A Trial of Strength

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 383 By Rob Williams

CHAPTER 382 – "FAMILY FEUDS – FATHER v SON, BROTHER v BROTHER"

IN THIS CHAPTER:

After Randy insults his son Pablo by seducing his new boy Tyler, father and son face off angrily. The tribe's rules demand punishment and the young mechanic savages the rugged gypsy's ass. Then Bob, the handsome leader of the tribe, plays peacemaker when his boys, the twins, fight and split up. The identical twins finally make amends by inviting their master to share in their erotic display of brotherly love. _____________________________________________________________________

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

The shy, lonely young Tyler had come a long way in only a few days, from his reclusive life in the desert to a new life as the boy of Pablo, the hot sexy mechanic of the tribe and the adopted son of the founder and boss, Randy.

Tyler was in heaven as he slept between Pablo and his lover Darius, after being spit roasted on all fours by the two men. Devoted to Pablo, Tyler thought he had found paradise ... but paradise found can easily become paradise lost, as he was about to find out.

Alone in the house, tidying the spacious new room assigned to him, he had been surprised by Randy bursting into the room. The big construction boss had been looking for his boy Pablo or his lover Bob – but all he found was Tyler. The rugged gypsy's chest heaved and his eyes blazed. "See kid, I just got done with a big fight with some asshole and that always riles me up so right now I need to fuck ass real bad. Plus ...it's a kinda ritual that when a new guy joins the tribe he has to submit his ass to the boss – me."

Tyler had resisted as much as he could against the powerful boss because Pablo had given him one hard and fast rule – Tyler's ass belonged to Pablo, and no one else – no-one – was to fuck it. But Randy's sexual magnetism had overpowered him and he had surrendered – and loved it.

When Pablo came home and caught them in the act a massive fight ensued between father and son and the terrified Tyler ran down to the garden, to be comforted by one of the twins, the kind and gentle Kevin. Compassion strayed over the line into affection and Kevin made love to him.

To anyone watching it would have been a loving scene of one boy bringing affection and solace to a grief-stricken buddy. But that's not how Kevin's identical twin Kyle saw it ...! He had just come home and stood dumbstruck in the doorway watching his inseparable twin brother, fucking another boy. "NO" he howled like a wounded animal.

Bob had been giving a tongue lashing to the warring Pablo and Randy when he heard Kyle's shout and rushed across to the twins' room. He took in the whole scene and groaned, "Oh Jesus, what now? Boys, please, just cool it. I want you to stay calm while we ..."

"No!" Kyle yelled. "How can I stay calm when I see my brother fucking another guy? You know, sir, that Kevin and me have never ever made love to another man unless we were together. Even when we were homeless and turning tricks for money we always did it together. But now ..." He looked scornfully at his startled brother, then continued to plead his case to Bob.

"Sir you know how it was. Mostly we make love to each other, but when we do it with other guys it's Kevin and me – two brothers together. It's what makes us what we are, as close as we are. And now my brother has blown that apart by fucking this boy while my back was turned. Well it's over, Kev. It's finished. I'm going up to the Grady House and sleep with Danny. He loves me, I know that. You're on your own, bro - the way you want it."

"No, Kyle," Kevin said desperately, "it's not like that, you don't understand ..." But Kyle was gone. Kevin looked desperately at Bob, but Bob++a/4/ was focused on Tyler who was wild-eyed with fear, tears streaming down his face. He suddenly made a bolt for it but Bob grabbed him.

"No, you're not going anywhere, Tyler. Kevin, keep him here with you `till I come back. Just know one thing. Neither of you is to blame. I suspect that you were comforting Tyler, Kevin, and ... and this happened. No, there's only one guy to blame for this whole mess, and he isn't in this room. Do as I say, Kevin. You both need a brandy."

Bob left the room, his thoughts reeling. He pulled out his phone and called young Eddie at Hassan's house to come here fast. Eddie had become a good friend to Tyler and when he arrived Bob said, "Listen kid, the shit's really hit the fan here and I need you to take care of your buddy Tyler. Near as I can figure it, Randy got home horny as a stallion after a fight. Tyler was alone in his new room and Randy went in and ... and fucked him ... you know, seduced him the way he does.

"Pablo came home and caught them and went apeshit. There was a huge fight, the room was trashed, and Tyler ran out blaming himself. Kevin was alone in the kitchen and, well you know Kevin, how sweet and tender he can be. So he took Tyler upstairs and comforted him and it ended with Kevin making love to him.

"When Kyle came home and saw it he hit the roof. You know how totally exclusive the twins have always been, and he saw it as Kevin breaking that unbreakable bond between them. So Kyle stormed out and has gone to stay with Danny.

"So I'm entrusting Tyler to your care. Take him up to Hassan's and let him meet Doctor Steve and Lloyd. I'll call them to fill them in and Steve will know what to do. I want you to stay with Tyler and, above all, try to convince him that none of this is his fault. He blames himself, of course, and has already tried to bolt. I'm trusting you to keep him from doing that."

"Leave it to me, sir," Eddie said, just as Tyler ran out of the house and fell sobbing into Eddie's arms. "It's all over, dude ...I should never have come here ... I've been real bad, messed up one thing after another. I've ruined everything and I gotta leave."

"Bullshit, kiddo," Eddie laughed. "Stuff like this goes on all the time around here. Hell, I myself have been in this kind of mess. Did I ever tell you about the time Hassan and me broke up?" He put his arm round Tyler and launched into his story as they walked through the gate, with Tyler hanging on his every word, his dog Millie trotting behind him.

Bob smiled to himself. At least he had made the right choice calling Eddie. He and his endless chatter were just what Tyler needed to distract him from his troubles.

Bob suddenly felt weary and depressed ... and then Mark came in, still in his motorcycle cop uniform, straight off his shift. "What the fuck's going on, buddy? Man, you look like hell."

"And hell's what it is, Mark." Bob quickly explained what had happened and Mark clenched his jaw and his fists. "Randy again, uh?"

"At the core of it yeah, only this time the repercussions are wider and worse, especially for poor frightened Tyler. Fortunately young Eddie has taken him up to Hassan's place, and Steve will know what to do for the boy."

Bob sighed deeply. "Mark, I'm so glad you're home. I couldn't handle it on my own. Especially the prospect of the twins breaking up. The twins! I gotta go to Kevin right now, he must be shattered, and maybe you could go up to Randy and Pablo, who have pretty much trashed Tyler's room. Hopefully you can stop them from killing each other."

"Piece of cake," Mark grinned. "I'm in uniform. All I have to say is `Freeze'. Works every time. Don't worry old buddy, I'm here now, and I'll take care of you too."

"Thanks Mark, I needed to hear that. Because this time I have no idea how this mess is all gonna play out. No idea at all."

******************** CHAPTER 383 ********************

When Mark went into the shattered room Randy and Pablo were still hot with anger and still arguing, though the physical fight had stopped. The sight of the muscular police officer in uniform had a restraining effect on the raging men, and the battle became not so much about Randy's crime (which is what Pablo called it and Randy disputed) but about the punishment.

As a cop Mark was trained to de-escalate confrontations like this and knew that the best outcome was if the warring parties came to a solution on their own. So he held back and let them sort it out, ready to step in if things got overheated again.

"Man, you made the fucking rules, here," Pablo ranted, "and they apply to you too. It was you who dictated that if a man fucks another man's boy he has insulted him and has to pay a penalty. I get to say what that is, so I'll go along with another of your rules – the punishment fits the crime."

"Fuck you boy," Randy snorted, though his diminished threats had become unconvincing. He did not want to appear petty or bullying in front of Mark, a man he admired, respected and loved. Mark's opinion of him mattered a lot, so he adopted a conciliatory tone.

"Look, kid, maybe I didn't think things through like I should'a. He is your boy, after all and, well I was all riled up after fighting that fucking asshole for insulting Zack and Darius the way he did. But, ah, water under the bridge, eh? So I guess you do get to call the shots here."

"Damn right I do. And I'm not gonna fall for all your apology bullshit that fools Bob every time and makes him cave in to you ..."

Randy clenched his fists and Mark took a step forward. "Easy, Pablo," Mark warned. Nobody badmouthed Bob, especially to these two men who both worshipped him. Pablo immediately knew he had crossed a forbidden line and said, "I'm sorry, sir," to Mark, but still looked menacingly at Randy.

"Like I said, the punishment fits the crime. You fucked my boy, so your boy fucks you, and that would be me. And it won't be that bullshit seduction number like you pulled on the boy. You trained me too well. I know what you'd do in my position – you'd fucking rip the guy's ass open. So brace yourself, big guy. Drop your pants."

Scenes like this in the tribe always had a touch of the ritualistic and that's what happened now as Mark looked on as referee to ensure that nothing got out of hand. Randy pulled his belt out and dropped it on the floor at Pablo's feet. Then he kicked off his boots and dropped his jeans and Pablo shoved him on the bed on his stomach, naked except for his sweaty tank top.

Pablo and Randy thought alike and Pablo recognized the throwing down of the belt for what it was, a gesture of submission and a challenge to see if Pablo had the strength of mind to do what he should. No worries there. Pablo picked the belt up off the floor, held it in both hands and snapped it sharply. "You know what's coming stud – you offered me the belt almost like you want it. And you sure as hell deserve it ... like this."

Pablo raised the belt high and brought it crashing down on Randy's bare ass. The big gypsy clenched the muscles in his ass cheeks to withstand the blows and clenched his jaw to maintain a stoic silence.

The defiant silence only redoubled Pablo's anger and he lashed out hard and repeatedly until Mark reached forward and grabbed his wrists to stop the punishment. Pablo whirled angrily but he was met with Mark's resolute blue-eyes and wilted under the stern gaze. "That's enough, boy," Mark said. "If you're gonna fuck him, fuck him. That is what you wanna do isn't it?"

"Damn right it is," Pablo growled feeling vaguely resentful of Mark and trying to seize back control of the situation. He needed to prove that he could be as savage as Randy and knew what he had to do.

When he had been tussling with Randy, rolling over the floor, he had glimpsed some ropes under the bed, stashed there by Mario when he had this room. Ropes in the bedrooms were more or less standard equipment in this house. He reached for them and went quickly to work.

A minute or so later he stood back and looked down with satisfaction at Randy spread-eagled face down, wearing only his tank top, his wrists and ankles roped to the corners of the bed. "Just like you've done to me in the past," Pablo said, "when I was your boy. Well I'm a man now, with a boy of my own, and you're about to find out I can be as ruthless as you when someone – anyone – messes with him. Even you – especially you, my own dad."

Pablo knelt on the bed between Randy's spread legs and pulled his cock out of his shorts. He pressed his hands on Randy's shoulder blades and raised up on his feet so he was arched over him, his cock, hard and dry, pointing straight down at his ass. "Mother-fucker," he yelled, and let his hips fall with such force that his dry shaft pierced Randy's helpless ass and drove in deep.

This time the clenched jaw gave way to an agonized scream as the gypsy's body bucked underneath the boy and pain radiated from his cock and tore through his whole body. Pablo shouted, "Now you know how it feels when you savage a man's ass. You taught me well."

The brutal dry fuck was vintage Randy, as applied by his boy. Even Mark was stunned at the raw ferocity of the assault on the gypsy's ass, but he did not intervene as he knew that only this level of ferocity could make a real impression on the father and prove the dominance of the boy.

As the wild fuck continued Pablo became even more fired up and Randy even more determined not to yield. The same macho instincts drove both father and son who hurled obscenities at each other as the attack on the construction boss's helpless ass intensified. But despite the rage and the pain, the two men were indulging in the same kind of machismo that, in any other circumstances, always made the father proud of his son and the boy hero-worship his dad.

Several times Mark was on the verge of calling a halt, but he had a gut sense that this was necessary for both of them. They were the kind of macho guys who could only resolve their differences with raw physical action. Had it been just father and son Mark would have stopped them, but now he was looking at a handsome young mechanic punishing a powerful gypsy – a rite of passage for both of them.

The merciless action continued with no letup – Pablo pile driving his shaft like a piston in the ass of the bound muscle-god who flexed and groaned as he suffered under the relentless assault. Both men had by now abandoned all restraint, running on adrenaline. The curses, the obscenities had ceased, giving way to animalistic grunts and moans, like two raging bulls

Pablo grabbed Randy's tank at the top and pulled back on it, raising Randy's chest off the bed and forcing him to lift his head and look at them both in the mirror. Their eyes met with a look that was part residual anger but mostly the mutual respect of two proud alpha males going mano a mano, father and son, working through a ritualistic demonstration of the dominance of one and the endurance of the other.

And it was that fleeting look that reunited them and restored their love and respect that had been so sorely tested. Pablo wanted it to end so he jackhammered the ass harder and faster. He yanked back harder on the tank, so hard it ripped in shreds and Randy fell back down on the bed, his body racked with sobs of pain.

Mark too had caught that fleeting look between them and knew what it signified. He also knew, from his long intimacy with Randy, that the man had reached his limit. But Pablo was so consumed with lust and his ferocious desire to prove his dominance that he was in danger of losing control ... and that was when Mark stepped in at last.

He leaned forward, grasped Pablo's shoulder and said gently. "That's enough, boy. Even Randy has his limit and he's there now. Show him you're a man big enough to forgive. You've made your point. Have mercy on him ... cum in his ass.

The anger was gone. Pablo looked down at the man who had saved him so long ago and protected and nurtured him ever since. Randy had always been his hero, and now he had fought, bound and violated his idol. A wave of affection raced over him and he cried out, "I love you, man. I love you ... aaagh!" His muscles tensed, he plunged his cock in deep one last time and poured his juice inside his hero's ravaged ass.

As soon as his cock had drained he pulled it out slowly, gently and looked down at the shattered construction worker face down on the bed. Pablo got up, quickly untied his dad's wrists and legs, and gently eased him over on his back. He whispered in his ear, "Please, sir, let me drink your cum. Show me you still love me."

As soon as he clamped his mouth over Randy's cock it erupted in his mouth, and Pablo eagerly swallowed the warm juice. It was Randy's balm of love, respect and regret for what he had done to his son, and for which he had received the searing punishment he so richly deserved.

Randy pulled Pablo down on the bed with him and they faced each other, propped on elbows.

"Pablo," Randy said, "you've never heard me apologize much but this is one of those rare times. I was wrong, kiddo – what I did to your boy. I was hot and horny and his was the nearest ass around ... and I know how pathetic that sounds. Tell you the truth, I guess it hadn't sunk in yet that Tyler is your boy, entitled to the same love and protection every boy in this tribe has. He's a good kid and tried to resist me – being loyal to you. He said he made his master a promise.

"I remember when I first took you as my boy, if any son of a bitch messed with you I'd have whipped his ass the same as you whipped mine. Sounds crazy, but I'm proud of what you did to me – shows you really have it in you to be a master."

"I'm not so sure about that," Mark interjected sternly, and they looked up at him startled.

"As I watch this make-up lovefest you guys have got going here, hearing how proud you are of each other, anyone would think it was all about you two alone. But there is a third party here, you know. Are either of you self-satisfied assholes aware that together you just shattered a young boy's life? Pablo, you who, according to your old man, `have it in you to be a master.' Do you have any idea how devastated that shy kid is feeling? Do you even know where he is?"

Mark had shocked Pablo back to the memory of how he had blamed his boy, how he had shouted at him, and he was overcome with guilt. "Jesus, Mark, I've been a damn fool. Do you know where he is?"

"You better ask Bob. He told me he rushed out of here in tears, blaming himself, and hugging the picture of his mom that you two managed to shatter in the fight. That's the only precious thing he has left, that and his dog."

"Oh God," Pablo gasped, pulling on his shorts. "That poor kid ... he thinks he's at fault when he's the only one with any decency in this whole mess. I gotta find him ... he's my boy and I fucked up bad."

He ran out of the room and downstairs where he ran into Bob who had just left a bereft Kevin after drying his tears and calming his panic. Bob was still seething at Randy and, by extension, his boy Pablo.

"Ah," he said scornfully, "I wondered when you would show up. Just remembered your boy have you? What is it with you fucking guys? So fucking macho – fighting, fucking to see which one rules the roost - while there is some poor kid who a couple hours ago was in heaven, or so he thought, only to have it snatched away by the thoughtless acts of two self-centered assholes.

"Oh I know Randy is mostly at fault and I'll take care of him later. But both of you should be ashamed to call yourself masters. The world doesn't revolve around your egos, you know, as you wallow in this father/son bromance/rivalry thing you got going, trampling anyone who gets in the way. And poor lonely Tyler is just collateral damage, I suppose."

Pablo flinched. "Bob, I deserve everything you're saying and a lot more too, but right now I gotta put my boy first. Please tell me you know where he is."

"Well if it was left to you he'd have run away and would be roaming the streets all alone with his dog Millie, lost in a city he doesn't know. But fortunately I managed to stop him and he and his dog are being taken care of by his pal Eddie right now, up there with Hassan and Steve.

"Don't worry, I've told him you know he's not to blame and that reassured him a bit. But you are not to see him or speak to him right now until the dust had settled. For now you can stew in your own juice of guilt and failure and think hard on how you can ever regain that boy's love."

"Pablo instinctively clenched his fists and growled, "If anyone up there so much as lays a finger on that boy, I'll ..."

"It's a bit late for that now don't you think?" Bob snarled. "Your hero dad already took care of that and all you could think about was punishing Randy, while your boy ran away. Oh, and just to put a little icing on your cake of shit, Kevin was the first to comfort him and the boy was so desolate that Kevin took him to bed. Kyle walked in on them, he hit the roof and now the twins – my twins! – have split up. So way to go Randy and Pablo, the leader of the tribe and his macho son.

"Now I gotta go back to Kevin and try to sort that mess out. And you, young man, are gonna stay right here and think about what it really means to have a boy. And you decide if you're really up to it – because personally, I have my doubts."

Bob stormed off and Pablo sank down on a bench, put his elbows on the table and buried his face in his hands. His dog Billy brushed against his leg, whimpering mournfully.

"Missing your new pal Millie, eh boy? Tell me about it. I've been a complete idiot and they're both gone, but we'll get them back. That's a promise, kiddo – I'll get them back."

Lost in his own despondent thoughts Pablo was surprised when Randy came up and sat at the table facing him. Randy smiled at him ruefully. "So, you been getting a tongue lashing from Bob eh, boy?"

"Nothing I didn't deserve, sir."

"That's not true, kid. The blame for this whole mess is mine, a fucked up gypsy who can't keep his dick in his pants. Mark was right, though. We were so wrapped up in our own blame and shame routine we both lost sight of your boy, and now we gotta put things right. And I know where to start. That kid was dazzled by that new room of his and the classy way it had been set up by Mario. He thought he was in heaven – until I crashed in on him, and then you and me trashed it.

"The least we can do is put that right so Tyler has a great room to come home to – it'll be the best. We may fuck up in other ways but if it's one thing we do get right it's construction, kiddo. Did Tyler ever mention what his favorite color is?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact he did. He told me a lot about himself and his life when we were ..." He winced at the memory of happier times. "Anyway, seems his favorite color is yellow."

"Good, then yellow it is. Let's go take a look at the room, see what's needed, then make a run to the warehouse, get all the supplies, and we'll make a start on it right away, just you and me. What d'ya say, kiddo?"

Pablo's eyes lit up for the first time. "Great idea, sir. I really wanna do something to please my boy, start to make amends. Then I'll set about trying to mend bridges and make myself worthy of the boy. `Cos you know something, Randy? I love that kid a whole lot – I really do."

Meanwhile, upstairs another master was bonding with his boy, trying to steer a course out of the wreckage. Kevin was still actually trembling from the devastation of the prospect that he and his identical twin might split up.

It was something that had haunted them all their young lives and they had survived many threats from outside to separate them, often by running away together. But they had never dreamed that the final threat would come from inside their close relationship, a union of souls that had heretofore bound them together inextricably. They spent every waking hour together – and every sleeping hour too, defying convention by making love, brother with brother.

Was it possible that all that was over? That was Kevin's fear ... and all because he had broken a rule that was never spoken of but always assumed – they would never make love to another man unless they did so together. Even with Bob it was the three of them together – a man they worshipped, a man who had saved their lives and had made a solemn promise that they would never have to part.

And that promise weighed heavily on Bob now. He knew that it was up to him to fulfil his promise, even though he had never, in his wildest dreams, contemplated that their separation would be self-inflicted. His first task was to calm and reassure Kevin.

"It's all my fault, sir," Kevin said plaintively for the tenth time. "Kyle was right that making love together, never separately, is what makes us what we are, as close as we are. And now I have totally blown that up and he's gone. I feel so guilty, sir."

Bob actually chuckled. "Kevin, it seems that everyone I talk to these days is racked with guilt. There's a whole lot of it going around. Tyler, poor kid, feels guilty; Randy feels guilty, and so he should; Pablo feels guilty; you feel guilty; and even I have my share of guilt for not keeping a closer eye on Randy and for not being here when he came home pawing the ground and snorting like some sex crazed stallion." Kevin began to relax. Bob always made him smile.

"And you know something else, kiddo? I wouldn't mind betting that right now Kyle is feeling guilty for walking out on you."

Kevin frowned, "Do you think so, sir? I wouldn't want Kyle to feel guilty because of me."

"See what I mean? If I know you two boys, and I do, you are both worrying that the other one is worrying. You feel guilty for making your brother feel guilty. Aaagh, this is driving me crazy. I gotta go talk to your brother. And please stop worrying, kid, `cos I've seen you two in action, often. It's a kind of perpetual motion, and I do mean perpetual. Trust me on this."

Kevin's smile was back and he threw his arms round Bob. "I love you, sir, and I know Kyle does too."

"And that," Bob grinned, "is exactly the card I'm gonna play. Leave everything to me."

A few minutes later Bob's Mercedes was purring up the hill and Bob was feeling good about the way he had left Kevin. He had been shivering with fright at first but Bob had ended up making him smile and relax, confident that Bob could make everything come right.

Bob himself wasn't quite so confident in his diplomatic skills but, as he had said, he knew which buttons to press when dealing with his twins. However, he knew he couldn't simply order the brothers to reunite. The decision had to be theirs, made together as they always made every decision.

When he arrived at the big gates of the Grady House Bob knew the gate code but always chose to buzz the intercom out of deference to whichever of the boys was on gate duty. "Hello, sir," came Brian's voice from the intercom, "we've been expecting you." The gate swung open, he drove in and as he stepped out of the car he was met by an anxious looking Danny, with Brian beside him in his wheelchair.

"Sir, it's not true is it?" asked Brian impulsively. "The twins haven't split up have they? They can't, not the twins."

Bob smiled, "Well, it's true that there's been some trouble down at the house. Pablo and his new boy ... but why am I telling you this when I know you've already heard it on the grapevine."

Brian said, "What, you mean how Pablo brought his new boy Tyler home and Randy fucked him and Pablo went apeshit and there was the mother of all fights and Pablo punished his dad by fucking him real hard, just like Randy fucks, while Mark refereed, and now they're back together thicker than ever? Oh yeah, we know all about that," he said dismissively.

Bob chuckled, "Yeah, that's just about it ... I see you have been glued to the grapevine."

Danny took over. "But sir, what Brian is saying is that we've heard stuff like that before between Randy and Pablo and it will all blow over, it always does. But how about the twins? It's impossible that they'll break up, but Kyle is real cut up about it and swears he's never going back to Kevin. He wants to stay up here and help me in the kitchen.

"That wouldn't be a problem as there's tons of room here and Mario is always saying that me and Brian need help keeping the place going, but ... but the twins, sir! They belong together ... they've been together since ... well since the day they were born and, and ..."

He started to tear up and Bob put his arm round him, then bent down and kissed Brian in his chair. "Well that's why I'm here, guys, to try and make sure a split doesn't happen. Of course, that's something the boys themselves have to decide ..."

"But you can nudge, can't you, sir?" Brian asked, his big eyes open wide.

"That's a very good word, Brian. Yes I plan to do some nudging and I just hope it starts the ball rolling in the right direction. Where is Kyle right now?"

"He's in the kitchen, sir," Danny said, "drowning his sorrows in work, helping prepare dinner for Grady and Mario. Only place he feels safe right now is in a kitchen."

"Right, I'll go tackle him there. Could you give us some time alone?"

"Of course, sir. Good luck." Bob turned and went into the house leaving Danny and Brian to exchange hopeful smiles.

When Bob walked into the kitchen Kyle was working feverishly chopping vegetables for dinner, and Bob could tell from his body language that he was putting on a show. "Hello, sir," Kyle said without looking up. He chopped some more then finally made eye contact. "I knew you would come sir, but it's no good. I'm not going back. I knew you would try to talk me into it, but I can't after what Kevin did to me."

"Well," Bob said gently, "I came mostly to see how you are. You're my boy and I have to take care of you."

"As you see, sir, I'm doing fine. I fit in real well here and Danny says I can stay, `cos he needs extra help. At least they need me here which Kevin obviously doesn't, he made that clear."

Bob shrugged. "I'm quite sure you'll be treated well by Grady and Mario, they're great guys. And I'll get to see you from time to time when I come here for business meetings with them." His voice cracked a little as he said it.

Kyle pursed his lips. "If you ordered me to come back I suppose I would have to `cos I've never disobeyed you, but I don't want to."

"Kyle, when have I ever ordered you boys to do anything? I've raised you to be independent, to make your own choices." Bob wondered if the boy secretly wanted him to order him – a face-saving way for Kyle to return reluctantly. But that would be too easy, not what Bob wanted.

"If that's your choice, Kyle, then so be it. But before I leave please listen a moment and allow me to tell you what I think happened today. As you can imagine, young Tyler was devastated by the fight between Randy and Pablo and he blamed himself of course. He had been facing a wonderful new life and he thought he had ruined it.

"Anyway, as he fled from the room he ran into Kevin, and it broke Kevin's heart to see the shy, pitiful kid hurting so bad. You know better than anyone what a good, kind heart Kevin has, so he took him up to your apartment to console him.

"It was hard to know what to do for the best in a situation like that, but Kevin would have done anything to stop Tyler's tears, so he followed his instincts. He hugged Tyler, showing him he was loved, and he probably was hardly aware when love turned into making love. That's when you came home and saw what you saw.

"Kyle, I understand how you must have felt and I respect your decision to leave and come to live here. Don't worry about us, I'm sure we'll easily find another boy to help Kevin in the kitchen." Bob saw Kyle flinch and he moved in for the kill.

"As for me, I'll get over it in time I suppose, though right now I feel that my heart will break. It'll be difficult for me not seeing both of your smiling faces every day ... talking with you about your day, spending time with you ... making love to you both. You see, Kyle, you two boys have always been the light of my life, and now that light will go out. I've loved watching you grow together, working together, loving each other the way you always have."

His voice cracked again and tears came to his eyes. "I thought you would always be in my life, a big part of my life, but I guess that's not to be. Well that's it, life hits us hard sometimes." He put his arms round Kyle and kissed him on the cheek. "I love you both so much, and I'll never forget you, Kyle. Goodbye sweetheart." Bob's tears started to flow and he choked up as he walked quickly from the kitchen.

Bob had known what he was going to say to Kyle, the way he was going to play the scene, but when it came to it, it had become all too real, not an act, and his emotion was genuine. The thought of not having his twins really did break his heart and the tears were real tears of sadness. As he left the house he said a quick goodbye to Danny and Brian, then got in is car and drove through the gates.

As they closed behind him Danny ran to the kitchen, with Brian keeping up in his wheelchair. They found Kyle staring blankly at the vegetables he had been chopping. "Dude," Danny said, "what did you say to Bob? He looked kinda shattered."

"Didn't say anything," Kyle said gruffly. "Only that I wasn't going back."

Brian was a sensitive boy and his eyes were moist as he said, "Bob is such a wonderful man, I hate to see him so sad. I hate sadness anyway, especially in people I love, like Bob. He's always been so kind to me."

Kyle stared straight ahead without seeing anything, and Danny glanced at Brian and nodded toward the door. Picking up on his cue Brian wheeled himself after Danny and they left Kyle alone with his thoughts.

Down the hill Kevin was alone too, standing at the kitchen window when he saw Bob come in through the gate. Bob's shoulders were hunched and there was no spring in his step as he crossed the garden and went straight up to the master suite without a word to Kevin.

Not a good sign, Kevin thought. Things must have gone badly. Kevin felt a stab of panic at the prospect that Kyle would not be coming back to him after all. To stifle it he set to work in the kitchen and he was frantically whipping eggs in a bowl when his phone rang. His heart leapt when he heard the voice.

"It's me, dude. Look, what happened between us is not important. What is important is that Bob is hurting ... bad. We're hurting him, Kevin – he said his heart is breaking. We can't do that to Bob, we just can't. He's the most wonderful thing that ever happened to us and his happiness is in our hands. You know what we have to do."

An hour later Bob was in the master bedroom with Mark drinking beer and mulling over the events of this traumatic day. "So what d'you think, Bob?" Mark asked. "You think you got through to Kyle?"

"Not sure, buddy ... I'd say it's touch and go. Kyle was so adamant, still hurting real bad. At first I thought it was just stubbornness but then I realized his feelings run deep. I had thought that Kevin's actions were just a lapse of judgement born out of kindness, but Kyle sees it as an act of betrayal. Truth is, Mark, I'm scared. They might even split up and I'm not sure I could handle that. I love them so much, buddy."

Mark was about to offer comforting remarks when they heard shouts and laughter coming from the garden. They looked out the window and saw Randy and Pablo crossing the garden, hauling tools, cans of paint and lumber. They were in high spirits, a marked contrast to the anger and recriminations that had punctured their last meeting. Bob and Mark watched them enter the house and heard them clatter up the stairs and along the hall.

Bob smiled. "They're going to Tyler's room, the room they trashed so badly in their fight. I know what they're doing ... they're going to fix it up, give it a total makeover for when Tyler comes back – as I'm sure he will.

"That is so typical of Randy, making amends by building something. Randy feels the most confident, the most in command, doing physical work, flexing his muscles. It appeals to his sense of masculine power. He's worked in construction all his life and he's a master builder.

"Remember the time, Mark, when Randy had a big fight with Mike in Palm Springs and Mike banished him from his house. Randy made amends by quietly showing up there early one morning and single-handedly constructed a trellis wall round the unsightly pool heating equipment. That impressed Mike and he forgave him.

"And that's what Randy's doing now, bonding with his boy and making amends to Tyler by working together fixing up Tyler's room. And I guarantee it will be the finest bedroom you ever saw. It's one reason I love the big lug, Mark, and always end up forgiving him. Under all that bluster and machismo he has a heart of gold and works real hard to make up for his mistakes, and God knows he makes plenty of those."

"I know just what you mean, buddy," Mark said. "As a cop I once saw a big guy having a knock-down drag-out fight and when the other guy was lying beaten in the gutter the big guy picked him up, carried him to his truck and drove him to the hospital. And he wouldn't leave until the docs told him the man was gonna be OK. Then the guy turned himself into the cops."

"Sounds like something Randy would do," Bob grinned.

"Well at least that part of this grueling day has turned out just fine," Mark said. "Those two love each other so deep that they can't stay mad at each other for long. Now, if only ..."

Mark was interrupted by the ringing of Bob's cell phone. Bob looked at the phone and said nervously, "It's Kyle! I guess this is it, Mark. I want you to hear what he has to say." He put the phone on speaker and said, "Hello, kid, what's up?"

"Sir, it's Kyle." His voice was rather formal. "Er ... Kevin and I would like to invite you to have drinks with us in our apartment at your convenience, sir."

Bob beamed at Mark but masked his excitement as he said evenly," Sure, I would like that very much. How about right now? No time like the present, eh?"

"That's what we were thinking, sir. We're here waiting for you."

He rang off and Mark said, "Good news?"

"Sounds like it. At least they're together in their apartment. An hour ago Kyle was swearing he'd never set foot in the place again. That's progress. I better go."

They hugged and Bob said, "Mark, I know how disappointed you were at Randy's behavior but I hope you can bring yourself to forgive him."

"I already have, old buddy. At least it was his own boy he offended this time. It's when he hurts you that I really wanna wipe the floor with him. But this time he's forgiven.

"That's what I hoped you'd say." Bob chuckled, "Well, maybe not the wipe-the-floor thing, but you know what I mean. Gotta go."

Bob knocked on the door of the twins' apartment and went in to find Kyle and Kevin standing side by side. They looked nervous and, shoulder to shoulder, seemed to be leaning on each other for mutual support, which is the way it had always been between them.

There was an awkward silence for a moment, then Kyle said. "Sir, we want to apologize to you for causing you so much pain – me especially as I'm the one who acted out of anger. What Kevin did was out of love, I see that now. You are the last man in the world we would want to hurt. We love you so much, idolize you, and yet we made you cry. Please allow us to make it up to you in the only way we know how."

The twins turned to each other, gazed into each other's eyes ... and their mouths came together with a sensuous brush of the lips that built into a churning, tongue-searching kiss. They held each other tight, arms round each other, bodies pressing together in a passionate prelude to making love.

"Aaah," Bob sighed, almost in a sob. "Boys, that is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Thank you ... thank you, guys."

They separated at last and Kevin spoke. "There's more to come, sir, so please take a seat. On the table is a bottle of your favorite wine we have opened for you, so please sit back and enjoy."

Bob did as requested and watched in awe and mounting excitement as the twins slowly began undressing each other, each boy unbuttoning his brother's shirt, stroking his bare chest, unbuckling his belt and pushing his shorts down to the floor.

Naked they knelt on the bed facing each other, smiled into each other's eyes and reached down to stroke each other's cock, bringing them to rock hardness in seconds. Their mutual gaze intensified and Bob knew that, in the silent language of the eyes they had perfected over time, they were deciding which of them would be on top.

The decision made, Kevin lay on his back, pulled his legs up and offered his ass to his brother. It was an opportunity for Kyle to show Kevin that the hurt and anger was in the past and his love for Kevin was stronger than ever. Kyle wet his cock and eased it slowly gently into his brother's ass. Their deep sighs were identical, as was everything else as brother fucked brother.

It was a sight Bob had seen many times, but this time it held a special poignancy, representing not only brotherly love, but forgiveness and healing too, drawing a veil over a breach that had been brief but agonizing. The twins evidently felt this too as they made love with a passion that exceeded anything Bob had seen before. As Kyle fucked his twin they smiled, kissed, licked, stroked, and gazed into each other's eyes so profoundly they were glimpsing each other's soul.

Soon they switched and Kevin was on top making love to Kyle's ass. A casual observer would barely have noticed the change – just identical twins making love no matter who was on top – but Bob had learned to distinguish subtle shades of difference between them – Kevin marginally more sensitive, Kyle slightly more assertive.

But of course he loved them equally, separately or together. As he had said to Kyle, they were the light of his life and watching them now, reunited, renewing their passion, Bob treasured his little family.

As if they felt the waves of affection coming from him they suddenly separated, knelt on the bed side by side, smiled and beckoned to him. To Bob, in a haze of euphoria, it was like the siren call of mythology, a call to which he willingly responded. He stood up, came close to them and, moving in perfect unison, the twins undressed him. When he was naked they kissed his face, his chest and abs, sending him into flights of ecstasy.

They led him to the bed where he lay on his back and surrendered his body to them. While one brother sucked his cock the other licked his nipples, then his face, and soon they were all over him, identical twins worshipping him with their mouths, their tongues and their gentle, loving hands on every part of his body. Kevin smiled, "This is to show you how much we love you, sir, and how sorry we are for hurting you." Kyle added, "We will never leave you, sir, and never ever hurt you again."

They worked their magic for a long time, but they knew their master well and watched as his sighs grew deeper, his muscles flexed and his flawless body writhed more urgently. They glanced at each other, then zeroed in on his cock. One lowered his mouth over the cock and the other licked his balls.

Bob looked down at them, their handsome faces pressed cheek to cheek as they worked on him, and he groaned, "You are such beautiful boys ... I love you guys ... you're gonna make me cum ... please make me cum. Yeah, that's it ... oh fuck, here it is ... drink it ... aaagh." His head thrashed from side to side and his cock erupted in Kevin's mouth. Quickly the brothers changed position and Bob shot another load in Kyle.

When the flow finally ceased the boys raised their heads, looked at each other and kissed, their mouths full of their master's cum that they passed back and forth between them, swallowing the warm, creamy warm liquid drop by drop.

Moving in perfect sync they rose up off their knees, got off the bed and stood one on each side. Kyle grinned, "You may have noticed, sir, that we didn't cum, which we plan to do now."

Each boy stroked his own cock and Bob gazed up in a trance from one to the other, beautiful identical young men who still loved each other, now more than ever after their frightening brush with an unthinkable separation. And they loved Bob too, more than ever, after giving him so much anguish, for which they now intended to make amends in the way they knew best.

Stroking their cocks faster the twins looked down at the brown-eyed muscle-god they idolized. "Here it comes, sir," said Kevin. "Our gift to you," Kevin added. And in the ultimate act of worship they anointed him with their semen that splashed down on his abs, his chest and his sculpted face that strained upward to meet every last drop.

When the torrent of cum subsided Bob grinned up at them. "Well don't stop there, boys. Now that you monsters have had your way with me, the least you can do is clean me up."

"Your word is our command, master," Kyle teased. "We live to serve," smiled Kevin. They knelt beside the bed and licked his cum-soaked body and face until Bob pulled them onto the bed and into his arms.

They clung together, letting their heartbeats subside, until finally the twins pulled themselves up on their elbows and smiled down at him. "Sir, my brother and I have a proposition," Kyle said. Kevin continued, "Before we called you we checked around and Mark is taking Jamie out to dinner. Randy and Pablo look as if they will be busy all evening fixing up Tyler's room, so later on we'll take dinner trays into them."

"Which leaves you, sir," Kyle grinned playfully. "We can't have you eating alone so we hoped you might like to have dinner here, just the three of us. We have a lot of catching up to do."

"I can't think of anything I'd rather do," Bob said. "Hey, I'll even help you cook, if you got a spare one of those crazy hats for me."

They did provide him with a chef's hat that Kevin pulled rakishly to the side and Kyle said, "Cute, real cute." But actually Bob didn't do much cooking – he just sat sipping wine and watching them, thrilled to see they were completely back in harmony as they moved round the kitchen in what resembled a carefully choreographed dance.

And when at last they were all seated at the dining table upstairs, peace had been fully restored among them and the past forgotten as if it had never happened.

"You know one thing I've missed, guys, is gossiping with you two," Bob said. "You know everything that goes on here, `cos I know you watch the whole pageant unfold from the kitchen window. Today has been crowded with action, so what's your take on the situation with Tyler?"

"Well, sir," Kyle said, with the confidence of an expert on the subject. "Nothing could be resolved with Randy and Pablo still breathing fire at each other, but that feud seems to have resolved itself and father and son are bonding again like good construction buddies working on Tyler's room."

"Hm, pretty smart, kiddo, you seem to have nailed that one. But what about Pablo and Tyler? After all, they were in the middle of all this."

Kevin said, with the same air of authority, "But let's not underestimate Tyler. All anyone has seen so far is a shy, nervous young guy thrown into a pond with much bigger fish. But you know, when he was working with us in Uncle Mike's kitchen he got more relaxed and confident ... assertive even. His shyness comes from his lonely life without his parents, but don't let that fool you. Living alone creates its own resilience in a boy."

"Kev's right," Kyle said. "That kid is not gonna be a pushover. When he feels his feet in the tribe he's not gonna be one to roll over and let guys trample on him, not even Pablo, even though he worships him. I'd even go as far as saying that after a while that kid will be a match for Pablo.

"Hm, interesting take on things, guys. And if you're right it would be a good thing for Pablo. He's not the kind of man who wants a softy for a boy – he'd soon get bored with that. He learned toughness from Randy and he'll wanna carry on that tradition with his own boy. OK, since you're both so smart, what do you think is going on with Tyler up at Hassan's place?"

"Oh that's easy," Kyle said. "First of all, he and Eddie had already bonded so there's Tyler's comfort zone right there. But Hassan and Eddie's house is on the grounds of Steve and Lloyd's place, so they'll have plenty to say too, especially Doctor Steve who has used his wild shrink techniques on all of us in the past."

"Right," said Kevin, "and Steve won't stand any nonsense from Pablo when he goes up there to claim Tyler. Pablo has already tangled with Randy so there's a chance he could knock heads with Randy's brother Steve too. Oh, he'll be on his best behavior at first for Tyler's sake, but you know how hot-headed he can be, just like his dad."

Bob laughed. "Smart as well as gorgeous, aren't you? You seem to have the whole scenario mapped out. Hell, you've just set up a whole other chapter in the saga of the tribe. Now all we have to do is sit back and see just how smart you've been."

"In the meantime, sir," Kevin asked, "do you plan on spending the night with us?"

"Guys," Bob chuckled, "I plan on getting pleasantly drunk, and you would never let a guest leave when he's drunk, would you? I'm here for the night, and I'll need lots of tender loving care."

Once again the twins exchanged knowing smiles.

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 384

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

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