A Trial of Strength

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 412 By Rob Williams

CHAPTER 412 – "PABLO'S TAG-TEAM PUNISHMENT"

IN THIS CHAPTER:

Pablo, the construction company's macho young mechanic, faces punishment for attacking and insulting the tribe's new boy Finn. First he has to make his peace with his own lover, the handsome black stud Darius. Then he faces the tribe's group of senior boys, who subject the muscular shirtless mechanic to the public humiliation of being tag-teamed as the young men take their revenge one by one.

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

Pablo was not only the chief mechanic on the construction site, he was one of the most senior boys of the tribe. As Randy's boy and adopted son he prided himself on being `the boss's boy'. In fact he had become a junior version of Randy, assuming many of his characteristics including his quick anger and tendency to hit out with his fists and ask questions later.

When one of the other masters, the macho Hispanic Miguel, brought a new boy into the tribe named Finn, tradition dictated that the young newcomer meet with the six senior boys for their formal approval and welcome. All went well at their meeting until Pablo began a hostile line of questioning concerning Finn's former life as a hustler, and implied that his lifestyle may have compromised his health.

Finn fiercely defended himself and abruptly left the meeting, only to be followed and physically attacked by Pablo. And so the proverbial shit hit the fan.

In the aftermath of recriminations it was decided that, until the dust settled and tempers cooled, Miguel should take Finn away for a week up to the Grady House, the home of the hunky movie-star Grady, the big screen Tarzan, and his Italian lover Mario. Finn was currently having a great time there, joining in the sexual fantasies of the fun-loving actor, and learning gardening skills from Mario, which he would later apply in his new job as the tribe's gardener.

With that settled, the subject now uppermost in people's minds was what form Pablo's punishment would take from the other senior boys. Already there were signs that Pablo was trying, in a subtle way, to make amends to Finn. Pablo had a boy of his own, Tyler, whom he had sent up to the Grady house to be with Miguel and Finn.

Miguel explained the situation to Finn. "Pablo is anxious to try and heal the breach with his lover Darius tonight and then face the senior boys tomorrow. But he is very protective of his boy and doesn't want him hurt by witnessing his punishment, so he wants Tyler to come up here right away. Also, Pablo is toying with the idea of Tyler becoming your assistant, Finn, when you start work as the tribe's gardener, so he'd like him to try it out by working up here with you and Mario

"There's also this. I feel sure that Pablo wants to make amends to you. Tyler is precious to him and entrusting him to your care is Pablo's way of showing you respect. The idea pleases me. Now that you have banished all those insecurities you started out with when we first met, I think you are ready to try and help someone else who feels insecure. You will find it very rewarding."

When Tyler arrived the early signs were good. The two boys hit it off right from the start, with shy Tyler looking up to the more worldly Finn. Tyler wanted to try and heal the breach between his master Pablo and Finn, and as they talked it was clear to Finn that Tyler was trying to tell him something as they sat together on a bench.

"Tyler, if you and me are gonna be buddies we gotta trust each other to say what we mean. So tell me what you want."

"I wanna suck your cock, dude." It came out in a rush and Tyler blushed at his own boldness. "Because ... it'll be my way of helping patch things up between you and Pablo and ... and because ... because I really want to. And I know for sure that Pablo would be OK that."

Finn smiled roguishly, stretched his arms along the back of the bench and opened his legs in a wide manspread. "In that case, dude, I just got one thing to say ... go for it."

Not only did Tyler suck Finn off and swallow his cum, Finn then reciprocated and went down on Tyler. When it was over they sat side by side on the bench with Finn's arm stretched over Tyler's shoulder. "Well, dude, I guess that officially makes us buddies – and I don't just mean fuck buddies. You feel OK?"

"Yeah ... yeah I do ... except ..." Tyler's eyes brimmed with tears. "Finn I'm so worried about Pablo. What are those guys gonna do to him? I'm scared. I don't want him hurt."

Finn turned to face him. "Now listen, bro. They are not gonna hurt him. Those guys are all good, responsible guys – Jamie, the twins, Nate, and Pablo's own lover Darius. You don't think Darius would let anything really bad happen, do you? See, Miguel explained it to me – it's kind of a rule of the tribe. A guy fucks up and he gets punished. It's expected, and you know what? The guy wants it. It kind of purges him and shows his buddies how tough he can be.

"Especially Pablo – you know how he enjoys proving his toughness – he learned from the best, from Randy. So when you get back to him tomorrow evening he'll be just fine ... all hyped up and ready to wrap his arms round his boy. Now that's something to look forward to, ain't it?"

Tyler smiled and squeezed Finn's hand drooping over his shoulder. Then Finn made another suggestion about the sleeping arrangement up here in the Grady House. Kiddo, I don't think you should be sleeping alone tonight. Why don't you bunk in with Miguel and me? I'll have to check with Miguel, of course, but I'm sure he'll be all for it. Would you like that?"

"I'd like it a lot, Finn. Thank you."

They leaned back, closed their eyes and Tyler felt a wave of relief and contentment sweep over him. As for Finn – he was a new man. Under Miguel's guidance he had come a long way in a short time. From being a bitter hustler, to accepting the love of a kind man, to earning his place in the tribe, Finn had now turned outward and taken a boy under his wing – another decisive step into manhood. Just as Miguel had intended.

********************* CHAPTER 412 ***********************

And so Pablo and his boy Tyler spent the night in different houses – Tyler up at the Grady House with Miguel and Finn, Pablo in his own apartment in the tribe's compound down the hill. And each of them was at the start of the healing process after Pablo's unacceptable impetuous behavior toward Finn when his anger had flared into a physical attack.

So that Tyler would not have to see Pablo's punishment by the senior boys, Pablo had sent him up to Miguel and Finn. And that turned out to be a wise protective move for the shy boy. Miguel had gladly agreed with Finn's request that Tyler sleep with them so as not to worry in bed alone.

And even now Tyler was losing his anxiety about Pablo as he watched Miguel and Finn strip naked ready for bed. He had always been slightly nervous of the powerful, rugged Hispanic, but he was reassured by Miguel's warmth toward him. And Finn, with the assertiveness that came from being a former hustler, was fast becoming a friend Tyler could trust and rely on though this difficult time.

Miguel and Finn were already in bed as Tyler blushingly undressed. "Er, sir, if you and Finn want to ... like ... have sex, I can always wait outside until you're finished."

"Not on your life, kiddo," Miguel smiled broadly. "You're our guest tonight and you'll share our bed. And if we do make love, as we probably will at some point, you'll be right here in the action with us – if you want to be. So get that cute ass over here right now.

"And take it from me, buddy," Finn said, "when the master gives an order it's an order. Better do what he says."

Tyler smiled, gaining confidence, and he climbed into bed. Lying between the two boys, Miguel said, "I don't know about you two but I'm bushed – it's been a long, crowded day. So no fun and games just yet, eh? Sleep first.

"And before you nod off, Tyler, here's another order for you. Don't worry! You know Pablo is as tough as they come and he'll sail through whatever the boys have in mind for him. Just rest and be ready for him when you get home tomorrow evening, `cos he'll be hot to trot and need his boy more than ever."

"OK, sir, thank you." Tyler snuggled closer to Miguel and closed his eyes. But he still couldn't rid his mind entirely of the man he idolized and his predicament. Even as he lay here with his new friends he wondered if Pablo and his long-time lover Darius were together. Would they be able to patch up their differences and put all this stupid stuff behind them?"

At that moment Darius was asking himself the very same question. Late in the evening he had said to Zack, "Sir, I think I should go across the street to the compound and check in on Pablo. He's sent Tyler up to the Grady House for the night so Pablo's probably alone and wallowing in doubt, guilt, residual anger or whatever the fuck ..."

"Good idea, kid. You two go back a long way and even though he behaved outrageously to your buddy Finn he's gonna need support from someone. You're a real cool guy, Darius. You've matured into a natural leader of the boys, strong, kind, and you keep your cool – unlike your buddy Pablo. You're my kind of man, Darius, I'm proud to call you my boy. So go over there and try to sort that mess out. And if it means kicking ass, I know you can do that too."

"Thank you for saying all that, sir. I'll do my best."

But as Darius left the house and crossed the street he knew it wouldn't be easy. This whole mess had been tough on him because, in a way, he had a foot in both camps. He and Pablo had a long history as they had been lovers for years. But now Darius was loyal to his small close-knit family of Zack, Miguel and Finn. He felt protective toward Finn, whom he called his `little brother', so he had to confront Pablo's hostility to him. As Miguel had said earlier, it was a tough balancing act.

When Darius went into the tribe's compound dinner was over and the only signs of life came from the kitchen where the twins were cleaning up after dinner and prepping breakfast for tomorrow. They beckoned him in and Kyle said, "Hey, Darius, glad to see you. If you're looking for Pablo, he's downstairs in the gym, no doubt working off his anger, guilt, tension, whatever."

Kevin added. "He needs a friend right now, though he would never admit it. You're probably the only one who can cut through all the bullshit. Good luck, old buddy."

Darius went downstairs to the basement gym and stood watching from the doorway. His dick got hard right away. Pablo was wearing only gym shorts and was working out hard, punishing the weights and himself. He was currently doing squats with a heavy barbell over his shoulders, flexing the exquisite ass that had excited Darius the first time he met him all those years ago.

Darius was wearing his usual black jeans, this time with a white tank top that showed off his black body to perfection, his ebony muscles gleaming under the gym spotlights. Pablo caught sight of him in the mirror and dropped the barbell on its cradle with a clang.

"What you doing here, man? You come to gloat? ... tell me what an ass I am? ... tell me what punishment you and the guys have come up with?"

"No ... no ... and no," Darius grinned. "Just came to see how my buddy was holding up is all."

"Well, sorry to disappoint you, dude, but I'm doing just fine ... so there's no need for you to stick around here. Nothing to see here."

"Ooh, sounds like I've been dismissed." Darius sighed wearily. "Dude, you can drop the attitude with me. You may be angry with the world – you usually are – but this is me, the guy who's lived with you, loved you, fought with you and fucked you for years. We've been through much worse than this so let's cut the crap eh?

"Actually your immediate problem is those squats. Without me as your gym partner you're doing them wrong, leaning too far forward. Here, let me help you."

"I don't fucking need ..." Pablo began until he saw Darius cross the gym, taking off his tank top as he walked under the spotlights that intermittently flashed on his naked torso. That erotic sight stifled Pablo's protests and Darius smiled. After all these years he knew just what turned Pablo on most. Pablo had once said to him, `If you've got it flaunt it, and dude, you sure got it.'

So Pablo didn't object when Darius came up behind him and got into position to spot him. While Darius curled his hand loosely round the bar Pablo took a few deep breaths and sank down in his next squat. When he rose up under the weight Darius held the bar lightly until Pablo was able to drop it back heavily into the cradle.

He stumbled back a step and felt his ass press against the big ten-inch bulge in Darius's jeans. He felt his own cock stiffen, then came to his senses and said, "Dude, I know what you're doing. You always think you can solve everything with the almighty black club, but not this time, man. I'm not in the mood for sex or company. So leave me alone."

"OK, dude, I get it. To you I'm part of that hostile world you keep pushing away. But do you recall the day we first met and I clapped eyes on the globes of your perfect butt and flashed my ten-inch black dick? I said, `Dude, my dick and you're ass – a match made in heaven.'

"It's still true. It's like they have a life of their own, kiddo. Whatever bullshit thing we're going through they know exactly what they want. And my big friend down there is saying to me right now, `Please, sir, can I come out and play with that ass?' So what's your butt saying to you, dude? Same thing?"

"Darius you're being stupid ... and it's not funny." They looked at each other in the mirror and Darius dropped his head mournfully to one side and pouted. He could always make Pablo laugh and even now saw him trying to stifle a smile.

Darius grinned, "That's it, let your ass do the talking for you. It's just a butt-hole but it's got more damn sense than you do. The butt-hole versus the asshole – and the butt-hole wins!"

Pablo gave in to Darius's comedy routine and sat wearily on the bench. Darius sat beside him and they looked at each other in the mirror. Darius grinned, "Dude, you just said, `nothing to see here', but I beg to differ. That ass of yours could make a grown man weep.

"Do you recall when you first came to the tribe it was just Randy and Bob, you and me. You and me worked in the garage together but we were suspicious of each other at first and kept our distance. But all the time your ass and my dick were eying each other until finally I came up with that `match-made-in-heaven' line and we ran to the bedroom, tore each other's clothes off and didn't surface for a day and a half."

"Yeah, I remember that day ... it still makes my dick hard."

"So what are we waiting for, buddy?"

Pablo smiled weakly at Darius. "Fuck you, man."

"No, fuck you. Now you're talking my language, stud. Bedroom?"

Pablo allowed himself to be pulled to his feet and together they left the gym, walked across the garden and up to the apartment Randy had built for them so long ago. Darius sprawled in a chair and said, "Let me see it, bro. You know what I like."

Pablo turned his back to him and slowly lowered his shorts, pushing the waistband over the top curve of his butt, exposing the tan line above the white globes. Then lower so the perfect mounds came slowly into view until the shorts fell to the floor. He turned to face Darius who reciprocated by unzipping his jeans in short tugs so his cock became visible – inch ... by inch ... by inch ... to all ten glorious inches.

They stared at each other stroking their cocks – and the pressures and tensions of the moment dissolved. "Man," Darius groaned, "that never fails to get me going. Back on the first day you were a sexy boy but now ... Jesus, you're a total stud, the hot young mechanic with that Mestizo face, square jaw, slanted eyes and a body that won't quit. I wanna hear you say it, bro – tell me what you want."

"You know what I want. I wanna feel that long rod in my ass ... I want you to fuck me, man."

Their eyes bored into each other as they continued to stroke their dicks. Darius finally stood up, planted his hand on Pablo's chest and shoved him backward until he fell on his back on the bed. Darius dropped his jeans, stepped out of them and stood buck naked at the foot of the bed. Pablo pulled his legs back and stared up at the dominant black buck.

The tough, brittle rebel, angry with the world, was gone, replaced by a lover – Darius's lover. "I've missed you Darius. I got ... sidetracked. Fuck me, bro. I want it so bad. I need it."

"Always here when you need me, kiddo, you know that." He knelt on the bed. "Lube?"

Pablo grinned. "Are you kidding? Just spit on that thing and give it to me."

As he had done countless times before Darius smiled down at the handsome mechanic and slid his monster cock slowly in his ass. Pablo sighed and closed his eyes, feeling the blissful physical sensation that suddenly made everything right. He felt his lover pull back, inch by inch, then slowly enter him again.

He opened his eyes and said, "I love you, dude. However fucked up my life is I never stop loving you. I didn't mean any of that crap I said earlier. I was just ..."

"Don't you think I know that, you dumbass? All that nonsense goes right over my head. I just look at your ass and ... ooh man, it feels soohh good. Just lie back and enjoy."

Pablo stroked his own cock while the ten-inch shaft worked his ass, easing in deeper with each long stroke. They gazed at each other in a communion of kindred spirits, blocking out the trials and tribulations of the world. They had met as boys, had fallen in love and grown together into manhood. They fought their battles, cussed, made up and laughed ... and always it came back to this feeling of safety and solidarity.

At moments like this their troubles faded, nothing that couldn't be salvaged by their love and mutual support. Pablo sighed, "God that feels good. Man, I've insulted you by attacking your new little brother. You of all people. I gotta earn back your respect, dude. I need you to punish me. You know how to do that. Please, Darius ..."

"I get it. No problem there, bro. Brace yourself." Suddenly the gentle caress of Pablo's ass became an onslaught. Darius pulled all the way back, paused ... then plunged his massive cock in hard, pulled back and drove in again. Pablo howled as his lover's shaft became a battering ram, pounding his ass. He stared up at the powerful young stud, his pale green eyes piercing down at him, his muscles flexing as he penetrated his ass.

Pablo gritted his teeth and absorbed the pain ... he loved the pain ... he deserved it ... he needed it. This was his punishment and absolution by the lover he had offended, driving the demons of guilt from him. He would have taken more, anything.

But fierce and implacable as he seemed, Darius was firmly in control. Even tough guy Pablo had his limits and Darius knew just where they were. He understood that Pablo needed to do physical penance to regain his respect, so he pushed the agonized young mechanic to the edge of his pain threshold ... and then over it for an instant.

"Here it comes, man," he yelled. "This is from me and from Finn. Here it comes, boy!" He drove his pile-driving rod in hard and deep and watched as Pablo's head flew back, his mouth opened in an agonized scream and his cock poured cum over his writhing body while Darius blasted hot semen in the depths of his ass. His breath heaving Pablo stared wildly up at Darius, then his eyes closed and his head fell to one side.

Darius drew his cock slowly all the way back out of Pablo's shuddering ass and gazed down at him. "Hey, wake up sleeping beauty. What do you need, a kiss from a prince?" He leaned down and pressed his lips against Pablo's. He pulled back and watched as Pablo's eyes opened slowly, he focused on Darius and smiled. "Has my black prince come to save me?"

"Well, you ain't no damsel in distress, dude, that's for sure, but yeah, you could say I saved you ... from yourself and all that bullshit self-pity you were wallowing in. Now maybe you're ready to face the world, or at least the senior boys ... starting with me." He lay down beside Pablo and they propped themselves on one elbow facing each other.

"OK, kid, you ready to tell me all about it? It's just you and me here, so you can open up to me and it won't be posted all over the grapevine. Why did you do it, bro?"

"I've thought about that, Darius, and worked out what it was. It started with Miguel. When he came on the scene, deep down I was envious of him and felt threatened. I mean he's such a fucking gorgeous stud and when he had that three-day love fest with Randy up at the lake I ..."

"... you thought he was gonna take your place with Randy? Jesus Christ, that is total paranoia, dude. You can be such a dork."

"Well then I realized it had just been a fling – something Randy needed to get out of his system, you know, fuck the new man and all that. But I still felt a kind of animosity toward Miguel."

"Damn, you should've just let the guy fuck you – that would have done the trick."

"Yeah, whatever. Anyway, then he comes back one day with this boy in tow – a good looking, tough young hustler and I guess I was, I dunno ... resentful, jealous, threatened? All of that probably. And at the meeting you guys were all over him – Jamie, Nate, the twins – all gushing how great it was to meet him. But I wasn't gonna let him off so easy. I wanted him to see I was the boss's boy and ..."

"Jesus, that boss's boy thing again. You've gotta get over that, dude. Sounds kinda stupid."

"Yeah, whatever. So anyway I let rip with all that garbage about him being a hustler and maybe bringing diseases into the group. I mean, really trash talking him. But the worst part was when he stood up to me. He was tough but real cool, made sense, and I could see you guys knew he was right. Then he fucking turned and walked out on me. He had got the better on me and, dammit, I wasn't gonna take that ..."

"... you being the boss's boy and all ..."

"... so I ran after him ... and I guess that's when I lost it."

"And that flying tackle Randy taught you came in real handy ..."

"Yeah." Pablo's eyes gleamed. "Randy was real proud of that."

"God, you two – you're scary together."

"You think so, dude?" Pablo grinned.

"There you go again, boy! Jeez you can be such an asshole. This is supposed to be, like, a confession, and there you go salivating over your damn football tackle. What I should really do is pound that ass again."

"Is that a promise?"

They stared at each other ... and burst out laughing.

When they calmed down Pablo looked at Darius earnestly. "See, dude, what scares me now is not how you guys decide to punish me. I can take any of that. I'm scared that I'll lose their respect. I mean, they've always looked up at me as ...

"No – do not say the boss's boy. Tell you the truth that crap lessens their respect for you – they laugh it off. You don't get it, dude. They admire you for what you are, not who your dad is. You are a hot tough mechanic, a natural born leader – not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. So stop trying to copy Randy and be yourself. You've got a boy of your own to take care of now. How is Tyler, by the way?"

Pablo brightened and his eyes sparkled, "Oh man, I love that kid. He's come such a long way since we met. He's still a bit shy sometimes, but I find that kinda sexy. And just before you came over here he called me from the Grady House. Says he's getting on great with Finn ..." Pablo chuckled. "Seems they already sucked each other's cocks ..."

"... always a good ice breaker," Darius grinned.

"... and he asked if he could sleep with Finn and Miguel tonight. I said sure, better than being alone all night. He seems to like Finn a lot and really wants to work with him as a gardener."

"Looks like Tyler's got more sense than his master," Darius teased. "That young Finn was a great choice by Miguel. He's real bright, knows his own mind and he's great in the sack. He worships Miguel. Me, them and Zack have become a real tight little family. Trouble with you, kiddo, is you never took time to get to know them."

"Huh, well I don't think I'd be exactly welcome over there right now."

"Dude, you gotta take it one step at a time, this penance thing. You just got pounded by me and next come the senior boys tomorrow. After that, when all the dust has settled, you come across the street and make your peace with Finn, Miguel, Zack and me. I think I can promise you a, er, warm welcome. I can see it now, a hunky shirtless mechanic facing four leathermen who have a grudge to settle. Yeah, a real warm welcome, dude.

"And tonight we're gonna sleep together, you and me. Zack won't mind a night to himself – a leather master jerking off to himself in the mirror, no doubt. He does that occasionally."

The lovers pressed their naked bodies against each other and closed their eyes at last. But before he drifted off into sleep Pablo said, "Thanks for everything, dude. Er, you and me ... we're OK now, aren't we Darius?"

"Kiddo, we were never not OK. From the first day we met. Solid as a rock."

They woke next morning to a knock on the door. It was the twins bearing breakfast trays. "We don't usually do room service, except for Bob and Randy," Kyle said, "but we thought that today of all days you could use a good cooked breakfast, Pablo."

"What can you mean?" Darius grinned impishly. "The condemned man ate a hearty meal?"

"Darius!" Kevin protested, but Darius laughed, "Ah, no sweat, boys, the guy's as familiar with my sense of humor as he is with my cock."

"You just said a mouthful there," Kyle smiled.

"Thanks for the food, guys," Pablo said. "Er – see you later?"

"We meet at noon," Kevin said. "Us, Jamie, Nate ... and you two, of course."

"The tribunal," Darius said sonorously."

"Stop it, Darius," Kyle said, "this is not funny."

But they knew what Darius was doing, and it worked. His silliness cut through the tension and he and Pablo sat down to a fairly relaxed breakfast. Speaking with his mouth full Darius said, "Course, you know that when we're down there I have to put on my senior boy hat and stop being your lover – well, we're always lovers, dude, always will be, but you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I get it, bro. Any idea what they have in mind?"

"Nah, they'll wing it – make it up as they go along. But I don't think they'll go for the obvious kind of physical punishment, like tying you up and flogging you. That's all a bit last year and they know you're so tough you could take all that without blinking."

Darius pondered. "My vote would be for humiliation. I mean, dude, you came on real macho at that meeting with Finn, doing that Randy-caveman kinda thing. They'll wanna see the arrogant fist-swinging mechanic cut down to size. Like I said, they don't like all that boss's boy bullshit.

"And that would be the way you can regain their respect too. Show them that you're man enough to survive humiliation and still be a leader. Now that's where you can take a leaf out of Randy's book. That stud gypsy has been punished, pummeled and left lying beaten in the mud before now, and always he rises up from the muck like Swamp Thing, tougher and more dominant than ever. Then he usually fucks Bob to prove he's still the man – and Bob loves it."

Pablo chuckled. "Dude, you really are the tribe historian, aren't you? You should write this down. You've got most of it on video already."

"Which reminds me, kid, do you mind if I film some of this? Great for the archives and for your reputation too. Show the whole tribe how gutsy you are – can take anything and still be the leader of the boys."

"Ah, film whatever you like, dude. I gotta go to work."

"You're going to work?"

"Sure, put in a couple of hours, then come back and face the music."

"Cool, dude. That'll show `em. All in a day's work – no big deal."

There was probably another reason too, which became apparent when Pablo walked through the gate just before noon. He was in full chief mechanic mode. Shirtless as usual, in grubby jeans and muddy boots, his face and body were streaked with oil and grease from working on the heavy equipment at the construction site. A classic macho icon, he strode across the garden to where the boys were waiting for him.

At the previous Finn meeting the senior boys had sat shoulder-to-shoulder along one side of a table and Finn had sat in a chair facing them. It was pretty much the same now. Seated at the table by the pool, Jamie and Darius were in the middle with Nate on one side of them and the twins on the other. Except that this time the man facing them was not Finn but Pablo.

Jamie began the meeting with a short speech. "Pablo, none of us likes this. The boys in this tribe, seniors and juniors, normally circle the wagons when one of us is in trouble. But you dishonored us with your impulsive attack on a new boy and not only insulted Finn but, even more serious, his master Miguel too by harming his boy.

"What hurts the most, Pablo, is that this tribe had always been a refuge for boys who've had a raw deal in life. All of us here fit that description – me and my skinhead pal running wild on the streets, the homeless twins living rough, Nate a lonely kid far from home. You yourself were rescued from a gang of thugs, Pablo. Not to mention junior boys like Eddie, sucking dicks for tips in the back room of a bar, and Brandon living a brave and difficult life alone in a wheelchair.

"The tribe rescued us all, welcomed and nurtured us.

"Then along comes this damaged young guy, living the degrading life of a hustler to survive. Miguel finds him, sees promise in him, and gives him a chance of salvation. Finn is just taking his first nervous steps on the path to redemption that we all took, but you, the `boss's boy', block his way. You heap scorn on him, reject him, attack him and drive him away. Way to go, Pablo. What you did runs counter to everything the tribe stands for.

"So the men have left it to us to exact punishment, which is why we're here. It's up to us to decide the form of punishment. Before we do, Pablo, have you anything to say?"

Pablo sighed. "Jamie, everything you say is true and makes me feel ashamed. As you know, it's never easy for me to apologize, but I do now. I let my anger take over, and other things too – jealousy, fear, resentment, all kinds of irrational shit. By all accounts young Finn is shaping up to be a great kid and he sure didn't deserve what I did to him.

"My dad Randy made the rules for the tribe and one of them is that when a guy fucks up as bad as I did he pays the price. Randy expects it and so do I, so I'm prepared for anything you guys dish out."

Darius smiled wryly to himself – Pablo just had to get that boss's boy thing in there somewhere. But Jamie said simply, "Thank you for saying that, Pablo. OK, guys, any suggestions?"

The twins glanced at each other and Kevin spoke up. "Kyle and Nate and me talked earlier about this and decided that the old-style stringing him up and whipping him wouldn't work as Pablo is tough and would hardly feel a thing. But Nate came up with a novel idea. Nate?"

"OK, mates," Nate began, in his Australian drawl. "Jamie made a powerful speech there, and we have to act. So the way I see it is this. It's all very well for a bloke to apologize and I'm sure Pablo is sincere. But I wanna see how remorseful he feels. So instead of us choosing what punishment fits the crime let the bloke himself decide. It'll give him a chance to show us what he thinks he deserves."

The boys consulted among themselves, then Jamie said, "It's agreed. Pablo, it looks like the ball's in your court."

Pablo glanced at Darius who smiled with a slight nod. Humiliation Darius had said. So be it. Pablo stood up and looked around him. Off to the side was a square high wooden table that the twins used for serving meals outdoors. Pablo strode over to it, picked it up and carried it to the middle of the lawn. He looked around again and picked up several towels from poolside chaises which he threw over the table to soften the sharp edges.

He stood at the end of the table, leaned forward and lowered his chest flat on the table, arms reaching forward, his ass hanging over the back edge, feet on the ground. Darius realized what he was doing and took his cue. He went to the work shed, came back with four short lengths of rope and handed one each to Jamie, Nate, Kyle and Kevin.

Ritualistically the four young men tied the ropes – the twins round Pablo's ankles at one end of the table and Nate and Jamie to his wrists that dangled over the front. Then all four limbs were tied to the table legs at each corner, so Pablo was spread-eagled over the table on his stomach, his head hanging forward over one end, his ass hanging over the back end.

Darius approached from behind, reached under Pablo and loosened his pants, then pulled them down over his ass and round his knees.

The stage was set.

"Lunch anyone?" Kevin said. "It's all ready in the kitchen. We just have to bring it out."

In a few minutes the table was set and the men started to assemble. Bob had been meeting upstairs with the cop Mark, Jamie's man, and they came down together. Pretty soon Randy and Zack came home from the construction site, bringing with them Randy's kid brother Ben, the site's assistant mechanic.

Brandon came from the office, down the ramp in his wheelchair, and wheeled himself up to the table, and Nate's fellow Aussie Adam came from next door to join them. Last to come was Eddie who had been cleaning rooms upstairs. He came out in a rush and tried to act as cool as everyone else but it was obvious he was bottling up his excitement at being present during such a major tribal event."

What made the whole scene slightly surreal was that everyone round the poolside table totally ignored the muscular mechanic tied face down to the table a few yards away in the middle of the lawn, near naked, his pants round his knees, bare ass hanging over the edge of the table.

Most of the senior men were there but considered it none of their business. The senior boys were doing what they had to do to one of their own. The three junior boys followed their lead, leaving it all to the senior boys, though they exchanged quick excited glances between them.

The meal proceeded as normal, the men mostly taking business and Eddie regaling the boys with the events up at the Grady House, related to him by Finn in a long phone call.

About halfway through the meal Darius got up and people assumed he was going to pee. But instead he stopped behind Pablo, casually unzipped his pants and pulled out his long, hard cock. He spat on his hand and pushed wet finger fingers into the helpless ass to lubricate it. Then he braced his hands on the small of Pablo's back ... and drove his cock firmly in his ass.

The only sound Pablo made was an almost inaudible groan, even when Darius increased the speed and force of his shaft driving into his ass. Darius didn't take long. It was almost as if he had got horny during the meal and had left the table for a quick jack-off before resuming his place. He was an impressive sight, a handsome black jock in black jeans and tank top, his muscles rippling as he matter-of-factly fucked ass.

And when he eventually unloaded his jizz inside the bound man and pulled out his cock it was as if he had just masturbated. He calmly cleaned his cock on the edge of one of the towels, shoved it back in his jeans, zipped up and resumed his place at table, continuing his conversation with Zack from where they had left off. It seemed like Pablo had not even got fucked, except for the trickle of cum running from his ass down his leg.

"We'll bring out the dessert – fruit flan," said Kyle without missing a beat. Kevin added, "Might take a few minutes." They got up and went toward the kitchen but stopped as they passed Pablo. They looked into each other's eyes and kissed – which everyone knew was a prelude to sex. Kyle stood behind Pablo, Kevin at his head, and what followed was inevitable.

Holding each other's gaze across Pablo's back they moved, as always, in unison. Pablo's ass was already slick with Darius's cum so Kyle's cock slid in easily. And simultaneously Kevin pulled Pablo's face up by the hair and shoved his cock into his mouth. The men and boys glanced up from the table as it was always an erotic sight to see the beautiful twins having sex, making love with their eyes, especially when they were spit-roasting a rugged, oil-streaked mechanic roped helplessly over a table.

With no need of words their eyes told each other when they were ready and together they spilled their loads inside the prisoner, one in his ass, the other in his mouth. This time Pablo's groan was louder and he choked once. And when the twins pulled out and his head fell forward, cum dribbled over his stubbled chin and more oozed from his ass.

When the twins had left the table Darius had got up too, grabbed his camera and circled unobtrusively, filming the twins performing their effortless double act – for the archives.

It was clear by now what Pablo's punishment was to be ... and his humiliation. Tied face down in the middle of the garden he was to be systematically gang-fucked. The fuck he could take, but the degradation was extreme, even more so because he was being used so casually, like a husky young mechanic who had been captured and tied down, to be used as a fuck slave, tag-teamed by a group of horny men.

But the really shrewd part of Nate's suggestion was that Pablo had chosen this extreme form of punishment for himself, knowing the humiliation it would bring. Creating and enduring this self-imposed humiliation was his way of making amends, and everyone around the table felt admiration for the senior boy even as he suffered.

It wasn't long before Jamie stood up and stretched, a tanned blond surfer in his usual board shorts and loose tank top. The other men barely reacted as he left the table and took up his position behind Pablo. He unlaced his shorts and pulled out his cock. Placing his palms on the ass cheeks he pulled them apart and spat down on the hole, then pushed his rod inside.

As reflected in his earlier speech, Jamie's resentment was a bit stronger than the others as his cop Mark had instilled in him law-and-order discipline. So he hammered the ass harder and longer than the others until he heard Pablo moan loudly. Only then did he pull all the way back, then plunge in deep and shot his juice inside him with a satisfied sigh. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to face Nate who was already stroking his cock.

"Oh, yeah, sure, Nate," Jamie said. "Go for it, dude."

"Thanks, mate."

As one cock pulled out another plunged in and Nate grinned over at Adam as he pounded ass. The young Aussie's happy-go-lucky attitude to life showed now that his turn had come. He didn't want to hurt Pablo – didn't want to hurt anyone – so for him the fuck was symbolic, his contribution to the group punishment. He had also been turned on by the sight of the muscular young jock tied down and serially fucked, so he had built up a head of steam and it didn't take long before his body flexed, he groaned loudly and his cock erupted in Pablo's cum-slick ass.

He pulled out, buttoned up and resumed his place next to his man Adam. He was the last of the senior boys to have taken his turn, but there were still three pairs of wide eyes that stared pleadingly at Jamie and Darius.

The junior boys – Eddie, Brandon and Ben – knew that this was the senior boys' show but they too felt they had a stake in it. They already considered Finn, a new junior boy, as one of them and they were angry that he had been mistreated. It fit the tradition of the boys' circling the wagons as Eddie gazed longingly at Jamie and hissed, "Dude ...?"

Jamie glanced at the other seniors who shrugged and nodded, knowing that this would be the ultimate humiliation for Pablo, being triple teamed by three junior boys. "OK, Eddie," he said.

Eddie was out of his chair like a shot and Ben and Brandon followed him. Eddie, as the self-proclaimed `senior junior' boy took up position behind Pablo's ass, while Brandon and Ben went to his head. Eddie looked down at Pablo's perfect ass, cum now flowing liberally from it and down his legs. "Wow, awesome, dude."

Motor-mouth Eddie was unable to stay silent even at such as serious moment as the humiliation of Randy's boy. He yanked his cock out of his shorts, pushed it into the helpless ass and moaned, "Totally awesome." He looked across Pablo's back at his buddies and said, "You first, Ben." And so Pablo suffered the ultimate indignity of being spit roasted by two junior boys. As Eddie's cock drove into his ass he raised his head and took Ben's cock in his mouth.

Brandon sat in his wheelchair and watched, realizing the full impact of what was happening. Ben, the shy young gypsy, was not only Pablo's assistant on the construction site, he was also Randy's kid brother. When he had first come to the house he and Pablo were instant rivals at first, the brother and the son competing for Randy's favor. So now Ben was face-fucking his boss and his one-time rival, asserting himself as he had rarely done before.

The ever-dramatic Eddie was so turned on by the whole thing that he couldn't hold back. He climaxed with a loud "Yeaaah!" as he unloaded in Pablo's ass. But he was still directing this part of the drama and said "Come here Ben." Ben was only too eager to pull out of Pablo's mouth, take Eddie's place at the other end and push his dick in the cum-drenched ass.

Brandon, the most sensitive of the boys, had been deeply affected when he saw from the office window Pablo's unwarranted attack on the new boy Finn. Now he wheeled up to Pablo's head, pushed it up by the chin and gazed into his tear-filled eyes. "Pablo, I don't want to do this because I have always admired and looked up to you. But Finn is a good boy and I consider him a friend. I hated seeing him get hurt ... so Pablo, this is for Finn."

Pablo, like his dad Randy, loved and admired Brandon, and he now groaned, "I'm sorry, buddy. Really sorry." It was probably his most heartfelt apology of the day and he did not resist as Brandon put his hand behind Pablo's neck and pressed his head down to his cock as he sat in his wheelchair. Pablo bent low, opened wide, sucked in his cock and swallowed hard.

As Pablo got butt-fucked by Ben – the shy young gypsy he had nurtured – and face-fucked by Brandon – the brave boy he loved – he felt purged, through humiliation, of some of his guilt. He made a silent promise to curb his anger and follow Randy's example of protecting all the boys.

A similar sense of reconciliation imbued the rest of the group gathered there, especially Ben and Brandon who smiled at each other across the man they both loved in their own way. It was by silent mutual consent that they reached their climax together, their eyes fixed on each other, sensing and hoping that this was the final act of a painful episode in the tribe's story.

They filled Pablo's ass and mouth with their cum, paused to regain their breath, then pulled out, buttoned their pants and returned together to the table. And Pablo lay alone, exhausted, humiliated and helplessly bound, the juice of eight young men running down his legs and over his chin, tears of remorse brimming in his eyes.

It was a scene of degradation, but also of triumph. Pablo had made a mistake and he had paid for it, choosing as his punishment an extreme penance that proved not only the sincerity of his remorse but also his strength of mind and body. He had endured what his hero Randy had so often endured, and no more would the boys laugh off his claim to be the `Boss's Boy'.

"And that's a wrap, guys," Darius said, shutting off his camera.

The senior boys got up and reenacted their opening ritual in reverse. The twins untied Pablo's ankles, Jamie and Nate his wrists. Darius helped him slowly off the table, took him in his arms and kissed him long and hard. "Kiddo, I have never been prouder of you or loved you as much as right now."

He rubbed Pablo's chafed wrists and grinned. "But like I told you before, kid, next you gotta come and make your peace with our little family across the street – Zack, me, Miguel and Finn." He grinned roguishly. "Like I said, a tough shirtless mechanic facing four leathermen who have a grudge to settle. Quite a scene."

Pablo managed a weak smile. "After what I went through here, bro, piece o' cake. Bring it on."

The twins were very solicitous. "Pablo," Kevin said gently, "would you like us to bring you lunch on a tray in your room while you rest."

"Hell no," Pablo said, pulling up his pants and buckling his belt. "Thanks but no thanks guys. Ben and me gotta get back to work eh, kid?" Ben nodded eagerly. Pablo looked over at Randy at the table. "You need that forklift back in service, don't you sir?"

"Like yesterday, man."

"OK, junior let's get on it." He slung his arm round Ben and walked him to the gate, shouting back over his shoulder, "Later, guys". A minute later they heard the sound of slamming doors and the screech of tires as Pablo's truck roared away.

At the table Zack roared with laughter. "Randy, that boy of yours beats everything. He gets tied down, gang fucked, spit roasted, then jumps right back up and he's back to work. Tough as nails – and we know where he gets that from. He's just like his old man – I've seen you do that many times. You gotta be proud of him, bro. He's a chip off the old block."

Randy preened. Zack couldn't have said anything to make him prouder. "OK, Darius," Zack said, "we gotta get back to work too." As they walked away he added, "You did great, Darius. Tough but fair and loyal to your buddy. You're the perfect man for him, bro."

Jamie and Brandon went back to the office, the twins back to the kitchen, and the Aussies, Adam and Nate, to their house next door. Eddie left for the Grady House, eager to share all the juicy details of today's drama with the gossip-hungry group up there.

That left Bob, Randy and Mark finishing off their drinks. After basking in the praise from Zack Randy had become rather morose. "What's up, buddy?" Mark asked. "Tough to see your boy go through that, uh?"

"Yeah, it was too much. Oh, I know it's what he chose but ... it was too much."

"Randy," Bob said gently, "look at it this way. You know how protective you are with the boys. Imagine if you saw some stranger beating up on young Finn the way Pablo did. I know you, man ... you would tear the guy limb from limb and throw away the pieces, you know you would."

Randy grinned, "Yeah, guess you're right."

"So Pablo got what he wanted, what he needed so he could regain respect from the boys, and especially from you. I think most of that was for you, Randy."

"Man, you sure know what buttons to press in me." Randy grinned, "I gotta say, though, the sight of all that group fucking and spit roasting sure made me horny. I, er, don't have to be back on the site for a while. Do you two feel like ... ya know ...?"

Bob looked at Mark who smiled and shrugged. "I'm in – provided you're the one on the spit, Randy."

"I think that can be arranged," Bob said. "Let's go."

And together the construction worker, the cop and the businessman went into the house.

While peace settled on the tribe's house, the action was heating up at the Grady House where the junior boys had been invited to celebrate the acceptance of Finn into their group of "amigos" as they styled themselves. As the workday wound down they started to gather, but there was one unexpected visitor.

The gate buzzer sounded and Danny looked at the security monitor. "It's Pablo, sir."

"Perfetto, Mario smiled. "Buzz him in." Mario met Pablo as he drove in and jumped down from the truck. "Pablo, a long time since we saw you here. Benvenuto a casa, amico."

"Hey, Mario. Looking more elegant and sexy than ever. Sorry I'm such a mess, but I came straight from the construction site – you know all that oil and grease and stuff."

Mario stood back and looked him up and down. "Amico, `all that oil and grease' is much sexier than elegant clothes and I think you know it. When Grady sees the greasy shirtless mechanic he will grovel at your feet. But I think it is your boy you have come to see, no? Tyler is such a sweet boy, and you are raising him well."

"Where is he, Mario?"

"He is somewhere in the grounds with Finn. Those two boys are getting along so well, already working together on the garden." Mario paused. "Er, advance word on the grapevine, via Eddie of course, is that your, er, difficulty has been resolved and peace is restored, non è vero?

"Yeah it's true, more or less. A few loose ends. Er, would it be OK if I went and looked for the boys, Mario?"

"Just what I was about to suggest, Pablo. They will be pleased to see you – both of them. And afterwards, an aperitivo, no?"

Pablo ventured into the extensive grounds, impressed by their size and expert landscaping, a tribute to Mario. At first he couldn't see anyone but then caught sight of two distant figures working on a patch of garden at the far side. As he approached he stopped and watched them, unseen by the boys.

They were both working, digging and weeding, and stopping frequently to examine things that caught their interest. Finn was doing most of the talking, with Tyler gazing at him and listening intently as a pupil does to a teacher. Suddenly they laughed gleefully, hugged briefly and got back to work.

Tears came to Pablo's eyes and he felt ashamed. Here was his boy happily embracing his new friend Finn, the very boy he had treated with scorn, attacked and driven away. God he had been stupid. He went closer and suddenly Tyler looked up, broke into a beaming smile and rushed forward into his open arms.

"Hey, kiddo, so how's the gardening racket eh?"

"I'm loving it, sir. There's so much to learn, and all these bright colors. And ... I kinda like getting my hands dirty, just like you, sir." Pablo held him close. He had earlier phoned Tyler to reassure him that he had survived his `penance' intact, but now it was great to feel his lithe young body pressed against him.

Over Tyler's shoulder he saw Finn shifting uneasily and starting to move away. He pulled away from Tyler and said, "Hey, Finn, don't go, please. I have something important to say to you."

Tyler said, "Should I leave you two ..."

"No, kiddo, I want you to hear this. Let's sit down, eh?" They sat on the grass in the shade of a tree and Pablo looked Finn in the eyes. "First of all, Finn, I want to thank you for making friends with Tyler right off the bat. I want you two to be buddies – and obviously Tyler has more sense than I do."

He hesitated. "Which brings me to the hard part. Finn, I was a damn fool when we first met and treated you like no newcomer to the tribe should be treated. It wasn't you, it was me and my hang-ups, suspicions, and my damn stupid anger. Everyone says you're a great guy and I see now that they're right. I was the only idiot. This afternoon I paid the price for that and got punished by the senior boys. After that, Darius tells me, I should also do penance to your little family of four ..." he grinned. "... four tough leathermen apparently. I wanna do that."

"It's important too that I try to make amends to Miguel for hurting his boy.

"But most of all I wanted to make things right between you and me Finn, after our rocky start." He frowned, not sure how to continue. "Dude, I don't deserve it, but will you give me a hug to show me there are no more hard feelings?"

Finn laughed, leaned over and hugged Pablo's shirtless body tight. "Sir, the only hard feeling I have right now is in my cock. Even though you didn't take to me at first I always thought you were one of the hottest guys in the tribe and I'm a bit jealous of Tyler. Maybe one day he'll share you with me, if Miguel approves."

"Approves of what, kiddo?" They had not heard Miguel approach and he now stood towering over them.

Pablo leapt to his feet, hesitated, then held out his hand. "Miguel, will you, er ... will you shake my hand?"

On the ground the two boys held their breath and looked up at the rugged Hispanic and macho Mestizo staring into each other's eyes.

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial of Strength" – Chapter 413

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 own Web-site www.atrialofstrength.com. You can read the whole story, with extras including pictures and biographies of all the characters.

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