A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 466 By Rob Williams
Chapter 466 – "BRANDON'S TRIAL OF STRENGTH"
IN THIS CHAPTER
A major drama plays out in the tribe. The hunky Forest Ranger Pete takes his boy Brandon for a hike on a remote trail, with Brandon wheeling his wheelchair confidently beside Pete. But disaster strikes and Brandon is left stranded in the wilds with an unconscious Pete and no cell-phone signal. He acts heroically but he is desperate for the help of the tribe's leaders Randy and Bob. Can they reach him in time? ___________________________________________________________________
*********** IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER ***********
On their weeks' vacation with the tribe the Chinese twins had certainly got around.
They had slept with their buddies, the identical twins Kyle and Kevin. They had joined the twins in a wild boy orgy directed by the young redheaded Will. They had submitted to bondage and domination at the hands of the tribe's three macho construction bosses. And they had survived a tough gym session with the tribe's gypsy boss Randy, who then butt-fucked them both.
And now they had been invited by the handsome Hispanic Miguel to assist in the large kitchen of a five-star hotel in Downtown L.A. where Miguel was the executive chef. They worked two shifts, dinner and breakfast, and between the two had spent the night in Miguel's hotel room.
As the naked muscle-god lay on the bed the twins had treated him to a series of sexual pleasures and teases, alternately bringing him to the edge of his climax and then stopping abruptly, denying his orgasm.
The end came when the twins pressed their open mouths against the head of Miguel's cock, kissing each other with his cock between them. Miguel looked down at the beautiful brothers and his cock erupted in both their mouths. They gulped down the semen of the handsome chef who they had earlier watched commanding the kitchen crew.
The twins smiled at each other, then knelt on either side of the dark Hispanic face. They pointed their cocks down and stroked them and Miguel instinctively opened his mouth wide to receive the twin jets of cum that streamed into it. He swallowed hard and when the stream stopped he grinned up at them with cum oozing from his mouth and over his stubbled chin.
"Come here you little devils." He pulled them down beside him and into his arms.
"Damn, you kids know how to treat a man. We gotta get up early for the breakfasts but when that's over we're gonna come right back up here `cos dammit I gotta fuck those sweet asses. I'm gonna keep you captive in this hotel until I've jack hammered both of you. Is that clear?"
"Whatever you say, sir ... you're the boss."
"You bet your sweet ass I am," Miguel smiled. "In the kitchen and in bed."
********************* CHAPTER 466 *********************
CHEF IN THE KITCHEN – BOSS IN BED
Early next morning in Miguel's hotel room the twins would have happily stayed wrapped in Miguel's muscular arms all day. But when the sexy chef disentangled himself from them and jumped out of bed he was all business.
"Sorry, guys, but I have to get down to the kitchen and make sure things are all set for the breakfast service. And then you have to go down and report to your supervisor Colin as you did yesterday. So let's jump in the shower real fast.
In the shower they eagerly continued to service Miguel's stunning body, which they had done last night to stunning effect. They would willingly have spent more time running the sponge over his chest and abs and all the way down to the ultimate prize, his cock. But Miguel was focused on his job and reluctantly cut their service short and talked shop.
"You'll see the difference between last night's dinner and today's breakfast, which doesn't have the same urgency as dinner, it's less formal. There are a lot businessmen having meetings over breakfast – what's known as power breakfasts."
"Sir," Lee ventured, "Will taught us how to crack open eggs with one hand and then to separate the white from the yolk."
"Well that's a start, Miguel chuckled. "I'll have Colin put you on egg duty. We go through upwards of a hundred each morning, and even more when you include room service."
So that's how it went. Miguel dried off quickly, put on his uniform that he had hung in the closet last night and hurried downstairs. The twins did the same and went down to report to the young assistant manager Colin. Again they were caught up in the hectic but well organized pace of the kitchen, and were even more convinced that this was the job they wanted for themselves.
When breakfast service ended they helped clean the kitchen for the lunch crew and then ran eagerly back up to the room to wait for Miguel. Sadly they took off their kitchen uniform knowing it was the last time they would wear it. But they brightened when they heard Miguel at the door.
"OK guys," he said briskly as he came in. "Time I took you back to the house – but we have to take care of some unfinished business first. Something I've been wanting to do since I brought you here. I think you know what I mean."
As Miguel took off his chef's uniform and pulled his T-shirt off, displaying his flawlessly muscular torso, the twins knew exactly what was required and were quick to obey. Within seconds they were lying naked on their backs on the bed staring up at Miguel as he kicked off his shoes and dropped his pants. Naked, he stared down at them stroking his cock until it was rigid.
"OK, who wants to get it first?"
"Me, sir," they said in unison and both pulled their legs back offering their asses.
Miguel grinned, "Look, an executive chef has to be a good multi-tasker but even I can't fuck two boys at once, even identical ones. So you're gonna have to take it in turns."
Miguel knelt on the bed, spat in his palm and rubbed it over the length of his cock. Starting with Toni he drove his cock in his waiting ass and saw the look of ecstasy in the boy's beautiful slanted eyes, his long black hair spread out on the pillow. "Damn," Miguel said, "you feel as good inside as you look outside. So fucking smooth – like silk."
The boy's beauty was so delicate that Miguel's instinct was to fuck gently, but when he saw the lust in his eyes and remembered that the boys said they sometimes like it rough he increased his thrust until his cock was a piston in the hot ass.
Soon he glanced across at Lee and saw his lustful, pleading expression. So his turn came next. When Miguel drove his cock inside Lee it was uncanny how the ecstatic look on his face exactly matched his brother's, and his ass felt just as fine and smooth. As he traded back and forth between the twins it felt as if he were fucking the same boy over and over again ... but soon he wanted more.
"OK kid," he said to Toni, "on your hands and knees." Toni quickly got on all fours, reflected in the closet's large mirrored doors. "I know you guys like to make love to each other and that's a total turn-on for me so let's get a spit roast going here. Lee, fuck your brother's face."
Eagerly Lee knelt in front of Toni who looked up and smiled at his twin, then opened his mouth and swallowed his cock all the way down. Miguel was blown away by the sight of the exotic Chinese boy fucking his brother's face while he ploughed Toni's ass.
The spit roast was so hot that Miguel knew they couldn't keep it up for long without busting a load, so he said, "Look at me kid and keep looking at me while you cum in your brother's mouth. I wanna see him drink your jizz, boy.
Lee smiled at Miguel as he pumped his semen into Toni. The erotic spectacle of one twin cumming in his brother's mouth almost brought Miguel to his own climax but he pulled out just in time. The twins changed places and Lee was on all fours for his spit roast. Miguel fucked him as hard as he had fucked his brother while Lee opened his mouth for Toni's cock.
By now they were all so close that it didn't take long before Toni was smiling at Miguel across Lee's back and Lee was gulping down every last drop of his brother's juice. Again, right at the edge of orgasm Miguel pulled out and jumped to his feet. He stood on the bed looking down at the twins who both had cum running down their chins.
"OK, guys, this is it. Get ready for the big finish." He pounded his cock in his fist and the twins gazed up at the rugged face, the stubbled jaw and shining brown eyes. They opened their mouths wide just in time for Miguel's juice to pour into them and splash on their ecstatic faces.
The twins laughed with pure joy and Miguel scooped them in his arms. "You did great, kids – in the kitchen and in bed. But now I gotta deliver you safe back home where I'm sure all the boys will all be waiting to hear about your adventures in the kitchen and in the chef's bed.
BRANDON HAS THE BLUES
Of course Miguel was right. It was mid-afternoon when Miguel drove the twins up to the tribe's compound and he was met by the twins Kyle and Kevin and their boy Will. Eddie, the young house manager, joined them and effusively took the lead in the inquisition, pumping Lee and Toni with questions on what they did in the hotel kitchen and, more importantly, in Miguel's bed.
It wasn't long before a larger group of boys gathered round the slightly dazed twins, all anxious for details, the more salacious the better. Jamie and Brandon came out of the office and joined them, though Kyle and Kevin, sensitive as always to others' moods, noticed that Brandon was more subdued than usual. He listened intently but asked no questions himself, sitting quietly in his wheelchair at the edge of the group.
Eventually Lee and Toni broke free of the crowd and went indoors to the apartment above the kitchen shared by the twins and Will. Jamie and Brandon went back to the office to complete and back up their work for the day.
In the upstairs apartment Kyle, Kevin and Will, the tribe's three chefs, discussed with Lee and Toni the logistics of how a major hotel kitchen operates. When they had exhausted that topic they turned to more personal matters.
Kyle said, "Will, in all that excited group downstairs did you happen to notice Brandon? He seemed a bit subdued today, sad almost."
"I did sir. Brandon's one of my best friends and we usually laugh and fool around together. But there was something different about him ... like he had something on his mind."
"He's the guy in the wheelchair, right?" Lee asked. "We haven't spent any time with him but we've watched him and he's real impressive the way he gets around and joins in. He seems to be very independent."
"Aggressively so," Kevin said. "He used to live alone and was very proud of his independence. And when he came to live with the tribe he's been that way ever since. It's just his legs that don't work. Everything else does – including his sexual plumbing. He boasts that a boy in a wheelchair can do anything other boys do. He works hard as the assistant office manager and his boss Jamie thinks the world of him."
"And he's the Forest Ranger's boy isn't he," Toni asked.
"That's right – Pete, that tall handsome hunk you've seen around here. They live right across the street and Pete is crazy about Brandon, so proud of him. I hope there's nothing wrong between them. They're such a great couple, totally in love."
There was a tap on the door and Bob came in. "Who's totally in love?"
"We all are, sir," said Will, a big smile on his freckled face.
"Good, that's just the way it should be. I just dropped in to make sure everything's OK."
"It is with us, sir," Kevin said. "But we were just talking about Brandon. He seems a bit down in the dumps right now. Have you any idea why that is?"
Bob heaved a deep sigh. "Yes, I'm afraid I do. I don't know if you've heard but there's a camping and rock climbing expedition being planned for this weekend. Hassan, Jason and Adam are taking their boys Eddie, Ben and Nate up to the Devil's Punchbowl at the edge of the Angelus National forest, about an hour and a half from here. It's one of the most popular rock-climbing places in L.A."
"But how can Brandon ...?" Lee frowned.
"Exactly, that's the point, Lee. Rock climbing is one of the few things Brandon can't do so he won't be included in the trip – Pete wants to avoid causing him any embarrassment. It's a really tricky situation for everyone and the other guys are trying to avoid the subject, which in a way makes everything worse.
"My guess is that it's made Brandon fall into one of those depressions that boys in his situation go through when the reality of their disability hits them in the face. Lee, Toni, you haven't met Brandon's boyfriend Brian yet. He lives at the Grady House and he too is in a wheelchair. He was in a huge depression when Brandon first met him and told him to snap out of it. Kind of saved Brian's life."
"Is there anything we can do sir?" Kyle asked.
No really, except stay out of it and avoid the subject. I'll keep an eye on it but I'm sure Pete will handle it with his usual tact and love for Brandon. He's out of town until tomorrow but I believe he's already told Brandon he may have to go out of town this weekend again too, which means they couldn't go with the others anyway. Trouble is Brandon is a bright kid and usually sees through everything. He's probably guessed that's only an excuse to make him feel better."
As a matter of fact at that very moment in the office Jamie was tiptoeing around the same subject with Brandon. He had, of course, noticed his friend's subdued manner and, like everyone else, was avoiding any mention of rock climbing. "Is, er ... is everything OK with you kiddo? Not your usual cheery self."
"No, I'm fine," Brandon said untruthfully. "But I was thinking of going up to the Grady House after work and spending the night with Brian. I was hoping to spend the morning with him too but I know we've got a ton of work to do on this new project so if you'd rather I ..."
"Brandon, of course you can. You don't see enough of Brian, it would do you good. Take as long as you need and don't worry about work. It'll still be here when you get back."
BRANDON GETS ADVICE AT THE GRADY HOUSE
Brandon drove himself up to the Grady House in the small truck that Pablo and Darius had converted for him to use with hand controls. It was part of Brandon's proud independence to be able to heave himself into the driver's seat, fold the chair and pull it in behind his seat.
At the big gates of the Grady House Brian answered the intercom excitedly. "Dude come in ... I've been waiting for you." The gates swung open, Brandon drove into the garage area behind the large house and was getting out of the truck when young Brian came barreling along in his wheelchair. They leaned over and kissed each other then went into the house and took the elevator up to Brian's bedroom on the second floor.
They hauled themselves onto the bed and made out for a while, kissing and hugging. "Dude," Brian said, "you got a lot of tension in you. You OK? Not going off me are you?"
Brandon giggled. "No way, dude. If I were going off you, you think I'd be here pouring out my troubles to you."
"Ah, so you do have troubles. Thought so. OK, bro, spill."
At that moment Grady and Mario came in. The handsome muscle hunk Grady was the movie heartthrob currently starring as the big-screen Tarzan, and Mario was his sexy Italian lover. "Hey, Brandon," Grady grinned, ruffling his hair, and giving his boy Brian a big sloppy kiss.
Mario said, "Ciao, bambino. We just dropped in to say hello, Brandon, but it looks like you two have got something going on so we'll make ourselves scarce."
But Brandon said, "No, sirs, don't leave. I was about to share something with Brian but I'd like you to hear too. See, I haven't talked to any of the other guys about it ... it's ... kinda difficult."
Grady flashed his sexiest smile. "Hey, we're up for that, kiddo. Go ahead tell your uncles Grady and Mario all about it. We're all ears." The two men settled themselves on the bed and the whole story poured out.
They all listened intently until Brandon came to the end and smiled, "Wow, it feels good to get all that off my chest. But now I've said it, it sounds kinda stupid don't it?"
"Assolutamente no," Mario said, consolingly. Brandon, you know we've always admired the way you and Brian accept your wheelchairs as a fact of your lives, and you're both so active that we don't even notice them now. But there are bound to be times like this where things don't go as smoothly and you get ... come si dice in Inglese ... down in the dumps?"
"Yeah that's a good a phrase as any, sir. See, I always say that us boys can do anything the other guys do, but then along comes something that ..."
"But dude," Brian said, "you're the one who gave me that pep talk and got me out of that shabby trailer in the desert. You told me to get a life, so I did, and what a life! Just look at me now."
"Thing is, Brandon," said Grady. "None of us can do everything, or even want to. Look at Mario and me. He loves going to performances of Italian Opera, but not me. I'd sooner curl up with one of those black and white Fred and Ginger movies on Netflix.' He grinned sheepishly. "Oh I know that's a stupid comparison with what you're feeling, but my point is we've all got limitations. We all have things we'd like to do but can't."
"Mi amico," Mario said. "Surely the best thing for you to do is to tell Pete exactly what you just told us. You love each other and share most things so why not this?"
"See," Brandon frowned, "just `cos I'm unhappy I don't wanna make Pete unhappy too. Anyway, I think he knows what my problem is. He's even said he might have to go out of town to a meeting this weekend, but I don't think that's true. He's only saying it to make me feel better about not going rock-climbing with the other guys.
"And that's the other thing, sirs. Pete's like all the other guys, walking on eggshells trying not to mention the rock-climbing trip `cos they'll hurt my feelings. Me and the boys usually share everything but they're giving me special treatment this time and that makes me feel different from all of them – just what Brian and me try so hard not to feel.
"Povero bambino," Mario smiled, putting his arm round him. "You are so sweet to avoid making Pete unhappy, but I still think you should share your problem with him. I know when Grady's had a tough day at the studio he comes home ranting and raving to me and ...
"... and he fucks me," Grady grinned, "and suddenly I'm back in my Technicolor world."
That made Brandon laugh. "Oh Pete fucks me all the time, sir, no problem there. He really is out of town tonight so I'll stay here with Brian, if that's OK, sir, and do what you do to Grady."
"Perfetto," Mario smiled. "And before that you will join us for dinner"
"Oh, I should be helping Danny in the kitchen," Brian said. "You wanna come help, bro?"
"You bet," Brandon said and the boys rolled quickly out of the room.
"Well done, Mario," Grady said, then flashed a roguish smile. "OK, while they're doing that why don't you go back to our room and wait for me? When I come in I'll be ranting and raving about problems at the studio and ..."
"... and you will want me to bring the Technicolor back into your life, eh? Grady, you and your imagination are so predictable."
"Yeah, but I'm adorable too, you gotta admit that."
"Yes, there is that," Mario grinned. "OK, you win." He kissed Grady and left the room.
RANGER PETE HAS A PLAN
After a cheerful dinner in such good company, and a sexy night with his boyfriend Brian, Brandon's confidence in himself took a tilt upwards and he was determined to take Mario's advice. When he got back to the house Pete was already there and he greeted his boy with a warm smile and a hug.
"So, you tore yourself out of Brian's arms and came back to me after all, eh kid? OK, the gory details – who fucked who?"
"We did each other, sir," Brandon grinned. "You want some coffee, sir?"
"You read my mind, kiddo. Lead on." They went to the kitchen and Pete sat at the kitchen table while Brandon busied himself with the percolator. With his back to Pete Brandon plucked up his courage and said, "Sir, are you really going out of town this weekend?"
"Well ... it's, er ... it's still not sure but I ..." He trailed off, then his tone changed. "Dammit Brandon, I love you too much to treat you like this, with half lies and stonewalling. No, I'm not going away, I only said that so as not to ... well you know why, kid. Let's talk this out."
"Yes please, sir." Brandon sat at the table facing Pete.
"Kiddo, I think we've both been trying to protect each other from painful thoughts, but that's not the way it should be between a man and his boy who love each other as much as we do. I'm here to help you, kid, especially when you're feeling down. And of course I know what it's all about – that rock-climbing trip the others are going on. And you're feeling depressed because it's one of the few things you can't do. Am I right?"
"Right on the money, sir. And I'm sorry I'm preventing you from going on the trip with the other men. I think you should go sir, it'll be a great trip."
"That's just silly, kid. You think I would go away like that and leave my boy alone to get even more depressed. You think I'm that kind of guy?"
"No, sir. I'm sorry, sir."
"Ah, we're just both a bit tense and feeling our way here. But ... when I said I was not leaving town this weekend it wasn't quite true. See, there's a new remote trail in the hills an hour out of town near Cedar Springs that no one uses `cos it hasn't been opened to the public yet by the L.A. Parks and Rec Department. The Forest Rangers have to check it out first to see if it's suitable for public use.
"So I volunteered to go and do the check. It'll mean hiking along the trail for about five miles and it might involve an overnight under the stars. The trail will be deserted and solitary, so I want to take someone along for company, preferably someone I get along with and who wouldn't mind sleeping under the stars with me. Any ideas who I could ask?"
Brandon's face puckered in thought. "Can't think of a soul, sir, sorry. But if you can't come up with anyone I guess at a pinch I could shelve all my plans for the weekend and come with you. And I guess I could rough it camping out overnight, provided I had someone to wrap his arms round me and keep me warm."
"I don't wanna inconvenience you," Pete said, "but you think you could cancel your other plans?"
"I'll have to check my calendar, sir ..." But Brandon couldn't keep it up any longer as his face broke into a beaming smile. "I love you, sir. It sounds perfect – just a long hike, no one but us for miles – and no rock climbing. Wait till I tell the guys."
As soon as that cat was out of the bag all the walking on eggshells stopped as the boys were free to exchange excited plans for their separate trips. Eddie, Brandon's oldest friend, was especially relieved. He and his master Hassan lived in the other half of the duplex and it had been murder trying to keep his mouth shut about his trip. Actually it was murder for motor-mouth Eddie to stop talking at any time, but especially not talking to his best buddy Brandon.
"Dude, picture it, you out there on a hidden trail, just you and the hunky Forest Ranger, no one for miles. Just make sure he don't take advantage of you and fuck your ass, you know how those Rangers can be. Dude, you are gonna have so much fun."
But it didn't quite work out as Eddie predicted. Quite the reverse, in fact
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
Saturday morning found Brandon sitting beside Pete in his Forest Service truck on the winding road through the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. They had packed the bare essentials – food that Brandon had made for the trip, a groundsheet and blanket.
Brandon was the self-appointed navigator although Pete was very familiar with the whole area. It wasn't that complicated – all along the winding Route 2 for about forty-five miles and they were on the lookout for a Forest service notice board just past Cedar Springs. A mile past that there was a small turnoff to a clearing where they parked.
Brandon pulled his wheelchair out of the truck, unfolded it and eased down into it. Pete knew better than to help him as that would have offended his independent image of himself. The entrance to the trail was overgrown with branches that Pete quickly tore out of the way, exposing the narrow trail.
It was a perfect Southern California day of bright sunshine – a Goldilocks day, as Brandon said – not too hot and not too cold. Brandon was in high spirits being alone with Pete and had no trouble wheeling his chair along the trail which was narrow but not hilly as it wound through the sage scrub. Over the years Brandon had developed impressive upper body strength with so much wheeling and prided himself on his stamina.
But they mostly kept a leisurely pace as Pete had to inspect the trail for impediments that would need to be corrected before being open to the public. He used a dictaphone to record his findings and he asked Brandon to keep checking the cell phone signal to see where it faded out. They would post a warning sign that there was no signal beyond that point.
Brandon kept looking up at Pete, ruggedly handsome in jeans and a T-shirt that showed off his muscular build, a sight that always gave the boy a permanent erection, as it did now. Having been so depressed the last few weeks Brandon now felt pretty close to heaven as the path wound through the hills, with a drop on one side and a cliff on the other rising above them.
"It's in pretty good shape overall," Pete said of the trail. "It'll need to be widened a bit and some spots need guard rails but that should be easy. There's a problem here, though. See all those rocks on the ground? They've fallen from the cliff above us. Must be a lot of loose stuff up there. We'll have to erect a barrier of some kind and put up a `Beware of Falling Rocks' sign.
Their trek went on happily for a couple of hours, part work but mostly pleasure – pure pleasure – as they went deeper into the scrubland feeling they were the only people in the world – which they pretty much were up in this big-sky country.
Pete had suggested they look for a place where they could stop for a bite to eat when suddenly they heard a low rumbling above them. Pete looked up and shouted, "Look out, kid ... rocks!"
Gravel and small rocks fell around them but Pete then saw a larger one tumbling down off the cliff. "Out of the way, Brandon!" Pete lunged forward and shoved the wheelchair forward so the rock just missed his boy – but hit Pete hard on the forehead instead.
"Aaagh." It was a heavy blow, Pete grabbed his forehead ... and crashed to the ground.
"No!" Brandon yelled. "Are you OK, sir? Sir ... are you OK? Can you hear me? Please, sir ... sir ... sir ..."
BRANDON'S CHALLENGE
Pete was not stirring ... and there was blood flowing from the gash on his forehead. Brandon was seized with a moment of panic as he realized they were out here, far from help, and Pete was seriously injured. He uttered a desperate sob ... but then controlled his panic, steeled himself and felt an eerie calm, his thoughts sharply focused and determined.
His first instinct was to hold his cell-phone in the air for a signal but he knew there was none this far out. It had faded about two miles back. He shouted "Help!' but his voice echoed back to him mockingly. They were alone, and Pete was clearly unconscious. It was all up to Brandon now.
He weighed his options. He couldn't leave Pete here and go for help, it would take too long. The only way was to bring Pete out ... and he knew how to do it. Their friend Mark, being a cop, had given all the boys lessons that if someone was injured you shouldn't move them, just call for help. But calling for help was not an option so Brandon had to move Pete – carefully.
Brandon positioned his wheelchair behind Pete's head and he leaned forward as far as he could. He could just reach Pete's T-shirt so he bunched it up in both hands and pulled hard. He was grateful for the strength he had built up over the years as he was pulling a dead weight, but Pete's inert body slid slowly over the gravel until his head was resting on the chair's footrest.
But the shirt began to rip, so Brandon reached down and was just able to hook his hands under Pete's armpits. He pulled, but nothing happened. "Please, sir," he murmured. "Work with me here." Talking to Pete helped, establishing an imaginary contact. He took a deep breath and pulled again, and this time he was able to pull Pete up toward him a few inches.
It took long painful minutes of tugging, then resting, then gathering strength and tugging again. In small jerks he was able to pull Pete up on top of him, shifting his hold, round the waist, then tugging on the waistband of his jeans. Finally he had Pete where he wanted him, lying on his back on top of him, his head resting on his shoulder next to his cheek.
He ripped off his own T-shirt and tied it round Pete's head to cover the wound and help soak up the blood. "Don't worry, sir," he said in the ear of the unconscious ranger, "we'll soon have you out of here."
He found he was able to wheel his chair, although now it took all his strength as it was carrying the weight of two men. Looking over Pete's inert shoulder he could see where he was going and aimed back along the trail.
It took all his strength but giving up was not an option. He didn't know how badly Pete was injured but the blood was still oozing and he knew he had to get him medical care as soon as possible. Several times along the path he flashed on the seriousness of his situation and he almost despaired. But he pushed all negative thoughts away and focused on his task.
At one point the wheelchair got stuck in a rut and a wave of panic swept over him. Summoning all his strength he rocked the chair back and forth and with one last mighty heave was able to back out of the rut and steer round it.
He lost all sense of how long it was taking or how far he had gone. All that he felt was the weight of the man he loved on top of him, and he said, "We can do it, sir. We have to ... because I love you and I can't live without you."
Several times he stopped and checked his phone, waving it in the air, desperate for a signal. He remembered that the signal had faded about a mile in from the start but he wasn't sure how near he was to that point. So he gritted his teeth and rolled his chair forward, using all the strength he could muster. He moved laboriously, inch by inch, foot by foot, one yard at a time.
He didn't know where the strength came from. All he knew was that Pete depended on him to get him to safety.
After what seemed like an eternity he guessed, hoped, he had gone at least two miles and he was nearing exhaustion when he held his phone aloft ... and he got a signal. With a sob of relief he pressed the button for Randy."
"Hey, kiddo, what's up?"
He could have wept at the sound of Randy's voice but he struggled to stay calm. "Sir, big trouble. We were three miles along the path and Pete got hit by a falling rock. He's unconscious, lying on top of me, and ... and I'm not sure how much farther I can go. Please, sir, help me."
"OK, kid, you're safe now, I'll take care of you. Can you tell me how to get there?
"Yes, sir," Brandon said, his mind as clear as a bell. "You take Route 2 into the Angeles Forest for forty-five miles. Just past Cedar Springs there's a big notice board and a mile after that there's a small path to the left. Go up there and you'll see Pete's truck. The trail is narrow but Pete pulled away the branches so you should see it. I don't know how far I've gone but I'm guessing I still got a mile to go."
OK, kid, I'm on my way. Listen up, conserve your strength. Go further if you can `cos that'll help, but if you get too tired, rest. We don't want you passing out. It should take me less than an hour. Hang in there buddy. You're almost home."
"Thank you sir ... sir? ... can you hear me?" He had lost the signal, so he wheeled further along the path in case he needed a signal to phone Randy again. By now he was running on pure adrenaline. His arms and shoulders ached, his whole body ached, but his voice was firm as he spoke to the unconscious Pete. "Don't worry, sir. Randy will take care of us. He always takes care of everyone, that's why I called him. I'm gonna rest a bit now, but we'll soon be home."
RANDY TO THE RESCUE
Randy's square stubbled jaw was clenched as he careened along the winding mountain road breaking every speed limit in the book. As he drove he called Bob and quickly outlined the crisis. He gave the directions Brandon had given him and said, "Call Mark. Tell him where they are and have him bring an ambulance. Then you come here with the twins, we might need extra manpower. That kid is incredible – never known anyone like him. I just hope he can hold out."
That was actually touch and go. Brandon knew that the further he went the less ground Randy would have to cover to reach them. But he was feeling dizzy and the last thing he needed was to pass out. So he took breaks, breathed deeply, then rolled forward another fifty yards or so.
It seems like an eternity since he had spoken to Randy and his mind was spinning. He was totally exhausted, dizzy, and was afraid he might faint. Only the weight of Pete on top of him kept him going. "It's OK, sir, nearly there. Randy will be here soon."
And then he heard it ... heavy footsteps pounding along the gravel path. And suddenly there he was, the big muscular gypsy, panting and towering over him – the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.
"How you doing, kid? You holding up?"
"I, I think so sir. I am so glad to see you ... Please help Pete sir. I think he's hurt bad."
"You've done a great job, kid, but I'll take care of him now." Randy reached down and scooped Pete's limp body into his arms. Brandon sighed with relief as the weight was lifted off him. "Can you wheel yourself, Brandon while I carry Pete?"
"Oh yes, sir. A piece of cake now it's just me. Now that you're here I can do anything."
"OK, try to stay with me and we'll be out in no time." Feeling a fresh surge of strength Brandon wheeled along beside Randy, his eyes fixed on Pete lying across Randy's outstretched arms, his head resting on his chest. Brandon kept up with Randy's powerful stride and it was not long before he became aware of flashing red lights – the ambulance waiting for them.
It all happened in a daze. Mark came running forward and took a quick look at Pete. "Hopefully just a concussion. The paramedics are here." Two medics ran forward with a stretcher and Randy placed Pete gently on it. They put an oxygen mask over his face and wheeled him to the ambulance. Brandon whimpered and raced alongside the stretcher but Randy restrained him.
"Kiddo, I'll go in the ambulance with him. Trust me, I won't let anything bad happen to him. I'll stay with him all the time. Bob's right here with the twins ... they'll take care of you. Kid, I just gotta say, I have never been as proud of a boy as I am of you now. You're my kinda guy."
Brandon watched as the medics loaded the stretcher in the ambulance, Randy jumped in with them and the doors slammed shut. Brandon whimpered again as the ambulance took off, with Mark on his motorcycle riding in front, lights flashing, sirens blaring.
And suddenly Bob was next to him and the twins were smiling down at him. "Everything's gonna be just fine now, Brandon," Bob said. "Try to relax and catch your breath. Kyle will drive Randy's truck back and Kevin will drive Pete's. You're coming with me, young man."
Still in a daze Brandon wheeled himself round to the passenger door of Bob's SUV and Bob said, "Here. Let me help you."
"No, it's OK sir. I got it." He reached up and opened the door, expertly pulled himself up into the passenger seat and pulled his folded chair in behind him. "See, sir, I can manage."
Bob smiled, "Yup, no doubt about that kiddo. No doubt at all."
"I JUST WANT PETE TO BE OK"
"As they drove back down the mountain road Brandon thought of nothing else but Pete. "Do you think he'll be OK, sir? I mean, he didn't open his eyes or anything."
"Brandon, I'm sure he's going to be just fine. It's most likely just a concussion and he'll come round soon. The paramedics and the doctors will do their thing and make sure he's comfortable, and Randy will stay with him. And that alone will make everything come right.
"I remember a long time ago when we were on a motorcycle trip and I was run off the road and suffered a deep concussion. Randy stayed in my hospital room all the time, the staff couldn't budge him – and he's the one finally made me regain consciousness. You know how? He put his hand under the bedcovers and stroked my cock. Gradually it got hard ... and I finally opened my eyes to see Randy's baby blues smiling down at me."
"Really, sir? Do you think I should go to the hospital and do that for Pete ...?"
"No, buddy, better to wait and see what happens. I'm sure he'll be conscious again real soon."
Bob's reassurance helped a bit but when they finally got back home Brandon's depression took hold again. The usually active house was now eerily silent. Hassan and Eddie were away and Brandon was alone.
Bob sensed Brandon's despair right away and said, "I'm going to stay here with you as long as you need me, kiddo. Why don't you make us a cup of tea and some sandwiches, eh?"
Bob knew that work would help Brandon stop brooding and he was right. In the kitchen he went to work for Bob who was, after all, a guest in his house. But he had to keep fighting back a surge of irrational fears about what was happening to Pete. Bob tried to boost his spirts with praise. "Brandon, what you did for Pete was spectacular. You'll be a hero in the tribe."
"I just want Pete to be OK, sir. I don't care about anything else."
Just then Bob's phone rang. He jumped on it, saw it was Randy and put it on speaker. "Hi, Randy, I'm here with Brandon in his house and you're on speaker. What's the news?"
"The best. Pete was taken to the emergency room, the docs worked on him and he regained consciousness. He was groggy at first but I was able to tell him what happened and the awesome thing you did for him, kid. They want to keep him in overnight for observation ..."
"Why, sir? Why can't he come home ...?"
"It's standard procedure, kiddo, after a concussion. They want to guard against delayed shock or anything. When he woke up Pete's first question was about you, kid. Here, wait a minute." There was a long pause. "OK, kiddo, someone wants to speak to you."
Another pause, then "Hi, Brandon, how you doing buddy?"
Brandon's eyes brimmed with tears. "Hello, sir, it's really you?"
"Unless I'm still dreaming it is. Hey if you don't believe it's me maybe I should go back to sleep."
"No, sir, please. Talk a bit longer. Are you feeling OK?"
"Just a great big headache, like a beer hangover. But they've got pills for that. They want me to sleep but I just wanna say this, Brandon. The docs say it was a good thing I got treated when I did or it could have been much worse. And I owe that to you, kid. It's not an exaggeration to say you prob'ly saved my life. I could still be lying out there. You're my hero, dude, and when I get home I am gonna thank you in a big way, over and over again.
"Kid, they're telling me I gotta sleep now. But I wanna make sure you're taken care of. I don't want you to be alone in that house. Is Bob still with you?"
"I'm right here, Pete," Bob said, "and I'm planning to stay. I was gonna ask your permission to spend the night with Brandon, just him and me."
"Would you really do that, buddy? It would sure be a load off my mind. And listen Brandon, I want you to feel good, so if there's anything you wanna do with Bob, anything at all, that's fine with me. You deserve it. Bob, keep him warm for me for when I get back, OK, buddy?"
"I'll do my best, Pete. I'm no substitute for you but I'll give him whatever he needs."
"Goodbye, sir," Brandon said. "Sleep well. I'll see you tomorrow."
Randy came on the phone. "Right, so they're taking him up to a room for the night. I'll stay with him until they're sure he's gonna be OK and resting well. And don't worry about me tonight, Bob. I've been planning to spend a night with my boy Pablo anyway. Long time since I worked on that primo ass of his."
"Sir, thank you for rescuing us, sir. I knew you would, that's why I called you."
"Ah, all in a day's work, kid. But you're the real hero. You did all the heavy lifting ... literally."
After Randy rang off Brandon looked at Bob with tears in his eyes. "He's OK, sir. He's gonna be OK." The boy had been running on adrenaline for hours now and as that adrenaline finally drained his mind surrendered to all the fear and despair he had been holding at bay for so long.
Tears flowed down his cheeks and his sobs became uncontrollable. His body shook and Bob knelt down and wrapped his arms round him. "That's it Brandon. Let it all out. You did a great job today taking care of your man, and I'm here with you now to take care of you. We'll go to bed early and I promised Pete you can have whatever makes you feel better. Anything at all."
BOB & THE BALM OF LOVE
The twins sent Will over to make dinner for Bob and Brandon and there was a warm reunion between the two young best friends. But Will was the twins' boy and had inherited their sensitivity and he realized it was best for Brandon to be alone with Bob. So, ever the professional chef, Will put on his apron and chef's hat and in no time he had rustled up a light meal that he served up at the dining table.
"I'll leave you alone now, sir, if that's OK. And Brandon, tomorrow the twins have assigned me exclusively to this house so when Pete comes home I'll be here to cook and tidy up and give you two time alone to get reacquainted. Dude, I just wanna say one thing. I always knew you were brave, everyone knew that, but what you did up there on the trail was totally awesome. It's an honor to be your friend, buddy."
As Will left, Bob smiled at Brandon. "See? That's gonna be everyone's reaction from now on. . You know how fast news spreads on the grapevine. You're already a celebrity, kiddo."
"Sir, I don't think I want all this hero stuff. I just want to be alone with Pete."
"You can do that too, from tomorrow on. But tonight you're stuck with me. So let's shower and go to bed."
"OK sir," Brandon grinned. "And after Pete there's no one I'd rather be `stuck with' than you, sir."
They cleared the table together then Bob said, can I help you with the shower?"
Brandon shot him that look all the guys knew so well, meaning `I don't need help with anything – I can do it all myself'.
"Oops," Bob grinned, "another hoof in mouth moment. OK, here's my blanket apology for all the times I underestimate you, kiddo."
"No sweat, sir. Happens all the time. I just say no thanks and move on. Er, I don't need your help in the shower, sir, but I would like your company. When Randy built the shower he adapted it for me and made room for someone else too."
"OK kid, let's go." Bob pulled off his T-shirt and Brandon gazed up in awe, as he did every time he saw Bob's muscular torso. Only this time he was actually going to shower with him – and then sleep with him.
Brandon quickly pulled off his own clothes and wheeled himself to the shower, followed by Bob who watched him deftly pull himself out of his wheelchair and into the special shower seat Randy had installed. Bob took off his jeans and joined him as Brandon turned on the water with the taps that Randy had mounted lower on the wall than usual.
They luxuriated in the warm streaming water and Brandon got an instant hard-on as the handsome muscle-god soaped himself up and Brandon watched the suds sliding down his flawless body. He said, "Only trouble with me being at this height, sir, is that my face is level with your cock. So I can't kiss your lips but I could lick ... if you don't think Pete would mind."
"Kid, once and for all, Pete has given his OK for whatever makes you feel good. And it would sure make me feel good to have your lips wrapped round my cock." Bob stood in front of Brandon and leaned forward, bracing his hands on the tiled wall. His semi-hard cock swung over the boy's face and Bob swung his hips from side to side so his cock brushed his cheeks.
Brandon giggled as he opened his mouth and he tried to catch the cock in it. He poked out his tongue and licked it every time it swung over his face. "Are you trying to turn me on, sir?"
"Is it working?"
"I'll say. I'm drooling, sir."
"We can't have that. Here, suck in the spit ... and suck in this. Bob lowered his cock over Brandon's face and he licked the head, then clamped his lips over it and sucked in the whole of the thick shaft all the way down his throat. Arched over him Bob pulled back, paused, and then pushed his now-rigid cock deep inside until his pubic hair was pressing against the boy's face.
Brandon breathed in deeply, intoxicated by the damp smell and taste of the handsome leader of the tribe. He reached up and grabbed Bob's slim waist, then traced the ridges of his eight-pack abs with his fingers. He reached higher to the soap-covered chest and dug his fingers into the solid pecs, all the while feasting on the master's shaft that drove in and out of his mouth.
Pete had been right to encourage this as Brandon's fears and anxieties were stifled by his lust for this gorgeous man. He reached down and stroked his own cock but realized that he was close to his orgasm so he pulled his hand away.
Bob was having the same problem so he pulled out of Brandon's mouth at last and panted, "Damn you almost made me lose my load there, kiddo. You know, your upper body is really ripped, boy – great arms, shoulders and pecs like you've been working out real hard."
"I have, sir – all day and every day for years wheeling my chair. And I'm still pumped from wheeling two of us a couple of miles on rough gravel. They should make that a gym exercise – minus the rock and stuff." Then Brandon frowned. "You really think he's OK, sir?"
"Kid, you've gotta get over those irrational fears. Of course he's OK. Randy would call if he weren't. Now listen, kid. Pete told me to take care of you and make you feel good, so that's what I'm gonna do." Bob turned off the water and flung him a towel. "Now dry yourself off."
They both toweled dry and Bob said, "So OK, I know you don't need any help getting from shower to bed but I gotta have a little fun myself. I am co-leader of the tribe, dammit."
He bent down, wrapped one arm round Brandon's back, the other under his knees and lifted him bodily out of his chair. He bent down and kissed him, then carried him out of the shower. "OK, I'm in the driver's seat now, so what am I gonna do with you? Only one place for a handsome stud like you – and a proven hero at that."
He carried Brandon to the bedroom and dropped him on the bed, making him laugh as he bounced. "That's what Pete always does to me, sir."
"Oh he does, eh? And what does he do then?"
"He usually fucks me, sir."
"Now there's a surprise. Well as I'm taking his place for one night only I better make the most of it."
"Yes please, sir."
Bob stood on the bed with his legs astride, towering over the excited boy and stroking his huge cock. "So, I could cum in your face or in your ass. What's it to be, boy?"
"In my ass, sir, if you don't mind. It's been years since you fucked me."
"Good, `cos I was gonna do that anyway." Bob knelt on the bed and pushed Brandon's legs back. "Let's do it the Randy way, eh?" Bob spat on his cock, eased it between his ass cheeks and grinned, "You are such a young stud, kiddo. It's an honor for me to do this."
He drove his cock into Brandon's tight ass, then leaned forward and pinned his wrists to the bed above his head. "Now you're my prisoner. And I'm gonna plough your hot ass until I make you cum without touching yourself."
"Yes please, sir." Brandon's eyes sparkled as he felt Bob's huge cock filling his ass. He gazed up at the handsome muscle-god with his perfect physique, chiseled features, thick dark hair and deep brown eyes. "You feel so good inside me, sir. Thank you for staying with me tonight. I love you, sir."
"And I love you, kiddo, and everyone in the tribe does. Now look at me while I make love to your ass and make you feel good, as I promised your man I would."
It was a long, gentle, loving fuck and Bob happily watched the anguish that had been etched in Brandon's face now disappear, replaced by joy. He bent down and kissed Brandon, then pulled back and smiled at him. You have a beautiful ass, Brandon. But it's only on loan to me. It belongs to Pete and tomorrow he will be here making love to you."
"Thank you, sir. You are so beautiful and make me feel so good that I think I want to cum ... if that's OK with you, sir."
"OK? It's required, boy. I wanna watch your cock spurt jizz all over that strong young body of yours. Can you do that for me?"
"Try stopping me, sir. `Cos I can't stop myself. Here it comes, sir. You're making me cum ... I love you, sir ... oh, I'm gonna cum ... aaaah." With a deep sigh he spurted semen all over his stomach and chest, as Bob said, "Me too, kid, right inside you ... like this ..." Brandon watched Bob's muscles flex, saw his handsome face tense, and felt his hot juice filling his ass.
There was a long silence as they stared at each other. Then Bob said, "He's gonna be just fine, kiddo, you do know that, don't you?"
"I do now, sir. I love you, sir, and Randy too. I feel so safe living here with you and all the guys. Thank you, and Randy too, for taking care of Pete and me."
"That's what the tribe's for, Brandon – taking care of each other. Now come and snuggle up against me. Bob lay down, pulled Brandon into him and wrapped his arms round him.
"Brandon, there's something else you never thought of. Yesterday you were all upset because there was something all the other boys could do except you – rock climbing. But that works both ways. Today you discovered something none of the boys could have done except you – carrying an unconscious Pete out of that place, two miles along a deserted trail. And you did that `cos you are in a wheelchair.
"Imagine, for example, if it had been your pal Eddie and an unconscious Hassan. There's no way Eddie could have carried a big man out of that place. But you did. No other boy could have done that except you."
"I never thought of it like that, sir. Do you think Pete will see it like that?"
"Not really, Brandon, no. See, Pete doesn't even think of you as a boy in a wheelchair. He doesn't even see the wheelchair anymore. All he sees is the beautiful boy he's in love with."
"I can't wait for him to come home, sir. I want to make love to him over and over again"
"And so you shall, Brandon. But right now you gotta go to sleep – and dream about your handsome Forest Ranger."
TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 467
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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