A Trial of Strength

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 349 By Rob Williams

IN THIS CHAPTER:

In the budding love affair between middle-aged Mike and early-twenties Larry, the older man at last yields to the young jock's spirited sexuality in a defining act of love and lust. "That settles it kid – you're coming to live with me." Then four young mechanics service construction bosses Randy and Zack. Randy grins, "Look at them, Zack – kneeling like pigs feeding at the trough. Let's give `em what they want."

CHAPTER 349 – "OF LOVE, JOY - & PIGS AT THE TROUGH"

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

Soon after Larry's arrival at the tribe's house – bitter, confused and angry at life – he had felt an affinity for the middle-aged friend of the tribe whom everyone called Uncle Mike. He had spent the first night in Mike's room and ended up in the same bed with him, but when, next morning, Larry had falteringly tried sex, with a clumsy attempt at a blow job, Mike had recoiled.

Although he felt an affection for Larry, whose desolate home life had been similar to Mike's early life, Mike felt that Larry's clinging to an older man might be just a desperate compensation for his hatred of his brutal father who had physically and sexually abused him, causing him to run away from home. So Mike reasoned gently with the disappointed young man.

"Listen, I like you a lot, boy ... like I said before, you remind me of me at your age. But if I take you under my wing it'll be simply as a friend. I know in the past how your dad came on to you sexually so, just to be clear, there will be nothing like that between us. Just good buddies, eh?"

The tribe's therapist Dr. Steve agreed with Mike that Larry should not rush things. The young man had only just discovered his sexual desire for men and now found himself like a kid in a candy store, surrounded by the homoerotic eye candy of beautiful men. Dr. Steve suggested he should sample that candy as much as he liked – a crash course on what sex with men is like. And Larry took him at his word, having sex whenever it presented itself (which was often).

When Larry appeared at dinner, Randy said, with his usual lack of finesse, "Hell, kid, you look like you just hit the jackpot. That glow can only mean one thing. You fucked, didn't you? You fucked a guy for the first time ... and Brandon was the lucky recipient, am I right? The jungle drums round here have been keeping us up with your sexual exploits all day. Looks like you've been fucking your way through the clan pretty good.

But when the exhausting day was over Larry snuggled up against Mike for their second night together and said drowsily, "You know, sir, I did a ton of new stuff today – all that sucking and fucking – and it was great, but the thing I looked forward to the most was this – cuddling up to you in bed. And I wasn't ever scared `cos I knew you were here and I would always end up with you." He laid his head on Mike's chest. "I wanted to tell you all about my day but there was so much and ..." he yawned "... and I'm so tired that I ... I think maybe I ..."

And he was asleep. Mike looked down at his face, a slight smile on it as he slept, and stroked his hair gently. Much later when he looked back he reckoned that this was the moment where he started to love the boy.

The next few days went well for Larry as he worked for Pablo as temporary assistant mechanic and spent a lot of time with Mike, their relationship becoming closer all the time. Late one afternoon, before the guys came home from work and Mike came back from the Grady House, Bob had a quiet chat with Larry. "So tell me, Larry, how are things going with you and Mike?"

"Oh, great, sir," Larry smiled. "I love being with him, talking to him and especially sleeping with him. Last night when he slept up at the Grady House I really, really missed him, but he'll be back soon. I got real sad without him, wondering ... well ... you know, I tried having sex with Mike the first day but he said we should cool it. D'you think he doesn't like me in that way, sir?"

"Larry," Bob smiled, "I happen to know Mike likes you a whole lot – he told me. But there's something you don't know about Mike. See, he once had a lover for quite a few years, a man younger than him but older than you. They were very much in love but ... the man was tragically killed in a motorbike accident and it shattered Mike. He grieved for a long, long time.

"And something like that can leave a man with what Dr. Steve would call a fear of intimacy – a reluctance to allow himself to get close to another man because he could not bear the agony of losing him like he felt the first time. That explains his hesitation in letting you get too close. But don't despair, Larry, `cos I have a feeling you're starting to break down those barriers in him."

"You really think so, sir?" The hope shining in Larry's eyes moved Bob ... but suddenly he saw the eyes widen and the hope turned to horror. Larry stood up and screamed, "No ... no ... go away!" It was his worst nightmare – the father he hated had come to take him back to the home he had deserted.

Bob interceded, only to meet the thug's fist that sent him crashing to the ground. Randy, just home from work, saw the brutal act and hurtled across the grass like a cannon ball. He smashed against the man in a football tackle that sent them both down with a crash.

The fight was brutal but Randy soon got the upper hand, landing blow after blow with his fists, making the man reel backwards, then lashing him with his belt just as the father had whipped his son. The wild gypsy would have done permanent injury if he hadn't been restrained by his buddy Zack. "That's enough, Randy. You've made your point. Now go take care of Bob."

While Randy tended to Bob a commanding voice said, "What the hell's going on here?" The uniformed cop Mark had just come home from work. His boy Jamie quickly filled him in and Mark looked down at the defeated man shivering on the ground. "What have you got to say for yourself?"

"The man stammered, "I came for my boy ... he ran away from home ... I want him back. He's my flesh and blood. He needs a firm hand from someone. Who's gonna take care of him and teach him if I don't?"

"That would be me!" All eyes turned to see Mike who had just come back from the Grady House, unobserved in all the mayhem. "I'm gonna take care of him, I'm gonna teach him. He's coming to live with me. He won't be your boy anymore, asshole. He'll be mine."

Larry looked up, bewildered at first. Then he got to his feet, ran over to Mike and fell into his arms. Mike stroked his hair. "It's OK, kid, it's over ... your life just changed. You're coming home with me ... assuming that's what you want." Tears of relief and joy ran down Larry's cheeks. "You know it's what I want, sir. It's what I've been telling you all along."

Mark looked at Randy tending to a shaken Bob, then at Mike and Larry. "OK, guys," the cop said, "I'll take over now. Mike, why don't you take Larry up to your room? I imagine you two have a lot to talk about. As for you, Randy, I suggest you take Bob upstairs with you and give him a stiff brandy. And whatever else he might need," he grinned.

Mike and Larry went into the house to a smattering of applause from the boys and Randy put his arm round Bob and helped him upstairs. In their bedroom Bob grinned at Randy. "Look at you, buddy, in your filthy workpants and ripped tank – covered in dirt, scratched and bruised. Man, as bad as the situation was out there, I got a massive hard-on watching you fight. Damn you looked hot. Whenever I beat off thinking about you that's exactly how I picture you."

"That so?" Randy preened. "Yeah, a good fight gets me all stoked too. You, er, you still got that hard on?" And so they made ferocious love, with Randy alternating savagery with tenderness, an erotic blend of lust and love ... and fiery passion. When it was over Randy held Bob tight in his arms. "You're safe, buddy, that's all that matters to me."

"Thanks again for everything, Randy. Saving that boy the way you did was wonderful, for him and for Mike. And it sure broke the logjam for those two ... made Mike come to a decision. I wonder how Larry will react when he finally sees Mike's house and the leather bar he owns, and gets a taste of life in Palm Springs."

"Huh, what I wonder is what's going on right now in the room down the hall. I mean, when those two look at each other and see their future in the other guy's eyes ... that's a big fucking deal. Works for us ... but do you think it's gonna be the real thing for them too, buddy?"

"Dunno, Randy. But I'm sure we'll find out."

********************* Chapter 349 **********************

Down the hall in the guestroom there was a lot of uncertainty too. When Mike and Larry got there after the trauma of Larry's dad's sudden appearance and his big fight with Randy, Larry was shivering with delayed shock, confusion and uncertainty about his future. Mike took him in his arms and held him tight.

After his initial euphoria at hearing Mike say, "I'm gonna take care of him ... I'm gonna teach him ... he's coming to live with me," Larry couldn't quite take it all in and he was seized with doubts at his apparent good fortune. "Sir," he said as they hugged. "What you just said down there. Did you say it just to make my dad go away?"

Mike pulled back, held Larry at arm's length and looked directly into his eyes. "Larry, when you know me better you'll realize I rarely says things just for effect, especially something as serious at that. When I saw you shaking in fear, threatened by your father, the truth suddenly hit me – like a lightbulb flashed on. In that instant I realized I had been an old fool these last few days. I was denying to myself the affection I felt for you." He smiled. "Here, come sit down."

They sat at the edge of the bed and turned toward each other. "Here's the deal, kid ... I'll level with you. I know Bob told you about my former lover Ted who ... Well, when he died I was a total wreck – still am in a way, though I don't show it. Anyway, I made a promise to myself that I would never get close to another guy again, never risk the pain of loss that was tearing me apart. And I kept that promise ... until now."

He held Larry's hands. "See, when I saw you, and especially when I got to know you a bit, I felt something new that I couldn't pin down. At first I thought I was just feeling sorry for you – a kid adrift as I had been at your age. But deep down I knew it was more than that – and it scared me. And that first morning when you came on to me and I got a hard-on and you sucked my dick, well that scared me to death, which is why I pushed you away in a panic.

"I'm sorry I did that, Larry, and hurt your feelings. But see, when I swore off love I swore off sex too, but suddenly there you were, this young guy making me hard and sucking my dick. I couldn't believe that a guy who had only just discovered his sexual attraction to men could really want old Uncle Mike in that way."

"Neither could I, sir," Larry blurted out. "But I did want you. I know you thought it was because my dad was a brute and I'd never had an older guy to look up to before. I guess that was part of it, but mostly it was because I ... I dunno, I liked being with you, listening to you talk and ... and that wasn't the only time I got a hard-on being next to you."

"Yeah, but after you'd had sex with those incredible men – Randy, Dr. Steve, the twins, Pablo, Darius, Brandon – I couldn't believe that at the end of the day you would still want stuffy old Mike. But then, when you came to bed that night and told me that, even after all that great sex, the thing you looked forward to the most was cuddling up in bed with me. Well, that was a clincher. When you fell asleep I looked down at you and felt that special heart surge you only feel with a guy you love – or are starting to love."

Larry smiled shyly at him. "So what now, sir?"

"Well, kiddo, we take it one step at a time ... and the first step right now is bed. Then on Friday I'll take you back with me to the desert and you can see my house and see if ..."

"... see if I want to live there sir?" Larry said enthusiastically. "Of course I will."

Mike smiled at the impetuosity of youth but dampened it down a bit with a cautious, "Like I said, boy, one thing at a time. Right now, bed!"

"Aye-aye, sir. You're the boss."

They stripped down to T-shirts and boxers and lay on their backs at first, but they were both too keyed up to sleep. They had shared the bed for the last few nights but tonight was different, with a sense that their friendship had taken a giant leap forward. Larry's excitement squashed any inhibitions that remained and, looking straight up at the ceiling, he said, "Sir, what I really wanted was to thank you."

Mike too replied to the ceiling. "You already did that, kiddo."

Suddenly Larry turned on his side and looked at Mike. "No, sir, I mean really thank you."

Mike rolled over and faced him. "What exactly are you getting at, kid?"

Larry's eyes were dancing seductively. "Well, sir, remember how I told you that I couldn't think of a way to apologize to Brandon and thank him for being such a cool guy about what I did to him. And he came up with the perfect solution ... he let me ... well ... fuck him. He was my first ever. And I'm dying to do it again."

"So? ... Hey, Larry, you're not suggesting that ...? Jesus, boy, you sure have a habit of leaping straight from A to Z and ignoring the alphabet in between. Life don't work like that, kid."

"Why not, sir?"

"You have to work up to stuff that big."

"But we already did, sir. And here we are in bed together. And I've got a big stiff boner and ..." he reached across to Mike and laughed a silvery laugh, "... and so do you, sir. I knew it."

"Kid, I'm a lot older than you ... young guys are impulsive, I take things slower. You know, like step A ...then B ... then C ..."

"Right through to Z? But that'll take forever, and you don't have to do that now, sir, `cos you've got me. You say you're gonna teach me things, but maybe I can teach you a thing or two ... like how to go with the flow. And we sure as hell know which way the juices are flowing right now don't we, sir?"

Mike looked at Larry whose youthful enthusiasm was infectious, and he burst out laughing. "God I love you, boy. Maybe you can teach me to be young again at that. But seriously, Larry, here's the deal. Like I told you, when Ted died I kinda threw love and sex out the window. In the last few years I've had almost no sex, apart from watching porn, or having a quick fumble with a guy in my office at the bar. Hell, kid, I'm not sure I even know how to do it anymore."

"But that's exactly what I said to Brandon and he said not to worry, he'd show me. I lost my hard-on the first time but when we tried again it worked a treat."

"So now you're an expert and you're gonna teach me, uh?"

"Exactly! Come on, sir. It'll be fun."

Larry's shining eyes and boyish eagerness were like a mallet chipping away at Mike's wall of resistance and he felt himself weakening. "OK, kid, you win. But it'll be like an experiment and if it's a disaster, as it will be, we won't let it spoil things between us, alright?"

"It's a deal, sir. OK, let's see if I remember... first of all, Brandon had his shorts off." Larry leapt up onto his knees and quickly yanked Mike's shorts off over his feet. "Right now ... er ... ah yes, Brandon said you always have to keep a jar of lube by the bed and ... well look at that ... I bet Nate did that." There was a jar on the night table and Larry dipped his hands in it. "So here's what you do ... first I lube my cock like this. You know, when you've done it once it comes as natural as riding a bike."

Mike should have felt nervous or embarrassed or something, but what he mostly felt right now was amusement watching the eager Larry earnestly try to recall exactly what he had done the only other time he fucked ass – Brandon's. "Then – here it gets kinda ... well see, I have to ..." He reached down and pressed his greasy fingers against Mike's ass.

That intimate act jolted Mike and it suddenly became more serious. He had not felt anyone mess with his ass for years ... ever since Ted. "Wait a minute, kid, I'm not sure I can do this ..."

But you don't have to do anything, sir. I'm the one doing stuff ..." he was the coach now "... see, I'm what they call the top man ... you know what that is, sir?"

"Yeah," Mike grinned, "I am familiar with the term."

"OK, well it means I'm on top, I call the shots. And you just have to relax, like Randy told me to when he fucked me. Right, so now I pull your legs up like this and hang them over my shoulders. `Course Brandon couldn't feel his legs but he sure felt it when I did this." Larry eased his hips forward and pressed the head of his still-hard cock against his ass.

"Oh, no, I can't kid ... not yet ..." Mike defensively clenched his ass tight but Larry said, "No, sir, that's exactly what I did when Randy fucked me – it's just your nerves – but he told me I had to relax. And ... and that's what I'm telling you sir," he said sternly. "Please, sir ... let me do it."

There was something about the boy. This whole thing was humorous but also very moving as he watched the boy in his over-enthusiastic way try to take charge and prove his manliness to his new friend ... to prove his love for him. Straining to recall the lessons he had learned from top-man Randy and bottom-boy Brandon Larry was frowning with concentration, his tongue pressed between his lips as he eased his cock forward.

And as Mike gazed up at him, at his shining eager eyes, his heart went out to the boy and a wave of affection swept over him. And Mike suddenly wanted it ... wanted to feel Larry inside him, wanted to please him, to encourage him, to love him. And then it happened – the head of Larry's cock entered him and for the first time in years Mike felt a man's cock inside him.

His first impulse was to push it out but Larry said, "That's it, sir. We done it. A bit further now ... yeah, feels great don't it!"

Mike felt ... great? ... no that was too lame. It felt ... if felt ... "Oh Jesus, Larry. Oh god that feels ... oh, fuck me kid ... take it easy, but ... fuck me ... yeah, fuck me!"

Mike's plea boosted Larry's confidence and he felt empowered as he looked down at the gray-haired man's lined but still-handsome face and pushed his cock all the way inside him. He gasped as he felt a totally new sensation – the latest and by far the most surprising in a series of new experiences since he came here.

When he had fucked Brandon, it was fun – two young guys having a party. But now he was fucking a man he wanted to be with always, a man who had promised to love and protect him ... a man he loved and who loved him. It not only made him feel physically alive as never before, it dazzled him mentally, launching him into a world of joy he could never have dreamed of.

He leaned forward and rested his hands on either side of Mike, bringing their faces closer, and fucked gently and deeply. "Oh, this feels awesome, sir. It feels like ... I mean ... are we making love, sir? Is this what love feels like?"

"Pretty close, I'd say," Mike smiled with tears in his eyes. "I haven't felt anything like this since ... since ..." and the tears began to flow down the older man's cheeks.

"Don't cry, sir. I want you to be happy. I want to make you happy. And I can, sir, I know it."

"I know you can too, kid. I know that now." Mike gazed up at the young man's shining face, felt his cock sliding inside him, and he reached down and stroked his own cock that was straining for release. As Larry fucked harder and deeper Mike said, "You're bringing me so close, Larry. Let me feel you cum inside me. Let me feel my boy's juice in me for the first time."

"I want that too, sir. I've never wanted to cum as bad as I do now. I love you, sir ... I'm sure that's what this is ... I'm gonna cum ... can you cum with me? Please, sir ... oh man, this is great ... I've never ... oh wow ... I love you ... I love you ... aaaah!"

Larry plunged in deep and his cock exploded in the most breathtaking orgasm of his life. Beneath him Mike gasped, his body shook and he blasted jets of semen over his stomach and chest in the first real orgasm he had experienced in years.

As Larry took heaving breaths and his heart pounded he stared down at Mike whose tears flowed even faster now with a strange mix of joy and pain that startled and confused the boy. And when the tears became sobs Larry quickly pulled out of his ass, lowered himself on top of him and wrapped his arms round him.

Mike's body shook with heaving, uncontrollable sobbing that frightened Larry ... he could do nothing but hold him tight in an effort to calm him. And even when the tears stopped flowing Mike was convulsed in dry wracking sobs until at last his body stopped shaking and he allowed himself to go limp in the boy's arms while Larry licked the tears from his face.

Startled and inexperienced as he was, Larry instinctively felt that the intensity of Mike's reaction had less to do with the present than his past. When Mike had spoken before of his continuing grief over the loss of his lover Ted, "even though I don't show it", Larry had glimpsed the deep pain in his eyes and now guessed that, in some way, all that pain had risen to the surface.

Mike knew exactly what it was, and Larry was right. Over the years Mike had comforted many troubled men in his bar and encouraged them to give way to grief. But he himself could not take his own advice after the shattering experience of his lover's death. Instead he had folded his grief deep inside him, refusing to face it, instead looking outward, masking his own pain by focusing on others and redoubling his compassion for them.

In the depth of the bleak years when men in the community were becoming sick all around him he had worked tirelessly in the trenches and had come to the realization that when men were in extremis it took an act of love toward them by a kind soul to allow them finally to let go and find peace at last.

And although Mike's own circumstances were far less grave than that, he knew that the love this boy had shown toward him had at long last penetrated the wall of denial and allowed him to give way to the pent-up grief of so many years.

When Mike was lying still in Larry's arms the boy said, "Don't worry, sir. You've got me now. I'll take care of you."

Mike looked up and gave him a watery smile. "I thought I was the one supposed to be taking care of you, kiddo."

"Well we can take care of each other. Isn't that what love's supposed to be all about?"

Mike held Larry closer and grinned, "Boy, for a kid who's only just discovered love and sex you sure know a lot about them. Maybe you have an old soul."

"Well, sir, that kind of makes us even, don't you think?"

As they slept in each other's arms that night Mike had the first untroubled, dreamless sleep in a long time. He had finally let go and found peace at last.

The next morning was a flurry of activity downstairs but silence upstairs. "Not a sound from down the hall," Randy said to Bob.

"I have a feeling they are sleeping in late," Bob grinned. "This promises to be a new life for both of them so let's not disturb them. I'll call the twins and tell them not to bring them breakfast."

Bob's phone rang – it was Mark. "Morning guys. Can you come down and talk to Zack and me about Larry's dad, Brigg, and what we're gonna do with him?"

The four men sat round the table by the pool where the twins had served breakfast. After the big fight the evening before between Randy and Brigg, Mark had taken charge and he now gave them an update.

"Right, so I ran a make on the guy with the Missouri cops and guess what. He's on parole after serving prison time for robbing a convenience store. Technically he's violating the terms of his parole for even leaving the state. His parole officer says that if he gets his ass back there within 24 hours he'll overlook the violation. After all, his wife just died and his boy ran away so the officer is prepared to go easy on him."

Zack said, "He spent last night locked in my basement gym across the street." He grinned. "With all that bondage and leather gear in the room and knowing that me and Darius were upstairs, believe me, all the fight had gone out of him. Question is, what happens now."

"He should stay in there and rot," growled Randy, "give me another crack at him. Asshole treats a boy like he treated his kid should be made to suffer."

"Legally," said Mark, "I could arrest him for trespass and making threats but the most that would happen is he'd be shipped back to Missouri anyway. What do you think, Bob?"

Bob shrugged. "I'm all for a quick solution. There's no permanent damage here and, if I'm any judge, Larry will want to put this behind him and get on with his life with Mike. His dad has to get back home pronto so I suggest we take care of it ourselves ... get him a one-way plane ticket to St. Louis, a bit of pocket money to get him started. There's no excuse for the life he made Larry suffer but at least we can be forgiving about the ruckus he caused here. Like Mark said, the guy's wife just died and he's all alone."

Bob gazed hard at them. "I mean, look at us guys ... we're all successful men, a great life with great buddies and boys who love us. Who knows what made Brigg the way he is, but surely we can go easy on the guy, give him a push in the right direction."

Randy gazed at Bob and realized one more time why he loved him so much. "Fuck you, man, you'd go easy on Mussolini `cos at least he made the trains run on time. Well I suppose as usual you'll get your way. But I'll talk to you later, dude, and fuck some sense into you."

"I'm counting on it, big guy," Bob grinned, then called to Jamie who was walking to the business office behind them. "Hey Jamie, can you come here a minute?" Jamie sat with them while Bob explained the situation and asked if he could handle it. "Of course, sir," Jamie said. "I can make an airline reservation for this afternoon and print out the ticket."

"And, er, how much you got in the petty cash in there?"

Oh, almost four hundred bucks I think."

"Give it to Larry's dad. It'll help a bit when he's back home."

So that's how it went. When Mark confronted Brigg about the parole violation being overlooked and the other arrangements, the cowed man quietly accepted the decision. Mark called the parole officer and told him when Brigg would arrive back in St. Louis ... Mark and Zack were to take him to the airport and put him on the plane. A few hours later they were all gathered in the garden ready to leave, when Larry appeared with Mike. Bob had explained everything to them and Larry had asked to see his dad before they left.

When Larry looked at him now he was struck by the change in his dad from his mad rage of the day before to the dull submission in his eyes now. The boy said, "Dad, you may not care about this but before you go I want you to know that I'm happier right now than I've ever been before. This is a new life for me and I wish you could be happy for me."

He held out his hand, Brigg hesitated, then haltingly shook his hand. They clasped hands for some time, gazing at each other, and the father said softly, "I'm sorry, boy. Sorry for the way I treated you." Larry pulled his father into a tight hug that lasted long seconds. When at last they separated Brigg looked at Mike and said, "Take good care of him, sir. He's a good boy."

Then he was gone, escorted through the gate by Mark and Zack. The boy turned to Mike and fell into his arms, weeping quietly on his shoulder. Larry too had found peace at last.

After they had left there was a sigh of relief among Bob, Randy, Mike and Larry and they all sat at the table for a short while over the snack the twins had brought out. Bob congratulated the couple on their new relationship and promised the tribe's help if ever they needed it, "though I think that's unlikely judging by the glow around you two right now," he chuckled.

Randy, of course, had to add his voice. "Larry, I expect you to behave yourself from now on, no more rough stuff like before. Mike's a good buddy of mine so you'll look up to him, love and respect him and do what he tells you. You're a good kid at heart but if I hear any bad reports from Mike I'll personally come out there and kick your ass – and I don't mean fuck it like I do to you in the gym, `cos you'd get off on that."

He turned to Mike. "Old buddy, take good care of the kid. After the life he's led he deserves some happiness for a change and you're the guy to give it to him. If you need any help with him, or anything else, you know you can call on me."

Bob and Mike exchanged smiles as Randy asserted his authority over the two men, as he did over every other member of the tribe. It could be said, and often was, that of the two founders of the tribe Bob was the brains and Randy was the muscle. But it was also a fact that what Randy lacked in finesse he more than made up for in masculine strength and charisma. He was a born leader, the King of the Gypsies, and the whole tribe accepted that his word was law.

"OK, I gotta get back to work," Randy said. "Kid, I know you probably wanna go back to bed with Mike but you'll have plenty of time for that later. Right now you're supposed to be helping Pablo at the construction site so I'll take you back there with me. But first ... Bob, I want a word with you upstairs."

As they went indoors Larry frowned and said to Mike, "Sir, what Randy said about butt-fucking me at the gym. He has been doing that at the end of every workout but I promise I won't do it again – I'll be faithful to you, sir."

"Nah, kid, that's not the way it works. See, I think being faithful to a man means your constant love and respect for him, not necessarily who you have sex with. Sometimes sex is given too much importance, though it sounds strange for me to say that in this oversexed clan.

"Look, kiddo, the difference in our ages really only matters in our stamina. I'm pretty mellow these days but you're a sexy young stud and if I were to cramp you're style you'd miss out on the pleasures of youth and end up resenting it. The boys here all fuck around with each other and the masters encourage that. I want you to feel free to join in, have fun with the guys.

"But the golden rule, established long ago by Randy, is that whatever you do it cannot be outside the tribe." Mike smiled. "And I have my own golden rule just for you, kid. That whatever you do, at the end of the day you wind up in my bed and in my arms. Agreed?"

"Absolutely, sir!" Larry threw his arms round him. "You know, sir, I think I'm gonna love you more and more every day." Mike chuckled but his reply was forestalled by Nate, Eddie and Brandon coming out to congratulate their new buddy.

"Go on ya, mate," Nate said in his Aussie drawl. "You're a good bloke and perfect for Mike." Eddie said in a conspiratorial tone, "And dude, you gotta let me give you blow-job lessons like I gave all the other guys. Gotta keep your man happy, you know." Brandon wheeled himself up and kissed Larry on the cheek. "I'm glad my butt-fuck lessons paid off, dude. I'm honored to be your first, and any time you want a repeat ..."

Meanwhile, upstairs Randy confronted Bob. "Man, what you did for that guy Brigg, today, letting him off the hook like that. I don't agree with it but it's that kinda stuff that makes me love you even more ... and makes me damn mad at you too. I wanted to whip his ass some more but you overruled me and I can't have that. So when I get home from work I want you on that bed, butt naked, so I can teach you a lesson and show you who the real boss is around here."

"Yes, sir," Bob said obediently, stifling a grin. "And will you be all pumped up straight from work, hot and sweaty in work pants and boots and that greasy tank top? That always scares me, sir."

"Asshole," Randy growled, trying to stifle his own grin. "Just be here, that's all." He strode out of the house, grabbed Larry and took him to work.

When Larry and Randy entered the construction site Larry saw Pablo, Darius and Ben bending over the engine of a big eight-wheeler truck. When the boys heard Randy's commanding voice they stood up and smiled at Larry. They were all streaked with oil – Pablo in his usual dungarees help up by one strap, Darius as always shirtless in black jeans, and young Ben in jeans and a sweaty gray tank top. Larry's immediate reaction was a hard-on.

"Hey, Larry," Pablo shouted, "get your ass over here." There were quick congratulations from the three, summed up by Darius's "Way to go, dude – so you and Mike clinched the deal eh?" then work began. They bent over the engine and Pablo said, "So here's the problem ..."

They worked hard all afternoon and when the whistle went for the end of the workday they lingered after the rest of the crew had left the site. What kept them hanging around was the sight of Randy and Zack finishing up preparations on a job for the next day. They were laboring together, lifting heavy planks off the ground up onto new scaffolding above head height so next day's crew could begin right away on the planked scaffolding.

"Man," Larry breathed, "they look so fucking hot. Look at those bodies ... wow ... any of you guys got a hard on?"

"Duh," Darius grinned, "of course we've got boners, what d'ya think dude? We always do when we watch those two studs working together after hours. They're co-bosses and good buddies but competitive too, so work becomes a sorta trial of strength – two musclehunks challenging each other to see who quits first." He grinned at Pablo and Ben. "What d'ya say guys – shall we let him into the club?"

"Sure, why not?" Pablo laughed. "He's Mike's boy now so he qualifies. Follow us, dude."

Always ready for new experiences Larry followed them as they walked discreetly round the perimeter and behind a chest high wall. Larry could easily see over it and he knew right away why they had chosen this vantage point. Mostly hidden out of sight they had a perfect view of the two shirtless construction workers laboring mightily. The four boys in unison reached down, ripped open their pants and pulled out their hard-as-rocks dicks.

The spectacle was as homoerotic as it gets – a pornographic dream of two muscle-god construction workers, one a handsome black bodybuilder, the other a swarthy gypsy with a chiseled physique, the product of a life of manual labor. And it was not just the sight of them that roused Larry to such heat. It was the running commentary of the awed young spectators."

"This is it, dude," Darius said. "Welcome to the oglers' club. We often do this when those guys strut their stuff after work. Man, will you look at those fucking bodies, each one built like a brick shithouse."

"This is one of my favorite things," said Ben, in his shy voice. "My master Jason loves it when I jerk off looking at him but these guys don't even know we're here and that makes it hotter."

Pablo, beating his meat hard, said, "Look at Randy ... those pecs, shoulders ... see his biceps and abs flex when he strains to lift the plank?" Look at his black hair swirling over that face ... remember what it looks like up close when he's banging your ass with that monster dick of his?"

"Oh yeah, I remember that," Larry said huskily, and the memory almost made him shoot so he momentarily let go of his cock.

The two men had their backs to them when they bent down for the next plank and Ben gasped, "Shit, guys, look at those asses bulging under their pants. Oh man, can you imagine one of them fucking the other?"

"Zack fucking Randy, you mean," Darius said. "Bullshit," Pablo shot back. "Randy could take Zack's ass every time."

Larry's eyes gleamed as he said, "They'd have to fight for it then, the black stud and the white musclehunk. They'd slug it out, roll over in the dirt and the fight would go on and on until the winner had the other guy pinned to the ground. He'd yank down his pants, shove his huge dick in his ass and jackhammer his ass until the beaten construction boss would beg for mercy and blast jism all over his bruised body."

"Yeah, good one, Larry," Darius panted. "Now you're talking! Oh shit, look at them stand up and raise the plank up high over their heads ... those back muscles rippling like crazy. And get a load of the hair in those sweaty armpits."

All four boys were pounding their dicks hard, stopping every time they were about to shoot, holding back their orgasms as long as possible. But then something happened that pushed the boys over the edge. "Look ... watch," Ben said excitedly. "I don't believe it."

The two men were standing under the scaffolding facing each other and reaching up high to position the planks just right. "See," Ben said, "they're getting closer ... their chests are touching, their crotches are touching! Man, their bulges are rubbing together, look at the shape of those humongous cocks. You think they're gonna cream their pants?"

But at that moment the plank above then dropped into its correct place and, suddenly relieved of the heavy weight, they lost their balance. Zack fell back against an upright pole and Randy tipped forward against him. Their eyes met, they grinned ... and they kissed greedily, their mouths churning against each other, chests and crotches grinding together.

There was no defense against this. Wide-eyed the boys watched the homoerotic spectacle of the two muscle-god construction bosses kissing ravenously, their sweat-soaked bare chests pressed against each other ... and all four boys lost it. "Aaaah ... aaaah ... yeah ... fuuuck." Four blasts of jism slammed against the wall and their shouts resounded across the site.

"What the fuck !?" Randy and Zack broke apart and looked in the direction the howls had come from. "Who's there?" Randy bellowed as the boys instinctively ducked behind the wall. Darius said, "The jig's up, dudes," and they slowly stood up and grinned shamefacedly at the men.

"Get your sorry asses the fuck over here!" Zack yelled. They obeyed quickly and stood before the two men, their dripping dicks still hanging out of their pants. "You were spying on us," Randy said. "And you fucking jerked off watching us work. What you got to say for yourselves?"

There was a tense silence, but then unexpectedly Larry saved them. "Sir, we can't say we're sorry `cos you told me a boy never has to apologize to a guy for jacking off looking at him. Sir, you told me it was a compliment."

Randy looked at Zack and neither could suppress a grin. "Well fuck you, kid. Hell, you're one of us alright ... Mike's just taken on a handful. But you're right, I did tell you that. So what are we gonna do with them Zack?"

"Huh, I don't know about you, stud, but after grinding against that body of yours I'm hotter than a pistol. Might as well make use of them, I guess."

"Damn straight," Randy growled. "OK, boys, on your knees. Let's see what you got."

The boys all fell on their knees before them and together unbuckled and pulled down the men's pants. Their iron-hard cocks sprang out long and thick, already oozing pre-cum, and the boys went to town. They took turns licking, slurping, savoring the musky taste of sweaty cock, and burying their faces in the men's wiry pubic hair, breathing in the pungent smell of their manhood.

Soon Ben pulled Larry round behind the men and they licked the hard cheeks of their asses, then buried their faces between them and pushed their tongues inside. Having their dicks and asses worked on by the eager young jocks the men moaned in ecstasy. "Fucking shit, that's hot," Randy groaned. "Man that feels good. Come on boys, eat those cocks."

Ben and Larry came round front again and the four boys feasted on the men's pulsing cocks, the black hunk of beef and the gypsy's massive rod. Two worked on the heads while the others licked the long shafts – sucking, drooling, slurping, their faces smothered with spit and pre-cum.

"Look at them, buddy," Randy grinned, "like pigs feeding at the trough. What d'ya say, man, shall we give `em what they deserve?"

"I'm so fucking close, man, after working next to you stinking with sweat, and now these four jocks working my dick. Man, I'm ready when you are."

"OK, big guy, let's give it to them. They pulled their dicks out of the mouths, grabbed the boys' hair, pulled their heads back and forced their faces to look up at them. "You wanna do the honors, buddy?" Zack grinned. They reached over, grabbed the other's rod and stroked it hard.

The boys looked up in a daze at the rugged faces of the construction workers, their bare chests heaving as sweat oozed from their armpits and ran down their sides. Their flexed bodies dripped sweat down on the upturned faces and their muscles rippled as they pounded each other's cock in their fists. "You ready, man?" Randy panted. "Let's do it stud."

Four young faces watched the two massive cocks bulge, saw them shudder, heard the wild animal roars ... and the boys' heads jerked back as jizz slammed into their faces. They opened their mouths wide and swallowed the bitter-sweet juice, gulping it down until the cocks were drained dry. The men looked down at the four elated young jocks, eyes gleaming in triumph as cum dripped from their hair and foreheads, down their cheeks and onto their necks.

Zack and Randy burst out laughing, reached down, pulled the boys up and wrapped their arms round them. "Now that is what I call a perfect end to a hard day's work," Randy said. "Come on guys, let's go home and crack open a beer."

Back at the house Mike was in the guestroom when he heard the din of raucous voices below. He looked out the window and saw the two men and four boys come marching through the gate in a clamor of laughter and bawdy obscenities batted back and forth. Larry was in the midst of it, his arm over Ben's shoulder, Pablo's arm over Larry. Definitely one of the boys.

Mike grinned, assuming that group sex was the cause of this macho camaraderie. The twins, always on alert in the kitchen, came running out with two six-packs of beer and the disheveled group sat round the table by the pool. But Larry soon excused himself, grabbed two of the beers and came up to the guestroom. He ran in, put down the beers and hugged Mike.

"Good day's work?" Mike asked, stating the obvious.

"Great, sir," Larry beamed, "and even better after work. Sir, you won't believe what happened." They sat down, opened the beers and Larry began his eager tale. Mike was already certain of his affection for the boy but now, looking at Larry's radiant face as he related his adventure, Mike knew for sure that he was in love.

The next day was Friday, the day set for Mike's return home to the desert ... taking his boy Larry with him. "So today's the big day, kiddo," Mike said as they lay in bed early that morning. "We'll leave this afternoon. And tomorrow morning we'll be joined in the desert by Mark and Jamie, and also Jason and Ben. You haven't had much to do with Jason yet, the hottest fireman in any calendar," Mike grinned, "so you'll have a chance to get to know him better. Should be an interesting weekend.

"But this morning, before we go, I wanna introduce you to my nephew Brian. He's my only relative, he's in a wheelchair and was living a lonely, desolate life in an old trailer park in the desert, and I gotta say the tribe saved him. He now works up at the Grady House so I'll take you there for lunch. But I've gotta say something real important about that first.

"There are certain things in this tribe that have to stay completely confidential and the Grady House is one of them. You'll see why when we get there. When I was up there I cleared it with Mario to bring you there, assuring him faithfully of your discretion. Please don't be insulted, kid, if I ask you now to promise me that you'll totally respect their privacy."

"Of course, sir, absolutely," Larry said earnestly. "I'll always do everything you say. Besides," he grinned, "Pablo already told me that `what happens in the tribe stays in the tribe'."

Larry was tingling with excitement as Mike drove them up the hill that wound up to a secluded spot where old trees hung over large, solid gates that gave no hint of the house behind them. Mike reached out to a keypad by the gate and pressed a button.

After a pause an excited young voice came from the intercom. "Uncle Mike, is that you? Come on in, we were expecting you." The gates swung silently open, Mike drove in and the gates quickly closed behind them. "That was my nephew Brian," Mike said.

"How did he know it was you, sir?"

"Cameras at the gate and all round the place. Mark and Randy installed a heavy security system here. Look there's Brian."

As they drove up to the house a boy in a wheelchair came spinning out to meet them. They got out of the truck and Mike said, "Brian, this is Larry. Finally you can put a face to the name."

Brian extended his hand and said with a touch of shyness, "Pleased to meet you at last, Larry. But I feel I already know you `cos I've heard so much about you. The tribe has a real efficient grapevine, you know."

"So I've heard," Larry grinned. "No secrets here. Wow, this is some house! It's huge."

"Would you like the tour, dude? Give me a minute and I'll be right back."

He sped off and Larry turned to Mike. "Your nephew's cute, sir, and real lively. I thought you said he used to live a solitary life all alone in an old trailer out in the desert."

"He did until he came here. Like I said, when the tribe took him in he was transformed. He's the houseboy here, along with his supervisor Danny who's the chef and house manager. They work for Mario, who's probably indoors, and his lover who's still at work."

"But why all the secrecy and security, sir? Is this Mario famous or something?"

Before he could answer Brian came rolling back and said, "OK, dude, come with me." Mike wandered off to visit Danny in the kitchen while Brian took Larry indoors for a tour of the house. Larry looked around wide-eyed ... he had never seen such a big and beautiful house. They went upstairs in the elevator and as they walked into the wide corridor a beautiful, dark-haired man, casually but elegantly dressed, came out of a room and broke into a dazzling smile."

"Ah, che bel ragazzo. You must be Larry," Mario said in his lilting Italian accent, "and I was not here to meet you. Imperdonabile – mi scusi, Larry." He shook the hand of the dazzled boy. "We have heard so much about you from Uncle Mike, I think you have quite bewitched him. And now we get to meet you."

Hello, sir," Larry said in awe, shaking his hand.

"Grady will be home from the studio soon. He only had a few short scenes this morning – they're shooting the sequel already, you know." Mario apparently assumed he knew all about this Grady character, Larry thought. Must be Mario's lover.

"We thought we would have lunch by the pool. Danny is preparing it right now and Brandon is coming up to help out. I believe you know Brandon already, Larry." Larry flinched at the memory of how he had attacked Brandon, but Mario smiled, "Oh don't worry, we know the story, and how beautifully it has all turned out, that is the main thing. Come, let's go downstairs."

Outside Mike was with Danny who was wearing an apron and chef's hat and greeted Larry enthusiastically. Just then came the sound of tires in gravel outside, the gate swung open and in came a jeep with a man behind the wheel wearing cargo shorts, a loose tank top, a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes which were hidden behind sunglasses.

"Amico!" Mario shouted and ran toward him. The man threw off his cap, pulled off his sunglasses and opened his arms for Mario to fall into them. Larry's jaw dropped and his heart missed a beat. "That ... that looks like the Tarzan guy. His picture's all over St. Louis."

"All over the country, dude," Brian said with a touch of pride. "All over the world probably. Yup, he's Tarzan alright. His movie's gonna be real big."

"But he's ... I mean he's about the most gorgeous guy I've ever seen. And he's Mario's lover? I mean, he lives here?"

"That's why it's called the Grady House, dude," Danny grinned. "But don't be nervous. He's not a bit like a movie star. He's just one of the guys here." As if to prove the point Grady broke free of Mario and shouted across the garden, "Larry!"

Mario's greeting upstairs had been warm and a touch formal, but Grady was much more effusive. He bounded forward, scooped Larry into a tight hug and said, "Great to meet you you young heart-breaker. I hear you're stealing Uncle Mike away from us. Well, it's about time he found a soul-mate and I'm real glad it's you."

Grady threw his arm round Larry's neck and looked into his eyes as he talked about Mike and life in the desert, focusing all his attention intently on the newcomer. As usual, Grady had the knack of making Larry feel he was the only person in the world right now.

"But ... but ..." Larry sputtered. "Are you really the new Tarzan in that movie? I can't believe it."

"Hey, do you hear that guys?" Grady laughed. "If Larry don't believe I'm Tarzan the audiences won't either and the movie will bomb. Only one thing for it ... I guess I'll have to prove it." In an instant he pulled off his tank-top, dropped his shorts and held his arms out dramatically. He was wearing only his Tarzan loincloth that he'd had on under his shorts.

Larry gasped at the sight of this stunning muscle-jock with the perfect physique and handsome, smiling face, stripped down to a loincloth. "Still don't believe me, dude? OK, stand by for blasting." He cupped his hands round his mouth a let out an earsplitting Tarzan yell that echoed round the garden."

Amid the gale of laughter from the group Larry said, "OK, sir, I believe you. It's just that I've seen your picture everywhere and never dreamed I'd actually meet you.'

"Well, if we're talking dreams here I guess I gotta give you something special to remember. Hey, Danny, how long do we have before lunch?"

"Oh, a good hour, sir."

"Great, so we have time. Larry, I'm gonna show you the ritual of the house. When I come home from the studio the first thing I do is take a plunge in the pool to wash off the sweat of the studio. Then I climb out and make love to my gorgeous Italian hunk here. And ... on special occasions – which this is – we can't even wait to get to our room so we do it right here in front of everyone." He grinned. "We have no shame – or inhibitions.

"And, here's the kicker. When there is a guest of honor we even invite him to join in. Now, today is a celebration of new love – the love between you and Uncle Mike. So guess what? You, Larry, are the guest of honor. You get it?"

Grady ran to the pool and the other's followed him. He paused at the edge ... and dived in, a real Tarzan dive, body stretched, muscles rippling in the hot sun. As they all looked on he swam powerful stokes from one end of the pool to the other and back.

In a daze Larry looked at Brian and said, "Am I dreaming dude, or is this for real?"

"Oh it's real alright," Brian laughed. "We've all had the treatment, and now it's your turn. You ain't seen nothin' yet."

Grady swam over to them and rested his folded arms on the edge of the pool, his glorious face, streaming with water, beaming up at them. "Mario, mi amore, get naked. It's showtime."

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Part 350

Hey guys, this is Rob Williams. I hope that chapter got you off, and I welcome your comments and suggestions, which can be very helpful in planning future chapters. E-mail me in confidence at rw6789@aol.com.

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