked innocently behind his glasses. "No, sir, didn't know anything about it. Honest, sir, it's the truth."

"Yeah, yeah, I know you'd never lie to me, kid." Randy had always felt great admiration and affection for this gutsy kid. "Did I hurt you when I bumped into your chair?"

"No, sir, you would never hurt me. But, sir, I'm glad you're here, and I'd really like you to stay. See, when Pete fights with the other guys, even if it's only arm wrestling, I get a bit nervous."

As Randy hesitated, Ben stood up and held out his hand for a handshake. "Hello, sir. I'm glad you're here too."

"Dammit, boy, I don't shake hands with my kid brother. Come here you little tyke." He pulled him into a tight hug, then looked at his shining eyes. "I s'pose you're nervous too, eh, cos your man Jason's gonna fight too. "Fuck, this is all bullshit ... I didn't come here to hold you boys' fucking hands just cos you're scared."

"Well how about this, sir?" came Kyle's voice. Randy turned to face the twins. Kyle was holding a beer and Kevin had a plate of chicken wings. Kevin said, "We know when you get home from work you like an ice-cold beer and a hot snack."

Randy looked from the smiling twins to the eager upturned faces of Brandon and Ben. He always had a soft spot for the boys so he weakened a little. "This is all a fucking conspiracy, but OK, I'll stick around for one beer, is all."

Nate brought up a big comfortable canvas chair and said, "Good on ya, sir – here's your chair. The sides have already been chosen for the match but feel free to join in whenever you want."

"Yeah, like when hell freezes over," Randy growled. "One beer, I said, and that's it."

Randy slumped in the chair between Brandon and Ben and sullenly took a hit of beer. He grabbed a chicken wing and pulled it apart savagely in his teeth, as if it were a proxy for what he wanted to do to the men who had ambushed him.

But then mercifully everyone's attention focused on the patio and the tournament about to start. The two teams sat at opposite ends of a long table. The rivals shook hands, then took up the traditional position, elbows on the table, forearms raised, hands locked. "OK, mates," Nate said. "The two heats will take place simultaneously. On my count of three. One ... two ... go!"

As is usually the case there was no movement at first as the two couples locked eyes and got the measure of each other, increasing the pressure with their forearms. The boys held their breath as they watched. Despite the tension in the air caused by Randy's arrival, the four shirtless musclehunks were a stunning sight – the handsome Aussie locking eyes and arms with the rugged Ranger; the gym-jock fireman flexing his muscles and staring into the superman face of the magnificent Bob.

Randy was feigning indifference. After his arrival he had studiously avoided eye-contact with Bob, but now that Bob was concentrating hard on Jason's face Randy allowed himself to gaze at him. And the result was the inevitable hard-on in his pants as he stared at the intense look on Bob's chiseled features and the flexing biceps and shoulders as he strained for advantage against the bare-chested blond fireman.

Even as he concentrated hard Bob's mind was still churning, trying to work out what all this was about. Adam and Jason had obviously conspired to bring him and Randy together, but for what reason? Randy was still in a gruff, stubborn mood and Bob was still not ready to forgive him. So what the fuck was going on?"

Suddenly he was jerked back to the task at hand as he heard a triumphant shout and a bang on the table. The other match had ended surprisingly quickly, given the equal muscular strength of Adam and Pete ... and Adam was the winner. Even as he strained against Jason Bob sensed something fishy about Adam's quick victory, and that idea was reinforced when suddenly the strength seemed to leave Jason's arm, which Bob easily slammed down on the table.

"Gentlemen," Nate shouted, "the winners of the heats – Adam and Bob. Jason smiled at Bob and said, "Dude, I was distracted by the shout from Adam and lost my concentration." They shook hands and it seemed to Bob they both knew that wasn't the reason for Jason's defeat.

Pete and Jason good naturedly joined the other spectators. Brandon recalled the quick conspiratorial meeting Pete had had with Adam and Jason, and when Pete sat next to him he leaned over and whispered in his ear, "You threw the fight, didn't you, sir? You let Adam win."

Pete grinned and ruffled his hair, "Like I always say, kiddo, you are a very smart boy."

Their attention was drawn back to Nate who proclaimed, "So the final is between Adam and Bob, and let me remind you gentlemen that the winner will receive this prize ..." he took the leather collar and held it up ... "which he will buckle round the loser's neck prior to fucking him up the ass. So, mates, no time to rest, let's get right down to it."

Adam flashed a gleaming smile at Bob as they shook hands. "A worthy opponent, big guy," Adam said. "Can't remember when I last shoved my Aussie dick in your perfect ass ... except in my dreams."

They assumed their positions again and after Nate's three-count they were once again locked in combat. Bob and Adam were close friends – they respected and admired each other and had the same cool, easy-going self-confidence. They often hung out together, and whenever Adam and Nate had a disagreement Adam would come next door for Bob's advice.

And now, as Bob looked at Adam's finely etched features, his smiling brown eyes, short dark hair and tanned muscular physique, he realized how much Adam must have been hurt by the rift between Bob and Randy. So that's what this was all about."

Straining hard, Adam grinned and panted, "You've worked it out, haven't you, mate? Took you long enough. Now you understand why I have to do this." He inhaled sharply, flexed his superb body ... and slammed Bob's arm down on the table. Between heaving breaths he grinned, "Sorry, mate – it's the only way we could think of."

There were cheers from the spectators ... except, of course, from Randy whose expression had got darker and grimmer as the contest wore on. But once again Nate demanded attention. "OK, mates, it gives me great pleasure to present the prize to my friend, my best mate, my lover and fellow-Aussie ... Adam!"

Ceremonially he laid the heavy leather collar on Adam's outstretched palm. Adam raised it up for the cheering crowd, like a triumphant fighter holding up a championship belt. "And now," he said, "so there's no mistake who's boss around here ..." Adam dropped his gym shorts and walked naked to the corner of the patio where he picked up a studded leather harness, part of his leather gear that he now pulled over his back and crossed it over his chest.

The crowd gasped ... they could see why Adam had been such a star on the leather scene in his native Sydney. Tall, handsome, muscular he looked magnificent, naked except for the studded black harness crossing his chest and accentuating the mounds of his pecs. He acknowledged their cheers, then turned to Bob with a twinkle in his eye. "And now I claim my real prize."

Gazing into Bob's soft brown eyes he gently buckled the collar around his neck, murmuring quietly, "I love you, man." Then out loud, "OK, man, you know the rules. On the ground."

Obediently Bob dropped his shorts and got down on hands and knees, facing the spectators, a spectacle of macho subservience to the near-naked leather master who had beaten him in the contest. "To the victor go the spoils," Adam proclaimed, "the spoils here being this gorgeous man's ass."

Suddenly there was a disturbance in the group. Randy stood up, fists clenched and strode over to Adam. His steel blue eyes pierced Adam's and he snarled, "Take that fucking thing off him."

"What? No, Randy, no can do." Adam was a dominant alpha male in temperament as well as appearance and he was not scared of Randy. "Mate, you know the rules – this is the game we play – we run a contest ... heats ... a final ... and the winner takes the loser's ass. Tribe's rules, it's always been like that, eh guys?"

"Too right, mate," said Nate and the other's shouted their agreement. Bob looked up and said, "It's OK, Randy. Adam won, I lost."

"Be quiet," Randy snapped, then looked back up at Adam. "I don't give a shit about your fucking rules, there is no way in hell you are gonna fuck that man." Shouts of objection came from the men in the group and Randy's eyes blazed. "OK, you wanna fuck ass, stud? The winner gets to fuck ass? So fuck mine, not his. Fuck me instead."

Adam's gaze flicked over to his co-conspirators Jason and Pete who grinned back jubilantly. "You mean ... substitute?" Adam asked incredulously. "Some other guy takes the place of the loser? Hey, Nate, you're the ref. Give us a ruling."

Nate shrugged and stroked his chin. "Never been done as far as I know. Nothing in the rules say you can." More murmurs from the crowd. "On the other hand," Nate said, "there's nothing in the rules say you can't. So I guess if everyone agrees ..." The shouts from the group made that clear, so Nate said. "OK, gentlemen, we have a substitution. Take your places."

Adam leaned down and pulled Bob gently to his feet. With a knowing smile he unbuckled the collar, then kissed him. "See?" he said. Bob did see – everything. He gave a long, lingering look at the stoic Randy, then went and sat down next to Pete.

Adam turned to Randy and said, "OK, big guy, you asked for this. Matter of fact, you've been asking for this for some time." With an icy stare he held up the collar, which Randy snatched from him and defiantly buckled round his own neck. With their eyes still locked Randy pulled off his tank top, kicked off his work boots and dropped his jeans. Adam stared at the naked gypsy and growled, "On all fours, stud."

Randy assumed the position Bob had been in only moments before and braced himself for what he knew was coming. The raucous cheers and shouts of encouragement or objection – all of that died to a tense silence. There were no more words – only action.

The Aussie muscle-jock with the leather harness across his chest stood behind Randy and stroked his already stiff cock to iron hardness. Then he dropped to his knees and grabbed Randy's hips from behind. He pushed his rod between the ass cheeks and said, "See, me and all the guys love Bob and when he gets hurt we get hurt. So this is from all of us."

"Aaaagh!" Randy's howl echoed round the arroyo as Adam drove his dry shaft into Randy's ass like a pile driver. The gypsy's muscular body shuddered as the second blow came, harder and deeper than the first. And so the pounding began, ferocious, merciless. It was immediately clear to everyone that this would be a brutal fuck, inflicted on the macho construction boss by Adam on behalf of the whole tribe as punishment for the way Randy had treated Bob.

After his first bellow of pain Randy typically clamped his jaw shut and prepared to endure the onslaught in silence. He knew what was happening, that all the plots and preamble had been working up to this moment.

And he knew he deserved it. He knew that inevitably this ferocious punishment would be doled out by one of the senior men, probably Zack he thought, and he now accepted that the task had fallen to Adam, a man he respected as strong, dominant and honest. And the best part was that it was happening in front of Bob, the man he loved, his life partner whom he had wronged and humiliated. It was a graphic sexual demonstration of his shame and repentance.

And so he gritted his teeth as pain spiked through him from his ass, enduring the Aussie's brutal fuck that was pitiless and relentless. Randy had withstood many physical attacks in his life – fist-fights, floggings, and brutal fucks – but this was up there with the most savage, as the powerful leatherman unleashed all his muscular strength on his ass.

Adam reached forward, grabbed the collar at Randy's neck and pulled his head back so the onlookers could see the agony in his dark, stubbled face. "Look at them, man," Adam drawled. "Look at the men you disappointed – look at the beautiful man you insulted."

Despite the discomfort of watching their leader get savaged it was a truly homoerotic spectacle. They gazed at the muscle-god construction worker, every sinew flexed, veins throbbing, his long black hair flying over his rugged gypsy face pulled back by the collar round his neck. He was being broken and degraded by the macho Australian whose muscles rippled under the studded leather harness, one hand curled round his victim's collar, the other raised high in the air.

The group gazed in awe at the erotic scene, though their reactions were mixed.

Jason and Pete, who had been part of the plot, had the satisfaction of seeing their plan working better than they could have hoped. They had been sure that Randy would never sit still and watch Bob get fucked, but their gamble had been that Randy would offer himself in Bob's place. That gamble had paid off, after their little charade over whether the rules allow substitutions. It was a fitting punishment for Randy and, they hoped, the beginning of a reconciliation between the two men, born in the crucible of passion and pain.

The senior boys, Nate and the twins, who were not surprised by the turn of events, watched without emotion, though the twins were privately pleased that their aggrieved master was being avenged, and Nate was quietly thrilled to see his man Adam demonstrate his dominant power.

The junior boys Brandon and Ben were holding each other's hand tight, Brandon comforting his young gypsy friend through the ordeal of watching his idolized big brother get pounded. On the other side Brandon was squeezing Pete's hand, seeking reassurance from his clear-sighted master that this was the way it had to be.

And what of Bob? The effect was strongest on him. He loved Randy, of course, his lover and soul-brother, but they had been estranged ever since Randy's unpardonable behavior with Miguel. But Bob had a sense that his own anger and need for retribution had culminated in this savage act – and he wanted it over, once and for all. He stared hard at Randy whose tortured eyes were fixed on him. Even from this distance and under these circumstances, it was the look that always united them body and soul, where they saw themselves in each other's eyes.

And then Bob gasped and whimpered as he saw the amazing sight of tears filling Randy's eyes, overflowing and pouring down his cheeks. The silent tears became sobs and the group looked on in stunned silence at the spectacle of the tough gypsy boss weeping as Adam's cock pistoned in his ass.

They all knew that a jack-hammering like this could never break Randy to the point of tears. He had withstood worse pain without a whimper. No, these were not tears of pain, they were tears of contrition, tears of shame as he gazed at the man he loved and had hurt so badly.

Adam knew that the climax was approaching and he had to end it. He could feel the strength ebbing from Randy' even as he drilled his ass, and could see that the body was heaving not from pain but from wracking sobs. "You've had enough, mate," Adam shouted. "You deserved this, and I had to do it, but you're still one hell of a man and I admire you. It's a privilege for me to do this – to shoot my jizz in your ass. Here it comes, big guy."

Adam piled on all his strength, fucking faster and harder, pumping his fist in the air and jerking back on the collar. "Here it comes, man ... yeah ... fuck ... yeaah!" He buried his shaft deep inside the shattered ass and it erupted in a pent-up flood of semen that filled the ravaged gypsy, oozing out of his ass and trickling down his legs.

At last Randy screamed – throwing his head back and howling like a wounded animal, then slumped forward on his stomach, a broken, shattered man. He raised his head and through his tears saw Bob staring at him. As Adam at last withdrew his cock from his ass Randy began to crawl, dragging his tortured body painfully over the grass, tears streaming down his face.

As he came close he reached forward, grabbed Bob's leg and pulled himself the last yard until his tear-stained face was pressed against his leg and he sobbed, "I'm sorry, man. I'm so sorry."

Bob, teary-eyed himself, reached down and unbuckled the collar from around Randy's neck, a first symbolic step on the long road to forgiveness, the spectators all hoped.

The first one to react was Ben who came up to Bob and said timidly, "Sir, this morning Jason and me fixed up the bed in the guest room. If you would like to ..." He trailed off with a shrug. Bob looked up at the young gypsy face and smiled through his tears. "Thank you, Ben, that would be great. Could you, er, give me a hand?"

The other men stirred but Bob said, "Thanks, guys, but Ben and I can manage." Together he and the boy helped the naked man to his feet and supported him into the house. In the guestroom Randy sank onto the bed on his back, careful to relieve the pressure on his sore ass.

"Sir," Ben said, "would you like some water or something else to drink?"

Randy managed a grin. "A Scotch would be great, kiddo, straight up." Ben scampered away and Randy sank back on the pillow and closed his eyes. Ben returned with a bottle, poured a glass and left them both by the bed. He cleared his throat, took a deep breath and said, "Sir, I just wanna say that I love you, sir, you're my hero. You were awesome out there, sir, and made me proud to be your brother." The gypsy boy blushed, fearing he had said too much.

"Thanks, kid," Randy said, reaching over to ruffle Ben's hair. "I needed to hear that. You're the best, and I'll make all this up to you one day soon, little brother, I promise." He downed the Scotch in one gulp, then lay back and closed his eyes again, exhausted. Bob hugged Ben, kissed him on the forehead and the boy left the room.

Bob sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at Randy who, eyes still closed, was taking deep breaths. He had seen Randy do this before after a beating. He had a knack of self-healing, restoring his bodily strength quickly, though his self-confidence took a bit longer.

"After a long silence Bob said softly. "Randy, look at me." Randy opened his eyes but couldn't bring himself to make eye contact.

"I said look at me, Randy."

Finally their eyes met. "Randy, we have a long way to go to put things right, and the first thing I'm gonna do is take you away for a few days. I'll ask Jamie to let us use his cabin in the dunes up the coast. We'll be all alone up there on a deserted beach, just us two, no-one else – like the way we were when we first met. Sound OK?"

"Whatever you say, buddy," Randy said meekly but with a trace of a smile.

"But before that," Bob continued, "there is something you have to do for me. It's important, and you have to do it right here and now."

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 376

Hey guys, this is Rob Williams. I hope that chapter got you off, and I welcome your comments and suggestions, which can be very helpful in planning future chapters. E-mail me in confidence at rw6789@aol.com.

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