Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2021 06:00:33 +0000 (UTC)
From: rw6789@aol.com
Subject: "A Trial Of Strength" - Part 547  by Rob Williams

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 547 by Rob Williams

Chapter 547 – "DOCTOR STEVE GIVES IT & TAKES IT"

IN THIS CHAPTER

Handsome Doctor Steve has fallen out with his hunky lover Lloyd. They're
distant – cold, no talking, no sex. Steve takes care of the no-sex part
by making passionate love with the stunning Italian Mario in the long grass
of the secret garden. Then dominant Uncle Mike takes charge. "What the
fuck's wrong with you, man?" He overpowers the doctor and uses his boy
Larry to fuck some sense into him.
__________________________________________________________________


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

It was the second day of the tribe's weekend party at the Grady House.  The
previous night each of the various small families that made up the tribe
were assigned one of the many guestrooms in the sprawling house of
movie-star Grady and his Italian lover Mario.

In a playful mood, all the families had let their imaginations and libidos
run free, until exhausted men and boys had at last fallen asleep in
entwined limbs and tangled sheets.

Needless to say there were many late risers next morning.  A buffet
breakfast was spread out on tables on the lawn, and group after drowsy
group slowly appeared and headed straight for the coffee. Sunday was a lazy
day, as men worked off hangovers, gathered in small groups with their
breakfast, wandered the grounds or floated in the pool.

Mario, as ever, kept a keen host's eye on everything, watching for a guest
who might have unmet needs or just looked a little lonely.  He spotted such
as man, surprisingly his own Danny, the chef and manager of all the Grady
House operations.  On a break from the kitchen, the handsome young blond
was sitting alone under a tree nursing a cup of coffee.

To Mario's intuitive eye Danny had a doleful, faraway look that was out of
sync with the mellow mood of the morning.  So he went and sat with him.
"Ciao, amico," he smiled. "How does the saying go here?  Pennies for your
thoughts?"

Danny smiled, "A penny for your thoughts, Mario – just one."

"Cheap at the price," Mario laughed.  "I don't have a penny with me, but
maybe you'd like to share your thoughts for free."  Danny was reluctant,
saying at first that nothing was wrong, but with gentle, probing questions
Mario drew out the problems weighing on his mind.

"You know last night when all the guys split into family groups, you and
Grady too k Brian into the master-suite, while I, naturally, invited my
boyfriend Tommy to my room and he brought his bosses Doc Steve and Lloyd.
We had a great time together and Lloyd even said I was a great addition to
their family.

"But that's just it, Mario – it's the family thing.  See, I always
thought of myself as a member of the Grady House family, but last night I
was definitely right in the middle of the Doc Steve family.  Also, I really
love my work here as chef de cuisine, where I work so closely with the
other chefs, the twins and Will, that I sometimes I wonder if they're my
real family – a family of chefs.

"And it's not only which family I belong to.  Some time ago Seth asked me
to be his boy and we had a great time.  But he became a construction-site
manager and got busy. And I was busy up here that we saw less and less of
each other until, I dunno, suddenly I wasn't his boy anymore.

"I got close to Tommy and we became lovers and that's going great. But
again, he works hard at Steve's and I'm always here.  Other than Tommy, I
feel kind of adrift – not sure if I'm anyone's boy or which family I
belong to, if any."

That troubled Mario and a short time later he called a small family meeting
up in the master bedroom – himself, Grady, their boy Brian and Danny.
Mario and Grady eagerly reassured Danny that he really was a much-loved
member of the family.  It was Grady, and his appetite for sexual fantasy
that gave graphic emphasis to this in a playful scene where Grady played
the spoiled rich guy getting tamed and butt-fucked by the arrogant, tough
young gardener Danny.

Still in character, Danny's parting line was, "Any time you wanna replay,
rich boy, you just have to whistle.  And you know how to do that, sir.  You
just put your lips together and blow."

Grady laughed, "Danny, that was abso-fucking-lutely awesome.  Who knew?
Where did you learn all that?"

Danny smiled, "Tommy's a great guy for fantasy – I've played a bunch of
roles when I fool around with him and fuck him.  And as the gardener said,
any time you want a replay, dude ..."

Grady responded with a goofy smile.  "How about right now, dude?  Maybe you
and Tommy – two gardeners?  Nah we already did that one."

"Basta," Mario said sternly. "No more games, we have guests downstairs.
Danny, I must say you were a revelation. And you proved beyond a doubt that
you are definitely a member of this family – and I'm not talking about
cooking.

"So now we have to work on the rest of your problems about family.  Hmm,
let me see.  There has to be a way of bringing families together."  He
frowned in thought.

"I wonder if Steve and his lover Lloyd, and Tommy, would be able to stay
with us for another few days.  Two families together offer all kinds of
possibilities.  What do you think, amico?"

"OK, wait a minute here," Grady frowned in mock seriousness.  "Let me do
the math. There's the four of us – plus the hunky doctor – plus his
macho gym-jock lover – plus a gorgeous blond gymnast with the body of
death. That's four, plus one, plus one, plus one ... hmm ..."

Grady looked up at his little family with that famously sexy smile that
broke hearts all over the world.  "Yeah, I'd say it adds up perfectly.  I'm
in – let's go for it guys."

========= CHAPTER 547 =========

<><> MARIO WEAVES A WEB <><>

Grady loved to watch his lover Mario making plans for them. The
concentration on his square-cut Italian face made him sexier than ever.
Right now he was focused on finding a solution to Danny's confusion about
where he actually fitted in, which family.

Mario had reassured Danny that, of course, he belonged with them –
Mario, Grady and their boy Brian.  But Danny also had strong ties with his
lover Tommy, and Tommy's family Doctor Steve and Steve's lover Lloyd.

Mario saw a possible solution in asking those three to stay on here for a
few days after the party ended – sort of combined families. "But before
I approach them with the idea, I need to know how the land lies with them.
Danny, I know you have intimate talks with Tommy, though I'm not asking you
to divulge anything that's confidential, of course."

"Oh, no problem there, sir.  Tommy chats openly about how things are going
at their house in the hills.  And right now, not too well, it seems."

"Really?" Grady asked, his eager antennas pricking up at the possibility of
gossip. "I always thought the Doc and Lloyd were a model couple."

"Well they are most of the time but, you know, every couple hits a rough
patch now and then, and it seems this patch is a real slippery one.  Tommy
says they've become snippy with each – when they're even talking, which
is less and less these days.

"Yesterday when Lloyd and Jason put on that spectacular body-worship show,
the whole crowd loved it – all except for Steve who stayed kinda sullen
in the background.  Tommy thinks Lloyd did a lot of it to make Steve
jealous, though of course Lloyd totally loves beautiful men, especially a
hunk like Jason."

Brandon asked "But you spent the night with them and Tommy dude.  How did
that go?"

"I think they kinda buried the hatchet a bit – and not in each other's
backs.  That was for my benefit, I think, but Steve and Lloyd didn't have
sex.  Steve fucked me – he was great by the way, almost like his brother
Randy – and Lloyd fucked Tommy."

Grady said, "But Steve's a shrink, dude.  It's his job to patch up marital
problems."

"Yeah, in other guys.  But when it comes to looking inside himself – not
so much.  But he has made one suggestion – that he and Lloyd go away for
a couple of days to try and patch things up.  Tommy hopes this is just a
temporary thing – a rough patch, like I said.  Only thing is, Tommy said
the thought of those two sharing a hotel room, ordering room-service and
glaring at each other across the table, ain't exactly a recipe for
success."

"Basta!" Mario said forcefully. "That does it, I have heard enough.  They
will stay here, even if I have to chain them together.  No, don't go there
Grady – I know how your mind works.  I will persuade them to stay with
us.  They can have all the privacy they need, and forget hotel
room-service.  They will be pampered and looked after here, in a relaxed
and mellow atmosphere conducive to restoring harmony."

"As you said, Grady, those two men are a model for all of us, and Doctor
Steve has solved many problems for men and boys in the tribe.  Grady has
regular therapy sessions with him to vent about his tension with work and
fights with the studio.  He has saved our lives and now we must do
something for them."

Mario frowned suddenly.  "The only thing is, Steve is usually the voice of
sense and authority.  I wish we had a man with the same authority over
Steve. The only one who might is his brother Randy, but that wouldn't work.
Randy would yell at him and try to beat sense into him.  Steve is younger
than him by a year, after all.  No, I am at a loss."

"Sir, I might have an idea there," said Brian unexpectedly.

"I knew it," Grady grinned triumphantly.  "Trust you, kiddo, to keep your
ear to the ground and know everything that's going on.  So what have you
heard, dude?"

"Si, bambino, you can tell us in confidence. Heaven knows you share all the
gossip with Grady."

"Well, sirs..."  Brian lowered his voice conspiratorially.  "I kind of
overheard my Uncle Mike talking to his boy Larry.  It seems they work so
hard in Palm Springs, managing the bar, and Larry with his motorcycle
repair shop, that they don't spend enough time together.

"Not that they have problems like Doc Steve or anything, but Mike has put a
couple of assistant managers in charge of the bar and they've taken off for
a week, to spend some quality time together, kicking back, making love and
stuff.  They came here for the first weekend and after that they plan to go
off to some hotel for the rest of the week.  "Seems Uncle Mike wanted to
treat Larry to somewhere luxurious, like the Ritz Carlton that Darius took
Ryan to, where they fucked that Thai boy and all.  But Larry said it would
be too formal for him, wearing a tie and everything for dinner, and he
really wants somewhere he can be totally relaxed – run around naked if
he wants to, was how he put it."

Brian smiled cheekily. "So I was thinking, sir.  Why not here?  Just stay
put.  He could run around naked here – lots of other guys do – even
you, sir," glancing at Grady.

Grady threw his arms round Brian and pulled him into a hug. "You little
gem.  I knew all that gossip would come in useful one day. And, boy, you
got so much detail.  You're a great gossip- monger, kiddo, the best."

Mario said, "For once I have to agree with you, Grady.  Brian, it's a
perfect idea – bringing in a voice of authority for Steve and helping
all four guys into the bargain.  But none of you mention this downstairs,
leave it to me to have a quiet word with all concerned.  I'll try to
convince them."

"Dude," Grady laughed, "you could charm the birds out of the trees.  And
when you've worked your magic on those guys, maybe you can work a little
magic on me."

"Sei terribile, amore.  A few minutes ago you were the rich boy getting
ploughed by the gardener ... who will you be this time?"

Grady pretended to be offended.  "Who will I be?  Just one of the guys,
wanting to make love to the most beautiful Italian on the planet".  He
winked at Brian.  "No harm in asking."

<><> MARIO CHARMS DOCTOR STEVE <><>

The family of four reappeared at their party, watched by many lazy eyes of
the guys scattered round the garden.  Eddie ran up to Brian.  "What's up
dude?  Anything I should know about?"

"Just a little family meeting, Eddie.  I'll fill you in later."  Eddie
quickly lost interest and so did the rest of the guys as they turned their
attention back to each other.  So Mario could move without attracting too
much attention.  First he tackled Steve who was sipping wine under a shade
tree.

"Ciao, dottore.  I have not checked in with you yet, so many guests to take
care of.  Are you enjoying the party?" (Mario deliberately didn't say `you
and Lloyd'.  He didn't want to open that can of worms and let on that he
knew of their problems.)

Steve smiled, "Mario, you and Grady and your boys are the best party-givers
ever.  I don't know how you pull it off."

"Well, a lot has to do with the tireless help of your boy Tommy.  He's the
event manager here and a charming bartender – not to mention drop-dead
gorgeous.  But, er, it's partly about Tommy that I wanted a word with you."
Mario related to Steve the conversation he had had with Danny – his
feeling that, as he was Tommy's lover, he felt divided between two
families.

Steve nodded. "Yeah, I can understand his confusion, Mario.  Last night we
slept in Danny's room and had a great time, but in the morning he had to
run and check in with you, his real family."

"Essatamente, amico.  We had quite a time convincing Danny he was a loved
and valued member of our family, and Grady, typically, devised a sexual
`gardener-fucks-rich-boy' fantasy that helped a whole lot."

Steve chuckled, "I just love Grady.  Sounds like some stunt I would pull in
one of my wilder shrink sessions.

"As a matter of fact I thought of consulting you as a shrink, Steve,
because I came up with an idea.  See, I believe the problem comes with this
notion of many different small families within the larger family of the
tribe.  It could confuse a lot of men.  So in this case I wondered if it
would help to bringing our two families together for a few days.

"But that would only work if – and I know it's a big if – you, Lloyd
and Tommy would be free to spend a few more days up here after the party is
over."  Mario smiled the sunniest of Italian smiles.  "Now I am holding my
breath and crossing my fingers, Steve.  How does that strike your
therapist's imagination?"

Steve laughed. "Mario, you can uncross your fingers and breathe again, and
I will answer not as a shrink but as your friend.  You guys have created a
magical place here, and it would be perfect for us to relax in for a few
days and try to sort out our ..."

Steve hesitated.  "There, I almost let the cat out of the bag.  I might as
well tell you, Mario, that Lloyd and I have been having problems –
relationship problems.  I'm hoping it's just one of those rough patches all
couples go through now and again.  Many of my patients come to me for just
such couples therapy and I can usually help solve their issues.  But when
it's myself and the man I love, I'm totally unmoored.

"I have talked Lloyd into taking some days off and we had planned to go
away somewhere to try and sort out our feelings.  I was trying to think of
somewhere kind of romantic where we can rekindle the spark, and your offer
came out of the blue at exactly the right moment.

"I'll speak to Lloyd about it and I think he'll agree.  I could tell he was
reticent about being away somewhere new, just the two of us."  Steve
chuckled, "I think he was imagining that nightmare scenario of a couple
fighting with each other on a cruise ship where the only way to get away
from each other is overboard.

"So you accept, amico?"

"Pending Lloyd's agreement, Mario. With many grateful thanks.  I have
already cleared my schedule of patients and Lloyd's architectural expertise
is not needed on the construction sites for a while.  And with the house
empty Tommy would be at a loose end, so what better than he spends some
extended quality time with his boyfriend Danny.  Sounds like a win-win all
round."

Mario breathed a sigh of relief and flagged down Brian as he wheeled
himself by.  "Brian, if you have a moment, could you bring us a bottle of
that special Chardonnay that I know you and Danny have stashed away?"  The
one from that small winery in Napa."

"Of course, sir.  My pleasure."

He sped off and Steve smiled.  "He's adorable, Mario.  You really have such
a beautiful family.  I hope I can restore the same harmony in ours."  As
they sipped the wine Brian brought, Steve opened up a bit more.  "I don't
know whether you noticed the deep-freeze between Lloyd and me – hard to
miss, actually, as we're barely speaking.  Last night we covered it up for
Danny's sake, but we didn't make love.  Lloyd ended up with Tommy and me
with Danny."

Steve shrugged, with a weary smile.  "First sex I've had in a while –
our deep-freeze extends to physical contact. Sure there are plenty of guys
round here I could fuck with, but what I miss most is making love.  I guess
what I'm saying is I could use a big dose of romance right around now –
you know, all the trimmings."

Mario gave him a conspiratorial smile, as if he were weighing something in
his mind.  At last he said, "Dottore, I might have just the place you need.
Come with me and I'll show it to you.  Bring the bottle – I'll take the
glasses."

<><> THE SECRET GARDEN WEAVES ITS SPELL <><>

Steve had a fair idea where Mario was taking him – the same place he had
taken Bob and Randy the day before.  And like them, Steve felt privileged.
They went across the extensive grounds and on the far side came to a dense,
high hedge with a door set in it.

"You have guessed, of course," Mario smiled.  "What I call my giardino
segreto."

"Oh yeah," Steve grinned. "As I recall, we saw Randy and Bob emerge from
here yesterday with stars in their eyes as if they had been in dreamland."

"They had, Steve, or what I like to think of as my little paradise.  It's
where Grady and I come when we need to get away from the real world.  And
maybe, when the time is right, you should bring Lloyd here.  You will see
this enchanted place reflected in each other's eyes.  Here, I'll show you
what I mean."

Mario unlocked the door, they walked in and he closed the door behind them.
Steve stood still for a moment to get adjusted.  The sound was different
here – muted, somehow.  Voices from the outside did not penetrate and
the silence was broken only by the mellow sounds of running water and
rustling grass.

"Mario, it's like, like a ..."

"... a wilderness, I know, Steve.  And deliberately so.  As a landscaper I
believe that every manicured garden should have a corner left to Mother
Nature to weave her own magic – hence the overgrown bushes, the unruly
vines and the long grass.  Follow me."

Steve pushed his way through the undergrowth, through the long grass to a
space by a small stream. "This is the only man-made touch here – the
little waterfall and stream.  We'll drink our wine here."  They sat
together on the ground, Mario held out both glasses and Steve poured.
Mario raised his glass.  "To lovers."

"I'll drink to that."  As they drank they looked into each other's eyes and
Steve heard himself say.  "You are a stunningly beautiful man, Mario."
Then he checked himself. "Wow, sorry, don't know where that came from –
just slipped out."

"I'm glad it did, amico.  This little garden seduces men into saying things
they would normally hold back."

"I meant it, though, Mario.  It's not just bone-structure, it's, I dunno,
maybe that sunny Mediterranean thing you have, the sense of happiness you
project.  Because of Grady, I'm sure – having a stunning man like that
as a lover."

"Grady changed my life, certainly, Steve.  He's an extraordinary man and I
love making love to him.  Though he does have rather a voracious sexual
appetite."

Steve chuckled.  "Yeah, that's kind of notorious.  If only his adoring
public knew."  Mario's face clouded over. "I take great pains to ensure
they never will, Steve. Hence all the security around here and the absolute
confidentiality the whole tribe observes.  The men and boys are wonderful
about that and I am careful to vet any newcomers, like Vic and Noah."

"I know that, Mario, and I'm in awe of the way you take care of Grady.  He
wouldn't be half the man he is without you."

They fell into a companionable silence as they sipped their wine, lulled by
the sound of water rippling past them.  Eventually Steve said, "About that
voracious appetite.  That must get exhausting for you sometimes.

Mario laughed, "Fortunately there are men who have equally forceful
appetites, like your brother Randy, to relieve me of the duty.  Grady loves
it when Randy fucks him, which he does every time he comes up here to check
out our security."

Steve took another sip of wine, his brow furrowed in thought.  "But you are
the top man all the time with Grady.  Don't you, er, ever feel a need to
get that gorgeous ass of yours worked on?"  "You mean be a bottom for a
change?"

"Sorry, Mario, I'm getting much too personal.  Something about your secret
garden loosens my lips, I become indiscreet."

Mario smiled, "Then the garden is working its magic, Steve.  I love it when
people say exactly what's on their mind.  And in answer to your question,
of course I want to switch roles sometimes.  Randy offers all the time but
... well, everyone knows his sensational fucks, but I suppose I want
someone rather less savage than that, exciting as it can be.

"You see, Steve, I believe love-making and fucking are equal parts of the
same seamless whole, if you know what I mean.  I suppose what I'm saying is
I want someone just like Randy, but a bit gentler, more ... how can I say
... raffinato ... more refined."

Now it was Mario's turn to pull back and bite his lip. "Oh dear, I have
said too much and expressed myself poorly."  Slightly embarrassed he turned
over on his stomach and stared into the stream as he took another sip of
wine.  Steve looked down at Mario – at his muscular back visible under
the translucent white shirt, at his perfect ass pushing against the elegant
beige loungers he always wore.

Involuntarily Steve reached over and ran his hand lightly over the curves
of Mario's butt.  "Remember my words earlier, Mario, when I talked of my
estrangement from Lloyd? I said I could use a big dose of romance right
around now – all the trimmings.  Especially when the trimmings are as
delectable as the ones I'm looking at now," he chuckled.

Without turning round, still staring into the water, Mario said in a dreamy
voice.  "And do you remember my response to your words, Steve?  `Dottore,'
I said, `I have just the place you need.'  And I brought you here."

<><> LOVE IN THE LONG GRASS <><>

In the silence that followed Steve stared down at the curves of the
Italian's ass. He put down his wine, leaned over Mario, buried his face
between the ass cheeks and licked the soft linen. Mario moaned softly,
"That is what I need, amico, and what you need right now, I believe."

Steve pulled back, then rested the side of his face on the firm ass,
feeling it flex under his touch.  "This place must be enchanted, Mario."

Mario turned his head and smiled over his shoulder. "But its magic comes
alive only when love is in the air, amico."

"Then we'll have to do something about that," Steve said, smiling down at
the reflection of Mario's face in the water.  Steve curled his fingers over
the waistband of Mario's pants and eased them down gently to below his ass.
Again he buried his face between the now-bare cheeks and licked the soft
black hair around the hole.  Again Mario moaned, until finally Steve pulled
away and rolled him over on his back.

Steve got to his feet and Mario looked up at the doctor towering over him.
Without a word Steve slowly unbuttoned his shirt and let it fall in the
long grass.  Mario gazed up at his ripped torso and sighed, "Magnifico."
Steve kicked off his sneakers unbuttoned his shorts and let them drop.

Staring up at the naked doctor Mario smiled, "You are just like your
brother, Steve, and yet ... more ..."

"Raffinato?" Steve grinned.

Mario gave a silvery laugh.  "Precisamente.  Please, make love to me,
dottore."

Steve knelt beside him, unbuttoned Mario's shirt and pushed it off over his
shoulders. Then he pulled off his linen pants and slide sandals and they
smiled at each other – two handsome, naked men, one a rugged blue-eyed
doctor, the other a dark Italian with chiseled features and curly black
hair.

Mario reached up with welcoming outstretched arms and Steve gently lowered
his naked body on top of him.  He touched Steve's face and their lips
brushed against each other in a long, tender kiss, with searching tongues,
breathing the same air back and forth.

At last Steve pulled back and smiled at Mario. "I'll tell you a secret,
Mario.  When I heard that Randy had fucked you I was jealous. You are just
the kind of man who should be made love to, over and over again."

He wrapped his arms round Mario and they rolled over and over in the long
grass, laughing like children who had just found a new game to play.  They
finally stopped, panting excitedly, their eyes shining ... and Mario went
limp.  "Steve, I always play the dominant role in bed with Grady. But now I
want to just lie back and let you take charge."

"Like I said, Mario, you're the kind of man who should be made love to.
And that's just what's gonna happen.  So lie back, relax and enjoy."

And there, in the long grass, Doctor Steve made love to the beautiful
Italian.  True to his promise Mario lay limp on the grass, his naked body
an irresistible lure for Steve, who knelt beside him, smiling down at him,
wondering where to begin.

He leaned down and kissed Mario again, licked his sculpted features, his
throat, the smooth, tanned flesh of his chest and ripped abs, and then
buried his face in the dark tangle of his pubic hair.  He licked his balls,
his cock, then closed his mouth over the head and let the cock slide all
the way to the back of his throat.

Steve made endless love to the rigid shaft, while Mario moaned in ecstasy,
gazing down at the handsome face rising and falling on his cock. "I love
this, amico. Don't stop, don't ever stop."

But even in this enchanted world that was not possible and when Steve
tasted pre-cum in his throat he pulled away and smiled, "No, my friend, you
must not give into your lust just yet.  We both know what you crave most.
He licked the palm of his hand and wrapped it round his cock. When it was
good and wet he knelt between Marios legs and said softly, "You ready?"

"Amico, I have been ready from the moment we walked into this garden –
before that actually, which is why we are here.  Please, doctor.  Make love
to my ass.  I need it – moltissimo."

"Then you shall have it moltissimo, my friend."

There was no resistance as his cock entered the warm, velvet ass.  As Mario
looked up at the rugged, square-jawed features and muscled physique that so
resembled Randy's, he marveled that the brothers could be so different –
the tough gypsy, fierce and impulsive, and the thoughtful doctor whose love
and lust took a gentler path, the one he trod now as he smiled down at the
dark Italian and caressed his ass.

Now the men were fully steeped in the magic of this little wilderness as
they made love, and Mario could at last shed his top-man role and surrender
his ass completely to this powerful but tender man.

They both felt the dreamlike quality of the small, secret world as Steve
moved rhythmically inside Mario and they gazed lovingly into each other's
eyes.  One thing the brothers had in common was their pale, hypnotic blue
eyes, and Mario felt drawn into Steve's, into an even smaller world within
a world, and even more private.

Losing all track of time, their love-making seemed endless until at last
the sight and feel of the handsome Italian writhing beneath him made Steve
say, "Mario, I think I have to cum inside you, I can't hold back anymore."

"Yes, mi amico, I am the same.  All I have to do is touch myself and that
will be it.  So let me feel your juice inside me, Steve.  It's what I have
wanted for so long.  I love this so much ... so much joy.  His smile
broadened into a soft laugh that grew more jubilant as Steve joined in.
They saw themselves reflected in each other's laughing eyes, their naked
bodies trembled ... and they climaxed together in the long grass.

When at last their heavy breathing subsided and their heartbeats slowed,
they lay together by the stream and Mario said.  "Thank you, dottore, your
therapy was perfect, just what the patient needed.  And now we must join
the real world and attempt to join families, dispel confusion, patch up
quarrels and heal the wounds of lovers.  Perhaps that will take a man of
greater authority and wisdom than ours.  I have a feeling it will.

<><> MARIO'S PLOT THICKENS <><>

When they emerged, they were greeted affectionately by Grady, who threw his
arms round their shoulders.  "You guys have fun?  I can see you did –
the giardino segreto obviously weaved it's spell as usual.  Thanks, doc,
for giving pleasure to my man.  I know I can be very demanding."

Mario's keen eye scanned the garden and he noticed that Lloyd was keeping
his distance from Steve.  Mario took a deep breath.  Time for the second
part of his plan – and over there was the target.  He saw Uncle Mike
sitting with his boy Larry, and Mike's nephew Brian. "Signori," Mario
said. "You must excuse me but I have my duties as host to attend to."

He made his way across the grounds and beamed, "Ciao signori.  May I join
you for a moment?"

"Sure, Mario." Mike's weather-beaten face broke into a wide grin. "The boys
and I were just exchanging idol gossip.  You know that's one of the
pleasures of a big party like this - watching people, sizing them up and
guessing what's going on in their lives."

Mario laughed, "And there is no better source for that than our boy Brian,
who entertains Grady for hours swapping gossip. He knows where all the
bodies are buried, right bambino?"

"Er, I try to keep Grady up-to-date, yes, sir," Brian said diplomatically.
"And talking of which, I see him beckoning to me.  Gotta go sirs."

"What a charmer," Mike smiled.  "I don't know what creates the charm of the
Grady House, the place itself or the people living in it.  Probably both.
But man, it's a great place to unwind and leave all your troubles behind in
the world outside."

"Mike, I'm glad to hear you say that as it helps me segue into the reason I
came over to speak to you. I confess that I am doing a little plotting,
something I am as fond of as Grady is of gossip. I hear that when the party
here is over, you and Larry are going to take off on a little vacation to
relax, enjoy each other's company, and unwind from work for a while."

"You hear correctly, Mario.  But I can't tell you where we're off to `cos
we don't know yet.  I was gonna take Larry somewhere ritzy, but he's not
into all that coat and tie stuff."

"Nah," Larry grinned.  "My idea of a relaxing vacation is somewhere I can
take off all my clothes and run around naked."

"So I hear, amico," Mario smiled.  "Which brings me to a suggestion.  When
all the guests have left to go home, a sense of peace will settle over the
Grady House, it always does.  It becomes serene, even mellower than now
– a great place to take all your clothes off and run around naked if
that's your thing."

Mike laughed.  "Mario, you're not exactly subtle.  Are you suggesting that
Larry and I stay here for our little vacation?  Is that part of you
plotting?"

"Ah, Uncle Mike, I knew you would see right through my little design.  You
would be well taken care of here, and we will leave you alone whenever you
prefer to just be with each other."

"Thanks, Mario." Mike grinned. "But why do I have this feeling that there's
more to your plot?"  Mario laughed.  "Whoever said that age brings wisdom
was right.  Mike, you can read people like a book.  I see I must come
clean.  I do have an ulterior motive.  You see, I have just asked Doctor
Steve to stay on here a few days, too, with Lloyd and Tommy."

"Good Idea, Mario, provided those two can hold off killing each
other. Seems they're hardly speaking – there's a little cloud follows
them both around – the only sour note in the place.  I mostly blame
Steve.  He's the shrink, after all, he should be able to prevent a rift
like this."

Mike shrugged.  "I know his brother Randy real well, and the two may be
very different on the outside – the savage and the sophisticate – but
inside there's the same stubbornness.  In any altercation – fists with
Randy, words with Steve – there's the same reluctance to admit they
might be at fault or to share the blame."

"Oh, Uncle Mike," Mario smiled, "your insight justifies my plotting.  You
see, as a respected therapist, Steve is always the voice of authority and
he can be very forceful."  Mario gave a playful smile. "I myself just found
out how forceful he can be.  But right now, I think, the good doctor needs
to hear from someone with even more authority than he himself has.

"My first thought, of course, was his older brother Randy, but he would
most likely try to beat sense into him.  And then I had one of those
lightbulb moments and thought of you, Mike.  I know how dominant you can be
with Randy – you have put him in his place many times. Heavens, you even
call him `boy'.  That's just the voice of authority that his brother needs
to hear right now, to help him get a clearer look at himself.

"To have you and Larry stay on here a while would be a great pleasure for
Grady and me, but there is this other little matter that I believe you can
help with.  Please tell me if I am butting in where I have no right to.
It's just that it pains me to see Steve and Lloyd as enemies."

"It pisses me off too, Mario, and no, I don't think you're butting in.
That's what friends are for, to help each other when a couple of them are
acting like damn fools.  So what do you think, Larry?  Rather than driving
around looking for a place for us to curl up together, how d'you feel about
staying on right here, where we are?"

"Suits me just fine, sir.  I get antsy around strangers, so being in this
gorgeous place with you and these gorgeous guys sounds like a chunk a'
paradise."  A rascally grin lit his face.  "And it'll give me a chance to
run around naked and turn you on, too, you old letch.  So thank you, Mario.
We accept."

Mario gave a satisfied smile and Mike chuckled, "Mario, I believe you could
twist anyone round your little finger."

"I get plenty of practice with Grady, convincing him of the right thing to
do.  Which reminds me. I think I should go and tell him and Danny that
we'll have guests for a few more days.  That will please Grady, and Danny
will be thrilled to have Tommy to himself for more than just an occasional
night."  Mario kissed Mike and Larry on the cheek and took off across the
garden.

<><> THE VOICE OF AUTHORITY <><>

Mike smiled affectionately at Larry.  "You sure you're OK with this
arrangement, kiddo?"

"Couldn't be happier, sir.  I wasn't looking forward to packing up all our
gear and leaving this paradise."  He reached over, touched Mike's hand and
said hastily, "Not that our house in Palm Springs isn't paradise, sir."

Mike squeezed his hand and laughed.  "I know what you mean, Larry, and I
agree.  And I can't wait for that handsome-boy-running-naked thing.  Maybe
I'll spend the whole time guzzling beer and jerking off watching you."

"Not all the time, sir, `cos I wanna see how you deal with the Steve and
Lloyd situation. Look at them now, on opposite sides of the lawn – as
far from each other as they can get.  Lloyd is yucking it up with Jason
having the time of his life, and Steve's sitting all alone drinking wine
like he doesn't have a care in the world."

"Yeah, but what have I always told you about observation and not taking
things at face value?  OK, Lloyd first.  Watch closely and you'll see that
his laughter doesn't seem natural – it's forced, like he's putting on a
show.  No doubt for Steve's sake – to make him jealous.

"As for Steve and that not-a-care-in-the-world thing.  Sure he looks mellow
enough, but look closer at the way he's nervously twisting that wine glass.
And he's eyes are wandering everywhere – everywhere except at Lloyd,
only quick furtive glances at him.  No, Larry, there's obviously a lot of
tension there, and a lot of denial going on.  Steve should look that up in
his shrink manual instead of playing the wounded martyr."

"So what you gonna do about it, sir?" Larry asked eagerly.

Mike sighed deeply.  "My boy, our handsome host Mario has sent us on a
mission, so we might as well get started.  Grab a couple of wine glasses at
the bar and we'll join the `carefree' doctor.

They approached Steve, and Mike said, "Hi, doc.  Hot guy like you shouldn't
be sitting out the party all on his own over here.  Care for some company
to share your wine?"

Steve looked up with a flicker of hesitation.  "Um ... er, yeah, sure. Good
to see you, guys."

As they sat down Larry watched Mike carefully.  As a long-time bar owner
Mike was known in the desert for giving advice to troubled customers,
usually just before closing – and sometimes after. As Mike washed
glasses behind the bar, the half-drunk customer on a bar stool would pour
out his troubles.  Mike would listen and observe, and then give his
homespun advice.

Larry was familiar with his technique.  He would soften the guy up with
small talk and platitudes before suddenly hitting the guy between the eyes
with a raw question like a blow to the gut. Taken by surprise the guy would
blurt out his true feelings, and that, Mike told Larry, was the real truth
at last.  Larry watched the master at work now.

After a few minutes of small talk, Mike said, "Saw you and Mario earlier,
Steve, coming out of the Secret Garden, looking as if blue birds were
hovering round your head.  Not many guys are invited to that Holy of
Holies."

Steve smiled.  "It's called a secret garden, Mike, but when a guy emerges,
there's no secret about that afterglow.  I don't mind telling you that I
made love to Mario and it was ... the only word is magical.  He's always
the top man with Grady but he bottomed for me and, damn he's a beautiful
man."

"I envy you, Steve.  And you'd probably built up a head of steam by that
time.  I mean, you can't have been getting much loving lately, or sex."
Mike paused. "So what the fuck is going on with you and Lloyd anyway, doc?"
(The shot between the eyes.)

"What?  Me and Lloyd? Nothing, I ..." Steve choked, then it poured out.
"Dammit, man, ain't it obvious.  He's behaving like a total asshole. Look
at him carrying on with Jason over there.  He thinks I wasn't watching, but
I see how he's trying to make me jealous – after that body-worship show
they put on together yesterday.

"It's all been coming on for some time, like he's got some chip on his
shoulder.  I mean, what the fuck does he want?  We've got a great life,
great house, plenty of money, and he gets to fuck that gorgeous gymnast
Tommy whenever he wants.  What more can I do for him?"

Mike had heard enough.  He slammed his glass down on the table and said,
"Dammit, boy, what is it with you and your brother Randy.  You are both so
sure of yourselves, big handsome muscle-studs that everyone lusts for.
Don't either of you ever consider that you might be the one in the wrong?"

Look at the way Randy treated Bob in the early years, like he owned him,
like fucking King Kong.  You're not so savage as he is but in your own
polished way you think you've got all the answers."

A startled Steve said, "Mike, where's this coming from?  Let me remind you
that I know something about men.  I'm a successful psychologist and I hear
and treat all kinds of problems from my patients."

"Yeah, and I've been a bartender for thirty years, and I'd trade what I
hear across the bar any day for what you hear on your Beverly Hills couch.
Oh, I don't deny that you've done a great job with many of the guys in this
tribe, and your methods work, as unorthodox as they often are.

"But that same expertise don't seem to carry over into your own life with
Lloyd, does it, doc, even with all those diplomas and shrink mumbo-jumbo?
Have you ever thought the fault might lie with you too?  It takes two to
mess up a tango, doc."

"But I ... OK, Mike, since you and your bar-talk are so wise, what's your
take on our problem?"  "To start with, boy, it's what you just said."  Mike
threw his words back at him.  "You talked about your great life, great
house, pots of money, and how Lloyd `gets to fuck the hot gymnast Tommy
whenever he wants'.  You ask what more you can do for him.  Well I can
think of a few things.

"First treat him like an equal, not your boy.  Lloyd is a talented
architect – your brother Randy says the work he does for the
construction company is brilliant.  You think `psychologist' beats
`architect'?  I'd say it's a tossup.  How about, `he's your equal'?  In
that list of things you `provide' for him I didn't hear the word love.  You
seem to have delegated that to Tommy who probably makes love to Lloyd more
often than you do."

"Anything else?," Steve said sharply, surprised and confused at Mike's
heated words.

"Yes, as a matter of fact.  On the subject of your unorthodox treatment
methods, it's common knowledge in the tribe that you often involve Lloyd in
them.  Whenever you want to demonstrate some sexual solution to a patient's
problem you recruit Lloyd to fuck them, blow them, fuck Tommy in front of
them – whatever point you're trying get across."

"Now that's not fair, Mike.  Lloyd loves getting involved.  He loves
fucking and especially beautiful men.  He has never refused, although he's
free to."

"Is he, Steve?  Oh I know Lloyd is a sexual creature and loves the actual
act, but he might feel that refusing to do it would damage his pride.  I
dunno, have you ever asked him?"

"Well, no, I guess not."

"And have you ever thought what it really feels like to be used as a sexual
prop in the little plays you enact for your patients?  You can't know
unless you've actually been in that position.

"Look, for example.  Right now I seem to be playing the shrink role,
advising a patient – though I admit, a bit more crudely than you in
those dulcet tones you use in that plush office.  Here I am trying to make
a point, trying to imagine what Lloyd really feels, being used as a sexual
stuntman in your movie.  What if I called in my lover to demonstrate?"

"Well, what if?  Go head, Mike – demonstrate, turn the tables on me.
You're the doctor here, I'm the patient. ... show me what it feels like
being on the other end."

"Come with me," Mike ordered abruptly.

Steve was feeling strangely excited being dominated by this authoritative
handsome older man, just as his macho brother Randy had willingly
surrendered to Mike and called him `sir'.  So he followed Mike to a nearby
cluster of bushes where they could not be seen or heard by the other guys.
"So what next?" he asked Mike.

"This!"  Mike got behind Steve and, with surprising strength and speed, he
thrust his arms under Steve's armpits, raised his forearms and locked his
hands behind Steve's neck, trapping him in an unbreakable full-nelson
wrestling hold.  "A little move I've used many times, doc, when throwing
drunks out of my bar.  But I ain't throwing you out, doc.  Quite the
opposite."

Mike called Larry.  "Hey, boy.  Get your ass in here."

<><> THE SEXUAL STUNTMAN <><>

Larry ran into the clearing and his eyes sparkled as he saw Mike `taking
charge' of the hunky doctor.  "Get over here, boy and help with my therapy
session, help me demonstrate something to the good doctor here."

Applying the submission hold even tighter Mike forced Steve down and they
both sank to the ground on their knees, Mike kneeling behind the helpless
Steve.  Mike's voice was unusually harsh and Larry knew it was part of the
act.  "OK, boy, do what I tell you.  Pull out your dick and fuck the doc's
face.  I wanna teach him a lesson."

Steve was dazed but elated by being overwhelmed by this older man and his
boy, and he gazed at the bulge in the boys shorts right in front of his
face.  He watched Larry rip them open and pull out his long cock, which was
already hard at the homoerotic sight of the muscular doctor helpless on his
knees, facing his captor's boy who had been pressed into service.

Larry got right into the fantasy.  He didn't know how Lloyd felt when he
was similarly used as a sexual prop, and he didn't care.  All he knew was
that he felt terrific, forced to face-fuck the handsome doctor.  He taunted
the doc by holding his cock inches from his lips, the head oozing precum.
He grabbed Steve's hair and pulled his head back. "Open up, doc."

Steve's strong, square jaw sagged open and Larry drove his cock straight
down his throat.  When it touched his gag reflexes the doc choked and Larry
pulled back.  "Easy does it at first, boy," Mike ordered, and Larry pushed
in slowly, then withdrew and eased in again.

"That's it, boy.  Now fuck his face."  Larry's hips moved forward and back
and his long cock drove rhythmically into Steve, his arms locked upwards,
head held back so he was at the mercy of the boy's implacable rod driving
in and out.

"See how the boy does just what I say, doc?  I'm using him, same way you
used Lloyd.  OK, boy, pick up the tempo."

"Yes, sir."  Larry's cock became a piston, piledriving the captive's mouth
as Steve breathed frantically through his nose and tried desperately not to
gag when the head of the cock rammed against the back of his throat.  Steve
was now wearing jeans and a polo shirt that clung to his muscular torso,
flexing and straining in a futile attempt to break free.  Patches of sweat
formed on the tight shirt and the doc's jaw ached as the humiliating attack
continued, the rough boy's rod filling his mouth almost to the point of
suffocating him.

Mike, kneeling behind the helpless doctor, locked his arms tighter in the
full-nelson hold, but was careful not to take Steve beyond his limit.  At
last Mike winked up at Larry.  "You feel demeaned, boy, forced to face-fuck
the macho doc?"

"Not really, sir.  Fucking a top man's rugged face like that?  Of course
I'm gonna obey orders."

"Work with me here, kid," Mike grinned. "I'm trying to prove a point.  OK,
let's wrap this thing up.  I want you to bust a load down the doc's throat
– but only when you see the prisoner jerk off and cum."  He released one
of Steve's arms.  "The ball's in your court now doc."

With his free hand Steve unzipped his jeans and pulled out his cock, as
massive as Randy's.  It was already rock hard, already dripping pre-cum and
he pounded it in his fist.  Steve was so turned on by the homoerotic
fantasy – the macho doctor held prisoner, his captor's boy reaming his
face – that he desperately needed the release of orgasm.  And it wasn't
long in coming.

He moaned into the gag of the merciless cock, his groans growing ever more
desperate until he uttered a muffled scream, his body shuddered and semen
poured from his cock and splashed on the ground.

"That's the signal, boy.  Make him drink.  Make the handsome doctor swallow
your jizz, boy.  Do it now ...!"

"Aaagh ... Larry's shaggy hair flew back as his body shook and he blasted a
full load down the doctor's throat, so he had no choice but to gulp it down
– every last drop.

When Larry was drained dry he pulled out and Mike released the hold on
Steve and stood up.  He took Larry's place in front of the dazed man whose
mouth still sagged open, cum oozing from it and running down his chin.

"After all that, doc, I'm not sure what we proved, but it sure was fun
trying.  You look so fucking hot that I can't let you go without adding my
contribution."  Mike whipped out his cock, stroked it a few times until it
blasted streams of jizz that slammed into Steve's face and ran down his
forehead, cheeks and still-sagging mouth.

Steve looked up at Mike and managed a smile.  "To quite that corny line
from the movies, Mike ... Thanks – I needed that."

Amid the laughter Mike said, "That's only the beginning, doctor.  Now the
real therapy begins of bringing you and that hunky architect together again
where you belong.  I can see that the next few days are gonna be a bunch of
fun – Larry and me, you and Lloyd, Tommy and Danny, not to mention
heart-throb Grady, his hot Italian Mario and their faithful boy Brian."

"Anything can happen," Larry agreed.  "And I'm still gonna throw all my
clothes off and run around naked, sir – just for you."

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

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 548


Hey guys, this is Rob Williams. I hope that chapter got you off, and I
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