A Trial of Strength

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 596 by Rob Williams

CHAPTER 596 – "RANDY TO THE RESCUE"

IN THIS CHAPTER

Young Ben relaxes in Uncle Mike's house with his hero fireman Jason. But Ben's joy fades when he goes to work at the motorcycle workshop where he's threatened by a tough savage biker. Just in time Ben's equally tough big brother Randy shows up and confronts the thug in a brutal fight between macho topmen on the greasy, oil-slick floor, where the loser submits in abject humiliation. ____________________________________________________________________

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

Young Ben – the tribe's assistant mechanic and Randy's kid brother – had run away from home and his job.

Ben had the misfortune to be in the direct line of fire when the overworked construction boss Randy had erupted in a fit of rage and accused Ben of napping at work. "If I catch anyone sleeping on the job I fire him on the spot. So you're fucking fired, boy. I don't need a loser like you. Get the fuck outa' here."

Devastated, Ben fled to the comfort and protection of the tribe's Uncle Mike in Palm Springs, where he was eagerly hired by Mike's boy Larry in his motorcycle repair shop.

But Ben had an even greater worry. He was the devoted boy of handsome young fireman Jason, who for four weeks had been in Northern California fighting the hellish forest fires. Ben had not heard from Jason in almost a week, but at last Jason phoned him with good news. "Hey, kid, my tour of duty's over and they're releasing us tomorrow. And guess what. I have a whole two weeks off.."

"Sir, I'm in Palm Springs with Uncle Mike and Larry. Why don't you come straight here? It's a great place to rest and relax – like a vacation."

Ben's excitement mounted when Mike suggested they stay in his guest cottage on the sprawling grounds of his house. The next day Ben met Jason at the Palm Springs airport and took him straight to the guest cottage where the exhausted fireman went straight to bed. Ben let him sleep and ran across to Uncle Mike in the main house.

"So he's home safe and sound." Mike smiled. How is he? Tired I bet."

"Completely exhausted, sir." Ben frowned. "And, er, I dunno, there was this faraway look in his eyes and his voice sometimes. Oh, he wanted me real bad, but still there was a distant look ..."

"Ben, before you go back to him I wanna tell you a couple a' things to expect. No-one can imagine the hellish scene up there in the midst of those fires – the things he's seen, the fear he's felt. His exhaustion is mental as well as physical. And that distance you noticed? It sounds to me like some kind of PTSD ... post-traumatic stress.

"All those weeks he's trained himself to suppress his natural emotions – his fear, his tension – as they would interrupt his focus on the job he had to do. But now the nightmare is over, he's safe, back in the real world, and he can finally give way to all those feelings."

"You yourself had your own trauma yesterday when the brother you love seemed to reject you. And how did you react? You suppressed you despair and gritted your teeth. Bravely, defiantly, you stormed off and hit the road for a long, lonely drive. And when you got here I put my arms around you, you felt safe, and you unleashed all those pent-up feelings and sobbed in my arms.

"That's kind of what Jason's doing now. Not sobbing, maybe, but certainly taking you in his arms. He loves you, you represent tenderness and safety, the reverse of what he's experienced up north. His instinct now is to shut down and stop thinking about the past, which accounts for the vacant look in his eyes. All he wants now is to fall asleep with the boy he loves.

"By the way, don't tell him yet about all the Randy stuff. He's got enough to deal with, he needs peace, not anger at what Randy did. He thinks you came here to help Larry out at work, which is true, so we'll leave it at that right now.

"The time will come when he does want to purge his demons and tell someone what he's been through. But he won't do that with you, Ben. He wants to stay strong in your eyes, the tough firefighter, and he feels he might seem weak when he confesses his fears and failings.

"When he's ready he'll most likely seek out an older authority figure to pour out his feelings to. I hope that man will be me. In my years as a bar owner I've seen many men who've gone through something traumatic. First thing they do is hit the bar. I make sure they don't crawl into a bottle and drown their sorrows in booze. But I do let them talk ... and talk. And if that's what Jason wants, I'll be here for him, the same way you'll be there for him now, in his bed."

"Thank you for explaining all that, sir. But right now I should be getting back to him. He said he needs me a whole lot."

"Ben, right now Jason wants you more than anything else in the world. So go get your ass in that bed. Go on, scoot."

Ben hugged Mike, then ran across the garden and into the bedroom where Jason was lying with his eyes closed. Ben undressed, lay down naked next to Jason who curled his hand round his boy's head and murmured drowsily. "Hello kid ... hmm, I've dreamed of this moment."

"But when you wake up, sir, this time I won't disappear like a dream. I'll still be right here."

========= CHAPTER 596 =========

<><> A RUDE AWAKENING <><>

They slept for several hours in the shaded guest cottage, Ben's face resting on Jason's chest that rose and fell under him with his deep, level breathing. Not surprisingly it was Ben who woke first, and his first thought was what he could do to help his exhausted fireman.

He recalled his brief chat with Uncle Mike across the garden in the main house. The wise older man had told Ben that Jason, after four grueling weeks fighting the hellish forest fires in Northern California, would probably be feeling some level of post-traumatic stress. Now that he was re-entering the real world he needed to de-stress, so the first priority was sleep – and the love of his boy, Ben.

In his coming two-week recuperation in Mike's sprawling Palm Springs home, Jason had to be free to do, say and feel whatever helped him. And they should be prepared for surprises along the way.

Ben was not entirely sure what all that meant. But now, as he lay on his side, propped on his elbow, and gazed down at the handsome face, he had a feeling that exhausted Jason could sleep solidly for the rest of the day and all night. But Ben also had a sense that this might not be the best thing. He must surely be hungry, and the worst thing would be to wake up in the middle of the night and search for food.

For now Ben contented himself with lightly touching the chiseled features of Jason's face. He gently brushed his tangled blond hair back off his forehead and ran a finger down between his eyes and along the bridge of his nose. He paused when his breathing changed rhythm. Then as the level breathing resumed, Ben touched the cleft in his chin that he always found so sexy, carefully leaned forward and kissed his cheek, ever so lightly.

There was a low murmur of satisfaction from the sleeping man so the emboldened Ben went a bit farther and pressed his lips against Jason. But it was a bit too far.

Suddenly the startled Jason opened his eyes and gasped, "No ... no ... get away." Only half awake he panicked and waved his arms frantically to protect his face. Ben pulled back but not before one of the flailing hands smacked him across his check.

"Get away from me ... leave me alone ... go away."

A mortified Ben said, "Sorry, sir ... I didn't mean to ... I'll go ... I'm going sir." He leapt out of bed and stumbled toward the door. Jason propped himself on his elbows and, fully awake now, frowned as he saw Ben clumsily pull the door open.

"Wait ... wait ... Ben ... don't go ... please, stay with me, kiddo ... come here, please."

Ben turned and saw Jason sitting up holding out his arms. He ran back to the bed and Jason pulled him down into it, wrapping him tight in his arms. "Dude, what did I do?" Jason moaned. "I thought ... I didn't know ... I thought I was back in the fires, and ... oh kiddo, I'm such a fucking mess ..." He touched Ben's red cheek. "Did I do that? Oh god, I hurt you, my own boy ..."

"Sir, shush. You didn't mean to, I know that. It was my fault, I was clumsy trying to wake you up. But Uncle Mike told me to expect stuff like this. A smack in the face ain't nothing, I'm a big boy, I can take a lot worse than that."

"But you shouldn't have to, Ben ..."

"Yes I should, sir. I'm your boy, here to help you, whatever happens."

"Whatever happens, don't leave me, kiddo. I need you so bad and ..."

"Sir, I told you, I'll always be here for you, I'm not going anywhere. I'm your boy, I love you, sir."

This time it was Jason who did the kissing, passionately on Ben's lips, their mouths churning together. Then they fell back on the pillow staring at each other. "Sir, you mustn't worry. Mike told me you'll prob'ly have, er, post dramatic stress, or something ..."

Jason grinned. "That's post-traumatic stress disorder, kiddo, PTSD, what a lot of soldiers and first responders get."

"And firemen too, sir."

"So it seems, kid. Here let me kiss your cheek better." He licked his cheek and kissed it. "There, all gone," he smiled.

Ben giggled. "That's what my mom used to say when I was little. Er, are you hungry, sir?"

"Now you mention it, dude, I am. But first I need a shower – try to wash away the dirt and ash of the past."

"Do you want me to help you, sir?"

"Hey," Jason grinned, "you said you'd never leave me. That includes the shower."

"Okey-dokey, sir, I'm your boy.

<><> SOAP <><>

Man and boy, both naked, went to the bathroom and into the large shower with nozzles on three walls. There they luxuriated in the warm water spraying them from all sides. Ben lovingly soaped up the fireman's muscled physique – from neck to chest and abs, then his back and flared lats slanting down to a tight waist. Ben fell to his knees and ran the sponge lovingly over the mounds of his ass.

He soaped Jason's muscled thighs and calves, then Jason lifted his feet in turn for the same treatment. He turned round and his swinging cock almost slapped Ben's face. Jason smiled grimly, "You've already been hand-slapped, might as well make it a double with my dick." Ben thought it was a good sign that Jason managed to make a joke out of his rude awakening.

Jason pulled Ben to his feet and said, "My turn now. But I don't need a sponge ... I'll use my body." He pulled Ben into a slippery hug, his soapy body sliding against Ben's... then turned him round and pressed against his back. His cock slid against Ben's butt and was hard in seconds. "Might as well go for the gold, dontcha think, kid?"

"I'm here to serve, sir," Ben chuckled.

"Or get served as the case maybe. Some guys call it slipping one in, and right now we're two slippery customers. By now Jason's cock was hard and it slid easily into Ben's soaped-up ass.

The shower walls were mirrored, and in the steamed up glass Ben saw a misty image of the naked fireman fucking him from behind. Ben raised his arms high and pressed his palms against the glass. He arched his back, presenting Jason with a perfect target.

"Your butt feels beautiful, kid, soap works great – we should try this more often. As he fucked he reached round, wrapped his soapy hand round Ben's soapy cock and stroked it.

"Oh, sir, I can't take too much of this without busting my load."

"Go right ahead, dude. A ripped young gypsy-boy spurting jizz all over the mirror is enough to make me fill his cute butt with mine." Jason reached forward and wiped his free hand over the mirror to de-mist the glass. "Damn, will you look at that?"

Ben gazed at the reflection of the naked fireman, steam swirling round him as he pounded ass and stroked his cock. And Ben was right – he couldn't hold back. "Sir, You're making me cum ... I'm gonna cum." He stood on his toes, arched his back more, and heard Jason yell as his cock erupted in his ass and his own jizz splashed on the glass and ran all the way down the steam-slicked mirror.

Jason pulled out gently, turned Ben round and hugged him. He laughed, "How d'ya like that, all that jizz swirling down the drain. No muss no fuss, eh? Like I said, we should do this shower thing more often."

"Whenever you want, sir. Your word is my command."

As they dried off Jason said, "It's about time I put in an appearance and thanked our host for his hospitality. I'm being real impolite to Uncle Mike." He grabbed his backpack. "I wanna get out of my uniform but I don't have much in the way of a change of clothes."

"You don't need much in this house, sir, mostly just swim trunks or boardshorts. Mike said we can help ourselves to Larry's spare clothes in this chest here." From the top drawer he pulled out several pairs of boardshorts. "Here's the one for you, sir, brown with a broad white strip round the ass." Jason pulled them on and laced them round his slim waist.

Ben's cock got stiff and Jason laughed, "So soon? You wanna get back in the shower? Nah better not. Here, this blue and black pair for you – match your blue eyes and black hair."

They faced the floor-length mirror and Jason put his arm round Ben's shoulder. "What d'ya think kiddo? Pretty hot couple, eh? Come on, better get going before I throw you on that bed again."

<><> TIPTOEING AROUND <><>

They went outside and Jason took a long, deep breath. "Hmm, great to breath fresh air again without that smoke that sears the lungs."

Larry had just got back from his workshop and was sitting at a table by the pool having drinks with Mike. Mike saw them approach and stood up with a beaming smile. He stretched out his hand as Jason approached. "Welcome, Jason, let me shake you by the hand, boy. Not often we get to entertain a real-life hero, but you are that, my boy."

He shook the fireman's hand vigorously in a tight two-handed grasp. "Closest we ever got was action-hero Grady, but he would be the first to say he only plays one in the movies. But you, young man, are the real thing. While you're in my house, anything you want or need is yours."

Jason pulled Mike into a tight man-hug. "Thanks, Mike, though I already got most everything I need in a certain sexy young gypsy-boy. Ben beamed beside him. "He's multi-talented – met me at the airport, brought me to your guesthouse, sucked my dick and held me tight while I slept. And when we woke he let me butt-fuck him in the shower. How about that?"

"Talented indeed," Mike laughed.

"And that shower in your guesthouse, Mike. Spectacular."

"Courtesy of Randy, actually. He supervised the construction and installed the shower."

Ben took a breath, about to speak, but Mike shot him a warning look to stay off the Randy topic.

Oblivious of this side-play Jason turned to Larry and shook hands. "How you doing, stud? Sexier than ever, I see, and also multi-talented, I hear. Thanks for keeping my boy occupied till I got back. I know how much he likes working on bikes."

"Actually, Jason, he saved my life. I took on more work than I could handle and he's helping me work through the backlog. Saved me from some real ugly scenes with irate customers."

"So come on, sit down and have a drink," Mike said. "I just made a pitcher of margaritas. Just the thing on a blistering hot day like today."

Jason's eyes clouded over and he murmured, "You ain't seen blistering hot till you've ..."

Mike cursed himself for putting his foot in it. Have to tread carefully after what this guy's been through. He covered quickly. "And a huge plate of tapas, you must be hungry. I gotta confess I didn't make them. Ordered in from a great tapas restaurant that supplies bar food for my bar. Come on, dude, tuck in."

Jason discovered just how hungry he was as he tasted the treats and sipped a margarita. But the conversation was rather stilted as there seemed to be so many topics to avoid – the hellish fires that still haunted Jason, Randy's brutal treatment of Ben that Mike had told the boys to avoid for now, and the tentative subject of what came next.

Ben and Larry talked shop – the workshop – while Mike and Jason made anodyne small talk about Mike's house and bar (same old, same old) and social life in Palm Springs (not much ...). There were uneasy gaps in the conversation, awkward silences they were all aware of.

Several times it seemed that Jason was about to talk, but checked himself. And Mike was well aware of the weighty topics that needed airing, but nobody was prepared to dip a toe in those murky waters.

Salvation came when Larry announced, "Er, guys, before dinner I gotta go back to the workshop to finish up work on a couple of bikes I've promised to their owners for first thing tomorrow. Shouldn't take me too long."

"It'd take even less time with two working on it." Ben's bold observation seemed to clear the air.

Ben wasn't sure what was going on here, but he remembered what Mike had told him earlier, that Jason might want to relieve his pent-up tension and purge his demons. But he would probably do that not with his boy but with an older authority figure ... like Mike. Ben had sensed that time had come, that Jason might want a private heart-to-heart with Mike.

"Larry, I know you gave me the afternoon off but would it help if I came along now to work on the bikes with you?"

"Of course, buddy, but only if ..."

They glanced at Jason and Mike for their reactions and Ben said to Jason, "Sir, I know I said I'd always be here for you, and I will, but ..."

"Kiddo, I think it's a great idea for you to help Larry out of a jam. Besides, I wanted to have a little chat with Mike here, so that works out fine."

"OK, Larry, you're on," Ben grinned. "Come with me to get my work clothes from the guesthouse and we'll hit the road. Won't be long, sir."

As they ran off together Jason smiled at Mike, "Phew, we kinda made heavy weather out of that, eh? You get the impression we were tiptoeing around, to avoid some hoof-in-mouth thing?"

"We sure were," Mike chuckled, "you could cut the air with a knife. "But it's just us two for a while now, so relax, have another drink, dig into the tapas, and let's talk.

<><> MIKE & JASON, MAN-TO-MAN <><>

"Mike, my tour of duty up north might be over but I can't stop my mind churning. I feel like I'm losing control, scared of what I'll do.

"Like, when I was in a deep sleep earlier I could have slept all day and night. But Ben thought he should wake me up, to eat if nothing else. He was real gentle about it, but when I felt something brushing my face and lips, in my delusion I thought it was a burning branch on me. I yelled `get away', started thrashing around and managed to slap Ben on the face.

"Of course when I woke up fully I called him to come back and he was so good about it, said that's why he was there, to take care of me in all my moods."

"Hey, soldier, go easy on yourself. Like I told Ben, some post-traumatic stress is to be expected. And don't worry about Ben, he's a tough young guy – he's Randy's brother after all. But when you're ready you probably need to talk through some of your fears and stress. I'd normally suggest therapy, someone like Doc Steve, but he's in L.A. and you're stuck out here with me."

"No one I'd rather be stuck with, Mike. Except my boy. God I love that kid and he seems crazy about me. He's made my first steps back into the real world so much smoother."

Mike grinned. "Jason, when he knew you were safe and coming home, I've never seen any kid so excited. It moved me almost to tears, and that ain't easy in a crusty old codger like me who's seen pretty much everything over the years."

"That's why I needed to talk to you, Mike. Try to get all this shit off my chest and out of my head. And you can drop the crusty old codger thing. You're anything but that."

"OK, I'll listen as long as you want to talk, boy. But before we get onto that there's something I need to tell you. It's something that caused quite a stir in the tribe and I'd rather you heard it from me than from Ben, or from one of the other guys over the phone. But it ain't pretty and it involves Ben, so I don't want you to lose your cool and lash out. The last thing you need is more stress, but this is unavoidable, so here goes.

"Randy's been under a lot of pressure at work with the expansion of the construction company and Bob kept warning him he was in danger of blowing his top."

"Did he hurt Ben? `Cos if he did, Mike, I swear I'll ..."

"See, that's exactly what I wanted to avoid, Jason, so please try to cool it. Yes, he did hurt his little brother but not physically. His tension was reaching a peak when he came across Ben napping at work – which his boss Pablo had told him to do. Something in him snapped and in a towering rage he yelled at Ben for being a `loser', and fired him on the spot."

"Fired him?! Damn him ... asshole."

"But wait, everything turned out alright. Of course Randy didn't mean it, but it was a shock to Ben when his big brother, his hero, rejected him. He rushed back to the office, handed in his keys and hit the road ... headed out here. Larry had once told Ben that if ever he needed a job he could sure use a skilled mechanic like him. So Ben came here to take him up on the offer.

"He was in a state when he got here but I calmed him down, and when he started work with Larry he had something else to focus on and his bitterness subsided. And if course, when you phoned he was over the moon. Still is.

"Now, only a few guys know Ben is here – his best pal Will, Bob and his twins – and they're sworn to secrecy. Randy will find out soon enough, I guess, but right now the last thing we want is the big boss racing out here to `make things right', and only making them worse.

"So that's how it stands, Jason. Ben is happy as a clam and under my protection. So I don't want us, especially you, to dwell on that anymore. It's something we can face down the line once you've got your shit together."

"Funny thing is, Mike, I admire Randy, always have – except at times like this. I mean, he's done so much good for the tribe, built the construction company up from nothing. But then suddenly he can do so much that's bad."

Mike shrugged. "He's a phenomenon, right enough, excessive in everything he does, for better or worse. I love him like a son, admire his strength and his powerful charisma, then I get so damn frustrated when he does something like this.

"But you know, that strength and dominance almost guarantee that he'll fuck up sometimes. It's two sides of the same coin – rugged fighter and passionate lover. On the one hand he can't control his outbursts of rage. On the other he defends the boys like a tiger, fucks like a caveman, and works like a mule. He's the rock holding up the tribe.

"I tell you, Jason, if ever one of the boys were attacked, you'd see the real red-hot rage he's capable of. He can totally demolish a man."

Mike laughed. "So many words have been spoken about Randy over the years, he's a constant source of fascination. And here we are adding more words, talking about him when we should be talking about you, a certified hero. So how about you? Tell me how you're feeling right now."

"My uppermost feeling? It's guilt, Mike. Guilt about leaving those guys to take on the near-impossible task of controlling those fires. It's like a scene out of hell, Mike, and I ran away, leaving them to battle on."

"Jason, my boy. What I'll tell you now is stuff you know already, but I'll say it anyway. You know very well that fire departments coordinate the rotation of crews. You worked for four weeks in conditions I can't even begin to imagine. And you were relieved by a new crew, `cos the managers would rather have fresh guys than exhausted ones. It's a safety issue. But like I said, you know all that. I understand your guilt feelings, but they're basically bullshit."

Jason smiled. "I'm so glad I'm here Mike ... so lucky to have Ben to make love to and you to talk to. You always give it to a guy straight. Now wonder you and your bar are so popular and respected out here. You're one of the pillars of the community."

"Yeah," Mike grinned, "over the years I've coaxed many a desperate guy off the ledge when he was prepared to jump. I guess I do have a lot of influence out here, and I'm proud to say that my boy Larry is respected too."

Mike and Jason lapsed into a general conversation, veering from one topic to another, that in a way was almost as soothing as making love to his Ben. And when Larry and Ben got back from the workshop they found two men shooting the breeze like old friends.

"So," Mike said, "dinner. You must all be starved, I know I am. I guess dinner at a restaurant is not a good idea, eh Jason?"

"Hmm, not quite ready for the big wide world yet. I'd rather curl up with you guys. But if you guys wanna ..."

"Not on your life, Jason," Larry said. "Dinner here with just the four of us sounds perfect. We'll order in." Ben snuggled next to Jason who put his arm round him as they studied the menus Mike had from local restaurants. Ben and Larry cleaned up after the workshop and forty minutes later they were all sitting round the table by the pool sipping cocktails and eating.

Pretty soon Jason was yawning and Mike decreed an early night. Jason raised his glass. "One final toast to our gracious hosts Mike and Larry. Guys, thanks a million. Nowhere I'd rather be right now than with you fellers. Well actually there is one place. In bed with a sexy young gypsy boy. Guess I better go out and find one."

"Sir, will I do?"

"Hm, dunno. You any good in bed?"

"Only with firemen, sir. Guess I better go out and find one."

Mike laughed. "OK, I'm the boss around here, I give the orders. Ben, take this man here to bed and make love to him. Can you do that?"

"Try stopping me, sir." Jason kissed him and Mike and Larry watched them walk away across the garden to the guesthouse.

Larry sighed, "Makes your heart feel good, don't it, sir? It'll be plain sailing from here on."

As it turned out, Larry didn't get that quite right. Jason was not the only guy to be feeling guilt.

<><> RANDY HITS THE ROAD <><>

The incident began next morning over a hundred miles from where Ben was curled up in bed with Jason. Randy was still staying in the Hollywood Hills home of his brother Doc Steve. Steve had advised him to take time away from his home and job to "let the dust settle" and remove all the triggers that had set off his anger and his vicious tirade against Ben.

After breakfast Randy was sitting alone out by the pool drinking coffee, wondering how long he could tolerate the solitude of this bucolic setting in the hills. It wouldn't be so bad if he could talk to his brother Ben and set things right between them. He needed to purge his guilt for the savage way he had spoken to the kid brother he loved so much.

But still nobody would tell him where Ben had run away to, only that he was safe and happy. It was a total wall of silence, as only a few people knew where Ben was – Bob, his twins, and young Will, Ben's best pal. Plus, as it turned out, Doc Steve, who had discussed the situation at length with Bob.

Steve's office overlooked one end of the pool deck, where Randy happened to be sitting just out of sight. As luck (or bad luck) would have it, one of the windows was open and, as he sat in silent thought, Randy heard voices – Steve and his lover, the architect Lloyd, having a casual chat before Lloyd left for work.

"Yeah," Steve was saying, "Bob finally told me, but it's still in confidence so don't breath a word. Ben did a runner to Uncle Mike's place in the Springs – not a bad idea as it happens. Seems Larry was up to his eyes in motorcycles waiting for repair and Ben was a godsend, being a skilled mechanic himself.

"Then, the cream on the cake, Jason came home from those fires up north so young Ben's as happy as a pig in shit, making love to Jason at Mike's house and spending the rest of his time working in Larry's workshop. So things are pretty much hunky-dory for Ben right now, giving him a chance to get big brother Randy out of his mind."

Mike had earlier mentioned to Jason that Randy would discover Ben's whereabouts sooner or later – and it happened sooner rather than later. Randy hadn't exactly been eavesdropping, just enjoying a morning cup of coffee out by the pool. In any case the big gypsy didn't give a shit about the nuances of good manners. All he cared about now was finding his little brother.

So, single-minded as ever, he went quietly to his guestroom, careful to avoid everyone. He pulled on his usual jeans and boots, and an old V-neck T-shirt, made sure he had his wallet, and went out back to his truck. Fortunately he was parked out by the garages, away from the house, so no one inside heard him start the engine and drive toward the gate. The gate opened automatically on this side, and in a few minutes he was driving along Mulholland headed for the 10-Freeway.

He should have worked it out, he thought. Mike's place, of course – Ben got along well with Mike and Larry. And, of course, the workshop. The kid loved working on motorcycles.

That's where he would head, the workshop. He didn't want to confront Mike, nor Jason, god forbid. He'd be mad as hell when he saw him. Steve had said Ben spent a lot of time working on the backlog of bikes, so with any luck he'd find him there.

When Randy hit the freeway, he floored it.

<><> TOUGH CUSTOMERS <><>

At the Palm Springs ranch-style home of Mike and Larry it was a mellow morning. Ben and Jason had spent their second night together. They had made love before and after sleep, and Jason had got reacquainted with Ben's cute gypsy butt. So, when they joined Mike and Larry for breakfast in the shade of a tree they still had goofy, afterglow smiles on their faces.

Jason said, "I never realized just how bone-tired I was until I got here and started to unwind. You know, a guy can keep going on pure adrenaline for a long time – four weeks in my case – but the time comes where it all catches up with you, the adrenaline drains, and you fold up in a fetal position ... if you're lucky, with a beautiful boy in your arms.

"So Mike, if it's all the same to you, I plan on spending the next few days dozing on and off out here in the garden."

"Jason," Mike smiled, "like I've said before, you're free to do as much or as little as you want to. It's our privilege to help a certified hero back to health. Besides, I imagine Ben will be spending time with Larry in his workshop. How's that going Larry? You digging a hole in that backlog?"

"Getting there, Mike, but I couldn't have done it without Ben. We've managed to complete the bikes of the biggest complainers, and the last of those are Curly and Vince. I've always liked Curly though, so I agreed to deliver his bike to him in Indio as a good-faith gesture. As for Vince, I'll sure be glad to see the back of his bike. He can be such an arrogant prick."

Mike agreed. "That guy really rubs me the wrong way. He comes to my bar a lot, mostly to flaunt his ripped body and handsome mug. Loves to show off how macho he is – real tough, used to be a boxer. His last boyfriend walked out on him `cos Vince treated him so bad. I'm just waiting for him to step over the line and give me an excuse for throwing him out. I don't know why you agree to service his bikes, Larry."

"Cos he's worth money to me. He has several bikes and he's got tons of money after that sugar-daddy left him all that loot in his will. Lives of the rich and rugged ... thinks he's all that and a bag of chips. And don't he let me know it every time he comes in! But I wouldn't wanna tangle with a big mean musclehunk like that, he could demolish a guy. So this'll be the last time. He's always threatening to take his business elsewhere, so I say good riddance to him."

"Damn," Jason chuckled, "running a bar or a bike workshop sounds almost as tough as fighting forest fires."

"Not even close," Mike said. "A lot of the leather guys out here are just for show, flaunting their bodies to prove how tough they are. OK, you two, if you leave now you'll be back in time for lunch. Ben, you can leave your man in my tender care. I'll let him sleep and dream of you."

<><> TROUBLE FOR BEN <><>

When the boys got to the workshop they put the finishing touches to several bikes whose owners had said they'd be in today for them. After a while Larry straddled one of the bikes, kickstarted it, revved the throttle and smiled. "Hear that? Music to my ears. I'm kinda sorry I promised to deliver it to Curly, but I'll only be gone an hour or so to Indio and back. Can you hold the fort? I've already run the credit cards on the bikes that are ready, so they're paid up."

"Piece of cake, Larry. I'll work on the Honda over there next." He helped load Curly's bike in Larry's truck and he took off. Ben returned to his work in a great mood. He was doing a job he loved, he had a beautiful lover waiting for him at the house, and two golden weeks stretching before him.

The only cloud in his sky was the memory of Randy. But even that bitterness was beginning to fade in the bright light of his current happiness. As he worked his mind wandered and he began to wonder how Randy was doing – and what he was doing. He really loved his big tough brother and didn't want other guys giving him a hard time for losing his temper like that. He just wanted things to be right with him again. Had he really fired him from his job? Now he thought back on it, it was hard to believe.

His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a truck pulling up outside, and a voice thanking a buddy for the ride. Ben was on his knees working on a bike, and when he looked up, the silhouette of a man blocked the doorway, backlit by the sun.

"Hello sir."

"I'm Vince. Larry here?"

Ben got to his feet. "No sir, he went to deliver a bike. But yours is ready, I worked on it myself ... running real well, real smooth."

Vince stepped forward and Ben got a good look at him. He was, as Mike had said, a tall, macho guy, dressed in black jeans and boots and a black tank top stretched over his heavily muscled torso. He had strong chiseled features, square, stubbled jaw, handsome in a rugged sort of way. He even reminded Ben a bit of Randy – same height, same build – except for his fade haircut, short on the sides, spiky on top, that made him look even more macho – and a bit scary.

"You fixed it?" he barked. "Who the fuck are you, you're only a kid?"

"I'm Ben, sir, Larry's assistant."

"So, he's got kids working for him now, eh? Probably why it took so damn long to fix it." He shoved Ben aside and threw his leg over his bike. He kick-started it and revved the throttle a couple of times. His handsome face darkened with a scowl. "You call that fixed? Listen to that rattle. You call that running smooth, boy?"

"Sounds perfect to me, sir."

Vince got off the bike and grabbed Ben's shirt. "You calling me a liar, kid? I don't take lip from a punk like you."

Ben tensed and looked defiant. "I'm not badmouthing you, sir. I worked on your bike, I'm a skilled mechanic and I even test-drove it, sir, and ... and it's running fine."

"Fuck you, asshole." Ben's shirt was bunched in his fist and when he pulled Ben up, almost off his feet, the shirt ripped all the way down and hung open over his chest. Vince sneered, "You maybe a lousy mechanic, and a lippy young brat, but you're kinda sexy, with that gypsy look you got going. You're just the kinda kid I like to work over. Tell you what. I'll take the bike as is, in exchange for a blow-job. On your knees punk."

"No, sir. I don't do that. I got a man, a fireman, he's waiting for me and ..."

Vince sneered, "He'll have a long wait till I've finished with you. I said on your fucking knees kid ..." Vince pressed his hands on Ben's shoulders and forced him to his knees. "Open my pants, boy, then open your fucking mouth... wide."

"No, sir, I won't do that, sir."

Vince slapped his face. "No one ever says no to me, boy, least of all a grease monkey like you. If you don't suck my dick I'll throw you over my bike and shove my fucking rod so far up your ass you'll scream for mercy ..."

"Then again, maybe you won't." Ben jerked his head up and saw where the deep menacing voice had come from. Randy ... his big brother Randy, in the doorway.

<><> KNOCK-DOWN DRAG-OUT <><>

Vince whirled round and glared at the intruder. "Who the fuck are you?"

"You'll find out," Randy said coldly. "After you've told me what you're doing to this kid here."

"Ah, this greasy little gyppo says he fixed my bike but it runs like shit. Larry's so desperate for help these days he's gone cradle-snatching – mouthy little punks like this talking back to me ... me! I told the little prick I'd let him get away with it for a blowjob, and he actually said no! But hey, you look pretty mean yourself, dude, so what say we team up? Spit-roast the little fucker on this greasy floor?"

Randy stroked his stubbled chin. "Hmm, spit-roast's not a bad idea. Except that if anyone's gonna get his ass ploughed it's you, you shit-for-brains mother-fucker."

"Fuck you, man. So get the fuck out and leave the kid to me. He's mine now."

"Wrong again, asshole. The boy happens to be my kid brother, and anyone wants to work him over has to come through me."

"Suits me, big guy. Bring it on, let's see what you got." Vince hauled back and swung his right fist toward Randy's face. But Randy blocked it with his left arm and slammed his fist into his gut ... and again ... and again. Vince howled and doubled up in pain. Randy looked back over his shoulder and said, "Stand back, Ben, leave the asshole to me."

But that momentary lapse in focus cost Randy. The biker, still bent double, ran forward and ramrodded his head into Randy's stomach, driving him reeling back against the wall with a sickening thud.

Vince was tough and recovered fast. He sneered at the stunned gypsy and slammed the back of his fist across his face, one side and the other repeatedly. "You tangled with the wrong guy, douchebag. I was a heavyweight boxer."

In a blur, Randy's instinct for self-preservation kicked in and he raised his knee between his rival's leg and slammed it up into his balls, to another howl of pain. They glared at each other, regaining their breath. They circled each other, then locked their arms round the other's neck in a wrestler's opening hold, pushing and straining for dominance. They slid on the greasy floor and dragged each other to the ground.

Still locked together the evenly-matched men rolled over the oily floor, clawing, punching, their shirts ripping and hanging in shreds from their shoulders. On his back, Randy swung a punch but Vince blocked it, held his wrist and pulled himself up on his knees straddling the weakened man's chest. He knelt on Randy's biceps so he was at Vince's mercy, under the hail of blows that rained down on him.

From the corner of his eye Randy saw Ben wielding a tire iron but he groaned, "Stay back, kid. I got this." Dazed, he pulled his knee back tight against his chest, planted his boot on Vince's bare chest and with his last ounce of strength shoved hard.

Vince rose up on his feet and reeled backward against the wall. Randy was up in a second. He shook his head, his blurred vision cleared, and he focused on the shirtless hunk slumped against the wall, face and body covered in grease, arms dangling limply at his sides. With an animal roar Randy rushed forward, curled one hand round the biker's throat and gut punched him mercilessly with the other.

"No," Vince groaned. "Enough, I'm done. I submit ..." Randy turned his head to check on Ben, but again that was a mistake. Coming to life, Vince got behind him, threw his arms round Randy's chest from behind and linked his hands up behind his neck in a brutal full nelson.

Randy's arms were locked, stretched up high, and he strained to force Vince's arms forward to break the hold round the back of his neck. But Vince was strong, his arms like a vice. Ben watched in horror as his handsome gypsy brother was trapped, arms stretched up, his bare, muscled chest, dripping with oil, on agonized display.

It got worse as Vince forced Randy round and shoved him face-first against the wall. Using the tight grip round his neck he banged Randy's forehead repeatedly against the wall.

"You're finished man," Vince panted. "Give up, beg for mercy."

Randy's mind was spinning, he knew he was seconds from passing out. Then he thought of his brother Ben, at the mercy of this goon. No way that was gonna happen. Digging deep inside he found from somewhere his last reserves of strength. He took a deep breath, flexed hard and forced his arms forward.

Stunned by Randy's brute strength, Vince howled as, unbelievably, his hold broke, his hands were forced apart and Randy's arms came free. In a lightning move he turned Vince's back to him, grabbed his flailing wrists from behind and forced them behind him, arms bent at the elbow. He pushed his arms up behind his back in a brutal double hammerlock as Vince howled in pain.

Randy was merciless. "Now you submit for real, asshole, to me and this boy."

"Fuck you, man," Vince groaned, then "Aaagh!!" as Randy pushed his bent arms higher up his back."

"Ben, come here. Stand in front of this son-of-a-bitch loser. I want you to see him suffer."

Ben watched in awe as Randy applied the hammerlock mercilessly. Slowly Vince's legs buckled and both men sank to their knees, Randy kneeling behind the biker intensifying the brutal submission hold.

It was a fearsome sight but Ben felt oddly excited. It was a pornographic vision of a macho bare-chested muscle-stud smothered in grease, groaning in agony, arms stretched up behind his back, shoulders and pecs bulging, veins popping as he pleaded for mercy."

"Aaagh ... no ... enough ... I give up ... you win ... I'm finished."

"You're finished when I say you are, asshole."

"Please, sir ... I submit. I'm begging you, man ... aaagh!!" His face contorted in pain, his screams got louder as the pain peaked.

Randy growled, "OK, stud, I'll have mercy on you. I'll give you a choice - either I break your arms or I fuck your ass."

"Never," Vince howled, "fuck you man ..."

"OK, broken arms it is ..." Randy applied maximum pressure as the hunk's agonized screams echoed round the room. "Aaagh ... my arms!! OK, OK, I give up. Take my ass ... fuck me ..."

"I knew you wanted my dick up your ass, your kind always do. Let me hear it, big guy. Beg for it, beg for my dick."

"Please ... please, sir, fuck my ass. I need your dick in my ass real bad. Fuck me, sir ... make me your bitch, your slave. I'm begging you ... aaagh!!"

<><> TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS <><>

Randy suddenly released the hold and the prisoner's arms fell loosely by his sides. He slumped against his own bike, barely conscious as Randy stood up. "OK, kid, give me a hand here."

He picked up the limp muscular body and flung it face down on the bike. his ass on the saddle, body stretched forward over the gas tank, head sagging over the handlebars."

"Sir," Ben said. "Don't you think he's had enough?"

Randy looked down at him and cupped his chin in his hand. "Kiddo, this man insulted you, called you a greasy little gyppo and he was gonna fuck your face then throw you over his bike and torture your ass. Now it's his body sagging over it and he's gonna get it. That's what happens to a thug who attacks my boy.

"Dude, I know I'm also guilty of hurting you, and I'll face my punishment later. But right now, this shit-for-brains mother-fucker is gonna get my fucking rod up his ass. Give me those ropes over there."

Vince`s arms were hanging limply down to the floor and Randy roped his wrists to the front wheel. "Secure his legs, boy. He's got a kick like a mule." Obediently Ben wound the rope round his boots and tied his legs to the rear wheel. "You got any water, Ben?"

"There's a jug over here, sir. but it's not that clean."

"All the better." Randy stood in front of the bound man, grabbed his spiky hair and yanked his head back. His eyes were closed, handsome face running with motor oil and Randy growled, "You're a fucking mess, Vince. Gotta clean you up." Randy hurled the rancid water in his face, he came to and choked. Randy crouched on his haunches and leaned in close to Vince's face.

When Randy broke a man he did it body and soul. The rugged biker was forced to look into the gypsy's chiseled, stubbled features and steel-blue eyes. "Look at me, Vince, and tell me what you want."

With his last shred of defiance the bound hunk groaned, "Fuck you, man."

Randy pulled his head back farther, bent forward and pressed his mouth against his captive's, grinding their lips together in a fiery man-to-man kiss. When at last he pulled back he said, "You wanna try that again, Vince?"

The broken man stared into the hypnotic blue eyes and heard his own voice saying weakly, "Fuck me, man. I wanna feel you're dick in my ass."

"That's better," Randy grinned. "Now we're on the same page, `cos that's just what you're gonna get. You know, Vince, you are one hell of a man, a great fighter. We're a lot alike, you and me, I could have admired you. But dude, no man, no man, threatens my little brother like that. Maybe once we've settled that score, maybe one day we can be buddies. But right now you're a beaten man, and this is what you get. I'm gonna shove my dick up your ass – what you pleaded for."

Inches from the captive's face Randy ripped open his jeans and pulled out his massive cock, long and beer-can thick. "Fuck," Vince groaned, eyes riveted on the hunk of meat. "Fucking hell." In a daze, Vince's tongue flicked out and he licked the huge shaft as it got harder. "Fuck me, man," he groaned. "Please, sir ..."

Randy walked behind him, reached under his belly, ripped open his jeans and yanked them down below his ass. He leaned forward pressed his hands on the small of Vince's back pinning him to the bike ... and rammed his cock deep in his ass."

Vince's screams again rang round the room and he pulled frantically at his bound wrists. "Fuuuck ... fuck yeah ... fuck me man ... fuck that ass.

Randy always held back a bit, knowing the damage his huge cock could do. But not this time. This time it was no-holds-barred. He had learned in the fight that Vince was a tough mother-fucker with a high pain tolerance. So he went all out, a brutally savage pounding of his ass.

In truth, Randy was not only punishing Vince, he was unloading all his own guilt for the way he had treated Ben. This was for all the men who had ever hurt one of the boys Randy loved.

For the brutalized hunk the line between pain and pleasure blurred. He was aware only of this incredible man pounding his ass. It was inexorable, relentless, and he lost all track of time and place. But slowly, the intense pain in his butt overwhelmed the pleasure and he sobbed, "Please, man, I can't take anymore. My ass is on fire. I beg you ... you win ... I give up."

"Stud, I admire a guy with such strength and guts, so here's what I'll do. My boy is standing right here with a huge boner in his pants. You make him bust a load and I'll have mercy on you. Ben, fuck his face."

Ben stood in front of the musclebound hunk and pulled out his cock. Randy again grabbed Vince's spiked hair and pulled his face back, giving Ben a clear shot at his mouth. He stared in awe at the rugged, tortured face, bruised and streaked with oil, tears streaming down it. And he shoved his cock in his sagging mouth, making the biker choke.

Randy said, "So Vince, you wanted a spit-roast and this is it. You got your `greasy little gyppo' at one end and a greasy big gyppo at the other. You make my little brother shoot in your mouth and I'll pull out of your ass. Deal?"

Ben felt the hot mouth close round his dick and smiled at his big brother across the bound and broken man. "Thank you, sir," he said softly. "I love you sir." The sight of his shirtless brother pounding ass, sweat running down his greasy face and chest, was so incredibly hot that Ben couldn't last long. "I'm real close, sir ... can I cum in his mouth?"

"Sure you can, kid, but you know what? I wanna see you cum all over that handsome face."

"Okey-dokey, sir." Randy pulled Vince's head back further, Ben pulled out of his mouth, and his stubbled jaw sagged open. Ben stroked his cock and yelled in triumph as his jizz spurted out and slammed the captive biker in the face. It splashed in his open mouth, in his spiked hair and poured down his bruised, rugged features, mixing with the oil and tears. It was a picture of abject submission by a macho topman to a young gypsy boy.

Ben grinned, pulled out his cell phone and got several pictures of the tortured face, then another of the naked biker tied down to his own bike, with a shirtless gypsy behind him fucking his ass.

But, true to his word Randy pulled out of the biker's ass, to a long sigh of relief and a groaning, "Thank you sir."

Randy said, "Untie his feet, kid." Ben did so while Randy untied his wrists and pulled his limp body off the bike and into his arms. Randy kissed him and Vince made no attempt to pull away. "And now, stud, I'm gonna give you something you'll never forget."

He lowered Vince's body down on his back on the greasy floor, naked except for his boots and his pants round his thighs. Randy grabbed a knife from the wall, slit the biker's pants all the way up and tossed the shreds aside. "You won't be needing those anymore, dude.

"He knelt on the floor pushed Vince's legs back and pressed his cock against his hole. He leaned forward and pinned the man's wrists to the floor. This time the victim made no attempt to struggle. Randy eased his cock once again in his ass and pushed it all the way down to the inner sphincter.

While Ben circled with his phone, shooting a video of the broken biker's final degradation, Randy growled, "Vince, old buddy, I'm gonna make you shoot your load now, the ultimate submission of a tough arrogant biker to a stronger top-man who thrashed you into total humiliation.

He pushed the head of his cock over the sphincter and Vince sighed deeply, staring up into the hypnotic blue eyes. Randy massaged the sphincter with his cock, teasing, taunting, and driving the biker wild. "Fuck, man," he moaned, "you're fucking awesome. Damn, I wanna feel your jizz in my ass so bad."

"As soon as you submit, stud, and you know how to do that."

"Fuck, yeah. Shit, you're gonna make me shoot. You win, man, you've beaten me. I give up ... I submit to you, sir. I submit ... aaaagh ...!" His body shook, his cock reared up and spurted cum high in the air, stream after stream that splashed down on his own bare chest and face.

In his ecstasy, the broken topman felt the wild gypsy's giant cock explode in his ass, filling it with semen in the final act of total annihilation. To the victor go the spoils.

<><> RIDING BAREBACK <><>

As usual after action this wild, Randy was all business. He buttoned up his jeans, picked up Vince's shredded jeans and felt in the pockets. "You'll be needing your wallet, Vince," and he stuffed it into one of the panniers of his bike. "OK, so let's see what all the fuss was about."

Randy threw his leg over Vince's bike, kick-started it and revved the throttle a few times. A smile spread over his bruised face. "Perfect, sings like a bird. You did a great job Ben. You try, big guy. Vince had been stripped naked except for his boots, but he did as Randy said, sat on the bike and, like Randy, revved the engine.

"See?" Randy grinned. "Off you go then. Good doing business with you, buddy."

"But ... but I ..."

"Hey, you don't have an option. Your buddy dropped you off here and there's no one gonna drive you. Like I said, so long dude. Unless you'd like to stick around for another few rounds of what I gave you before."

Vice flinched. "Fuck ... fuck you man ..." But Randy was right. He had no option but to ride bareassed through town."

"So long, Vince. See you again, I'm sure ... any time you wanna tangle."

Ben was getting a final shot of the muscular humiliated biker riding away buck naked – except for his boots. Randy put his arm over Ben's shoulder. "There he goes kiddo. Bruised and beaten. Quite the stud eh?"

As they stood at the door a truck pulled up and Larry got out. "What the fuck was that? Did I see what I just saw? Vince riding away butt naked? What the fuck's been going on?"

"Long story short, dude," Randy grinned, "Vince came to pick up his bike and decided he wanted to work over our favorite gypsy boy. Unluckily for stud Vince I showed up and gave him a little demonstration of what happens to a guy who messes with my kid brother. Sorry, place is a bit of a mess, Larry, but I'd like to take Ben back to your house now."

"Er, sure, sure, Randy ... I can lock up here and clean up later. Damn now I've seen everything."

"Thanks, Larry. Come on, kid, I'll take you to Mike and, er, to Jason. My turn to face the music."

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

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 597