A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 570 by Rob Williams
Chapter 570 – "BROTHERLY LOVE – SIBLING RIVALRY"
IN THIS CHAPTER:
Enter Charlie, the sexy rodeo cowboy and gypsy brother of Randy and Ben. He's hero-worshipped by kid-brother Ben, which big brother Randy sees as a challenge, especially when he finds Charlie alone with Randy's lover Bob. Their old rivalry rekindles and they face off in a gym contest. Charlie is a ladies' man, not into guys, but when the equally-matched brothers start to wrestle.....
<><> IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER <><>
Randy made kid-brother Ben's dream come true – Taking him to the rodeo when it came to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Cowboys were a sexual fantasy for Ben as he excitedly explained to his pal Will. "I've seen them in the movies, and in porn of course, but now I get to see them in real life."
The spectacle lived up to his wildest expectations as he watched the action in the ring. His jaw dropped as he saw the muscular, sexy rodeo champ Rory King win the steer-roping contest, and then triumph in the bronc-busting climax. He tamed the stallion and rode him round the ring in a victory lap. The announcer even dubbed him the King of the Gypsies as the jubilant cowboy ripped off his shirt in triumph and whirled it above his head, his muscled physique on full display.
But when he threw his cowboy hat in the air, Ben gasped in recognition and clutched Randy's arm hard. "Sir ... sir ... that's Charlie ... our Charlie ... brother Charlie!"
An attendant came to tell them that Charlie (Rory King was his show name) would like them to come backstage. As they walked across the arena their thoughts were racing – but in different directions. Ben was thrilled to see the brother he had lived with after Randy left Texas. Charlie had taken care of him until he felt old enough to go off on his own – and hitch-hike to California.
But Randy had mixed feelings. Charlie was only a couple of years younger than Randy and, both of them being dominant alpha males, they had inevitably been competitive. Charlie resented Randy lording it over his younger brothers, who all hero-worshipped and obeyed him.
There was even a sexual rivalry over women, and when Randy was married he knew that Charlie had fooled around with his wife. By that time the marriage was on the rocks so Randy made no big deal about it. But the mutual brotherly resentment simmered and lingered.
Charlie, surrounded my admirers, now enthusiastically welcomed his brothers backstage. He hugged his little brother Ben, stirring Randy's old resentment – this time at Ben's hero-worship of the muscular rodeo star, the brother he had tussled with so often.
Ben's shining eyes gazed in awe at the handsome cowboy as he talked about life in the rodeo. "The rodeo's become my life, bro, and it sure brings in the bug bucks. We travel around so much that I don't have any close friends in Texas, just my regular drinking buddies. `Course, on the circuit women kinda throw themselves at me – rodeo groupies." He chuckled. "Even guys too sometimes. I guess they have some kinda cowboy fetish."
Ben was mesmerized, but Randy soon got tired of listening to his brother talk about himself, and even more pissed off to see Ben hanging on every word of the charismatic cowboy. Charlie was still shirtless, his bandana hanging loosely round his neck, and the boy's lustful gaze ran over his rugged face and chiseled physique, his ripped pecs, slim waist, and tight pants under chaps.
Charlie explained that after tomorrow's show he would have a week off until the show moved on to Arizona. "I was thinking I might stick around L.A. for the week, soak up some of the California sun and glamor. Just gotta find me a hotel with a gym."
Ben blurted impulsively, "Hey, you don't have to find a hotel, bro – come stay with us. We got our own gym at the house and I could watch you work out."
"Sounds good to me, kiddo," Charlie grinned, ruffling Ben's hair. "You up for that Rand? We could work out together, even wrestle a few rounds if you're up to the challenge."
"Oh, Randy's always up for a challenge," Ben laughed. "And I like to watch."
"O-oh," Charlie said. "That's camera lights going on over there. I gotta go talk to the press and do a TV interview. Here's the number ya'll can reach me through the office. I'll tell them to expect you or they'll think you're groupies, I get lots of those. I'll take your number and call you after the show tomorrow and swing by your place, if that's OK with you Rand." (Charlie was the only man ever to call Randy by that shortened nickname.)
"Sure, why not, dude?"
They exchanged numbers and Charlie said, "One last hug for my little brother." He wrapped his arms round Ben. "Maybe I could bring you back here one day and give you riding lessons, eh?"
"Yes please, sir," Ben grinned. Charlie swaggered back to his fans, and Randy said abruptly, "Time for us to hit the road too, kid." He strode back to the truck, with Ben trying to keep up.
As they drove away Ben frowned. "Sir, you do like Charlie, don't you? You looked a bit grouchy when he was talking."
"Ah, we got some issues in the past, kiddo, nothing for you to worry about."
"I thought he was great," Ben grinned. "I mean, he looks incredible, totally sexy, the kind of bare-chested cowboy you see in porn mags. If I saw him in one I'd jerk off all over it. But I remember back in Texas, sir, how you and Charlie were kinda rivals sometimes. You even had some really rough fights – some you won, some he did. You were evenly matched tough guys."
"Yeah, well that's in the past. You sure took a shine to him today, boy. You were eating him up, like you wanted him to fuck you."
Ben chuckled. "Oh no, sir. I just loved the smokin' hot way he looked astride a horse, with no shirt on. And he's so much fun. But I'm ... like ...not in love with him or anything. Not like I am with you, sir. I mean, you can fuck me anytime you like, you know that. But the guys at home are gonna go crazy when they see Charlie, I can't wait."
"Hmm, has it ever occurred to you, Ben, that Charlie might be shocked by a lot of guys living together and fucking each other?"
"Oh no, sir. Charlie's real loosey-goosey about stuff like that. Even though he don't swing that way he likes to flaunt it, like he said, and gets off on the admiration from women and men." Ben chuckled. "Maybe he swings both ways, you never know. I hope you do go a few rounds with him in the gym, sir. You'd beat him in a wrestling match hands down.
"And Bob's gonna like him, that's for sure. He's just Bob's type `cos he looks like you, only a bit younger, and Bob goes for that wild gypsy look. They'll get along like a house on fire."
Ben saw Randy's jaw clench as he gripped the steering wheel hard. "Sir, I think maybe I said something I shouldn't have – I'm a bit out of my depth. But, sir, you do still love me, don't you?"
Randy flung his arm over Ben's shoulder and smiled for the first time. "Of course I do kiddo. I'll always love you no matter what happens."
========= CHAPTER 570 =========
<><> CHARLIE <><>
Randy and Ben drove home mostly in silence, each engrossed in his own thoughts. Ben's were soaring – he was in heaven. His fantasy about meeting a real-life cowboy had come true, and the sexy, muscled cowboy turned out to be his own brother Charlie. Ben was glad that, even while jumping up and down and cheering, he had remembered to take pictures with his phone. Wait till the boys see these!
Randy prided himself on always being in charge of any situation and hated to feel confused – as he did now. Worse still, he wasn't sure why. After all, he had wanted to give his little brother an exciting day out and it had exceeded Ben's wildest expectations. He glanced at Ben sitting beside him, his face glowing with the memories – his meeting with the brother he loved – and his anticipation of Charlie's visit tomorrow.
So why was Randy so upset? Sure, he had had a rocky relationship with Charlie back in Texas but that was long ago. Part of him was pleased at seeing him again, and yet? It wasn't just the resurgence of his old resentment toward Charlie. It was something deeper than that, something unsettling that he couldn't pin down.
One thing he was sure of was his jealousy of Charlie – jealous that his reunion with Ben had been so joyful, and jealous that Ben obviously hero-worshipped the cowboy of his fantasies – the rugged, macho star of the rodeo.
But Ben, bless his heart, had reassured him that, although he loved Charlie, it wasn't like his love for Randy. That was a sexual passion that they had already indulged by making love. So on that score, at least, Randy had already come out on top.
When they got home and walked through the gate of the compound the men and boys were already gathering in the garden for pre-dinner drinks.
The boys were in a high state of suspense. Ben had managed one quick call from the rodeo to his buddy Will, only long enough to tell him he was having a blast and that he had a big surprise for them. The rest had been drowned out by the noise of the rodeo crowd, so Will and the boys would have to wait for details. Which is why they were so fidgety with anticipation, and why they mobbed Ben when he came in with Randy.
Brandon and the boys from the office came out too, and the twins let Will take a break from the kitchen so he could join in the excitement. Ben was milking his moment as the center of attention by drawing out the suspense. But eventually he pulled out his phone in a flourish and they bumped heads as they crowded round.
"Wait a minute guys," said Ryan, the tribe's computer expert. He dashed into the office, brought out a laptop and with a few expert strokes accessed Ben's phone pictures in the cloud. That way everyone could see them at once.
The first pictures were of the crowd outside the arena, then the early contestants in the ring. Ben paused dramatically before the picture of `Rory King' winning the steer- roping. "Wow," Tyler gasped, "who's that?"
"That's Rory King, five-time rodeo champ," Ben said grandly. "And here, I took a video of the next bit. It's a bit shaky `cos I was jumping up and down and cheering, but this is the champ in the big climax, winning the event by taming the stallion. And just wait for his victory lap."
The boys were riveted to the screen and gasped when `Rory' ripped off his shirt and whirled it in triumph. "Damn, look at that body," Darius said. "Un-fucking-believable, in those chaps and all."
The gasps reached a pitch when the cowboy finally took off his hat and they got to see his face. "No ... he looks just like you and Randy, dude," Finn said. "Same sexy gypsy look, same everything."
Ben puffed himself up. "And that, dudes, is because he is the same ... he's our bother Charlie. Rory King is his show name ... it's Charlie and he's the rodeo champ."
"No way," Darius grinned. "So that's the famous Charlie you've kept hidden. Damn, I'd sure like to meet that hunk."
Another dramatic pause, then, "And you can, guys. `Cos he's coming here tomorrow, and he's gonna stay with us for a week." The chatter that greeted that news was deafening.
<><> A PRIZE BULL? <><>
When Randy had come in with Ben he had gone straight to Bob, sitting alone at a table, drinking wine and watching Ben's excitement with a smile. He had brought out a beer for when Randy came in, and now they sat and watched the boys' growing exhilaration.
"So that's Ben's big surprise that Will was talking about," Bob said. "And brother Charlie makes his entrance at last. I wondered how long that would take. You must be really pleased to see your brother again after so long, buddy."
"Yeah, yeah, sure I am," Randy murmured unconvincingly.
After so many years Bob could read Randy like a book. And now, in those sexy blue eyes he saw a mix of confusion, tenderness toward Ben, tension, and a hint of anger too. Bob knew the cause was Charlie, of course.
Randy had spoken to Bob often of his next-oldest brother, how even though they loved each other, they were always competitive, a rivalry that sometimes ended in fist-fights. In those conversations Bob also sensed something else in Randy's description of Charlie, something indefinable that went beyond brotherly love and rivalry.
But now, as he studied Randy's face, Bob mostly saw a steely look, so familiar to him on the days Randy would come home from work after a fight. He was clenching his fists and his jaw, as tense and highly-strung as one of those rodeo stallions. His superiority, his manhood, had been challenged and he needed to reassert his dominance.
"All this noise is getting me down, Randy. Let's go indoors. We've got half an hour before the twins bring out dinner."
Randy needed no persuasion. "Yeah," he said tersely. "Let's go."
Earlier that day Randy had come home to pick up Ben, straight from the construction site, wearing his usual grubby jeans, work boots and sweaty old tank. Bob had persuaded him to lose the tank and put on his old frayed, sleeveless denim shirt. It hung open over his muscled torso giving tantalizing glimpses of his bulging pecs and ripped, eight-pack abs.
Then Bob had reached round behind Randy and pulled from his back pocket the old blue cloth that he used all day to wipe the sweat from his face. Bob tied it as a neckerchief loosely round Randy's neck. He had smiled suggestively, "And er, Randy, would you wear that when you come to the bedroom later? I'll be waiting for you."
He had not known then that when Randy got back home he would need to fuck Bob as much as Bob wanted it. Now In the master bedroom Bob sat on the bed watching Randy pace the room.
He had no doubt that Randy was the sexiest man he had ever known, or ever would, and his cock got hard in his cargo shorts. This was the same darkly handsome, muscular gypsy who had made so many heads turn as he walked through the rodeo crowd, and no doubt left a trail of stiff dicks behind him.
As he paced, clenching and unclenching his fists, Randy suddenly blurted, "Man he pissed me off, so full of himself – the star of the fucking show riding round the ring, stripping his shirt off with the crowd cheering and drooling over him."
"That's just showmanship, Randy. Keeps the paying customers happy."
"Yeah, including my kid-brother Ben who couldn't take his eyes of him, blatant hero-worship. Wonder the kid didn't cream his shorts. It was a direct challenge from Charlie to me. He had his share of putdowns too, said I only wanted Ben to call me `sir' to boost my own ego. Like I need a fucking ego boost."
"Well, Randy, after all that maybe you do. If you feel challenged by him you need to boost your own ego, assert your masculinity. We all know you are the hottest mother fucker alive – you make our guys cum just looking at you. Why do you think I asked you to wear that shirt when you come to bed?"
Bob pulled off his own shirt and leaned back on his elbows. Randy's cock bulged in his jeans. Yeah, that's one thing I got that my brother don't, nor ever will, no matter how hot he thinks he is. The biggest prize of all ... you. Wait till he sees you and I tell him you're all mine."
"You make me feel like a prize bull, Randy. I don't care. Looking like you do right now you can say and do anything to me and I'll surrender." Bob pulled down his shorts and boxers, eased up higher on the bed and lay naked on his back, like a sacrifice to a god. Randy stopped pacing, and the sight of Bob, naked, "waiting to surrender", drove all fears and frustrations from his mind. Bob could do that to him.
"Fuck, man," he growled. "And that's all mine." Randy stood astride him on the bed, ripped open his jeans pulled out his cock and wrapped his fist round it. Bob stared up at his gypsy lover towering over him and stroking his cock. He reached up and grasped his thighs, digging into the denim and feeling the rock-hard muscle underneath.
He tried to pulled Randy down on him but Randy's swarthy features broke into a mocking smile. "You know you can't do that, buddy. I call the shots here, I'm the boss, no matter what my cowboy brother thinks. Damn, he should see me now."
Randy dropped to his knees, straddling Bob's naked chest and stared down at his superman-chiseled face. He traced the square-cut features as they stared into each other's eyes, then bent down and licked Bob's lips before pressed down with a grinding kiss.
He pulled back and growled, "So what do you want from me, big guy?"
Bob reached up under Randy's denim shirt and ran his palms over the solid muscle of his chest and ripped abs. What I always want, sir. I wanna feel that huge dick up my ass."
"Oh, I'm gonna ream your ass, stud. But I'll give you a break. I'll let you lube my cock first." Randy reached forward and braced his hands on the top rail of the headboard. He raised up on his feet, his body arched over Bob's face, and lowered his whole body, like doing pushups, so his cock slid slowly in and out of his throat. He stopped only when Bob gagged as the thick shaft came to rest, filling his mouth.
He fucked the handsome face with a few more deep strokes, before pulling out, ready for the ultimate prize. Again his got to his feet and loomed astride the naked superman. "You say you'll surrender to me? Let's see."
Bob knew that, after the arrogant taunts of his cocksure brother, Randy needed to have his dominance reinforced. And there was no better way to do that than the abject submission of a beautiful, rugged alpha stud like Bob, who gazed up at the erotic sight of the shaggy-haired gypsy, his denim shirt open over his solid pecs, the blue bandana tied loosely round his neck.
In a final act of surrender, Bob hooked his hands behind his knees and pulled his legs back to display his ass, as an offering. "It's yours, sir. Take it ... please."
The submissive look in the deep brown eyes excited Randy even more as he drove his spit-slick shaft in his lover's waiting ass. Bob gasped, surprised as always at the electric charge that made him jolt. With no finesse Randy quickly accelerated the action.
As so often before, he was venting his anger and frustrations on the man he loved, after taking a hit to his male ego – either the macho challenge of one of the construction crew, or the more subtle putdowns of his rodeo champ brother.
And Bob worked to feed that battered ego. As Randy pressed his palms on Bob's pecs, pinning him forcefully the bed, Bob moaned, "Fuck my ass, you own it. I'm at your mercy, sir. You're the boss, the King of the Gypsies."
"Damn straight I am. Any man with a bullshit claim to that title gets what I'm giving you – his ass impaled on my rod." To prove his point Randy slammed his cock deep inside Bob who winced in pain.
Randy realized he had lost control and gone too far, and stopped fucking. The last thing in the world he wanted was to cause his lover pain. So he suddenly switched gears and eased gently in and out, massaging the sensitive membrane with his cock.
He smiled, "You OK, buddy? You're so good for me. You make me feel ten feet tall. Nobody does that like you. Damn, you turn me on. I wanna fill you with my jizz, dude. You ready?"
"Just give the order, sir," Bob grinned.
Randy shifted his hand from Bob's chest to his wrists and pinned them so he couldn't touch his cock. "I know I can make you shoot, man. Look at me, and look at the beautiful man reflected in my eyes – that's you, buddy."
As always, they ended by making love with their eyes, more erotic than everything else. Randy smiled and Bob saw himself reflected in the hypnotic blue eyes. "I'm gonna cum, sir. I have to ... I can't stop ... you're making me cum ... aaahh!" His cock jerked and semen sprayed over his writhing chest. At the same time he saw those blue eyes smile and felt the gypsy's juice flooding his ass.
<><> AFTERGLOW <><>
Seconds later they lay together in the afterglow of great sex. Randy propped himself on his elbow and grinned down at his cum-soaked lover. "I came on a bit strong there, buddy, but you know how I am when something makes me mad."
"The only difference being, Randy, that it's usually one of your workers who's dissed you. This time it's your own brother who you see as a rival because of a few jokes he made that you took as putdowns. I suspect that there's some jealousy in you too."
"Me? Jealous of my own fucking brother?"
"Well, you said Charlie pissed you off, `cos he was so full of himself as the shirtless rodeo champ showing off to the crowd, cheering and drooling over him. You were especially upset that kid-brother Ben couldn't take his eyes of him, hero-worshiping him. For some reason you took that as a direct personal challenge from Charlie. "What, you think Charlie's gonna supplant you as Ben's favorite brother? Who'll be Charlie's next target, me?"
"Not in a million fucking years," Randy growled threateningly.
Bob smiled, "Joke ... it was a joke, Randy. Look, I always say that I don't give advice ..."
"And then you go ahead and do just that."
"True ... so here it is. Charlie is your brother, and family ties are important. Sure, brothers are often competitive, it's only natural between two hot-blooded alpha males. But you and your brothers have been through a lot over the years, and under your leadership you've all pulled through.
"You and Charlie not only look alike, you are alike in what you've achieved. Charlie's a star on the rodeo circuit after a ton of hard work, no doubt. And you are the much admired boss of a successful construction company, and I know how much blood, sweat and tears that took.
"And young Ben hero worships both of you. Why wouldn't he? Two gorgeous, tough, dominant men, sexy as all get-out, making heads turn wherever you go. Of course Ben is proud of you both, and proud to be your brother. So enjoy being together again, the three of you.
"In any case, as you've told me before, Charlie's not into guys, he's a ladies' man, with women throwing themselves at the sexy cowboy. So for the life of me I don't see the problem you have with Charlie ..." Bob raised his eyebrows ... "unless, of course, there's more to this than sibling rivalry and brotherly love."
"And what the fuck's that supposed to mean?" Randy scowled.
Bob shrugged. "Oh nothing. Just a feeling I had while you were talking about Charlie. Probably me adding two and two and coming up with twenty two. Forget it."
"Fuck you," Randy growled.
"No, Randy, you already did that, don't you remember? Ah, how soon they forget."
Randy glared at him, then his swarthy features softened and he roared with laughter. "Forget fucking that ass? Never. Why am I so crazy about you, man?"
"I'm what you might call your `Bobsession', Randy."
There was a knock at the door. "Sirs, we're serving dinner now."
"Thanks, Kevin. We'll be right down."
"How the hell do you tell those twins' voices apart, dude?"
"Just one of my many talents, Randy."
"Talking of talents, we can get in another quick one before dinner."
"Down tiger – you're insatiable. Now be a good boy, take off that old denim shirt and put on one of those clean white T-shirts the twins left for you in the top drawer."
Randy reluctantly got to his feet. "Dude, you can be real bossy, you know that? There's only two guys who get away with bossing me around like that – you and Mike in Palm Springs, he's like my dad. But watch it asshole, don't push it or I'll have you pinned down on the bed again."
The crowd was already sitting at the long outdoor table when the two men appeared. They were surprised to see Ben jump to his feet and cheer "Yeah!" The other guys followed suit and gave the pair a standing ovation.
Bob realized that on some level Ben knew that a show of affection was what Randy needed after all the Charlie business. Call it youthful intuition, it was Ben's way of giving him the boost he needed. Randy went up to him, pulled him up from the table and swung him around, much as Charlie had done when he first met Ben at the rodeo. When Randy put him down he spun into Bob's arms for a tight hug and a kiss.
He sat proudly between Randy and Bob at dinner and again his intuition told him not to gush on about Charlie, even though he was excited about Charlie's arrival tomorrow.
It was his pal Will who was treated to the non-stop chatter later that evening when they went to Will's bedroom. Will cautioned him gently. "Dude, don't forget you've got two big brothers who are crazy about you, and you don't want to make either of them jealous and start a contest for your affection."
"Oh there's no contest, Will. Hands down, I'm in love with Randy. Charlie is a smoking hot, cowboy, sexy as hell and a rodeo star, but I'd never let him do to me what Randy does. Besides, he's prob'ly not into guys, with all those ladies drooling over him."
"In your mind there's no contest, but you said before there is a rivalry between them, so if it heats up while he's here, just don't get caught in the crossfire. Anyway, I'm sure Bob will take care of all that, like he takes care of everything. Now let's go to bed. You got a big day ahead."
<><> CHARLIE MEETS BOB <><>
As it happened, Charlie's arrival next day was not the tumultuous affair Bob had feared. He had called Ben, as promised, after the noon rodeo show, and Ben gave him directions to the house.
Most of the guys were at work, including Ben, assistant mechanic to Pablo at the construction site. But when Ben got the call at work, Pablo let him off early so he could be at the compound to greet Charlie. Ben called Randy at work to tell him Charlie was on his way.
Bob was in the office with Brandon and his staff, Ryan, Vic and, Noah. Finn and Tyler were pretending to do gardening but they hovered close by to get a glimpse of Charlie when he got here. Mark, Jamie, Nate, and Eddie were still surfing at the beach in Malibu, due home in the early evening.
Ben raced home and the boys gathered round him. They soon heard a truck pull up and Charlie walked through the gate. There was a collective gasp as they saw the tall muscular cowboy, who had obviously come straight from the rodeo, in the same tight jeans and cowboy boots he wore in the ring. After taking his victory lap bare-chested as usual, he had simply pulled the shirt back on before jumping in his truck and heading out.
The shirt now hung open, displaying his solid pecs and ripped abs. His gypsy face lit up with a smile, not unlike Randy's, and he came forward with that macho, slightly bow-legged stride of many cowboys who spent so much time astride a horse.
Ben ran forward and was scooped up in Charlie's arms and swung round. "Hey, kiddo," he said in his Texan drawl, "so this is y'all's pad eh? Damn fine place. And who are these guys?"
"These are my buddies, bro, Finn and Tyler." Charlie flashed another smile and gave them both crushing handshakes. The office boys were staring out the window at the scene in the garden and Bob, knowing no work would get done for a while, let them go out to join the welcome party.
Ryan, Vic and Noah raced down the ramp, followed by Brandon in his wheelchair. Ben introduced them and they received the same solid handshakes, staring at him with that hero-worship gaze that was so familiar to Charlie. Brandon was impressed that Charlie made no comment about the wheelchair – he hardly seemed to notice.
"Hey guys," Charlie beamed, "great to meet you. Any friend of brother Ben here is an instant pal of mine. Where's Randy, Ben?"
"He's at work on the construction site, but I told him you were on your way."
"Damn, this is a big spread ya'll got here, dudes. You all live here?"
They were all still staring at the gorgeous gypsy cowboy in tongue-tied awe until Finn said, "Yes we do, sir, along with our men."
"And Randy's the boss of all this?"
The usually shy Tyler found his voice. "Yes, sir, except we all got our own bosses. Finn is Miguel's boy, I'm Pablo's boy and Pablo is the boss's boy, Randy's ... well his son actually."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute," Charlie said in amused confusion. I don't get it ..."
In the office Bob heard what was going on and decided it was time to intervene. Ben said, "And this, sir, is Bob, the other big boss."
"Jesus," Charlie gasped, staring at the man coming down the ramp – a superman look-alike with chiseled features and an obviously muscular build under his V-neck white T-shirt.
Bob's face lit up with that brown-eyed smile that always melted hearts and stiffened cocks. "Charlie, at last we meet. Welcome to our home." His handshake was at least as bone- crushing as Charlie's, and it was Charlie who winced, not Bob. For the first time Charlie was stunned into awed silence.
"I know," Bob smiled, "always a bit confusing to be planted suddenly in the middle of this crowd. If I can borrow you for a while, let me show you around the place."
"Sure thing, Bob. Oh, but first, I got a present for Ben here in my backpack." He pulled out a well-worn pair of cowboy boots. "One thing I remember about you, kiddo, as that we have the same-size feet – the big feet that run in our family. As a rodeo rider I go through a lot of boots, and this old pair had finally got too cracked and scuffed. So I thought you might like them."
Ben's eyes sparkled. "Thank you, sir, they're awesome." Ben kicked off his sneakers, pulled on the botts and pulled his jeans over them. He stood up and walked around, beaming. A perfect fit, sir. This is one of the best gifts I ever got, the same boots you rode in. I'll wear them always."
"Not to bed, though," Charlie chuckled. "You know what they say about old cowboys – he died with his boots on. OK, Bob, let's go." As they left Bob exchanged knowing smiles with Brandon.
<><> CHARLIE'S FOOT-IN-MOUTH MOMENT <><>
Leaving the awestruck group Bob said, "You made a pal for life with those boots, Charlie. But then, I guess he was already a pal for life, you two being brothers. I imagine you've been through a lot together. Congratulations on your success at the rodeo, by the way. Ben's talked about nothing else since yesterday.
"OK, Charlie, first things first. I'm Randy's partner and we founded the construction company together. He does all the heavy lifting and I take care of the financial side.
"As you heard from the boys, a whole group of men and boys lives here. This building we're looking at, the whole first floor is the apartment of Mark, he's a cop, and his surfer buddy Jamie. The second floor is home to a bunch of men we call the second-floor guys. Now I'll take you to the kitchen.
In a daze Charlie followed Bob across the garden and into the kitchens where the twins and Will were at work prepping dinner. "Guys, I want you to meet Randy's and Ben's brother Charlie. Charlie, these are my twins Kyle and Kevin, and Will is their boy. They are our chefs, and I hope you'll get to sample their gourmet food."
They all shook hands and the twins smiled at Bob in amusement. Will said, "Happy to meet you, sir. Ben and me are best buddies, we share everything, and he's told me so much about you."
"U-oh," Charlie smiled. "Not everything, I hope."
Bob saw his bewildered smile and said, "You look like a man who could use a beer, Charlie."
"Ya got that right, Bob. Take me to it."
They left the kitchen and Bob said, "The building all on its own over there is what the boys call the Boss House because Randy and I live there. There's a large guestroom with a great view, and it's all ours if you stay with us."
As they went in and up the stairs Charlie looked around him, impressed. "Great looking place."
"It's all Randy's work," Bob smiled. "He's brilliant at construction. That's the main reason our company has been so successful. We'll go to our room, more cozy in there, and it doubles as my office."
When they went in, the bed was still unmade, with underwear strewn over it. Bob hastily threw a sheet over it. "Sorry about that. The boys haven't got to this room yet. Now for that beer."
"He brought two bottles from the fridge and they sat on the couch. Bob stretched his arm along the back and turned to face Charlie, who began, "Bob, I gotta tell ya ..."
"I know," Bob laughed, "you're confused, probably stunned. So I'll level with you. Better you hear it from me than piecemeal from the others. I said that Randy and I are partners, but it's much more than that. We're in love with each other. We're lovers, Charlie, with all that implies."
Charlie glanced at the rumpled bed. "And that ..."
"Yes, that's the bed we sleep in every night and where we make love."
"Damn, I knew there was something weird about brother Randy."
Bob's eyes flashed and he withdrew his arm from the back of the couch. "No Charlie, there is nothing weird about Randy. He's a spectacular man, a wonderful lover and he's fiercely protective of all our boys, just as he used to protect you and your brothers. If you choose to stay the week with us you have to accept that. Otherwise ..."
"Bob, I'm sorry, man. I apologize. I didn't mean ... damn I really put my big cowboy boot in it that time, didn't I? I have a lot of respect for loving couples, whoever they are." He grinned boyishly. "And I gotta say, if my big brother swings that way he couldn't have found a more gorgeous man than you to spend his life with. Huh, in an odd way I kinda envy him."
"Well," Bob smiled, "if it's any consolation, you are so much like your brother – same dark looks, same blue eyes, same machismo – that I've got a hard-on just sitting here next to you." He chuckled. "I can safely say that to you, knowing that you play for the other team, with all those women panting for you. I just hope that you won't be uncomfortable in a place that's full of men."
"Hell," Charlie grinned "what do you think the rodeo is but a bunch of men working and traveling together, sleeping in the same hotels? The rodeo is a dangerous job and we look out for each other. We share a bond, it's a guy thing. The same as you and your guys."
Bob smiled. "Well, not exactly the same, I imagine."
Charlie chuckled. "Good thing us cowboys are more into our horses than each other. Shit, there I go again. Now that sounded real weird – into horses – it came out wrong."
Bob roared with laughter. "Don't worry, dude, I didn't imagine for one minute that ..."
"Mind you, there were a couple a' guys in our group that were definitely into each other. I saw them once behind the stables necking and they looked so ... so turned on ... so sexy in a way. I kinda wondered what it feels like to kiss a guy.
Their eyes met and Bob felt the dangerous swelling of his cock. "Look Charlie, I told you that I had a boner in my jeans, but I gotta also tell you, I'm passionately in love with your brother and the worst thing in the world I could do is even touch you in that way, even as an experiment. We would know there's nothing in it, but Randy would tear the place apart, and you and me next. Let me get you another beer."
Meanwhile, Randy had called Ben to say he was on the way home. "Is Charlie already there?"
"Yes, sir. Bob showed him around and now they're together in the Boss House."
"What? OK, I'm on my way."
Bob and Charlie were still on the subject of man-on-man sex. "Bob, I am totally not into guys, but when I think of Randy and you together in that bed there, well ... And I gotta tell you, dude, if I ever, in my wildest dreams, I made a play for a guy, he would have to look a lot like you. You're just about the sexiest stud I've ever met. Which is why I wondered what your lips would taste like ..."
"Dude," Bob smiled, "you're doing that thing with those hypnotic blue eyes that Randy has. You better stop or ..."
"Or you'll what, buddy?" came the unmistakable deep voice.
They spun round and saw Randy framed in the doorway, looking larger than life. Charlie stood up. "Hey, bro, good to see you. Bob showed me around – damn fine place you got here – and he filled me in on the setup here – you and him, all the guys living here. And you know, I envy you, brother. You've got everything a guy could want."
"And I aim to keep it that way," Randy growled. "Bob, what in hell was going on here?"
Bob stood up and said calmly, "Just what Charlie told you, buddy. I told him all about us and the tribe and we were having a rather interesting discussion about man-on-man sex. But if ..."
Randy cut him off. "Charlie, I usually have a workout in the gym when I get home from work – relieves the stress. Care to join me?"
"As a matter of fact, bro I haven't had my daily workout yet – came straight here from the rodeo. I'd like to see this gym you said y'all got here. So lead the way, dude."
Randy shot a glance at Bob, a look Bob had seen many times before, which made him nervous about the rival brothers in the gym together. But there was nothing he could do to prevent it. Holding Randy back would be like trying to stop a runaway freight train.
"Play nice, guys," he said lamely as the brothers left the room.
<><> THE INEVITABLE SHOWDOWN <><>
When Randy and Charlie went into the gym the tension was already thick and Charlie tried to lighten it. "Cool," he said. "Great equipment, dude." That brought a surly grunt from Randy and he tossed a pair of gym shorts to Charlie from a pile on the floor.
As they stripped naked they glanced at each other in the mirror, grudgingly impressed by their equally muscled physiques. "We always were alike, Rand," Charlie grinned, "even to our look-alike bodies." That attempt at levity fell flat too and prompted another low grunt.
"Look, man," Charlie said, "let's cut the crap here. I have a feeling you think something was going on between Bob and me. But it's like Bob said, we were talking about him and you, and that led to talk about sex with men, something I've never really understood."
"So you were gonna practice on him, uh? Don't deny it, man. You and me have the same eyes and I know how seductive they can be. And I saw the way you were looking at Bob. You were trying to seduce him."
"Randy that's nuts. I screw with ladies, not guys – Bob or anyone else."
"Just so we're clear, dude, Bob is mine, the most precious thing I got. He belongs to me, get it?"
"You make him sound more like a possession than a lover, Randy. OK, this talk's getting us nowhere. Let's just work out, gym partners. That's what we came in here for."
Inevitably in this climate, their gym routine was a contest right from the start. They began with chin-lifts on bars set next to each other facing the mirror. Easy at first, as the count grew higher the lifts got tougher and their muscles strained and sweated.
Any other guy would have got off on the sight of two alpha hunks pushing through the pain, but these two had only one focus – winning. They stared into each other's eyes and saw the look of unbreakable defiance in them. At muscle failure they dropped to the ground at the same time and chalked it up as a draw.
Randy's mind went back to something Ben had said to him. He had recalled back in Texas how he and Charlie were rivals. `You even had some really rough fights – some you won, some he did. You were evenly matched tough guys.' Well Charlie was not gonna win this time, no way.
But the ensuing workout proved Ben right. On the bench presses Randy pressed more than Charlie. On the squats Charlie won – his were stronger, a result of his thighs gripping hard to a horse's flanks every day.
In the end they tacitly acknowledged Ben's truth that they were evenly matched. And now the contest got serious. They glared at each other, trying to psych the other out and intimidate him.
Charlie said, "How about that wrestling match we talked about, dude, or are you scared of getting beat?"
"Fuck you, man." They cleared a space in the middle of the gym in front of the mirrors and faced each other. They reached forward and locked arms, hands pressed round necks in the traditional starting hold, pushing against each other in a trial of strength, each straining for the advantage. Within seconds they were grappling on the floor.
At first it was a free-for-all. Randy had the superior strength but Charlie had the advantage of unemotional concentration, unlike Randy's anger and emotion that clouded his judgement and focus. The advantage see-sawed as each man in turn powered out of a series of painful holds.
It wasn't just that they were evenly matched physically. The brothers were so alike mentally that they could almost read each other's mind and anticipate their opponent's next move. Their stamina took a beating too, and there Charlie had an edge, being the younger of the two.
Randy's anger built, sensing that at last he had met his match – his own brother. For an instant he lost his concentration and Charlie seized the advantage, picked Randy up and body slammed him on the floor. As he lay winded on his back, Charlie grabbed his feet and twisted his legs round them in a painful figure-four leglock. They lay on their backs with Charlie increasing the pressure on his legs in an excruciating submission hold.
Charlie's strength was in his legs, iron-hard from riding and controlling bucking horses. Randy tried to sit up to ease the presser but Charlie pumped up the pressure and Randy fell back howling in pain.
Charlie taunted him. "You can't get out of this, man, and you know it. Submit, bro, you've lost. Give up."
"Never!" Randy twisted and thrashed on his back, his arms flailing in the agony of near-defeat. The pain and the taunts increased and Randy's howls filled the room. Close to submission his emotions and mounting rage now worked to his advantage. He thought of the hero-worship expression on Ben's face, gazing at Charlie. Worse, he flashed on Charlie and Bob together, so close to making love. He was in danger of losing his lover and kid-brother to Charlie.
"Not so tough now, eh, big brother?" Charlie panted. "Look in the mirror, dude, the big tough gypsy boss helpless, writhing in agony, humiliated by his stronger brother, going down to defeat. You know I've won. I am the best. Give up, man, beg me for mercy."
It was a homoerotic sight – two muscular gypsy brothers on their backs, stripped down to gym shorts, one torturing the other and taunting him, as the loser screamed and thrashed in agony.
Strength powered by rage surged through Randy and he lifted his back off the floor, reached forward and grabbed Charlie's feet that were locked together in the punishing hold. The fight became a trial of strength between Randy's powerful upper body and Charlie's legs of steel.
Charlie looked up at his brother in disbelief, at his bulging biceps and shoulders as he began painfully to prise his feet apart. Randy's strength was super-human, fueled by the fear of failure, the same raging strength that peaked when his boys were threatened. And although Charlie tried to clamp his feet tighter together, Randy's muscles triumphed.
"Mother-fucker!" he yelled, as he forced the feet apart and contemptuously forced his brother over, face-down on the floor.
He leapt up, oblivious to the residual pain in his legs, and pulled the dazed Charlie to his feet. Randy stood behind him, grabbed Charlie's wrists and yanked his arms up behind his back in a punishing double hammerlock. He jerked the arms higher, putting extreme pressure on the victim's shoulders, and now it was Charlie's turn to scream.
They were facing the mirror, Charlie staring at his own agonized face and body, with Randy's snarling face over his shoulder. "You think you could beat me, junior? It's you gonna submit and beg your big brother for mercy."
Randy jerked Charlie's arms higher up his back toward his neck, eliciting louder screams as Charlie weakened and sank to his knees, with Randy kneeling behind him. On their knees before the mirror Randy intensified the hold, forcing Charlie to watch himself suffer, his shoulders bulging, on agonizing display.
Randy growled, "I am the best, man, you always knew that. I wanna hear my little brother submit ... your turn to beg for mercy, bro."
A defiant Charlie groaned painfully, "Go ... and ... fuck ... yourself ... aaagh!!"
"Look at my eyes, Charlie. I dare you to look at my eyes and defy me." Charlie stared in the mirror at his big brother's hypnotic blue eyes ... and his will collapsed. As pain racked his body he moaned, "OK. OK. I give up, I submit. You are the best, you always were. Please, sir, have mercy. I can't take any more. Please, sir, I beg you."
After one last brutal jerk from Randy and a piercing scream from Charlie, Randy released the hold and Charlie fell forward on his face on the floor, his muscular body shuddering in defeat. He was beaten. Randy had won."
<><> A WHOLE NEW WORLD <><>
Standing over the broken man, Randy hooked his bare foot under him and flipped him over on his back. "Damn, you're tough," Randy said, staring down at him. "You put up a hell of a fight. I'm proud to call you brother. But I'm the boss around here, dude and there's something you gotta learn. Any new guy comes to the tribe, needs my approval. And there's only one way they earn that."
In a weakened daze Charlie watched as Randy dropped his gym shorts and towered naked above him, his massive cock iron-hard. He leant down and pulled Charlies shorts off over his feet. Too weak to move or protest he lay in a trance as Randy knelt on the floor between his legs. He reached for a jar on the floor and Charlie watched helplessly as he greased his cock. A dawning realization broke through the haze as Randy pushed his legs back.
"No, Randy, I don't do that, I don't do that stuff. I'm your brother. Please ..."
He reached up helplessly to fend him off but Randy grabbed his wrists, leaned forward and pinned them to the floor. An excruciating pain pierced his ass and he momentarily blacked out.
When he opened his eyes he felt, not exactly a pain, but a fullness in his ass. He looked up and realized to his horror that his big brother's monster dick was inside him. "No ..." he moaned. "Not that, bro, please ... I don't ... I can't."
"Yes you do, and you can, little brother," came the deep soothing voice. "Just look into my eyes. Look at me and you'll see how much you want it."
Charlie stared up into the smiling, mesmerizing blue eyes set in the stubbled gypsy face. He felt the huge shaft move slowly in his ass. "What are you doing to me, Randy?"
"Something I should have done years ago, bro. I'm fucking your ass. We spent so many years making war, it's time to make love. It's only when we wrestled and I felt your power and passion that I realized just how alike we are. I was so consumed with fear that you would take everything from me – my lover, my kid brother – that I denied my real feelings.
"I ... I ..." tears came to the cowboy's eyes. "You don't know, Randy, all those years, how much I admired and idolized you. My pride wouldn't let me show you, so I fought against you instead. But deep down I loved you, Randy. I wanna make up for those wasted years now."
"Tell me what you want, Charlie. Look into my eyes and tell me what you want."
Charlie looked up at Randy as if seeing him for the first time. "I ... I want to be close to you, Randy. I wanna feel you inside me."
Randy pulled back, then slowly pushed in, deeper and deeper until he saw Charlie wince. He slowed down and caressed his ass with his cock, watching the tension drain from his glowing face. As they gazed at each other they saw their own reflection in identical blue eyes.
It wasn't just the physical sensation in his ass that made Charlie yield. It was the thrilling sense of being dominated by the big brother he had always secretly idolized. For the first time in his life he surrendered, body and soul, to another man. He felt himself drowning in Randy's eyes, drifting into an uncharted world of new emotions.
Suddenly his eyes opened wide with surprise as he felt Randy's cock swell and erupt in his ass. His body shuddered and he looked pleadingly at his big brother. "Randy, I'm feeling ... man, I've never felt this before. What's happening to me? I love you, Randy. Help me, bro, I'm gonna ... I'm gonna ... no ... no ... Aaaahh." He felt juice race up his cock, then spurt from it and splash down on his chest, followed by stream after stream in a breathtaking climax.
Exhausted, his heart pounding Charlie closed his eyes and there was a long dark silence. When he looked up at Randy again he frowned in confusion. "Randy, what happened, I ... I shouldn't ... I don't ..."
Randy pulled out gently, leant down and brushed Charlie's mouth with his lips. Charlie's mouth opened and they kissed, in a new, bewildering expression of brotherly love. Randy pulled back and smiled. "You were wondering how it feels to kiss a guy, Charlie. Now you know."
They lay together for a long time in silence as Charlie calmed down and came to terms with what had just happened, the most extraordinary orgasm he had ever felt, and the kiss of a guy.
As if waking from a dream, Charlie tried to make sense of it all. "I think I always wanted this, Randy, though hell would freeze over before I would admit it, to myself or to you. I was a hit with the ladies and that stroked my ego, but when I saw you and Ben at the rodeo, I guess I knew. But I would never let those feelings surface.
"Instead I pushed against you, like the rivals we always were, and made all those stupid putdowns. I wanted to make you jealous of me and Ben, maybe even me and Bob, I dunno. Randy, will you help me through this, bro? I don't know what it means."
"Did you like it, Charlie?"
"Like it? It was ... it felt ... like I was walking on air. I fucking loved it, dude."
"Well that's a start," Randy grinned. "As Bob always says, the thing to do is relax and take it one step at a time. No bones are broken. Quite the reverse – a healing of sorts."
They heard a noise in the corner, looked up and saw, emerging from the shadows, their kid brother Ben. He was smiling from ear to ear. "I saw it all, sirs, and heard it all. I even jacked off. I'm so excited. It's what I always wanted, `cos I love you both."
"Come here, kiddo, Randy said, reaching up to him. Ben threw himself between them and Randy and Charlie smiled across him at each other. "Feels good, don't it guys?" Charlie said. I have no fucking idea what's happening, I just know it feels good."
They lay together for a while, getting used to this brand new feeling, until Randy said, "Guys, we better get back to the real world. They'll all be wondering what's happening in here."
"Join the club," Charlie laughed. "I'm wondering too."
They pulled on their gym shorts and both together pulled Ben up on his feet. They went out to the garden as the gate opened and in walked the four guys just back from the beach – Mark, Jamie, Nate and Eddie, all shirtless in red lifeguard shorts.
"Hey guys," Randy yelled. "Just in time to meet my brother Charlie. Charlie, this is Mark, he's a cop, and his buddies Jamie, Nate and Eddie.
"Jesus," said a stunned Charlie, staring at the sculpted blond cop. "Jesus, what have I got myself into here? Help me Randy. You'll help me, won't you?"
Randy laughed. "Haven't I always taken care of my brothers? Why stop now?"
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial of Strength" – Chapter 571
Hey guys, this is Rob Williams. I hope that chapter turned you on, 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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