Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2016 21:51:16 -0500
From: rw6789@aol.com
Subject: "A Trial Of Strength" - Part 341  by Rob Williams

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 341
By Rob Williams

IN THIS CHAPTER:

Grady and Mario celebrate their restored love, ranging from a priest's
benediction in a Tuscan church to acting out a pornographic fantasy in a
train station. There, the local stud, a sexy, dark-haired Italian peasant,
butt-fucks the young American muscle-jock in the public toilet.  Back home,
the bosses, Randy and Bob, give Tarzan and his mate punishment and
forgiveness.  Randy grins, "Great fuck, jungle man."


CHAPTER 341 – "TARZAN & HIS MATE"


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

It had been a roller coaster ride for the two men – Grady, the
heart-throb new movie Tarzan, and his Italian lover Mario.  After a bitter
falling out, where both of them had repeated sex with other men, Mario
decided to break completely and go home to Italy.

But on the flight to Rome he was shocked to find Grady sitting in first
class and, despite Mario's strong resistance, he had been persuaded to act
as Grady's personal assistant in his crowded schedule of public appearances
in Rome to promote the movie.  Trying to dampen down any remains of
emotional feelings, and certainly avoiding any sexual contact, they worked
closely and professionally, with Mario helping Grady get through his
exhausting schedule.

When the events were over their parting seemed imminent as Mario planned to
take a train home to his family's Tuscan farm.  But Grady arranged for a
limo to take him and, on a whim, Mario suggested Grady come too and meet
his family.  He ended up staying to dinner, the raucous family gathering
that went on all evening, until Grady realized Mario had disappeared.

Mario's youngest sister, sitting beside Grady, said, "Mario always had a
favorite place here – out in the meadow under a tree facing out over the
valley.  I am sure he is there.  He always went there when he wanted
... how you say? ... solitudine per pensare ... to think."

Grady hurried along the path she indicated and all he could see at first
was the grass waving in the warm evening breeze.  But then, in the light of
the full moon, there was Mario sitting in the grass, his knees drawn up
close, arms wrapped round them.  As he came close Grady saw that Mario's
shoulders were shaking and, closer still, heard his sobs.  "No," Grady said
softly and ran toward him.  He came up behind him and sat down next to him.

Startled and embarrassed, Mario wiped his eyes with his shirtsleeve and
sniffed like a little boy hiding his tears.  Grady put his arm gently round
Mario's neck.  "Don't cry, amico.  I'm here."  Mario turned his
tear-stained eyes on him, eyes that a short time ago had sparkled with
laughter.  "Are you, Grady?  Are you here?  Are we?"

Grady kissed his eyes, licked his tears and gazed at him, their faces
shining in the soft silver light of the full moon.  It was as if the world
were holding its breath as Grady said simply, "Mario, please come home with
me."

Mario stared at him.  "You mean ...?"

"I mean home to California when I go back.  Oh, buddy, I know I have no
right to ask you that after ... after ... everything.  I know you love your
family but you've got a family in L.A. too – me, Danny, Brian, all the
guys.  And we can always come back here and visit whenever you want."  He
grinned, gaining confidence.  "Long flight, but it wasn't so bad in first
class was it?  And maybe we can even hitch a ride on one of the studio's
corporate jets.  And there'll be limos both ends and I'll make sure ..."

Mario cut him off by pressing his finger against Grady's lips ... and began
to laugh.  "Grady, Grady, you always say too much.  I don't need the first
class, the private jets, the limos at both ends.  All I need is you, amico.
I always have, always will.  So I ask you again.  Are we here, you and I
... together?"

"For ever and ever, Mario.  If that's what you want."

And suddenly they were in each other's arms.  The floodgates of their love,
suppressed for so long, now burst open and it was like the first time they
had made love.  Feverishly they pulled off each other's clothes – shirts
over their heads, shorts down their legs and they rolled over and over
naked in the long grass, clawing at each other, kissing, licking, biting in
a frenzy of lust that they had tried, and failed, to deny.

Losing all sense of time they made love for what seemed an eternity, until
at long last they poured out the juices of their passion, now rekindled
after being extinguished by a rupture that would never, ever be repeated.

They lay in each other's arms, licking each other's tears from their faces,
coming to terms with what had just happened, hoping it was real and not
just a trick of the moonlight.  "Grady," Mario asked eagerly, "can we stay
here tomorrow and I'll show you all the places I loved as a boy?"

"Amico, we can do whatever you want ... and I would love that.  I'll call
the driver and tell him we don't need the car until the day after
tomorrow."

"No, Grady, let him go back to Rome when he wants, and we'll take the bus
and train like ordinary folks do.  Would you like that?"  He grinned slyly.
"Can you do without a limo?"

Grady's eyes sparkled.  "Idiota!  To quote someone I just heard, `I don't
need first-class, I don't need a limo ... I just need you'.  Taking the bus
and train with you would be fun.  Listen, before we sleep can I call Danny
and give him the news?  Those kids are feeling real unhappy."

"Of course you must."  Grady fished his phone out of his shorts and put it
on speaker.  It was lunchtime in Los Angeles and Danny and Brian were
having a melancholy meal in the kitchen when the phone rang.  "Danny, it's
Grady.  I'll be back on Saturday afternoon ... and I'll have someone with
me ... someone you know ... someone you love."

"Sir ... do you mean ... Mario, sir?"  They too had the phone on speaker
and the men could hear their cheers ringing round the kitchen.

"Buongiorno, ragazzo," Mario said.  "Yes we are coming home together,
forever."

"Sir," came Brian's excited voice, "can we tell the other guys?  And can we
have a party?"

"Of course we can," Mario laughed.  "Can you handle a big party for all the
guys?"

"Sure we can," Danny said, and Brian added, "We'll ask Tommy to come and
help us.  We think he's having problems with Lloyd and Steve ... he's
having a lot of sex with Lloyd, and Steve's real upset.  You'd think that
him being a shrink and all he'd be able to ..."  Danny dug him in the ribs
and Brian said, "Oops, sorry, sir.  Talking too much.  It's just that I'm
so excited."

"We are too," Mario said.  "I've missed your voice so much and when we get
home you can talk for as long as you want."  Grady interjected, "But we
have to sleep now – it's late here."

"Ciao bambini," Mario laughed.  Grady shut off the phone and grinned at
Mario. "Hey, it's warm tonight.  Do you want to sleep out here?  We don't
have a blanket, but ..."

"But we have each other, amore."

"Oh yeah, I forgot that," Grady teased.  "Yeah, we do have each other
... we sure do."

And so they slept in the long grass all night, wrapped in each other's
arms.


********************* Chapter 341 *********************

They were woken by the first rays of the sun warming their faces.  Grady
was startled at first, lying naked in the grass, confused by these strange
surroundings.  His first sensation was a stab of despair, as it had been
every morning since their separation when he woke alone and the realization
crashed in on him that Mario had left him.

But then he felt strong arms around him, he opened his eyes and saw Mario's
beautiful face, kissed by the sun, stirring to wakefulness.  This time he
was not alone!  They were together, it had not been a dream.  They were
lying together in the long grass of a meadow far from the clamor of cities,
celebrity, and roiling relationships.  Grady's face lit up and he squeezed
Mario tight in his arms, stifling him.

"Ow ... dio mio," came the muffled voice.  "I am being crushed by a
man-eating monster."

"Monster no ... man-eater yes, when the man is you."  To prove it he
nibbled at Mario's ear, kissed his eyes, his cheeks, and forced his tongue
into his mouth.  Their mouths opened and clamped together, sharing their
first waking breaths of the day, as they would share everything from that
moment on.

"Make love to me, amico," Grady said.  "Make love to me here, in the grass,
forever and ever."

Mario giggled, "And what if a farmer with a scythe comes to cut the grass
and sees two naked men fucking."

"Like the Grim Reaper, you mean.  Hmm, not a pretty sight."

"Orribile!  Stop fooling around, amico.  We must go back to the farm ... my
family will think I have been kidnapped."

"You have been," Grady smiled.  "Kidnapped, taken prisoner, and carried off
to the jungle as Tarzan's love-slave.

"Mmm, sounds appetizing, amore.  But after breakfast maybe."

They pulled apart reluctantly and put on their shorts and T-shirts.
Kissing ravenously they staggered to their feet and made their way up the
path to the farmyard.  "Won't your family think it strange, us coming back
from the fields like this?" Grady asked.

Mario laughed, "Not at all.  As a boy I spent many warm nights sleeping in
that very spot.  The only difference last night is that I was not alone."

"And never will be again, buddy," Grady said, throwing his arm over his
shoulder.

When they reached the farm's courtyard the long table was still there, now
spread with an assortment of breakfast foods.  The meal was far more casual
than dinner the night before, with people coming and going, the
early-rising farms workers having already eaten and left for the fields.
There were still family and friends left and when the two men appeared an
enthusiastic shout went up.  "Eccoli, finalmente!"

Mario had been correct.  There was no hint of surprise that the men had
stayed out all night, only the effusive welcome and the shuffling to make
room at the table for them.  These country folk had their priorities right
– love, hospitality and food, in that order.

However, they could not possibly have missed the glow surrounding the two
young men, in contrast to the tension that had hung over them the evening
before.  Mario's mother especially beamed at Grady and engaged him in
conversation, translated by Mario's youngest sister.  Grady answered her
eager questions, those of a protective mother seeking details on this new
friend of her son's – where was he born, who were his parents, and what
kind of work did he do.

When Grady said simply that he was an actor she just nodded, assuming that
this was quite natural, a handsome young man living in this place called
Hollywood, more a distant, hazy concept for her than an actual town.  Grady
braced for the usual L.A. question, "Have you been in anything I would
know?"  But it didn't come.  Instead she smiled warmly and said, "Tu sei un
bravo ragazzo ... prende cura di mio figlio."

Grady looked at the sister who blushed slightly as she translated.  "You
are a good boy ... take good care of my son."  Grady flashed the old lady a
dazzling smile and said in halting Italian.  "Certamente, signora ... θ
mio amico."

The old lady smiled, then turned back to Mario who was huddled with other
family members in earnest conversation, evidently explaining to them that
he would be going back to America with Grady.  The sister translated
snippets of the conversation, and the group did not seem surprised by the
news.  She told Grady, "When Mario told us he was coming to see us he
didn't say whether it would be a long or a short visit."

Grady wondered why Mario, in his despair, had not alerted them on the
phone, as he had told Jamie, that he was coming back to live there for
good.  Why had he held back?  He looked up, caught Mario's smile, and
understood.  Even Mario had not been sure of that.

"Tell them we will be coming back to visit often ... every month if they
can put up with us."

Mario translated and Grady once again felt the warmth of the family's
smiles directed at him.

******************************

After breakfast Mario and Grady set out to explore.  They were in a world
of enchantment as they wandered dreamlike through the lavender-fragrant
hillsides of the sunlit Tuscan countryside, with hilltop villages perched
precariously above them, olive groves and vineyards sprawled in the valleys
below – and everywhere the dry monotone buzz of the cicadas.

Mario eagerly took Grady to all his childhood haunts, the path where he
learned to ride a bike, the hollow oak tree where he used to hide, and
where he built a tree house in its wide branches.  Grady was entranced by
them all, but even more by Mario's luminous face as he went back in time
and revisited the places that had delighted him so much as a boy.

They wandered up the steep streets of several sleepy hill towns and stopped
for lunch at a small trattoria, seated on a terrace overlooking the wide
sweep of the valley.  Then Mario led Grady to one of his most revered
places, the old 16th Century church where his family had worshipped through
generations of baptisms, marriages and funerals.

They were alone in the church, except for a priest tidying hymnals in a
side chapel.  In the cool, hushed confines of the thick walls they stood
hand in hand admiring the ageless frescoes, then sat in a front pew,
shoulder to shoulder, silently absorbing the serenity and magic of the
ancient church.  They heard footsteps and the priest, in a black cassock,
walked down the nave and stopped when he saw them.

He smiled down at them and said, "Voi due guarda bene insieme.  Vi do la
mia benedizione, miei figli.  He made the sign of the cross over them, then
walked away.

As his footsteps grew fainter on the stone floor, Grady whispered, "What
did he say?"

"He said, `You two look good together.  I give you my blessing, my sons'."

Instinctively they kissed, then rose and walked hand in hand out into the
dazzling sunshine.  They went out of the churchyard and down a slope to a
remote, grassy spot hidden under a tree, just like the place they had spent
the night.  Their thoughts were in tune as Grady grinned, "I believe it's
customary to consummate the marriage, isn't it?"

Staring into each other's eyes they took off their clothes and Mario lay on
his back on the grass.  Before he dropped his shorts Grady took a tube of
lubricant from his pocket and grinned, "I always come prepared, amico."  He
lubed his cock, dropped to his knees, pushed Mario's legs back and said
earnestly, "I love you, Mario.  I always will, and I promise never to hurt
you again."  He eased his cock into his lover's ass and both men sighed
deeply with overflowing emotions and the exquisite pleasure of making love.

"Quite a change, me fucking you," Grady grinned.  "But what's good for the
goose ..."

Mario laughed, "Or as Eddie would say, `What's good for the fuck-er is
great for the fuck-ee.'  And I second that.  Make love to me, amore.  Let's
consummate!"

And so they did – in the shade of a tree on this sun-splashed hillside
they gazed into each other's eyes and consecrated themselves to each other
as they poured out the juice of their passion, their bodies shuddering with
ecstasy, their shouts of joy carried away on the lavender scented breeze.

Their hearts were pounding, their breath heaving as Grady's face broke into
his roguish smile.  "Wow, that was some consummation, buddy.  You wanna do
it again?"

***************************

And so the day passed in perfect bliss – more dreamlike walks in the
hills, another big, boisterous family dinner, and then bed – indoors
this time.  Mario's mother had assigned them a room over the stables, an
ancient bedroom built of ancient wood beams with vaulted ceilings and
dormer windows overlooking the farmyard.

There was only one large bed, and Grady guessed that the old lady had
chosen this room for them instinctively without much premeditation,
unperturbed by the fact that her son would be sharing a bed with his
friend.  The ingrained peasant culture of familial love and natural
hospitality overcame any qualms or prejudices that might have troubled
lesser families.

Grady and Mario spent their last night here making love in the soft bed
with its sachets of lavender discreetly placed under the pillows, and they
promised each other that they would return to this enchanted world as soon
and as often as possible.

The fact of their soon-to-be-repeated visit softened the blow of parting
the next morning after their last, leisurely breakfast.  Mario's mother
hugged Grady and again whispered in his ear, "Prende cura di mio figlio,
Grady, in her instinctive assumption that they would be spending their
lives together.  "Lo prometto, signora.  I love him," Grady said and kissed
her cheek.

It seemed entirely fitting that Mario and Grady were taken to the bus-stop
by one of the farm hands in a horse-drawn hay cart, amid effusive waving
and noisy farewells.  As they bumped along the road to the bus stop Grady
said, "I'm amazed how accepting your family was of me."

Mario smiled, "They are paisanos, country people who have instinctive
insights that city dwellers do not.  They live close to the land, in
harmony with nature and the rhythm of the seasons. They nurture the soil
and the soils feeds them.  They have not the time nor patience for the
analytical heart-searching that so-called sophisticated people indulge in.
They liked you, Grady.  My mother loved you ... simple as that."

Grady gazed at Mario and realized again why he was so in love with him.
Mario had the same bedrock peasant values as his family, even though life
in the city had given him a sheen of elegance.  He embodied the very best
of both worlds and Grady made a silent vow to bring him back to this
magical place as soon as he could.

In the meantime Mario explained their journey.  "We take the bus to
Viterbo, then the train to Roma.  We'll have an hour's wait in Viterbo.
Not much to do there, but we'll find a way to pass the time.  Did they
ever!

On the bus they sat halfway back, Grady in the window seat staring like an
enchanted boy at the passing countryside.  But there was nothing childlike
about the pressure of Mario's knee he felt against his, getting harder as
the journey progressed.  Mario was staring at him, and at his profile
reflected in the window.  He murmured happily, "Two for the price of one,"
and when Grady asked, "Uh?' Mario grinned, "Never mind."

Never mind ... easier said than done.  As the bus bumped along their legs
squeezed harder together their hands gripped tightly on the seat between
them, and their cocks strained against their jeans, begging for release.
Grady started to rub the bulge in his pants but Mario warned, "Careful,
someone will see.  Pazienza, amico."

After an hour of painfully stifling their lust they finally pulled into the
courtyard of the Viterbo train station.  They climbed down from the bus and
walked through to the deserted platform ... with a single thought in their
mind.

They were alone on the platform as the next train was not due for an hour,
and Mario said, "Over there."  He dragged Grady toward a sign indicating
"Toilette" and opened the door of the small men's room.  He looked round
him quickly to make sure they were unobserved, shoved Grady in, followed
him and locked the door firmly behind them.  Instantly they were in each
other's arms, kissing, licking, biting in a frenzy of mounting lust they
had suppressed on the bus.

Mario pushed Grady back toward the sink, turned him round to face the
mirror above it and pressed him forward over the sink.  Grady braced his
hands against the mirror, staring at his own frenzied face and the
reflection of Mario's equally excited face over his shoulder.  From behind
him Mario ripped open Grady's jeans and pulled them down below his ass."

"Oh yeah," Grady moaned ... "oh yeah, fuck me, man.  Fuck me hard."  While
Mario spread spit over his raging cock Grady arched his back over the sink
and raised his ass, begging for it.  Mario grabbed Grady's hips, held him
steady ... and plunged his dick deep in his ass.  Instinctively they
muffled their screams as Mario began a savage fuck, driven by the pent-up
sexual desire on the bus that had made them ache for this moment.

As Mario pounded Grady's ass he looked at him in the mirror, looking more
beautiful than ever.  Grady was wearing an old, thin, sleeveless muscle
T-shirt and, as he leaned forward over the sink, his hands gripping the
sides of the mirror, his muscles flexed under the thin shirt, his shoulder
and biceps bulging as he braced himself for the onslaught on his ass.

His tousled hair flew over his face, his handsome features twisted in the
ecstatic pain of his lover's shaft ramrodding his ass, and Mario thrilled
to the homoerotic fantasy of the rugged, macho movie star, pinned against
the wall, his jeans round his feet, getting his bare ass savagely
butt-fucked in a public toilet.

"That looks so beautiful," Mario gasped.  "You are so gorgeous ... I love
fucking your ass."

"So do it, man.  Fuck me ... that all you got?  Fuck me with that big
Italian dick.  Punish that ass ... hurt me, man ... pound that fucking ass.
Yeah, the macho jock's getting his ass ploughed by the hot-stud Italian.
Make it hurt, man.  Yeah ..."

It was the opposite of their tender lovemaking in the long grass of the
meadow as Mario now jackhammered his lover's ass savagely, an animalistic
display of raw lust.  Having already healed their wounds through continuous
acts of love they were now free to indulge their wildest fantasies, venting
their carnal cravings in the most primitive form of man-on-man sex.

Grady thrust his hips back onto the pounding shaft, urging it in deeper and
deeper, staring into the mirror at the dark, handsome face behind him, with
its chiseled features, blazing eyes and shock of black curly hair.  In a
delirium of lust Grady became lost in a pornographic fantasy of a handsome
young jock in a public toilet getting manhandled by the local Italian stud,
a swarthy muscular peasant with a massive dick.

"Fuck me, man ... I need it so bad ... you own my ass ... I'll be your
fucking sex slave, man ...  take me away, chain me up, fuck my ass all day
until I beg for mercy and shoot my load.  Make me bust my load, man ... Let
me feel your hot jizz in my ass ..."

Sharing the fantasy Mario wrapped his arms round him and clawed at his
chest, twisting his tits, ripping his shirt and digging his fingers into
the naked flesh of his hard pecs.  In a rough, accented peasant voice, he
growled in his ear, "Tu sei mio, ragazzo ... you are mine, boy.  I will own
you by filling your ass with my juice.  I will take you to my home and you
will be my fuck slave.  But you must beg for it.  I want to hear the
beautiful young Americano beg."

As the relentless shaft pistoned in his ass, tears of pain, lust and utter
rapture were running down Grady's face.  Bracing himself against the mirror
with one hand he pounded his cock with the other and moaned, "Please, sir,
cum in my ass.  I'll obey you, do anything you say, be your slave.  Only
please let me feel your jizz in my ass.  I'm begging you ... aaah ... I
can't take anymore ... your cock feels so good ... it's making me cum
... oh fuck ... fuck ... yeaahh!

A long stream of semen blasted from his cock onto the mirror before him
and, as Mario felt Grady's ass spasm and clench round his cock, he pulled
back, paused and slammed his rod deep inside him, flooding his ass with the
hot pent-up juices of his passion.

There was sudden silence in the small, shabby room, broken only by their
heavy breathing and the ticking of an ancient clock on the wall.  Suddenly
Mario pushed Grady's face against the mirror and said, "Clean it up, boy."
Eagerly Grady licked his own cum from the mirror, sucking it up until semen
covered his cheeks and ran down his chin.

Mario pulled his cock out fast, making Grady gasp again, then turned him
around and they were in each other's arms, kissing voraciously, Mario
licking cum from his lover's cheeks, lips, eyes and chin.  They stared
spellbound into each other's eyes, having shared a wild sexual fantasy, the
ultimate expression of their renewed and indestructible love.

Then they abruptly realized where they were ... in a public restroom in a
station, waiting for a train.  They snapped back from sexual fantasy to
stark reality and Mario resumed his role of taking care of Grady.  He
looked at him in his ripped muscle T-shirt stretched over his muscular
torso and sighed, "Magnifico, amore, but for me alone.  You cannot meet
your public like that."

He pulled the ripped shirt off him and wiped Grady's face with it, then
used it to wipe the mirror.  He shoved the torn, cum-stained shirt in his
backpack and grinned, "Un memento."  Then he pulled out another T-shirt,
this one a black V-neck, and pulled it on over Grady's head.

He stood back and admired.  "Hm, perfetto.  It's mine so a little snug on
you but it will drive the fans wild.  Talking of which, we are about to
board a train for Rome so you better wear these.  He gave him dark glasses
from his backpack then pulled out a baseball cap and jammed it on Grady's
head, yanking the long peak low over his eyes.

"Unrecognizable," Mario smiled with satisfaction.  "Now let me leave
first."  He unlocked the door, peered outside to make sure no one was
watching and left the room.  Outside he hissed, "Va bene, amico.  You can
come out."

Casually they strolled down the platform and sat together on a bench trying
to look like two bored commuters as passengers began straggling into the
station.  But both of them were still riveted by images of the restroom
... they grinned at each other and sputtered with laughter.

Some of the other passengers glanced at them wondering what was making
these two young men laugh so hard.  But they could never have guessed in a
million years.

****************************

The 2-hour train ride to Rome was uneventful and the two men could relax
and enjoy the scenery now that their lust was satisfied ... at least for a
while.  Grady kept his cap and glasses on and was not recognized – or so
they thought.

When they approached Rome Mario said, "Grady, instead of taking a cab,
let's walk to the hotel.  It's a nice walk and it will give me a chance to
show you a little of Rome."

Grady smiled.  "Walking through the Eternal City with my eternal lover?
Sounds perfect."

Unfortunately it was not to be.  When they got off the train and walked
onto the station concourse they saw a small crowd of people and a few
photographers looking in their direction.

"Uh-uh," Grady said.  "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Tuscany anymore."

"I've a feeling you're right," Mario grinned.  "How did they know?"

"The paparazzi know everything.  Always happens.  Someone must have
recognized me on the train and called to tip them off."

"Well, nothing for it ... once more into the breach, amico."

Soon Grady was surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd of fans and
photographers.  The crowd was its own magnet, attracting the attention of
others passing through the station, so it rapidly grew bigger.  Grady was
his usual affable self, signing autographs, posing for pictures with fans,
but shot a quick glance at Mario.  Mario nodded, pulled out his cell phone
and punched the number for the Warners publicity manager that she had given
him."

"Ciao, Lucia, it's Mario.  We just arrived at Ostiense Station and there's
a crowd round Grady.  We need a limo as soon as possible.  The driver can't
miss us.  Look for the crowd.

She chuckled.  "Capisco, Mario.  Si, subito.  Cinque minute."

While he waited Mario stood close to Grady and whispered, "Limo, five
minutes."  The focus of the crowd was on Grady, of course, but a few of the
waiting fans glanced enquiringly at Mario and asked, "Who are you, his
bodyguard?"  "Who are you, his valet?"  And the best – "Who are you?
Are you anybody?"  To which Mario smiled graciously and said, "No, not
really."  Hearing the comments Grady glanced up at Mario with a big grin.

Lucia was as good as her word and in under ten minutes Mario spotted the
uniformed driver striding across the concourse toward them.  He shouted,
"Signore!" which was Mario's cue.  He grabbed Grady and said, "Signore, I'm
afraid we have to leave ... your TV interview."

Grady smiled, signed a few more autographs, then said, "Sorry, folks, they
say I gotta go.  Thanks for coming to see me."  He allowed himself to be
dragged away by Mario, assisted by the driver, and they hurried out of the
station to the waiting stretch limo.

Grady dived in.  Mario had a few words in Italian with the driver, then got
in too.  Grady looked up and frowned, "Who are you, are you anybody?"

"Not really," Mario sighed.  "Only your valet."

"Oh yeah?  They should have seen us at the Viterbo station.  They wouldn't
have to ask."

They broke into laughter and the driver looked in the rearview mirror and
smiled.  Limo drivers know many secrets though he couldn't have guessed
theirs.  In any case, like all good drivers, his lips were sealed.

********************************

A short while later they were closing their hotel room door behind them
with a sigh of relief.  Grady said, "Welcome back to my world from yours,
amico.  I'm sorry to say we have to trade in the hay cart and horse of your
world for the limo and driver of mine.  Though I much prefer the hay cart
to the limo.  And instead of this big soft bed, I would give anything to be
back in the long grass under a tree. "

Mario smiled, "Well yes, but I suppose a big soft bed does have its uses.
May I show you?"

And so they spent the rest of the day in the room, ordering room service,
eating on the private terrace watching the setting sun turn Rome's ancient
buildings to gold.  And of course, there was always that big soft bed.
Unlike their first night in the hotel, the other room of the suite went
unused, of course, as did the second shower.  A whole lot can change in a
couple of days.

The next day was spent at the huge Cinecittΰ Studios outside Rome, which
was paparazzi central, but by now Mario and Grady had the routine down to a
fine art.  Whatever anyone else chose to call Mario – personal
assistant, personal manager, bodyguard or valet – it didn't matter a
jot.  They knew the truth.  They were lovers, pure and simple, now and
forever.

The day was tiring, the dinner with Cinecittΰ studio heads even more so,
but they coped in public, made love in private, and the next morning at
10am they were finally sinking into their first-class seats on Alitalia's
non-stop flight to Los Angeles.

Grady looked at Mario and said, "Amico, I'm so glad you've been here with
me.  You're a perfect personal manager ... and a perfect lover.  A lot more
trips like this are scheduled and, I know it can be exhausting, but please,
can you always be with me?  And Mario, I promise you, just as soon as I
have a week off we will go back to your magical world, back to your family,
the farm, the hay cart and the long grass under the tree.  Deal?"

"It's a deal, Grady, but you knew that when we woke up that morning with me
in your arms and grass in our hair.  I'll always be with you – in love,
laughter and limos, the whole damn thing.  Oh and one other thing.  When we
go back to Tuscany, I want us to stop off at the train station in Viterbo
and use the restroom.  Rumor has it there's a local peasant stud hangs out
there and he's partial to handsome young Americano jocks."

"Shit, buddy, you've got me hard already and the plane hasn't even taken
off yet."

******************************

At the Grady House Danny and Brian woke early, too excited to sleep knowing
that today was the return of the men they loved, newly reunited after the
anguish of the last few weeks.

Ever since Grady had called them to give them the good news (right after
making love in the long grass at Mario's family farm) they had excitedly
set about making the house ready for their return.  Mario had called
yesterday to tell them they would be landing at 2pm and a limo would bring
them to the house.

Intuitive to the moods and needs of their bosses they assumed that, after
their long flight, they would want to spend the rest of the day relaxing
together alone.  A big party was planned for the whole tribe the following
day, with the help of the twins and all the other boys.  But, seeking to
safeguard their privacy today Danny called Bob, the man he always turned to
for advice.

"Sir, I hope this is the right thing to do, but we want to make sure that
Grady and Mario are left in peace when they come home – you know, not a
lot of people."

"Quite right," Bob said.  "Leave it to me – I'll put the word out that
the welcome party is tomorrow but today they need rest."  He chuckled,
"I'll tell Darius and Eddie and it'll be on the grapevine in minutes."

"And sir, how much do you think we should stay clear of Grady and Mario for
the rest of the day ... I mean, meals and things?"

"Oh Danny, I think you're worrying too much.  Just take your cue from them,
but from what I know of those guys they'll want you around as much as
possible.  They really love you boys, you know that."

And, as usual, Bob was right.  The boys worked feverishly all morning
making the house immaculate, then prepared a variety of foods in the
kitchen so they could offer the men a choice depending on how they felt.
Their excitement reached a fever pitch in mid-afternoon, waiting for the
sounds of the limo pulling up at the gate.

When it came Danny and Brian had an attack of nerves waiting for their
first glimpse of the men they loved so much, together again.  But all
tension was dispelled when the ebullient Grady bounced through the gate
yelling, "Hey, dudes, how about a hug for a weary traveler?"

The next few minutes were a chaotic mix of laughter, tears and tight hugs.
Danny pulled himself away to give a generous tip to the driver and brought
the luggage inside the gate, which swung closed with a satisfying thud.

Kneeling on the ground beside Brian's wheelchair Grady laughed, "Well here
we all are again, just as it should be, just like the old days."

Mario wrapped his arm round Danny's neck and said tearfully, "I can't tell
you how good it feels to be home.  Spettacolare!  But I want to say this
just once before we resume our old lives together ... I need to ... come se
dice? ... get it off my chest.  Grady and I are so very sorry for the
sadness and anxiety we both put you through because of our foolishness.  We
never stopped loving you and I'm happy it all worked out like this.  I hope
you can forgive us."

Danny and Brian brushed away tears and Danny took refuge in house chores to
put it all behind them.  "Sir, we have tons of food in the kitchen if
you're hungry but you probably want to relax on your own."

"Hey," Grady said, his eyes dancing, "how about a picnic in our favorite
spot in the shade of the trees?  Serve whatever you want ... surprise us.
We'll go upstairs and shower now and, er, freshen up."  He glanced at Mario
and blushed slightly.  "And then we'll have our feast and catch up on all
the gossip.  How's that grab you, kids?"

And so Grady and Mario went to the master bedroom to `freshen up' while
Danny piled the luggage on the tray table of Brian's wheelchair and guided
him to the elevator.  Upstairs they unpacked the bags in the men's dressing
room, throwing most of the clothes in the laundry basket, and carefully
hanging up Grady's Tarzan outfit (as Viscount John) he had worn on the
trip, ready to go back to the studio's wardrobe department.

Then they sped off to the kitchen and, half an hour later, all the food
they had already prepared was spread out on a blanket on the grass under
the trees.  When the men finally appeared the sparkle in their eyes, so
familiar to the boys, left no doubt as to their version of `freshening up'.

"Wow," Grady said, "this looks great, guys ... better than anything we got
at all those fancy dinners in Rome.  You're a master chef, Danny.  OK,
dudes, let's eat."

Brian eased himself out of his wheelchair and they all sprawled on the
ground round the blanket.  While they ate and drank the boys listened
wide-eyed to the men's stories of the trip to Rome – the flight, the
flash-bulb reception at the airport, the crowds of fans at the autograph
signing and Mario's brilliant work protecting Grady as his personal
manager.

It was when they came to the trip to Tuscany that the boys' imaginations
went into overdrive, trying to picture their erotic reconciliation in the
long grass under a tree.  Mario laughed, "When we phoned you to tell you we
were back together we were actually naked in the grass with cum all over
us."

"No way," Brian said.  "Pity it wasn't Skype, we could have watched."

Mario's recitation took them through the dream landscape of Tuscany, the
olive groves, the hilltop villages, and the church where the priest had
given them his blessing.

An awestruck Danny asked, "Does that mean ... like ... you're married,
sirs?"

"Well not officially, but it sure felt like it," Mario said, and Grady
grinned, "And of course we consummated it right away, in the grass under a
tree.  Come to think of it, we spent a hell of a lot of time in the grass
on that trip."

"And other places too," Mario smiled roguishly.

"Oh, that!" Grady said.  "OK, stand by for the big finish, kids.  So we
took the bus and the train back to Rome and let me tell you, that bumpy bus
ride, holding hands, our legs pressed together ... we were hot to trot I
can tell you when we reached the train station at a place called Viterbo.
Hell, we'll never forget Viterbo ... we're gonna go back there."

The boys listened spellbound to the riveting story, straight out of a porn
fantasy, about the local stud, a sexy, dark-haired Italian peasant, meeting
a handsome American muscle-jock at the station, pushing him into the public
toilet, bending him forward over the sink and pounding his ass in a long,
savage butt fuck.

"There was cum all over the place," Grady laughed, "and you should have
seen us afterwards sitting on a bench on the platform trying to look like
bored commuters.  But when the train got to Rome we were shocked back to
reality by the crowd of fans and paparazzi waiting for us."

Danny grinned, "You weren't in Kansas anymore, Toto."

"Hey that's exactly what I said, didn't I Mario?"  When their laughter died
down Grady said, "But hey, kids, enough about us.  I'm dying to hear what's
been going on while we were away.  I want all the gossip.  Brian, when we
phoned here you started to mention some kind of storm brewing about Tommy
and Lloyd.  We couldn't hear it all at the time `cos we were tired ..."

"Not to mention naked in the grass," Mario grinned.

"Yeah, that too.  But we're all ears now.  So spill, kiddo, and make it
good."

Brian paused for dramatic effect (a trick he had learned from Eddie), put
on his new wire-frame owl glasses, and his big round eyes widened behind
them.  "Well, sir, us boys were talking ..."  Grady flashed a grin at Mario
– they always loved that intro.  "Us boys were talking and we reckon
there's a big storm brewing.  `Course, you know how Lloyd and Tommy are
always fucking ... they have that master/servant-boy thing going, ya know.

"Well we thought the novelty would wear off after a while and Lloyd would
just be happy fucking with his lover Doctor Steve ... and occasionally guys
from his gym ... you know how Lloyd's hooked on good-looking gym jocks.
Well, seems they haven't cooled off.  We got this from Eddie `cos you know
he lives with Hassan up in Steve's guest house so he knows everything that
goes on there ... well, he knows everything that goes on in the tribe, cos
him and Darius ..."

At a nudge from Danny Brian said, "Oh sorry, sirs, talking too much.  Cut
to the chase, eh?  Well seems like Steve is getting real pissed at the
whole scene.  But you know, sir, all shrinks think too much and Eddie says
Doctor Steve is trying to work stuff out by talking their way through the
whole thing, like some kinda shrink session, but that don't cut the mustard
... not this time."

Brian paused for effect.  Mario himself had been turning the scenario over
in his mind and frowned as he asked, "Er, do you know if Randy's had
anything to say about all this?"

"Ah, excellent point, sir. Us boys all wonder what he's gonna do cos
Steve's his brother and Randy is crazy protective of his brothers.  He'll
beat up any guy who messes with them.  But right now, Eddie says, Randy's
keeping his powder dry, so we'll just have to wait and see."

"Well," Mario said, "everyone will be up here tomorrow for the party so
maybe we'll get a better handle on it.  Talking of which, I would like to
get a handle on the preparations for the big shindig, see if there's
anything I can do to help.  Danny, can we go to the kitchen and you bring
me up to speed on that?"

"Hey," Grady protested, "I need Brian here to pick his brains.  There's a
whole lot of gossip I haven't heard yet and Brian's my go-to guy for that,
right dude?  You ready to spill the beans?"

Mario laughed and followed Danny to the kitchen.  He glanced back over his
shoulder and his heart melted.  Grady, the glamorous movie star who had
been wined and dined in Rome, and surrounded by adoring fans, was now
sitting with his arm round Brian's shoulder as the boy sat snuggled against
him `spilling the beans'.

As he listened entranced, Grady gently removed Brian's glasses and gazed
into his big round eyes, giving him the feeling he was the only person in
Grady's world right then, the same feeling he gave all his starry-eyed fans
when he asked their name and signed a picture for them.

**************************

It was a lazy afternoon and evening and an early night, as the men needed
to recover from jet-lag and the boys had to get up early next day to
prepare for the party.

The next morning all the junior boys of the tribe arrived early, Eddie,
Ben, and Brandon in his wheelchair.  Tommy came straight from Steve's
where, the boys guessed, exchanging knowing glances, he had already been
fucked by Lloyd ... as usual.

They were all there ostensibly to help with the preparations but, more
important, to get the full Grady/Mario story from Brian, who was only too
happy to be the star of the show and repeat the saga of the star's travels,
saving the best `til last.  As he recounted the scene in the station toilet
between the Italian peasant and the American jock there were gasps of, "No
way ... holy fuck ... damn that's hot ... and even, "hell dude, I think I'm
gonna cream my shorts."

The twins, Kyle and Kevin, had also arrived to assist Danny with the food
preparation, and the boys were all crowded in the kitchen so the twins
could hear the story too.  When it finally ended Danny grinned at the twins
and announced to the boys, "Guys, Kyle and Kevin and me need some space in
here.  And there's a ton of work to do outside setting everything up."

They snapped to attention and Tommy, who had professional experience as a
party planner, took charge, piling plates and linens on the tray tables of
the Brian's and Brandon's wheelchairs, and the whole procession filed out
of the kitchen.  Kyle said, "What about breakfast for Mario and Grady,
Danny?"

"Oh no, they'll sleep in late, work off the jet-lag.  They'll probably stay
in bed until just before the party starts, but they did mention they'd like
a light lunch in their room ... for four."

"Yeah," said Kevin, "Bob told us they have invited him and Randy to lunch
before the party but he didn't know why.  Do you know?"

"Haven't a clue," said Danny. "Maybe they wanna clear the air after all the
trouble there's been."

**************************

When Bob and Randy arrived shortly after noon Danny ran to the gate to meet
them.  "They're still in their room, sir.  Probably staying in bed late
shaking off the jet-lag."

"Probably fucking you mean, kid," Randy grinned.  "Don't worry, we know the
way."

Bob reassured Danny.  "It's OK, Danny.  I'm sure you have a ton of work in
the kitchen, so we'll wander upstairs on our own."  Gratefully Danny ran
back to his kitchen chores.  Just then Brian wheeled himself back toward
the kitchen and Randy said, "Hey, kiddo, no hug for the boss?"

Brian stopped and flashed a big freckle-faced smile as Randy knelt beside
him and hugged him tight.  "How you doing, boy?  Happy to have them back,
eh?  Everything OK with you?"

"Yes thank you, sir.  Danny and me are real happy.  I'll be bringing your
lunch up when Mario calls down for it."

"Look forward to it.  Hey, they'll all be drinking wine but I'm a beer man
so don't forget."

"It's already on the list, sir.  Gotta get back ... Danny needs me."

Randy grinned watching him go, then they wandered into the house and up the
wide staircase.  "Wonder what they want to see us about?"

"It better be to apologize," Randy growled, "after all the bullshit they
put those boys through."

"Ah, don't rain on their parade, buddy."

"Nah, I'll behave.  But you know me – always have to have the last
word."

Bob knocked on the door to the master bedroom.  No reply.  He knocked again
and there was a muffled "Come in."  They walked in to see the two men lying
naked in bed together."

They looked up and Grady said, "Oh shit ... is it that time already?
Sorry, guys ... jet lag and all."  He and Mario jumped up off the bed and
stood with their backs to it, butt-naked.  The men walked forward and stood
before them, Randy facing Grady and Bob facing Mario.

"Scusi, gentlemen," Mario said.  "How impolite of us.  I'll call down for
lunch right away and ..."

"Hey," Randy said, "never mind the food.  Just cut to the chase and tell us
why we're here."

"Er, well," Mario stammered, taken aback by Randy's bluntness, "we wanted
to offer you lunch ... and to say how sorry we are for everything that
happened.  It was all our fault and we felt we owed you an apology as the
senior men of the tribe for all the trouble we caused."

Grady jumped in, "We kinda lost our way there, Randy.  Didn't stop to think
of anyone else."

"You mean you fucked up," Randy growled.

Grady flinched, "Well yeah, I guess ..."

"Look," Randy cut him off, "I don't give a shit who the fuck you sleep
with, none of my business.  So you two had a fight.  Big fucking deal,
happens to everyone.  But what I do not like is when the boys are hurt, and
you put your two through hell for a couple of weeks.  Any other man did
that I'd beat the fucking shit out of him."

The two men flinched and Mario stammered, "Randy, if you want to punish us
we understand.  We deserve it."

"Mario, Grady," Bob said in a more conciliatory tone, "I'm sure you've
punished yourselves in your minds over and over.  It was a difficult time
and I think we should close the chapter.  Randy talks of punishment, I'm
thinking forgiveness.  Maybe we could combine the two."

There was a long, uncertain pause then Bob turned his head to look at
Randy.  "What do you think, big guy?"

Randy frowned, but he could never refuse Bob.  A hint of a smile glinted in
his blue eyes and he shrugged, "Ah what the hell."  Acting in unison Randy
put his hand on Grady's chest, Bob did the same to Mario ... and they
shoved hard.  The two lovers fell backwards on the bed together, bouncing
on their backs.

Startled they stared up at Bob and Randy as they pulled their T-shirts off
over their heads, kicked off their shoes, ripped open their jeans, let them
drop and stepped out of them.  Grady and Mario gasped at the sight of the
two naked muscle-gods both stroking their cocks.

"Fortunately," Randy said, "you are two of the most gorgeous men to walk
the planet so our rods are already good and hard."  Bob reached for a jar
of lube by the bed and greased up his cock.  "Only difference is," Randy
grinned, "my buddy uses lube but I know from experience in the gym every
morning that honest-to-god spit is good enough for Tarzan here.  OK, buddy,
let's fuck."

Working in tandem Randy and Bob knelt on the bed, pushed the lovers' legs
back and pressed their cocks against their holes.  They fell forward
together and pinned their victims' arms to the bed.  Grady gazed up in awe
at the ruggedly chiseled features of the gypsy face, his square, stubbled
jaw, long black hair and piercing blue eyes

Randy growled, "OK, you're used to me fucking you after our morning gym
workouts, but this ain't no `Good-work-buddy!' fuck.  I'm mad at you for
hurting that young kid Brian and his pal Danny.  And I gotta get it out of
my system ... like this ...!"

"Aaagh!"  Grady's handsome face contorted in pain and his head flew back on
the bed as Randy's thick shaft ramrodded his ass.  "No, I ..." he started
to protest, but gazing up into the wild blue eyes he surrendered, like so
many men before him, to the dark gypsy's sexual magnetism, and gave himself
up to his carnal savagery.

Next to them Bob smiled down at Mario.  "And that, amico, is the punishment
part.  This is the forgiveness.  Don't worry, your buddy is enjoying every
minute ... as I hope you will."  Gently but firmly he pushed his long rod
inside the young Italian, coming to rest in the warm inner depths of his
ass.  Bob smiled, "How does that feel?"

"Aaaah," Mario sighed deeply, gazing up at the exquisite face and smiling
brown eyes.  "Oh Bob, it feels ... oh man ..."  Tears came to his eyes as
he said, "I never meant to hurt anyone, Bob.  I hate that I disappointed
you of all people.  Please forgive me, amico.  Please."  In reply Bob
pulled back and began a slow, rhythmic fuck of the naked Italian steeped in
remorse.

Next to them the rhythm was more ferocious, a fierce jackhammering where
Randy vented all his anger in the hot jock's ass.  "I don't care who you
are – Tarzan, whatever – but you gotta learn.  You may be the King of
the Jungle, but I'm the King of the fucking Gypsies, the boss of this tribe
and I make the rules.  Feel this?"

Grady howled as Randy's cock pistoned in his ass, but it was a howl of
ecstasy rather than pain and he yelled, "Yeah, punish my ass, man.  I
deserve all of it.  Fuck me, sir."

But Bob, seeking to dispel the tension, spoke soothingly. "So you two have
made up, uh?  OK, so let us see ... show us."

Grady and Mario reached over and grabbed each other's cocks, then turned
their heads toward each other and kissed.  It was a graphic display of
their renewed passion and their restored place in the tribe, two beautiful
men kissing, jacking each other off as they got ploughed by the masters of
the tribe.

Bob could see that the climax was near and said, "Mario, look at me.  Mario
pulled his mouth from Grady's, looked at Bob and again pleaded, "Show me
you forgive me, Bob.  Please ..."

"This is how I forgive, Mario."  Bob's muscles tensed, his eyes sparkled,
he buried his cock deep and filled Mario's ass with cum, the balm of
absolution that Mario craved.

Randy grinned at Grady, "How about you, stud?  You gonna behave now?  No
more bullshit?  You gonna do what I tell you?  Stay faithful to this
gorgeous boyfriend of yours?  Be good to the boys?"

"Yes, sir, definitely."

"OK you two, jerk each other off ... here comes my jizz " Randy lunged deep
one last time and blasted his juice in the macho jock's ass while the two
lovers locked eyes, stroked each other and, with Randy's permission,
sprayed juice all over their naked bodies.

"Welcome home, guys," Bob smiled as he eased out his cock.  Randy yanked
his cock out of Grady and, as always, had the last word.  "Great fuck,
jungle man.  OK, that's the end of it.  That chapter's closed.  Now let's
get on with our lives."  He and Bob got off the bed, pulled on their jeans,
strolled to the window and looked down at the garden.

A few early guests had arrived, including Steve and Lloyd who were sitting
at a table with wine and snacks served by Tommy.  As Tommy turned away
Lloyd reached out and grabbed the hard globes of his ice-skater ass, and
Tommy looked back over his shoulder with a sexy grin.  None of this was
lost on Steve who scowled, tensed, and took a long slug of wine.

"Shit damn," Randy growled, "we've just closed the book on Tarzan and his
mate here, and now it looks like I've gotta sort out that mess down there."
He turned to Bob.  "The things I do for this tribe, buddy."

*****************************

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 342


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

ALSO, I invite you to visit my Web-site www.atrialofstrength.com. You can
read the whole story, all the many chapters, with extras, including
pictures and biographies of all the characters.  Click on the `Our Story'
tab to read the current chapter, or click on the green button to browse all
the chapter synopses.  Enjoy