A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 589 by Rob Williams
CHAPTER 589 – "BOB & MARIO MAKE OLD-FASHIONED LOVE"
IN THIS CHAPTER
At the raucous Grady-House party, two men go off alone together. Mario, the dark sexy Italian, and Bob, the tribe's co-leader with chiseled superman looks, discover they have much in common, including a smoldering lust. After tender foreplay Bob says, "Rough sex and ropes can be fine, but whatever happened to making love, pure and simple?" Mario smiles, "Sono d'accordo, amico."
<><> IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER <><>
The Grady House party for the whole tribe was in full swing and brought exciting news for several of the participants – including Grady himself.
The action-movie star loved being among his buddies, where he was treated like just one of the guys and could forget the pressures of being an international celebrity. One looming event filled Grady with dread – a multi-city publicity tour to promote the movie he was currently shooting, playing a lifeguard captain, with a lot of surfing action at the beach.
But his lover, the handsome Italian Mario, had come up with a way to make Grady much happier about the ominous tour.
"Listen, amico, whenever a big star like you goes on a promotional tour he always has an entourage to take care of him – such as a personal assistant, a photographer and so on. So I just called George, our liaison at the studio publicity department, and he said of course you must have people with you that you felt comfortable with."
Mario would accompany him as his personal manager (and lover, but the outside world didn't need to know about that). And three of Grady's buddies, who were working on the movie, would go with him – Jamie and Nate who supervised the many surfing extras, and young Eddie as his personal cameraman who had already taken many candid publicity shots of him.
The boys were thrilled at the prospect, especially the fact that they would be traveling on the studio's corporate jet. There was some nervousness about facing a battery of questions from the press at every stop. But Mario arranged a quick impromptu rehearsal at the party, where all three boys aced the practice questions, which boosted their confidence.
Then there was a sudden change of focus in the party as cowboy Charlie appeared unexpectedly, much to the delight of his boys Noah and Vic, and to Grady, whose lust was roused by the mere sight of the rugged muscular cowboy, a popular star on the rodeo circuit.
Charlie hatched a plot with his boys, and Grady's cock stiffened when he found the muscular bare-chested cowboy man-sprawled on a bench in the grounds, hat pushed back on his head, hot, horny and hungry for action. Charlie and his boys triple-teamed the submissive muscle-jock. After they sprayed their cum in his face Grady lay on his back with the cowboy towering over him, grinding his cock under his boot.
It was a homoerotic picture of total defeat, the ultimate humiliation – the rugged cowboy towering over the helpless jock, grinding his cock with his boot. He groaned. "You're torturing my cock, man ... I can't take any more. I give up, you've beaten me, sir ... aaagh!" His trapped cock spurted jizz up over his stomach till his abs and chest were as cum-drenched as his face.
When it was over Charlie pulled Grady up on his feet into a tight hug, and grinned, "That's how a cowboy breaks a stallion, dude. And man, you are one fucking stallion."
Wiping the cum out of his eyes Grady grinned, "And you are one fucking cowboy, Charlie. You and your boys are a great team. Can't wait to tell Mario about this."
Actually, at that moment, Mario was fully engrossed with someone else – the handsome, sexy co-leader of the tribe, Bob ....
========= CHAPTER 589 =========
<><> MAN TALK <><>
While Grady was indulging his lust for cowboy Charlie, manhandled by Charlie and his boys, Grady's lover Mario was in the midst of the rest of the crowd of men and boys enjoying the big Grady House party. He was chatting by the pool with the tribe's co-leader Bob.
The two sophisticated, well-educated men had much in common. Poised, stylish Italian Mario was born and raised in Tuscany, with dark chiseled Mediterranean looks, a naturally toned body and seductive Italian accent.
The virile, handsome Bob, from upscale Marin County, with a PhD in Economics had formerly been a finance executive and now managed the tribe's construction company. Much loved and respected by the tribe, he combined the mild manners of Clark Kent with the sculpted features and muscular build of Superman.
Something else the two men had in common was that each had a lover whom he nurtured and protected. But those lovers could not have been more different. Mario had met and fallen in love with the movie-star-handsome Grady, who had since become an international star and depended on Mario to provide the privacy and respite from the pressures of a celebrity life.
Bob's lover Randy, however, the powerful boss of the construction company that supported the tribe, was a swarthy, muscular gypsy with square stubbled jaw, high cheekbones and shaggy black hair, and behavior that was more caveman than cultured. It was often said that Bob was the brains of the tribe, Randy the brawn.
Right now, as they sipped margaritas. Bob and Mario were talking about their respective men, swapping stories of the measures they've had to take to support them in times of strife, and often pour oil on troubled waters.
Bob smiled, "Hey, Grady's little trip to your Secret Garden, where I've no doubt he is willingly surrendering that beautiful body to the rangy cowboy. You arranged that, didn't you, you devious Italian?"
Mario smiled. "As we say in Italy, Bob, colpevole come accusato' – guilty as charged'. By now I know every one of Grady's moods and desires and I anticipate all his needs. That is something you and I share, Bob, a keen intuition into the needs of others, especially our men.
"As soon as Charlie walked in through those gates I sensed exactly what Grady wanted from him, and I knew the best place to make it happen. I was also sure that Charlie would have fun providing the action, and those sweet boys of his would love helping him do it. So nobody gets hurt, everyone has fun. A win-win for all of them."
Bob laughed. "I play similar games with Randy, Mario. I suspect he knows what I'm doing, though he protests loudly. But when he growls, `fuck you, asshole', I know I've won, as I usually do." Bob looked across the lawn to where Randy was talking to Zack. Bob raised his glass, and Randy smiled and did the same. "See, Mario, he knows we're talking about him."
"Oh, I do love talking to you, amico. But, enough about our men. I did want to ask you about another subject, but tell me if it would bore you. How are Grady and I doing financially?"
Bob laughed. "Not boring at all, Mario. You know I love figures and finances. It's my job, my expertise, and I especially love managing the financial affairs of friends like you." He again glanced across the lawn.
"You see how Randy is engrossed in conversation with Zack, Seth and Darius, the four construction bosses after the recent big expansion of the company. I guarantee that's what they're talking about now, as the hard work begins on Monday. Which is why I was glad of this party here, for them to relax and recharge their batteries.
"They will be occupied for some time, Mario, and heaven knows Grady is happily occupied with his fantasy cowboy, so how do you feel about slipping away from the party for half an hour and taking me up to your office so I can go over the accounts and show you the financial health of the Grady house?"
Mario's face lit up. "Would you mind doing that, amico? I don't want to you drag you away ..."
"Mario, after all the clamor here I would appreciate a little quiet time away from the clatter of the crowd. Besides, it's only at times like this that you and I really have a chance to spend time alone together, not surrounded by others as we are now."
Mario flagged down his boy Brian, propelling his wheelchair past them, happily engaged on one of his errands. "Er, Brian, Bob and I are going to slip away up to my office to go over the accounts as we often do. If you or Danny need anything from me, I'm a phone call away."
"Understood, sir. And I'll alert you if and when Grady emerges from the Secret Garden, though I have a feeling those guys will be busy in there for some time," Brian grinned.
"My feelings exactly, bambino." Brian rolled away, and Mario and Bob went into the house.
<><> CHANGING HORSES? <><>
Bob and Mario, like most of the others by the pool, were wearing just board shorts. When they got up to leave, Bob pulled on his familiar V-neck T-shirt and Mario one of his white linen shirts.
They had been in Mario's upstairs office only a few minutes when there was a knock at the door and Brain wheeled himself in. "Sorry for the interruption, sirs, but I thought you might like a pitcher of margaritas while you work." Mario thanked him profusely and took the pitcher and glasses from Brian's tray table to his large desk.
"I'll make sure you're not disturbed, sir."
They glimpsed a twinkle in Brian's eye as he left, and Bob said. "He's such a terrific kid. But what was the cheeky look he gave us?"
"I can't imagine," Mario said, trying to stifle his own smile. "But he's having the time of his life. He loves working big parties here ... makes him feel like a star ... which he is. And, at the end of the day, a real star, Grady, hauls him into bed beside him and they trade gossip, their favorite stories of the day. OK, Bob, let's get down to work."
Bob opened Mario's computer and began going through the relevant files. "You see from this that the money continues to pour in, minus commissions to Grady's agent. The taxes would be high except that I've used every accounting maneuver – legal ones only – to bring them down as much as possible. I found lots of business-related deductions.
"But as I've told you before, Mario I've created a large portfolio of diverse investments that, even without Grady's income, would keep you very comfortably off for the rest of your lives."
Mario took his eyes off the screen and focused on Bob while he spoke. He always found Bob sexy in those white V-neck T-shirts he often wore, and sitting so close to him he felt the heat generated by that gorgeous body. His face was more stunning than ever when he concentrated on the computer, his eyes shining as he spoke so eagerly on a subject he loved.
"... do you understand the difference ... Mario?
"What?" Mario jumped. "Mi scusi, amico, I lost my concentration there." Bob saw him blush and knew there was a little more to it than wandering thoughts. He chuckled. "You haven't heard any of this have you? I was explaining that your expenses are not out of line, as a ratio of your income, and pointed out the difference between net and gross revenue."
"Yes, yes, I follow ... I think." Mario laughed. "The truth is that I was distracted by my business manager sitting so close to me. I could have concentrated if that manager had been the stereotypical elderly accountant with owl glasses and a droopy moustache, but fortunately he's not – quite the reverse. Oh look, we haven't touched the margaritas Brian brought up. Feel like a break to slake our thirst?"
"I think we better or I'll end up spouting the longest math monologue ever."
Mario poured the drinks. "I do apologize. Bob, I must seem so rude, bringing you up here and then zoning out while you explained our finances. Truth is, I may have zoned out on your words, but I definitely didn't zone out on you. Far from it. How could anyone block out such a beautiful, sexy man as you sitting up close."
Bob laughed again. "Careful Mario or you'll end up sounding as horny as Grady always does." Bob took a long swallow of his drink and began to loosen up. "Not that your sex-life with Grady is any of my business, Mario, but it has crossed my mind that it must be pretty much a one-way street eh? Straight up Grady's ass."
"You put it so elegantly, amico," Mario chuckled, "and I don't mind talking about it. Grady wouldn't mind either, we are so close to you and Randy. As a matter of fact it's a relief to share our intimate details with someone else, and you are the ideal man.
"And yes, Bob, you are right. Grady just loves to get fucked, as you, and especially Randy, know. He's probably doing that now, even as we speak ... oh, except that Charlie doesn't fuck guys, does he? But the cowboy will think of something, I'm sure. Oddly enough, I think you have the opposite issue when you make love to your macho gypsy, am I right?"
"If you mean does Randy mostly butt-fuck me, yes you're absolutely right. Not that I mind, he's the greatest fuck in the tribe. But he likes to think my ass belongs to him exclusively. In fact," Bob chuckled, "whenever I tell him that I made love to someone else, I know for sure what the next words out of his mouth will be ... `Did he fuck you?'"
Mario laughed. "So what we have here is one man who always fucks his lover, and another man who gets fucked by his all the time."
"And both want to change horses once in a while," Bob grinned. "If the right man comes along."
"Is that an offer?" Mario asked, then instantly regretted his flippant comment, as the joke fell flat. He had clumsily jumped from the general to the specific, bringing it too close to home. "Que stupido," Mario blushed. Forget I said that, Bob. Let's get back to the accounts."
"Sure, if that's what you want, Mario." Bob opened up another computer file. "Here is a list of all the tax deductions I mentioned. I want you to look at them ... good ... and now look at me."
Mario turned from the screen and stared at the strikingly handsome man beside him.
Bob smiled, "Now personally I find lists of figures sometimes have a kind of beauty, and perhaps you find them beautiful too. So if you prefer them to the man beside you, just say ..."
"Basta, basta" Mario said with his silvery laugh. "Now you are playing with me. How could anything on a screen be more beautiful than the man beside me, or more sexy?"
"Mario, we are two intelligent mature men behaving like high-school adolescents under the bleachers, fumbling their way to their first kiss. So let's stop beating around the bush."
Bob closed the laptop, stood up and pulled Mario up to face him. "Enough of those figures. I prefer looking at the figure in front of me. And I don't need a PhD in finance to appreciate it – just pure animal lust."
Bob pulled Mario toward him and they kissed lightly. Mario pulled back and stammered, "I ... I find myself a little ... scared, of all things."
Bob laughed. "I sometimes have that effect on people, I don't know why. I even made Randy scared for a long time – and he doesn't scare easily. But he was falling in love and he didn't understand it, that's what terrified him. He just knew he needed to own it, drag it to his cave.
"But Mario, we don't have to behave like cavemen. How about that bed over there? Looks quite elegant, very un-cave-like. So how about we relax there for a while? As the Walrus said to the Carpenter, "The time has come,' the Walrus said, to talk of many things ... of shoes and ships and sealing-wax ... of cabbages and kings ..."
Mario threw his head back and laughed. "... `And why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings.." I read "Alice in Wonderland as a child when I began to learn English and we had to learn The Walrus & The Carpenter by heart. And right now I'm feeling just about as confused as poor Alice."
"So take my hand, Mario, and we'll go down the rabbit-hole together."
<><> A REALLY NICE RABBIT HOLE <><>
The eccentric reference to Alice had made Mario laugh and eased his fears – they were both on the same wacky wavelength. Bob lay on the bed on his side, propped up on his elbow, and patted the bed beside him. Mario lay on his side facing him, his cheek resting on his hand.
"This feels like a really nice rabbit hole to share with you, Bob. Only thing is, as you may recall, it turned out that Alice's adventures were all a dream after she fell asleep with her cat."
"Well this ain't no dream, dude," Bob smiled, "and there's no cat here. This is the real thing. And I agree, it does feel real nice."
Bob traced his finger gently down Mario's forehead, between his eyes, down the bridge of his nose, his lips and chin. "Just look at you ... you could be the movie star. Tell me something, whenever you accompany Grady on those publicity gigs and all the praise and attention is showered on him, don't you sometimes feel resentful, neglected?"
Mario laughed, "You might add `invisible' too, Bob. No, I don't feel that. I'm there only to assist Grady and I'm careful never to be in any press pictures with him.
"See, at those events everyone has an agenda – the studio wants maximum publicity bang for the buck ... the store or hotel you're in wants to sell as much merchandise as possible, and nobody wants to cut off the line of fans waiting to get a signed picture.
And Grady is very generous. If he's booked there for an hour he always gives them two. As each fan steps up nervously and he smiles up at them and asks them their name, he has that knack of making them feel they are the most important person in the room. I always think to myself, `that's one more person on the planet in love with Grady'."
"With you in the background looking on, eh?" Bob said.
"Yes, because I'm the only person there whose main focus is to look after Grady himself. We have a kind of silent language. I always stay in his eyeline and when he glances over at me with a certain tired expression, I know he's had enough. That's when I step in.
"I make sure security is holding the elevator for him, and I have the unpopular task of ending the session. `Sorry folks but he's running very late and they're holding the plane for him', which is total bullshit but seems to work. We make a dash for the elevator and when we get to the room he sometimes bursts into tears letting the tension flow out. That's when I take him to bed."
Mario smiled, "But I don't go entirely unnoticed at those events. Standing close to the line of fans I've heard everything. Who are you, his PR guy?' Who are you, his bodyguard?' And this one I've overheard a lot ... Who's the hot man with him?' We giggle about that and he calls me the HMWH'. The only comment that kind of bothered me was, `Who are you, his valet?' Don't know why I let that get to me, but it did."
"And all the time, Mario, you knew you were the most important guy in Grady's life, his lover, the man he adores so much that he would give up all the fame and celebrity, and go live with you in that little house on Laurel Canyon."
Bob's affection for Mario had increased while he watched him telling his story. He looked so beautiful and spoke so gently, with no trace of self-pity – that's just the way life was with a movie star. Bob said, "You know, Mario, those linen shirts you wear, hanging open over your chest – makes you look even sexier than you already are."
Mario rolled over on his back and Bob reached across and pushed the open shirt away from his chest. "Flawless," he sighed as he stroked Mario's chest and traced his fingers over the ridges of his abs. He leaned forward and kissed his nipples, then smiled down at his face. "I always admire the way you protect and care for Grady, Mario, both in public and here at the home you created for him with Brian and Danny."
Mario linked his hands behind his head, pulling the shirt even further off him, and grinned up at Bob. "But I have also seen how you take care of Randy – in a different way, though, as Randy is much tougher and self-confident, the big boss of the outfit."
"Don't be fooled by the rugged exterior, Mario. I see deep inside him – all the insecurities and wild impulses. Like when he met me and fell in love. It absolutely knocked him sideways, way outside his comfort zone, and the only way he knew to handle it was lash out with his fists.
"And you know how much trouble that temper can cause, the hurt feelings I have to placate. I often feel like the guy following the parade with a shovel, scooping up the horseshit. Mario, if you are known as the `hot-man-with-him' I'm known as the shit-shoveler."
Mario laughed merrily. "And a handsomer, sexier shit-shoveler there never was."
Bob joined in his laughter. "But you know something else, the time I love Randy most? When he's done something bad, I mean really fucked up, he comes to me to apologize, and he looks like a nervous little boy, shifting from foot to foot, saying sorry to a parent. He looks adorable, a word you don't usually associate with the fist-swinging gypsy."
"Bob chuckled, "But dude, enough about all that stuff. "I think we've said everything there is to say about `shoes and ships and sealing-wax' ..."
"... and `cabbages and kings' too," Mario smiled. I agree. So ...?"
"So, I think it's about time I made love to the sexy Italian who's making my dick ooze precum. Lewis Carroll would be spinning in his grave if he knew his words had been used as foreplay between two men."
Mario smiled, "Not to mention my rambling on about my own adventures in movie wonderland. I probably bored you to distraction, amico ... `I weep for you, the Walrus said, and shed a bitter tear ...'."
Bob laughed, "So forget the tears, the Walrus and all the other crazy stuff. Let's cut to the chase and weave our own dreams." Bob bent down and kissed Mario's eyes, then his mouth. And they began what they had longed to do right from the start.
<><> LOVE THE OLD-FASHIONE WAY <><>
"First, Bob, sexy as that T-shirt looks on you, I have been longing to see you without it."
Bob got up on his knees, reached behind his neck and pulled the shirt up slowly, revealing in turn his long slim waist, ripped abs, the curve under his pecs, his chest, and then pulled it off over his head and dropped it beside Mario. He pulled Mario up on his knees facing him and pushed his linen shirt off over his shoulders.
"Hmm, reminds me of that long-ago day, Mario, when Randy and I met you at the hotel where you worked as a room-service waiter. You came to our room and Randy persuaded you to take your shirt off. You've come a long way from being a waiter, Mario, but in essentials you haven't changed – still the same gorgeous Italian with the sexy accent."
Both shirtless, they smiled at each other and teased each other's nipples, twisting them harder and harder until Bob grinned, "Mario, If I don't get out of these shorts I'm gonna cream them."
"My sentiments exactly, amico." They stood up on the bed facing each other and unlaced each other's boardshorts, then pushed them slowly down over their hips until they fell round their feet. They stood naked, staring at each other, their rigid cocks rearing up, almost touching.
Bob pressed his palms on the sides of Mario's head and held it firmly in place. "Let me look at that gorgeous face for a while dude, before I kiss it. Oh man, those dark Italian looks – black curly hair, tanned square-jawed face and those sexy green eyes. Just begging to be kissed." Holding his face tight Bob leaned forward and licked his eyes, then pressed their lips together in a passionate tongue-searching kiss.
When at last they pulled away Mario smiled, "That day we first met in the hotel I worked at, Randy was definitely the leader there. But now it's just you, Bob – you and me – and there's no question who the topman is here, we already sorted that out. And I always wanted to do this."
As he sank to his knees, Mario ran his hands down the length of Bob's body, then wrapped his hands round Bob's penis and kissed the head. He looked up at the muscular body towering over him and felt an urgent impulse to step out of his usual dominant role and yield to this powerful man. He wrapped his arms round Bob's muscled thigh and kissed it, then opened his mouth and slid it over the long shaft pointing down at him.
As Mario worked on his cock Bob groaned in ecstasy. But eventually, as he looked down at him, Bob said, "Fuck, man, that gorgeous face, lips wrapped round my dick ... a man that beautiful should not be kneeling to me." Bob pulled his cock back out of Mario's mouth and sank to his knees facing him.
"You know," Bob sighed, "sometimes I get weary of this top and bottom thing – one man dominating another till he begs for mercy and surrenders. Whatever happened to making love, pure and simple? Pete and his boy Brandon do that, you know – quiet evening at home, dinner, a TV movie, then curling up in bed and making love ... the loving kind, no ropes, no begging, no submission ... just enjoying each other. How about it, buddy?"
In response Mario wrapped his arms round Bob and they fell over on the bed, holding each other, gently kissing, licking, smiling – a union of mind, body and soul. They rolled over together on the large bed, exploring each other's naked body, enjoying the feel of each other's warm flesh, and the scent of their breath as they pressed their lips together and breathed the same air back and forth.
Mario closed his eyes and Bob kissed them, then his cheeks and his forehead. He smiled, ran his fingers through Maio's curly black hair and ruffled it. "Randy does this all the time to young Will ... he calls him Red, and the kid loves it. And I love watching them together."
Bob was lying on his back with Mario propped on his side smiling down at him. "There are so many sights like that in the tribe, Bob, so many loving couples. At parties here Grady and I sit together watching all the tender smiles and touches ... it's our favorite thing to do. It makes you realize that all the ups and downs, the dramas, the squabbles are ... come si dice?... small potatoes, no? It's all solved by making love."
Mario bent down and kissed Bob, then pulled back and gently stroked Bob's cock that stood up rigid as a flag pole. "And talking of making love, amico, how about putting this magnificent beast to good use?"
"Yeah, how about that?" Bob grinned. He pushed Mario on his back, knelt between his legs and wrapped a hand round his own cock. "How do you say engorged in Italian?"
Mario laughed. "Gonfio."
"Great word. So this here beast is gonfio, my nuts are gonfio too. It's also wet from when you sucked it. Is that enough?"
"Mi amico, I just want it inside me. I'll take it any way you like ... especially wet and gonfio."
Bob flipped Mario over on his stomach and gazed down at the twin mounds. "Beautiful ass, dude. Flawless ... enough to make a grown man weep." He bent low, eased the cheeks apart and buried his face between them. Mario moaned as he felt Bob's tongue probing his ass. He turned his head sideways to catch the erotic sight reflected in the wall mirror, the muscular body bent low over his back, the square-cut superman face buried in his ass.
"Oh ... Bob, that feels so good. Too much of that and I'll cum on the sheets."
"We can't have that," Bob grinned, pulling off him and flipping him over again on his back. Mario pulled his legs back and Bob knelt behind his exposed butt. He leaned far forward until his face was a few inches above Mario's. He kissed Mario, then smiled, "You feel the tip of my cock pressed against your butt?" Mario nodded. "You wanna know how it feels inside your butt? Mario nodded again, and gazed deep into Bob's dark brown eyes.
Bob licked the Italian's lips, smiled into his eyes and watched them flinch when the head of his cock entered him. Mario inhaled sharply as the rod eased slowly inside him and Bob said, "You see that handsome man reflected in my eyes?"
"Si ... si, vedo."
"Right, well that reflection is the man getting his ass fucked ... by the guy leaning over him."
The godlike face blocked all else from Mario's field of vision. And the feeling in his ass blocked out any other sensation, as if he were being consumed by the man. As the cock eased in and out of his ass he was mesmerized by the dark brown eyes that crinkled with a smile. "Ain't love grand, kiddo?"
"Magnifico, amore. There was a long silence as they gazed deep into each other's eyes, and Bob's long, thick rod penetrated deeper and deeper. He bent down again and kissed Mario, and again they shared the same breath and the same intense sensation in their loins.
Bob sensed when they were both approaching their climax and stopped kissing him. "I can make you cum without touching your cock. You will know when the head of my cock passes over your inner sphincter and enters the forbidden fiery depths of your ass."
"Yes, I want that, amico." Mario reached up and stroked Bob's square-cut features, then ran his hands down over his neck and cupped his palms over Bob's pecs. "You are a beautiful lover, Bob. Will you cum inside me when you make me cum?"
"Of course," Bob smiled. "And when I do, you are to look deep into my eyes and watch yourself climax for me." Bob pulled his cock all the way back, paused, then drove it in, deeper and deeper ... and paused. "Now ..." he smiled and eased his cock over the sphincter and into the secret depths of his ass.
Mario's eyes opened wide as he felt Bob erupt inside him, and his own cock reared up and spurted jets of semen that splashed on the muscled chest heaving above him. He saw himself in Bob's eyes, saw himself shudder, then howl with joy until Bob's mouth stifled his scream with a final churning kiss.
<><> BOB HAS A PLAN FOR PETE & BRANDON <><>
Moments later they lay panting side by side, Mario's head resting on Bob's outstretched arm.
"Fantastico, amico. Wonderful, and so different from making love with Grady."
"Of course, Mario. The difference being that you're in love with Grady. I could see that shining from your eyes when you were describing your life with him. With you two it's deep love expressed through sex. What we had was great sex with love and affection thrown in as a bonus.
"Making love with Randy is a whole different thing again – deep love and dynamic sex." Bob laughed. "And Randy is as different from you as he could be. The one with a Texas accent who growls like a caveman. The other with an Italian accent who can recite The Walrus & The Carpenter from end to end. By the way, would Grady mind about us two making love like this?"
"He would love the idea, Bob. But more to the point, would Randy?
Bob laughed. "Dude, he has fucked Grady so often by now he's hardly in a position to object when I fuck Grady's lover. Besides, I told you. He's OK with me making love to other guys in the tribe, provided he gets the right answer to that ritual question, `did he fuck you?'" Once he knows my ass is intact, waiting for him, he's just fine."
"Bob, it's such a delight to spend time with you. Would, er ... would it be OK when the going gets rough for me to call you and ..."
"Mario, you don't have to ask. Of course I would be happy to come and see you when you need a friend. We don't always have to make love either, although that is a bonus I would always welcome. By the way, is it OK for you to be here all this time, away from your guests?"
"Absolutely, Bob, have no fear about that. I told Brian I am only a phone call away, though I doubt he will call. Brian and Danny pride themselves on being able to cope with a party, even one as large as this. And Brian said he would alert me when Grady, Charlie and his boys emerge from the secret garden. And that could be some time yet."
"I'm glad to hear it," Bob chuckled. "There are three parts to lovemaking – foreplay, sex and afterglow. We just had the longest foreplay in history, then extended sex, so we might as well match that with afterglow. I often think that's the best part – better than a quick `slam bam thank you man'. So are you feeling better now about this publicity tour coming up?"
"Much better, Bob, thanks to you, Randy and cowboy Charlie. These Grady House parties are a great shot in the arm for Grady – they put everything into perspective. And now that Jamie, Nate, Eddie and I will be with him on the trip he's actually looking forward to it. "There's, er, only one thing that bothers me a little."
"Anything I can help you with?"
"I don't think so, Bob. It's about Brian and Danny. You can see how hard they're working to make this party a success. And it's not only the part you see. There was a ton of planning and setup work to do, and there'll be a lot of cleanup too. Oh they don't have to do all the grunt work. We have daily help coming in – gardeners and janitors. But the brunt of the whole thing falls on the boys' shoulders."
"They love it all, of course, but it bothers me that they are so isolated up here. See, it's great for Grady to go into solitary confinement here, it's a big relief for him and me. But when Grady and I go away on this trip for ten days, they'll be all alone. Suddenly there'll be far less work and even less company."
Bob frowned in thought. "It doesn't have to be that way, Mario. As a matter of fact I have similar concerns for some of our guys. A while ago I mentioned Pete and his boy Brandon, and told you what a loving couple they are. We call the Ranger silent Pete' cos he quietly goes to work every day, no muss no fuss, then comes home to spend a quiet, loving evening together in their duplex across the street from us.
"They both work hard and don't get away much. Nor does Brandon get to see his boyfriend Brian up here as often as he would like. They need a break, so how about this? What if they come up here when you've gone, kind of like a mini-vacation? I know he would love to be with Brian for a week or so, taking care of his man Pete. How would you feel about that?"
"Bob, I love the idea. I know Brian would be thrilled, and Danny could spend more time here with his lover Tommy. It would be quite a merry group and I'd love to see this house used to make people happy. I'd even give Pete and Brandon the key to the secret garden. I'll run it all past Brian and Danny when we rejoin the party. And talking of Brian ..."
There was a discreet tap at the door and Brian's voice asked, "Sir, may I come in?"
"Of course, Brian," Mario said, but when the boy entered, seeing both men naked on the bed he hesitated and looked away. "Oh, sorry, sir, I didn't know."
Mario laughed, "Bambino, you can cut the blushing maiden act – you've seen far more shocking things in this house than two naked men. And of course you knew we were making love. You don't think we were engrossed in the accounts all this time, do you? I'll tell you all about it later `cos Grady will certainly want all the dirt in your gossip session tonight."
"It's Grady I came to tell you about, sir. He has finally emerged from the secret garden with a great big smile on his face, and it don't take rocket science to guess what he's been doing with the cowboy. And you're right, sir, I did guess what you and Bob were doing. I know your dislike of accounting and you were up here so long, what else would you be doing?" He grinned his urchin grin. "My math is stronger than yours, sir. I added two and two and came up with sex."
"Don't be cheeky, bambino, or we'll drag you into bed and both fuck you."
"Love to, sir, but I don't have time, sorry. I have guests to attend to." He wheeled himself out and Bob laughed, "That kid is adorable. But we better get dressed and go down too, or I'll drag you back into bed for a repeat performance."
<><> REUNIONS <><>
The party was in full swing when Grady finally appeared with Charlie and his grinning boys Vic and Noah. As Brian had told Mario, Grady had a big, goofy smile on his face, his red shorts hung low on his waist and he was wearing Charlie's cowboy hat pushed back on his head.
The spectacle brought raucous cheers from the assembled group, by now well lubricated on margaritas. "Charlie," Zack laughed, "looks like you really did a number on our handsome host here. If his adoring fans could see him now, eh?"
"They'd become even bigger fans," Darius laughed. "Not often you see a sight like that on the big screen – a muscle-jock action hero after he's been worked over by a muscle-stud cowboy. Come get a drink, dudes."
As they drank and laughed, Grady looked around for Mario, and Hassan said, "He went up to his office with Bob to go over the accounts. Must be something real sexy about those accounts to keep them busy this long." Eddie said, "My guess is it ain't the math it's the muscle, sir."
Brian came wheeling across the lawn and smiled. "Right as usual Eddie. You should a' been there with your camera. Ah, here they come now."
It was another occasion for cheers as the couple appeared from the house, barefoot and bare-chested in board shorts, shirts slung over their shoulders. Randy got up and walked to meet them. "Uh-oh, wait for it," Bob whispered to Mario. "Here comes that question. Hi Randy, hope you don't mind but I've been making love to Mario."
"Did he fuck you?" Bob dug Mario in the ribs and they stifled smiles.
"No, Randy, he didn't. Matter of fact I fucked him."
Randy's face lit up with a smile. "Terrific, ain't he Mario?" Then to Bob, "As for you ..."
"I know, I know, I'll pay later – my ass is grass."
"Damn straight."
That brought more lewd comments and suggestions and Eddie asked with a roguish grin, "But apart from that, sir, how did you like the accounts?"
"Accounts, Eddie? What accounts?"
Laughter enveloped them again as they joined the crowd and Grady nuzzled up to Mario. "Hey, dude, can I lick all that cum off your chest? It's yours, I take it?"
"Yes amico, all mine. Bob's juice is up my ass."
"Hmm, maybe I can eat that out too." Grady leaned down and lapped at his lover's cum-smeared chest and neck.
Such spicy talk and behavior was taken for granted in this group and barely raised an eyebrow. As conversation grew ever more raunchy Bob, always attuned to the comfort of others, looked around the noisy crowd and saw a couple sitting quietly together at a small table, laughing at all the shenanigans but not actively joining in. Bob went over to Pete and his boy Brandon.
<><> OUT OF THE RUT? <><>
"Mind if I join you guys?"
"Be a pleasure Bob – take a pew." A smile bathed the fine-looking features of the rangy Forest Ranger as he leaned over and pulled a chair up to the table.
"Having fun?" Bob smiled.
"Always do at this house," Pete said. "Terrific bunch of guys. But you know us, we always watch quietly from the sidelines – the stick-in-the-mud couple." Pete put his arm over his boy's shoulder and squeezed it tight.
"Certainly not the words I would use, Pete. I'd call you the blissfully-close-together couple. You're not in a rut, guys, you're in heaven. However," he grinned, "at the risk of brazenly interfering, I do have in mind a minor boost to that happy routine of yours. Do you mind if I explain?"
"Your company is always a pleasure, Bob, so go ahead."
"Well, I was talking to Mario just now ... yes," he smiled, "talking – it wasn't all sex ... and we shared matching concerns. They stem from Grady's upcoming publicity tour which will pretty much empty the Grady House, leaving only Brian and Danny here.
"Mario worries that, after the two boys worked so hard at this party, the silence and solitude might be a letdown. It's one thing to isolate in a large house with all the activity surrounding Grady, but an empty house for ten days might seem gloomy.
"I had a similar concern about overwork, concerning you, Brandon. As your boss I know only too well how hard you work running the office, and this coming week promises to be extra hard, setting up the programs for the expanded construction sites. You need a vacation, kiddo, at least a mini one."
"But sir, you just said there's a ton of work to do, so how could I possibly be spared right now?"
"I'm coming to that, Brandon. The publicity tour isn't till the week after next and by that time the new systems should be up and running smoothly. Ryan will create the computer programs and manage them on an ongoing basis. And when Charlie goes away Vic and Noah will feel at a loose end and dying for more work. I personally would like to be in the office to get the hang of everything."
"Besides, I have something else in mind for you, Brandon, a whole new project I would like you to start planning. And I don't want you distracted by a busy office. So I'm suggesting that you come up here for the ten days Grady and Mario will be away, and hopefully with you, Pete.
"I know you don't spend enough time with your boyfriend Brian so this would be your chance. As for the work, that you can do as and when you like. It's a long-term project so there's no urgency and I want leisure and love to come first."
Reflexively Brandon turned to Pete, who said, "Bob, you've given me the answer to something that's been troubling me. It would be great for Brandon, and for me. I was joking when I said we're stuck in the mud, but I do think we've fallen into a bit of a rut – a nice rut, but still ... I've been wanting to do something like a vacation with Brandon – you know, change of space, change of air, time to recharge the batteries, and this could be the answer.
"I have a mountain of accrued vacation time at work and I would love to take a week off with Brandon. Being together with him up here would be like paradise. Hassan will be alone also when his boy Eddie goes off on the tour, so we could ask him too. And Danny could invite his lover Tommy to spend more time with him here. Kiddo, don't you think it would be a neat group – you me, Brian and Danny?'
"It ... it sounds perfect, sir. But ..." he frowned at Bob, "what about the office, sir, and how does Mario feel about us being here? I mean if he ..."
"Brandon, no more if, ands and buts. That's exactly what I want you to get away from. Think of yourself and Pete for a change, and let me take care of the rest. Mario was thrilled with the idea, says he he'll even give you the key to the secret garden. He loves to think that the Grady House is being used to make guys happy."
Pete smiled at Brandon. "So what d'ya say kiddo. You want to?"
Brandon's frown was replaced by a sparkling smile. "Yes please, sir. I say yes." Pete leaned over and kissed him. Then a newly animated Brandon asked Bob. "But what is this new project, sir? You've got me all intrigued.
"Well, I don't want to take up any more of your party time, but I'll give you the gist now and we can meet later. It was the twins who gave me the germ of the idea. They were talking about food and provisions and all the purchasing they do, with countless runs to the grocery store.
"The thing is, that every other house is doing the same – our Compound ... the Grady House ... Steve and Lloyd's house in the hills ... Adam and Chad's house ... Jason and Ben's house by the arroyo ... not to mention all the lunches we take to the construction sites.
"My plan is to have everything centralized so we can purchase provisions wholesale. The other houses can put in their orders to us and collect what they need from a central supply. Save everyone a ton of money, and save countless duplicated runs to the store.
"The twins were quite excited, and they have more time now, with the addition of Felipe as assistant chef. When I mentioned the idea to Randy he offered to convert those two big empty garages at the compound into a small, air-conditioned warehouse.
The invoicing would all go through you, Brandon, so it will take a lot of coordination with all the chefs and all the houses, plus a whole new computer program from Ryan. You will ultimately be in charge of it all, but as I said, it's a long-term project and there's no urgency. But while you're up here you could run it through your mind, make a few phone calls maybe. But remember, leisure comes first ... and this sexy Ranger of yours, of course."
"Exciting stuff, eh kiddo?" Pete said.
"I'll say." Brandon's eyes were shining. "Especially the thought of spending a week in this house with you, sir. I'm loving it already."
"There," Bob smiled, "I said I wanted to give a little boost to your routine. Seems I succeeded. Now I'll leave you alone to enjoy the party, and make plans for your mini-vacation."
<><> EDDIE TAKES THE FLOOR <><>
By now the chefs had cleared away the last remnants of the buffet and were already immersed in dinner planning. Bob sat with Randy, Mario and Grady listening to the buzz in the various groups gathered around.
"I love all this dudes," Grady said. "I tell you, I couldn't do what I do if I didn't have you guys to take Mario and me into a whole different beautiful world that has nothing to do with show-biz. Well," he grinned. "it's a show-biz of a sort – the X-rated kind, I'm happy to say."
Bob laughed, "A show starring Grady and Mario – on location in the Secret Garden weaving their poetic fantasies."
"Poetic, Bob? Not sure we aspire to poetry."
Bob smiled, "And this from a man who can recite The Walrus & the Carpenter from end to end."
"The what and the who?" Randy frowned.
"Don't ask, Randy. Later, dude. But I know what you mean, Grady, about watching the crowd together like this. Look at them all. There's Zack, Seth and Darius with his boy Ryan talking about the new construction site ... Pete, Brandon and Brian making vacation plans ...
"And over there," Grady added, "Vic and Noah are hanging on every word of their sexy hero, cowboy Charlie, and looking forward to their night with him in the pool house ... not to mention my gang, Jamie, Nate and Eddie huddling together, gearing up for our publicity gig and Eddie still drooling over the private jet.
Randy said, "My little brother Ben is in hog heaven with his fireman Jason ... and my other brother Doc Steve and his lover Lloyd, getting it on with Doc Chad and Adam. And the second-floor guys Miguel and Pablo with their boys Finn and Tyler silently adoring them.
"And don't forget the chefs," Bob said. "Danny and his lover Tommy, my twins, freckle-faced Will and that cute young immigrant Felipe having the time of his life, having found his first real home and family after his long, brave trek to get here."
"OK," Grady grinned, "let's take bets on who, of all of them, will be the first to break from the pack and hog the spotlight?"
"That's easy," Bob laughed. "I vote for motormouth Eddie." Randy nodded, "Eddie, hands down." Grady and Mario agreed – "No contest ... Eddie."
They didn't have long to wait. In a few minutes they high-fived each other as Eddie shot to his feet. "Listen up, guys," he yelled. "Hey, I said listen up." The noise slowly died down. "That's better, `cos I have an announcement."
"Which you...will...not...believe," came a chorus of boys, followed by gales of laughter.
"Hey, if you don't shut up I'll ... I'll just stop talking."
"You hear that, guys? Eddie's gonna stop talking ... yeah right, that'll be the day."
More laughs, but slowly they let him have the floor. "You can laugh, men, but later this evening you'll be creaming your shorts. Because I, Eddie, will be showing a movie in the screening room downstairs. A movie made by yours truly. I have edited together ... wait for it ... a mashup of highlights from all the videos I've made of our two stars – Grady as the gorgeous lifeguard captain, and Charlie as the totally sexy rodeo cowboy.
"Bring your trick towels with you, guys, `cos your gonna need them – won't be a dry cock in the house. It's a spectacular event, amazing, dazzling, and I can truly say, without fear of contradiction ..." he grinned his irresistible puckish grin "... all together guys ... "
The entire crowd howled, "You...Will...Not...Believe ..."
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 590
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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