A Trial of Strength

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 587 by Rob Williams

CHAPTER 587 – "GRADY DEGRADED – BY THE GYPSY & THE COP"

IN THIS CHAPTER:

Movie heartthrob Grady has a problem. "I love being an actor, hate being a movie star." He hates being idolized, put on a pedestal, and craves the reverse – to be dominated, degraded. When he sees the bare-chested gypsy boss Randy and muscled cop Mark he craves them in the worst way – and gets it in the worst way. Randy growls, "OK, pretty-boy movie-star. Let's see what you got."

<><> IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER <><>

The sexy Italian Mario sighed deeply. "Oh Bob, I've needed to talk to someone for so long, and there's no one I trust more than you."

Bob, the much-loved co-leader of the tribe smiled sympathetically. "It's about Grady, I suppose." He was referring to Mario's lover, the internationally famous action-movie idol currently starring as a lifeguard captain in a big-budget surfing epic.

"Bob, I'm so worried about him and his workload. He's working so hard on this movie. When he comes home he smiles and puts on a brave face, but I can tell he's all wound up inside. Nobody knows what it's like for him, being the center of attention all the time, carrying a big expensive movie on his shoulders, broad as they are.

"The beach scenes are especially hard, a long difficult shoot with two dozen surfing extras. If a few of them mess up nobody notices, but if Grady screws up the director yells cut' and the take is ruined. He told me he dreads the words, Let's go again, people', with take after take."

"What's more," Mario said, "Grady's the one who always has to stay cheerful, encouraging the rest of the crew when the going gets rough. Do you know how hard it is to keep smiling all through the day? When he comes home I can tells he's totally exhausted."

Bob said, "OK, Mario, I hear you. So what can we do?"

Mario mentioned that Grady had a four-day weekend coming up "but we can't possibly go away. That's never restful with all the attention he gets. He wants to act normally, like any other guy."

Bob grinned. "Just be one of the guys, eh? Sounds like a party. So how about one of those big bashes you give at the Grady House?"

Mario sighed. "I thought of that, Bob and I wish we could. But all of your guys are super busy with this new company expansion and I couldn't possibly impose on you to ..."

But Bob cut right through his objections, saying that the whole tribe needed a few days off for rest and reflection before embarking on the hard work looming up for them. "Oh, I know it means a shitload of work for the boys, but with nobody left here in the compound I could loan you our four chefs – the twins, Will and now Felipe too. And I know that workaholic Randy could use a break," referring to his lover, the rugged gypsy boss of the whole tribe.

Mario had tears in his eyes as he reached forward and squeezed Bob's hand. "I love you so much, amico." He added hesitantly, "Er, talking of Randy, Bob, there's something else I wanted to mention, though it's hard to know how to put it, it sounds so weird. Let me try to explain. The director and whole crew think the world of Grady and they treat him very well – hell, they've got so much riding on him. Like, when he asks for coffee, there's a cup in his hand in seconds.

"But so much attention can have the reverse effect. So many of them are in awe of him, catering to his every whim. Some of the younger ones would grovel before him. But that's the point, Bob, he gets tired of being up there on a pedestal. He sometimes wants to reverse roles. He wants to be the one groveling. Does that sound as weird to you as it does to me?"

"No, Mario, I understand, and I think I know where you're going with this. You started by saying, `And talking of Randy ...' So we are talking of Randy, right? You said you can't put it into words, but I can. Instead of being built up onto a pedestal, he needs to be torn down. Instead of worship he needs domination, someone to make him grovel and to pound his ass. In short, he needs a dose of gypsy savagery. And I know only one guy who fits that description."

Bob grinned. "If I mention Grady's problem to Randy I can hear his deep growl now – `Ah, I know what that dude needs. He needs a big fat dick up his ass'."

Mario laughed. "You're absolutely right, Bob. Oh I love you two guys, such a perfect team."

Later that afternoon the subject came up when the newest boy in the tribe, Felipe, reported to the gym in the basement for his first workout with Randy. He was the gym coach for many of the boys in the tribe, who always hoped for the reward of being butt-fucked by the coach's monster cock.

Nervous at first, by the end of the workout Felipe was craving to be sexually dominated by the swarthy, blue-eyed gypsy. He got his reward, which climaxed in an epic hands-free orgasm he had never experienced before and would never forget.

Afterwards, as he lay in Randy's arms they talked about the men of the tribe, and the subject of Grady came up. "Poor guy, he's going through a rough time with all that work and attention. In his daily life, the movie crew, the public and the press, praise him all the time, even worship him.

But it's tough to be up there at the top of the heap all the time, and I know just what he needs. He needs someone to pull him off it, down on the ground, make him crawl. He needs to be forced to submit to a man and beg for mercy."

"And you're just the guy to do it, sir," Felipe smiled.

========= CHAPTER 587 =========

<><> ANTICIPATING THE BIG DAY <><>

Word of the upcoming Grady-House party sped over the tribe's ever-efficient grapevine and caused quite a stir.

The excitement was nowhere greater than among the four chefs in the kitchen – the twins Kyle and Kevin, Will, and their new assistant Felipe. They would all be playing a pivotal role, catering the party for at least two days. They had already had a call from the Grady House's young chef Danny. By tradition, Danny would be in charge of the team as it was his kitchen.

Plans had already been made for tentative menus, and shopping lists compiled. The four chefs were now busy in their own kitchen making the many dishes that could be cooked in advance, refrigerated and transported to the house, lessening the cooking load on the big weekend.

As always, they talked as they worked. Felipe said, "I can't believe I'm going to meet the guy who played Tarzan. I mean Grady is so macho, so totally gorgeous. But it'll be such a big party, maybe I won't even meet him. I mean, big celebrities like him probably never visit the kitchens, and even if he did he wouldn't notice a junior chef like me."

"Felipe, will you stop that?" Kyle said sharply. "First of all Grady is just Grady, he's not the Queen of England. Maybe she never visits the palace kitchens, but Grady loves vegging out with us in the kitchen, especially when he's on the prowl for gossip. He loves tribe gossip."

"And second of all," said Kyle's twin Kevin, "you've got to stop putting yourself down, kiddo. We're not servants slaving away in the kitchen while the rich folk party. In the tribe, and at the Grady House, the chefs are considered some of the most respected people around. Kyle and I are Bob's boys and Will is our boy and Seth's step-son. It don't get much better than that. And look at the speech of thanks Randy always gives at the start of every meal and we get a standing ovation."

"Anyway, Felipe," Will added, "you've missed the whole point of this party. Grady's lover Mario hatched the plan with Bob because he's worried about Grady burning out at work. Everywhere he goes he's treated like a celebrity, but he gets tired of the camera flashes and adulation. What he craves most of all is to be ordinary, just one of the guys. And the only place he can be like that is in the tribe, especially at big parties like this."

"You'll see," Kyle said. "That's the way all our guys treat him, like a buddy not a movie star. They kid around with him, laugh with him and even laugh at him. He loves to be the butt of their jokes. I guarantee, when he sees you he's gonna latch onto you and pump you for gossip.

"His own boy, Brian, is a kid in a wheelchair. Grady's favorite thing at the end of the day is to pull Brian into bed with him, with munchies, and dish with him about the goings-on in the tribe. Mario loves to hear them giggle together. It's about as far as you can get from the muscled jungle man swinging from tree to tree – or the sexy lifeguard captain in his new movie."

The chefs continued their work, and when Friday came the anticipation had reached its peak. The party was the main topic of conversation at dinner that evening. The four chefs were to leave early next morning for the Grady house and help Danny prepare a big buffet brunch for all the guests as they arrived at different times during the morning. Mario wanted the first day to be as casual as possible, to let guys unwind and avoid too many formal meals at table.

So now, as they ate dinner Bob said, "Felipe, I know that our attorney Alistair said you should lie low here until he's filed the application for your work permit. He doesn't want you to go out and maybe run into a cop who checks your immigration status. That would muddy the waters and slow things down. But tomorrow we'll make an exception and you can drive up with the twins."

"I know, sir," a wide-eyed young Eddie blurted out. "I saw a movie once about a spy they needed to get out of the country. So he laid on the floor in the back of the car and they covered him with blankets. Maybe Felipe should do the same thing – or even get in the trunk.

"And I read somewhere that in England the Duchess of Windsor, who was having a wing-ding with the King at the time, had to be smuggled out of England to France, and she hid on a car's floor to avoid the paparazzi. Worked for her, it could work for Felipe. And another time ..."

"Thanks for the suggestions, Eddie," Bob interjected patiently, "but Felipe is not a spy and definitely not the Duchess of Windsor. I don't think it will be necessary for him to lie on the floor of a car, and certainly not in the trunk. Kyle will drive carefully, with Will and Felipe sitting in the back, perfectly safe."

"Hmm, I dunno, sir. I could drive him myself and if we get stopped I can talk my way out of anything."

The hunky Marine Hassan put his arm round his boy Eddie. "Dude, you heard what Bob said, and I agree. Besides, I'm gonna drive you `cos I want to make a detour and show you something rather special, something I saw for the first time today."

Of course Eddie pumped him for more information but Hassan's dark Arab face simply broke into a smile and Eddie had to be content with that until tomorrow's big day.

<><> ENTER GRADY, YAWNING <><>

Early next morning the chefs loaded up the twins' SUV and left the house. They left coffee, juice and croissants for when all the guys got up, but it was understood that they would then all make their way up to the Grady House where brunch would be waiting for them.

As they drove up the winding road to the top of the hill, then along the private road with dense hedges on either side, Felipe was impressed and a bit intimidated, especially when they pulled up at the formidable high solid gates. Kyle reached out and pressed the intercom button, a camera swiveled round on a pole and an excited voice said, "Hi, guys, nice and early, great. I'll buzz you in."

The gates swung slowly, silently open and Kyle drove round to the parking area. "Wow," Felipe said, staring at the large house and spacious grounds. "So this is how a movie star lives."

"Not a movie star, dude," Kevin said. "Just a good buddy of ours and his lover Mario and his boy Brian ... who's coming right now."

Barreling along in his wheelchair came Brian with a big smile. "Hey, guys. Big weekend eh?" He smiled at Felipe. "And you must be Felipe. Dude, I am kind of the designated greeter to the Grady House so you have to give me a hug." He opened his arms wide, Felipe bent down and hugged him. "Welcome to the Grady House, dude. Definitely one of the family, right in the thick of things. Will Danny be pleased to see you guys! He's already feeling a bit overwhelmed. Come on, I'll help you unload your gear. Just pile it on my tray table here."

Felipe was impressed by Brian's eager confidence and efficiency. That's what comes of being a movie hunk's boy I suppose, he thought.

Danny certainly was happy to see reinforcements arrive and was especially pleased to meet Felipe. He shook his hand vigorously. "Come to help poor old floundering Danny, eh kiddo?"

Felipe smiled. You don't look floundering to me, Danny. This is a huge kitchen."

"Yeah, Randy enlarged it for us for when he have big parties like this one. Dudes, I've worked out a plan of action for all five of us – it's like planning a whole campaign. After we've stowed in the fridges all this food you've brought, let's sit down and talk and you tell me if it works for you and what changes you want to make."

All five boys sat round the huge butcherblock table in the middle of the room and went over Danny's plan, adjusting it where necessary. They had just finished when Mario came in, looking crisp and fresh in stylishly casual clothes. "Ah, everyone's here, eccellente. Thank you so much for coming boys. Now I want to make one thing clear. You are all to enjoy the party too, so I understand you will be working shifts, with generous time off. Is that right, Danny?"

"Yes, sir, thanks to your idea of a buffet brunch set up in the garden lasting into the afternoon. That way all we have to do is keep it fresh and stocked, which any two guys can do. My lover Tommy will be here any minute and he'll be in charge of setting up the tables and stuff, with the help of some of the boys. Brian's on gate duty doing his meet and greet routine."

"I don't know how you guys do all this so early in the morning," came a drowsy voice from a man shuffling in, yawning and scratching his tousled hair. He was barefoot in boxers and an oversized tank top hanging over his muscular torso. Grady looked as if he had just tumbled out of bed, which he had.

"Hi, guys. Brian told me the cavalry had arrived. And you, you sexy kid, must be Felipe." Grady wrapped his arms round him. "Obviously nobody's gonna introduce us kiddo, so I'm Grady. And listen, dude, you and me gotta talk. I've heard all about you but I need to hear it straight from the horse's mouth – well, in your case, more of a handsome young colt than a horse." His chiseled features broke into the dazzling smile known all over the world.

"What I'm saying is, Felipe, I want the latest gossip. They starve me of gossip here, you know. They keep me in this bubble, like I don't exist. Well, take that back, Brian keeps me posted, but even he don't know the juicy stuff about you, I bet. How soon can we meet, kiddo?"

Mario jumped in. "Bambino, take no notice of him. He's always begging for the latest gossip and he gets plenty of it. Don't let him bully you."

"Sir," Danny smiled, "Felipe will be going on break after we've set up the whole buffet. Maybe an hour or so."

"Good, as soon your free, dude, you come and look for me. I'll be the one huddled under a tree that nobody's paying attention to. Then we'll talk ... private ... just you and me." Grady ruffled Felipe's hair and kissed him on the cheek. "I gotta go jump in the shower."

"Please do it right now, sir," said Danny sternly, "because we don't allow bare feet in the kitchen. You have to leave right know."

Grady pulled a long face. "See how they treat me, Felipe? OK, I know when I'm not wanted. I've been thrown out of classier joints than this." He stumbled out, calling for Brian.

Mario and the chefs all laughed. They knew exactly what Grady had just done. He had not only put Felipe at his ease but, as he smiled at him, made him feel like the most important person in his world – like they were already intimate friends.

OK, boys," Mario smiled, "I'll get out of your hair too. If you run into problems or need any help, I'm a phone call away, Danny."

After Mario left, Will said, "So you've met Grady at last, dude. What do you think?"

"He's ... he's wonderful."

"The whole world would agree with you, Felipe. But right now this is his whole world. We are his world, and he loves it."

<><> EDDIE'S SUNSET STRIP SURPRISE <><>

While the chefs cooked up a storm, the guys down at the compound were getting ready to leave for the big weekend.

Excitement was running high, not least in Hassan's boy Eddie. He had a special connection with Grady as he was one of the trio of Grady's close friends working with him on his movie, along with Jamie and Nate. Early on, Eddie had impressed the movie's director with his camera skills – taking impromptu still shots and videos, mostly of the star Grady that would ultimately be used in promoting the movie.

One picture in particular had already appeared on a few billboards around town. He had shot it by chance in the first week of filming when Grady had fallen off his surfboard and the director yelled `cut'. But Eddie kept on taking pictures and when Grady surfaced in the water he was laughing, shaking his head and spraying water – and that's the magic moment Eddie captured.

The director had been so impressed he said they might use it under the movie's opening credits, the audience's first glimpse of the lifeguard captain.

Now Eddie couldn't wait to get up to the Grady House and maybe bathe in Grady's reflected glory as a close friend and co-worker. However, Hassan had other ideas and had already told Eddie he wanted to take him on a detour before heading up to the house.

So instead of heading up into the hills, Hassan headed for Hollywood, with the hyper Eddie beside him in the jeep. They took Sunset Boulevard all the way west to the Sunset Strip. When they reached a bend in the road Hassan slowed down, pulled over to the curb and stopped.

Eddie looked up, his eyes opened wide and he shouted, "Wow ... that's mine ... it's mine."

He was looking up at a huge digital billboard, the kind where one picture lasts a few seconds before being automatically replaced by another. There were three pictures in this rotation, all of Grady, all taken by Eddie.

"Wow," he gasped again. "I've seen a few regular billboards of Grady, but this is spectacular – and all three are mine. That's the first one I took of him laughing as he breaks the surface ... the next is that gorgeous one of him striding from the water with the sun behind him making him look like a god from the sea. And the third is one taken from below the lifeguard tower focused up to him looking through binoculars."

Hassan said, "And look Eddie ... look at the bottom right in small letters ... `Photos by Eddie'."

Eddie grabbed Hassan's thigh. "They gave me credit ... they gave me photo credit! I'm famous, almost as famous as the guy in the pictures."

Hassan chuckled. "I wouldn't go that far, kiddo, but people will sure be asking who this Eddie is who took such great pictures. And along with those rodeo pictures of cowboy Charlie, where you also got credit, you're on your way, kiddo. Dude, I am so proud of you."

"They only used my first name, but one name is classy, don't you think, like Ritts or Mapplethorpe? Hey, I gotta get this on film to show the guys. They, will, not, believe ..."

Eddie pulled out his ever-present camera, pointed it up and caught the whole three-picture sequence. "Got it. OK, now we really gotta get to the party. Floor it, sir."

Hassan smiled. He always loved his boy's bubbling excitement. So he floored it and the jeep sped back along Sunset.

<><> GRADY AND FELIPE TRADE GOSSIP <><>

By now the Grady House was getting busy, soon to be frenzied with activity. Brian was kept busy manning the intercom, then speeding out to greet the arrivals. The buffet brunch was ready with a huge choice of dishes, many kept warm on silver chafing dishes.

"OK, break time, guys," Danny said. "I'll take the first shift topping up the dishes as needed, not a difficult job." He smiled, "Felipe, don't you have a date with someone out there? You don't have to if you don't feel like it – just because he's this big celebrity."

"I want to, Danny. Not because he's a movie star but because I like him. He was so nice to me."

Kyle laughed. "You're under his spell, kiddo, like millions of people worldwide. Except you actually get to sit with him and talk – as he said, `in private ... just you and me'."

Felipe couldn't help feeling a little nervous, especially when he emerged from the safety of the kitchen to a world buzzing with activity, loud voices and laughter. There was an especially noisy crowd round the bar that Danny's lover Tommy had set up under a big shade tree.

Felipe stopped for a moment, disoriented, then Bob was at his elbow with his reassuring voice. "How's it going in there, Felipe? You guys did a great job with this huge brunch. The guys have descended on it like a pack of wolves."

"It was mostly the experienced chefs, sir. I just did as I was told. I love working with them."

Just then a voice broke through the hubbub of the crowd. "Hey, there you are, Felipe. Get your ass over here."

Grady was sitting under a tree with Mario, and Felipe approached them shyly. Grady reached up, grabbed the boy's wrist and pulled him down next to him. Mario smiled, "Uh-oh, guy gossip. Time for me to leave and take care of our guests. Everyone treating you well, bambino?"

"I'm having a great time, thank you, sir. I'm on break now."

"Which means he's all mine," Grady said. "Mario, you said you have guests to attend to?"

"OK, I can take a hint, amore. I know when I'm not wanted."

Grady leaned over and gave him a warm kiss. "You're always wanted, buddy, you know that. Don't go far." Mario got up and they watched him walk into the crowd and greet the guests. "Look at that, Felipe, so fucking gorgeous, so sexy. I couldn't make it without him, dude ... all of this, the job, the fame. He's my rock. I'm crazy in love with him."

His eyes watered a little, then he laughed and turned to Felipe. "But this is our time, kiddo, just you and me. I've been dying to talk to you. Here sit against the tree. Grady sat facing him, both of them with their legs crossed in front of them.

Grady reached forward and held the boy's hands. With his back to the crowd Grady was blocking Felipe's view, so all he could see was Grady's face, the same handsome face he had stared up at in awe on the movie screen. And now here he was, holding his hands and smiling at him like his new best friend."

"Dude, you have such a story to tell, they should make a movie of it. But listen, I don't wanna get into the early stuff if it hurts to talk about it."

"Oh, I don't mind, sir. I think I should talk about it, people should know, `cos there are thousands of kids going through the same thing right now, and most of them won't be as lucky as I've been. I think of them all the time. Don't you think it's important for the public to see what I've seen ... like, first hand?"

Grady squeezed his hands. "You're absolutely right, amico. And when all the legal stuff is settled for you, I'll help you get the story out. I'm sure my studio would get behind a project like that, with all the resources they have. But OK, now it's just you and me, so spill, kiddo."

Gaining in confidence all the time, Felipe started from when he graduated from the Culinary School and worked for the English family, until he felt so threatened he had to leave.

"But how do you make a huge decision like that, Felipe? I mean, to brave a three-thousand-mile trek all alone through hostile countries?"

"You do what you have to do, sir. And I always wanted to see America, I'd heard so much about it and seen so many movies." He blushed. "Like yours, sir. When I saw you in those Tarzan movies, I ... I dunno, maybe I thought everyone here looked like you. On my darkest days I used to think of you and hope to meet guys like you. It kept me going. In a way, sir, you were my inspiration."

"Really?" Grady asked, engrossed. "I never thought of it like that. Quite a responsibility." He smiled. "And in the end you really did fall into a group where all the men and boys are buff and handsome. But kiddo, that Grady on the screen was not the real me. This is the real me, sitting in front of you. But enough about me. Tell me about your travels. It's hard to believe you did that all alone. It's an epic, dude. So tell me some of the things that happened along the way.

<><> AN INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP <><>

Watching from across the lawn Bob said to Mario, "Look at Grady, and look at the light in Felipe's eyes. He has the feeling he's the only person in Grady's world right now."

"And he is, Bob. Grady has the uncanny knack of segmentation. He can focus on one person or one thing and totally block out the rest of the world. It often saves his sanity. I've watched him at the studio. It can be chaos all around him, raised voices, lost tempers and he'll sit quietly in the middle of it all concentrating on his script.

"It's the same when he makes love. When he looks at me I am the only person in his world and that is so sexy, so powerful."

"Actually, Mario," Bob smiled, "I believe you are the only person who really matters in his world. He's told me often he would willingly give all of it up – the fame and fortune – and go and live quietly with you in that little house he still has among the trees of Laurel Canyon."

"Meanwhile, Bob, it's moments like this one now that enable him to forget the pressures of his job. He is absolutely entranced with Felipe."

That was true. At that moment Grady was squeezing Felipe's hands saying, "No, really? He really said that?" Felipe was telling him the story of the truck driver who had given him a lift across the desert, but threatened to push him out and leave him if Felipe didn't suck his cock.

"So what did you do, kiddo?"

"What could I do, sir? I would have died alone in the desert. So I sucked his cock."

"And you'd never sucked cock before? Did you hate it?"

"Surprisingly no, sir. He wasn't bad looking and, it was OK. I didn't swallow his cum, though. Not like I do Jamie's and Mark's."

After relating more of his adventures, including swimming across the river into the U.S., they came to his living on the Malibu beach and meeting Jamie.

"After we met I waited the next day, sure Jamie wouldn't come back. But he did, and even then I was scared to talk to him again. I watched him surfing on his own and I almost lost my nerve, but at the last minute I ran down to the water and he saw me. Don't you think there are moments like that, sir, split-second decisions that can entirely change your life? It's kind of scary that any moment of any day you can make the wrong decision and ruin everything."

"You're absolutely right, kiddo. I struggle with stuff like that all the time. It's scary, like you say. So anyway, getting down to the nitty gritty, Jamie then fucked you?"

"No, sir. The first night I watched Mark fuck Jamie as he always does and he included me – `two for the price of one' Mark called it, and he fucked me – first time in my life. The next night Jamie asked me to fuck him, another first. So it wasn't till the next day, in the garden, that Jamie fucked me, and I knew I was in love."

"And that's it for sex?"

Felipe blushed. "Well, no sir. The next day I went down to the gym for a workout with Randy."

"Ah yes," Grady laughed, "The famous initiation. And he fucked you and you fell in love, right?"

"I ... I think I did a bit, sir."

"Randy is the most incredible fuck, kiddo. He is so totally masculine, exudes it, so dominant. I love it when he treats me rough, actually the only man who ever does. The rest are sweet and loving to me. Er, I see over your shoulder that the twins are hovering."

"Oh, that must mean it's my turn to freshen and restock the buffet, sir. But, er, I like talking to you ... can we do it again someday."

"Of course we're going to, amico. Very soon. I have loved spending time with you, it has meant a whole lot to me."

Grady leaned forward and kissed him, but before Felipe could stand up an outburst attracted everyone's attention – the arrival of Eddie and Hassan.

Eddie strutted in and announced, "Gather round, guys, I have something to show you that you ... will ... not ... believe." He whipped out his camera and the boys gathered round, the men looking over their shoulders. "Hassan just took me to the Sunset Strip and this is what we saw."

As he played back the short video of rotating pictures there were loud exclamations ... "Oooh", "Wow", "He looks sensational, dude ..."

"But look in the bottom corner guys. See that? Photos by Eddie! They're all mine, dudes. I'm gonna be famous."

Felipe had turned round to look, like everyone else, and now he swiveled back to face Grady, whose smile had faded. Felipe said, "Sir, you look incredible in those pictures, so beautiful, like a real star ... like a god ..."

"No, no don't say that, buddy." Urgently Grady grabbed Felipe's hands again. "Please don't say that. That's not me in those pictures. The real me is right here facing you, your friend. But now you'll be too intimidated to hang out with me and talk like we did. Please, Felipe, you're still my friend aren't you, like we were just now? Please say you are."

"Of course, sir. I know what you mean, and I haven't changed, nor have you. We're still friends."

"See, this is how it starts, kiddo, with the billboards. They told me the publicity blitz was starting and I'll have to travel all over the country for public appearances, interviews, press conferences, with flashbulbs and cheers and applause ... and I hate all that. I just wanna stay here with you and the guys," Grady said plaintively.

Felipe leaned forward and kissed the tears running down his cheeks. Then he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, looked up and saw Mario smiling down at him. "Sir, I have to go back to the kitchen. Will you ... will you ...?

"I'll take care of him, bambino, don't worry. I'm so glad you had this talk with him, and I'm sure there will be many more. Felipe squeezed Grady's hand one last time, then got up and walked toward the twins. As they turned toward the house, Felipe looked back over his shoulder for a last look at Grady ... but he had gone. The spot on the grass under the tree was empty.

<><> THE GYPSY & THE COP TEAM UP <><>

An uncomfortable silence settled over the crowed and Eddie, predictably, was the first to speak. "Oh god, me and my big mouth. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have flaunted those pictures and reminded Grady of the all the publicity that's coming."

"No, Eddie," Felipe said. "I was the one talking to Grady, I must have said something wrong. It's my fault."

Grady's boy Brian wheeled up in his wheelchair and held Felipe's hand. "No dude, it wasn't you. I watched Grady and you and I could tell he was loving talking to you. I know Grady, I can read him like a book, and I've seen that happy look so often. You couldn't possibly have said anything wrong."

"Boys, neither of you is at fault," Mario said. "This is just something that's been worrying Grady, something he has to work out for himself – with our help." He flashed a desperate glance at Bob, who recalled Mario's early plea to him about enlisting Randy's help. So Bob in turn gave Randy a pleading look.

Randy, wearing a black sleeveless T-shirt, was sitting at a nearby table with Mark, who was still in his cop uniform, having come straight from a night shift he had worked so as to get the weekend off. The two men had watched and heard the whole uncomfortable turn of events and now a troubled silence hung over the whole crowd.

Randy sighed, casually took a swig of beer and wiped the back of his hand over his mouth. He stood up and said, "OK guys, listen up. This is all bullshit and, like Mario said, it's nobody's fault. Eddie, those pictures you took were terrific and I'm glad you shared them with us. Felipe, Brian was right, your chat with Grady did him a power of good. Nah, this is a problem I have to fix. So leave it to me, guys, and enjoy your party. I'll take care of Grady and make everything right, trust me."

And they did. When the boss said he'd fix a problem he always did – in one way or another.

"Hey, Mark. You ready for us to do our usual perimeter checkup, make sure there's no holes in the security around here?"

"Sure thing, Randy." Mark stood up, unbuttoned his black uniform shirt, shrugged it off and hung it over the back of the chair. "OK, buddy, let's go."

Randy winked at Bob and they walked off.

Mario said to Bob. "Amico, I am so glad you and Randy are here. Grady was thrown by seeing those pictures of himself, a reminder of the publicity grind that's coming. As I told you earlier, I know just what he needs, and Randy knows it too. Grady's about to have a rough time – and he's going to love every minute of it."

<><> A HOTSHOT MOVIE STAR? NAH! <><>

As Randy and Mark walked round the edge of the expansive grounds Mark checked the security cameras and Randy made sure there were no gaps in the dense hedges and fences surrounding the property. And as they walked, they talked.

"Have you seen Grady like this before, bro?" Mark asked.

"Oh yeah. Just a few months ago he had a major funk, was threatening to give up the whole business and go live a quiet life in a little house with Mario. But that would have thrown hundreds of people out of work and cost the studio a fortune so I read him the riot act. Told him what a selfish asshole he was and fucked the shit out of him. That's all it took.

"But you know, Mark, you've gotta feel sorry for the guy. He's under huge pressure all the time. I mean, if you don't show up to work for a day or two, some other cop covers your shift. But like I said, if Grady don't show he could throw the entire crew out of work and cost the studio millions. At this stage in his career he's such a major star he'd be impossible to re-cast. With all that riding on his shoulders, no wonder he cracks up sometimes.

"Plus he has to keep in perfect shape, watch his diet and work out daily with me. I really bust his chops in the gym and I can see he'd much rather just crawl back into bed. I swear, if he didn't have Mario, his kid Brian and young Danny to take care of him he'd go to pieces."

Mark frowned. "But what I don't get, dude, is you saying he needs to be torn down rather than built up."

"Oh, he gets built up all the time – at work with a crew that worships him, who'd do anything for him, and in public with all the screaming fans, paparazzi, fawning press. That's hard to live up to, Mark. So he craves the reverse, to be looked down on instead of up to. He wants to be dominated." Randy grinned. "And I think you and me can handle that, officer."

"I'll follow your lead, buddy."

It wasn't long before they reached a far corner of the ground and found him. Grady was in his favorite escape spot, hidden from view in a grove of trees. He was sitting on the ground against a tree, barefoot in red lifeguard shorts and a loose tank, arms folded round his knees, face buried between them. He heard their voices. "Here he is, feeling real sorry for himself."

He looked up and managed a weak smile. "Hey, guys, what are you doing here?"

"Kinda déjà vu all over again, eh dude?" Randy said. "Last time I found you here you were threatening to quit your job, run away and become a monk, living in the trees with your lover. What's it this time, work got too much for you again?"

Grady sighed. "It's not the work, Randy, I can handle that. I actually enjoy it with Jamie, Nate and Eddie with me all the time. We have a good time. No it's the other side of it. I love being an actor, I hate being a movie star.

You saw those pictures Eddie took – damn he's a good photographer. When that wonderful kid Felipe saw them he looked at me differently, said I looked like a god. Guys, I hate that, I just wanna be his pal. I hate the way the crew treats me like royalty. I hate being admired, catered to, screamed at by fans, followed by paparazzi. I hate the fucking red carpet. And when this PR blitz begins it's gonna be brutal.

"You know me, Randy, I just wanna be one of the guys, I wanna go out with Mario, stroll down the street, hang out in a restaurant. But I can't `cos I'm a celebrity, I'm a big fucking movie star. I can't get away from it. It's killing me."

He stopped and stared up at the two muscular men – the dark gypsy with the long hair, wearing jeans and a sleeveless black T-shirt – the blond cop with chiseled features, in black cop uniform pants, high motorcycle boots but no uniform shirt, just a white T-shirt stretched over his ripped torso. Grady's dick got rock hard, especially when Randy spoke.

"Hmm, I don't see no celebrity, do you, officer?"

"A celebrity? Hell no."

"Claims he's some hotshot movie star? Do you see a movie star?"

"That neither," Mark shrugged. "All I see is a guy who's pretty full of himself, claims he's praised all the time, waited on, cheered, worshipped even, like some fucking god on Mount Olympus."

"Damn straight ... the fucking arrogance. Only thing you can do to an asshole like that is pull him down off Mount fucking Olympus – show him how mere mortals live. Make him grovel."

"You mean, work him over, like I've seen some dirty cops work over a suspect who mouths off to them?"

"Yeah just like that. That what you want, pretty boy?"

Grady groaned, "Yeah."

"Yeah? Yeah?" Randy snarled. "That all you got?"

"Yes please?"

"Damn, it's like pulling teeth," Mark said. "If I was interrogating a suspect and all I got was this, hell, I'd start slapping him around till he cooperated."

"OK, yes please, sirs. I want it, can't you tell? I'll do anything ..."

"Even crawl?"

"Yes, sir. I can do that."

Randy and Mark took a few steps back and Grady stared up at them as they pulled off their T-shirts and dropped them on the ground. They folded their arms across their bare chests and Randy growled. "OK, pretty-boy movie-star. Let's see what you got."

God how he wanted it. These were the gods, these macho musclehunks studs, and he wanted to worship them. He wanted it in the worst way.

And the worst way was how he got it.

<><> THE LIFEGUARD BREAKS <><>

Grady rolled over onto his belly, and began to drag himself across the grass. Man that looks hot," Randy said. "Look at the ass under those lifeguard shorts. Hey, we got ourselves a lifeguard captain, officer."

At first Grady kept his eyes on their faces, but as he got closer he focused on the discarded shirts that had fallen on their boots – the gypsy's work boots and the cop's motorcycle boots.

When he reached the shirts a voice above him growled. "Eat `em." He clamped his mouth over the cop's T-shirt, bit down on it and felt the sweat oozing from it down his throat. He spat the shirt out, moved over to the muscle T and inhaled the rancid smell of the gypsy's sweat.

"Now the boots."

The degraded action star, flat on his belly, eagerly licked first the work boots then the cop's boots. After he licked them clean he looked up for the men's approval. But he groaned when he saw the men kissing each other passionately. "No," he moaned and wrapped his hands round the cop's boot. Slowly, painfully, he pulled himself forward, up the shiny black boot, then farther up the leg and hooked his fingers over the cop's heavy black belt.

They stopped kissing and Mark said, "Well, will you look at that buddy? Our tame movie star wants in on the action. What d'ya think?"

"Ah, guess we can toy with the stud for a while." Randy reached down, grabbed Grady's tank and hauled him up. He paused halfway up and looked down at the muscled jock hanging from his shirt. "Handsome son-of-a-bitch lifeguard captain, I'll give you that dude. Come up here, I wanna see how you taste."

Randy pulled him all the way up on his feet, ripping part of the shirt. He held him still, shirt bunched in his fist, then clamped their mouths together hard, forcing his tongue in deep. Feeling he was suffocating, the jock struggled but the gypsy had him trapped. When at last Randy pulled away Grady was gasping, and Randy snarled, "What do you say, asshole?"

"Thank you, sir," he stammered.

"There's a good captain – you're learning. OK, officer, grab his arms." Mark got behind the jock, grabbed his wrists and forced his arms up behind his back in a painful double hammer lock. He was trapped, his bulging chest helplessly exposed to his other tormentor.

Randy stood facing him, pierced him with his blue eyes and searched to read his expression. The former anguish, fear and confusion had disappeared, replaced by the sexual craving that Randy had seen in so many men's eyes. Yeah, this is what the man wanted, just what he needed. So Randy got to work.

While Mark held him tight, helpless, Randy pinched his nipples hard through the tank. Grady groaned, then Randy ripped the tank wide open and worked the bare nipples even harder, digging in with his nails. Grady's handsome faced grimaced in pain and his moans grew louder as tears sprang to his eyes.

"Damn he looks hot," Randy grinned. "Gives me a fucking boner."

"You too, eh bro? I need someone to service my dick, man."

"Well I sure ain't gonna suck your dick, officer, so we better use the captain here." Randy took up a boxers stand and flicked his fists at the captive's bare torso in a series of pec punching and ab punching, with increasing force. "I can pummel you senseless, man, or you can end it by begging to suck our cocks."

"I ain't gonna suck your dick, man," the captain said defiantly, which angered Randy and made him punch harder. "Man, I enjoy using a defiant young lifeguard as my punching bag. Hell, I ain't even started with you, asshole."

The captive winced as the muscular gypsy showed off his strength. Grady flexed his pecs and abs hard to withstand the blows, but the hits to his chest soon became so savage that he had to submit. "OK, OK, I give up," he pleaded. "I can't take any more."

"You know what you have to do, stud. Tell me."

"I wanna suck your dick, sir. Please, I can't take this. I want your dick. I'm begging you, man, please shove your dick in my throat."

Randy grinned triumphantly. "Let's have that tank, you won't be needing it anymore." He ripped the last shreds of the shirt off his chest and wound it into a rope. "Let him go, Mark."

Mark released him. Randy spun him round and tied his wrists behind his back with the ripped tank. He yanked his shorts down and tossed them aside. "Damn, look at that ass." He slapped it a few times, watching the firm white globes of the flawless ass bounce under the blows.

Randy and Mark faced him and took a step back to get a good look. "Let's see if you can get free, stud." Grady struggled, pulling helplessly against his bound wrists, muscles bulging with the strain.

"Damn that's hot," Mark said, "a fucking wet dream, musclehunk lifeguard butt naked. Just look at that ripped body struggling, man ... flawless. And that chiseled face wincing in pain. And you see that dick of his? Hard as a rock. Man, he really gets off on this stuff."

"Yeah, buddy, but watch this. OK stud, you ain't goin' nowhere, except where I tell you. So I wanna hear it. Tell me what you want, big guy."

The bound man looked pleadingly at them. "I wanna suck dick, sir. I need it so bad. I want your dick in my mouth."

"Thought you'd never ask," Randy grinned. "OK, captain, on your knees." Grady sank humbly to his knees, his face inches from the bulges in their pants. "You wanna go first, officer?"

"Yeah. Come here, stud." Mark grabbed his tousled dark hair and yanked his face forward so his mouth clamped over the bulge in the cop's uniform pants. He bit down on the rough black serge and felt the cock swell underneath. When he started to choke, Mark pushed his face back, unzipped his pants and pulled out his long stiff rod. The bound prisoner obediently opened wide and the cop drove his cock down his throat.

Staring down at the lifeguard's handsome face, tears running down his face as the rod pistoned in his mouth, Mark said, "Dammit, Randy, this guy is such a huge fucking turn-on I'm real close to busting a load down the fucker's throat."

"Nah, not yet, officer. My turn now." Randy ripped open his jeans and pulled out his massive cock. He reached over and grabbed Grady's hair. In one quick move he yanked the captive's face off Mark's cock and plunged it down on his own beer-can thick shaft, with a satisfied grin as the lifeguard choked.

As he face-fucked the kneeling man Randy growled, "Look at the hotshot captain now, buddy. Not so fucking arrogant now, eh, no applause, no worship. He's naked on his knees, worshiping cock ... total humiliation. His lifeguard crew should see their boss now, degraded, begging for cock. They'd spit on him, line up to get their own dicks sucked by their groveling captain."

They took him in turn and Grady's degradation was complete, his mouth forced down on first one thick rod then the other. When Randy saw that he was reaching his endurance limit he pushed his head back and the broken man stared up at him, his mouth sagging open, drool running down his chin, tears streaming down his cheeks, a picture of humiliation and defeat.

"OK, man, you're done. You're nothing. A piece if shit nothing. Let me hear you say it, captain, you who boasts about being a top man everyone worships. Tell me what you really are."

The handsome face winced. "I'm nothing, sir. A piece of shit nothing."

"So tell me what the naked piece of shit nothing wants now."

"I want to you fuck my ass, sir. Please, I need to feel your dick in my ass."

"Thought so," Randy grinned. "No surprise there. OK, officer, you hear that? Let's finish off this piece-of-shit nothing." Randy raised his leg, put his foot on the kneeling man's shoulder and shoved hard, sending him sprawling on the ground on his back. "There he is, Mark, he's all yours, buck naked. I'll hold him down while you do the honors."

"It'll be a pleasure, boss."

Randy knelt behind Grady's head, reached forward, grabbed his ankles and pulled his legs far back, giving the cop a straight shot at his ass. Mark knelt down and grinned. "No need for spit. The captain here lubed my cock when I shoved it down his throat." Mark smiled down at the handsome face streaked with spit and tears. "Brace yourself, big guy. A cop's gonna shove his nightstick up your ass."

"Aaah" Grady moaned as he felt the thick rod driving into him. His head rolled from side to side on the grass, and when he looked up he saw Randy leaning over him from behind, his monster dick swinging over his face, dripping pre-cum on his face. By now he was so close to orgasm and too weak to hold back.

The sight of the muscular, shirtless blond cop pounding his ass, and the thought that he was about to get fucked next by the gypsy's massive schlong dripping down on him, was all total overload and his heart pounded. "Not the big tough captain now, are you? So submit to the cop like the piece of shit you are. Spill your load, asshole. That's an order ..."

Grady watched the cop's magnificent body tense, his muscles flex, and felt his cock erupt deep in his ass. "Aaagh." Grady's scream rang round the garden as his own cock reared up and a long plume of semen rose in the air and splashed down on his own heaving chest and thrashing face. He slumped exhausted and waited for the thing he had craved all along.

Randy and Mark traded places and it was the cop's dick that now dripped cum on his face while Randy knelt at his ass. Randy stroked his cock and smiled. "No stranger to this guy, eh, dude? This is what you wanted all along."

"Yes, sir," Grady moaned. "But ... but I just shot a massive load, and ..." Randy's eyes flashed.

"Are you saying you can't cum for me, asshole? Me! When I fuck you, man, you shoot a handsfree load or I'll fucking rip your ass wide open. Is that clear ... is that fucking clear to you?"

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."

"OK, fucker, you know how this goes by now." Randy rammed his cock deep inside Grady's already tender ass, pulled all the way out, then plunged in again. Grady reflexively struggled to free his hands still tied behind his back, but Randy leaned forward and pinned his shoulders to the ground.

The naked, bound jock stared up into Randy's swarthy face, his long hair whipping down over it as he pounded ass. Grady was drowning in the hypnotic laser-blue eyes and gave himself over completely to the pain and the exhilaration of being dominated by this gypsy savage. He was sobbing now, as all the fear and frustration that had built up in him now evaporated in the ecstasy of being overpowered, broken and humiliated by this magnificent man.

"That's it, buddy, let it all out. And whenever you feel bad about your life, you come to me and I'll take care of you. And now, you gorgeous fucking stud, you are gonna shoot for me like you always do. And I'm gonna unload in your ass because I love watching the movie hunk, famous all over the world, shoot his load just for me. Look into my eyes and do it, you know you have to. Here we go, dude."

Randy turned savage, piledriving his ass, staring down at the struggling jock. Grady watched the muscled gypsy flex, felt the massive cock ramrodding his ass, and watched the gypsy howl as he poured semen deep inside him. Convulsed in heaving sobs, Grady was hardly aware of his own spontaneous orgasm spraying another load of jizz over his writhing body.

<><> A REALLY FUN TRIP <><>

Randy quickly untied Grady's wrists and scooped him into his arms. "That's it, buddy, it's over. That's what you needed, and, damn, you got it. You're incredible, dude, you deserve all the applause and adoration you get. Except you don't get it from me," he grinned. "All you get from me is a good ol' caveman fuck."

As he regained his breath and his sobs died down Grady looked up at Mark, "Thank you Mark. You are fucking gorgeous. And you Randy, I can't begin to ... But now ..."

"Now you want Mario," Randy smiled, "of course you do. Don't worry, he'll be right with you."

Randy stood up, picked up the shirts and tossed Mark's to him. "Come on, officer. Our work here is done. He threw his arm over Mark's shoulder and they walked back across the grounds. The hushed crowd looked up expectantly as the men approached, bare-chested, shirts thrown over their shoulder.

"Relax, guys," Randy grinned, "he's just fine. He got what he needed, now all he needs is Mario." Mario stood up. "Thank you, Randy. You too Mark. I love you guys." He walked quickly away, knowing exactly where Grady would be. He found him lying naked on the grass, eyes closed. He knelt down and kissed him gently on the lips."

Grady opened his eyes, smiled and murmured, "Mmm ..." and pulled Mario down with him. Mario smiled, "Did you get everything you needed, amore?"

"And then some," he grinned. "Buddy, I will never again complain of being on a pedestal. Being pulled off it and degraded is really hard work ... and a whole lot of fun." He flashed Mario that gleaming smile that was special for him and always made Mario hard. Grady sighed, "I'm sorry I behaved so weirdly, dude, but think I can face that PR stuff, now ... I think."

"Oh, I've been thinking about that, amico. Listen, whenever a big star like you goes on a promotional tour he always has an entourage to take care of him – guys like a personal assistant, photographer, even hair and makeup.

"So I just called George, our liaison at the studio publicity department, and talked to him about it. He said of course you must have people with you, people you felt comfortable with ... though maybe not hair and makeup. He made sure I would be coming with you as your personal manager. And he said you should have a photographer for candid shots and maybe someone from the crew to field technical questions.

"George urged us to bring Eddie as traveling photographer as they were so impressed by the publicity pictures he's already taken. And he suggested Jamie and Nate as they were pivotal to the production, and worked so closely with Grady. They would be invaluable in explaining all the intricacies of the surfing scenes. He anticipates a lot of questions about that, seeing as it's a lifeguard movie shot mostly at the beach.

He also made clear that Grady and his entourage would travel on the studio's corporate jet. I know the boys would love that, but I thought I'd run it by you first before I asked them. Grady, we could have a really fun trip, take a lot of the pressure off you."

Grady laughed. "Mario, you're a genius ... and gorgeous, and sexy, and smart, a perfect lover, a terrific fuck and ..."

"Hey, stop right there, Grady, or I'll have to be pulled down from my pedestal."

"Yeah, and you wouldn't like all the rough stuff, Mario, that's my territory. But dude, I know that tonight we'll have all the guys staying over, but we will make love tonight won't we?"

"Dumb question, amico. All night if you like. Come on, let's go tell the boys about our plans for the trip."

Mario stood up, pulled Grady unsteadily to his feet, and they went back to join the party.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 588

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

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.

AND DON'T FORGET – IF YOU ENJOY THESE STORIES, PLEASE DONATE to this site. Nifty needs your donations to provide these thousands of wonderful stories. So please go to http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html and donate what you can. All the other writers and I thank you.