A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 500 By Rob Williams
Chapter 500 – "BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN"
IN THIS CHAPTER:
Two couples, two celebrations. Hot new lovers Adam and Chad invite the whole tribe to a housewarming party. The tribe's founders Randy and Bob mark their own anniversary by going back to the motel where they first met and re-enact the homoerotic scenes where the young business executive surrenders to the swarthy, savage gypsy. Is this the start of a new chapter in their lives ... or the end of the story? ___________________________________________________________________
IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER
In just a few weeks Doctor Chad and the handsome Aussie Adam had become really close, two macho top men who shared almost everything – even Adam's boy Nate in an erotic spit roast.
But one thing the alpha males did not share is sex with each other, each believing the other had no sexual interest in him.
When Adam and Nate moved temporarily into Chad's new house, the friendship kicked into high gear. Chad, was a skilled surgeon and Adam an airline executive, and they quickly discovered that they were much alike and had a great deal in common, not least a sense of humor.
They kidded and laughed their way around the grocery store, teased each other fumbling their clumsy way around the kitchen, and enjoyed evenings in front of the fire with their new dog Molly, a goofy looking mutt they had adopted together from the pound. As they sipped after-dinner brandy their conversation ranged over many topics, solving the problems of the world.
But the one problem they could not solve was their lack of physical and sexual contact, which they mistakenly put down to a lack of chemistry. But finally, at long last the dam broke when Adam called Chad `bro' once too often.
"The thing is, Adam, I dreamed of something more than a brother – a lot more. I'll show you." Chad leaned forward, and kissed him lightly, then pulled back and blushed. "Something like that ... sorry mate, just had to do that."
"Don't apologize, dude. I kind of thought ... hell, I didn't know what I thought." There was a long uneasy silence. "Oh to hell with it, man, I might as well tell you." Adam related a story of how earlier in the day, working at the airport, he could not get Chad out of his mind. He had gone into one of the restrooms on a soon-to-depart aircraft and jerked off looking in the mirror.
"It was you I saw in the mirror, Chad. I saw your body when you undressed for bed, saw your face asleep on the pillow, and saw you fucking my boy. I wondered how Nate felt looking up at you and feeling your cock in his ass, how it would feel in my ass. And I came all over the mirror."
"But Adam, you never gave any hint, any sign that ..."
"Chad, there's something you should know about us Aussies. Sure we have that cheerful easy-going attitude to life, but underneath all that we bury a lot of sentimental stuff. Maybe because it's not macho, maybe because I was scared of loving someone like you, scared of rejection.
"And then there's my boy Nate. Oh I know Nate would love me to have a lover `– as well as him not instead of. He knows he'll always be my boy, no worries there. No, the problem was that you always said you were a one-man guy, you wanted a monogamous relationship, so I knew you couldn't accept me and Nate. And I couldn't face rejection.
"I thought maybe just being with you, close to you – in the kitchen, kidding around in the market, here by the fire, and sharing a bed without touching – would be enough."
"But it's not, is it, Adam? I've been in a kind of daze ever since I met you, but I guess I too was burying everything, just like an Aussie. Fear of intimacy Doc Steve calls it. When the physical attraction is so strong between two guys, instead of drawing them together it inhibits them, so they don't even touch each other. The feeling is so intense it scares them.
"And yeah sure, I was confused about Nate. I would never, ever, come between you two. But Adam, Nate is a part of you, it's a total package, and now I know I can embrace the whole package. But I still assumed you didn't think of me sexually – you thought of me as a bro."
They stared at each other and a slow smile of recognition lit their faces. "Dammit, mate, we've been a pair of total idiots, ain't we? Done a whole lot of burying, been so fucking macho. And we've wasted so much time."
And so the floodgates opened and they had wild sex, making up for all the time they had wasted. Nate was away for the night with his best buddy Jamie, so the men had the night to themselves and made the most of it, culminating in their first ever orgasms as lovers.
Afterwards they curled up together but there was no more sex that night. Their relationship was not based only, or even primarily, on sex. It was based on love and laughter, on warmth and wisteria and evenings by the fire.
Oh there was carnal lust too, but that was there for the plucking, when they felt like it. They were just as happy squabbling in the market and messing up the kitchen. Or sleeping next to each other, as now, with Molly snoring softly in her basket.
Next morning Adam stirred and woke Chad by kissing his eyes. There was a tap on the door and Nate came in with a breakfast tray. "G'day mates," he said in his cheerful Aussie accent. I wasn't sure if it would be breakfast for one or two. I took a bet on two and I see I was right."
"Not exactly, mate," Adam grinned. "It's breakfast for three, and always will be. Sit here on the bed, kiddo, we've a lot to talk about."
Nate put the tray on the bed and joined them, but then Molly barged in and put her front paws on the bed, her head cocked and her tongue hanging out.
"OK, OK, breakfast for four," Chad laughed, shoving a piece of toast in her mouth.
******************* CHAPTER 500 ******************
<><> FAMILY PLANNING <><>
So here they were at last, a family of four – the virile Aussie Adam, his hot new lover Doctor Chad, Adam's boy Nate, and their dog Molly – having their first breakfast together.
Adam and Chad sat up naked in bed, Nate perched on the bed beside them, and Molly sat beside the bed waiting for breakfast treats, with that pleading look in her eyes that is second nature to all dogs and irresistible to humans.
"Adam took a deep breath and said haltingly, "Nate, there's something I ... that you should ..."
"That I should know and already do?" Nate grinned cheekily. "It's written all over your faces. You are in love ... you're lovers. You finally made love last night – and I have only one question. What the hell took you so long? You've been carrying on this weird mating-dance when everyone else could see you were made for each other."
Adam glanced at Chad and they burst out laughing. "Obvious to everyone but us, eh?" Chad said. "But Nate, the most important thing is that you ..."
"... that I am still Adam's boy and always will be? Sir, Adam and I have been together so long and love each other so much that I have no worries about that, eh dude?" grinning at Adam.
"Damn," Chad laughed, "you can't teach this boy anything – keeps completing my sentences, like a texting autocomplete. How have you put up with him all these years, Adam?"
Adam shrugged helplessly and Nate continued, "Only thing I don't know, sir, is will I be your boy too from now on?"
"No, Nate, I will never be you master. I haven't earned that privilege – that's something you and Adam have built up over the years. But I hope you and I will love each other as much as we both love Adam."
"Maybe I'll call you uncle," Nate suggested, with a cheeky grin at Adam.
"No, god no," Chad protested vigorously. "Not uncle, never that. Makes me feel old. Why put a label on it at all? I'll call you Nate, or dude, or kiddo, and you can call me Chad or doc or whatever you like."
"Including `sir', sir? Every time I say that I get a hard-on, having two gorgeous hunks to look up to – a family of three."
Molly shoved her wet nose under Nate's hand and he laughed, "OK, family of four," and gave her a piece of toast from the tray."
"OK, mates," Adam said, now we've got that major issue squared away, let's move on to the trivial matter of where we're gonna live, Nate."
"Here, of course," Chad said. "Don't lovers and families live together? I mean, you and Nate will still have the suite you're in now so you can have privacy when you want it, and Nate can entertain his buddies like Jamie and Darius. It'll all work out fine."
Nate nodded eagerly and Adam smiled, "Sounds like a plan, mates. So what, we'll pay you rent or something, Chad?"
"Nah, lovers don't pay rent. But we can share the mortgage if you like – hell, I'll put your name on the mortgage Adam. We'll ask Bob for advice, he's good at stuff like that."
"OK, mates," Nate said, "life goes on and I gotta get myself ready for work."
"Er, just a minute, Nate," Chad said. "There's one more thing I want to do. We've been making all these plans, pledging ourselves as a family. Well, words are all very well, but as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. And in a way this is the most important thing of all.
<><> THE FAMILY THAT FUCKS TOGETHER ... <><>.
Chad glanced at Adam with raised eyebrows and Adam nodded with a smile. They were already developing that wordless shorthand that lovers use to communicate, where a question is asked with a raised eyebrow and answered with a nod.
So, with Adam's approval, Chad took the lead. He got out of bed buck naked, pulled Nate to his feet and smiled into his eyes. "Nate, I would like to see you on your back on the floor – naked."
Nate glanced at Adam who said, "You heard what the man said, kiddo." Needing no further prompting Nate eagerly took off his shirt, kicked off his sneakers and dropped his shorts. His cock sprang out with an erection at the mere sight of the naked demi-god standing before him.
He dropped to the floor and lay on his back, assuming he was about to get butt-fucked by the macho doctor. Adam expected the same thing, lying on the bed, his head propped up on his elbow, fascinated by the sight of his new lover preparing to fuck his boy.
Actually they were both wrong. Sure, when Chad stood astride the naked boy on the floor and stroked his cock it seemed inevitable that in a few minutes it would be buried in Nate's ass. But when Chad sank to the floor he was kneeling not between Nate's legs but astride his waist. "I wanna show you, Nate, that I can be everything to you and Adam. Even this ..."
He lowered his hips and Nate was shocked to feel his cock sliding into Chad's ass. It was an incredible sensation as Chad rose and sank again, each time taking the rod deeper in his ass until he was sitting on Nate's pubic hair."
"Oh ... oh sir ... that feels ... your ass feels ... I'm fucking your ass, sir ... aaah ..."
He sighed deeply but Chad said, "Don't cum yet, Nate. I want you to enjoy it ... I want you to enjoy everything you do with Adam and me." He rose again and jerked up and down on the head of Nate's cock as Nate's face rocked form side to side moaning in ecstasy.
Adam's eyes were sparkling as he watched from the bed. Chad had hit on the best way to make Nate feel secure in this new family – not just the butt-boy of two alpha males but an equal, a young jock to whom a man as powerful as Chad could surrender his ass. Adam stroked his own cock as he stared at his lover's sculpted body, his muscles flexing as he rode the boy's cock with increasing force.
Nate reached up and stroked Chad's solid chest, feeling the muscles ripple under the smooth flesh. He gazed up into the intense hazel eyes, at the square clenched jaw and the beads of sweat rolling from his neck down the deep cleft between his pecs. Chad's tousled hair was flying as he glanced over at the bed and the dazzled Adam silently mouthed, `I love you, man'.
Chad licked his lips and Adam again recognized that lover shorthand and its meaning. He got out of bed, smiled down at his boy, then stood astride him, his back to Nate and facing Chad. Adam's cock was rock-hard, of course, and level with the doc's face. Chad opened his mouth wide and Adam slid his long cock down his throat.
Nate gasped, looking up at Adam's ass cheeks flexing as he fucked Chad's face while Chad rode the boy's cock. The macho top-man was getting double teamed by the two Aussies, man and boy, one fucking his ass, the other his face. It was not exactly the spit-roast the men had given Nate but the effect was even sexier as Chad was not being demeaned on all fours. He was in control as he fucked Nate's cock with his ass and sucked Adam's rod.
The tension built until Nate moaned, "Sirs, I'm real close ... I think I'm gonna ..."
"I think that goes for all of us, mate," Adam said. He grabbed Chad's tousled hair and pulled his face back so he could push even deeper down his throat. Tears were running down the handsome face and Adam groaned, "Fuck ... you've never looked more gorgeous than you do now, buddy. I'm gonna pour my jizz down your throat, mate, and you'll drink every last drop, then I'm gonna watch my boy pump semen in your ass. "Here it comes, bro ... Yeaaah."
Adam yelled in triumph as he filled his lover's mouth with sperm that Chad gulped down frantically without spilling a drop. When his cock had drained Adam pulled out and, still pulling Chad's head back by the hair, watched tears roll down his cheeks and sperm ooze from the corners of his mouth. "The gorgeous muscle-god meets his match. Bloody brilliant, mate."
He heard Nate panting hard so he stood back and watched as the boy raised his hips and pushed his cock deeper in Chad's ass. Chad stroked his own cock and grinned down at the boy. "OK, kid, let's do it, let's show Adam we're a team."
The eager young jock fucked upward, faster and harder, until he shuddered and yelled ... "I'm gonna cum ... Fuck, I'm cumming in your ass, doc ... fuuuck!" Chad sat down hard on Nate's cock as it pumped cum deep in his ass, which brought Chad to the edge of orgasm. He pounded his cock in his fist ... jizz spurted from it and splashed down on Nate's face.
<><> EDDIE CHECKS IN <><>
For long seconds the only sound was their panting breath until suddenly Nate's laughter filled the room. Chad eased off him and stood with Adam looking down at him. His handsome young face was wreathed in smiles, his eyes sparkling as he said to Adam, "I fucked the doc, sir ... my dick fucked his ass."
"Good on ya, mate, but from where I was standing the doc's ass fucked your dick, then he busted his load all over that sexy face."
Nate scrambled to his feet. "Yeah but who ended up with our jizz in his mouth and butt?" He threw his arms round Chad. "Thank you, sir, that was awesome. I'm real stoked that you and Adam ended up together. Life's gonna be so much fun."
There was a tap on the door and Eddie came in. Seeing all three men standing together butt naked he said, "Oh sorry, sirs, bad timing? I should prob'ly leave." But he made no move to go out and just stood there with a goofy smile on his face.
"Eddie, you look like your bursting to tell us some news," Chad said.
"No sir, actually I came to get the news. No, scratch that. I mean I came to ... to ask Nate if he needed any help here ... not here in the bedroom I don't mean, looks like Nate's got that covered. I mean in the house ... like cleaning, or ... like ... nothing sexual or anything but ..."
"Eddie," Adam laughed, "if you dig that hole any deeper you'll fall right in and we'll never hear from you again ..."
"Hmm, now there's a thought," Nate mused.
"That's not very nice," Eddie pouted, but there was a sparkle in his eye. "Oh alright, what I really came to see was what's going on over here. I mean everyone's dying to know and rumors are flying. I know you guys don't like rumors so I thought I'd do you a favor and come here to check it out for myself so I can knock down all the crazy stories." For once he had run out of words and stood wide-eyed and expectant, looking from one face to the other.
"That's very good of you, Eddie," Chad said, trying to keep a straight face. "So here's the scoop. Adam and I are lovers ... ("Yes," Eddie hissed pumping his fist) ... and Nate of course is still Adam's boy, and we plan on living together as a family of three – and Molly makes four."
"I knew it, I knew it. I told the other guys that ..."
"And ..." Chad cut him off, knowing that once Eddie started it would be like stopping a runaway train. "And, we will be living here in this house."
"But," Adam added, "we want you to keep that last bit to yourself for a while as I haven't given Bob notice that we'll be leaving the Aussie house next door to the tribe's compound."
"No worries there, sir, you can trust me to keep a secret. Eddie characteristically ran his fingertips across his lips and turned a key at the corner. "Er, OK if I leave now, sir?"
"Hey, I thought you came to offer me help with cleaning up," Nate said, stifling a grin.
Eddie frowned. "Oh yeah, right ... er, I'll get back to you on that one, dude. I gotta go. Hey, you guys, congratulations. Couldn't happen to a nicer group of musclehunks." He ran quickly from the room and they exchanged smiles. "Right," Chad said, "so that'll be all over the grapevine in five minutes, so you better get on the phone to Bob and tell him, Adam – unless you believe that lips-are-sealed thing with the fingers.
<><> BOB HAS IT ALL WRAPPED UP <><>
Adam was slightly nervous when he called Bob. Above all, he and Chad wanted Bob's blessing on their relationship and hoped he wouldn't come up with any objections. He needn't have worried. "Well it's about time," Bob said on Adam's speakerphone. "And now I suppose you would like my help sorting out the finances."
"How did you know we were gonna ask that, Bob?"
"Adam, this ain't my first time at the rodeo. Randy and I have been living and working in this tribe for years so I've pretty much seen it all, but it's a special event when two of our guys fall in love. I'll be right over if that's convenient. I mean you are out of bed, aren't you?"
"Too right, mate – and we've even had out first visitor – Eddie."
"Ah, the town-crier. I thought I heard the grapevine humming. Congratulations, guys. Er, by the way, no need to dress."
He hung up and Chad laughed. "Does he have the place bugged with cameras, or something?"
"Nah... intuition," Adam said. "Like Bob said, he's been watching over this tribe for years and he he's developed a nose for which way the wind's blowing."
Bob proved that when he arrived with a sheaf of papers. "I've been working up a financial plan for you guys over the last few days."
"You knew this would happen?" Chad asked. "You psychic or something?"
"No need for telepathy, doc. All I had to do was look at your faces when you saw other. They had `lover' written all over them. I'm just surprised it took so long. Hey, before we get down to business how about a hug, eh?"
The men had just pulled on boxers and when Bob hugged each in turn, and then Nate, he said, "Phew, good thing you two are monogamous or I'd have fallen into bed with all of you."
"Oh," Chad said, "I don't think that possibility is off the table ... do you Adam?"
"I was sorta hoping you'd say that, buddy."
"Now look,"" Bob said, "that's the kind of stuff you guys have to work out for yourselves. One thing I will say is that now you're in love everything else will kinda fall into place. Not my business though. I'm just your financial advisor so let's get down to business."
"Er, should I leave, sir?" Nate asked.
"Of course not, Nate. As I understand it you are an essential part of this family and make your own substantial contribution just like these guys. Molly too, though her contribution will probably be limited to slobbery wet kisses. OK, here are the notes I made ..."
Bob had drawn up several plans on how to co-mingle their finances, such as adding Adam's name to the mortgage. "All this money-talk might seem premature, but it's important to deal with this stuff from the get-go. Everything's wine and wisteria right now but finances soon have a way of rearing their ugly head."
It took a while but they eventually agreed on a financial framework and Bob said he would crunch the numbers later. "Bob," Adam said, "I'm sorry to pull out of our old house so abruptly. I'll pay another month's rent to cover the loss."
"Of course not, Adam. Matter of fact we have a new tenant already... Will's dad Seth. Randy and I have been saying for some time that he shouldn't be living way up in the hills in Steve's guesthouse. He's now manager of one of the construction sites so he should live close to us."
"Yeah," Chad agreed. "When I visited him he said he gets kinda lonely up there and he'd like to be closer to the action at the compound, so this is perfect. It'll sure please his boy Will."
"But we digress," Bob said. "The next word on the agenda is – drumroll please – housewarming. Maybe you two want to crawl up on the hearthrug in front of a blazing fire, but I'm afraid the tribe will be expecting a party. Next weekend happens to be the anniversary of the day Randy and I first met so it looks like becoming a major event, if you guys can stand it."
"Stand it?" Adam laughed. "We wanna shout our good news from the rooftop, so sure, let's have a party, eh doc?"
"I'm way ahead of you guys," Chad smiled. "Even before I met you, Adam I, er, spent time with Will and asked him if he would cater my housewarming party. He jumped at the idea and said he'd have the twins help him as it promised to be a big event."
"And it's gonna take a lot more guys than that," Nate said. "As house manager I'll be in charge and I'll recruit some of the boys. They'll all want to be involved, especially Eddie who loves to be in the thick of the action. I'll ask Tommy too from Steve's house. He used to be a party planner and he's worked on all the big tribe gatherings here and at the Grady House.
"Good boy, Nate," Bob said. "As for the expenses, check with Brandon in the office. He and Ryan are setting up accounts for the new house and, er, the new couple."
"Damn," Chad laughed, "the tribe sure springs into action fast. That's what I call teamwork."
"Hey," a voice boomed from the doorway. It was Randy. "Young Eddie's running around telling anyone who'll listen that we got a brand new couple over here. Congratulations you guys. He gave them both a warm bone-crushing hand shake. "I came by to see if everything was OK with the work we did on the house, but I s'pose you guys haven't checked it out yet – you ain't got any farther then the bedroom.
"It's all flawless, Randy," Chad said. "Thanks for coming by to check. And we're planning a big party to celebrate the house, our new family ... and you two guys' anniversary. That one's the big event – just think, if you two hadn't met that day all those years ago the tribe would never have happened, the story would never have begun and we wouldn't be standing here. Anyway, talking of standing here, I gotta get a move on, guys. I'm due at the hospital soon."
"Too right, mate," Adam said, "and I gotta get out to the airport. Gotta debrief an incoming crew from Sydney, then do a walk-through of the aircraft and supervise the new crew prepping the outbound flight."
Chad chuckled. "But if the flight's delayed don't go into the john and jack off thinking about me like you did last time. Now you know you can get the real thing from the real guy at home."
"Hmm, I might rub one out thinking about just that." Adam stroked Chad's cheek and Chad's hand went down to his cock. But Bob pulled them apart.
"Cool it, guys, or you'll spend the day in bed and miss the flight, the surgery, and everything else. I got a financial interest in you two and the big bucks you earn."
Nate stepped in. "OK, guys, I'm in charge now, so everyone get the hell out of the house and let me and Molly take care of everything."
"Damn, you Aussie boys can be mighty tough, kid," Randy grinned, ruffling Nate's hair. "You and the mutt here. Wouldn't wanna meet you two in a dark alley. Right guys, you heard what the boss said. Back to work."
<><> SETH GETS A HOME <><>
A short while later, in the kitchen of the tribe's compound, Will wiped his hands on his apron, took off his chef's hat and ran out across the garden and through the small gate leading to Adam's former house. He heard banging from inside, went in and saw Randy still working on the renovation.
Randy turned and smiled. "Hey, Red, how's it hangin'? You come to take a look at your dad's new home?"
"So it's true? You are gonna offer this house to Seth?"
"Already done, kiddo. And he's accepted. I knew it would please you, living so close to your dad, just the other side of the hedge. He's coming to take a look at it on his lunch break. Your dad's become an important man in the company, kiddo, you should be proud of him."
A truck drew up outside and Seth came in, in his dirt-streaked work pants and boots and an old ragged T- shirt hanging on his muscular torso. He smiled broadly seeing Will. "Hey kiddo, your jailers let you out of the kitchen, have they?"
"Oh I can leave whenever I want, sir, but it's my favorite place to be."
"I know, I know, just kidding, son. Hey, Randy this place is looking terrific. Bit too smart for a rough-round-the-edges construction worker like me."
"Bullshit. You're a real asset to the company, dude, and you deserve this. I wanted you to take a look and choose the finishing touches, like wall colors and stuff."
"Randy, you don't have to spend any more of your time on this. Now you and the crew have done the heavy lifting, why don't you let me finish it off myself in my spare time – paint the walls and stuff. Hey kiddo, maybe you can give me a hand."
"I would love to, sir." Will's eyes were gleaming with pride at his dad. And I can come and cook for you and we'll have dinner together ..."
"... and you can spend the night, maybe?"
"Yes please, sir." Then they both blushed, talking of sleeping together in front of Randy.
"Hey don't mind me, guys, I've seen pretty much everything. You know my motto – whatever floats your boat. Knock yourself out – just as long as no one gets hurt. OK, Seth, the place is all yours. Do what you like – and with whoever you like, eh Red?" ruffling Will's shock of red hair.
The macho gypsy had a tough hide but a soft heart when he saw a dad with his arm round his son gazing up at him so proudly. As he left the house Randy remembered Bob saying that the tribe had been the healing influence that helped father and son bury their abusive past. Yeah, he thought, he and Bob had a lot to celebrate. And a wild idea started to take shape in his mind.
<><> THE CELEBRATION BEGINS <><>
Over the next few days Nate and the other boys pulled out all the stops for the big party.
Nate was enjoying the taste of his new life where he was free to mix more with his buddies rather than spending all his time with Adam, much as he loved him. In the evenings he sat with Adam, Chad and Molly by the fire in a domestic harmony that was richer than before and unexpectedly brought him even closer to Adam than when it had been just the two of them.
Sometimes he had sex with them both but he was more than happy to let them enjoy their new-found love in bed together. And during the day while they were at work he was free to direct the party planning operation. He had always been a senior boy but now had the added prestige of this being his house, living with the hot new couple Adam and Chad.
The party was planned for Saturday when none of the men would be working. Everyone would be coming from the other houses – Hassan and Pete's duplex across from the tribe's compound, Doc Steve's house in the hills, the fireman Jason's house by the Arroyo, and of course the Grady House. Even Uncle Mike and his boy Larry were coming from Palm Springs.
Such a crowd required a major effort by the boys, led by Nate, Eddie and golden boy Tommy, and especially the chefs – Will and the twins Kyle and Kevin. Brandon and his boyfriend Brian were buzzing around in their wheelchairs, their tray tables stacked high with dishes.
With such a large crowd the party was to be held in the garden, where Finn and Tyler had been working hard all week to transform it from an unkempt wilderness to the pastoral lushness designed by the landscaper Mario. Arriving guests found a long table covered in white cloths and set for thirty-plus men and boys. Tommy was tending the open-air bar serving pre-lunch cocktails as guests arrived.
There were many hugs and whoops of greeting as men reunited with others they hadn't see for a while. A strong sense of camaraderie hung over the swelling group, a tribute to the warmth and affection of this close-knit clan of men and boys who had drifted together over the years since Randy and Bob had first met by chance in a dingy beer bar.
Of course, Adam and Chad were swamped with congratulations, sprinkled as ever in this tribe, with ribald teasing and suggestions that bordered on pornographic. It was something of a relief when Nate came out and announced, "Gentlemen, please be seated – lunch is served."
Slowly the table filled up, with Adam and Chad side-by-side at the head, and Randy and Bob together at the other end. In a flurry of activity and spinning wheelchair wheels the food was served. Adam stood up and said with a broad Aussie smile, "G'day mates. Chad and I thank you all for showing up like this to launch our house and ... and ..."
"... and your love affair," Eddie prompted loudly, then blushed at his own outburst as his master Hassan clamped his hand over his mouth.
"Thanks Eddie, good on ya, mate," Adam laughed, "love was the word I was groping for. Before we dig in to the food I believe it's traditional at the start of these gatherings to thank the chefs and the boys who've worked so damn hard to pull it together. Take a bow, boys."
The three chefs came forward, Will between the twins, wearing their regular dark green aprons and chef's hats. The other boys stood in a row beside them with Brandon and Brian at either end of the row. The chefs took off their hats, raised them high then swooped them down in a deep dramatic bow to thunderous applause. The other boys copied their theatrical bow while Brandon and Brian did dizzying wheelies in their chairs.
When the cheers died down the boys took their places at table and the meal began in a clamor of voices and laughter that swelled as the meal progressed. Dishes were passed from hand to hand, wine flowed copiously and obscenities flew as the men traded jokes. Bob turned to Randy and smiled. "Some anniversary eh, buddy? Wouldn't have it any other way."
"Oh really?" Randy grinned. "We'll see about that."
<><> TO BOB & RANDY! <><>
The meal continued in a state of jovial, controlled chaos until they reached the coffee and brandy and Chad stood up and clinked his glass for silence – to no effect."
Randy's voice boomed, "Shut the fuck up, guys." And that brought silence.
Chad smiled, "Thank you, Randy. I see why we all depend on you for so much – even your voice. Gentlemen, boys, I'm not gonna make a long speech `cos I wouldn't get through it without blubbing my eyes out. I just wanna say..." his voice cracked ... "I have never felt happier in my life." That brought lusty cheers that gave Chad a chance to compose himself.
"I'm very new to this tribe but already you've welcomed me so warmly I feel like I've always belonged. And the tribe has helped me achieve what I've always dreamed of ... I've fallen in love with a beautiful man. I have it all – a family with Adam, Nate and Molly, and a new house – complete with wisteria.
"I want to thank Bob for helping me buy the house, Randy for a beautiful renovation, Tyler and Finn for working wonders in the garden, and Nate for making everything look so good. Adam, Nate and I are thrilled to have you all here to share our happiness." Adam stood up beside him and they kissed, long and hard, to cheers, wolf-whistles and shouts of "Get a room ..."
Even after they sat down the cheers continued until, "Freeze!" The cop Mark was on his feet and his police-officer command brought a startled silence. His handsome features broke into a smile – "Just kidding, guys. But I do wanna say a few words – first a toast to the happy couple, Adam and Chad." They all raised their glasses in a noisy toast.
Mark continued, "But there is another couple I want to pay tribute to. Today is the anniversary of a day some years ago when Bob was driving south from San Francisco to Mexico. He has described that day to me many times. Passing through L.A. he felt tired and thirsty so he pulled off the freeway and up the off-ramp to Hollywood Boulevard ... where he turned left. As Bob always says, `If only I had turned right'.
"But we all should be thankful that he didn't. If he had turned right, none of us would be here today. As it was Bob turned away from the bright lights of the touristy end of the boulevard and unknowingly headed to the dingy end, a scruffy part of town with an even scruffier beer bar. He recalled that on the neon sign Cocktails the t-a-i-l letters were burned out. That should have been an omen." Ripples of laughter went through the rapt crowd.
"He went in out of the sunshine, and when his eyes got accustomed to the dark he saw that the bar was almost empty, except for a big guy hunched over the bar. Bob went and sat next to him, a muscular man with the swarthy, rugged looks of a gypsy – long shaggy black hair, his square jaw covered in heavy black stubble. He was a construction worker, smelling of sweat and grease. Sorry, Randy, but you did.
"When they introduced themselves Bob found himself looking into a pair of piercing blue eyes. Long story short, over a few beers they got to talking, and Bob told the guy he was going to nap for a while in his car. Instead, Randy said he had a room in a shabby motel round the corner where Bob could crash for a while before he continued south.
So they left the bar and went to what became the legendary Room 14. Exhausted, they shared a bed ... and the result, gentlemen, is what you see around you here today.
"The ensuing years brought drama and discord, pain and triumph, but that all bound them even closer together and they became inseparable. Over time other men and boys were attracted to this charismatic pair until ..." he swept his arm over the table ... "here we all are. I want to extend my own personal heartfelt thanks to these two gorgeous men, and ask you all to join me in another toast. To Bob and Randy ... Randy and Bob."
The whole company rose to their feet and there were many moist eyes round the table as the chorus boomed across the garden. To Bob and Randy ... Randy and Bob!"
<><> THE BEER BAR <><>
As always at these clan gatherings, when the meal was over the festivities kicked into high gear as the bar re-opened and they drank freely.
At first Bob and Randy were surrounded by men wanting to congratulate them personally on creating the tribe and holding it together for so many years. But when the table had been cleared away the crowd broke into smaller groups exploring the house and grounds. Finn and Tyler gave tours of the garden, Nate proudly showed men around the interior of the house and Adam and Chad wandered through the crowd beaming with pleasure.
Three of the boys had brought their dogs who, with Molly, caught the festive energy of their masters and their barking mixed with the laugher that came from every corner of the grounds. It was clear that the party was set to go on for hours, through dinner and beyond.
Randy and Bob eventually found a secluded part of the garden where they could spend time alone at last. "Quite an anniversary, eh, old buddy?" Randy grinned.
"Yeah, and Mark's description of that first day made me realize how fate can step in when we're least aware of it. It's amazing to think how a tiny unconscious decision, like which way you turn off a freeway ramp, can change your life forever. Scary really. I mean, how many times in life do people face a fork in the road? They casually choose one and the roads diverge in totally different directions. I recalled that day like it was yesterday, like I was living it all over again."
An odd smile crossed Randy's face. "Which reminds me, dude, I got a present for you." Bob grinned and waited for him to pull something from his pocket. "No, I don't have it with me, kid. We have to go and get it."
"You mean leave the party?"
"Oh they won't notice, listen to those guys. We'll be back before they miss us. Come on, man."
"Is that an order, sir?"
"Damn straight it is. Now move that ass."
A harsh tone had crept into Randy's voice that always excited Bob, so he followed him out through the gate to where his truck was parked. They drove in silence and Bob's heart started to beat faster. He vaguely noticed a backpack on the back seat but gave it no mind as Randy's truck was always cluttered with stuff.
At first he didn't pay attention to the circuitous route they were taking but he was surprised when they drove onto the Hollywood Freeway. But they only went three exits before Randy drove up an off-ramp. Bob inhaled sharply as he realized it was the same one as that long-ago day.
He said nothing and was not surprised when, at the top, Randy turned left. It was obvious now where they were headed. The flashing Cocktails sign had been mended but otherwise the bar's dingy entrance was the same. They pulled up to the curb and without a word Randy got out and marched into the bar. Confused at first Bob realized what he was meant to do.
He got out of the truck, the same as he had that fateful day, and went through the wide leather flaps hanging over the door. Now, as then, it took a while to get used to the gloom after the bright sun, but when his eyes adjusted he saw that there were only a few men in the place, including one sitting at the counter.
Bob sat on a stool next to him and ordered a beer. Randy turned to him and said gruffly, "Hi, the name's Randy." Bob stared into Randy's blue eyes, the same blue eyes that had startled him on that first day. They, at least, had not changed and never would.
<><> BACK TO ROOM 14 <><>
They sat without talking for some time. Randy was still wearing the T-shirt and jeans he wore at the party – not the oily, sweaty tank and workpants of that first day – but otherwise not much had changed. Randy said to the barman, an older, overweight man, "Hey, dude, you by any chance remember Sheila who worked behind the bar?"
"Ah, she left years ago. Actually found a guy who married her. You knew Sheila?"
"Oh yeah, I knew Sheila. Quite a gal. Glad she settled down."
Bob had drunk wine at the party and now beer, and said to Randy, "I gotta take a leak." He got up and went to the scruffy toilet, his mind racing as he peed in the urinal, his thoughts a mix of past and present. His cock was hard and he had trouble stuffing it back in his pants. He was eager to rejoin Randy ... but when he went back into the bar his stool was empty. He had gone.
Bob looked around the gloomy room but all he saw were the same motionless guys drinking in the shadows. He was about to ask the bartender if he'd seen Randy leave, but suddenly he knew where he had gone – and that he was meant to follow. He left the bar, shaded his eyes against the dazzling sun, and walked to the corner and down a side street.
It all looked familiar and everything came flooding back. He recalled that first day when they had shared a bed but in his sleep he had thrown an arm over Randy who thought he was coming onto him. In a rage he punished Bob savagely, then humiliated him by keeping him a degraded captive all night.
The next morning, after Randy had gone to work, Bob had left and tried to resume a normal life by checking into a hotel. But he felt unsettled and had driven aimlessly around town before finding himself back in the motel parking lot. He saw Sheila coming out of Room 14 yelling curses at Randy – "can't even get it up ... like you're in a different world ..."
Bob had got out of his car and looked through a crack in the window blinds ... just as he was doing now, so many years later. And what he saw was exactly the same now as then. Randy was lying on his back on the bed staring at the bare wall wearing just his undershorts, as he had that day after aborted sex with Sheila.
Bob's heart had beaten wildly that first time as it did now when he knocked on the door. When Randy opened it he stood back wordlessly and Bob entered. Now, as then, they stared at each other and Randy murmured, "You came back."
He grabbed Bob by the shirt and pushed him against the wall at the foot of the bed. He pulled from his backpack a length of rope and a leather collar that he buckled round Bob's neck. He attached the rope to the collar and wound the other end round a hook high on the wall – maybe even the same hook from all those years ago.
Randy opened the closet door, mirrored on the inside, so Bb could see his own reflection. Then he lay back on the bed staring at his prisoner.
"Damn, nothing's changed," he growled. "Same fucking gorgeous man you were then." With one hand behind his head, he ripped open his pants with the other and pulled out his cock. Time seemed to stand still as he stroked his huge dick, mesmerized by the sight of the man he had stared at in this same spot years ago.
Finally, "You remember what I ordered you to do?"
"Yes, sir." Bob was still wearing what he had worn at the party – and what he had been wearing that first day – beige slacks and loafers and a crisp white dress shirt. The collar and rope tied his neck but his hands were free and he slowly unbuttoned his shirt, letting it fall open to expose first his pecs, then his ripped abs. He pulled the shirt out of his waistband and, shrugged it off.
He was watching himself in the mirror, the handsome business executive in a leather collar, tied to the wall by his neck, being forced to strip naked by the savage gypsy. He was repeating that long-ago act of abject submission to another man, an act that was to define his life from then on.
"Holy shit," Randy breathed, staring at the young executive's chiseled torso that had first stunned him so long ago. "Yeah, I really get off making a macho businessman strip off those fancy clothes. Look at him, humiliated, tied naked, at my mercy – I fucking own him."
Mesmerized by the gypsy's blue eyes, Bob kicked off his loafers, then unzipped his slacks and let them fall to the floor. Finally he dropped his shorts, letting his cock spring free, hard as steel.
Randy got up off the bed, walked over to the naked muscle-jock and stroked his chest, then squeezed his nipples, making Bob wince. "Remember how I did this, buddy? I really tortured those tits, made tears flow down your cheeks. Man I hurt you so bad those first days. I loved you even then, you were so fucking gorgeous, but it scared me and I fought it – I fought you."
Randy put his hands in the sides of Bob's face and kissed him ravenously. When at last he pulled back he smiled. "Remember what came next?" He pressed his hands on Bob's shoulders and pushed him down on his knees. The rope attached to the wall was just long enough, but pulled tightly on Bob's neck making him raise his face.
Obediently he opened his mouth and felt Randy's huge cock sliding inside it, all the way to the back of his throat. Mindful of the savage way he had face-fucked Bob that first time to show him who was the master, Randy now held back and fucked his mouth gently but deeply until tears brimmed in his lover's eyes. When he choked Randy pulled out, grabbed Bob's hair and pulled his face back.
Bob stared up at the near-naked construction worker towering over him and realized that he had fallen in love with Randy that first time long ago, right here in this room. And his love had intensified through the years, right up to this moment where once again he felt the thrill of being at the mercy of this powerful, exciting man, wondering what would come next.
Randy grinned down at him. "One thing we never did in this room back then was fuck. That came much later. But I should have done it – shown you what your life was gonna be like from then on. So we're gonna make up for that now."
He untied the rope from the collar, pressed his boot against Bob's chest and pushed him flat on his back on the floor. He used the rope to tie Bob's wrists to the collar on each side, so his arms were bent, his biceps flexed. He stared down at his helpless captive and growled, "Shit, you are one gorgeous fucking son of a bitch, man. I love to hear a macho muscle-stud like you beg. Tell me what you want, asshole."
"I want you to fuck my ass, sir. I need to feel your rod in my ass. Please, sir. I wanna watch the gypsy ploughing my ass."
What Randy had loved over the years was the sense that he dominated this beautiful man, bound helpless at his feet. He had always claimed that Bob's ass belonged to him, something he believed to this day.
Bob, the powerful business executive, was known as a dominant alpha male, always in charge. But when he was with Randy he experienced a huge release in shedding that authority, surrendering to the fierce gypsy, bound and at his mercy.
He craved the excitement of total submission to the ultimate master. Every fiber of Randy's being exuded rugged masculinity. He dominated every room he walked into – men instinctively obeyed him and yielded to his power and sexual magnetism. And that was the exhilaration that consumed Bob now,
Randy dropped his shorts, spat in his hand and stroked his cock. Then he fell to his knees, pushed Bob's legs back and grinned, "No foreplay, dude. You know the drill." He drove his cock deep in Bob's ass, empowered by sound of Bob's howl of pain as he penetrated him.
This time there was no holding back – it was a vintage Randy fuck, fierce and merciless while the victim struggled beneath him, his shoulders and biceps bulging as he pulled at his wrists tied to the collar round his neck. As always, the initial burst of pain dissolved into the euphoria of submission to this hypnotic gypsy.
He stared up at the naked construction worker rising and falling above him, his muscles flexing as he fucked. He gazed at the square-cut gypsy features – the stubbled jaw, high cheek bones, shaggy black hair whipping over his face ... and the eyes, those laser blue eyes penetrating his as his shaft pistoned in his ass.
Like so many times before Bob saw himself reflected in those eyes that lured him into a magical world of love and lust, where passion was so strong their souls merged into one. Randy leaned forward and pressed Bob's biceps to the ground. "You're mine now, man, always have been and always will be, and I'm gonna make you cum, `cos we both know that I can – always could, always will. But I wanna hear you ask for it, buddy. I love it when you do that."
"Yes, sir," Bob pleaded. "I wanna cum so bad ... please, sir, fuck me hard, harder. Make me shoot a load all over myself ... I love you, Randy. I always have since our first time in this room. You're gonna make me cum ... yeah, I'm gonna cum ... fuck I'm gonna cum ... aaagh!"
Their shouts echoed round the shabby room as Randy drove his shaft in deep one last time and blasted semen deep inside his lover, while Bob tugged at his bound wrists and his cock erupted with streams of juice that splashed down on his writhing body.
As their cocks drained and their heartbeats subsided Randy grinned down at his lover. "Happy anniversary, old buddy."
<><> THE END OF THE STORY? <><>
Minutes later they were lying on the bed, propped up on their elbows smiling at each other. "Look at this place, dude," Randy said. "It all began here – quite a journey we've been on eh?"
"I'll say. Lots of guys along the way, lots of stories too. You know Darius has been keeping a record of it all – videos, pictures. And he's been writing it all down, chapter after chapter. Maybe one day he'll publish it."
"Hm," Randy chuckled, "great bedtime reading. But after everything we've done he better warn readers, don't try this at home'. But you know what, Bob – all the crowds, the big houses, the dramas – I think Im happiest right here, just you and me. Hey, how about we chuck it all, run away together, just us?"
"You mean don't go back to the party?"
"Don't go back at all – run away. The story ends right where it began, here in Room 14."
"Hm, a tempting thought. You know, Randy, all I've ever wanted is you. And god knows we've made enough money to live comfortably wherever we go. If we go broke we could always start over – you in construction jobs, me an accountant. No more complications, no more drama, no more story. Has a certain appeal."
They turned over on their backs and stared at the ceiling, mulling over the concept of a new life together, just the two of them. They thought of the freedom they would have from the weekly grind ... all the hard work and drama of the tribe, so many men and boys. So much to juggle, week after week ... a tribe of men and boys depending on them for its existence. Without them the tribe would break up ... no more story."
There was a long silence in the room. Then at last they turned and looked at each other.
"Nah ..." they said in unison, a smile spreading over their faces. "Leave the twins and Will?" Bob said. "Leave Mark and Jamie, Zack and Darius, Pete, Brandon, Hassan and Eddie? We could never do that. They depend on us ... we help them create their own stories."
"And those great kids," Randy said, "my boy Pablo, my little brother Ben. The boys need our protection, I can't take that away. When I left Texas I left my brothers behind, and I'm not gonna make the same mistake again. They all need us, buddy, and face it ... we need them."
"Besides," Bob grinned, "what would Darius have to write about? We gotta keep feeding him material. Much as I love the thought of non-stop sex in this room with you, it wouldn't work. We are the tribe, buddy ... the tribe is us. So ... what? It's back to the party?"
"Damn straight," Randy said. "They'll be missing us."
Bob sighed. "Randy, I think we just came to one of the forks in the road and made our choice, just like me turning left off the freeway. Who knows where it will take us this time."
Randy kissed him. "I don't care, buddy, as long as I'm with you."
They got up, got dressed and went to the door. They stopped and looked back at the rumpled bed, the threadbare carpet and peeling walls. "So, it's goodbye to Room 14," Randy said. "It's been good to us, buddy."
"It has, Randy. So now let us go and be good to all those guys we love." Randy threw his arm over Bob's shoulder, they went out into the sun and locked the door behind them.
<><> YOU CAME BACK <><>
The party was still in full gear but Mark was sitting alone at a small table just inside the gate with three beers on it. He was lost in thought, but he stood up and beamed as Bob and Randy came in. "Hey you guys, you came back," – an echo of the words Randy had used when Bob returned to the motel room.
"Did you think we wouldn't?" Bob asked.
"Ah, for some reason I had this crazy idea that you two would run away together – `far from the madding crowd' as the book says. Hell, you two could live alone anywhere and be happy together. Thought maybe the tribe had got too much for you and I was afraid it could mean a parting of the ways. See, I even brought three beers here to lure you back."
"Well it did the trick, buddy," Randy laughed, twisting off the top and taking a swig.
Bob said, "As a matter of fact, Mark, that thought was not so crazy, `cos it occurred to us too. But look at all these guys, having a blast together. We couldn't spoil their fun ... and we pretty soon realized we couldn't live without them. We've survived all their dramas for so many years now, we thought we should be around for all the excitement to come."
"And there's you too officer," Randy said. "Mark, you are part of Bob and me, we're a trio. Couldn't break that up. So ... now we've dived into the pond again, tell us what's brewing."
"Well, since you ask, I have been keeping my ear to the ground and you hear a whole bunch of stuff when the clan is all together. To start with the `newlyweds' Adam and Chad will be going on a kind of honeymoon tour round the tribe – like dinner with Pete and Hassan and their boys Brandon and Eddie. Then Mario and Grady want to give them a shindig up at the Grady House.
"Plus ... there's some kind of trouble building between Uncle Mike and his boy Larry. Can't quite get a handle on it, but Mike looks kinda down. I was even thinking that the three of us might take a trip out to Palm Springs and visit them. Could be fun and we might even be able to help."
"Huh," Bob smiled, "looks like we'll be jumping right in again at the deep end."
Mark raised his bottle. "So happy anniversary guys. Thanks for coming back to us and not ending it all."
"Hell," Randy said, "we've been putting up with all you guys' bullshit for so many years we'll prob'ly be knee deep in the same shit for years to come."
"Said with all the grace and elegance we've come to expect from you, Randy," Bob laughed
"Asshole," Randy grinned as they clinked bottles.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" - Chapter 501
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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