Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2021 05:41:39 +0000 (UTC)
From: rw6789@aol.com
Subject: "A Trial Of Strength" - Part 565  by Rob Williams

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 565 by Rob Williams

Chapter 565 – "THREE MEN, LUST & SEXUAL PENANCE"

IN THIS CHAPTER:

Alpha-male lovers – the black buck Zack, and hot, hunky Miguel – go
to a remote lake to repair their fractured love affair. Forest Ranger Pete
shows up unexpectedly. The rugged Ranger is reluctant to get involved in a
lover's quarrel but guilt-ridden Zack has a visceral need to be punished.
The explosive climax ends with one man being degraded and forcibly
spit-roasted by the other two.
____________________________________________________________________

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

The passionate love affair of the two handsome alpha-males was about to
collapse.

Over the last couple of weeks the animosity between Zack and Miguel had
deepened, though neither could understand why they had dissolved into petty
squabbling and a frosty, sexless hostility.  The downward spiral took on
its own momentum and there seemed to be no way to stop the fall.

The tribe's leaders, Bob and Randy had tried to help them repair the
damage.  But in the end it was Miguel's own boy Finn who persuaded him to
make a last-ditch attempt at reconciliation by accompanying Zack on a
fishing trip. There was a lake high in the Angeles Forest that had worked
its magic on other warring couples in the tribe, so they grudgingly agreed
to give it a try.

But the coldly hostile drive up to the lake only seemed to reinforce their
mutual resentment.  And when they arrived, even the serene beauty of the
remote lake could not heal their wounds. In fact, when they took the
rowboat out to the middle of the lake, the stifling atmosphere only grew
heavier.

Miguel watched Zack bait the hooks and throw the lines over the side into
the water.  "Now we just watch, and wait till we get a tug on the line,"
Zack said.

`Watch and wait'.  Normally that was the best part of fishing, the
meditative part, rocking gently on the lake in the warm sun.  But to these
men it felt uncomfortable, as if two warring men suddenly found themselves
marooned together, surrounded by water.  This just wasn't working, Miguel
thought – it was the opposite of the reconciliation that should have
happened.  He felt trapped, absurdly tense and on edge in this serenely
beautiful place.

For a moment Miguel felt like diving overboard and swimming back to sanity
on shore.  But he tried to relax, and for a while they were left with their
thoughts, staring at the line, longing for it to twitch.  A fish-bite would
have provided the distraction they desperately needed.

And then disaster struck.  When they tried to change places in the boat it
rocked and Miguel stumbled forward, hit his head on the prow and crashed
into the water.  Horrified, Zack dived in to save and him, and with a
desperate effort, swam his unconscious lover to the shore.

He laid the motionless Miguel on the small beach and gazed down at the
stunning face, the chiseled Hispanic features, dark eyebrows and sexy cleft
chin.  "You're so beautiful, dude, so fucking beautiful.  I was crazy to
... never mind, we'll talk about that later, after you wake up.  And you
will wake up dude ... I'll make you ..."  He leaned down and kissed him
– his cheeks, his eyes and his lips, gently pushing his tongue between
them.

When Miguel slowly regained consciousness, still dazed, he knew only one
thing.  He wanted Zack to make love to him.  As Zack fucked him gently,
Miguel said, "I remember it all now, Zack.  Are you sure you still love me?
Are we back ... back together?"

"Yeah, I'm sure I love you, buddy.  And yes we're back."  Their passion
overflowed and they climaxed together, tears running down their faces.

They slept for over an hour and stirred only when the bushes rustled behind
them.  Groggily they opened their eyes and stared up at a tall man in
uniform towering over them.

"Don't be startled, guys, it's me, your buddy, Forest Ranger Pete.  Sorry
to barge in on you two like this and disturb your privacy.  It's just that
I was on patrol through the forest at the end of my shift and I glimpsed
through the trees an abandoned rowboat in the middle of the lake.

"That usually means an emergency.  But Randy had told me you guys were
coming up here so instead of calling for backup I came here to check.  Good
job I did.  What happened?  Are you guys OK?"

Miguel smiled, "Thanks for checking us out, Pete, but as you see,
everything's hunky-dory."

"Except for one thing, guys – the boat.  Like I said, I'm off duty now,
but my Ranger buddies on the next shift are sure to spot the boat.  First
thing they'll do is sound the alarm, call for backup and before you know it
they'll be trampling all around here.  My guess is you don't want that."

So Pete offered to bring the boat in.  He stripped off his uniform down to
his undershorts, and swam out to it. The men gazed after him and Miguel
smiled, "Well that's a turnup for the books."

"And just in time," Zack said, "to avoid a whole crew of Forest Rangers
descending on us."  He looked uneasily at Miguel.  "You, er ... does it
bother you, Pete showing up like this?"

"Nah," Miguel laughed.  "I kinda like it.  Look, dude, you and me are solid
now, aren't we?  We don't have to be uneasy about Pete.  He's a terrific
guy and we both like him.  And, to tell you the truth, Zack, after all
that's just happened I was wondering how we ease back into life.  A little
breathing space would be good, and Pete might be the friendly distraction
we need."

Zack grinned.  "Now you're talking.  I'm glad to hear you say that, bro,
`cos that's how I feel.  I'm glad he's here, and he's done us a real favor,
so we should thank him – perhaps ask him to stick around for a drink and
a bite to eat.  He said he's off-duty now."

After their recent deep freeze they enjoyed the sensation of talking to
each other again like good buddies, seeing eye-to-eye on things, with no
tension about other men.

Pete had already reached the boat and was rowing strongly to shore.  Soon
he stowed the oars, jumped out and stood waist deep in the water.  Grabbing
the prow he pulled the boat in, water streaming down his sinewy body that
gleamed under the hot sun.  As he splashed through shallower water his wet
shorts clung to his thighs and outlined the bulge of his long cock.

Zack grinned, "The Ranger's also real easy on the eyes, eh buddy?"

"You can say that again," Miguel laughed.

========= CHAPTER 565 =========

<><> PETE GIVES ADVICE & FIRST-AID <><>

Ranger Pete pulled the boat up on the sand and stood smiling at the men,
gleaming wet, his chest heaving, muscles pumped from physical exertion.
Still lying together on the blanket, Zack and Miguel stared up in awe.

"Fucking hot," Zack murmured.

"Pornographic." Miguel agreed.

"OK, so that's taken care of," Pete said matter-of-factly.  "Now the boat's
out of sight you won't be disturbed by my Ranger buddies.  But before I
push off and leave you two lovebirds alone I better check you out, Miguel.
That's a nasty fall you had, mild concussion, and I should treat that cut
on your forehead.  Don't move."

They watched as he strode up the beach in just his undershorts, the shadow
of leafy branches playing over his brawny physique as he moved.  He went to
his Ranger truck parked behind the trees and brought back the first-aid kit
that all Rangers carried.

"First, I'll take a look at that cut ... let me pull you up here."  He bent
over Miguel, curled his hands under his armpits and slid him back to lean
against a tree.  He knelt beside him and touched his forehead.  "Hmm
... not deep ... no stiches ... no scar to spoil that handsome mug."

He pulled out a cotton swab and antiseptic.  "Though personally I kinda
like a small scar on a gorgeous face.  Looks sexy.  OK, now this might
sting."  He pressed the antiseptic on the wound and Miguel yelled "Ow!"

"What is it with you macho guys?  Tough, rough, trade punches with the best
of them, but a small sting on a wound and you howl like a trod-upon
cat. It's like giving an injection.  I've had guys tougher than you almost
faint at the sight of the needle."

Pete dabbed the wound clean, then applied a small band-aid.  "Good, now I
better just check your vitals.  There's always a risk of delayed shock."
He pulled a thermometer from the first-aid kit, shook it and put it in
Miguel's mouth. "Close your lips."

"Hm," Zack chuckled.  "I'm always telling him to open his lips."

"This is first-aid, Zack.  I'll leave the smooching to you."  Pete wrapped
a blood-pressure sleeve around Miguel's upper arm and inflated it.  A
minute later he pulled out the thermometer and said.  "Good ... normal."
The blood pressure unit beeped.  "Hm, a bit elevated, though that's
probably because of the sexy hunk sitting next to you."

"Or the first-aid guy leaning over him," Zack grinned.  "Hot enough to send
anyone's pressure through the roof."

"That'll be enough of that, dude," Pete smiled.  "Time I hit the road and
left you two alone to resume ... whatever it was you were doing."

"Hey, Pete, what's the rush?  Miguel and me were just saying we owe you a
debt of thanks for the boat thing.  We were kinda hoping you'd stick around
for a while."

"No way, dude.  Listen, guys, I've a pretty good idea what just happened
here.  Dammit, the whole tribe has been urging you two to make it up, get
over this stupid lovers' quarrel.  I guess it took a near-death experience
like this to make it happen. You just saved your buddy's life, Zack, and
then ... let me guess, you made love.  You fell asleep together until I
barged in on you.

"I'm here only because of the boat.  But I'm not made of stone, guys, I can
feel the sexual vibes here and you two are so fucking gorgeous you're a
porn scene waiting to happen.

"But I can't be part of that scene, guys.  You two have still got a lot of
ground to cover, trading all those ugly words in for words of love and
respect.  I know damn well that if any guy gets in the way of that he ends
up with mud on his face.  Imagine, dudes – you two finally patch things
up, then Ranger Pete comes in and busts everything up again.  I wouldn't
exactly be the most popular guy in the tribe, would I?  Zack gives Miguel
the kiss of life and I'm the kiss of death."

"Hey, Pete, we only asked you to have a beer with us," Zack grinned, "not
an orgy.  Ah, sorry, Pete, I know just what you mean and you're right to
avoid anything that could throw a spanner in the works.  And sure, it is
still a delicate time."

Miguel added, "But tell you the truth, Pete, that's why we thought company
would be a good idea – especially the company of a good buddy like you.
Kind of take the pressure off the what-comes-next thing.  But I understand
your reluctance to stick around, dude."

Pete looked from one man to the other, shrugged and smiled.  "Well, maybe
just one beer, eh?"

<><> THE RANGER'S STORY <><>

Zack and Miguel were still naked and they pulled on shorts while Pete dried
off, took off his wet boxers and got a pair of swim-trunks from his truck.

Zack pulled three beers from the cooler they had brought and Miguel
rummaged in one of the boxes Will had packed for them.  "That kid is a wiz
when it comes to packing easy-to-eat food for wanderers like us.  Here,
these sandwiches look good."

Feeling the hunger that had built up over the recent drama-filled hours
they settled back on the beach for an afternoon snack, beer ... and
conversation.  Zack smiled.  "This place remind you of anything, Pete?."

Pete grinned, "It should.  This very spot we're sitting in, Miguel, is
where I first stumbled across Zack, along with Randy, their boys Darius and
Pablo and Pablo's dog billy.  Did Zack ever tell you the story, Miguel?"

"No, I didn't," Zack said.  "It was the kind of thing I didn't like to
shout about.  As you were the star of the show I thought it should be left
to you to tell the story – if you chose to."

"Yeah, well thanks for that, Zack.  That kind of discretion is rare in our
crowd, but as we three are her together it's only fitting that Miguel
should hear it.  Do you recall that old TV series, The Twilight Zone that
Rod Serling always introduced with `Picture if You Will ...?"

"So, Miguel ... `Picture if you will' ... a gathering at this little beach
of four horny, naked guys – a swarthy, rugged gypsy with piercing blue
eyes ... a macho black muscle-hunk with a shaved head ... and their boys, a
black buck with a humungous dick, and a cocky young mechanic with an ass
that could make grown men weep.  Picture also an arrogant young Forest
Ranger on patrol, feeling like hot stuff in his Ranger uniform."

Zack said, "Er. let me just interject for the record, Miguel, that the
Ranger was indeed very hot stuff who caused four instant hard-ons."

"But," Pete smiled, "the Ranger considered himself quite the stud, quite
the ladies' man who after work went out drinking with his buddies to pick
up girls.  Imagine his shock, and disgust, when he saw these four men
having sex – with each other!  He said what they were doing was not only
repulsive but illegal in public, and he would arrest them."

Pete chuckled. "Imagine Randy's reaction to that – the man loves a
challenge.  I recall exactly what he said.  `You call yourself a Chief
Ranger.  Well I outrank you, boy, `cos I'm the King of the fucking
Gypsies'."

"So the gypsy forced the Ranger to strip off his uniform and he tied him up
naked, forcing him to watch the orgy in progress.  The Ranger's revulsion
was tinged with something else, an almost hypnotic fascination with the
blue-eyed gypsy and, although he tried to deny it, raging lust.  He
resented the man, hated him, craved revenge – but he couldn't take his
eyes off him.

"Randy did a whole number on the young Ranger, as you know only Randy can.
He made Pablo kneel in front of the helpless captive, who had to watch as
the gypsy fucked his boy's ass.  As a final humiliation the boy sucked the
Ranger's cock, getting spit-roasted by them both.

"As the Ranger gazed into the gypsy's laser blue eyes he felt an intensely
virile connection with him.  They were both fucking the boy, one in the
mouth, the other in the ass, and the Ranger was mesmerized by the
penetrating gaze of the macho gypsy.  He felt overpowered by him, beaten,
and yelled his submission as he and the gypsy both climaxed inside the
kneeling boy.

"Randy released the defeated Ranger who drove away in a trance.  Desperate
to restore his own manhood he called his buddies and arranged to meet them
in the bar as usual.  But he couldn't shake the homoerotic image of the
gypsy.  So, in a daze, he turned his truck around, drove back here to the
beach and came face to face with Randy."

Pete smiled. "And that, Miguel, is the Ranger's story.  The rest you know
– it's woven into the crazy quilt of the tribe's history."

Silence followed as they all took long gulps of beer. "Wow,." Miguel said
at last, "that is pure porn video, Pete – a uniformed stud Ranger
captured by a bunch of horny guys, tied up naked and forced to take part in
their orgy.  As I listened I was trying to imagine which one I wanted to be
– the gypsy leader, the Ranger or the guy getting spit-roasted."

That fantasy remained unanswered as Pete's cell phone rang.

<><> BRANDON CUTS TO THE CHASE <><>

Pete's face lit up as he looked at the phone.  "It's my boy Brandon.  Hey
kiddo, what's up?"

"Hello, sir, is this a good time?  Are you alone?"

It's always a good time to talk to you, buddy.  I'm not alone, actually.
You'll never guess who I'm with.  Here, I'll put you on speaker and let
them say hi."

He grinned at Zack and Miguel who shouted in chorus, "Hi, Brandon."

"Was that who I think it was, sir?  Are they talking at last?"

"More than talking, dude.  They're fishing, falling off the boat, one
saving the other, kiss of life, fucking, sleeping and getting woken up by
this big ol' Ranger.  That's the story in a very small nutshell.  I'll tell
you in a minute, but after you've told me what's up with you."

"Well, sir, my boyfriend Brian has asked me to go up to the Grady House for
dinner.  It's a kind of a minor celebration as Grady's movie is on hiatus
for a week, so he has the week off. They've asked me to join them, and
Brian was wondering if I could spend the night with him.  But sir, if you
want me to stay home with you, of course I ..."

"Brandon, my boy, what have I always told you about getting out more?  Of
course I love it when we're together, but you don't see enough of Brian,
and dinner with Grady and Mario is always fun.  So go, have a good time and
don't worry about me."

"Thank you, sir."  Now, would Zack and Miguel let you tell me what's
happened up there?"

"Of course, kiddo," Zack shouted.  "Shout it from the rooftops."

"And Brandon," Miguel added, "think what a party piece that will be for you
at the Grady House.  You know how hungry for gossip Grady is.  Usually he's
the last to know, poor guy, but this time he'll be the first."

"I never thought of that, sir.  Before Eddie, even."

"I'm not so sure about that," Pete laughed.  "That boy must have a kind of
bush telegraph that feeds him information non-stop.  OK, let me go down to
the boat and tell you the story, buddy.  These guys don't wanna hear it
again – they just lived through it.  They probably want to write the
next chapter."

Pete went down to the water's edge got into the boat and sat in animated
conversation with his boy, out of earshot of the other men.  Miguel smiled,
"Don't you just love those two?  Did you see Pete's face light up when
Brandon called?  He might be a big tough Ranger but he's as soft as putty
when he talks to his kid.  He's crazy about him."

"Yeah, and what he said about us writing the next chapter.  We ready for
that, buddy?  Lots of angry stuff to process and bury."

"That's why I thought a calm, gentle presence like Pete would be a good
influence on us."

"I agree.  And, er, let me run this by you.  Brandon's gonna be spending
the night with his boyfriend Brian at the Grady House, so Pete will be
going home to an empty house, then driving all the way back up here
tomorrow for work.  So, er ..."

"So what if we ask him to stay the night with us?" Miguel said.  "You read
my mind, Zack.  But I doubt he'd agree.  Hell, he was squeamish about even
hanging around for a beer, and I understand his point.  The last thing he
wants to be is the third cog, getting in the way of what we've got going.
Like he said, he's afraid of being the kiss of death."

"He doesn't have to be the kiss of anything, Miguel.  I'm not talking sex
here – just good company to help us flatten down the bumps in the road
ahead."

"True, but at the same time you can't deny the man's virile sexuality.  I
don't mind admitting that when he was telling that story of him and the
guys, it gave me a roaring hard-on."

"Me too," Zack chuckled, "and there was something sexy about his
matter-of-fact tone when he told it – no drama, no exaggeration, no
attempt to seduce or titillate.  That's just the way he is, and there's an
inner masculinity in his quiet strength.  Anyway, this is all speculation,
so let's simply ask him when he's finished talking to Brandon."

As they settled back on the blanket together they already felt the calming
atmosphere that Pete's presence had brought.  After all the previous
animosity, followed by the dangerous trauma, and then impulsive sex, they
needed to take some deep breaths and ease into a more relaxed frame of
mind.

It wasn't long before Pete came back up the beach smiling to himself.
Brandon always had the same calming influence on him that the men had just
been saying Pete had on others.

"Boy," he smiled, "there's no doubt what the main topic of conversation
will be at the Grady House tonight – you guys.  And Brandon will be the
star of the show.  He'll love that.  I can imagine wide-eyed Grady hanging
on his every word.  But my house is sure gonna feel empty without him."

Zack cleared his throat.  "Yeah, we, er, wanted to ask you about that,
dude.  I mean, you're soon gonna be driving home and walking into a silent
house, sleeping alone, then getting back in your truck tomorrow and driving
all the way back up here to work.  So we were wondering ..."

"Hey, wait a minute." Pete interrupted.  "If this is going where I think
it's going the answer's no.  I am not staying here and muscling in on you
guys right at the point when you're making up for lost time by
rediscovering the love you almost lost.  This is exactly the time you
should be alone, guys, especially in a romantic setting like this."

"I think we've already rediscovered the love, Pete," Miguel said.  "But
we've still got a lot of ground to cover to banish all those demons that
took control of us.  And we'd love to have you around to help us find the
way."

Pete frowned.  "Are you saying you want me to stick around to provide some
kind of couple's therapy?  `Cos I'm no good at that, guys – you need Doc
Steve for that."

Miguel winced. "Oh god, that did sound insulting didn't it, Pete, I'm real
sorry.  Actually we just wanted your company, but I understand, after that,
if you tell us to go to hell."

Seeing the disappointment on their faces, Pete said, "Oh man, I didn't mean
that ... this whole crazy conversation seems to be running off the rails,
don't it.  Er, let me have another word with my boy."

Pete walked some distance away and called Brandon again.  "Sorry to bother
you again at the office, kiddo, but I need to run something by you."  He
related the conversation he had just had with Zack and Miguel.  "Do you
think I'm blowing this all out of proportion, Brandon?"

"I do, sir.  You're making it a much bigger deal than it is.  Sir, do you
remember that awful time when I had that overwork meltdown and I quarreled
with you?  We made up of course, but I still felt real bad, embarrassed,
not sure how to get us back to the way we'd always been.

"Then that same evening Hassan and Eddie came to dinner.  They were
terrific company and Eddie kept us all laughing, he was on great form.
Well, after they left I looked at you and realized we already were back to
our old selves.  Eddie and Hassan had taken us out of ourselves just when
we needed it.  I think that's what the guys need from you now.  And I think
you should say yes, sir."

"Dude, you always have such a basic commonsense way of cutting straight to
the chase.  One reason, among many, that I love you, kiddo.  OK, thanks,
and have a great time at the Grady House.  See you tomorrow."

Pete had a broad grin on his face when he rejoined the men.  "OK, guys, so
let's get started.  First thing we need to do is catch some fish for dinner
this evening."

Zack grinned.  "Sounds like Brandon did his thing eh?"

"I love that kid.  He has a knack of going straight to the root of an issue
– logical, unflappable.  It's what makes him perfect for his job as
office manager.  Bob thinks the world of him.  Now let's get down to
business.

"Zack, when I pulled those fishing lines into the boat I noticed you were
using the wrong bait.  The best bait is right here, in the roots of these
bushes.  These fish prefer local worms."

"I'll bear that in mind, Pete," Zack grinned, "local worms it is.  So lead
on, Ranger.  This is your territory after all."

<><> A SMALL SLICE OF PARADISE <><>

Zack and Miguel, commanding bosses in their own worlds, were now more than
happy to let Pete take the lead.  Under his direction they dug up a clod of
worm-filled earth from under a bush and followed Pete down to the boat, all
of them now wearing swim trunks.  They sat together in the stern while Pete
pushed the boat out into the water.  They watched his body flex as he took
the strain and Miguel grinned at Zack.  "Mmm ..."

Their cocks stiffened even more as they watched him row with powerful
strokes, his sinewy muscles rippling, a determined set to his square jaw.
When they were in the middle of the lake Pete stowed the oars and threw the
anchor rock overboard.  When Pete grabbed the bait and the fishing hooks
Miguel said, "Anything we can do to help, buddy?"

"Nah, I've done this a million times.  You two just sit and watch the
expert."

"Oh we'll watch, dude," Zack grinned.  "Won't take our eyes off you."

After deftly baiting the hooks Pete threw the lines overboard.  "There, now
we just wait and watch.  Or rather you watch the lines.  Me, I'm always
bushed after working a long shift so I'm gonna catch a nap.  He grabbed a
towel and folded it under his head as he rested it back on the prow.  He
turned his face to the sun and closed his eyes.

Zack put his arm over Miguel's shoulder and they too leaned back in their
seat, watching not the lines, as instructed, but the man who had issued the
instructions.  As Brandon would have told anyone, and often did, Ranger
Pete looked his most sexy when he was in repose.

Brandon loved watching him in bed, his chest heaving steadily as he
slept. He would trace his finger lightly over the Ranger's virile features,
down his neck, over his prominent Adam's apple then down his neck and the
cleft between his pecs.  Often he would rest his head lightly on his hairy
chest, careful not to wake him, then he too would fall asleep.  Brandon
always said that was his favorite thing in the world.

Zack and Miguel had once heard Brandon say that, and now, watching Pete
sleep, they could believe it.  As the boat rocked gently under the warm
sun, they were lulled by the sound of ripples lapping the boat sides, and
by the brush of a light breeze cooling them. It was like a small slice of
paradise and they were more than happy to share it with the handsome
Ranger.

Of course, having rediscovered their love in the crucible of the fear and
danger of Miguel's accident, the most natural thing might have been to make
love for the rest of the day and night.  But these men instinctively wanted
more than that.

They needed a full return of their former happy life, in the company of
friends, an action-filled life free of any taint of jealousy or suspicion
when surrounded by so many seductive men.  The proof of a deep, solid union
was not the ability to fuck each other non-stop, but to socialize and move
easily among friends as a self-assured couple.

And in a small way Pete gave them that.  As they had hoped, it was a way of
easing back into that carefree life, to enjoy the company of others and to
let it meander in whatever direction it took – like water naturally
finding its own level.

Soothed and reassured by such thoughts, the lovers closed their eyes and
dozed.

<><> MIGUEL & PETE LOOSEN UP <><>

"Hey!"  They were woken by Pete's shout.  "You men were supposed to be
watching the lines.  This guy's struggling so hard he's towing the boat.
Now watch while I play him and land him."

They were happy to loll there and watch the Ranger, and in a couple of
minutes a large lake-trout lay in the bottom of the boat.  As so often
happens after the first catch, a couple more followed in quick succession
and soon they were headed back to shore.

Miguel said, "We brought a cooler to stash the fish and a hibachi to cook
them, unless we're not allowed to because of the fire risk."

"Maybe we should find a Forest Ranger and ask him," Zack said solemnly,
followed by a broad grin.  "Oh, how about this guy?  He's not wearing a
uniform, but he sure looks like a Ranger."

"You guys love fooling around don't you?  OK, here's the deal on that.  We
forbid fires in the forest due to the fire risk.  You wouldn't believe how
some idiots fire up a barbecue right under the trees.  But, as you're with
me, I will allow a small hibachi provided you position it near the water's
edge, far from trees and bushes.  I'll be here to supervise."

Zack saluted. "Aye-aye, sir, you're the boss."

He and Miguel went up to their truck and Pete smiled.  He knew he was not
up to their level of lighthearted bantering.  He was aware of his
reputation of being the strong silent type, and in that he matched the
quiet demeanor of his boy Brandon.

But he was glad to see his two buddies relaxed enough to laugh and fool
around in his presence.  Brandon must have been right, he thought.  Maybe
his staying here with the guys really was helping in their healing process.

They came back with the cooler and the hibachi, and Zack looked out at the
lake and stretched his arms.  "I think I'll go for a swim, stretch my
muscles after all this lazing around.  Won't be long, guys."  He ran down
to the water and dived in.

Pete frowned.  "Is he OK, Miguel?  Shouldn't you go with him?"

"Nah, he's fine," Miguel chuckled.  "I know him so well I can always tell
when he wants to be on his own for a while, which he often does – kind
of like going off and meditating.  It's a sure sign that he's feeling happy
and relaxed.  He's having a great time, I can tell, and a lot of that is
because you're here with us."

"Really?  I'm not sure I'm doing anything special, except being my boring
old self."

"Far from boring, I assure you, Pete, and just being yourself is exactly
what he wants.  He loves that solid no-drama thing you project.  He was
really shaken by that rift between us, more than he lets on.  He blamed
himself for most of it, though I know full well it takes two to tango –
and to quarrel."

Pete sighed.  "I'll be frank with you, buddy.  The thing that confuses me
about being here is sex.  Oh, I really enjoy your company, you're a great
couple, but face it, since you made up you've only had sex once.  I assumed
you'd be fucking like jackrabbits."

"Pete, after all the ugliness we went through there's more to making up
than making nonstop love.  We need to present ourselves to the group as a
united couple – and right now you represent that group – not as a
fuck buddy but as the good, wise friend we need.

"Don't get me wrong, Pete.  You are one helluva sexy guy, and that story
you told earlier was a major turn-on – you stumbling on Randy, Zack and
their boys, getting tied naked to a tree and forced to be part of a spit
roast of young Pablo.  Zack and I almost creamed our shorts hearing that
– I just wish I could a' been there and joined in."

Miguel chuckled.  "If I had a choice I'd be in the Randy role – fucking
a guy's ass and staring into your blue eyes while you face-fuck the same
guy.  Hey, listen to me getting carried away here.  Don't mind me, dude.
Like I said, you're not here as a fuck buddy but as a good friend."

Pete firmly suppressed the boner that was growing in his own shorts and
changed the subject "So, as a friend, I can ask you, Miguel, how do things
stand now between you two?"

"Well of course we've admitted that we have behaved like fools and we still
love each other.  There's nothing like nearly losing a soulmate to make a
guy wise up and see sense.  But like I said, a lot of ugly words passed
between us, most of them from Zack to me.  He was in uncharted territory
and lashed out with words instead of his fists, for once.

"I believe his priority now is to make amends for that.  You know that code
of honor guys like Zack and Randy have.  A guy fucks up, gets punished and
only then can he restore his honor and move on with his life."

"You mean he wants you to punish him?"

"Something like that, Pete.  I'm just as happy to move on and forget the
whole thing, but for Zack his masculinity is at stake.  If we were back
with the tribe he'd probably stage some kind of ritual penance in public."
Miguel grinned.  "So it's a good thing we're here in this peaceful place,
with one of the least punitive men of the tribe, who has his feet firmly
planted on solid ground."

"I'll take that as a compliment, buddy.  Look.  Seems like the man himself
is heading back."

They turned their attention to the lake where Zack was swimming toward the
beach.  Soon he was walking through waist-high water, splashing ashore.
Pete gasped.  "Damn, the man is hot.  Look at that gorgeous black body,
streaming with water, muscles all pumped after his swim.  You're a lucky
man, Miguel, to be loved by a god like that.  Don't you dare ever lose him,
dude.

"I don't intend to, Pete – not again."

"And I'll do anything I can to help you both.  Anything."

<><> PETE CALLS THE SHOTS <><>

"Hey, guys," Zack grinned, grabbing a towel and drying off.  "So what have
you been plotting in my absence?  Whatever it is, I hope it includes beer.
I've got a thirst on me like the Mojave Desert.  You not still on that
one-beer-only thing are you, Pete?"

"I guess not," Pete laughed.  "It looks as if I won't be driving anymore
today so I guess I can sink a few more.  Wouldn't look good for a Forest
Ranger to be driving drunk.  Might have a major impact on his career."

They opened the cooler, broke out the beers and settled back on the beach
where they passed the afternoon in growing harmony.  In the normal course
of daily life Pete's path didn't often intersect with Zack and Miguel, two
of the so-called `second-floor' guys, along with Darius, Pablo and their
boys, who socialized together, sometimes in leather bars.

Pete had a quieter life with his beloved boy Brandon in the duplex across
the street from the compound, where they spent their time alone or with
their neighbors Hassan and Eddie.

But as the three men got to know each other more intimately, alone in this
remote setting, they found that their differences were only superficial,
and they relaxed with each other.

Miguel and Zack loved watching Pete's face glow as he talked about Brandon.
"I'm so damn proud of that kid.  For one thing he's so smart.  Like you saw
earlier, I've come to rely on his young down-to-earth advice, like whether
I should stick around up here.  And he's always right."

Miguel felt relaxed enough with Pete to ask, "I often wondered, though, how
you handle the wheelchair thing?"

"What wheelchair thing?" Pete laughed.  "I lost sight of that a long time
ago, taking my cue from Brandon.  He's such a gutsy kid, and prides himself
on being able to do almost anything the other boys can.  And more.  Hell,
that wheelchair and Brandon's courage once probably saved my life."  The
guys settled in to hear the story.

"We had gone way out on one of the remote fire trails in the hills when we
encountered a sudden rock fall.  I shielded Brandon but I took a hit from
one of the rocks.  It knocked me unconscious and I was pretty beat up
... needed medical help.  Brandon tried his cell phone but there was no
signal that far out.

"Desperate, right?  But he didn't flinch.  He reached down and somehow
dragged me up on top of him.  Whispering encouragement in my ear he rolled
back along the path, some feat with the weight of both of us, checking for
a cell signal all the way.  It was a couple of laborious miles before he
got one and called – who else? – Randy, the best guy in an
emergency. Randy came racing to the rescue, alerting Mark and the
paramedics, who took me to the hospital.

"After that display of courage and determination Brandon was a hero in the
tribe, of course, but he shrugged it all off as just part of taking care of
his man."

"Wow," Miguel said, "quite a story, Pete – right up there with your epic
about your first meeting with the tribe, right here in this very spot."

Mention of that event roused sexual feelings again, as it had before in all
three men, and they drank in silence for a while, trying to ignore the
bulge in their shorts.  The conversation turned to Miguel's work as
executive chef at the Ritz-Carlton and, implausibly enough, the
similarities with Zack's job as boss of a construction site.

"Turns out we use the same techniques with problem staff," Zack grinned,
"except that Miguel prob'ly don't resort to fists as much as I do ... or at
all," he added quickly, seeing the protesting look on Miguel's face.

Their laughter evolved into more intimate stories of their life, eventually
colliding with the elephant in the room (or on the beach) – their recent
conflict they were still trying to put behind them.  That brought another
silence as they cracked open more beer, the effects of which were to lower
their inhibitions and loosen their tongues even more – especially
Zack's.

"Look, guys," he said, "now that I've got a few beers under my belt I might
as well say what's been on my mind all along.  And Pete, I hope you don't
mind if I reopen old wounds.  In fact it's because you're here that I want
to get into this, `cos I want it to be a public thing, even if it's a
public of just one guy.  Thing is, Miguel ..."  He faltered and took
another gulp of beer.

Pete felt it was about time he stepped in and took charge.  He knew that's
what Brandon would have told him to do.

"Zack," he said, "I have a good idea what you're trying to say, because
Miguel already said it to me while you were out swimming.  Let's see if I
got it straight.  You feel guilty about all the bad stuff you said and did
to Miguel and, in your alpha-male mind, you feel you have to pay for that
– do some kind of penance."

"I, er ..." Zack stammered but Pete persisted.

"Hear me out, dude.  It seems to be a ritual in the tribe that when a guy
messes up, like you feel you did, he owes a public apology, not only to the
victim but to the tribe.  And he has to submit to some form of public
punishment.  Am I right so far?"

"Pretty much," Zack mumbled, already in a submissive tone.

"So, while I don't necessarily agree with any of this – your guilt, need
for punishment, tribe's rules and stuff – I want it all to end so we can
enjoy our time here together.  We know you love each other as much as ever,
so it's time we put all this crap to rest once and for all.  I told Miguel
I'd help in any way I can, and that's where the public bit comes in.

"Now this ain't a public gathering of the tribe, but I'm willing to
substitute for them.  I know I'm only an audience of one, but there's an
easy way I can report back to them."  Pete grinned.  "When I get back I'll
tell Eddie what happened.  That kid will probably make a big-budget movie
of it and sell tickets, so don't worry about everyone knowing everything.
Hell, he'll probably exaggerate the whole thing so they'll get the
technicolor version.  Agreed?"

Zack and Miguel smiled, their admiration for Pete growing every minute.
When the strong, silent man finally took charge, boy, did he take charge."

"So," Pete said, "let's do it, guys.  So far the only thing that's happened
is you, Zack, rescued Miguel then fucked him – when he was still too
dazed and in love to reciprocate.  I don't know what kind of `penance' you
have in mind, Zack, but if all I have to do is be an audience of one, I'm
ready."

Pete stood up, walked to the top of the beach and leaned back against a
tree.  He folded his arms across his chest ... and watched.

<><> CLIMAX <><>

It was time for action.  Zack stood up and pulled Miguel to his feet.
Zack's eyes got moist as he faced the beautiful man he loved.  "Dude, I
haven't said this up to now `cos it seemed too soon and too trite.  But now
I'm ready to make amends to you.

"I'm so sorry, man.  I said things to you no man should to a friend, least
of all to a lover.  I guess I was scared of losing you like Bob said, but
there's no excuse for me being an arrogant prick.  Your rushing out of the
house to Jason's was a natural reaction – I wouldn't have blamed you if
you'd slugged me.  And you fucking Jason was not wrong either, especially
as I'd starved you for sex for several weeks.

"No dude, there's no blame in this for you.  It was all on me.  I'll never
forgive myself, but I'm begging you to forgive me.  I need to show you how
sorry I am, buddy.  I ..."

Zack choked up and shed tears as he hugged Miguel, then slumped against him
and slid down to the ground on his knees.  Miguel walked up to where Pete
was standing and they gazed at the penitent black man, on his knees,
begging for forgiveness.

"Miguel," Pete said, "whatever you're gonna do, I'm not sure if I can stay
out of it.  I've got a raging hard-on and, hell, I'm a red-blooded male
after all."

"Seems we've been here before, Ranger, at least in memory when you told us
that story about how you first met Randy.  What was it he told you then?
That he was gonna fuck his boy Pablo and force you to watch what you
considered a disgusting act.  Your feelings about the act might not be the
same as then, but I gotta force you to watch, man.  It's part of the deal.
Thanks for the lecture, Pete, but it's my turn now.  I'm in charge."

Seeing a new forceful glint in Miguel's deep brown eyes Pete reflexively
reached back and clasped his hands behind the tree.  Miguel picked up off
the ground a discarded T-shirt, wound it into a rope and tied Pete's
wrists.  Then he pulled Pete's shorts down and off.  "Like old times, eh,
Ranger? Only this time you're not watching Randy and Pablo – it's me and
Zack."

Suddenly transformed from a gentle man into a tough avenger, Miguel turned
and looked across the beach,.  "Get you're sorry ass over here, stud."

Kneeling on the sand Zack fell forward on all fours and crawled slowly
forward.  "On your belly," Miguel shouted.  Zack fell on his stomach and
dragged himself painfully through the dry sand.  When he got near he
grabbed Miguel's ankles, pulled himself close ... and licked Miguel's feet.

Pete stared down at the humbled hunk performing a ritualistic, exaggerated
gesture of submission to the man he had wronged.  It was harrowing to watch
this proud man so degraded, but also hugely erotic, and Pete's cock
swelled.  Mesmerized he watched Miguel drop his shorts, then wipe the sand
from Zack's ass with a towel.

"I should leave the grit there when I fuck you, but I'll grant you this
last small act of mercy.  Now, that flawless black ass is mine.  You
accused me of racism, so how about this?  Think of me as the master
punishing his arrogant black slave for insolence."

That old well-used fantasy made Pete's cock even harder, oozing
pre-cum. Miguel spat on his rigid cock, reached forward and pressed his
hands on his captive's lower back.  He gazed down at the perfect ass, his
target, then rose up on his feet and arched over Zack as if ready for a set
of pushups.  Only this time when he bent his arms and quickly lowered his
hips his huge dick pierced the ass and drove in deep.

Zack's animal howl shattered the silent calm and Pete tugged at his ropes,
a Ranger's instinct to help an injured man.  Miguel looked up at him.  "Not
this time, Ranger.  This time you have to watch the black slave suffer for
his arrogance while the master reams his ass."

The homoerotic fantasy continued as Miguel's hip rose and fell and his cock
pistoned deep in Zack's ass.  It was a savage fuck, the opposite of their
formerly tender love-making.  But painful as it was, to Zack it was the
punishment he longed for – a healing act of penance, being ass-whipped
by the man he loved.

To Pete, now lost in the fantasy, it was as if the black slave had
deliberately insulted his master to feel the ecstasy of the master's cock
pounding his ass.  He watched with mounting lust as Miguel slapped the
black ass cheeks while his shaft drove between them.  Zack clawed at the
sand in a futile attempt to drag himself forward and ease the pain in his
ass.

But Miguel growled, "Nah, man, there's no escape this time.  This is what
you get for insulting me.  I can rip that ass open unless I hear you beg
for forgiveness.  I wanna hear the tough alpha stud beg to suck cock.

"See, I've captured your buddy too, forced him to watch your shame at
taking it up the ass.  And he's gonna suffer too – the humiliation of
getting his dick sucked by his own buddy.  You want it don't you?  Macho
black slave begs to suck another man's cock.  Let's hear it stud."

Zack groaned, "OK, I give up.  I submit, sir.  I wanna suck dick ... I need
man's cock in my mouth.  I wanna suck my buddy dry.  Please, sir."
Watching the broken black muscle-stud beaten and degraded, his manhood
shattered as he begged for cock, almost made Pete shoot his load.

Zack gasped as Miguel pulled out sharply and ordered, "Hands and knees, man
... crawl to your buddy ... now."

Painfully Zack pulled himself up on all fours, then crawled slowly toward
the bound Ranger until his face was inches from the long shaft pointing
straight at him.  "Make love to that fucking schlong, man," Miguel ordered,
and Zack obediently flicked out his tongue.

He licked the drops of pre-cum dripping from the head, then licked the
balls and ran his tongue up the whole shaft to the head. The cock was
pointing straight at his open mouth when suddenly Miguel rammed his cock up
Zack's butt, making him jerk forward onto the Ranger's cock and swallow it.

He choked and reflexively pulled back, but then went down on it again, the
start of a hungry feast of Pete's cock while Miguel hammered his ass.  Pete
looked down at the dark, chiseled face, the full lips clamped round the
shaft as the shaved head jerked down and back.  Then Pete raised his eyes
and saw Miguel smiling at him as he pounded ass.

Miguel panted, "Like I said, Pete, must be like old times for you – only
last time you were staring into Randy's blue eyes, and the spit-roasted
victim was Randy's boy.  Now it's me you're looking at, and the guy getting
roasted at both ends is this magnificent black buck, begging to be punished
and degraded – retribution for insulting the man who loves him."

"This is it, Pete, the final act so we can resume our old lives.  Like you
said, it's time to bring the whole sorry story to an end, and you're
helping me write the final chapter.  So let's do it, Ranger.  Let's finish
him off."

Miguel drove his cock in faster and Zack swallowed Pete's cock deeper as
the explosive climax approached.  "OK, Ranger ... now!  Yeaahh ..."  They
yelled in triumph as their cocks erupted and poured semen in Zack's ass and
mouth.

Miguel pulled out his dripping cock, jumped up and stood next to Pete as
Zack pulled his head back off Pete's cock and stared up at them, cum oozing
out of his mouth and down his chin, and tears running down his face.
Miguel said, "OK, buddy, your final act of contrition.  You know what to
do."

Zack watched Miguel turn his head and pull Pete into a churning kiss.
"Yeah, oh yeah," Zack groaned.  "Thank you guys ..."  He pounded his cock
and, with a last wild-animal howl, blasted semen that splashed down on the
bare feet of the men who had tamed him.

<><> PETE CHECKS WITH BRANDON <><>

Miguel pulled Zack up on his feet, they folded their arms round each other
and kissed passionately.  They became so engrossed in each other that Pete
finally said, "Hey, guys, ain't you forgetting something?"

They broke apart and grinned at the still-bound Ranger.  "Sorry, man,"
Miguel said, "and after all you've done for us."  Quickly he untied Pete's
hands, and said, "So, Pete, as our lone public observer, what did you think
of our final act of punishment and retribution?"

"Hmm," Pete smiled, rubbing his wrists.  "A bit over the top I'd say –
one of those scenery-chewing last acts that brings down the curtain.  But I
guess larger-than-life guys like you need a wild porn-plot fantasy to top
off a story that was already looking like its own porn-flick.  The
important thing is – it worked!  Congratulations, guys. Welcome back to
the real world.  Now let's go clean ourselves up."

Pete ran naked down the beach, followed by the lovers, and they splashed
wildly in the lake, whooping it up together like kids just released from
school.  When they walked out of the water Zack panted, "You are staying
the night, Pete, aren't you, and going to work straight from here?"

"That's the plan, dudes.  If there's a sequel I don't wanna miss it," Pete
grinned.

"Er, we're gonna go for a walk now along the shore.  Wanna join us?"

"Nah, this moment's for you two alone.  I'm feeling hunger pains so I'll
fire up the hibachi, clean the fish and see what goodies young Will has
loaded you up with."

After parting hugs, Pete went straight to his pants, pulled out his cell
phone and called Brandon.  "Hey, kiddo, you got a moment to listen to the
grand finalι of the story?"

"A grand finalι?  Always, sir."

Pete described in detail the drama he had just lived through. "I told them
it was a bit over-the-top but it'll sure make you the star of the show at
the Grady House tonight when you tell them.

"You're right, sir, it's awesome.  The guys will lap it up, especially
Grady.  And from what Brian tells me the poor guy needs something like that
to take him out of himself.  Mario said he's been working so hard –
weekends, night shoots – that he's totally exhausted.  Nervous
exhaustion has wiped him out apparently, and Mario's worried.  Says this
week's hiatus came just in time."

"Sound like this story is just the thing to help the poor guy forget his
own movie for a while and lose himself in a whole different one."

"That's it exactly, sir.  You know how Grady loves gossip and this story is
a humdinger – drama, fights, lust, fantasy, a master/slave climax, the
works.  Mario says tonight's dinner is just a small family dinner to help
Grady ... no fuss, no muss.  I'm looking forward to it, and it'll be great
to spend the night with Brian.  Of course, I'll miss you, sir.  When will
you be home?"

"Tomorrow after work, Brandon, about five.  I'll be counting the minutes.
So enjoy your evening, and take care of Grady, he's a great guy and I know
the pressure he's under.  Oh, and knock `em dead with that story, kiddo."

"I'm planning on it – can't fail.  I love you, sir."

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

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 566


Hey guys, this is Rob Williams. I hope that chapter turned you on, and I
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