A Trial of Strength

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 377 By Rob Williams

CHAPTER 377 – "THE COP TAKES REVENGE ON THE GYPSY"

IN THIS CHAPTER:

To celebrate Bob and Randy's reunion Bob's boys make love to each other. For the handsome identical twins it is like looking in a mirror as one brother submits to the other. Only one score remains to be settled – the cop Mark must take his revenge on Randy. "The shirtless blond cop glared at the rugged gypsy construction boss handcuffed to the fence, his ripped T-shirt hanging in shreds over his bare chest." _____________________________________________________________________

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

After Randy's disastrous infatuation for the new guy Miguel and his thoughtless humiliation of his lover Bob, it seemed as if the rupture between the two men was a permanent one.

In a final attempt to relight the spark of the intense love they had formerly shared, Bob and Randy had gone up the coast to the remote Guadalupe dunes to see if the wild, isolated spot could work its magic. For it seemed that nothing short of magic was what it would take.

Some vestiges remained, primarily the carnal lust they had always felt. Both men sported stiff boners at night, which they took pains to hide from each other. The mere physical presence of the other man always had that effect. Their erect dicks were beyond their control, and lust had no respect for hurt feelings ... cocks had a life of their own.

But physical lust was all there was. Gone was the passion, that inexplicable union of souls they had felt for each other since the day they met. Bob's mind was a jumble of conflicting emotions and, needing time to himself to think things through, he jogged off two miles down the beach to the empty shack of their friend Zack.

All alone there, he tried without success to resolve his confusion. It seemed like the end of the line for them and Bob decided to go back and break it off with Randy face to face. But as he walked off the patio one of the steps broke, he fell badly and twisted his ankle.

He tried to stand but the pain was excruciating. He knew he couldn't walk. Instinctively he looked up for Randy – and the truth dawned on him. He was alone ... Randy was two miles away, waiting for him. And when Bob didn't come back Randy would assume that he was staying the night in Zack's shack, that it was all over.

"It was all over? "No!" he yelled to the wind. He wanted Randy here, he needed him ... he needed him, suddenly more than ever before. Bob felt that his world had crashed in on him. That world where he had been happier than ever before in his life, a world where he loved and was loved. He needed to get to Randy. He gazed into the interminable distance, and started to crawl ... painfully dragging himself along the wet sand, his eyes searching the mist for the invisible spot where Randy was waiting for him.

Randy had taken a nap and, when he woke up, wondered why Bob was not back yet. He shaded his eyes and looked along the length of the beach. Nothing. An immense sadness swept over him. That was it. Bob must have decided to call it quits and spend the night alone In Zack's cabin. That was the only explanation ... unless ...

Unless there was trouble ... Bob could be in trouble. Was it just Randy's paranoia, his overly protective impulse? No ... his foreboding intensified, it was not imagined. He could almost hear Bob's voice, in that eerie telepathy he had experienced in the good old days.

The good old days. He wanted them back ... he loved Bob, and deep down he knew that, despite all the bullshit, Bob loved him too. The real kind of love, not the watered-down `buddy' crap they had been going through the last few days. What if Bob needed him, needed his protection? There was only one thing to do.

Two miles down the beach Bob was struggling. His arms were already tired from dragging himself forward but he had managed to go barely a hundred yards. He paused to catch his breath and yelled in desperation "Randy!" but the only answering sound came from the seagulls.

In the past Randy had always protected him, had always folded his arms round him, made him feel safe. He had always come when he was in trouble ... and he was in trouble now. He imagined his arms round him now, imagined his deep soothing voice, imagined his eyes, those loving blue eyes that he longed to look into again. The hopelessness of his predicament sapped his energy and he dropped his head on the sand.

But then something made him look up. His eyes peered into the distant mist and he saw a small speck almost lost in the spray. He fixed his eyes on it, fearing that if he looked away it would disappear. It had to be Randy. With his last reserves of adrenaline Bob crawled forward again frantically, trying to lessen the distance. But his ankle was throbbing, his strength failed and he again fell exhausted on his face in the sand.

He must have passed out for a few seconds because the next thing he heard was, "Buddy, what happened? Don't move ... let me ..." He felt hands hold him and gently push him over on his back. Bob opened his eyes and found himself staring into those mesmerizing blue eyes ... eyes he loved ... eyes in which he could see his own reflection ... at last.

"Randy," he stammered. "I'm sorry ... the things I said ... the way I ... I didn't mean ..."

"Buddy," came the calm, resonant voice. "I love you, I always have. I never stopped. Now tell me what happened." Bob told him and pleaded, "Please, Randy, leave me here, go get the truck and come back for me."

"And leave you here alone? Hell no." Randy slid his arms under Bob's back and lifted him up bodily. "I'll never leave you again, Bob. You're coming with me."

And so, without once faltering, Randy stoically carried his lover two miles along the beach back to their shack where he laid Bob gently on the bed. Using damp strips of his own T-shirt he expertly bandaged Bob's foot and ankle. "Good, a cold compress. Now for your medicine."

He pulled out the brandy bottle the twins had loaded for them, poured a large one for Bob and for himself, and they clinked glasses. "Many Happy Returns, Bob," Randy grinned and they drank deeply. Bob started to speak but Randy said, "No, buddy. No more talk, no more bullshit. I'm in charge now and – first things first – I'm gonna make love to you ... I mean really make love. It's about time."

The spell was broken, the nightmare was over. It was as if the shackles of shame that had restrained Randy these last days had fallen away and he was free to be Randy, with that self-confidence bordering on arrogance that Bob had come to love. "No more `sorry', no more regrets, no more fuckin bullshit," Randy said. "I love you man – can't live without you. And you can't live without me ... look at the mess you just got yourself into. So you're gonna stay with me even if I have to chain you to the wall."

"Promise, promises ..."

"Yeah, well that'll have to wait. Right now I'm gonna make love to you, win you back." As Randy gently slid his cock in Bob's ass he said, "Let me look at you, you gorgeous hunk."

And they did look, barely blinking, staring deep into each other's eyes. And it was back – the magic was back. They saw themselves reflected in each other's eyes, reflected endlessly like infinity mirrors as they gazed into each other, soul-deep.

They made love, more passionately than ever before. And when it was over they lay in each other's arms and Randy smiled, "Now I'm gonna look after you and that bad ankle. You won't be too mobile at first so you'll have to depend on me. You ready for some tender loving care?"

"Well, loving sure. But don't go overboard on the tender. Maybe it's time that caveman crawled out of his hole."

"You are such an asshole," Randy grinned. "God I've missed you. Welcome home, buddy."

******************** CHAPTER 377 *********************

They lay in bed for a long time savoring the joy of reunion. They didn't fuck ... that physical part of their relationship had never been threatened as the two beautiful men had secretly nursed boners in their shorts and jerked off at night fantasizing about each other.

No, it was the mysteriously passionate love they had shared that had evaporated, driven away by their own human frailty – Randy's inexcusable betrayal and Bob's visceral response of anger, devastation and a grinding sense that Randy had deserted him.

It had taken something as mundane as a sprained ankle to bring them to their senses. Their forced separation made them realize how much they needed each other, loved each other, had shown them once again that they could not live without each other.

So now they made love with their eyes rather than their loins. Endlessly they gazed into each other's eyes, surprised by joy, as if meeting their kindred spirit for the first time. They marveled at their own reflections, two souls becoming one again after a painful separation. As Randy had said earlier, "Stuff like this don't go away, buddy. You can't kill this ever ... even if I sometimes do a damn good job of trying," he grinned.

The big savage gypsy, had never been so tender, kissing Bob's eyes, his forehead, his cheeks, then running his tongue across Bob's lips as a prelude to a kiss that quickly grew ever more intense. Time stood still as they caressed each other in the dim stillness of the cabin, lit only by the sunlight through the slatted window blind that striped their faces and bodies.

Time may have been suspended, but their human appetites had not and eventually cried out for attention. "Hey, buddy," Randy said. "You hungry? My body sure needs refueling after all that fresh air and the two-mile hike carrying you."

"Now that you mention it, yes," Bob said. "Like they say, man cannot live on love alone – though I wouldn't mind trying. I'll break out some of the provisions the twins packed for us." He moved to get off the bed but howled as he put his bandaged foot on the floor."

"Hey, don't push your luck, big boy. You're my patient now and I prescribe bed rest. Wait here."

Randy went outside, grabbed his tool belt from the back of the truck and picked over a pile of old lumber at the back of the shack. Bob heard hammering and sawing and smiled to himself, wondering if he would ever understand the determined construction worker. A few minutes later Randy reappeared with, "Ta-da ... look at this."

"I'm looking – oh yeah, I'm looking." Grinning like a loon Randy was naked with his tool belt slung round his waist, his massive cock swinging between his thighs. "No, stupid ... look at this." He was holding up a wooden crutch he had just put together. He folded a towel over the handle and said, "Try it on for size, buddy."

Bob took it and, with Randy's help, pulled himself to his feet, or rather his foot, keeping his other foot raised with the help of the crutch. "Perfect," he grinned. "If our construction company ever goes under you can always make a living in hospital equipment."

Randy opened the supplies the twins had packed. "Shit damn, those guys of yours have made so much food here we could withstand a siege. We may never have to go back to civilization."

"Suits me," Bob grinned. "I gotta call the twins and thank them – and let them know that things are ... you know ... OK again." In their present euphoria that was a major understatement.

The twins were in their kitchen in mid-afternoon, having provided drinks and snacks to the men and boys who had gather out by the pool – Mark and Jamie, of course; Jason and Ben; Adam and Nate; Pete and Brandon. It was a spontaneous gathering and an anxious one – rather like a family with a sick relative, waiting for word on the patient's condition.

In the kitchen the twins too were concerned, even though they had expressed confidence to Bob before he and Randy left, that everything would turn out well. With the twins everything was doubled – every joy, every fear, every anxiety – as each felt not only his own emotion but his brother's too as it was identical. They were soldiering on with plans for the big welcome home party they had promised, in the belief that there would be something to celebrate.

The tension in the kitchen was so elevated that they jumped when their cell phone rang. They put it on speaker phone and exchanged excited looks as they heard Bob's voice. They knew Bob and his moods so intimately that as soon as he spoke they knew it was good news.

"Hey, guys ... how are the plans for the party coming along?"

"Just hunky-dory," Kyle said. "So, er, can we assume it'll be a celebration, sir?"

They heard him chuckle. "Well it's what you predicted and you two are never wrong. So yeah, celebration it is. Let me give you the speed-read version ... we took the boat out and I creamed my shorts watching Randy row ... then I twisted my ankle at Zack's shack and was starting to crawl back when Randy came and rescued me ... he carried me the two miles back along the beach, laid me on the bed and made love to me ... I mean really made love."

The twins high-fived each other as Bob continued. "Now the big guy's taking care of me ... even made me a crutch, and he's outside on the patio right now setting up the dinner table. Yeah, I know, that's something you don't hear every day of the week – Randy setting up dinner."

"That must be love!" Kevin said.

"You bet it is, kiddo. 'Course, he won't have to do any cooking – that would be a stretch – `cos the food you made us looks terrific."

"The food of love," Kyle laughed.

"As it turns out, yes. OK gotta go now, kids, and let Randy play doctor. Just wanted to give you the good news." After he hung up the twins gazed at each other with shining eyes and fell into a prolonged hug.

"So what's all this?" came Eddie's voice. "Something I can stay and watch?" The inquisitive, talkative, much-loved boy had just come from the laundry room with clean kitchen towels. "So what's the occasion?" As the brothers broke apart, Eddie saw their sparkling eyes and said, "You heard from Bob, didn't you? And they're back in love. I always said everything would turn out right. See, I know about this stuff. If ever you want a heads-up ...

"Eddie," Kyle interrupted, "maybe you should go out and break the news to the others?"

"What? Oh sure!" Picturing his role as the good-news messenger Eddie ran outside yelling, "Hey, guys, listen up. This is major stuff ..."

"It'll be all over the grapevine in ten minutes," Kyle grinned.

"Five," Kevin added.

If this was to be a celebration the twins would kick it off. Under their serene facade they were very excited that Bob, the man they idolized, was happy and back with Randy. And when they were this happy they had to share their joy – by making love.

Randy had once carved a "Do Not Disturb" sign for them that they now hung on the door to the staircase leading up to their apartment over the kitchen. They closed the door firmly, behind them and went up to their bedroom where they stood smiling at each other. "He sounded real happy didn't he?" Kevin said.

"You think they're making love right now?" asked Kyle.

"'Course they are."

The identical twins reached up and pressed their palms against each other, looking exactly as if they were standing in front of a mirror. Then, synchronizing even the smallest move, they unbuttoned each other's shirt slowly, pulled the shirttails out of their shorts and shrugged them off. They ran their hands over the other's chest then leaned forward and kissed.

A passing observer might have seen only one boy making love to himself in the mirror, such was the exquisite precision of their movements. Just as their earlier anxiety had been doubled, so now was their happiness, in that uncanny infinity mirror effect where each boy felt his own joy, conveyed it to his brother and had it reflected back, knowing what his brother was feeling.

Over the years these two handsome twins had lived for each other, protected each other and made love to each other. Which they were doing now. Simultaneously they unzipped each other's shorts and let them drop. They stepped out of their flip-flops, gazed at each other's flawless naked body, then held hands and moved to the bed.

In the silent telepathic language they shared it was decided that Kevin would be first to offer his ass. He lay on the bed while Kyle dipped his fingers in a jar of lube by the bed. He knelt on the bed stroking his cock while Kevin put his hands behind his knees and pulled back his legs, displaying his ass to his brother.

Kyle leaned forward and teased his twin's nipples in his fingers while he wordlessly pressed his cock against Kevin's hole and slid it tenderly inside, deep inside, and they sighed identical deep sighs. Nobody but the identical twins could ever comprehend the infinite pleasure they experienced as one brother fucked the other. Again it was that intricate double ecstasy, with each feeling the other's joy, as if they were fucking and getting fucked at the same time.

They gazed into each other's light brown eyes, making love with their eyes, their hands, their penises and their conjoined souls. Their hands moved in unison, caressing nipples, necks, faces and eyes. When they reversed positions and Kevin was on top there was scarcely any difference, as each shared his brother's pleasures equally.

The beautiful twins with their flawless bodies made love for a long time – fucking, getting fucked, kissing, hugging, laughing with joy at the pleasure they were giving each other. And when at last they felt their climaxes approaching, that too was conveyed with a simple smile.

They pulled apart and got on their knees facing each other. As they had done so often in the past they reached down and stroked each other's cock. Gazing deep into each other's eyes it took only a minute before they uttered one word in unison ... "Now!" Their breathing grew heavy, their heartbeats raced ... and they laughed joyously as their cocks spurted semen that rose high and splashed down on their brother's chest.

They kissed again, a long and tender caress, and then lay on the bed facing each other, lost in each other's eyes. This was what they lived for, each other – living together, working together and loving each other. And all this had been made possible by Bob.

They had spent their young lives going from one foster home to another, always under the threat of being separated, which they could not have survived. When that threat grew imminent they had run away and lived rough, culminating in their attempt to steal a car to live in. That car had been Bob's and they were stopped by the senior boys and threatened with arrest by Mark.

But Bob, glimpsing something special in the striking twins, had pleaded with Mark for leniency and they had stayed in the tribe. Bob had promised them faithfully that, no matter what the future held, they would never ever be forced to separate.

Now, as they lay smiling at each other, they luxuriated in the knowledge that they were Bob's boys and the loved and respected chefs of the tribe. They were safe and happy, and they had the joy of knowing Bob was safe and happy too, no doubt in Randy's arms at that very moment.

"We have to make this special, bro." Kyle said. "This will be a big day, calls for a major event."

"Yeah, and don't forget that two days from now, Saturday, is the premiere of Grady's big Tarzan movie. Danny and Tommy are planning a big day up at the Grady House, but by all accounts they're a bit overwhelmed."

"So obviously we should combine forces," Kyle said. "Let's call them."

It was half an hour later that they went back down to the kitchen where they found Eddie hopping impatiently from foot to foot. "Hi, guys, at last. I saw the Do-Not-Disturb thingy so I thought you must be ... you know ..." His impish grin said it all. "The guys outside were wondering about dinner and whether I should start cooking in case you guys can't cope."

"Can't cop?!" the twins said in unison, hands on hips and fixing Eddie with a withering look.

Eddie raised his palms defensively. "OK, OK, bad choice of words maybe."

"Eddie," Kevin said, "you can tell the guys that dinner will be ready in an hour."

"And also," Kyle grinned, "as you seem to be the Town Crier around here, you could announce the other news. We've been speaking to Danny and Tommy and the celebration for Bob and Randy, combined with Grady's big day, will be all day Saturday, up at the Grady House."

"Wow! Leave it to me guys. I'll spread the word in no time." Eddie ran outside yelling, "Listen up, guys – major, major stuff here."

The twins giggled and set to work at the counter, side by side as always.

The tentacles of the tribe's grapevine were so long that word of the party plans soon percolated up even as far as the Guadalupe dunes. But in fact, the focus of the party, Bob and Randy's reconciliation, was being celebrated already in a haze of euphoria and love making in the shack, on the beach and in the waves.

Finally the men surfaced into the realm of basic human needs, such as hunger, and, as the sun was setting, the men were sitting on the patio eating the dinner that had been pre-packed by the twins. Bob looked across the table at Randy, his sculpted gypsy features even more surreally handsome in the approaching twilight. Bob's happiness was so complete that it scared him and he asked, "All this is real, isn't it Randy?"

Randy grinned, "No, asshole, it's all your imagination and soon your gonna wake up and discover the whole thing has been a dream right from the beginning. You'll find yourself in that sleazy bar you went into all those years ago by chance when you were passing through L.A."

"I wouldn't mind that," Bob smiled, "as long as there was a big sweaty construction worker on the barstool next to me who would invite me to crash in his motel room for an hour or two."

"Yeah, them were the days, eh? But since then you've come a long way, baby. That sweaty construction worker climbed off his barstool and now he's your lover and you're the leader of a tribe of gorgeous men and boys."

Bob sighed, "Who are, even as we speak, planning a big party to celebrate our reunion along with Grady's Tarzan movie premiere."

"Yeah, that's Saturday too. I guess the studio has such high hopes for the movie they're pulling out all the stops for the premiere. Is it true our young Brandon is going with Grady?"

"Seems that way," Bob said. "Although he had only two small scenes in the film – just a couple of lines – it's grown into quite a PR thing as they decided that the charity to benefit from the premiere will be disabled youngsters. Brandon calls it a stunt and he's not thrilled about being the poster boy for the disabled, but when he shows up on the red carpet with Grady and the leading lady who plays Jane, the studio thinks it'll appeal to the family audience."

Randy grinned, "So when women watching TV at home are oohing and aahing about the cute kid in the wheelchair, a lot of the guys will be jerking off looking at Grady and fantasizing about getting butt fucked by Tarzan."

"Buddy, you can be so crude, sometimes. Correct, but crude."

"Yeah and that's just the way you like it, big guy, down and dirty. Come on, let's fuck."

They stayed the night and another whole day at the shack, reluctant to leave the afterglow of reconciliation. It wasn't until late in the evening of the next day that they reluctantly packed their gear in the truck. They took one last look over the beach and the water lit silver by the low moon. "Well," Bob smiled, "Mark said this place has a way of working magic and he was right."

"With a little help from a certain gypsy who wouldn't take no for an answer," Randy chuckled.

It was so late when they arrived back at the tribe's compound that everyone was in bed – all except the twins. When the men walked into the master suite the beaming twins were standing at a table of snacks and drinks with napkins over their arms like waiters.

"We figured you probably wouldn't eat dinner before you left and might like some refreshment before bed," Kyle said.

"What I need is a hug," Bob said, prompting a round of hugs between men and boys.

"You kids are terrific," Randy said. "And you always knew how things would turn out. You should pitch a tent and tell fortunes. I know gypsies who make big bucks doing that."

It wasn't long before Bob and Randy fell into bed exhausted, and slept in each other's arms until late the next morning. It was Saturday, the day of the tribe's gathering at the Grady House. Randy rubbed his eyes and groaned, "Shit, we're gonna be late for our own party."

The twins had left breakfast in the room for them before they had gone up to the Grady House, but Randy ignored it and started to grope Bob and squeezed his ass. "Down, tiger," Bob grinned. "Later. We're supposed to be guests of honor at this shindig and all you wanna do is fuck." He pulled himself off the bed and sat at the table. "Come on, stud ... eat now, fuck later."

Growling objections Randy grudgingly sat facing Bob and after a quick breakfast they hit the shower. It should have been a quick shower but two oversexed muscle gods like these, running soapy hands over naked bodies, were easily distracted from the events of the day. So it was noon before they got dressed, Bob in cargo shorts and polo shirt, Randy in jeans and an old work tank top."

"No, Randy, you're not on the construction site now. Here, put on this clean T-shirt."

"Fuck you, man," Randy grumbled, but did as Bob had instructed. "You order me around now you pay later, get it?"

"Got it, Randy. Now let's get the hell out of here."

Ten minutes later Randy's truck pulled up at the massive gates of the hilltop estate of Grady and Mario, and Randy leaned out and pressed the buzzer. Inside young Brian was on gate duty, sitting in his wheelchair watching the security screen. "They're here," he said excitedly to Eddie who went outside to spread the news to the assembled group of men and boys."

"Hello, sir," Brian said on the intercom. "Welcome home, sir, and welcome to the Grady House."

"Hey, kiddo, cut the crap and open the fucking gate. You keep us waiting any longer and I'll fuck your ass when I get in."

"Yes please, sir," came Brian's voice as the big gates swung open. Most of the tribe was already there and a cheer went up as Bob and Randy got down from the truck. Mario, their host, ran up to them with a beaming smile, looking handsome in casual slacks and a pale blue linen shirt unbuttoned halfway down and flapping open over his chest. "Benvenuti, Signori, e congratulazione. Together again you are a feast for the eyes."

Randy grinned, "Talking of feasts, you Italian hunk, you look good enough to eat ... and I might just do that. You get hotter every time I see you."

"Grazie. I apologize for Grady who is upstairs making himself beautiful and in a bad mood, growling that he doesn't want to go to get all dressed up in his tux and go to his premiere."

"I'm sure you have ways of changing his mood, Mario," Bob smiled.

"I do, Bob, but that would risk getting semen on his tuxedo. Not the best look on the red carpet."

The other men crowded round adding their congratulations on healing the rift between them, making up for lost time when hugs had seemed inappropriate under threatening storm clouds. Unlike Bob, Randy was never totally comfortable with a lot of socializing, and when he looked around and saw Brian sitting in his wheelchair on the edge of the crowd he broke free.

With a gleaming smile he bent down, lifted Brian out of his chair, whirled him around and gently replaced him. "Hello, sir," Brian said shyly, his big round eyes blinking fast.

Kneeling on one knee Randy kissed his cheek and said, "So how's it hangin', kiddo? They treating you OK up here? Like I always say, you have any problems you give me a call and I'll take care of it."

"Thank you very much, sir, but the guys are very good to me." He blushed. "Last night Grady fucked me while Mario watched and shot all over us."

"Glad to hear it, kid. I always say the best way to treat a boy is fuck him as often as you can. It's always worked for Pablo and me."

"I bet, sir," Brian smiled, and then frowned slightly. "There is one problem, sir, that maybe I shouldn't mention at a party. You know the security fence that you and the police officer Mark erected all round the property. Well, Danny and me were taking a look at it the other day and we think there are a couple of weak spots."

"Thanks for telling me, kiddo, but don't worry about it. I always inspect it when I come up here. A day like today we have to make doubly sure, eh? Is Mark here?" Randy spotted Jamie. "Hey, Jamie. That cop of yours here yet?"

"No, sir, he's working, but his shift ends right around now and he's coming here straight from work. Hey wait a minute ... that sounds like him now. The gates swung open and Mark strode in in his police uniform. When he came up here he often came on his police motorcycle and left it outside the gate. As he always said, "Nothing like the sight of a police motorbike to deter any stray paparazzi or snooper."

Randy ruffled Brian's hair then walked over to the gate and shook Mark's hand. "Hey, buddy, I'm glad you're here `cos young Brian tells me there might be a couple a' breaches in the security fence. Before you change your clothes and join the party you wanna do the rounds with me and give it the once over? Don't want any intrusions today of all days."

"Sure, I was gonna suggest it anyway as a matter of routine. Let's go take a look."

This was the first time Randy had really spoken to Mark since all the trouble with Miguel and Randy's rift with Bob. They had not yet made their peace and Randy was aware of a certain stiffness in Mark as they walked off together through the grounds.

They walked inside the perimeter of the extensive grounds in silence at first, stopping to check on portions of the security fence backed by high bushes. They found the weak spots Brian had mentioned and Randy said, "I'll hook up with Zack later and we can fix these real easy."

Another uneasy silence as they walked to the farthest corner of the grounds where the security consisted of a heavy chain-linked fence and dense trees. They stopped to check it out, then suddenly Randy turned, locked eyes with Mark, and said, "We got unfinished business, officer."

"Yeah, we do," the cop said. "You wanna tell me about it?"

Randy sighed, "Man, I've been such a damn fool with that new guy. I really hurt Bob and humiliated him in front of all the guys. But I did the same to you too, buddy. After Bob and Pablo, you are the guy I love most, you know that. Hell, Bob and us were a threesome. I've always respected you, Mark, but I trampled that respect in the dirt. You've mostly kept out of it up to now but you gotta respond now, man. I need you to take your best shot."

"Tell me one thing, Randy. This reconciliation between you and Bob. Is it the real thing or are you just papering over the cracks?"

"I swear to you, Mark, I love the guy, never stopped, and he loves me. He made that clear up in the dunes. It's the real thing, man. We're back together. I've also made my peace with Zack and we're tighter than ever. But I gotta make everything right between you and me, buddy. Up to now you've played the tough, silent cop, but I know you must despise me. Show me, man. You know what I need."

The blond Greek-God cop stared at the rugged gypsy with a cold anger in his eyes. "Randy, I can take insults from you, it's not that. But I love Bob like you do, and seeing him hurt and demeaned because of you killed me inside. Yeah, I despised you, but held it in check ... until now. You want my best shot? Here it is."

Mark hauled back and slammed his fist hard into Randy's stomach. Randy groaned in pain and doubled over, but Mark pulled his face up by the hair and drove his fist into his gut again and again until Randy's legs buckled and he sank to his knees. He fell forward and grabbed Mark's shiny black motorcycle boot for support, moaning in pain. In any other circumstance Randy's instinct would have been to fight back, but he knew he deserved everything the cop dished out.

Mark looked down at him with contempt and all the hurt of the last few days welled up in him anew. This was the man who had indulged his own selfish appetites and figuratively slapped Bob in the face. Well now it was his turn. "Get up, on your knees," Mark growled.

Randy pulled himself up the cop's leg and his face slumped against the bulge in the black serge of his uniform pants. Again Mark grabbed the gypsy's long black hair, pushed Randy's head back and slammed the back of his fist across his cheek. "That was from me, asshole ... and this is from Bob ..." he slapped him again ... "and this ... and this ..." with increasing force, making the rugged gypsy face thrash from side to side, his stubbled jaw hanging open.

Mark unzipped his pants, pulled out his cock and drove it into the open mouth. Like Randy, physical action always made Mark's dick hard as a billy club and the cop now rammed his rod deep down the gypsy's throat, again and again until the macho construction worker choked and tears spurted from his eyes.

But the gypsy's suffering heightened rather than lessened Mark's fury and he grabbed Randy's hair again and pulled the agonized face down on his cock, harder and harder as he snarled "Fuck you, man ... fuck you. Eat it."

He finally stopped with his cock deep inside and Randy's face pressed against the cop's blond pubic hair, stifling him. Choking, the gypsy raised his arms and clawed desperately at the cop's chest, pulling open his black shirt, showing the white T-shirt underneath, tight over his pecs.

He was on the verge of blacking out when Mark suddenly pulled his dick out, pulled Randy's head back by the hair and stared down contemptuously at the handsome, tortured face, tears running down the cheeks, mouth sagging open with spit running down over the stubbled jaw.

"Not so macho now, eh, stud?" Mark jeered. "Wonder what your Latino lover boy would think of you right now. Get up." Mark stepped back and stuffed his dick back in his pants.

Falteringly Randy staggered to his feet and stood swaying before the cop who, eyes blazing, raised his arm and slammed his fist across the swarthy face. The force of the blow made Randy spin round and crash back against the chain-link fence.

Stunned he slumped against the fence trying to focus on the cop facing him, but before he had regained his wits Mark had unclipped a set of handcuffs from his belt, pushed Randy's arm up high and cuffed him to the fence. Stunned, but still resisting the urge to fight back, he looked up at his chained wrist, then felt the other wrist get the same treatment with a second set of cuffs.

He shook his head and finally saw the cop staring at him from a few feet away. Mark growled, "You don't know how many times, when I saw the pain on Bob's face, I thought of this moment and of what I'd do to you." Mark pulled his shirt out of his pants and tossed it aside, and Randy stared in awe at the muscular cop stripped to his T-shirt that hung loosely over the heavy belt round his waist, the muscles of his torso etched underneath.

"Man I wanted to punish you so bad ... like this ..." Mark reached forward and ripped Randy's T-shirt open, leaving his chest and abs bare and vulnerable. Then he drove his fist into Randy's stomach. Randy flexed his solid, eight-pack abs in readiness for what he knew was coming – a prolonged bout of gut punching.

And Mark didn't hold back. Grabbing the shreds of the construction worker's T-shirt round his neck he smashed his other fist into the gypsy's flexed abs, again and again, then used both fists in a savage attack that made even Randy howl in pain and beg for mercy.

Finally Mark stopped. "I know how tough you are, man. You can take anything a guy throws at you, so maybe I'll attack your pride. You humiliated Bob and now you'll know how that feels." Mark paced in front of him. "You remember the day I first met Bob ... pulled him over in an isolated part of the park? I took him to a clearing in the woods, made him strip naked and jerk off while I took off my shirt and ordered him cum looking at me?"

"Yeah," Randy growled, feeling his own anger rise, even after all this time.

"Well I'm gonna subject you to the same humiliation, stud." Mark walked forward and uncuffed Randy's right hand. Facing him from ten feet away the cop ordered, "Open your pants, pull out your dick." Randy obeyed. "Now you're gonna do what I made your lover do all that time ago."

For a moment Randy's macho instincts rebelled and he resisted the order. But as he stared at the spectacular cop he could not deny his rock-hard cock and could not stop from curling his hand round it. And then his resistance collapsed completely as Mark reached behind his own neck and slowly pulled his T-shirt up, revealing his ripped abs, the slabs of his pecs and his muscled shoulders as the shirt came clear.

"Shit damn ... fuck you, man," Randy growled but he was powerless to resist. He felt his balls bulging as he stroked his cock slowly and stared at the muscle-god cop, stripped to the waist. Mark walked close, squeezed Randy's nipples hard and gazed at him with his blue-gray eyes.

"See, Randy, I don't only need to thrash and humiliate you. That was punishment for hurting Bob. But if we're to be buddies like before, I need to know how you really feel about me. When you fucked that guy, you stopped loving Bob for a while, and you say you've repaired that. But what about me, what about us? You stopped loving me too. I need to know that was only temporary too. I need to know you look up to me, still respect me as your equal."

He stepped back again, farther away this time and stood still, his arms at his sides, muscles rippling in in the dappled sunlight coming through the trees that played over his chest. The shirtless blond muscle-cop looked magnificent and Randy beat his cock faster, pulling at the restraints on his other hand in his desire to touch Mark

Mark's own cock got hard again in his pants as he watched the brawny construction worker, the macho alpha male, his T-shirt hanging in shreds over his bare chest, one arm handcuffed up high on the fence, the other fist pounding his huge cock. "Tell me, Randy. Tell me."

"Man, I never stopped loving Bob and didn't stop loving you. Shit, just looking at you, I wanna ... oh fuck, I'm gonna cum, you're so fucking gorgeous. I love you, man, I submit to you ... I'm gonna cum ... fuck, I'm gonna cum ... Aaagh!" His cock erupted in a long stream of jizz that blasted from his cock, across the grass and splashed down at Mark's feet, a symbol of Randy's surrender to the man he loved."

Mark almost came in his pants watching the big gypsy surrender his manhood, but he held back. "That's a start, Randy. Now tell me what you want, and what you're prepared to give."

"I want us back ... I want to make love to you and Bob, I wanna watch Bob fuck you and you fuck him. Please, man ... forgive me ... I'll do anything you say. Take my ass, officer. Fuck me. Man, I wanna feel your dick in my ass. I love you, man. Show me you can love me again."

With a hint of a smile Mark pulled his billy club from his belt. "See this, Randy? A cop's nightstick. What I should really do is shove it up your ass, spilt it open. But if you recall, I'm the good cop, not the bad cop. But you are gonna need it."

He walked forward, grabbed Randy's free hand, turned him round to face the fence and cuffed the hand to it. From behind he reached round, ripped open Randy's jeans and pulled them down below his ass. "Here, you'll need this." Mark reached round, pressed the nightstick between Randy's teeth and he bit down on it.

Mark's dick was iron hard as he spat on it, pressed it between Randy's ass cheeks, paused, then rammed it all the way into his gut. Randy screamed into the gag of the nightstick, biting down on it to ease the pain.

It was, predictably, a ferocious fuck, with the cop's rod pistoning in the gypsy's ass like a pile-driver. Pressed hard against the chain-link fence the tortured gypsy pulled desperately at his cuffed hands but he was helpless under the onslaught of the powerful cop. All he could do was bite down hard on the stick. He knew that this was his final penance and he flexed every muscle in his body to withstand the pain.

The pounding was brutal but short. Mark had said what he had to, done what he had to, and he had no appetite for prolonging his buddy's penance. And besides, the sexual exhilaration at fucking the ass of the muscular gypsy chained to the fence was driving him to orgasm. He panted in Randy's ear, "OK, buddy, we're good again. I love you man. Here it comes."

Mark pulled his cock all the way out, paused, then drove it back in and blasted semen in the ravaged depths of the gypsy's ass. Randy spat out the nightstick and howled like an animal, his body shuddering against the fence as he felt Mark's juice filling his ass.

Mark pulled out, stood back and watched the sagging body jerking against the fence, hanging from his wrists, cum oozing from his ass and running down his legs. He went close and whispered in Randy's ear, "The balm of forgiveness, buddy." Then he uncuffed one hand, turned him round to face him and pressed their mouths together in a grinding kiss.

When he pulled back he looked deep into his eyes. "That's it, Randy. The whole sorry fucking mess is over at last. We're back – you, me and Bob – we're back."

As he uncuffed the other hand Randy said, "Man, help me take care of Bob, protect him. Don't let me ever do shit like that again. If I ever get out of line again I want you to beat the shit out of me. And I know you can."

"It's a deal," Mark smiled. "Though I have a strong feeling that our Bob is perfectly able to take care of himself. Now let's get back to the party."

Their return to the festive group of guys caused quite a stir. One look said it all – the shirtless cop and the construction boss with his ripped T-shirt hanging over his chess? It could mean only one thing – the cop had taken his revenge. "And about time too," Zack said quietly to his boy Darius. "Now maybe we can get some peace around here."

Mark went indoors to change out of his uniform and Randy sat next to Bob with a broad smile, though Bob noticed how gingerly Randy lowered himself on the bench. In a few minutes Brian wheeled himself up and offered Randy a new T-shirt. "Er, I thought you might want this, sir."

"Huh, you don't like your men bare chested eh kid?"

"Oh no, sir," Brian blushed. "I mean yes, I do like that, but I thought that ..."

Bob came to his rescue. "And you are quite right, Brian. There's not much of a dress code here but it does not include ripped T-shirts. Now listen Brian," Bob said conspiratorially, "tell us what's going on with this big movie premiere. They'll be leaving soon, right?"

Brian's eyes opened wide. "Yes, sir. Brandon told me all about it, cos he's gonna be on the red carpet with Grady and his leading lady who plays Jane to his Tarzan. It's being televised so it's gonna start early, at 5pm, which is 8pm on the East Coast and Brandon said the studio wants it in what they call prime time in the East. So Grady and Brandon are getting ready – `climbing into their tuxes' as Eddie calls it."

He blinked rapidly. "But here's the thing ... neither of them wants to go! Grady told me he likes being a movie actor but not a star. He gets tired of all the glitz and stuff and would rather stay home and watch it on TV with Mario. But I told him he can't be on the red carpet and watching at home at the same time. I mean, how could he do that, sir?"

"You're absolutely right, Brian," Bob smiled. "So what's Brandon's problem?"

"Oh he thinks it's just stupid for him to be there. He only had two lines in the movie ... he said the studio's just using him as a way to sell tickets. There's a big fuss going on upstairs."

Brian was right. Brandon was using one of the guestrooms to get dressed, fussed over by the other two amigos, Eddie and Ben. "You look totally cute in that tux, dude," Eddie said. "I'd fuck you. Here, your bow tie is crooked."

"Leave me alone, guys," Brandon pouted. "This is all bullshit."

"What's bullshit?" The ranger Pete had come in, having heard that his boy was having cold feet.

"This whole thing, sir. I mean I'm in a wheelchair for god's sake. How's that gonna look on the red carpet in front of all those people and cameras. It's just a gimmick. The studio is just ... what d'ya call it? ... exploiting me, that's it, hoping the kid in the wheelchair will be a tear-jerker."

"Hmm," Pete said rubbing his chin. "Yeah I think you may be right. You always say you can do anything, but you're right to be scared of rolling down the red carpet in that chair."

Brandon bristled. "I'm not scared, sir, and I can do anything. But why should I?"

"Well, the premiere is a fund raiser to help kids like you, that's why. Picture it, kiddo, guys like you watching the TV and envying all those gorgeous people who can actually walk the red carpet. And suddenly you get out of the limo and wheel yourself confidently into the spotlight, proving that you can do anything, alongside the best of them in all the glitz and glitter. Don't you think those guys at home will get a big confidence boost just seeing you?

"I seem to recall the story of when you first met Brian. He had given up on life and was living alone in an old trailer park. But you showed him by example that a kid in a wheelchair can doing anything he puts his mind to. And look at him now."

Brandon went quiet and stared at Pete. "I never thought of it like that, sir. I guess it would be kinda selfish of me to stay home. And it would be like a betrayal of guys like Brian here. Besides, I'll be with Grady, the star of the show. It'll be fun. Would you straighten my tie, sir?"

"That's my boy," Pete ginned. "Just think of me here with others watching you on TV. Make me proud, kiddo."

Meanwhile, the scene in the master bedroom was even more fraught. "I don't think I can do it, amico," Grady was saying, sitting with Mario on the bed, all dressed up in his tailored black dress suit and black tie. I mean, it kinda all rests on me. All those cameras, the interviews, thousands of people watching from coast to coast, even abroad. It's crazy – the studio's really gone overboard with this one."

He looked plaintively into Mario's, soft brown eyes. "If only you were coming with me. Won't you come, buddy? I could do it with you there, just like all the publicity gigs we did where you came as my manager."

"Amore," Mario said gently, "we have been all over this. You know very well that you live in two different worlds. The glitz and glamor world that's waiting for you out there, with all its craziness, is a world I don't belong in, you know that. It's where you belong on the red carpet with your leading lady and with Brandon. But I do belong in your other world, our life here, the real world, as your friend and lover. And I'll be waiting for you, amore, when you get home."

"Will you? You'll watch on TV and be here when I get back? But I'm scared, Mario. They wanna see Tarzan and they'll just get me, Grady. Working in the studio is fine, no problem, but all this red carpet bullshit. What if I fall flat on my face?"

"Grady," Mario smiled, I know you too well. If this Tarzan falls on his face, he will get up, turn it into a joke and do cartwheels." But he still couldn't get a smile out of Grady and saw his hand shaking. "OK, amico, I guess I have to take charge again like I always do. I always know just what you need, and the limo won't be here for half an hour. Stand up."

Grady got up and Mario undid his belt, pulled down his pants and shorts. He took off Grady's shoes and pulled his pants off over his feet. Then he pushed him on his back on the bed and smiled down at the handsome movie star in his smart tux jacket, pleated white shirt and black bow tie. He was perfectly groomed – except that he was wearing no pants, just black socks.

"Well, that is certainly a look," Mario chuckled. "Very sexy, actually. We might be starting a trend here." Mario pouted as if to a child, "OK, let's make the poor scared little movie-star sex-idol feel better so Tarzan is ready to face the world." Mario knelt on the bed, threw off his own shirt and pulled his cock out. He dipped his fingers in a jar of lube and lubed his cock. "Mustn't make the poor guy's ass so sore that he won't be able to sit in the theater."

Grady gazed up at the handsome Italian's chiseled features and moaned, "I love you so much, amico. Fuck me, buddy. I need it real bad." He pulled his legs back and offered his ass to his lover as he had done so many, many times in the past."

Mario leaned forward and said, "Here, this will solve everything." Gently he eased his cock into Grady's ass and slid it all the way down, where he let it rest. "That feel better, jungle man?"

"You know it does, Mario. I love you, man. I need you so much."

"So lie back, relax, and leave everything to Doctor Mario." Finally Grady smiled, reached up and ran his hands over the fine, smooth skin of Mario's flawless chest. "Aaah," he sighed, "that feels sooo good. You are so beautiful. Fuck me ... fuck my ass."

Mario didn't so much plough as caress Grady's ass. Grady needed to calm down and Mario knew exactly how to do it. As his cock moved slowly in and out of him Grady stared up at the beautiful face with its dark, square-cut Mediterranean features, tousled black hair and soft brown eyes.

While he fucked, Mario talked soothingly. "Bene, perfetto – così bello. Your ass feels so good, so relaxed. I know you so well, amico, I know you will be magnificent today. All those people at the event and watching on TV will be in love with you. They already are.

"But your real lover will be watching you from home with our little family, Brian and Danny, and all your friends. And I will be thinking, `Hands off, world, he is my lover, that beautiful man, that macho Tarzan, is mine.' And when he comes home I will be in bed waiting for him. All the world wants Tarzan to fuck them, but it will be me that he fucks."

"Of course I will, buddy. I'll be thinking of that all the time."

Mario's face broke into a gleaming smile. "You said you want me to be there beside you, amico. We know that is not possible, but you will have the next best thing. You will have me inside you – my sperm in your ass."

"Yeah, yeah, that's it," Grady said eagerly. "Man, you make me feel so good. Cum inside me, Mario. Please, let me feel you jizz in my ass."

"The jungle man commands obedience," Mario grinned. "I bow to his needs." Ever so slightly Mario increased the rhythm of his fuck. He sighed with joy, locked eyes with Grady and with one last deep thrust poured his juice inside his lover's ass.

He gazed down at the incongruous sight of the handsome man with a cock in his ass, smartly dressed in tuxedo, black tie, no pants, just black socks, opening his eyes wide, grabbing his own cock and yelling, "Oh yeah ... oh man that feels good ... I'm gonna cum ... I'm gonna cum." Just in time Mario grabbed a towel and threw it over Grady's shirt and jacket to catch the shower of semen that blasted from Grady's cock.

Mario glanced up at the clock and gently eased his cock out of Grady. He used the towel to wipe the residue of cum from his ass cheeks but said, "All the rest stays inside you, amore."

Grady's playful grin was back. "Yeah," he laughed, "and when I'm walking the red carpet, waving and smiling like a loon, making them all fall in love with me, only you and I will know that my ass is full of the juice of my gorgeous Italian lover who's waiting at home for me, waiting for me to fuck him."

"But now it is time to leave, amore." Mario stood up and pulled Grady up off the bed. He inspected his jacket, shirt and tie for spots of semen and smoothed down the jacket with approval. "Perfetto, amore. You look stunning. But I think you should put you pants back on. I'm sure you're public would love to see you without them, but that sight is for me alone. If a photo of that went round the world your movie would be stuck with an R rating."

Down in the garden, Brian, Eddie and Ben were fussing over Brandon, making sure every hair was in place. Brandon's face got serious and he said. "Guys, I wish you were coming with me. What scares me is that all this glamor stuff going on might come between us and you'll stop thinking of me as one of the guys. I'll still be one of the three amigos, won't I?"

"Four amigos," Brian corrected him. "And of course nothing will change. We won't let it."

"And anyway, dude," Ben said, "I wanna see you on TV. I've never seen anyone on TV that I know. It'll be fun."

"It sure will," came Grady's voice. He had just emerged with Mario, looking resplendent in his black tie outfit. The tribe had never seen him dressed up like this and rewarded him with a round of applause and more than a few wolf whistles.

"The limo is outside," Mario said, all business now. "It will take you both to pick up Grady's leading lady and the three of you will go straight to the theater. Brandon, you'll leave your wheelchair here because there will be another waiting for you when the limo arrives at the foot of the red carpet. I, er, hope it won't be awkward for you to transfer from the limo to the chair. Do you think you'll need help?"

"Duh!" Brandon gave him a withering look. "Sir, if I can get down from my truck into my chair several times a day I'm sure I can handle a limo."

"Even if there are a million people watching you," Eddie grinned. "No pressure, of course."

"Thanks for reminding me, dude. You watch and see. It'll be a flawless performance."

"Atta boy," Grady grinned. "OK, kiddo, time to face the music ... you and me against the world." He turned and gave Mario a long hug. "Just be your charming self, amore, and they will all fall in love with you," Mario smiled. Grady gave him one last kiss. "Thanks, Mario. Thanks for everything. You will be watching won't you? And you'll be waiting for me when we get home?"

"Assolutamente, amore. I may even jerk off watching you on TV and fantasizing about that gorgeous movie star in my bed."

Pete gave Brandon a last kiss and a "Make me proud, kiddo," then Brandon wheeled himself alongside Grady through the gate to the waiting limo. Eddie went with them to bring back Brandon's wheelchair and offer his last piece of advice to his buddy. "Dude, when they ask you questions on the red carpet give short answers – don't go on and on talking. I myself have been accused of talking too much, but what I always say to that is ..."

"Eddie," Grady grinned. "You're gonna make us late for the movie."

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. But I ..." They got into the limo and as Eddie watched them drive away he was still talking.

Back inside the gates the party switched gears. Mario, always the gracious host, said, "Gentlemen, the red carpet show has just begun on TV and you are all invited to watch it in the viewing room – plenty of room there for everyone. Danny, Tommy and the twins have set out food and drink there, so eat drink and be merry. We have a lot to celebrate."

Sitting by the pool, glad to be out of the limelight for once, were Bob and Randy, Zack and Miguel, and Mark. It was the first time all five of them had been together since the traumatic disruption of their friendship by Randy and Miguel's lust. They had all recently patched things up but were still a bit tentative with each other as a group, whose dynamic was still complex.

So Bob raised a subject he and Randy had discussed up at the dunes. "Guys, Randy and I were thinking it might be a good idea for us all to take our boys out to the desert, to Uncle Mike's place in Palm Springs. Miguel, you'll get a chance to meet Mike and his boy Larry."

Miguel looked around at the men, received a nod of agreement from Zack, and said, "Yeah, sounds like a good idea. You guys have talked a lot about Mike and Larry and they're the only ones of the tribe I haven't met." And yet there was a note of hesitancy in Miguel's voice.

"Only ... we, er, we haven't yet spent any time as a group since ... well, you know, all that stuff. Being all together out there in the desert in one house ... you sure it wouldn't be too soon?"

Zack grinned, "Dunno, not sure at all, but there's only one way to find out. Gotta take the plunge sometime."

"Anyway," Bob smiled. "Uncle Mike won't let things get out of hand. He runs a leather bar and he's used to breaking up fights if there's any rough stuff. So is it a deal?"

They all raised their glasses and drank to, "Uncle Mike."

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Part 378

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.

ALSO, I invite you to visit my Web-site www.atrialofstrength.com. You can read the whole story, all the many chapters, with extras, including pictures and biographies of all the characters. Click on the `Our Story' tab to read the current chapter, or click on the green button to browse all the chapter synopses. Enjoy

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