The Exam

Disclaimer/Reminder: The following story is a work of gay fiction although based on non-fictional occurrences. It contains sexual acts involving males in high school as well as males beyond high school age. There are scenes of definite humiliation, some of them graphic. If this subject matter is offensive to you or if you are too young to be reading it, please exit now. You have been warned. This story is the property of the author under U.S. copyright laws, and may not be used elsewhere without written consent. Otherwise enjoy. Emails expressing interest or wishing further information can be sent to: mtnuda@hotmail.com.

Note: All names and locations have been altered to protect the innocent. The state in which the story originally happened - coincidentally - has a legal age of sixteen; the "fictionalized" location does not. Also descriptions of unprotected sex are fictional due to story restraints. You understand you are reading a work of fiction; behave accordingly. Again, do not read this if you're a minor or are offended by gay situations or activities which can be classified as bdsm. Finally, thanks to all you loyal readers who have stuck with this story through all the years. This next chapter is a continuation of the previous chapter and continues the "prequel" to the main story. Although these are a "stand-alone" stories, the reader is STRONGLY advised to begin at the beginning. The characters in these chapters, especially the bodybuilder Bo Harrison and the cop Jim Larson will make more sense. Because some readers wanted to know more about how certain events could happen in the first place without drawing the attention of the authorities as it were I thought I would fill in some of those gaps in the story with these prequels so the reader might have a better idea of how our poor unsuspecting victims came to find themselves in such predicaments. Or not, as the case may be.

Loyal readers might remember the circumstances of the police raid at Mort's in Chapter Eighty-Eight and wonder why such a crackdown did not happen months sooner or why half the male population did not end up in County Jail. After reviewing the tapes from the docs' and those from the warehouse and their parallel time lines, a clearer picture starts to emerge.

Chapter One Eleven

June 25

The rest of the week Larry only talked with Jim or Steve in passing, trying to avoid any confrontation over what had happened back at that warehouse. For once Jim did not make a point of browbeating Larry, playing the alpha stud jock lording over who he perceived to be a wuss. Even with Steve Jim was keeping the appearance of being friendly, curt but friendly. It was not until the following Tuesday Tony called Jim and asked what their plans were for the next evening, suddenly all eager to have the guys back in his garage.

"The wife is gone for a few days, so there's not reason, I hope you guys -- I mean the workout room" meaning his garage "is available. Finally, huh?"

"Uh, I don't know... I mean... if the other guys, y'know are free y'know wanna or if..."

"I'll give them a call, see what their plans are. I'll get back to you as soon as -- "

"No wait! I'll call them, okay?" Jim saw the problem right away. What if the group did decide to go over to Tony's garage the following night. Would they be cool and not say anything about how bad things had gotten last time? Could they be trusted now that Tony was so mysteriously eager to rejoin them? Did he want to risk this major threat to his straight hyper-jock reputation?

So he called Steve right away and explained the situation to him. Steve thought things had died down sufficiently that Tony's garage and the problems Jim raised would not be such a big deal anymore.

"At least there won't be that damn camera for one, right?"

"Fuck don't remind me. Have you talked to Jensmull at all?"

"Of course we talk, same as you and me."

"No I mean talked talked! He say anything about...?"

"Shit no" Steve grunted "hell you think he's proud of what happened to him?"

"Like you were the picture of innocence Bearbreath" and that started him up "shit Steve what got into you last week? Grabbing my dick and jacking me off!"

"Like you didn't grab mine too! What was THAT about?"

"Shit you know it didn't mean shit I was just fuckin with you, thinking you'd maybe drop the weights or something. But you! Shit I thought if I didn't finish up my set fast you were gonna start creaming my hand the way you were -- "

"In your fuckin dreams Jimbo" Steve knew Jim was just as guilty as he was so he lowered his voice "and like since when do you get so hard so fast when another guy is grabbing your stuff? What was that about?"

"You're one to talk" and back and forth it went, neither one giving an inch, both convinced the other guy committed the more disgusting breach of conduct.

"So what should we do about Tony then?" Steve had enough of the argument and wanted a new discussion "should we tell him no go?"

"I think he'd get suspicious if all of a sudden we decided not to, y'know what I mean? And like he's doing this flip-flop, like now he wants us over there."

"So you saying we should go? To Tony's tomorrow?"

"Like you said at least that damn camera won't be filming us in all our glory, right?"

"You saying you gonna what? Miss it?"

"Fuck no! I mean we ain't gonna be doing no more nasty-ass shit. Not at Tony's for crissakes!"

"Don't sound so fuckin disappointed!"

"You're the one sounds disappointed, no more getting on my dick huh?"

"Fuck you Jimbo" Steve chuckled, hiding his nervousness.

"Back at ya. So I better call Jensmull then and -- "

"Let me handle Larry okay? I don't know about you but we gotta make sure he really did destroy that damn tape! I mean if any of this gets out -- "

"Oh yeah, the tape I almost forgot about that" Jim lied.

"Yeah let's hope he did too. Or better yet burned the sucker. Look, I'll give him a call and see what's going on, I'll get back to you."

"So we're on for tomorrow then?"

"Yeah I am at least, tell Tony we'll meet him there at seven" Steve saw the TV in the background "and tell him to get some fans for that pit, it looks like tomorrow's gonna be a hot one."

"At least that warehouse was -- "

"Shit Jimbo you REALLY do wanna go there instead don't ya?"

"Not on your life I never wanna see that place again!"

"Same here" Steve lied "I'm calling Larry, and if y'don't hear from me everything's on for tomorrow then" and he hung up. As soon as he did he started sweating. What if Larry had not destroyed the tape. What if his casual act all during the week was just that, just an act. And he was really deep-down pissed at the two and what if... Steve ran all the "what-ifs" through his brain until he thought he would short-circuit something. When he calmed down enough to dial Larry's number he was hoping he would not answer. But on the second ring,

"Hello hey Steve what's up?"

"Hey Lar, sorry to bother you."

"No bother, I was just thinking about tomorrow."

"Uhh, what about it?" Steve braced himself for the bomb "you still thinking about... y'know... "

"We still on for it? Is that place with Poker Steve still -- "

"Uh no he busy" Steve lied "that's kinda why I was calling -- "

"So we ain't gonna, y'know, I mean you guys all through with... y'know... "

"That's why I'm calling I mean... " Steve had to play this one real careful "you probably would not be interested if, I mean y'know instead of Steve's place we go back to.. maybe Tony's garage again?"

"That dump?" but Larry made sure he heard the chuckle in his voice "you guys really wanna go there?"

"Just for one week" Steve blurted out and quickly regretted it.

"So we're going back to that Steve's place next week?"

"Shit Jensmull I thought the last thing you'd want to do is -- "

"Hey I ain't happy with what went down last week anymore than you are, ok? But then again I was not the one playing with -- "

"We don't gotta go there Lar, I mean it" Steve lowered his voice, getting all "cop" on him "I don't think anyone's really proud about any of that shit y'know what I mean?"

"I know exactly what you mean, and yeah maybe we need to just -- "

"So you... y'know that tape Larry... I mean you did...?"

"Did what?" as soon as Larry heard Steve mention the magic word he almost got hard in his pants. He had been waiting for this conversation all week.

"Y'know, y'got rid of it, right? I mean like you -- "

"I destroyed it? I was sure thinking about that believe me."

"Thinking about it? You mean you didn't?" Steve almost shouted the words, but did everything to keep his cool. This was not the time to get Larry ticked off.

"No Steve, not yet. I been thinking about, seriously. Giving it a whole lot of thought... but..."

"But what? What the fuck you waiting for?"

There was a long pause. Steve could hear Larry's breathing, knowing enough to hear the tension over the line,

"Well?"

"Y'know Steve I can't tell ya now. Maybe we can talk about it tomorrow huh?"

"That mean, I mean you really thinking about...?"

"I'll see ya tomorrow night. You ARE going, right?" the slight edge in Larry's tone coming through much louder than the tense breathing before.

"Y-y-yeah, I'll be there."

"Jim too, right?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Make sure okay?"

"Why's that?"

"No reason" Larry lied and hung up.

June 26

So it was that three nervous guys headed to Tony's place the following night, hoping for little more than a hot dirty evening in that cramped garage. Jim was the first to get there, hoping he could get that big Italian musclehead aside and if not explain what had happened at the warehouse at least sound him out on how cool he was about "stuff", get a sense for how he might react if some moron let something slip, not that actual activities were actually going anywhere near what had happened in the past. But as soon as the two had rearranged all the equipment and Jim was starting to ease into the subject of the prior two Wednesdays, Larry showed up and it was not long before a sweating Steve arrived as well.

"So you guys all miss the place huh?" Tony was already dripping even though he was only wearing a wife-beater and nylon running shorts. As overly muscled Jim was, Tony was more sculpted and proportioned, although both could compete in their respective weight classes. Tony's upper body looked more symmetrical, but not less of that "roided" look, his olive tone making his chest and shoulders appear more sculpted. He may have been less vascular than Jim, but if it came to a posedown, it would be hard to choose between the two muscle cops "I guess that other place didn't work out huh?"

"Shit man what happened to you?"

"Oh this?" rubbing his hand over his freshly shaved head "I always do this in summer, the heat y'know."

"Ya didn't last year, from what I remember..." Steve was a bit shocked. He noticed Larry did not say anything but waited for Steve to comment on it first.

"So what about that other place?" Tony tried.

"We don't mind this place" Larry looked at Steve, ducking the subject "besides it's not like we can use that other place whenever we want, right Steve?"

"Uh yeah, right."

"So what is it anyway? Some guy's private -- "

"Just an empty warehouse" Jim cut in "nothing special is all."

"Except it has a full work-out area full set of weights locker room shower, it's kinda cool" Larry looked at Jim "even has a -- "

"Maybe I should join you, see this place for myself sometime" Tony found Larry's eagerness kind of amusing.

"Come join us next week" Steve gave Larry a quick glare after his outburst "you should -- "

"Yeah, good idea" Jim added, his eyes still on Larry.

"Think about it" Tony look at his equipment "so this probably ain't as fancy as you -- "

"We don't need fancy, we just need to get our asses moving" Jim was back in hard-ass mode "so who's gonna start this off?"

"What are we doing this week?"

"What'd y'do last week?" Tony all innocent.

"It was kinda funny actually" Larry looked at Jim "I mean y'shoulda seen -- "

"Norton don't wanna hear about that Jismboy" Jim cut him off fast "he's asking about our workouts and that's why I'm thinking we should keep our same regimen, legs back chest arms, same as last time."

"And the penalties?" Larry looked straight at Jim "same as last time too?"

"What penalties?" Tony asked before Steve or more likely Jim had a chance to kill Larry right then and there.

"Don't mind Lar" Steve was breaking out in a cold sweat even though it was hotter than blazes in that airless garage "he's just bullshitting ya tryin to fuck with all of us."

"Whoever didn't make their set -- "

"Forget it Jensmull, Norton doesn't care about -- "

"No this sounds like some hardass shit you came up with Larson, once again" Tony was almost laughing "what'd you make these poor slobs do this time?"

"He didn't make us do anything" Steve gave Larry the nastiest of looks "Lar here is just jerking you around."

"Speaking of jerking -- "

"Enough with the gum-flapping!" Jim put a stop to that fast. The last thing he wanted to have them talk about was what happened between him and Steve. If Tony got even the slightest wind of that... well he was not going to, Jim was determined now "we start with twenty pushups each warmup then... "finding the attachment for the bench "leg lifts for starters, then maybe some squats."

"But what about -- " Steve was going to ask about their order but Jim feared something worse."

"No buts Bearbreath" dropping to the hard cement floor "twenty guys. That means right now!" and one by one they all dropped down and followed. If one thing Jim got them conditioned to do it was taking orders when he turned on his "sargeant" voice.

All of them were in good shape so it was not an ordeal but Tony of all people was the first to turn red in the face like he was having difficulties.

"Sorry guys" he grunted when he was finished "guess I shoulda been joining you guys, been not pushing myself and a couple weeks missed y'really feel it huh?" he stood there panting and sweating, his face, his newly shaved head especially red and shiny with the modest exertion.

"Nah you're fine" Jim looked at Steve who was also staining his gray football t-shirt with sweat "it's just hotter'n hell in here. What about some fans Tony-my-man?"

"Oh shit yeah I almost forgot" he wiped his forehead with the bottom of his wife-beater, flashing them his ripped smooth collection of perfect toned abs "be right back" and he headed for the house.

"So what the FUCK was that all ABOUT?" Jim turned on Larry as soon as Tony was out of earshot.

"What was what about?"

"You were gonna just stand there and tell him about last week if I wouldn't have -- "

"Chill out Jim, it ain't like that" Larry sat down and grabbed his waterbottle, draining half of it. He felt the heat as well and knew it should work in his favor if he just knew how to play his cards. But he had zero experience in coercion and subterfuge, unlike these other guys. Well at least Jim that's for sure "y'think I would blab to Norton about what your two were -- "

"Fuck, you were the one throwing a big fat homo rod over all of what was happening"

"And you two were just innocent little kids?" Larry was not going to let Jim bully him, not with the ace he was holding, knowing his possession of that night's tape kept him sitting pretty "okay? You two were not exactly playing tiddlywinks!"

"Okay okay OKAY!" Steve got between them holding up his hands "enough already! We can't be getting into this, not when Norton gonna show up any second okay?"

"Get into what?" Tony showed up at that moment, carrying two floor-stand fans "what are you guys arguing about now?"

"Nothing" Jim glared at Larry "nothing at all."

"We just haven't decided on who's going in what order is all" Steve looked hard at Jim "so like we 'agreed' I'll go first and then Tony."

"No, like we 'agreed' I will start" Jim continued to glare at Larry "then Norton then Steve-O and finally Jismboy here. We agreed?"

"Sure fine whatever" but Larry was not through yet.

So Jim went over to the loosely piled collection of weights and loaded up the leg attachment, watching Tony plug in the fans cooling off the garage by five degrees if that. Jim started out at what he thought a modest amount of weight, enough to warm up his quads without causing any problems off the bat. He finished and got his sweaty ass off the leather bench and waved to their host,

"next?"

"Uh..." Tony looked at all the weight there and frowned "that weight?"

"No man it's up to you" Steve jumped in "you decide how much, it doesn't have to be the same amount, whatever you want to start at."

"Except each time you gotta increase it" Jim had to assert his role again.

"By how much?" Tony wanted to get this down at the beginning so there would be no more arguing among all these overheated guys. Already he could sense the tension in the group and did not want it to get out of control. At the same time he was very curious about what they were hiding, because it was plain as shit they were all guilty of something. And he was enough of cop to get to the bottom of it, so he was making a big thing about getting Jim to explain all of his "rules" like he had never done any of this before.

"Same as always, by five."

"Don't you think for legs it should be addtional fifteen pounds?" Larry added, challenging Jim. Larry knew Jim hated to be outdone at anything.

"Fifteen, y'want fifteen? Hey it's your funeral Jismboy" Jim threw right back.

"Uh, okay" Tony adjusted the weights for what he thought would be a good starting amount. At the same time he did not want to look like too much of a wuss, so it was only twenty pounds less than Jim's amount. He was more than half-way through when he realized he should have started lower. He finished and struggled to his feet "there, how's that?"

"You okay there Norton?"

"Yeah no problem" he lied "I guess taking off a week or two is..."

"Don't sweat it" Steve went to the bench and made a point of increasing the amount, making sure Jim noticed. But not by so much as to make Tony look like a chump. He did his ten with a certain ease, his hair-darkened legs thick and muscular enough from all his football that this exercise was not his weakest area. And last week's workout was keeping his from falling into the same lethargy as the big Italian there. He finished and stood up, sweaty but confident "okay Larry, your turn."

"Piece of cake" Larry went and made a point of lowering the amount of weight, glaring at Jim to make a snide comment. But Jim was silent as Larry did his ten at the reduced amount and finished with little effort "okay Jimbo" taunting him in Steve-fashion "fifteen more."

"Fifteen, we all agreeing on fifteen?" Jim looked around the room, not getting any arguments "okay you dickheads, fifteen it is" and he loaded up his previous amount, again making a big display of adding the two seven-and-a-halfs. He shifted his hips balancing he weight and began his set, feeling his muscles pump and the blood rush down and into his legs. If there was one thing that got him off it was feeling the pump. He went through all ten and stood, flushed with pride "okay Tony-my-man, show us how it's done."

"Fifteen huh?" Tony looked at the weight, almost forgetting what his starting amount was until Larry reminded him, trying to be helpful. Tony lowered the amount until it was was they told him he had plus the additional fifteen. He took his position and tested the weight, feeling the heaviness already building in his thighs.

"You can do it my man" Jim encouraged.

"Yeah Norton, piece of cake for someone in your shape, do it" from Steve.

"Nothing to worry about" Larry looked at Jim and shrugged.

Tony gave the weight a test lift then began. His legs strained and pulled but he got through the first eight smoothly. The last two and he was visibly struggling. He grunted "ten!" as he finished with a loud clang!

"There, y'see? Not a problem" Jim came over and high-fived him. But he could see Tony had let himself lose so much of his cut tone in the short interim "okay Bearbreath, you agreed to fifteen let's see it."

"Yeah yeah keep yer shirt on" Steve came over from a hushed conversation with Larry "your turn's coming soon enough."

"Less jawing more lifting" Jim shot back, his favorite line.

"Jawing and lifting, jawing and lifting" Steve parroted back "whatever" adding his fifteen pounds, groaning as he did. He got onto the bench and made a loud grunt as he did. He made a big ordeal out of his ten, but he knew it was not as difficult as he made it out to be. He finished nine and ten with a great deal of drama "there, ten!"

"My turn" Larry jumped up, not really wanting to get this show on the road but knowing he had to push this into the red zone and soon. He had a small conference with Steve suggesting how to save the evening at the same time get an idea of where Tony might be if and when the situation concerning the prior week came into the open. Steve told Larry he was nuts and he would not go along with it. Larry reminded him he still had the tape and Steve really wanted to play along to avoid anything worse happen. Steve agreed with a few conditions and suggestions of his own. At that point Larry knew the train was already heading over the cliff and he better hang onto his hat. Or in this case his crotch.

He readjusted the weights, adding his fifteen and gave it a try,

"Shit, whose idea was fifteen?"

"Yours Jismboy" Jim smirked "what's the matter? Think your gonna wuss out and we're just starting?"

"Shit no I can do this" he groaned and started, his thick legs flexing with the effort. He made it to seven and started to buckle.

"C'mon Lar that's only seven. Three more!" Steve looked at the other two "do it Lar!"

"I can do it!" he groaned catching his breath.

"Hey, no fair taking a break" Jim the drill sargeant bark "now or forfeit."

"I ain't forfeiting" he gasped and up went his legs, his face red, the veins in his thick necks popping out "eight!" he grunted.

"Two more Lar!"

"Okay" he lowered the bar fast and as soon as he did up it went again. Almost all the way up but Larry's legs started to shake and down crashed the attachment "nine!"

"No good you didn't get it all -- " but Larry tried one more time, his legs flexing out and up and again the weights made it halfway to the top.

"Ten!" Larry grunted, the weights slamming down with a loud crash.

"Bullshit!" Jim charged over almost grabbing Larry. He grabbed him by the shoulders preventing him from getting up "that was no ten!"

"Shit Jensmull, talk about lame" Tony not far behind "what do you call that?"

"That was ten" Larry was staring right into Jim's abs so close he could smell his sweat "right Steve?"

"Sorry Lar" Steve shrugged "not even close. Those last two were..."

"So what if he didn't do his ten?" Tony looked at Jim "you guys talked about forfeits and penalties. Like what kinda penalties?"

"We ain't doing no penalties!" Jim thundered "okay?"

"But what about the kid here?" Tony had fire in those dark eyes of his"Larry sure as fuck didn't do his -- "

"Okay alright SHIT!" Larry tried to get up but Jim pushed him back down "okay I didn't, okay? So I have to do a penalty or not?"

"Larry's right" Steve challenged Jim "penalty time for Lar here. Right Tony?"

"No penalties got it?" Jim turned to Steve, tense and pissed.

"No Steve's right" Tony was right next to Jim "Larry's gotta do his penalty, he forfeited right? Right Larry?"

"Yeah fine" he looked at Steve, biting his lip.

"Look you guys" Jim had to stop this while he could "I mean -- "

"I say he does a penalty, nothing bad, just..."

"Like lose the shirt Lar" Steve looked at Jim "for starters."

"What?" their host almost laughed "you call that a penalty?"

"Look guys, we really don't -- " Jim was getting more and more angry and nervous as he looked from one guy to the other.

"Yeah for starters" Tony smirked "we'll think of something nastier next time you fuck up Larry."

"Fine" Larry reached down and pulled his t-shirt over his head "there" his bulky thick torso exposed, the light dusting of hairs on his chest and especially on his round belly already matting with sweat.

"I don't think we should be -- " Jim wanted this development to stop but saw Tony's hard determination.

"Hey, house rules" Tony shrugged, looking at Jim "my house, my rules. From now on any wuss doesn't do his set forfeits and does a penalty."

"Norton we don't need -- "

"C'mon Jim, it's good incentive" Tony tugged at his wife-beater pulling it off as well, all those dark ripped full muscles on display "besides, losing clothes is hardly a penalty" tossing it in the corner. His shiny bulging chest, muscular and hairless except for his black pits was so packed with his competition-ready muscle, but his chest and arms were not yet so bulked out as they would be after a few more sets, or had he been not taking the last several weeks off "see?" meaning: Larson you ain't the only one with muscles!

"No really guys -- "

"You're outruled here Jimbo" Steve smirked "Tony's rules okay?"

"You!" Jim just pointed his finger at Larry, backing up so he could free the bench. The kid rubbed his hand over his bulky round chest, shiny with sweat then mopped his face with his wadded-up t-shirt as he struggled to his feet "okay last one. Another fifteen" reloading the leg attachment and taking the bench. He got back up and wiped it clean of Larry's sweat "pig..." snarling at Larry who just stood there, his big arms folded over his bare chest.

He started his set, his legs sore but recovered enough from the long break to finish all ten with minimal effort. He got off the bench his thighs burning and starting to pop.

"Looking good there Larson" Tony took his turn next "fifteen huh?" removing less weights than he would have wanted until his amount was set. He took the bench and gave the bar a test "whoa!" he grunted and began his lifts, his legs not as sore as last set but the last two were almost dropped. He sat there with all his muscles tight and shining, his sweaty abs flexing with each lift, his face red with the effort. With the slightest of breaks he able to finish the last two with a great amount of effort "fuck!" he grunted as the last one slammed down.

"Getting soft there Norton" Jim taunted, knowing that was the last thing he was. The guy was as ripped as he was, but where Jim was more overly muscled and bulked out, Tony was perfectly toned and ripped, every muscle defined and sinewy, not an ounce of fat on him. And that newly shaved head only added to his general musclehead appearance "see what happens when you skip a week?"

"Or two" he struggled to his feet his balance unsteady "fine you're right. No more blowing off workouts" looking at Steve "okay big guy, show us how."

"No sweat" Steve loaded up his amount, exchanging some weights for larger ones to keep from running out of room on the short bar. He took his seat, the bench almost straining for the additional weight.

"Hey make sure y'don't break Norton's equipment there Numbnutts" Jim laughed.

"Fuck you Jimbo" and Steve gave a grunt as he swung the hundred-plus weight up, his thick thighs bulging with the increased amount. He looked liked he would fail after seven, each time the weights swinging down with a loud crash, but each time he gave a loud grunt and swung them up and with a loud gasp finished the tenth one "there!" gasping out of breath "piece of... cake."

"Okay enough of the easy stuff" Jim looked around the room for the curved barbell. He pulled it from corner and started to throw some plates on it.

"Thought we're doing that next" Tony went over to his ancient nautilus sitting in a corner unused and collecting dust from their last session weeks ago "what about...?"

"Fine we can do the gimp machine" Jim hated that thing, being a free weight snob from day one "even Jismboy here can handle that."

"Don't go easy just because of me" Larry just stood there, his head cocked to the side "I ain't the one should be worrying."

"What's that mean Jensmull?" Jim turned on him.

"Nothing Jimbo, he don't mean nothing okay?" Steve stepped in fast "he just thinks maybe -- "

"Since when you doin the thinking?" Jim looked at Tony "that what we got Norton here for, right?"

"Yeah that's me" Tony took a towel and wiped off the seat "so now we do... back, right?"

"See?" looking at Steve "told ya he's the brains of the outfit here."

"Yeah that's me, a real bookworm" crossing his eyes at Jim "okay He-Man, show me how to do this huh?"

"Okay guys, unlike the runt here" Jim gave Tony a pop on the back of his smooth skull "you meatheads know how this works" sitting down and straddling the bench his back to them "we're gonna do fifteen per set."

"Fifteen?" Larry acted shocked "huh?"

"Yeah fifteen" Jim set the pin at his starting amount "lemme show ya" grabbing the bar wide grip and giving it a firm tug down towards his chest. He finished his set with little more than a red face to show for his effort "see how easy?"

"Gee Larson, don't know if us weaklings can handle this" Tony -- all one-eighty-five pounds of weakling muscles -- replaced him on the seat, his broad bare V of a back displaying that rippling relief map of tanned olive hills and valleys. He looked over his shoulder and smirked, making a point of jamming the pin in several weights lower and heavier than Jim's starting amount "why don't you grab some waters from the kitchen Jim while I make short work of this" nodding his head at the door to the house."

"Yeah right so when I'm gone you're gonna cheat and -- "

"We'll keep and eye on him" Steve shook his head, the idea Tony would shave some weights in Jim's absence too absurd to believe "right Larry?"

"Yeah right" Larry looked at Steve and nodded his head towards Jim walking through the door "I'll stay here and keep him honest."

It took a few seconds for Steve to catch on he was supposed to join Jim. He got a worried, then pissed expression but headed for the door as well,

"I'll go help him, make sure he doesn't get lost."

Tony did not pay much attention, already burning through his set like it was no big deal. He finished his set and got off the bench, wiping himself down with his towel.

"Sorry about this" standing over Larry, his bare torso flushed with the recent effort.

"For what?"

"Y'know, this place" waving around the garage "I know it's a hot dirty old garage and all, not like -- "

"Hey, y'don't hear me complaining do you?" Larry shrugged, his big thick fleshy shoulders doing a slow dance "you're a real okay bud to let us lunkheads hang out here and -- "

"Probably compared to where you guys were last week, this must be the pits, huh?"

"It ain't much fancier than this" wondering how long the two would be gone. Larry was enough of a cop to know Tony was angling trying to give him the third degree, but was he was not worried he would spill the beans at this point in the evening "bigger yeah, fancier no."

"Maybe I should join you guys next time you head there huh?"

"You kicking us outa your private gym here already?"

"Ain't meaning that" their host sat down again on the bench facing forward this time. He reached up and grabbed the bar to stretch a bit, his big arms flexing his biceps bulging, his hairy pits catching the breeze from the fan. And he noticed where Larry's eyes bounced before their eyes locked "just thinking I should tag along next time."

"Sure fine up to you" Larry felt Tony's steady stare. He stood up and went over to the fan to cool off, looking down at Tony in the process "but you're just gonna be disappointed cause it ain't all that special."

"So it's what? Some guy's private set up?"

"Not even" Larry folded his arms, shifting his weight to one hip "just the back of an old warehouse south of here, some guys I guess just rents out part of the space and -- "

"Rents it out?" Tony cocked his eye "it ain't free?"

"I don't know I mean..."

"How much he charging you guys?"

"Not much."

"So he is charging you then."

"See?" Larry trying to steer it away "that's why we like this place. At least you ain't charging" right away catching his gaff "and a bunch of us lunkheads don't need anything fancy, just regular" rubbing his shoulder "at least I do."

"So the place is nice huh?" Tony was on the scent and would not let it go.

"In a pinch, y'know?" looking around, trying to keep his eyes off that olive-skinned half-naked torso. He could swear Tony was almost putting on a show for him, the way he was flexing his arms tugging at the bar, his abs tightening and loosening each time. Larry knew that Tony could not be wise to the conversation between Steve and Jim, but that did not make Larry any less nervous. And when Larry got nervous he turned red. And worse.

Tony gave a few casual glances at Larry's crotch,

"So what about these penalties?" just like that, out of the blue.

"What do you mean?" Larry stalled.

"What kind of penalties you guys been making each other do?"

"Oh you can just imagine what those two" thumbing towards the kitchen "boneheads come up with. Jim especially got a hard-ass streak, like he wanted to be a drill sargeant or -- "

"But stripping off?" nodding at Larry's bare chest "ain't that kinda y'know... gay?"

"Naw" Larry blushed more and shrugged "ain't like that. It's just Jim's way of y'know trying to y'know... I don't know maybe motivate you, y'know in his own sick twisted way."

"So he's the one always assigns the penalties?"

"Naw, not usually, I mean Steve -- "

"What about Steve?"

"If it's Steve's penalty, then yeah, Jim's the one who comes up with something really nasty."

"I get that" Tony finally lowered his arms, rubbing his right pec instead "so if Jim doesn't always get to decide then..."

"We usually agree and..."

"Usually... I mean..." Larry started sweating.

"If you don't agree?" Tony narrowed his eyes "like what if you picked a penalty for Jim and he didn't want to -- "

"We usually agree -- have to agree -- on I mean..."

"But not always right?" Tony could see Larry's wall start to crack. Shit he did this for a living, something Larry knew. If not he should know. The nervous silence last maybe five seconds before they heard voices and foosteps and then Jim came through the door followed by a grim-looking Steve.

"Took you two long enough" Tony read their moods in a second. Jim looked cornered, silent and deadly pissed; Steve looked like he was trying to hide major nervousness behind his usual gruff swagger. Tony was going to get to the bottom of this fast "you get lost or something?"

"Naw, just nice and cool inside" Jim produced a gallon jug of water almost sweating as much as he was "here."

"Yeah finally" Larry and Tony circled around the two. Tony could not help but notice the exchange of looks between Larry and Steve. Yeah he was definitely going to get to the bottom of it "so who's turn again?"

"I had my turn" Tony looked at Larry "ain't that right?"

"Yeah he did it, ALL of it okay?" almost challenging Jim "so Steve?"

"Okay fine" tossing his paper cup "let's get this goin" and he sat down at the nautilus "back huh?" resetting the pin at a lesser weight "that should do it" daring Jim to rag amount the amount. Tony noticed Jim kept quiet. He reached up and grabbed the bar, his broad back spreading out like wings as he gave the bar a tug and down it came, his shoulders responding to the workout by getting even bigger and wider. Or maybe it was the way he was sitting. But he finished his ten with little problem "Larry?"

"Deal" and Larry was on the bench before Steve had a chance to wipe up the sweat stains. He plugged in his weight and gave the bar a yank. He struggled and strained and made a big deal of it but he completed his ten and staggered to his feet "whew!"

"Guess the break did you guys good huh?" Tony looked at Jim "your turn huh?"

"Yeah..." glaring at Steve "my turn."

"Don't forget the pin there Jim" Tony was getting into this "you guys keep him honest I gotta piss" and just like that he was through the door leaving the three alone.

"What the FUCK" Jim turned on Larry as soon as Tony was out of earshot "what you pulling here Jensmull?"

"Whatdya mean I'm pulling?"

"Steve here says you want me to -- "

"I'm thinking it's maybe a good idea your shoulder is acting up again" Steve cut in "y'know, still sore from -- "

"What are you two trying to pull?"

"Maybe... I mean" Larry knew it all balanced on Jim's narcissism versus his need to keep his image intact "all I'm thinking here is it'd be a good idea not to let Tony lose any of these... and if he starts maybe you need to lose first."

"I can wipe the floor with his puny ass!"

"Yeah Jim you can" Larry looked at Steve "we both know that, everybody knows that. But we need to find out how cool he is about this."

"And you're the bait, got it?" Steve tried to look serious and worried.

"Ain't doing it!"

"You sure Jim?" Larry shrugged "cause I sure don't wanna do anything stupid with that tape okay?"

"You FUCKER!" Jim was on his feet "you fuckin BLACKMAILING ME?"

"Ain't like that Jimbo" Steve cut between them "we just gotta know we're all on the same page here, we can trust each other y'know?"

"How the fuck I'm supposed to trust somebody trying to blackmail my ass?"

"That's why we got to make sure Norton is cool about -- "

"About what?" Tony acted like he had not been at the door eavesdropping "cool about what?"

"Nothing!" Jim spat "nothing at all -- hey, what's those?"

"These..." Tony produced the pack of cards with a dramatic flourish "are for the next forfeit I was thinking."

"How's that?" Jim glared at Steve like this was all his idea.

"Seems when somebody gotta do a penalty Jim here's the one who decides what they gotta do -- "

"Hey I don't always -- "

"That's why I got the cards" Tony made a point of not looking at Larry "this way it's all fair. We cut the cards, high cards decides the penalty for the poor fucker."

"You ain't serious" Steve looked at Tony then Jim back and forth. As nervous as he was, he was relieved that the musclehead was getting into the spirit of the competition. And he was betting there was no way things could get as crazy as last week if Tony was involved, and using this card stunt to keep a lid on things. At least keep a lid on that drill sargeant Jim!

"Sounds fair" Larry added under his breath: for a change.

"I don't know about... " Jim felt the shift away from him towards Tony "I mean..."

"My house my rules, right boys?"

"Hey it's a good idea, we shoulda thought about this last -- "

"Shut up Braersten!" Jim spun around fast.

"What about...?" Tony took the cards out of the pack and shuffled them "what about last...?"

"Nothing, nothing at all" Jim took his spot on the bench again, moving the pin down another step.

"Hey you already did" Larry tried to warn him he had already done that before.

"Ain't mattering" Jim wide back spread out as he grabbed the bar, his t-shirt threatening to rip at the shoulders. He gave no indication of having increased the weight by thirty and not fifteen; neither did he show any indication of slowing down or faking his "pulled shoulder muscle" like Larry and Steve suggested. He tore through his set and got up like nothing "okay?" glaring at Steve "your turn" looking at Tony.

"Let's do it!" and for some reason he left the pin in the same slot as Jim. He took his wide grip and gave it a tug "fuck!" checking the weight amount "too late now huh?" over his shoulder at Jim "no turning back huh Jim?" and with a great deal of straining he got the first eight done and then started to sag "fuck... fuck..." he grunted.

"Forfeiting there buddy?" Jim smirked. Nothing got his rocks off like going head to head with the only guy he considered in his league, going up against and beat this other musclehead, the only guy in his circle he considered worth beating on his own terms "give up?"

"Do it Tony you can do it!" Steve sided against Jim.

"Damn!" and down came the bar for the last two "fuck that was close. I almost was the one gonna forfeit there" swinging to his feet "okay Steve show'm how."

"You two are nuts" Steve readjusted the weights back to his range, then making a show of going to the next slot "have fun you two" and proceeded to sail through his ten.

"Okay I guess it's serious now huh guys?" Larry sat down, his broad back to them "shit I forgot where I was" looking at the weight "oh yeah that's right" and he left it at the same amount as Steve "right?"

"Yeah we were about the same" Steve chimed in.

"Okay one more after this right?" Larry looked at Jim who just nodded grimly. Larry knew shoulders would not be any problem for him, and he might have not been increasing his amounts like he should but no one was really paying attention to him. It was the developing tense situation between Tony and Jim for a change that was the focus instead. Steve almost looked relieved.

Larry struggled and groaned through his set making it look like he was going to fail but he finished and went for the water jug "whew! Okay Jim last set of shoulders" catching his eye "last! set" emphasizing the word so Jim got his meaning. When he thought he heard Jim swear under his breath Larry hoped the message got through his thick skull.

Jim took his seat looking like a condemned man. He plugged in the pin at the higher weight, knowing he would be able do it otherwise. With a certain amount of pain and effort but it could be done. He gave the bar a tug, feeling the fatigue in his shoulders and the worse pain in his gut. Damn them, damn Larry for the tape, damn Norton for having to be here, and damn Steve for what happened last week,

"Fuck!" he yelled letting the weight drop after only six.

"Do it Jimbo, do it!" Steve grunted smelling blood.

"Fuck!" Jim yelled and tried for number seven but it did not happen "fuck!"

"You forfeiting there Jim?" from Tony.

"Just take your damn turn okay?" and Jim gave up the seat in defeat.

"Let's hope I don't forfeit too huh?" but Tony gave it his all, his back muscles now standing out in dramatic high relief, corded and flaring like a relief map of mountains "shit that was fuckin grim" looking at the amount "didn't think I could, being all flabby and out of shape."

"But you did Tony" Steve took his spot, fearing he might slip up. And yet he managed to finish even though the last two were sloppy enough for someone to cry foul. When it came Larry's turn he also finished his with a few questionable pulls.

"Okay okay boys" Tony got the cards "everyone gets one" looking at Jim "except for you Larson, for obvious reasons."

"I ain't worried" Jim looked at Steve "you guys know better" seeing him take his card, his eyebrows giving it away. Steve pulled something high and his smirk only confirmed it. Larry's noncommittal expression suggested something average. Tony's face told Jim he got garbage

"Okay guys, show and tell" Tony looked right at Larry "show and tell, right?"

"Don't look at me" Larry threw down a five.

"Sorry Jimbo" Steve beamed throwing down his queen "guess you ain't happy I got -- "

"Sorry Steve" and there was Tony's king "this one's mine."

Larry bit his lip giving a fast glance to Steve. Steve looked like at Jim like "you're so off the hook" but then Tony gave a low satisfied grunt and said,

"So..." looking at Jim standing there his arms folded "this is how I see it. I get the feeling you three are keeping what happened last week real hush-hush, huh?"

"Nothing happened!" Jim snapped.

"Maybe maybe not" Tony rubbed his itchy scalp, his muscles flexing from the recent set "so here's my forfeit" keeping a steady gaze "either you tell me what really happened last week -- "

"Nothing happened!"

"Or..." rubbing the sweat out of his eyes "or lose em" nodding at Jim's workout clothes "I mean all of em Larson."

"What?" from Larry loudest of all. Of all the things he expected to hear from Tony, this was not it. Maybe he teased out too much line to him before, maybe his allusions to what had happened were not subtle enough, maybe Tony suspected at least one of them -- that means YOU LARRY! -- was soft on the whole gay thing! And Tony was going to get to the bottom of it. Larry wanted to crawl into the corner and disappear once he heard that penalty.

"You are so fuckin kidding!" Jim stood still, his big thick arms not budging.

"If you don't want to lose your clothes then what happened last week? You three do something illegal?" Tony hoped and prayed it was not something that the bastard Connors might ever EVER get wind of. Or maybe just maybe THIS is what the big-dicked rapist chief of police was sniffing around for? Tony shuddered thinking he stumbled into something, and it was his friends that were at the bottom of all of it. But these three were too clean -- and too stupid! -- to get involved with "those guys".

"Fuck no!" Steve looked at Larry who would not meet his eyes.

"Well then you got no reason not to spill. So what happened there Larson?"

"I told you nothing!"

"Ain't believing it. Okay, your choice, count of three. Either spill or strip! One!"

"I ain't -- "

"Two!"

"You're nuts!"

"Three!"

Jim stood there like a rock not moving.

"Okay guys, what happens if someone refuses their penalty?" Tony looked at the rest of the group "then what?"

"Never happened" Larry was so nervous "not last week anyway I mean..." again he said too much.

"So last week you never refused" Tony's lip curled in an evil smile "and why I get the idea that stripping was far from the worst."

"Fuck okay!" Jim decided it was time to cut his losses. And maybe throw Tony off the trail in the process. He pulled his t-shirt over his head, barely able to get it clear, it was clinging with all the sweat. And yeah he liked the way Tony's eyes roved all over his hard muscles. Hell he shaved his body sometimes just to make his muscles pop, make every cord and vein stand out in dramatic relief. Steve would probably lust after him even if he was a fat slob like himself, and Larry... well, that boy had dick-hound written all over him. So the only challenge here was that Tony stud, and getting him to drool over his bod made Jim the number one stud with Tony a distant second. With little hesitation Jim then pulled down his shorts and jock and stepped out of them, naked except for his shoes. He gave his big cut dick a yank or two trying to embarrass anyone caught perving on his shaved crotch but the eyes on his tugging were making no effect to look away "okay? This is what happened last week okay? We just made Ste- I mean Larry here strip down naked is all okay?" glaring at Larry daring him to contradict him "that's all okay Norton that's IT" nailing Steve in his stare next "but these I'm keeping" pointing at his shoes "this garage is too nasty for my feet."

"Suite yourself suite yourself" Tony smirked. Getting Jim to spill the beans and show dick in his garage was better than he ever hoped. Talk about a gun to his head for a week at least! Tony was happier than he'd ever admit "okay Skinbo" he chuckled "as much as we could all stand around all night getting all hot and google-eyed over your naked bod" waiting for Steve and Larry to join the chucklefest "but we got work to do here."

"Skinbo that's priceless" Steve tore his eyes off all that exposed flesh "arms next right?"

"No, it's bench press time" Jim found the straight barbell and with Tony's helploaded it on the bench, starting at what looked like a murderous amount of plates. As soon as Jim noticed the attention directed towards his naked body -- towards his hefty cock! -- diminish the slightest, he went for his shorts to cover up fast.

"Not so fast!" Tony grabbed his arm "who said you could get dressed?"

"Funny Norton" still trying to pull up his shorts.

"Guys?"

"What?" Steve liked the floor show but was not yet ready to admit it in front of Tony.

"Do we let Skinbo get dressed or leave him naked all night?"

"I vote for the Skinbo show" Larry was not going to let his slight advantage slip away. He knew Tony was going to figure out his scene sooner or later, and as long as all eyes were on Jim, they were off him.

"Steve?" Tony hesitated with the weight.

"I've seen it before" Steve lied "it ain't a bit deal" nodding at Jim's crotch, getting the pissed reaction he expected.

"Well I guess I get the deciding vote then" Tony did not want Jim's next penalty simply to repeat the same one over and over "the shorts stay... off!"

"Yeah right."

"Mean it, Skinbo" Tony was not going to let Jim wiggle out of this. There was something nasty going on and he meant to get to the bottom of it "lose the shorts."

"You guys are total homos!" but Jim dropped the shorts. Again "I may be showing dick but I'm still gonna wipe your asses."

"Y'mean instead of fuckin them?" Tony smirked again seeking the response and again getting only nervous silence. A nasty suspicion was growing and he was going to flesh it out asap "hey relax it's a joke, okay Skinbo?"

"You better not forfeit or we'll see how much of a joke it is."

"Bench presses are good n'all" their host sensed the tension in the room increase by a factor of ten. He made another mental note of that "but I got one that'll separate the men from the boys" trying not to look at Larry the youngest of their clique "EZ-curl pullovers."

"Huh?" Steve suspected a rat.

"Shit I haven't done those in ages" Jim swaggered his naked butt over to the other barbell and replaced it on the bench. He was loading it when Tony joined him.

"And to make it interesting" he adjusted the bench so in was angled head downwards "decline pullovers Skinbo" looking at the amount of weight he was loading "you sure about that?"

"Sure as sure" he switched around so his head was at the lower end where his legs had been before. Tony spotted him lifting the curled barbell out of the rack and putting in it Jim's sweating hands "watch and weep boys" and just like that he swung the bar over his hand and then behind him almost to the floor. His chest and arms swelled up to double their size as he swung it back up until it was over his chest.

"One" Tony stayed where he was at Jim's ankles taking it all of that nakedness. It wasn't like he was getting off on it or anything, but watching all that naked sweaty flesh, all those pumped floor-show muscles ripping and filling was something he found himself enjoying. He knew how much effort and outright agony Jim put into getting himself to look like that. And having him lying there below him like that, all vulnerable and naked began to work its way under Tony's thick dark skin somehow. Jim was shaking and sweating but he swung up number ten and Tony grabbed the bar from him and re-racked it.

"Very impressive Skinbo total package" he grabbed a towel to wipe down the smeared bench. He remembered the problem of naked workouts then; it ended up being a real sloppy mess "now my turn right?" looking at anyone to contradict him. He swung his half-naked body onto the still-warm bench and brought his arms up so someone could hand him the barbell. It turned out to be Larry of all people. And when he continued to stand between Tony's knees his eyes all over that hot olive body, well that was not what he expected. Tony started with a reasonable weight, close enough to Jim's not to look like he was cheating and not so much that he would be in trouble in another set or two. His thick corded arms swung back and forward time and time again, his smooth muscled chest bulging with each lift. Bulging almost as much as Larry's eyes on his body, Tony noticed. Not that he was worried; he knew how good he looked and he had to admit he got off on the attention almost as much as Jim. Almost but a distant second, he chuckled as finished his set, the sweat streaking off his rippling body "there!" swinging the bar forward getting Larry out of his stupor. He leaned forward and grabbed it, re-racking it as his thighs made contact with Tony's legs. It was hard not to notice the blush spread over his pale face and thick neck.

"Okay Bearbreath" Jim threw his towel at Tony trying to distract him "it's your turn as soon as Norton here finishes his nap."

"Real funny Skinbo" Tony got up and wiped down the slippery bench "Steve's turn huh?"

"Yeah Steve's turn" Steve gave his big hairy arms a few swings to loosen them up then tumbled down onto the bench.

"Spot ya?" Larry volunteered.

"I'll do it" Jim interrupted "beside Bearbreath here can't get enough of all this" waving down his front "right Numbnutts?"

"You wish" Steve raised his thick arms as Jim lifted the barbell into his sweaty hands.

"Careful there Numbnutts" Jim suddenly decided his pubes were itchy "you don't want those slipping right?" but Steve was staring at the ceiling of the garage, not at Jim scratching his crotch. He grunted and swore and moaned but he managed to finish his ten with mininal drama.

"Fuck that's not as easy as..." Steve sat up as Jim racked the bar for him, still scratching himself "got a problem there? Those crabs back again?"

"Yeah right."

"You gotta have sex to have crabs" Tony smirked "and Skinbo only been having sex with the mirror, right?"

"Fuck you both" he looked at Larry and thumbed at the bench "me and Diane are real -- "

"Thought she was -- "

"Y'thought wrong then" seeing Larry still blushing "c'mon Jismboy quit stalling. We're all waiting for ya" returning to his position "I'll even spot ya."

"Real pal there aren't ya Jim?" Tony could not help but notice Jim was just taunting Larry. And a good idea why became obvious when Larry leaned back, a sizeable bulge stretching the front of his shorts "quit jerking Jensmull around."

"He'd like that, wouldn't ya bud?" Jim lifted the bar before Larry had a chance to recover. Larry grabbed the bar and swung it back over his head, forgetting he never had a chance to reduce the weight. The bar went backwards and with a loud clang slipped from his sweaty grip onto the floor.

"Hey!" Tony yelled at the bang "what?"

"It slipped!" Larry sat up "I never -- "

"That was fucked up Jim" Steve came over "he never had a chance to fix the amount. That one doesn't count!"

"Trying to crack the cement there, Lar?" Tony started removing weights "so how much...?"

"Take twenty off" Larry looked at both of then expecting the shit to start. But Tony was acting cool and Jim was almost helpful as they tuggged some of the weights off.

"How's that?" Jim gave the barbell a test tug.

"Fine" Larry was too rattled to argue. He took the bar from Jim's grip, doing everything to keep his eyes off all that nakedness down by his knees. He did all he could to ignore Jim's scratching himself not more than a foot away from his own overheating crotch. He even closed his eyes to keep that image from distracting him but too late. It had already burned itself into his brain. He got four and then five lifts done before the slippery bar slipped from his sweaty hands with another loud bang!

"Hey!" Tony came over "watch it already!"

"Lemme do it I can do it" Larry yelled knowing he could not.

"Looks like a big fat forfeit for Jismboy here" Jim went around Larry to retrieve the barbell, brushing his cock against his shoulder as he did "you forfeiting there Lar?"

"No!"

"I don't think you're gonna finish there Larry" and now Steve was weighing in against him as well "that was not even close to ten."

"I can do it!"

"Don't think so, don't think so" Tony went over and retrieved the cards "guys?" taking one.

"No fair, the bar just slipped!"

"Twice Larry?" Steve took a card also.

"C'mon guys cut me some slack here!"

"Whatdya think guys?" Jim took his card and the beam from his face was enough to give Larry goosebumps.

"What we got?" Tony looked at Steve.

"Big six here" Steve threw in his card.

"Read it and weep Jismboy" Jim's Jack came flying down.

"Or even better" and there was an Ace of Diamonds from Tony "so..."

"No fair we didn't even finish yet!" Larry looked at the hose hoping he would see how premature this all way "we still got -- "

"Okay Larry it's like this" Tony wiped himself down with his towel, watching Larry's eyes closely "yeah you're right we still got one -- no two -- more curls sets to do, but I ain't betting you are gonna finish them any better'n this one, am I right Larry?"

"But it slipped!" Larry wanted to say: and Jim here was distracting me!

"Who says the next ones won't too huh?" Tony scratched his two-day goatee "so here's the deal. Either you take a penalty from me, or...?"

"Or what?" Jim smelled blood.

"Yeah what?" Larry tried to keep his eyes off Jim standing so close to him he could feel the heat pouring off his nakedness.

"Or..." Tony's eyes darted between him and Jim "or, the next time you don't do all ten -- and Lar I don't think you will, not with the increasing weight -- "

"Shit" Larry had not been thinking about that.

"So take my penalty or mess up next time and we cut the cards again and somebody else" looking right at Jim "might come up with an even worse penalty, something like last week."

"What about last week?" Steve got nervous fast "you don't even know what -- "

"So Larry what's it gonna be?"

"Fuck..." Larry looked at Steve like he ratted him out "fine okay, you win."

"Of course I win" his thick dark chest swelled out even more "my house my rules, right? So here's the deal. Like Steve-O said I don't know what really went down last week so either you tell us now or -- "

"Nothing happened!"

"Or..." Tony rubbed his chest stubble"or like I warned ya Larry, next time would be nastier so... now it's the same dress code for you as" nodding at Jim's bareass state.

"NO!"

"Well then..." Tony was staring at Jim then "what the fuck happened last week?"

"Nothing!"

"Okay then Jensmull" Tony was making progress and it was getting to be a major rush for him "either lose the clothes -- all of them this time -- or wait til next round and you know it's gonna be worse. A lot worse, right?" looking at Steve next.

"Do it Lar, he's right" Steve sold him out "I really don't think Norton's gonna..."

"Gonna what?" Tony lowered his voice.

"Gonna be freaked out if" Steve saw the look on Larry's face "if.. y'know... I mean another dude's flashing dick in his garage okay?"

"Fuck this, I mean nothing happened okay?" Larry knew Tony was right. If he hadn't let the bar slip, Jim was supposed to fuck up the next round and then things were gonna get real interesting. He could not shake that haunting image of Jim and Steve trading handjobs last week and could only imagine Tony's reaction to something like that. To make matters worse the image of Jim and Tony! trading handjobs formed in his head and that made it even worse. He regretted the daydream as soon as he stood up, trying to hide the bulge in his shorts "can I wait a couple of seconds to -- "

"It ain't going down anytime soon Larry" Tony shook his head "and like Steve says, I really don't give a shit. Fuck, if the worse we gotta worry about is somebody boning then -- "

"C'mon guys!" Larry swore he would get back at them, especially Jim. He knew Steve warned him and Larry would have had Jim doing things that would have made Tony freak out by now had he not pulled the card trick out of nowhere. He stood there feeling all eyes on his crotch and before he could think of another excuse he tugged them down, his jock in the process, and there was his more than his half-hard cock for all to see. Unlike Jim's perfect cock and shaved crotch, his forest of pale pubes was intact but not enough to hide the fact his cock was thickening and more than half-way horizontal. His head was starting to redden and swell and knowing all eyes were on him, and knowing his little "secret" was now out in the open only made that thick slab of cut meat raise up more "it happens at the weirdest times, okay?"

"Looking good there Jensmull" Tony laughed "see? Nothin to be ashamed of" acting very cool but scrutinizing Jim's reaction. Equal parts smugness and nervousness rolled into one contradictorily rattled package "okay Skinbo, load'm up."

"Thought we were never gonna get lifting" he threw one an additional ten "just stand around perving on Jismboy and his boner" waiting for the laugh. But it was almost silent as he slid onto the bench "Steve why don't you spot me" looking at Larry's crotch "I don't want that thing poking me during my set, right Lar?"

"Fuck you" but Larry's hand over his crotch did little to hide his excitement watching Jim spread out on the bench again.

"Fine" Steve stepped over and lifted the heavier bar into Jim's hands "careful there Jimbo. It's a lot heavier than last time."

"I can handle it!"

"Don't forget about that shoulder" Steve tried not to overemphasize the word "remember what you said about it aching you from -- "

"I remember okay?" Jim snarled and bent the bar back behind his head, balancing the increased weight. He got through eight of them, his shoulders rested from the long break. But the last two were a bitch and when he tossed the bar back into Steve's hands he was burning "okay?" glaring at Steve "okay?"

"You sure you wanna be...?"

"Norton!" Jim got off the bench "your turn okay?"

"Yeah fine" checking the weights "we'll just leave'm there" and with some effort he took the barbell from Jim and grunted and groaned his way through his ten "fuck!" as Jim racked the bar "who's idea was this?"

"Yours okay?" Jim looked at Steve "let's go Numbnutts, time's a wasting here."

"Shit" he lowered himself onto the sweat-slick bench "almost feel a little overdressed here" his t-shirt soaking up the sweat of the last two or three guys "but I'm gonna" Jim lowered the weight into his sweaty hands "stay... that... way" realizing he did not bother changing the weight amount. He knew it was more than he wanted by some pounds, but he was not worried about the next set because Jim was supposed to throw it like planned. So he put all of his last strength into completing all ten, knowing he could not repeat it "fuck!" as Jim took the bar "that's a bitch!"

"Ain't it?" Jim looked at Larry "well Jismboy what you wanna do? The last set or another forfeit?" curling his lip.

"I'll do it okay?" Larry made sure to lower the weight and wiped the bench and the bar real good "okay?" and there was Jim spotting him again. Except this time the crotch-scratching did not distract him, Larry's eyes shut tight with concentration. Having a dry bench and a tight grip on the barbell made the difference. Even with the increased weight Larry managed to bomb his way through the first eight. Knowing these guys might want to impose a second penalty, one he could not afford! he let the bar rest over his chest a few second, long enough to finish the last two, his arms shaking but every muscle in his already big shoulders popping out like crazy.

"Shit Larry didn't think you'd do it" Tony helped him off the bench and threw on his additional weight, knowing he had to do it. It was not his best exercise and he was already feeling sore from the three week break but failing was not an option. He spread himself on the bench "Larry stay put you can spot me."

"But..."

"Don't think a guy boning over my bod is enough to distract me, okay?"

"Fuck..." Larry looked at Steve with a befuddled look on his face. Steve only shrugged. Jim had his ever-present smirk. A worried smirk but still a smirk.

"Be a pal Larry" Tony lay flat his hands reaching out. Jim came around and lifted the bar for him, uncovering his crotch in the process. Tony's eyes went right that thick dick bobbing between his knees. And they returned to that sight every time he leaned forward. The growing expression on Larry's face, and the constant pumping of blood to that sausage was enough to distract Tony from the agony in his shoulders and arms as he powered through his ten "fuck! That was a killer! Thought my arms were gonna break off!"

"But they didn't Tony" Steve looked at Jim "remember about your..."

"Just shut up Bearbreath" Jim waited two seconds for Tony to free the bench and he was on his back, his balls and cock flopping to his thigh "somebody spot me."

"Go on Larry do the honors" Tony smiled "Jim here really gets hot over guys boning on his bod, right Skinbo?"

"Fuck you too" seeing a conspiracy forming against him. Like he was the one sporting wood all homo like, instead of that big lunk Larry. And Steve threatening him and all. Shit if he just had that damn tape he would not have to be sweating this. And that tape was hanging over his head like a giant buzzsaw. He feared he had to go through with this either way "okay Norton watch and learn" and he took the barbell from Larry's shaking grip and swung it backwards, using his back as much as his shoulders. If they wanted to deduct points for form let them try, he thought. He made it through six of them before he dared to look at Larry again. As he thought the asshole was full-out hardcore boned, his cockhead red and shiny. Jim swore under his breath but deep down really enjoying knowing he had that effect on anybody, especially another guy. Especially another cop! He rested a second for number seven and then he felt it; something wet landed on his right thigh and he freaked!

"Hey!" he jerked, the bar slipping from his grip "whatthefuck?!?"

"Shit" Larry looked down and realized too late he was dripping "fuck, I mean -- "

"You fuckin SLIMED ON MY LEG?!" Jim sat up trying to pull away from him "whattheFUCK LAR!"

"I'm sorry hey I mean" grabbing a towel and trying to wipe himself.

"Hey don't use my towel for your fucking cumrag" Jim yanked it away from him and threw it in the corner "damnit Jensmull that's fuckin gross!"

"Only eight there Skinbo, only eight" Tony interrupted "and don't think Larry there getting all overexcited is gonna get you off the hook."

"No fucking way!" Jim got off the bench "I can finish, only got two more."

"You dropped the bar, just like Lar here did. And you called that a forfeit for him so I'm calling this a forfeit on you. Steve?"

"Steve!" Jim turned on him "don't you fuckin dare! You know I didn't -- "

"You didn't, that's right" Tony picked up the cards "I call a forfeit, you too Steve?" who only nodded "how about you Larry? You think Jim here should -- "

"Careful Jismboy" Jim glared at him "you got a lot more t'lose here than..."

"Yeah, me too" Larry knew he was right, but if Jim was not going to go along with the plan then this called for desparate actions "cut the cards."

"You're so gonna regret this" Jim hissed.

"Too late for that, right?" giving his cock a quick shake "not much I'm hiding here, right?" and he took a card. When he saw it he almost shit a brick.

"C'mon you guys this is not even fair!" Jim looked around the room "this is fucked up!"

"Steve?" and he took a card next.

"Leaving me for last" Tony took his card, his eyebrows dancing "well?"

"My lucky day" Larry's card flew down. A King of Hearts!

"I never get any fun" Steve moaned, throwing down Jack of Spades.

"Guess we got a problem here" Tony's King of Clubs joined the pile "Larry looks like we tied. Ideas?"

"Yeah several" looking at Steve "you got any?"

"Look this is between you two" Steve sat down chugging some water, the fan inches from his chest.

"Hey don't I get a say here?" Jim grabbed another water.

"Sure ya do sure ya do Skinbo" Tony almost rubbed his hands together "you can start by saying what you guys are really hiding about last week. Judging by Larry's reaction over there, my guess is something a whole lot kinkier happened, am I right? Or was it something you really don't want the chief knowing about?"

"Nothing... fucking... happened" Jim glared at each of them in turn "how many times...?"

"Okay Larry, give him your worst. He is just not being cooperative" Tony shrugged.

"Uh... I mean..." Larry could see Tony was not going to rest until he pulled it out of these guys. And in the meantime he had Jim at his mercy "okay... my penalty right?"

"Wait a minute" Jim felt very naked suddenly.

"This is something a whole lot nastier than anything we even thought of last week" Larry hoped this would work "to put your suspicions to rest" he crouched down and undid the lace from his right shoe.

"What the hell you... don't even THINK about it!" Jim shouted.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Tony chuckled "you are one sick fuck, y'know that Jensmull?" he took the lace from him and went over to Jim "remember I also call a penalty. So here's the deal. Either I put this on or you do. And if I do, you won't be making any babies for a long time Skinbo, got it?"

"You wouldn't fuckin dare!"

"Up to you up to you" swinging the lace in the air "well?"

"Gimme that, asshole" snatching it from his hand, Jim took the lace glaring at Larry "you're dead Jensmull you are dead."

"Hey I'm the one you gotta reckon with here okay Skinbo?"

"Stop calling me that."

"So tie up those boys like a real nice present like a pretty birthday package, do it... Jim."

"You all all a bunch of sick fucks" Jim made a loop around his cock and balls and then looped it two more times for good measure "this is so gay."

"You call that tight?" Larry came over to inspect the damage "that's not -- "

"Larry what do you think? Come here and get a good look, this is your penalty too y'know."

"Well..." Larry already pushed this farther than he ever thought it would go. Would he push it more? He knew they did not have a lot more time to burn "well, not really."

"Don't even think about touching my junk!" Jim glared.

"Then do it yourself, and do it right" Larry wanted this so bad he could almost taste it "it's gotta go around your balls separate, then your cock separate, y'know like..."

"Forget it! This is sick enough like this" Jim argued, but knowing how good his genitals felt already. He had not tied himself up like this in a long time and forgot how it felt, sick but hot.

"You do it like Larry says or I will" Tony almost smiled at Larry.

"You too, knock it off both of you!" Jim's sweaty hands untied the knots then unlooped the shoelace once, giving him enough to wrap around the base of his balls twice. All this attention was starting to have the effect that homo Larry intended. Before his cock started plumping anymore he had the base wrapped a few times and the ends retied "you cocksuckers enjoying this I can tell."

"Not half as much as you Jim" Tony smiled "your cock is sure enjoying the attention."

"At least I got an excuse, unlike Jismboy here" Jim felt himself getting hard "shit Lar don't that thing ever go down?"

"He's having too much fun right now" Tony gave him a punch "right?"

"Enough of this perv shit" Jim looked at Steve "don't think we forgot about you. Load'm up Bearbreath."

"Thought you'd never ask" Larry adjusted the amount and took the bench "and I want birthday boy here spotting me."

"Fuck you!"

"I'll spot ya" Tony took the place and lifted the barbell into Steve's hands "y'sure about that amount there Steve? Seems like a hellova lot more'n last time."

"I'm sure" Steve grunted, now second-guessing himself. Had he taken off enough? He started his set and his shoulders started screaming "fuck..."

"Seems like an awful lot there Steve" Tony kept at him "you wanna take a break and -- "

"No!" he finished number six wanting to rest "I... can... do... this..." but his shoulders were not agreeing. He made it to eight and just lay there, unable to raise his arms.

"C'mon big guy, you can do this" Tony murmured "you don't want Skinbo there beating you."

"Fuck!" Steve made it half-way up and then his arms gave out. This time Tony was there to catch the barbell before it hit his precious concrete floor again.

"Fuckin big fat forfeit!" Jim was all over it "yeah Numbnutts, payback time!"

"Wait, he didn't I mean..." Larry wanted something else here. Something like more humiliation for Jim.

"Where are those cards Norton?" Jim already found them "and this time I cut them!"

"What? You think I was cheating?"

"Take a card damnit" Jim already had his. He almost pissed himself.

"C'mon guys..." Steve looked at Larry "c'mon..."

"Don't worry" Larry grabbed his card and nodded.

"See?" Tony picked his card and held it up. A Seven of Spades "not like I'm cheating here."

"He didn't cheat" Larry threw down his King of Diamonds "okay?"

"Tough break Larry, even tougher break Bearbreath" and there was Jim's Ace of Clubs "Larry you are so gonna not like this one. But I think Norton here is."

"What's that mean?" from both of them.

"Okay, mister straight Italian stallion married musclehead" Jim taunted "for someone all straight and everything you are sure as fuck interested in what we did or did not do last week admit it."

"Of course I want to know if -- "

"And for someone who's all y'know... married and hetero and kids n'all, here you are with a garageful of naked guys... kinda sick if you ask me Norton. Kinda makes a guy wonder y'know?"

"Hey it's a game okay? Not like this is some sex orgy or shit."

"Just a game huh?"

"Yeah only a game. Besides" turning to Steve "it's your penalty not mine. I ain't the one on the hotseat here."

"So let's see how straight your really are, mister garage full of horned up guys! Okay Steve after last week this should be no problem for you, besides I had my suspicions about you for a long time. And Jensmull there's got homo written all over him -- "

"HEY! Watch it!" from several directions.

"I get to decide the penalty so here it is. Let's see Bearbreath here swing on that musclehead dick of your for -- "

"WHAT!?!" the garage erupted in shouts they could have heard across the street. Larry and Tony started screaming; only Larry sat in the corner too freaked to speak.

"For three fucking minutes. And if you don't get hard Norton, then I'll believe you are one hundred percent straight."

"You are fucking outa your mind!" Tony was up and in Jim's face "if you think -- "

"Turning down a blowjob? You're not only perv you got rocks for brains!"

"It ain't happening. This is Steve's penalty not -- "

"If it was yours, you'd be on your knees, okay got it?"

"I ain't going to do this" Steve broke between them "no way I'm going down on some guy's cock!"

"Larry?" Jim played his trump card "don't you wanna see Numbnutts here finally get to blow a dude?"

"Hey leave me outa this."

"Leave you outa this?" Jim snapped "fuck that, you're the little sicko with the tape!"

"What tape?" Tony's voice was calm and even. Because he knew he had them now "what tape is that Larry?"

"Shit" from both Jim and Steve.

"What tape Larry?"

"Nothing, he's bullshitting you."

"Steve?" Tony saw the pressure point and decided to squeeze "maybe you know what Jim here is talking about?"

"I... um..."

"Steve? Like I been saying all night with you boneheads, either you fess up about last week or..."

"Or it's penalty time in Bearbreath Land" Jim needed to shift the topic fast "do it goddamnit. It's only three minutes!"

"Three minutes? Of sucking off a guy?" Steve felt like Larry looked. Cornered and completely exposed.

"Or we all have a long talk about you guys making what? A sex tape last week? That's it isn't it?"

"We didn't do no goddamn -- "

"Steve you do the penalty or maybe I start making some inquiries -- and y'know I gotta a bad hunch Connors gonna get wind of it SO fast" Tony glared at Jim "I know I can suffer three minutes of some dude on my dick if it means..."

"You heard the man Numbnutts" Jim felt the noose around his neck loosen by a few millimeters. And the shoelace around his balls tighten by a greater amount "on your knees Braersten. Do it!"

"It's all your fault" Steve looked at Larry.

"Don't blame the kid" Tony stood up in front of Steve, taking note of the comment "you all should have known better" hooking his thumbs in his waistband "well?"

"Oh one more thing" Jim wanted to make the humiliation complete "we got a dresscode here."

"Huh?"

"He means these" Tony tugged at the neckband of Steve's t-shirt "you talking naked?"

"Yeah I'm talking naked" Jim stared at Steve "for starters. Okay Steve three minutes. Starting now" he went and retrieved his cellphone from his gymbag "now!"

"Hey! No pictures!" Tony jumped away from Steve, almost saying: no more pictures "I mean it."

"Of course not!" Jim shot Larry the slightest of looks.

"I can't believe this" Steve got to his knees like a wounded buffalo.

"The clothes Steve-O, the clothes."

"Fuck..." Steve pulled the soggy t-shirt over his head, his gigantic hairy chest and back sweaty and flushed. He started to struggle to his feet.

"Stay kneeling, just drop the shorts to your knees. We'll get the idea soon enough" Jim gave himself a tug when no one was looking. So he was hardening fast, big deal. Like his curving boner was the least of their worries now.

Steve pulled his shorts and boxers down past his thick glutes then with a great display of disgust all the way to his knees, his thick fat uncut cock and hairy bull balls exposed for all to see.

"Yeah we seen them before, you got something to do now. Do it!"

Steve looked up at Tony expecting him to be snearing or laughing. But he had a hard determined look on his face. And he was making no effort to pull down his shorts. He was forcing Steve to do the nasty deed himself. Steve had not planned on this tonight. If they were going to sound out Tony's feelings on any of their previous fuck-ups it was not supposed to happen with him sucking Tony's dick! Somehow their plans to humiliate Jim in front of Tony once and for all was turning into a major disaster. But maybe once Steve pretended to go along with this, Tony would call a halt to this and that would be the end of that and they could all go back to a normal Wednesday evening. But first Steve had to call Tony's bluff.

Steve gave Jim one last look, seeing him actually toying with that engorged red hardon and knew he would not stop this. Steve tucked his fingers under Tony's waistband praying he would stop him. Instead he felt those smooth hard abs and then before anyone could stop him he slid them down. Tony's crotch was shaved as smooth as his head, his five inches of cut italian sausage hanging outwards from his tight brown balls. He took the cock in his hand and started giving it a couple of tugs. Tony was frozen like a statue!

"No handsjobs, suck on it Bearbreath. Use your mouth. Timing this as soon as those fucklips hit that dick. Do it!"

Steve closed his eyes and leaned forward, the crotch smell hitting him fast. His lips found the tip of that spongy head and before he knew it he was swallowing several inches of it. Any hope of intervention was now catastrophically gone.

"Fuckin cannot believe it!" Jim started stroking himself, past the point of caring "Steve sucking cock! Finally!" and Steve continued to move his mouth up and down that long fleshy shaft. And that's when he felt it happening; the tube started to swell and lengthen against his tongue, approaching the back of his throat each time Steve sunk down lower and lower on that hardening cock.

"One minute" Jim called stepping closer to the two "let's see if that cock is still soft. Pull back Steve."

Steve leaned back and there was Tony's cock red and shiny and almost horizonal, the head red and swollen, almost the entire length slick with Steve's spit.

"Yeah, mister straight married musclehead is enjoying a blowjob, just like I suspected" grabbing the back of Steve's head "okay two more minutes Bearbreath. At this rate let's see if mister straight musclehead here don't blow his load!"

"No!" Steve choked at the thought.

"I ain't cumming from this" Tony lied.

"Like you weren't gonna go hard, yeah right. Two minutes Steve do it!"

Steve's mouth was back on that cock faster than even Jim would have suspected. He was really going to town, even his hands were getting into it, rubbing those shaved balls, tugging at the base of that dick now curving upwards as Tony started feeling something like the beginning of an orgasm, too many recent and not too recent memories of mouths on cocks emerging from the distant shadows. And Jim was openly jacking himself onto Steve's hairy shoulder, all but ignoring Larry next to him secretly doing the same. They were all focusing on Tony starting to buck his hips into Steve's gagging mouth too distracted to notice when,

"Hey dad, mom's on the... WHAT... THE!" and there was Tony's son Rich at the door looking like he was going to freak!

"FUCK!" Tony wheeled around, his hard red cock shiny and ready to pop "Richard get outa here!"

"Dad...?"

"I mean it!" he was at the door pushing him through, slamming it in the process "fuck fuck fuck fuck" he yelled grabbing his shorts and tanktop from the floor "you guys better leave. Now!" and he was gone through the door dressing as he went.

"Lemme go talk to him" Jim started before Steve grabbed him.

"Not the best idea, not now."

"I can talk to him okay?"

"We need to let him cool down okay?" Steve was getting dressed almost a fast as Jim. But Jim's pace was steady and methodical while Steve's was hurried and sloppy.

"Man oh man Bearbreath" Jim shook his head "or should that be Bonebreath now..."

"Hey Jim cut'm some slack okay?" Larry was getting dressed like the building was not on fire.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day... Steve-O here on his knees eating dick."

"We don't gotta..."

"That was worth a month's salary all by itself" Jim finished dressing "talk about a real eye-opener wow" looking around the room for anything else. He grabbed his gymbag then Steve said,

"Walk me to my car" and like that he opened the garage door making sure everyone was decent. The two slipped away leaving Larry to look around the disaster zone.

Larry gathered the last of his clothes and his gymbag thinking he was forgetting something. He thought it might earn some points -- something he needed desparately at this crisis point -- maybe straightening up a bit for Tony. He gathered all the towels into a pile when he found Jim's cellphone half-buried on the floor. And of course he checked the photo gallery and sure enough there it was: a pic of Steve on his knees his face buried in Tony's crotch! Tony's face was out of the frame and Steve had his back to the camera but it was still one damning image. Before he stopped to think about it Larry emailed a copy to his email address then stuffed it into his pocket.

"What the fuck you still doing here?" a fully-clothed Tony materialized at the kitchen door looking beyond pissed.

"Just y'know cleaning up a bit for you is all, thought -- "

"Just leave Jensmull. Leave!"

"Okay, talk to you tomorrow" and Larry headed down the driveway not turning around to see the expression on Tony's face, but feeling the deadly enraged daggers burning into the back of his skull raising goosebumps in the hot evening air. He was to the street and several yards down the sidewalk when he heard fast footsteps gaining behind him. He turned and braced for the coming fight when he heard,

"Hey wait up a sec" and there was Tony's son trotting after him "hold up a sec."

"What?" Larry squared off, his fists already balled "whatdya want?"

"Hold up a sec okay?" the kid stopped just out of arms reach, his face beet red and panting more than the short distance merited "it's... uh.. Larry right?" holding out his hand.

"Yeah, Larry" and he surprised himself by reaching out his own hand "so what's up?"

"I uh... I mean..."

"You must be pissed about that?" thumbing back to the house "Pissed or freaked or both huh? I mean that's not something no kid should see if you know..."

"No, shit!" he swore shaking his head "hey I'm not the one pissed. Shit I've never seen my dad lose it like that, wow is he pissed."

"He ain't pissed at you okay? You ain't the one did anything wrong" Larry cocked his head trying to fit the family profile to the kid's appearance. Only someone who knew them both could tell he was his father's son. Where Tony was all southern Mediterranean looking, the son was more northern appearing, a reddish complexion, his hair somewhere between light brown and almost auburn. But that build was definitely from his father's side of the family, as was that square jaw "why the hell you -- "

"Mom was on the phone and she had to talk to -- "

"At that exact moment?" Larry relaxed by a few degrees "that was so not something a kid like you -- "

"Fuck no kidding -- I mean sorry about -- shit I mean -- "

"A real filthy mouth y'got on you kid I mean... I don't even know your name..."

"Rich okay?" extending his hand again. And with a small chuckle Larry shook it again,

"Okay... Rich..." giving him a close inspection "so whatdya want, I mean your dad know you're -- "

"Fuck no! I mean no... I mean..."

"So what's up?" Larry could smell the kid's nervousness for where he stood "why you coming after me if not to beat me up?" trying to get a laugh from the kid but Rich just stood there looking nervous, staring at this feet.

"Fuck no -- I mean no not that, I mean..."

"What do you mean?"

"I was just... y'know thinking... I mean if you don't think it's too weird or anything, if..."

"What's too weird?"

"I mean... uh y'know like if y'want sometime if you.. maybe... you and me might kinda... y'know... work out like together some time?" almost choking on himself getting that last part out.

"Huh?"

"I mean... if that's too weird n'all, if maybe y'know..."

"Me?" Larry looked down at himself "why me? Why not your dad or your buds or -- "

"Summer" like that was an explanation.

"Say what?"

"The summer. My posse y'know they're all scattered for the summer..." the beet red returning. Larry scrutinized the kid getting a better idea of the kid's head forming.

"So what about your dad? He's a lot better -- "

"Yeah right" shrugging "he's got enough to worry about."

"Like?"

"Like my mom for one. And work."

Larry thought he should play his hunch. He put on hand on the kid's muscled shoulder "sure I don't mind, if..."

"Really?" the kid almost swallowed his tongue "really? Like how about Friday night after work?"

"Friday night?" noticing the kid, Rich? was not in a big hurry to move his shoulder from Larry's paw "ain't that still date night around this town? I'm sure your girlfriend would be super pissed if..."

"Summer remember?" Rich bit his lip "like the rest of them. Vacations and all..."

"Why aren't you vacationing with them?" he almost said: with her?

"Dad can't afford it, not with what's been happening at -- "

"You don't gotta tell me, remember? I got the same problems with cutbacks okay?"

"Sorry" Rich lifted his gaze "so serious? Friday night? For real?"

"Sure I guess" rubbing his thick middle "guess a regular workout night to make up for the fucked-up fiasco tonight -- I mean that would be good I guess."

"Same here" Rich rubbed his perfect stomach, not an ounce of fat on his young fit frame.

"So call me okay?" Larry gave the details of his phone number as Rich plugged it into his cell.

"Cool thanks."

"You better get back there."

"Like I'm in a big hurry" Rich nodded at his house "to get back there. Dad's so threatening t'kill me."

"Kill you? Are you kidding me?"

"He is totally crazy pissed, okay?"

"But not at YOU, okay?" Larry looked at him "c'mon he's not pissed at you you're like the last person he can be pissed at right now!"

"Huh?"

"Rich geez! You so got him by the shorthairs, you understand that, right?"

"How's that?"

"Can't you see you are so holding the ace here" seeing the panic on the kid's face "not like you would but..."

"You saying what? Blackmail him or shit?"

"Fuck no" Larry chuckled "sorry, swearing in front of a kid I should not -- "

"Hey I'm eighteen okay?" yeah Larry was seeing it right. The kid was recently graduated, all his friends -- including his girlfriend -- had taken off, leaving the kid bored and a bit lonely.

"Sorry okay but seriously, your dad so cannot afford to be pissed at you. I mean right now the last thing he wants is your mom -- "

"My mom? Shit she would fuckin -- sorry -- she would so go completely postal if..."

"That's why your dad hasta have a hands-off policy with you and -- "

"She so cannot find out, they're already always fighting I mean..."

"None of my business" Larry shrugged his thick shoulders "but I'm just saying you really are not the one who should be shitting bricks -- sorry, I mean worrying right now okay? But right now you better get back there before your dad..."

"Yeah, okay I'll call you okay?"

"Okay see ya" and Larry started for his car, wagering the kid would never call him. Still it would be the weirdest postscript to one of the weirdest most impossible nights he could ever imagine with an even more inconceivable ending to boot.