A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 524 By Rob Williams
Chapter 524 – "THE PENANCE OF TWO ALPHA MALES"
IN THIS CHAPTER
The tribe's co-leader Bob realizes that, by his negligence, he has caused pain and stress to Ranger Pete's boy Brandon. Bob makes amends to the Ranger in a sexual penance that runs the gamut from savage to seductive. Police officer Mark's boy, young blond surfer Jamie, is empowered by landing a great new job. His adrenaline racing, the athletic young jock dominates the cop in an erotic role reversal.
<><> IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER <><>
Grady, the action hero who had starred in three blockbuster Tarzan movies, was now shooting a promo for a new movie, this time as a lifeguard on a California beach.
He was accompanied on the two-day promo-shoot at the beach by his pal Jamie, who was his surfing coach, and their young buddy Eddie whose talent with a camera had so impressed the movie's director that he asked him to come to the beach and get candid shots of Grady.
The results for Jamie and Eddie were successful beyond their wildest dreams, as both had been offered jobs to stay with the movie for the entire duration of filming. Jamie's lover, the cop Mark, was also at the shoot doing security, and all four men were staying in a Malibu hotel bungalow for two nights. After breakfast early on the second day of the shoot, Mark called his buddy Bob, a co-leader of the tribe, to update him on events.
"Yeah, buddy, surprise news about Jamie and Eddie. The director of this movie wants Jamie to stay with them all the way through it. He'll be in charge of the surfing action – Grady, the other cast and the extras. As for Eddie, the Director of Photography has offered him a paid intern job with the camera crew, to learn the trade from the bottom up and become a junior cameraman.
"But I gotta tell you, Bob, both boys were about to turn down the jobs out of loyalty to the tribe and the jobs they currently do for you – Jamie as office manager and Eddie as house manager."
"No, Mark, you mustn't let them turn it down. This is wonderful news, the kind of future we want for all the boys. Randy will be thrilled, and so proud. You must be proud of Jamie too, and Hassan of his boy Eddie. And don't worry about them quitting their current jobs. I was thinking of making some changes anyway as they were all working too hard, so you leave that side of it to me. Above all, if they want the movie jobs, which they clearly do, they must accept them."
Bob chuckled. "Seems like I'll be busy holding meetings with boys and their men. My first priority is the office, where poor Brandon has been working a ton of overtime. Much of the time, when Jamie's out coaching Grady at the beach, Brandon has been the acting office manager. Looks like now he'll be getting the promotion he's always wanted. Brandon is Pete's boy so I'll have to talk to Pete first. Mark, this is terrific. And when you get home I wanna hear all the other stuff – you've gotta tell me all the juicy bits."
"I'll do better than that, buddy. I'll show you – a re-enactment. Better go now `cos we're all ready to leave for the beach. The director just wants to get more retakes of the surfing action – safety shots they call it, as backup."
"You're getting good at this, Mark. Won't be long before Hollywood hires you away from the police force."
"Nah, you wouldn't love me if I stopped being a cop."
"Dude, I would love you if you were the city dog-catcher. So go, your world of glamor awaits."
It was mid-morning when Bob phoned Pete. "Hey, Bob, what's up?"
"Pete, I want to have a talk with you about Brandon."
"Funny, I keep meaning to talk to you on the same subject. I'm very concerned about my boy – he works such long hours and he's beat when he gets home. But you first – what did you wanna tell me? Nothing bad, I hope."
Bob chuckled. "Pete, how could I possibly say anything bad about your boy? Brandon is doing a terrific job – the most loyal and conscientious worker I've ever known. But I too have been worried about his work-load and I blame myself for that. But it looks like things are starting to change for the better. Listen, how would you and Brandon like to have dinner with Randy and me at our house this evening? Just the four of us."
"We'd like that, Bob. You, er, you're sure it'll be good news for Brandon?"
"Nothing but the best for Pete's boy," Bob assured him. "Right, cocktails at seven-thirty. And bring your appetites. Will is doing the cooking."
========= CHAPTER 524 =========
<><> MUM'S THE WORD <><>
The second day's shoot at the beach was longer than expected. There were interruptions for aircraft noise, and drifting clouds that made it harder to match the light from shot to shot.
Jamie was a big help to the director as he had an innate sense of when to start the surfing action as soon as the light and the waves were right. During one of the many pauses, Jamie was able to share a few words with his lover Mark who, as an off-duty uniformed cop, was providing security for the location.
Jamie said excitedly, "The director asked if I'll be free as early as next week. They will be shooting what they call establishing shots – you know, wide-shot beach scenes that establish the location of the upcoming scene. He'll have extras surfing and wants me to be the surfing coordinator, to corral them in the formations he wants. I'm real excited, sir, but do you think Bob can release me from my office job so soon?"
"Don't worry about Bob, dude. He's thrilled about your new job on the movie and he'll do whatever it takes to make sure you're free. Matter of fact I was gonna call him again soon, so I'll mention it.
"Oh by the way," Mark said, "something important. When I spoke to Bob this morning he asked me to impress on you and Eddie not to say anything yet about these new jobs. If all the guys get word of it, rumors and speculation will start to fly. The other boys will start to worry about their own jobs if there's a re-shuffle. Bob wants to arrange everything – cross the T's and dot the I's – before he makes the announcement."
"OK, sir. I'll stress that to Eddie. You know how he can be – once those lips start flapping it'll be all over the grapevine. Besides, Eddie has his mind on other things right now. Look at him."
Eddie was engrossed, watching and listening to the Director of Photography, learning all about lighting, how much more difficult it is in the natural light on location compared with the controlled setting of a sound stage.
Plus, Eddie was taking candid shots of Grady and the crew during the long waits that would be used for the "Making Of" feature they would later release. And today he was not distracted by his master Hassan, who had already left for work at the Marine Base. For once, Eddie had had no time to tell his exciting news to the other boys.
Mark phoned Bob and told him the director needed Jamie next week. "No problem, Mark. I've already set the wheels in motion to increase the office staff, mostly to take the burden off Brandon. The guy I'm really worried about is Ranger Pete. Brandon's his boy and when I spoke briefly to Pete I heard the hurt and suppressed anger in his voice at the amount of work I had loaded on Brandon."
"I'm sure you'll find a way of sorting it all out, dude – you and Randy together."
<><> BOB & RANDY – TEA & SCOTCH <><>
The guys on the beach worked hard until they finally wrapped, with a final shot against the setting sun. And meanwhile, back at the compound, Bob was hard at work on the complex job of reorganizing the staff and smoothing any ruffled feathers. He was relieved when Randy came home from work early. "Good," Bob smiled, "you're just in time for tea."
"Tea? You've got me confused with some English dude. Do I look like a tea-drinking kinda guy?"
Bob grinned as he cast an eye over the muscular gypsy in his usual work gear of dirt-streaked cargo pants, muddy work boots and torn, sweaty tank top – pouring himself a Scotch. Definitely not a tea drinker. He flopped down on the couch beside Bob and grinned at him looking sexy in his usual white V-neck T-shirt, blue jeans and loafers. Randy idly grabbed his crotch as his cock swelled under his pants. "So how was your day, dude? Did you hear from the group at the beach?"
Bob sighed. "Randy, I have so much to tell you. Yes, I heard from Mark whose doing security there and he told me some big news. You know that Jamie has been coaching Grady on his surfing skills. Well the director was so impressed with him that he's offered him a full-time job as surfing coordinator on the movie. So many scenes will be shot at the beach that he wants Jamie to be in charge of all the surfing action – Grady, the other cast and the extras. It's a great opportunity for Jamie to turn the sport he loves into a career."
"Shit, that's great news, dude. That's the kind of growth we want to see in all the boys."
"Yeah, and he's not the only one. Seems there's been some kind of transformation in Eddie too – our talkative young comedian also has a job. The Director of Photography spotted a hidden talent in his camerawork that we never noticed – and offered him a position as paid intern on the movie, to learn the business from the ground up."
Randy's eyes sparkled. "Hassan's boy? Well what d'ya know? Damn, I always knew that under that cheeky smile and machine-gun mouth there had to be a talent for something. And it was staring us in the face, every time he pointed his camera at us. Good for Eddie. Mark and Hassan must be feeling real proud of their boys. But, er, you don't look exactly thrilled, dude."
"Oh I am, Randy, I couldn't be more pleased. It's the kind of thing you and I always wanted." He paused to pour himself a cup of tea. "But the thing is, Jamie will be giving up his job as Office Manager and Eddie will no longer be House Manager."
"Ah, right, gotcha. Which leaves you short of staff."
"To say the least. I can manage that, but I need your advice."
"Hey, careful, stud. You know how it works. I don't tell you how to run the office or the house, any more than you tell me how to run the construction sites."
"I know, Randy, but it's not about that. It's something more personal – about Pete and his boy Brandon. And I think I really fucked up there.
"See, Jamie's the office manager but he's been gone a whole lot coaching Grady at the beach. That meant a bigger workload for Brandon, who has really been the acting-manager for several weeks. Now I`ll be able to promote him to manager, which he richly deserves.
"But I've been so busy I didn't notice the stress he was under. You know how conscientious and loyal Brandon is. Every time I gave him more work he said he could handle it and I took him at his word. But dammit, Randy, I'm his boss and I should have paid more attention to the strain he was feeling."
"And what does his man Pete say about all this?"
"Randy, you know Pete. As a Forest Ranger he spends his time in nature and he's one of the gentlest souls there is. Plus he's a team player and places a lot of trust in us to treat the boys well. But now I look back on it, he has nudged me several times about Brandon's workload and I just shrugged it off.
"When I called him this morning I could hear the hurt in his voice, suppressed anger really when he told me that Brandon regularly gets home late and dog tired. I want to tell him I'm promoting Brandon and having him hire more staff, so I invited them both to dinner, if that's OK with you."
"Of course it is. We don't see enough of Ranger Pete and he's a good guy, like you say."
"I know and that's where I want your advice. See, I'm suddenly feeling very guilty about Pete and I want to make amends to him, but I'm not sure how to. What's your take on all this, Randy? And don't sugarcoat it."
"Dude, I don't sugarcoat stuff any more than I put sugar in my tea – meaning never. You know me, I don't pull any punches. OK, so you wanna know what I think. I think you dropped the ball on this one, dude. I happen to love that brave kid. He's my kinda guy, gutsy and determined not to let his wheelchair limit him. And you'd never hear him complain, no matter how much work you piled on him. But you failed him, dude. If you had worked over a boy of mine like that I'd have pounded your ass."
"You do that anyway, Randy, every day. And I didn't exactly work Brandon over. You make me sound like a tyrant standing over galley slaves with a whip."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever ... you know what I mean. What I'm saying is if you overworked a boy of mine I'd be plenty mad, as Pete must me. Only difference is," Randy grinned, "if I got that mad you'd know about it. Pete's more the kind of guy who bottles it up. Which makes it worse in a way `cos you're supposed to be the boss with the sensitive antennas that pick up stuff like that."
"So what do I do?"
"You know my rule. If a man treats another man's boy bad he pays a price In the past I've gone as far as chaining a guy up and whipping him, but I can't see gentle Pete doing that. So here's what you're gonna do. We can't have Pete brooding all the way through dinner so you're gonna pay a call on him right now. He's already home `cos I saw his truck outside his house across the street.
"What you do to make amends to the guy is up to you, but it better be good. And whatever it is, it's OK with me – whatever ... you get it? Pity, though, `cos I was all stoked up ready to fuck your ass, but this comes first. It's a matter of honor."
Bob smiled at Randy. "Did I ever tell you I loved you, you big ol' gypsy? Under that rough, tough exterior there beats a generous heart." Bob leaned over and kissed him."
That, of course, turned Randy on even more, but he pushed him away. "Get your ass out of here, buddy, before I put lust before honor and plough your ass. Make it right with Pete so we can enjoy dinner. Is young Red cooking? That's another kid I love. He always knows what I want to eat."
"Yes, Will did offer his services. And I hope you're not gonna eat dinner looking like that," Bob said sternly.
"Sure I am," Randy said sarcastically. "I'm gonna sit with those guys in my work gear stinking of sweat." He grinned, "You know, I hate it when you turn into my mother, dude. Of course I'm gonna take a fucking shower and, yes, I'll wear a shirt."
"A clean one?"
"Get the fuck out of here, asshole."
<><> BOB'S PENANCE <><>
Bob was anxious as he went across the street to the duplex shared by Pete and Brandon. He had never been in quite this situation before. He had upset Randy many times, especially at the start of their relationship, and paid the price. And as a co-leader of the tribe he too had reprimanded boys sometimes, and reacted angrily to men when they crossed a line.
But Pete was ... Pete was special, Bob thought to himself. As Bob had said to Randy, working in parks and forests as a Forest Ranger had given him a mellow attitude to life. Oh, he could exert his authority when he had to, and the handsome, well-built, uniformed Ranger could be an intimidating figure.
But within the tribe he was widely respected as an amiable, laid-back kind of guy, and his love and attention to his boy Brandon was so moving sometimes that there were many a moist eye. One reason Brandon loved him so much was that Pete truly lost sight of the fact that the boy was in a wheelchair, which reinforced Brandon's own determination to be independent.
They were the last couple Bob would ever want to hurt – and yet that's what he had done, through negligence and a lack of empathy for a boy who would never complain no matter what. So now he had to try and make amends, first to Pete and then Brandon. As he rang the doorbell, Bob breathed a deep sigh and hoped for the best.
Pete opened the door, shirtless in his uniform pants and boots, and seemed surprised to see Bob. "Hey Bob what's up? Is dinner still on?"
"Oh yeah, sure. I just dropped by for a chat. Is Brandon home?"
Pete's face clouded and his voice hardened. "Of course not. Working overtime, like every day this week. Matter of fact he's not sure if he can make dinner. Says he's got a pile of work to get through."
Oops, Bob thought, bad start. He had put his foot right in it there. "Pete, that's what I've come to talk to you about. Is this a bad time?"
"Nah, I just got in from work. Come on in ... you wanna beer?" He brought two beers from the kitchen and pulled on a casual sleeveless shirt that hung open over his muscular, hairy chest. They sat facing each other and Pete looked questioningly at Bob.
"Pete, I can imagine that I'm not your favorite person right now but there's one I thing I have to do first. Brandon has to stop working. Is it OK if I call him?" Pete shrugged non-committally and Bob called the office.
"Brandon, it's Bob, I'm with Pete – came by for a chat. He tells me you're working late, but you have to stop. How soon can you finish up what you're doing? ... Yeah, OK, an hour max. Then come home and get ready. You and Pete are coming to dinner and I have good news for you."
Bob shut off the phone. "That is something I should have said weeks ago, Pete, and that's why I'm here now – to apologize to you and try to make amends. I feel guilty and ashamed at the way I've treated Brandon these last weeks while Jamie's been out of the office. I piled too much work on him and should have realized how stressed out he was. I got wrapped up in my own work and neglected Brandon. I'm his boss in the office and I let him, and you, down."
Bob paused to take a sip of beer and Pete said, "Bob, I wish I could say you're being too hard on yourself ... but I can't. Yes, I've been concerned and angry about the situation and tried several times to tackle you on the subject. But the devil of it is that I can't bring myself to criticize you, Bob. If it had been Randy I would have laid into him – probably ending up in a fight if I know Randy – but I respect you too much to pick a fight with you.
"But I'll level with you, Bob. I do feel a lot of resentment at the work conditions you imposed on my boy. That kid is the light of my life and I feel guilty that, by not confronting you, I didn't protect him as a man should do."
Bob sighed. "You have every right to feel mad at me, Pete. I wouldn't blame you if you took a swing at me. I'm here to make amends to you, starting with a humble apology and a promise that from now on Brandon will be treated with the love and respect he deserves."
Pete smiled. "Bob, you know I would never take a swing at you and bruise that handsome face. I know you're a man of your word and your apology and promise are good enough for me. What did Randy have to say about all this?"
"Well, that's what I was coming to next, Pete. You know Randy has strict rules he expects everyone to follow. In his book, the worst thing a man can do is mistreat a boy, and he says that I mistreated and neglected Brandon and have to submit myself to his master. With Randy that means one of two things – physical punishment or something sexual. You already ruled out the first, so ..."
Pete looked at Bob and smiled. "Are you trying to seduce me, Bob?"
Bob chuckled, "If pleading for forgiveness is akin to seduction, well ... call it what you like, Pete."
The traces of anger left Pete's gentle, handsome face. "As you know, Bob, I'm not a whips-and-chains kinda guy. Given a choice of savagery or sex I'd go for the latter every time. And as we're laying our souls bare here, I'll tell you another thing. Of all the men of the tribe, Bob, I've always considered you as the guy most like me in temperament and attitude to the world." Pete grinned. "If I had known you before you met Randy I would have made a play for you myself. As it is, every time I see you I feel my cock stiffen."
"Like now?" Bob said with a sexy smile.
"Now I know you're trying to seduce me, Bob. Yeah, my dick's hard now and getting harder the longer you look at me with those soft brown eyes."
"Sounds like we have the start of a solution here, Ranger. Bottom line is that doing penance to you requires some kind of submission." Bob stood up and gazed down at Pete, who sat sprawled on the couch, legs manspread. Pete put down his beer, raised his arms and linked his hands behind his head, making his sleeveless shirt fall back from his chest, displaying his flexed biceps, the mounds of his pecs and his ripped abs.
"Dammit, Pete, submitting to you don't feel like any kind of punishment."
"You don't have to do this, Bob. No, on second thoughts, you do – for my boy. First, I wanna see the boss of the tribe humbling himself. Strip naked, stud."
Bob obeyed. He pulled off his white T-shirt, kicked off his loafers and dropped his jeans and stood naked before the Ranger, hands clasped behind his back in a subservient posture.
"Damn," Pete breathed softly, staring up at the man with the sculpted body and chiseled features of Superman. He unzipped his pants, pulled out his by-now rigid cock and stroked it. But even as he salivated over the erotic image, his lust was muted by the resentment rising in him again as he recalled how this powerful boss had caused his boy such pain. Yeah, he wanted to see Bob make amends. "Go back across the room and get on your knees, man."
Again Bob obeyed and, facing Pete from across the room, sank to his knees. Stroking his cock slowly the Ranger said, "Now come here."
He clenched his jaw as he watched the alpha leader of the tribe, butt naked on all fours, crawl slowly across the room, a picture of abject humiliation. He ended up kneeling on the floor between Pete's widespread legs, staring at the long shaft clamped in Pete's fist. Pete took his hand off it and it stood up hard and erect. "Lick it, man."
Bob leaned forward and licked Pete's balls, then ran his tongue up the length of the shaft and clamped his mouth over the head. Pete pressed his hand behind Bob's head and pushed his face down until the cock filled his mouth. He grabbed his hair and pulled his head up, then shoved it down again.
"Damn, that's hot," Pete moaned, mesmerized watching the handsome face rise and fall on his cock as tears began to flow down Bob's cheeks. In a homoerotic role reversal, the superman Pete had always admired, the dominant co-leader of the tribe and Randy's lover, was now degraded on his knees eating his cock. The sight, the sensation in his cock, drove him to the brink of orgasm ... which made him abruptly pull out of Bob's mouth and stand up.
Bob reared up on his knees, but Pete pressed his boot on Bob`s chest and shoved hard sending him sprawling on his back on the floor. "You know what I have to do next, Bob. You good as asked for it."
"Do it, Pete. It's the only way ..."
<><> FROM SAVAGERY TO SEDUCTION <><>
Pete pulled off his shirt and stroked his cock, standing over the fallen man. Lying on his back, Bob gazed up at him and realized again how incredibly sexy Pete was. He was so low key, never noisy or flashy, that he sometimes blended into the background with his beloved boy Brandon But now, towering shirtless over Bob, the handsome Ranger was a powerful presence and Bob's body shuddered in anticipation of what was to come.
Pete dropped to his knees between Bob's legs, pushed them back and pressed the head of his cock against his ass. As he did so, his sexual attraction to Bob was tinged with negative recollections of Brandon's stress, which Bob had allowed to happen. So what Pete was about to do was not love – it was retribution, and he growled, "This is for my boy ..."
"Aaagh!" Bob howled as Pete unexpectedly drove his cock hard inside him, then pulled out and plunged in again. At last Pete was allowing retribution to triumph over respect. This man had caused distress to his beautiful boy and had to be punished.
So Pete fucked him ... hard.
Bob had endured savage fucks from Randy, but this was a close second, and the Ranger's ferocity surprised Bob. Pete's usually latent masculinity now surfaced with a vengeance, intent on payback for the hurt the man had caused his boy. Brandon was a loyal, compliant soul who would never have pushed back against Bob. This was Pete's job now, and the dominant Ranger rose to the challenge.
His cock pistoned inside the naked musclehunk who groaned loudly, and the attack on his ass became relentless. But in truth, these two men were not just aggressor and victim. Their feelings went deeper than that. As Bob stared up at the handsome Ranger he saw anger and determination in the square, clenched jaw and flexed muscles of his torso – but his pale hazel eyes told another story. In them he saw the tenderness that defined this gentle, caring man.
And inevitably that gentleness triumphed over anger. Pete slowed down and a flicker of hesitation softened his virile features. "No, Bob this is not right. Brandon would not want this, he would hate being the cause of rivalry between us. He has a tender forgiving nature and loves us both. He would plead with me to stop."
Bob smiled, "But your cock feels real good in my ass, Ranger."
A grin spread over Pete's face. "It does, doesn't it? So let's not make it a tool of revenge but a force for peace between us."
Everything changed. Anger, resentment, guilt, all dissolved, replaced by love and sexual desire between two strong alpha males. The hard-driving fuck became a gentle massage as Pete's cock caressed the warm membrane of Bob's ass.
"You're such a wonderful man, Bob," Pete smiled as he fucked him. "Do you know how many times I've wanted to do this but could never pluck up the courage? Plus, there was always Randy."
"I know," Bob said. "When I've been with a man his first surly question is `did he fuck you?' But this time he would approve. He made a point of saying whatever we did was OK with him – I think he expected this."
"So let's not disappoint Randy, eh Bob? Or Brandon. They would both want what I'm gonna do next, buddy ... `cos I can't hold back any longer. I'm gonna cum ... yeah, fuck ... I'm gonna cum inside you, Bob ... yeahhh!"
As he felt the Ranger's juice flood his ass Bob grabbed his own cock, stroked it a couple of times and spurted semen all over his abs and chest."
The men smiled at each other, Pete pulled gently out of Bob and they lay together on the floor.
And that's the moment Brandon came in.
<><> GOOD NEWS FOR BRANDON <><>
Lately, Brandon had been coming home with stress lining his face. But now, as he sat in his wheelchair, staring down at the shirtless Ranger and the naked superman with cum splashed over his body, those stress lines faded into a smile that grew wider and wider. "Sirs, I have a feeling I've been missing something here."
Pete quickly cut in, "Er, Brandon, this is not what it seems ..."
"Yes it is, sir," Brandon insisted. "My two favorite men lying together on the floor after hot sex. What else could it be? Besides, it's something I've always wanted to happen – and now it has, no doubt about that. Here, let me get you a towel, sir."
He wheeled himself into the bathroom and Bob shook his head. "Incredible. Takes everything in stride, no muss no fuss. Your boy's a natural office manager, Pete."
Brandon brought the towel, Bob wiped himself off and scrambled to put his clothes on, and Pete zipped up his pants. Pete and his boy looked expectantly at Bob who said, "Brandon, Randy and I invited you two to dinner tonight as there's a lot to talk about. So let's all go over to my house where Randy's waiting and Will is cooking an early dinner, and I'll tell you the whole story over cocktails."
Pete and Brandon changed into casual clothes and followed Bob across the street to Bob and Randy's house. Randy said, "So, did you two sort everything out?"
"We did, buddy," Bob said, "we sure did. I'll fill you in later. But right now we've gotta put Brandon out of his suspense and tell him what's going on."
Just then the kitchen door opened and Will came out, wearing his usual green apron and chef's hat and wheeling the drinks trolley. "Did I hear someone mention cocktails?" he grinned.
Randy laughed, "Red, you're psychic. Love you, kid. You gonna join us for dinner?"
"Sir, when I've served dinner here I have to get back to the twins cos they'll be serving the main dinner in the garden, which will be late cos the guys haven't got back from the beach yet. Seems there'll be quite a crowd."
Bob said, "At least stick around for a few minutes, Will, and hear what I've got to tell your buddy Brandon." They settled down, Will poured cocktails and Bob began.
"Brandon, there have been big developments at the beach after the shooting of the promo for Grady's movie. The director was so pleased with the way Jamie coordinated the surfing action that he's offered him a full-time job on the movie supervising all the surfers. There will be more movies after this one so it looks as if Jamie's job with the studio will become permanent."
Brandon's eyes opened wide. "That's wonderful news, sir. Surfing is Jamie's life and he'll do a terrific job. Often during the day I've caught him gazing out of the office window at the blue skies and I could tell his thoughts were at the beach. I'm so happy for him."
"Which brings me to my next point, Brandon, because Jamie won't be looking out of the office window anymore. He has resigned as Office Manager and of course I am promoting you to that position."
"Really, sir? Me? In charge of the whole company office? Wow."
"Who else, Brandon? You've been the acting-manager in Jamie's absence and done a splendid job. Which now brings me to the hard part – my guilt over the workload I've piled on you. As Randy said, I really dropped the ball and neglected you badly. I was your boss and I should have realized the stress I was putting you under. So I apologize to you, Brandon."
"There's no need to do that, sir. Er, is that what you were doing at our house with Pete, making amends? Did he fuck you?"
Randy roared with laughter. "Watch it, kiddo, that's my question. I'll find that out later."
Bob smiled, "Let's just for now say I have tried to make amends to Pete and I'm happy to say he accepted my apology, and my promises for your future. So can I take it that you accept the job?"
"Duh! Of course I do, sir. Jamie set up some great systems in the office and is leaving it in good shape, but I have plans of my own. Ryan has turned out to be a terrific help and he's taken a big burden off me when it comes to computers. He was shy at first but now the clients love him. Just the other day someone from the City called all stressed out and Ryan said not to worry, he could custom-build a secure computer program for them that would solve all their problems. I would like to make Ryan assistant officer manager, sir."
"That's your call, Brandon, and I think it's a good one. You're the boss now. Of course, you'll be short of staff and I want you to hire two new office assistants. In the meantime, I will offer my services as your assistant, Brandon, and you can instruct me to do whatever you want."
"Even what you just did at home for Pete, sir," Brandon said with a roguish twinkle in his eye.
"Well, I think you'd have to run that by your man Pete, kiddo. He might have something to say about it. Not to mention my man Randy here."
When the laughter subsided Bob went on, "But listen, there's another piece of news that you and Will are gonna love `cos Eddie is your best pal. Seems he has become quite thick with the Director of Photography on the movie shoot, who was so impressed by the footage Eddie shot with his own camera that he's offered him a job on the movie as a paid intern. He'll start at the bottom, learn the ropes and eventually work his way up to be an assistant cameraman."
"Yesss!" Brandon and Will pumped their fists in the air and Brandon said, "We always knew something like this would happen for Eddie one day. I know we used to laugh as he always prowled around with that camera, but the videos he shot and edited were really, really good. He'll be over the moon."
"And talking and talking and talking ..." Pete laughed.
"So that means we have to find another house manager to replace Eddie, which is why I now have to leave you to your cocktails and run across to the second floor and talk to Pablo and Miguel and their boys Tyler and Finn. I have plans for them, if they agree."
"That's it?" Randy said. "Slam bam thank you man. You drop all this news, then disappear, like the genie going back in the bottle?"
"I'll only be gone half an hour and be back before dinner's on the table. In the meantime, Brandon can go in the kitchen and gossip with Will, and I know you're dying to grill Pete, with that time-honored question ... all together boys ..."
"Did you fuck him?" chorused Bob, Brandon and Will.
Randy laughed, "Fuck you all ... get out of here. Me and Pete got man-talk to do."
<><> TYLER & FINN <><>
Fortunately Miguel and Pablo were already home and their boys Tyler and Finn had just finished their work in the garden when Bob knocked at their door. They were surprised at his sudden appearance, but it was always a pleasure to see Bob.
"Guys, I know you wanna kick back and relax after work, but I have something I wanna share with you before you hear it on the grapevine. I'll get right down to it. You know Eddie has spent the last couple of days down at the beach with the film crew on Grady's movie promo. Well, something really cool has happened."
Bob told them the story of Eddie that he had just told Pete and the boys. Eddie and his fun-loving attitude to life was very popular in the tribe, especially among the boys where he had always proclaimed himself the "senior junior boy." So when they heard Bob's story the reaction of Tyler and Finn was as boisterously enthusiastic as Brandon's and Will's had been.
"That'll be the making of Eddie," Finn said. "I know we've always treated him as the class clown `cos that's what he loves to be, but now he'll be turning his hobby into a really serious job."
"Hassan must be real proud of him," Miguel said. "But that means you'll be losing your house manager, Bob. For all his kidding around, Eddie did a great job here."
"Which is why I came to see you guys. Finn, Tyler, you've been our gardeners for a long while now and you enjoy working together, I think?"
"Yes, sir," said Tyler. "You're not gonna change that, are you?"
"No, no, quite the contrary. You've done such a wonderful landscaping job on the garden that it's really just a question of maintenance now. So here's what I had in mind. I would like you two to become co-house managers, to include the whole house and the garden." The boys gasped and grinned at each other.
"It`s a big responsibility, a big step up from being the gardeners, and it would be up to you to work out the division of duties. You'll probably have to hire a couple of part-time guys to help you too. You would report to me, but anyone will tell you I'm a pretty hands-off boss. I would let you run the show and only get involved when you need help.
"There's a lot to learn so I'm going to ask Adam and Chad if they can release their boy Nate for a week, as he was the house manager before Eddie and knows the ropes. Anyway, I know you're all getting ready for dinner so I'll leave the details till later. But I just wanted to make the offer now before word gets around, and see if you think it's a good idea."
Finn and Tyler exchanged excited looks and Pablo said, "What d'ya say, Miguel? Looks to me like that's a yes, don't you think?" They hugged their boys, then turned to Bob. "Dude," Miguel smiled, "on behalf of Pablo and the boys I wanna thank you for this. It's great news for us – something to celebrate."
"Excellent," Bob smiled. "Look I have to get back to Randy and Pete, but we'll come over near the end of the group dinner and announce the news to everyone. Don't mention it till I make the official announcement `cos I don't want rumors to start flying."
As Bob left, Pablo shook his hand warmly. "Thanks, Bob. You're such a good guy. Randy sure backed a winner all those years ago."
<><> CELEBRATION TIME <><>
When Bob got back to his house he went to the kitchen to check on Will and Brandon. "Almost ready, sir," Will said. "After I've served you guys is it OK if I go down and help the twins? The group from the beach is about to arrive and it'll be a big dinner. A lot of excitement in the air."
Brandon said, "It's OK, dude, now that you've cooked it all I can take over from here. In a pinch the Office Manager can double as assistant chef, right sir?" grinning at Bob.
"That's what I like – teamwork," Bob smiled. "Er, any idea how the man-talk is going on in the living room. I'm nervous about that." Just then they heard Randy and Pete roar with laughter, with a clink of glasses.
"No need to be nervous, sir," Brandon said. "Pete gets along with everyone."
Brandon was right, as Bob saw when he joined the men. It was clearly a macho bonding between the two alpha men who were both drinking Scotch. "How'd it go over there, buddy?" Randy asked.
"Everything just fell into place. I've asked Tyler and Finn to take over as co-house managers when Eddie leaves and they're thrilled. It'll be good for those kids to have more responsibility. Tomorrow I'll go and see Adam and Chad and ask if they'll let their boy Nate, a former house manager, come and help train the boys."
"You're a real operator, dude, you know that? And good luck persuading the Aussie and the Doc – tough couple o' guys. OK, next question. Where's dinner? I'm fucking starved."
"Coming right up, sir," Will announced coming in bearing a large tray, followed by Brandon, his wheelchair tray-table piled high. "Your word is our command." He put a plate in front of Randy. "Steak and baked potato just as you like it, sir. And chopped spinach. You need to eat more greens, you gotta get your fiber."
"Hey, watch it Red," Randy laughed. "I've already had just about all the mothering I can take from Bob – `clean shirt, clean jeans, wash your hands, no fighting'. If you start, I might have to face-fuck you to shut you up."
"Anytime you like, sir," Will smiled mischievously. Randy pulled off the boy's chef's hat and ruffled his red hair. "Love you, kiddo. Now get your ass down to your precious twins before I take you up on that. And thanks for the dinner, Red. Looks perfect as always."
Randy, Bob, Pete and Brandon settled down to a boisterous, celebratory meal now that the former tension had melted away and harmony had been restored between these close friends. Shortly after they began, they heard a cheer go up from downstairs.
"The group must have got back from the beach at last," Bob said. There's a lot of buzz about what went on in the glamor world of a movie-making, with Grady as a hot sexy lifeguard. When we're done here we'll go down and join them, and I'll put paid to all the rumors."
An hour or so later when they eventually went down to the noisy group they were surprised at how large it was. The tribe's grapevine had a way of spreading the word that a celebration was in the offing and most of the tribe had gathered, which is why the twins and Will were so busy. The only man not there was the star of the show, Grady. The guys had earlier dropped him off at the Grady House, right into the arms of his lover Mario.
Most of the guys at the table were not entirely sure what they were celebrating but they knew that Bob and Randy had been meeting with Pete and Brandon upstairs. And when they appeared there was a hush at the table. Pete and Brandon sat opposite Jamie and Mark, and Brandon shared a conspiratorial smile with Jamie as they both knew about the staff changes.
Randy sat down but Bob remained standing and all eyes were trained on him. "Guys, I won't keep you from your meal with a long speech but I need to fill you in on some staff changes that will be happening. You all know about Grady's promo shoot for his new movie and I understand that it was highly successful.
"By all accounts, Grady, of course, was stunning as a lifeguard, but that's no surprise to us. But what was a surprise was the impact it had on two of our guys – Jamie and Eddie, who were both offered full-time jobs on the movie, beginning right away."
The two boys stood up to acknowledge the wild applause. Eddie, typically, raised linked hands high in the air like a winning prizefighter, while Jamie smiled down at Mark. Bob saw a look in Mark's eyes that he had not seen before – not only pride in his boy but something close to adoration.
Bob waved for silence. "So Jamie and Eddie are going off the payroll here, which accounts for the staff changes that Randy and I have made. We have promoted Brandon to our Office Manager, in charge of all financial affairs of the construction company and the house here. Ryan will be his assistant manager and they will hire a couple of new staff." Amid more cheers Pete leaned over and kissed Brandon while Darius raised high the hand of his boy Ryan.
"Eddie will now longer be house manager, and to fill his big shoes we have promoted Tyler and Finn as co-house managers, to oversee the operation and maintenance of the house and the garden." They jumped up and embraced each other with a full open-mouth kiss that prompted ribald shouts of "Get a room!"
Again Bob waved for silence. "That's all I have to say for now. Some of you may have questions about the impact of these changes, so please bring them to me and I'll try to answer them."
Bob sat down to more applause and Randy whispered in his ear, "Thanks for saying `Randy and I' dude, though everyone knows it was you came up with the changes. You know how bent out of shape I get when you take charge like this, like you're the big boss around here. When we go to bed I guess I have to show you again who the real boss is, so brace yourself, stud."
"Already braced, Randy," Bob ginned. "I would expect nothing less."
<><> JAMIE DOMINATES <><>
During the rest of the meal Bob kept glancing at the look on Mark's face. He couldn't take his eyes off Jamie, with that same mix of pride and adoration. Bob knew that for some time Mark had looked on Jamie not as his boy but as his man. They were lovers – and despite their age difference Mark thought of Jamie as an equal, although Jamie still preferred to call the cop `sir'.
Now suddenly Jamie had landed a prestigious new job on a major motion picture, giving him the bright aura of success as his passion became his job. He would spend his day in the surf playing a lifeguard, in those sexy red shorts he was still wearing now, with a white T-shirt, looking more handsome than ever.
Bob was distracted out of his reverie by Hassan who was also brimming with pride about his boy Eddie. They chatted for some time until Bob heard Jamie ask, "Where's Mark?" Jamie had been having an animated discussion with Eddie, and when he looked up Mark had gone.
"He left a few minutes ago," said Brandon. "He went into your apartment – probably to get something."
But after several more minutes he still hadn't come back so Jamie got up from the table and went in to check on him. He opened the bedroom door and stopped dead. Mark was sitting on the end of the bed leaning back on his elbows smiling up at him. And he was buck naked.
Stunned, Jamie flashed on all those times he himself had been in that same position, waiting naked for Mark to get home from work in his motorcycle cop uniform. Now it was Mark staring up at Jamie in his lifeguard gear – red shorts, white T-shirt and sneakers. "Such a fucking stud," Mark said. "You know what I want, Jamie – what you've been getting from me every day."
Jamie had been pumped up all day with all the surfing action. And his new job, as a coach giving orders to other surfers, had given him heightened machismo, a feeling of power. So yeah, he knew just what Mark wanted. Last night, even though he had been on top of Mark he had been riding his cock, getting fucked by him as usual. And Grady had been watching.
But this was different. Now they were alone, two macho lovers ... and this time he would really be on top. It's what Mark wanted ... it's what Jamie wanted. He walked to the foot of the bed and rubbed the bulge in his shorts as he stared down at the naked cop. Then he got on the bed and stood astride him. He put one foot on Mark's chest and pushed him back – off his elbows, flat on his back. He kept his foot on his chest and pressed down.
Jamie had always begun by pulling off Mark's boots, and now Mark reached for Jamie's foot, unlaced his sneaker, pulled it off and tossed it aside. He did the same for the other shoe and Jamie stood barefoot with his feet beside Mark's face. The cop turned his head and licked the foot, then kissed the other, a gesture of submission to the newly-empowered Jamie.
Copying what Mark always did, Jamie got off the bed and paced round it. Mark watched in awe, just as he had watched Jamie as a lifeguard striding over the beach. Mark's cock was hard and erect, as it had been under his uniform at the beach. The difference was that now he was butt naked, surrendering his ass to that young lifeguard.
Jamie pulled off his T-shirt, unlaced his shorts and pulled his cock out of the fly. He stood by the bed stroking it and Mark moaned. "Fuck me, man. Please, fuck my ass." Hearing the macho police officer begging to get fucked roused Jamie to the cusp of orgasm and he took his hand off his cock. Mimicking Mark's every move when it was he on top, Jamie knelt on the bed, pushed Mark's legs up and pointed his raging dick at his ass.
He stared down at the sculpted blond features ... and drove his cock in the cop's ass. Mark gasped, his head flew back and his body tensed, his muscles flexing as the young surfer pierced his ass. Jamie leaned forward and braced his hands on the slabs of Mark's chest. His feet touched the floor and his body arched over the naked cop at an angle that enabled him to penetrate even deeper in his ass.
"You're fucking beautiful, man," Mark panted. "Damn you feel good in my ass – like getting ploughed by a tough young lifeguard. "Give it to me, stud ... hard."
Whenever Mark had had a tough day paroling the city he unleashed all his tension on Jamie. Now, the tables turned, Jamie's athletic body was charged with testosterone after a hard-driving day – and he vented his power and lust on his lover's ass. Mark had never looked more beautiful to him, lying naked on his back, his magnificent body impaled on his cock.
Mark turned his head and saw in the mirror the homoerotic image of the young jock, his red lifeguard shorts hugging his hips and stretched over his flawless ass. In a frenzy Mark reached up and dug his fingers into Jamie's pecs, which did nothing to slow him down. He was running on pure adrenaline.
Their eyes bored into each other and the laser intensity slowly softened to the first traces of a smile. Mark grabbed the waistband of Jamie's shorts and pulled him down closer to him. "I'm so fucking in love with you, dude. Make love to me."
Jamie leaned forward and kissed Mark, and the fierce fuck slowed to a gentle probing of the warm, tight ass. As Jamie's adrenaline abated he pulled away from Mark's mouth and smiled. "I love you, man, and I'm gonna make you cum." He wrapped his hand round Mark's cock and stroked it while he eased in and out of his ass.
"You feel that, officer? I'm gonna fill your ass with my jizz and jerk you off all over that gorgeous cop body. Here it comes, man. Here it comes ... aaahh."
Both men sighed deeply as Mark felt his ass flooded with his lover's juice, and his own cock spurted semen up so high it splashed on Jamie's abs. They gazed intensely at each other until their heartbeats slowed and Mark panted, "That was spectacular dude – a cop getting his ass reamed by a young jock lifeguard. Damn you felt good inside me. Come here."
He pulled Jamie down beside him and Jamie said, "It felt awesome topping you, dude, but ... I mean, you are still gonna fuck me every day, aren't you, sir?"
"Damn straight, I am. And pounding a hot young lifeguard is gonna be even sexier than fucking an office manager. When you come home from all that action on the beach all day you are gonna be so damn horny you're gonna be begging for it."
Mark grinned. "And you better be wearing those shorts. Damn they look hot. Be a shame to rip them off you. Though, on second thoughts ..."
<><> BENVENUTO A CASA <><>
The only man not at the big celebration was the man who had started it all – Grady, the star of the movie. Jamie had driven him and Eddie back from the beach and they dropped him off late at the big gates of the Grady House. "Thanks, guys," he grinned. "Been a great couple of days. And I'll be seeing a whole lot more of you. I'm gonna love working on this movie with you."
He buzzed the gate and as they drove away they heard Brian squeal through the intercom, "You're home, sir. At last."
The gates swung silently open and Brian came racing out in his wheelchair to meet him. Grady lifted him bodily from the wheelchair and swung him round, then settled him gently back in. "God, I've missed you kiddo – you and the Italian. Where's is ...?"
"He's upstairs waiting for you, sir." As they made their way together to the house and up in the elevator Grady said, "After Mario and I have got, er, reacquainted, kiddo, you and I are gonna have a long talk, `cos I want all the gossip. A lot's been going on, uh?"
"A whole lot, sir." It all came out in a rush. "I've just been talking to Brandon and it seems Bob's been doing a whole number, talking to a lot of the guys and handing out new jobs and stuff. Brandon's the new office manager, and Tyler and Finn the new house managers, though Bob still has to talk to Adam and Chad about Nate."
"Wow, I'd like to be a fly on that wall. The gorgeous Bob, the Aussie and the hunky doc. You gotta give me your predictions later, Brian, `cos you're always right."
They had arrived at the double doors of the master bedroom and Brian said, "I'm going down to check-in with Danny about dinner. So in you go, sir. Have fun." He wheeled himself off with a knowing smile on his face.
Grady opened the bedroom door and stared at Mario who opened his arms. "Benvenuto a casa, amico. Welcome home."
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 525
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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