Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2021 01:28:07 +0000 (UTC)
From: rw6789@aol.com
Subject: "A Trial Of Strength" - Part 557  by Rob Williams

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 557 by Rob Williams

Chapter 557 – "TWO SHY BOYS MEET SEXY YOUNG AUSSIE NATE"

IN THIS CHAPTER

The shy new boys Vic & Noah are arguing and fighting with each other. They
go see the tribe's shrink, hunky Doc Steve who tries a novel therapy. He
takes them to the basement gym where the handsome young Aussie Nate and the
blond gymnast Tommy are working out. The action goes from mild to wild,
leaving the boys sexually drained – and totally enthralled with the
friendly, sexy Aussie.

____________________________________________________________________

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

A group of guys had gone out to the Palm Springs home of Uncle Mike and his
boy Larry. It was intended as a few days of rest and relaxation, especially
for Randy to let his broken arm heal.

However, the first day, far from restful, had been highly active as the men
indulged their sexual lusts in a variety of ways, from mild to wild.  It
ended with a big celebratory dinner, cooked and served by the young
redheaded chef Will, along with the kitchen assistance of the action movie
star Grady and his Italian lover, Mario.

When the dinner was over, Grady and Mario invited Will to spend the night
with them in their guestroom at Mike's house.  Inevitably, that too became
sexual, with a startling three-way where Will was butt-fucked by Grady
while Grady's ass was ploughed by Mario.  As Will said later, it felt like
getting fucked by both gorgeous men together.

When at last they climaxed with a simultaneous triple orgasm, amid jubilant
laughter, it took a while to disentangle their limbs.  But eventually the
men had Will sitting propped up against the pillows.  Grady said, "So how
did it feel, dude, getting fucked by a movie star?"

"It felt wonderful, sir.  Funny thing, though, by the end I forgot you were
a movie star.  I was getting fucked by my friend."

"Will," Grady laughed, "you could not have said a nicer thing.  I was just
one of the guys."

Then Grady's familiar roguish grin lit his face.  "And now, kiddo ... at
this point of the evening I would pump our boy Brian for gossip.  He knows
it all, knows where the bodies are buried.  But you get around to all the
other houses when you do catering jobs, you must see and hear it all."

"I do, sir.  But I have to treat it all in confidence, sir, it goes with
the job."

Mario hurried to reassure him.  "We understand, bambino, and we wouldn't
dream of asking you to betray a confidence.  But you are close friends with
Eddie and he's the one who feeds and nurtures the grapevine.  There must be
rumors."

Will brightened. "Oh, if it's rumors you want I've got some beauties."

Mario chuckled.  "Ah ... this calls for a late-night brandy."  He went to
the drinks cabinet in the room and came back with a bottle and three
glasses on a tray.  He got back on the bed beside Will and poured the
drinks.

With a conspiratorial smile, Grady said, "OK, kiddo, spill.  What's coming
up next?"

========= CHAPTER 557 =========

<><> GRADY LOVES GOSSIP <><>

In the outside world Grady was a major movie celebrity, and fans all over
the world would be thrilled to have taken Will's place, sitting up in bed
with their heartthrob.

But In the world of the tribe, Grady was just one of the guys.  Of
necessity, his secluded private life was limited and he was always hungry
for gossip about the goings-on of the men and boys in the various houses of
the tribe.  Which is why Will was now sitting between him and Grady's lover
Mario, being plied with late-night brandy and, at Grady's request,
`spilling the beans'.

"Well, sir, as you know, my friend Eddie keeps his ear to the ground."

"Meaning he's nosey," Grady grinned.

"He's, er, inquisitive, sir.  He has an enquiring mind."

"Like I said – nosey."

"Grady," Mario chided, "let Will continue.  You won't learn anything if you
keep interrupting."

"Sorry, dudes.  Lips are sealed."  Grady indicated his vow of silence in
the time-honored fashion of the tribe, drawing his fingertips along pursed
lips and twisting an imaginary key at the corner.  But his eyes sparkled
merrily.

"Anyway, sir, Eddie picked up certain vibrations – he's good at that
– and there were two places where he detected trouble brewing."

"And they are ...?"  Grady said impatiently, abandoning his short-lived vow
of silence.

"Well, sir, the business office for one."

"You mean Brandon and his team?"

"Yes, sir, specifically the youngest guys Vic and Noah.  You know when they
joined the tribe they insisted they were just good friends, no thought of
sex.  Well they soon came out of their shell as lovers and they now live in
the little apartment above the office.  Brandon and his assistant Ryan
would hear them upstairs banging each other's asses, but lately they've
been banging other things – doors, furniture, throwing shoes."

"Huh, the bloom is off the rose, eh?  That was quick.  Like they say about
fast cars – from zero to sixty in seconds, then right back to zero."

Mario said, "But when we last saw them they couldn't get enough of each
other, gazing into each other's eyes like ... how you say tortore
... turtledoves?"

"That's the word, sir, and they were.  But Brandon thinks they're going
through a phase.  You know how love affairs can be, sir."

"Not us," Grady said.  "Mario and me went from zero to sixty and stayed
there."

"Yeah, but you're old, sir ... sorry, I meant older.  With these two it's
young love, and you know how precarious that can be."

"Sounds to me," Mario said, "that they could use a shrink session with
Doctor Steve.  He's helped most of the guys with therapy at one time or
another, even Grady and me when ... how you say ... our speed dropped below
sixty?" he smiled.

"So what's the other place where trouble's brewing, kiddo?"

"Well, sir, this one's not too clear `cos Eddie don't have the contacts
that he has with the office boys.  But he had a conversation recently with
Adam's boy Nate – you know, the two Aussies.  "They've been living with
Doc Chad for quite a while, now – a love nest ever since Chad and Adam
fell in love. `Course, Nate is a senior boy and Adam loves him, treats him
more as a buddy than his boy.  But Eddie got the impression that Nate's not
too happy."

"I knew it," Grady jumped in. "Didn't I say, Mario?  Those
mιnage-ΰ-trois can be real tough.  I've never seen one that really
worked.  I mean, there's always two of the three that are more into each
other, leaving the third kinda hanging.  Maybe that's what Nate is doing
– hanging."

"Hm," Mario grunted, "So Nate is `hanging'.  Maybe nobody needs to see Doc
Steve.  They can all have shrink sessions with Doctor Grady and his
psychological skills.  `Hanging', eh?"

"You can make fun of me, amico, but I'll turn out to be right, you wait and
see.  So what's your take on it all, Will?"

"Sir, with so little information to go on I wouldn't make a prediction.
But my bet would be on Doc Steve.  He'll sort out their problems – he
always does."

Mario smiled, "As you said, Grady, we'll just have to wait and see.  In the
meantime, I've had my fill of brandy and I'm sleepy.  All I want now is to
cuddle up with my two favorite men."

"Sounds like a plan, dude.  Come on young Will, you're gonna be squashed
between us."

Will giggled.  "A dream come true, sir.  No place I'd rather be squashed."
He scooted down the bed between the men, closed his eyes and slept all
night with their arms wrapped round him.

<><> BRANDON TAKES THE BOYS IN HAND <><>

The next morning their hosts, Mike and Larry, insisted on making the
breakfasts and letting Will sleep late with Grady and Mario. Of course
Mario performed his morning ritual of fucking Grady.  The added touch this
time was that Will was sucking Grady's cock at the same time.

For the rest of the day laziness made up for the excess energy of the day
before, as all the men and boys hung out by the pool, or in the pool,
eating, drinking, snoozing, cuddling and generally getting the rest the
trip was intended to provide.

However, their mellow mood was certainly not duplicated back at home –
far from it.  And the storm center was, as Eddie had said, in the business
office at the compound.

Office manager Brandon and his assistant Ryan had been aware for some time
that all was not well with their young assistants Vic and Noah.  Until
recently they had worked happily in complete harmony with each other,
enjoying their jobs and their rather insular lives as lovers in the
apartment above the office that Randy had remodeled for them.

But things seemed to have gone sour and they were sniping at each other a
lot – when they were talking at all.  Brandon and Ryan often heard their
voices upstairs raised in anger.

Things came to a head one day, coincidentally about the time Will had been
gossiping with Grady in Palm Springs.  That morning the storm clouds had
gathered and the boys made no attempt at hiding their smoldering animosity
toward each other, so Brandon finally stepped in. He had hoped they could
work things out for themselves, as lovers do, but now he felt the time had
come to assert his authority.

He said gently, "Guys, you've always been so good at your jobs, but it's
been obvious for some time that you are having problems.  Your private life
should be no concern of mine, but when it affects your work, as it is now,
it's my job as manager to say something.  So I would suggest that you take
a break, go upstairs and try to sort things out between you.  Ryan and I
can handle things here for an hour or so.  When you come back, maybe you'll
be able to concentrate better on your work."

Muttering something like thanks, the two boys left the office, blushing and
avoiding eye contact.  Brandon knew better than to talk about staff behind
their back to other staff, so he just smiled at Ryan, shrugged, and they
got back to work.  Or they tried to.

At first they thought things were settling down as they heard only muted
voices from the upstairs apartment.  But after a while the noise grew,
voices became angry and suddenly there were cries of pain from what sounded
like Noah.

Brandon left the office and wheeled his wheelchair up the ramp that Randy
had built for him.  When he pushed open the apartment door he was shocked
at the scene before him.  Noah was lying on the bed his arms stretched up,
wrists tied to the bedpost with T-shirts. Vic was whipping his bare chest
with another T-shirt, which couldn't have hurt, but obviously scared Noah.

"I don't want it, Vic.  I'm not pretending ... you're scaring me.  I hate
it ... I hate you ..."

"That's enough!" Brandon ordered, in the most commanding voice he could
muster.  "Vic, untie Noah.  He obviously doesn't want this.  Now!"  Vic
still regarded Brandon as his boss and did as he ordered.  "Are you hurt,
Noah?" Brandon asked.

"No, sir, just scared."

Brandon made them sit on the bed facing him, and his voice grew calm,
almost soothing.  "Look guys, I don't begin to understand what's going on
here, but I am in charge of that office downstairs, and if we fall behind
there could be serious repercussions.  The company depends on us.

"So I want you to take deep breaths, go down and get to work with Ryan.
We'll sort all this out later.  But please, guys, you are such good
workers, respected by Randy and everyone, so please don't spoil it."

This appeal to them struck home and they said, "Yes, sir ... sorry, sir,"
and meekly left the room without looking at each other.  Brandon thought
quickly.  Normally, of course, he would have asked Bob for help, but Bob
and Randy were relaxing in the desert and he didn't want to disturb them.
So he called his man, Ranger Pete.

"Sorry to bother you at work, sir, but I have a problem."  He described the
whole scene and Pete was full of concern.

"Are you OK, Brandon?  Do you want me to come home?"'

"I'm fine, sir, please don't come home.  I'm pretty sure the boys will work
quietly from now on.  It's just, I'm not sure how to handle it from here."

"You can't, Brandon, nobody could.  It's impossible to tell what's going on
between those two boys, it all sounds so weird. They need professional
therapy, and there's only one man who can deal with this – Doc Steve.  I
want you to call him right now, explain the situation and ask if he'll see
these boys. Tell him it's urgent. Then call me back, OK?"

Pete's calm, confident voice reassured Brandon, who did as Pete suggested.
At Steve's house Tommy, the house manager, answered the phone and when
Brandon said it was urgent he put him through to Steve.  Brandon explained
the situation, how the problem had been building over time, culminating in
the bizarre scene he had just witnessed.

In a cool professional voice Steve said.  "I have a patient at eleven
today, but give the boys a long lunch break and have them come up here at
noon.  If you have any problems with them call me right away.  Otherwise,
I'll see Vic and Noah at noon.  You've handled this very skillfully,
Brandon, Pete should be proud of you.  Just keep the office going and leave
the rest to me."

Brandon thanked the doc and shut off the phone with a sigh of relief.  He
realized he had been trembling, but he took a deep breath and wheeled
himself downstairs to speak to the boys.

"Noah, Vic, I believe that a chat with our therapist, Doctor Steve, would
be very helpful to you both.  Lots of us have had sessions with him in the
past, including Pete and me, and he's always steered us in the right
direction.  The great thing is, everything you say to him is held in the
strictest confidence, that's the law.  And believe me," Brian grinned,
"nothing you say can shock him, after all the stuff he's heard over the
years from this tribe."

That touch of levity helped defuse the tension a bit as Brandon continued.
"I, er, took the liberty of calling the doc, which was in itself breaking
the rules `cos Steve always insists that guys make the initial contact to
him themselves.  It has to be voluntary, no one can force you to go.  But
he said he can see you at noon, so it's up to you."

Brandon sensed a certain relief in the boys as their shoulders relaxed.
They glanced at each other, Noah nodded and Vic said, "OK, sir, we'll go
see him. Will you give us the time off and ..."

"Of course. You should leave here at eleven-thirty, and take as much time
there as Steve thinks necessary.  I'll put the address in your GPS –
it's a big house in the hills on Mulholland, but don't let that intimidate
you, the doc's a real nice guy.  There's a big gate and intercom.  Tommy
will let you in and take you to Steve.  I think you'll enjoy it up there, a
real friendly house."

Vic muttered softly, "Thank you, sir.  We're sorry we ..."  " No need for
that, dude," Brian smiled.  "We've all gone through rough patches.  Now
let's see how much work we can get done before you leave."

<><> THERAPY FOR NATE <><>

Doctor Steve had told Brandon he had another patient at eleven o'clock.
Actually, that patient was another member of the tribe, the young Aussie
Nate, Adam's boy.  Nate had been seeing Steve regularly, owing to the big
change that had taken place in his life.  He had been living as Adam's boy
in their own house when Adam fell in love with Chad and they all set up
house together as a small family, with their dog Molly.

That brought a shift in the dynamic between the two Aussies, and Nate was
having a hard time adjusting to it.  He discussed it with Steve on this
visit.  "Don't get me wrong, doc," he said in his Australian drawl, "we're
a loving family, real good mates.  I still have sex with Adam and with Chad
or both together.  I mean, two gorgeous men, what's not to love eh?"

"And a cute dog and lovely house," Steve grinned.

"That too, sir.  Molly's a lover.  My little property management company is
doing OK, though it's not like my old buddy Jamie who has this
job-of-a-lifetime as the surfing coordinator on Grady's lifeguard picture.
I love it when he asks me go down to the beach to help him."

"Sound like a pretty good life to me," Steve said.

"I know right?" Most of the time anyway.  "Like, when I said I still have
sex with Adam, that hasn't happened for a couple of weeks, so my right hand
is getting quite the workout when I'm alone and I get real horny.  Thing
is, sir, this three-way relationship is kinda confusing."

"They often are, Nate.  Three is not a great number, creates all kinds of
potential problems, and inevitably one of the three often feels left out."

"That's just it, sir.  Take tonight for instance.  I can always tell when
Adam and Chad want a romantic dinner alone, just the two of them cooking in
the kitchen like an old married couple.  I'm OK with that but it leaves me
at a loose end – I guess I'll eat dinner with some of the other guys.  I
dunno, sir, it's hard to describe, I feel kind of adrift.  I'm a senior boy
– floating somewhere between a boy and a man – but I have no real
responsibilities."

"Ah, I wondered when that word would come up.  Nothing gives a man a sense
of purpose in life than looking beyond himself and taking responsibility
for others. I've seen married guys change completely when they father a
child and look down at the helpless newborn, dependent entirely on him.
Changes his whole perspective on life."

They talked some more on that subject and many others before their time was
up. "Look, Nate, would you like to stay to lunch with Tommy and me?  It'll
be just the three of us, Lloyd is working all day.  In fact, why don't you
join Tommy in our gym downstairs?  He'll soon be taking his pre-lunch break
and going through his daily gymnastic routine.  Keeps him in shape, he
says."

"And what a shape, eh doc?" Nate flashed his cheeky Aussie grin.  "You know
how I'd get off on that – maybe jerk off watching him or, better still,
help out as a workout partner."

"Good, I think you'll find him out by the pool.  I have another patient
now, but I'll join you later."

Nate shook Steve's hand.  "Thanks a bunch, doc.  Always great to talk to
you."

<><> THERAPY FOR VIC & NOAH <><>

As Vic drove his small car up the hill to Mulholland Drive, with Noah
beside him, their nervousness stifled their mutual animosity – for the
time being.  Brandon had told them not to be intimidated but it was hard
not to be, driving along the spine of the Hollywood Hills with lush houses
on each side, many hidden behind high hedges.

Their GPS told them they were getting close and then they saw the large
iron gates of Steve's house.  Vic saw the intercom and reached out for it,
but he was too far away so got out of the car and pressed the button.  The
friendly voice from the intercom reassured him.

"Hey, guys," Tommy said, "right on time.  Welcome, we've been expecting
you.  Come all the way down the drive to the house and I'll meet you at the
front door."

The gate swung open grandly and silently, Vic got back in the car and as
they started down the drive both boys were shivering.  They would have
comforted each other but their current resentments held them back.  At the
front door Tommy was waiting for them, with a bright smile on his handsome
face.  They had seen the handsome gymnast before but seeing him here,
dressed in his tight gray T-shirt and snug black pants, excited and
intimidated them.

They got out of the car and Tommy hugged them in turn.  "Great to see you,
kids.  The doctor's waiting for you, follow me."  As they followed him
through the opulent house they briefly caught sight of a figure by the pool
outside, but not long enough to identify Nate, even though they had met him
before.

Tommy showed them into Steve's office and the doctor looked up from his
desk and smiled.  "Vic and Noah, so good to see you." He got up from his
desk and shook their hands in a tight grip. "Come over here and make
yourselves comfortable on the couch.

Sitting on the couch they stared in awe at the man who looked as handsome
as his brother Randy, although a much more cultured and stylish version in
tan slacks, elegant brown belt and loafers, and a white dress shirt that
fit snugly over his muscular frame.

He sat in an armchair facing them and flashed the same gleaming smile as
Randy had.  "So, your first visit here, I think.  How are you feeling?"

"Nervous, sir," Noah said with a blush.

"That's only natural, Noah.  Most of my patients are nervous on their first
visit, but we'll soon chase that away.  Anyway, I don't think of you as
patients but friends as you are members of the tribe – and important
members, I hear, in the office.  Bob speaks very highly of you.

"First I have to give you my little speech that anything you say here stays
here.  It's strictly confidential, unless you yourselves choose to tell
others about it.  So I urge you speak freely, tell me just what's on your
mind – nothing will surprise me.  Any questions?'

"No thank you, sir," they said together.

"OK, so I've met you briefly at the compound but I'd like to get to know
you better.  First, let's get our terms right.  You are obviously a couple,
from way back, I hear, so would you call yourselves lovers?"

The answered simultaneously. "No, sir" (Vic); "yes, sir" (Noah).  They
blushed and shifted uncomfortably on the couch.

"OK," Steve smiled, "we'll untangle that one later. So, in your own time,
tell me how long you've been friends, and what's happened since Brandon
hired you in the office and you ended up living with the tribe."

The story was related hesitantly, each speaking in turn and occasionally
contradicting each other.  Steve learned a lot just by watching and
listening to them, even more than he learned from their actual story.

When they stopped he said, "So just to clarify, you've been pals for a long
time, no thought of sex until you got to know the men of the tribe and you
finally realized you were attracted to each other.  You finally made love
..." Steve smiled playfully ... "clumsily at first, I bet, I know how that
goes."

"Yes, sir." they said together, smiling for the first time.

"Good, we agree on one thing, then.  I remember my first time.  Made a
complete mess of it.

"So now we come to the problem – or what appears to be a problem now.
Try to explain this coldness, this distance between you."  There was a long
silence but Steve let it go on, knowing that an embarrassed silence often
becomes so uncomfortable that a patient eventually blurts out the truth.
It was one of Steve's old interview techniques.

Vic said sullenly, "Brandon likes Noah better than me – when he talks to
us he's always looking at Noah."

"That's not true," Noah said heatedly.  "He always treats you better than
me."

"Oh yeah?  What about that time he ..."  and the logjam was broken.  As
they argued back and forth Steve considered this a positive sign.  At least
they were finally talking to each other, even if it was in anger.  The doc
let them vent until finally they lapsed into a sullen silence.

"There's one thing I'd like you to explain, boys.  When Brandon called me
this morning it was because he had seen something that troubled him.  Can
you explain what happened?"

"I can, sir," said Vic, still fired up from their argument.  "See we
haven't had sex for a few weeks, and I thought it was because Noah had gone
off me and was thinking of leaving me.  So when Brandon sent us upstairs to
cool off I kinda lost it.  I pushed Noah on the bed and tied his wrists to
the bedposts.

"See, the other boys once told us the story of Randy and Bob, how when they
first met Randy was afraid Bob would leave him, so he used to tie him up
and beat him to force him to stay. Bit like a caveman, the boys said.  So I
tried the same thing – like, if I forced Noah to have sex he'd not leave
me.  I whipped him, but only with a rolled-up T-shirt `cos I didn't wanna
hurt him."

"But I didn't know that," Noah said. "I was scared so I yelled at him and
told him I hated him.  Then Brandon came in."

"And did you?  Hate Vic, I mean?"

"Of course not, sir, I love him.  I wasn't gonna leave him."

The conversation had obviously reached a turning point, which is what Steve
had been aiming for.  "Guys, when we started out here I asked if you
considered yourself to be lovers and I got different answers.  So let me
ask you again, do you love each other?"

After a pause they answered together.  "Yes, sir."

"Do you like your job and your apartment that Randy remodeled for you?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you think Brandon is a fair boss?

"Yes, sir."

"You say you haven't had sex in several weeks.  So are you horny right
now?"

"Yes, sir," they chorused again, surprised by the question.

The doc made notes on his clipboard.  "OK, I thank you both for being so
candid with me, I know that's not always easy.  I'm going to make a few
observations.

"First – most relationships between men have a competitive edge –
it's only natural between two males, and that can make you think that
someone, like your boss, favors one over the other.  But I can assure you
that Brandon is scrupulously fair and that's all in your imagination.

"Second, sex can become so repetitive over time that it gets to be
same-old-same-old and maybe leave the false impression that love is fading.
So you have to goose it up a bit.  For example, a bondage fantasy can be
sexually exciting and there's nothing wrong with it providing both guys
want it and it's not done in anger, as you did, Vic.

"Third," Steve chuckled, "never model your sexual relationship on what
Randy did to Bob.  Those two are in a class by themselves and they've
already traveled a long road together."

"And finally, the most immediate thing – you're horny.  You gotta get
your rocks off.  A good orgasm can work wonders, and I think we can take
care of that.  As a matter of fact you're not the first guys today who told
me they haven't had sex in a few weeks.  Someone else told me that very
recently.

"OK, that's a lot to take in, so let me help you through it."  Steve
chuckled, "I'm sure you've heard that my methods as a shrink are, well,
somewhat unusual.  So if you're agreeable I'd like you to stay for lunch.
Don't worry, I'll call Brandon and ask if he'll give you the extra time
off.

"And before lunch I'll take you downstairs to our gym where Tommy and Nate
are working out together.  I think you know Nate already, though probably
not very well.  So while I call Brandon, go out to the pool, and in the
locker there you'll find swim trunks.  Put them on and take a dip, then
I'll come out and join you.  Does that sound OK?"

"Yes thank you, sir," said Noah, "provided Brandon agrees."

They left the room, and Steve was pleased to see they were walking closer
together than when they came in.  He made a few more notes, then picked up
the phone and called Brandon.

"We're making quite good progress, Brandon, I'm glad you suggested the boys
come here.  We've gone through the theoretical part, so to speak, and
before we get to the practical stuff, I need your help.  I'd like the boys
to stay here for lunch, and for a while after, if you can give them the
time off."

"Of course, sir, take as long as you need.  Ryan and I can cover here for
the rest of the day."

"Thanks, Brandon."  Steve chuckled, "You know that my methods can be rather
unorthodox sometimes, and a little bit of luck helps too.  I always say
much of life is a question of timing, and I have a hunch that the timing
here is perfect – the fates are on our side.  It's just a hunch, but
over the years I've come to trust my hunches."

"It's what Pete calls serendipity, sir ...  he and I have that all the
time.  I hope your hunches are right this time. Vic and Noah are great
kids, solid workers, and I hate to see them unhappy."

"I'll do my best, Brandon.  Keep your fingers crossed."

<><> THE BOYS MEET THE AUSSIE & THE GYMNAST <><>

When Steve went out to the pool the boys were already in it, their clothes
folded neatly on a chaise.  They were swimming close to each other, but
without the playful splashing there would have been in happier times.  When
they saw Steve they smiled – a good sign.  Steve had a way of winning a
boy's confidence, gaining his trust to do as he suggested.

They got out and dried themselves off with big towels.  They were wearing
the swim trunks they had found in the locker, which hung rather baggily on
their slim frames.  Steve smiled, "Nice to get wet and cool off in the
middle of a hot day, eh boys?  OK, let me take you down to our gym.  No
need to get dressed, your swim trunks will do fine.  We're very informal in
this house."

The boys still didn't make much eye contact with each other, but they
walked close together as they followed Steve downstairs to the basement
gym.  There they gazed wide-eyed at the two young athletes working out
together – the `golden boy' blond gymnast who loved showing off his
perfect physique in his gymnastic routine, and the tanned Aussie, with a
broad, confident smile on his handsome face.

"Don't let us stop you guys," Steve smiled.  "Hope you don't mind an
audience."

"Me, mind an audience?" Tommy laughed.  "An audience is mother's milk to
me.  I love playing to the gallery.  Works wonders when you're in
competition."

"Shut up and vault, mate," Nate said in his cheerful Aussie drawl.  "Show
em what you got."

Both young men were shirtless and barefoot, Tommy in his usual blue spandex
shorts hugging his ass, and Nate in the red lifeguard-style boardshorts
Jamie had given him to wear when he assisted at the movie shoot.  The
younger boys were awestruck, and Steve watched their reactions closely.

Tommy was obviously the star, with his vaults, handsprings and
muscle-crunching work on the parallel bars.

But Nate was striking too, the bronzed Aussie with a ripped body, a tribute
to the hours he spent on a surfboard and at the gym.  Although he was
standing quietly watching Tommy, he was quite a presence.  It wasn't only
his fine, square-cut features, it was the smiling brown eyes, his cheerful,
open expression and the easy confidence of a virile Aussie.

Steve was surprised to see that both young boys were looking at Nate,
by-passing the glamor of the gymnast for the friendly, welcoming look of
the Aussie.

Tommy said, "OK Nate. Let's finish off with some weights."  Nate bounded
onto the mat and, as the young boys watched awestruck, they did dumbbell
curls together and tricep extensions.  They ended up with bench presses,
first Nate lying on the bench and pressing while Tommy stood behind,
spotting him.

When they switched and Nate stood spotting Tommy he looked down at Tommy at
first, then looked up and saw the boys watching them.  His face broke into
a good-natured smile.  "He's a beaut ain't he?  Hey, you wanna join us,
mates?"

They stumbled forward and Nate shook their hands, pumping them
enthusiastically.  "G'day mates. OK Tommy, let's lower the weights and see
what these blokes can do."

Normally the boys would have been intimidated into inaction by the thought
of working out with these buff jocks, but Nate's easy-going exuberance put
them at ease.  The bar was lightened and Vic went first, lying on the bench
and looking up at Nate towering over him.  He managed to do eight reps
before Nate took the weight and lowered the bar on its cradle.

"Good on ya mate.  Looks like you've already been working out."

"Yes sir – Randy trains us in the tribe's gym."

"It shows too, you're both looking pretty buff.  You're next up Noah."

For twenty minutes or so Nate and Tommy helped them through several
exercises before they took a break.  Nate wiped the sweat from his face and
beamed, "Bloody brilliant, mates.  If ever Randy's not available, no
worries, just call me up and I'll come and train you."

He exchanged glances with Tommy and turned back to the boys.  "Does working
out make you horny, kids?  Sure does me, `specially as I haven't fucked in
a couple weeks."

"Us neither, sir," Noah blurted out and instantly blushed red.

"Get out o' here, you're kidding right? I thought you two fucked all the
time."  He saw the embarrassed looked on their faces.  "Oops, looks like
another of those big hoof-in-mouth blunders I'm famous for.  Hey, Tommy,
looks like these blokes are horny as hell. You wanna help me give them a
hand with that?  And no, I don't mean a hand job," he laughed."

Tommy loved Nate's bawdy cheerfulness.  "Sure thing, dude ... lead the
way."

Nate looked over at Steve.  "That be OK, doc?"

"Sure, Nate, provided the boys want it."

"Do you want it mates?"  Nate's energy was contagious and they nodded
nervously.

"Brilliant.  What's your preference, top or bottom?"  They were struck
dumb.  "Me, I swing both ways.  I'm really a top but with my mate Adam I
let him fuck me – I mean, you just have to look and the man and you
know.  OK, let's play it by ear."  He laughed.  "God, there I go again with
the body parts. So forget the ear thing.  See this big, padded table here
that Tommy uses in his routine.  Both of you lie back on it side by side."

They glanced at Steve who smiled and gave them a thumbs up, so they
scrambled on the table and lay shoulder to shoulder.  Neither one could
quite believe what they were doing, but they felt inexplicitly eager to
please this friendly Aussie.

They gasped when Nate unlaced his boardshorts and let them drop, releasing
his cock that sprang out stiff as a pole.  Tommy, more showily, peeled down
his tight spandex shorts and stood naked next to Nate.  "OK," Nate said,
"you know Randy's rule – no boy can be forced to do anything he don't
want.  So if it hurts, you can just say no."

"It won't hurt, sir, we've been fucked by Randy," Noah said with a hint of
pride.

Nate chuckled.  "Ah, that's it then.  Randy's the gold standard, with that
giant dong of his.  We've all copped a feel of that.  Still, better to be
safe ... You got any lube down here, Tommy?

Tommy produced a jar while Nate leaned forward and pulled Vic's shorts
down, then Noah's.  "Very nice," he said, smiling down at their lithe,
naked young bodies with stiff dicks.  "OK, kids.  show me what you do for
Randy at the end of your workout."

They both hooked their hands behind their knees and pulled their legs back,
offering their asses to the two jocks.  "OK, Tommy, I'll take Noah first,
you take care of Vic, then we'll trade."

The boys realized just how horny they were as they stared up at the smiling
Aussie and the blond gymnast lubing their cocks.  Nate and Tommy leaned
forward, grabbed the boys' hips and pulled them forward on the table till
their asses were hanging over the edge.  There was no pain. Just deep sighs
of pleasure as their lubed cocks pushed gently against their butts and slid
slowly inside.

"How's that feel mates?" Nate grinned."  Their sparkling eyes answered for
them.  "Looks like a winner, Tommy.  OK let's let them have it."

Slowly they increased the force and tempo of the fuck, pushing back on
their bent knees to get maximum thrust.  Instinctively the boys grabbed
each other's hand between them, as the feel and look of the two macho jocks
overwhelmed them.  They felt the pent-up juice of two weeks filling their
cocks and they tried to hold back but they were too late.  Their cocks,
erect as tent poles, spurted jizz that gushed up like twin fountains, and
splashed down on their chests."

"Damn," Nate laughed, you kids really were busting your balls, eh?  That's
what two weeks of celibacy will do to horny young blokes like you."

Blushing with embarrassment, Vic stammered, "We're sorry, sir.  We didn't
mean to ... we wanted ... it's just that ..."

"Ah no worries kids.  It ain't over till it's over.  And this ain't over.
I'll see to that."

<><> SO BLOODY SEXY <><>

Nate and Tommy pulled gently out of the boy's butts.  Tommy, who could
sense a special connection between Nate and the boys, said, "I'm gonna step
back and leave it to you, buddy.  I wanna watch how you work this one out."
He leaned against the vaulting horse and stroked his still-hard cock as he
watched in amusement.

"OK mates," Nate said let's test the waters here, shall we?  See how far we
can take this thing.  Like I said, I ain't fucked in a couple weeks so I've
built up quite a head of steam.  I know how the lust drains after you've
just blown a wad, but stroking your cock will help. You two with me on
this?"

"Yes please, sir," they chorused.

"Right, Vic, I'll start with you, `cos Tommy got you the first time.  Here
it comes kiddo – push your legs up.  Still lying on the table Vic
straightened his legs in the air and Nate, standing behind him, held his
feet, eased his hips forward and slid his cock slowly inside him.

"OK so far, mate?"

"Yes, sir, I like it."

"Good on ya, kid, I knew you could take it."  With increasing speed Nate
massaged Vic's ass with his cock and smiled at the look of ecstasy on the
boy's face.  "Real good ... nice fit don't you think?"  He was pleased to
see Vic's cock getting stiffer as he stroked it.  Noah, lying next to him,
gazed up the handsome Aussie standing up straight, hands braced on the
soles of Vic's feet, his hips moving rhythmically back and forth.

Vic reached one arm up to touch Nate's tanned body, and ran his fingers
over his pecs and abs that flexed as he moved.  "Good move, kiddo," Nate
grinned.  "And your ass is next, Noah."

When Vic's cock was good and hard Nate pulled slowly out and saw the
disappointment on his face.  "No worries, mate.  I ain't finished with you
yet.  Gotta give your buddy another feel of my dick, make his cock as hard
as yours is.

Nate was ready, raising his legs straight up as Vic had done.  Nate took a
step sideways, pressed his hands on the souls of Noah's raised feet and
pushed his cock inside him. The same ecstatic look came to his face, and it
was Vic's turn to reach up and stroke the Aussie's chest.

And so it went, until Nate was fucking each in turn, driving one boy to the
edge of a second orgasm, then pulling out and piercing the other.  "See,
kids, the trick is always to leave a guy wanting more.  Remember that
... drive's a man crazy."

"Thank you, sir," they said in unison.

"Blimey, you kids are so great together – you're a perfect fit.  I can
see why you're lovers."  Vic squeezed Noah's hand between them, a move that
was not lost on Doc Steve, watching with a satisfied smile from a distance.
His hunch was paying off, it seemed.

When it was Vic's turn again he said, "Sir, I really want to cum again.
Can I sir, please?"

"I dunno, let's see if you can.  You know what would turn me on big time,
kids? ... to see you two kiss.  I know you want to.  Don't worry about your
cocks, I'll take care of them."

They turned and smiled at each other for the first time in weeks. They let
go of their cocks and stroked each other's neck.  "Oh yeah, so bloody
sexy," Nate smiled, pounding Vic's cock in his fist, and his ass with his
pile-driving cock.

"Brace yourself, Vic, you too Noah, `cos I'm so stoked I got enough jizz
for both of you.  Stand by for the big finish, mates."  His tanned face
broke into a gleaming smile and he shouted, "Here we go ... I'm gonna cum
... now!"  His muscles flexed as his cock erupted inside Vic, while he
jerked the boy off to a second climax.

Vic's cock was still spurting jizz as Nate pulled out and quickly plunged
into Noah, who gave a triumphant yell as he too orgasmed for the second
time while Nate pumped the rest of his juice deep in his ass.

Watching all this Tommy laughed and stoked his own cock faster.  "That was
awesome, dudes.  Here's a little something extra ..."  Semen streamed from
the young athlete and splashed down on the boys' faces and necks, making
them laugh with the joy of rediscovered love ... and, as it turned out,
much else as well.

<><> I FEEL LIKE A TOOHEYS <><>

After Nate pulled out and they all regained their breath, Steve came up and
said, "Excellent, guys, very sexy.  Only professional ethics stopped me
from creaming my own slacks."

"Sir," Tommy said, pulling on his shorts, "I better get back to the kitchen
and finish preparing lunch.  I did most of it before my gym break."

Vic glanced at Noah and said impulsively, "Can we help you, sir?  We cook
for ourselves all the time and we've got quite good at it."

"Sure, kids, I'd appreciate the help.  Only thing is, I'll take a leaf out
of Will's playbook and make you wear aprons – the color is navy blue in
this house.  Only difference here is you don't have to wear much underneath
– just shorts is fine."

"No worries, sir," Noah said, already copying one of Nate's Aussie
expressions.  They pulled on their shorts and followed Tommy, smiling at
Nate and Steve on the way out.

Nate looked quizzically at Steve.  "Hey, doc, why do I get the impression
that something happened here that was more than just a good fuck?  And why
do I have this feeling that in some way you were behind it?"

"Very astute of you, Nate.  I did have something in mind – kind of
playing a hunch.  Come up and have a beer with me by the pool and we'll
talk."

Nate sat back in a chair by the pool and turned his face to the sun as
Steve appeared brandishing two beer bottles.  "Look at this Nate, a sight
to warm your Aussie heart.  We've still got some Tooheys Australian beer."

Nate beamed, "Bloody brilliant, doc.  `How do you feel?  I feel like a
Tooheys' – that was a favorite catch phrase down under.  I used to jack
off watching a famous Tooheys commercial with a hunky, sexy cricketer,
Dennis Lillee, his white shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest – made
back in 1980.  That bloke and Tooheys went down a treat.  I still watch it
on YouTube."

Steve laughed.  "But I got the impression you wanted to talk to me about
something other than a sexy Aussie cricketer, Nate."

"Too right, doc.  Look, I'm assuming those boys were up here for a shrink
session, and I know all that's confidential.  But is there anything you can
tell me?.  Truth is, up to now I never really noticed the kids much in the
crowd down at the compound.  "Course I heard about them on the grapevine,
how when they came to the tribe they insisted they were `just good buddies'
until they got a glimpse of guys like Randy in action.

"Then they fooled around together and became lovers, until their falling
out in the last few weeks, so I hear.  But today ... man ... they really
came out of their shell.  It wasn't just that they're both so cute and hot
to trot.  There was something about them that really moved me – I dunno,
something vulnerable, a neediness.  I mean, who takes care of them, doc?"

"Well that's the point, Nate.  I'm not betraying any secrets here, they're
quite open about it.  They have no family, parents deceased, no siblings
– just each other.  For a long time they grubbed along in separate
single apartments in the same building and spent most of the time together,
cooking, hanging out, watching TV.

"Then everything changed when Brandon hired them in the office, and Randy
smartened up that little apartment for them over the office.  So they have
a good solid job and a neat place to live.

"But the closest they've got to a mentor is Brandon, their boss.  They
really like and respect him – well, you know Brandon – fair, kind, a
really good boss.  But his influence is mostly limited to the office.  The
other guys all like them too and they'll always have Randy to protect them
as he does all of the boys.  But they still spend most of their time
together, just the two of them.  I'd say what they need is a man of their
own in their lives.

"Earlier this morning, Nate, you mentioned the word adrift, applying it to
yourself.  Well, I could apply that to Noah and Vic too.  And here they
come now, resplendent in their blue aprons and bearing trays full of lunch.
Let's eat at the table under the awning over there.

<><> ROOM FOR ONE MORE?  <><>

During the meal the boys were the polar opposite of the two shy, nervous
kids, who had come into his office resenting each other.  Now they were
alive, as if they had woken up from a deep sleep.  Without realizing it
they focused almost entirely on Nate, pumping him with questions about
Australia, which to them might as well have been the dark side of the moon.

"Well," Nate laughed, "for one thing we don't all stand on our heads as
they old legend goes.  We're pretty much like you Yanks, give or take.
Depends where you live.  I lived in Sydney, which is known for its beaches,
where I learned to surf and became pretty good.

"I came to L.A. on my own on vacation and met Mark and Jamie on the beach.
Jamie and I hit it off and I moved here.  We surfed a whole lot together
and now I help Jamie in his work on Grady's movie.  Boy, do I have some
wild beach stories about that too."

Steve watched the two boys gazing at Nate, hanging on his every word,
spellbound.  And that's how it was for the whole meal until it came time
for everyone to get back to work.  There was an uneasy pause, though, as
the boys didn't want this warm new feeling to come to an end.  Nate glanced
at Steve who smile encouragingly.

"So, mates," Nate said casually, "you got plans for this evening?"

"Just the usual, sir – make dinner together and watch TV."

"Hmm.  Tell you the truth, I'm at a loose end tonight too.  "See, one of my
men, Adam, is gonna be making love to my other man Chad, and I'm giving
them their space so they can have one of their lovey-dovey evenings
together, in front of the fire with our dog Molly.  I was thinking of going
out to eat on my own, maybe a movie."  There was an expectant pause.

"I don't suppose you blokes might have room at your table for a hungry
Aussie.  Then we could kick back and watch Netflix or something.  Just a
thought."

The boys' eyes sparkled.  "Yes, sir, sure we could," Vic said, a little too
eagerly.  "We're pretty good cooks," Noah added, "like we told Tommy.  And
we got Netflix and Amazon too so we'll find a movie you like.  He checked
himself and frowned.  "Are you sure you want to come, sir?  You're not just
saying that `cos you feel sorry for us?"

"Mates," Nate said earnestly, "I would never do that.  Us Aussies are more
direct than that, we tell it like it is.  What we say is what you get.
What's more, we all have healthy appetites.  So yeah, if the invitation
still stands, I'm in."

Steve smiled, "And when you go, boys, I'll give you a sixpack of Toohey's
Australian beer.  I happen to know it's Nate's favorite.  And maybe he'll
find his favorite beer commercial on YouTube for you," he grinned wickedly
at Nate.

Steve was pleased to see that all the earlier animosity between the two
boys had completely evaporated.  They were looking outward at last, focused
on something much more exciting than themselves.  The doc smiled smugly to
himself.  His hunch had paid off.

<><> VIC & NOAH AWAIT THEIR GUEST <><>

And so it was that at seven o'clock that evening Vic and Noah were waiting
in their apartment in a state of nervous excitement.  After leaving Steve's
they had gone back to work and Brandon was thrilled to see the change in
them.  He let them go early so they could go to the grocery store and get
everything they needed – or rather that Nate might need.

Now the table was set with a clean white cloth, whatever silverware and
glasses they could rustle up, however mismatched, and even a couple of
partly used candles stuffed in old wine bottles.  In a vase in the center
was a bunch of flowers they had bought at the grocery store.

They had put the Tooheys in the fridge and hastily cleaned up the
apartment, which included stuffing clothes and a bundle of laundry in a
closet out of view.  And the smell of a casserole wafted from the kitchen.

Freshly showered, they were dressed in clean shorts and their best polo
shirts as they stood side by side, their hands touching.  They gulped when
the doorbell rang and Vic let Nate in, carrying two bottles of wine.

With his warm, cheerful smile Nate hugged them both, then glanced around
him.  He looked at the table – at the mismatched candles, the mismatched
glasses and cutlery, and the flowers standing bravely in the middle.

He looked up at their proud, shining faces waiting nervously for his
reaction, and his eyes filled with tears.  "I love you, guys.  I love you.
It's like coming home."

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

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 558


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