Date: Thu, 19 May 2022 05:55:53 +0000 (UTC)
From: rw6789@aol.com
Subject: "A Trial Of Strength - Part 593  by Rob Williams

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 593 by Rob Williams

CHAPTER 593 – "THE MARINE & THE RANGER GO DEEP"

IN THIS CHAPTER

Hassan and Pete are both men in uniform – with a difference. Hassan is a
tough swarthy Arab soldier, Pete a gentle soft-spoken Forest Ranger. But as
dominant alpha males, they share a natural bond of manhood. Over late-night
drinks their man-talk touches the topic of love among topmen. But they
ignore their own secret mutual attraction – until their manhood, and the
drinks, kick in.
______________________________________________________________________

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

The group's first day of vacation at the Grady House was a mix of kicking
back and kicking ass.

The owners of the opulent state, international action-movie star Grady and
his Italian lover Mario, had gone out of town on a publicity tour for the
lifeguard movie that Grady was currently shooting.  In their absence they
had encouraged their young house-managers, Danny and Brian, to invite their
friends up here for a week's vacation.

Brian had invited his boyfriend Brandon, and Brandon's man, the handsome
Forest Ranger Pete.  Danny had invited his lover, the young blond gymnast
Tommy, who was looking forward to the arrival of the rugged Arab Marine
Hassan.  Without his boy Eddie, the soldier was hot and horny, and Tommy's
flawless gymnast ass was like a homing device for Hassan's monster cock.

And that's where the kick-ass part came in.  The conceited young athlete
loved flaunting his ripped body in a gymnastics routine, arrogantly teasing
the rugged Marine who growled, "I ain't used to being jerked around by a
punk like you."  Tommy paid a heavy price in a long, punishing fuck that
left the young jock panting, thrilled and exhausted.

The onlookers – Brandon and Pete, Brian and Danny – had been vastly
entertained, but there was one difference.  Through the whole spectacle,
while the others had looked from Hassan to Tommy and back, Ranger Pete had
kept his eyes riveted on the Marine.

Pete and Brandon were neighbors of Hassan and Eddie.  Eddie was already an
old friend of Brandon's, and over time Pete and Hassan had become good
buddies.  They both worked in uniformed jobs, the difference being that
Hassan's military gear was meant for combat, while Pete wore the uniform of
a Forest Ranger, dedicated to nature and people enjoying nature.

The men themselves reflected that difference ... the Marine strict and
gruff at times, the Ranger kind and soft-spoken.  Despite that, they had
much in common, both of them strong silent types, unlike the more colorful
topmen like Randy and Zack. They chatted often – about sports, their
pride in their boys, and sharing stories of their daily lives.

They were both unmistakably macho, dominant guys, and theirs was a
friendship of good buddies.  When first they were neighbors they had fooled
around sexually, but that seemed like a lifetime ago, and since then they
talked sex only in relation to their boys. There had been no hint of sex
with each other – they were both definitely top men, devoted to their
boys.

But when Pete had watched Hassan in action just now – the dominant
Marine flexing that stunning body – the Ranger had been surprised to
feel his cock get hard in his shorts.  Maybe it was just the graphic
sexuality of the scene, he thought at first, as both Hassan and Tommy were
both stunning men. But afterward Pete realized that he had been staring all
the time at Hassan's rugged face and muscular naked body, awed by the
Marine's virile, sexual dominance.

That evening Pete realized that his boy Brandon wanted to spend the night
with his boyfriend Brian.  But Brandon hesitated.  "What about you, sir?
You'd be all on your own."

"Not necessarily.  See, Hassan will be all alone too, so us guys could veg
out together over a brandy or three and talk man-talk.  We don't often get
a chance to do that."

So later as Brandon and Brian headed for Brian's room Hassan said, "Hey
Pete, looks like you and me are on our lonesome tonight.  Feel like a
nightcap in my room?  Young Brian's stocked the bar there with a rather
fine brandy, I noticed.  You wanna keep a lonely soldier company?"

"Sure, why not?" Pete smiled, trying to ignore the jolt he felt in his
cock.  Earlier, as the night air had cooled, Pete had pulled on jeans and
his gray Ranger's T-shirt, while Hassan had put back on his fatigue pants
and his frayed sleeveless denim shirt.  Barefoot they made their way up to
the guestroom Brian had prepared for Hassan.

Hassan poured the brandy and they sprawled in armchairs facing each
other. "Mmm, this is the life, eh dude?" Hassan sighed after his first hit
of brandy.

"Yeah.  I love spending evenings with Brandon but I'm always careful not to
do anything that would set a bad example.  Now, though, I can do what I
like, even get a bit drunk."

"Here's to getting drunk," Hassan grinned, raising his glass.  "Quite a
day, uh?  What did you make of that little show Tommy and me put on?  You
didn't say much afterwards.  Did it ... upset you at all? That young
gymnast is easy on the eyes – were you lusting for him yourself?"

"No, buddy, it wasn't Tommy I was gazing at, it was you.  See, it's a long
time since I saw you in action like that and I don't mind telling you,
watching you and wondering how Tommy felt with you towering over him, it
got my dick hard, but I dismissed it as a heat-of-the-moment thing.

"Usually I associate sex with boys, like when I fuck my Brandon.  I dimly
recall the time you and I got together when we first became neighbors, but
that was years ago and since then I've devoted myself to Brandon and never
really thought of sex with a guy like myself."

Pete chuckled.  "I was broken in years ago when I first stumbled across
Randy and his guys up by the lake up in the forest.  Randy did his
`I'm-the-boss-here' thing and fucked me."

Yeah," Hassan grinned, "I recall the first time I clashed with Randy.
Obviously one of us was gonna fuck the other, question was who. To settle
it we arm-wrestled.  " And who won?" Pete grinned.

"Sorry to say, he did.  We were evenly matched but the man's a ball-buster.
I've been lusting for a rematch ever since."

"Really.  So that's how you settle that thing between two macho tops,
especially if they're a bit drunk ... and horny.  Interesting ..."

========= CHAPTER 593 =========

<><> MAN TALK <><>

Forest Ranger Pete and the Marine Hassan were what's generally known as
`good company' – two alpha males indulging in man-talk over a late-night
drink.

Their obvious differences – one a tough swarthy Arab soldier, the other
a gentle soft-spoken Ranger – became irrelevant, overshadowed by their
strong natural bond of shared manhood.  Now, in Hassan's guestroom in the
Grady House, they laughed about the way Hassan had given gymnast Tommy
exactly what he wanted, a prolonged ferocious butt-fuck whose climax came
with the athlete's abject surrender to the macho Marine.

Pete had surprised himself by his reaction to his buddy's homoerotic
performance – an awed admiration ... and a stiff dick.  But as the
brandy mellowed them out, they left that topic and talked enthusiastically
about their boys.

Earlier Hassan's boy Eddie had called him, as he proudly announced, "from
our private jet".

The boy had been referring to the studio's corporate jet carrying
movie-star Grady from city to city on a promotional tour for his lifeguard
movie.  Grady was accompanied by his lover Mario as his personal manager
... by his buddies Jamie and Nate who worked with him on the many beach
scenes ... and by Eddie as his personal photographer, charged with making a
behind-the-scenes record of the tour in candid photos and videos.

"I am so proud of my kid, Pete," Hassan said, refilling their brandy
glasses.  "I know people sometimes think of him as the class clown – not
to mention his skill at giving the best blowjobs in town, of which I
personally have daily proof. But behind all the laughter there's a really
hardworking kid.

Pete nodded.  "I see that all over town, buddy in those terrific billboards
of Grady, pictures that your Eddie took.  And now the stuff he's shooting
of Grady on this tour that the studio is so thrilled with.  He says they're
thinking of using his work as the basis for a documentary of Grady's tour.
He's so great at those private, candid shots."

"You know why he's so good, don't you, Pete?  For years he's been quietly
taking shots of the men of the tribe.  He's so good at staying in the
shadows, becoming invisible as he takes secret pictures of guys without
their knowledge.  He's honed that skill to perfection, like when he took
all those shots of cowboy Charlie at the rodeo that are being featured in
the cowboy calendar."

"Yeah," Pete said.  "I sometimes wish my Brandon had a talent like that."

"Oh, come off it, Pete, that kid of yours is hugely talented, Bob's always
saying so.  He runs the company's business office with almost military
precision.  And his staff love him.  His boss Bob says his gentle,
persuasive manner gets more work out of them than Bob thought possible,
especially when the pressure's on.  Being in a wheelchair don't slow him
down a bit."

Pete chuckled.  "You remember that time Randy charged into the office
ranting and raving about something that had gone wrong, and Brandon shouted
him down, protecting his staff.  Looking up from his wheelchair he spoke to
Randy man-to-man, said if he had problems with the boys he was to address
him as the office manager.  Brandon's one of the few guys who can get an
apology out of Randy."

"And it seems you two had something of a breakthrough up here yesterday,
eh, Pete?"

"Hassan, I'm real stoked about that.  Ever since I've known him I've
watched him struggle with things in that wheelchair, but he's so fiercely
independent he'd never ask for help.  But now he realizes how rewarding it
is allowing me to help him.  Before, I used to feel sorry for him – and
that's the thing he hates most – sympathy.  Now all that's gone and,
instead of feeling sorry for him, I help him – simple as that."

Tears brimmed in Pete's eyes as he said, "Dude, I am so fucking in love
with that kid.  He's the light of my life."

Hassan gazed in awe at Pete brushing tears away with the back of his hand.
"Ranger, you are one hell of a man, you know that?"

"Why?" Pete smiled through his tears.  "Because I tear up when I talk about
my boy? Some guys would see that as a sign of weakness – not the act of
`one hell of a man'."

"Well that's where they'd be wrong.  Their view of masculinity is the
comic-book kind – super-heroes, Rambo, the Terminator.  It's a strain of
macho that goes way back in American culture – tough-guy Westerns, John
Wayne War Movies, the fist-happy action heroes."

Pete laughed, "I know what you mean, dude, `cos we got plenty of macho
icons in the tribe – construction boss Randy, the cop Mark, leatherman
Zack, cowboy Charlie, even yourself, Hassan, the rugged Marine.  A Forest
Ranger, man of nature, don't quite fit the mold.

"Maybe not of the comic-book slugger," Hassan laughed.  "But that's all
superficial.  Real masculinity, manhood, goes way deeper than that.  Take
Randy.  On the surface he has classic machismo – tall, built like a
brick shithouse, that scary dark gypsy look he's got going.  And sure, he
lets the fists fly at the first sign of trouble."

Hassan took another hit of brandy.  "But Pete, that's not the real basis of
Randy's masculinity – and he is super-masculine.  No, it's his love of
the boys, the way he protects them like a tiger protecting his cubs.  I've
seen times when a boy is threatened and raging Randy swings into action.
Now that is a dark demon you don't wanna meet in a dark alley – or
anytime, anywhere.  Hell, those laser-blue eyes alone could make a man
shrivel and die."

"Yeah," Pete agreed.  "Hard to believe that's the same guy you see talking
lovingly to a kid like freckle-faced Will.  The way he ruffles his red hair
and gives him that warm wrap-around smile.  Now that brings tears to my
eyes."

"Exactly my point, Pete.  The guy's a fighter and a lover.  And talk about
sexy!  Let me ask you this, buddy. If you could choose sex with Randy the
fighter or the lover, which would it be?"

"Oh, no contest.  The lover, hands down.  There's something really sexy
about watching a dominant stud like him calm right down and make tender
love.  You know, before you and Tommy did your thing earlier today, I was
chatting with Tommy's love Danny and asked if he was OK with Tommy getting
butt-fucked by you."

"Hmm, what did he say?"

"He said, not at all, it didn't interfere with their relationship one bit.
He said that major studs like Randy and Seth are in lust, not in love like
he and Tommy are, so they were no threat at all.  When he and Tommy make
love it's not just a carnal butt-fuck, it's a mix of love, lust, laughter
and lying in each other's arms all night."

There was a momentary silence as Hassan's slanted dark eyes stared straight
at Pete, as if seeing deep inside him.

"Yeah," Hassan said at last, "Danny was right about Tommy and me, that was
raw lust.  But what if those major studs like Randy and Seth took it beyond
a lusty slam-bam-thank-you-man, and actually made love?  Best example of
top-men making love is Randy and Bob."

Pete grinned, "It was a rocky start though.  I'm sure you've heard the
story of how they got together years ago in that old motel.  Neither of
them had ever been attracted to men but their feelings for each other were
so intense that Randy panicked and used force to keep Bob with him. Falling
in love was a gradual process and it took weeks of avoiding the subject
before they expressed their real feelings and made love.  Macho studs can
be obstinate like that."

"Actually," Hassan said, "that's not really a good example of two major
studs getting it on, because I wouldn't put Bob in the same category of
tough aggressive men like Randy and Zack.  Bob's a topman, sure, but his
huge sex appeal comes from not flaunting his dominance like some of the
others.  He's soft-spoken, gentle, loving ... a bit like you in that
respect.

"But despite his calm demeanor, if anyone threatened his boys he'd take
action as forcefully as any man.  Again, just like you, Pete, with your boy
Brandon.  For those reasons I find him sexier than any of the others.  I
tell you, if I found myself alone with Bob in an intimate situation where
love was in the air, I'd jump at him like a shot."

The phrase "again, just like you, Pete" was unspoken, but hung heavily in
the air.

The silence that followed was longer this time as they took refuge in the
brandy.  They already had quite a buzz going, which mellowed them enough to
wade into intimate topics like love, lust and sex.  The old saying was
`real men don't talk about it, they just do it'.  But those were the `real
men' of the comic books, not real men like the Marine and the Ranger on a
brandy high.

<><> HASSAN'S DREAM <><>

There was a sense that the two men had crossed a bridge but were unsure
where to go on the other side.  They didn't speak for several minutes nor
make eye contact, but sipped their brandy as if deep in thought.

Finally Hassan cleared his throat and spoke hesitantly at first.  "Er,
Pete, there's something I want to tell you, something real personal.  If I
didn't have all this brandy buzzing my brain wild horses couldn't drag it
out of me."

"Now you've got me intrigued, soldier," Pete grinned.  "If you've got some
secret to unload there'll be no better time or place than this.  So go for
it, buddy ... I'm all ears."

"Well, actually I guess it's not really so dramatic `cos it's not real.
Though it felt real enough at the time. It was when my kid Eddie was away
in Phoenix taking pictures of Charlie at the rodeo.  Funny, you never fully
realize how much you miss a boy until there's an empty space in the bed
where he should be.

"I was horny as a toad, of course, without his mouth or his ass round by
cock.  I was gonna just rub one out but decided I'd save it for when he got
home.  So I fell asleep ... and I dreamed.  See, I told you it wasn't
real."

"But vivid dreams can seem real, Hassan, and some even become real.
Apparently this was one of those dreams."

"Oh yeah.  Most dreams you don't remember when you wake up, but this one
stuck in my mind, and the result was real enough.  In the dream I wasn't
sure where I was – at the compound or maybe the Grady House, but other
men were there too – but no boys.  It was like a raucous stag party –
raunchy guys like Randy, Zack, Miguel, Seth, and you too – all drinking
up a storm.

"Of course things got sexual and, I can't remember how it happened ... we
drew straws or something ... to see who the lucky guy was who got to fuck
all the others.  Well, it was my dream, so I won.  I must've had a whole
lot of stamina `cos I went through them all ... I mean this was a total
orgy.

"And last I came to you ... and this part I remember vividly.  You were
lying on your back and smiling up at me, that warm, gentle, sexy smile of
yours.  For some reason I hesitated, wasn't clear why, but then I felt my
dick sliding inside your ass.  And this time was different – different
from the quick jackhammering of the other guys with their raunchy laughter.
You didn't laugh ... but you give me a smile that melted my heart and drew
me in.

"After that it's a bit of a blur ... I remember kissing you, felt your
hands on my chest.  You sighed and said something that wasn't clear.  You
know there's no sense of time in dreams, but I had the impression it went
on for a long time – a lot of kissing, gazing into each other's eyes so
intently that the other guys kinda faded away.

"It was just you and me, making love, that's all I remember, making love,
until I think I heard you yell as you spurted cum over yourself, and I
looked into your eyes and I shouted out loud ... The room shook, my bedroom
shook as I woke up, and felt jizz all over my stomach and chest. I had had
a wet dream.  Like I'd fucked your ass ... no, made love to your ass, made
love to you ..."

Hassan realized he had got carried away, and stammered, "Well, it was a
dream, and you know how dreams are – some hang around, then fade into
the mist of memory."

So, Hassan implied, this too was just his tale of a dream that would fade
over time.  But what was definitely real, though spoken of by neither man,
were the erections in their pants.

<><> WHAT TOOK SO LONG?  <><>

Whenever Hassan felt he was wading out of his depth he reverted to military
precision, a soldier dealing with practical realities.  He got to his feet
and acted like straight guys who get drunk, fool around sexually with
another guy, then blame it on the booze.  "Damn that brandy has a kick.
That kid Brian sure knows how to stock a guestroom bar."

"Yeah," Pete said, his mind still reeling from Hassan's dream, wondering
why he had even decided to talk about something so personal.  It couldn't
be just the booze.  Ignoring his own erection Pete stood up and said, "I
guess I should shove off and hit the sack."  He stumbled a bit and laughed.
"Whoops, that's if I can make it to my room in my state.  Just a few doors
down the hall – if I can find the right door."

"Why not stay here?"  Hassan blurted it out impulsively, surprising even
himself.

In a daze, aware only of the jolt in his cock, Pete heard himself say just
as impulsively," Sure, why not?  Better than Brian finding me slumped in
the hall in the morning, passed out."

Feeling even further out of his depth Hassan took refuge in routine.  "I,
er, I'm just gonna brush my teeth, get rid of this brandy breath."  He
walked unsteadily to the bathroom leaving Pete confused, unsure what came
next.  Then he heard Hassan chuckle.  "Hey, dude, come take a look at
this."

Pete joined him eagerly and saw him pointing down at the sink.  "See that?
Half a dozen new toothbrushes in that glass.  That's young Brian again,
covering all bases.  He knows that in this house you're never sure how many
guys are gonna end up sleeping in a room, so he leaves enough toothbrushes
for all of them just in case."

The tension was released as Pete laughed and reached for a brush.  Hassan
reached down at the same time and their hands grazed against each other.
They hastily pulled back, and stared at each other in the mirror.  They
turned to face each other momentarily, their faces came closer ... then
they pulled back.  Routine again triumphed over embarrassment.

They passed the toothpaste and brushed their teeth.  When they spat in the
sink their foreheads brushed lightly against each other, and this time they
smiled, unembarrassed.  Normally when a man and his boy have brushed their
teeth, that's the moment for a first kiss.  But these were two regular
guys, just sharing a room, so they pulled away and went back to the
bedroom.

Pete did busywork, putting the brandy and glasses back in the liquor
cabinet while Hassan pulled the covers back on the bed.  Pete could find
nothing else to do so he came and stood beside Hassan looking down at the
bed.

Another uncomfortable moment followed, as they both felt their cocks swell.
Then, as they turned at last to look at each other Hassan said, "This is
fucking bullshit, dude.  Both of us want it so why the fuck are we
pussyfooting around?"

Hassan curled his hand round the back of Pete's head and pulled him into a
ravenous kiss.  Their lips churned together and the bulges in their pants
ground against each other.  All reticence evaporated, passion took over and
the floodgates opened.

As they kissed frantically, Pete pushed the soldier's denim shirt back off
his shoulders and let it fall to the ground, while Hassan reached round the
Ranger, grabbed his T-shirt and jerked it clumsily up his back. Their faces
parted as the T-shirt rose up over Pete's face and Hassan tossed it aside.
Panting hard the shirtless soldier and Ranger stared into each other's
eyes.

Hassan grinned, "What the fuck took us so long, dude?  I've had a raging
boner ever since we walked in here."  The men crashed together, arms
clamped round each other as they kissed again, then lost their balance and
fell heavily on the bed.  They rolled over and over, kissing biting,
groping in a frenzy of pent-up passion.  They grabbed at each other's
pants, ripped them open and pulled them off with their shorts.

Naked now, their long-suppressed craving found release in an eruption of
raw strength as they rolled over on the bed, on the floor – two powerful
alpha males in a muscular contest for dominance.  The balance of power kept
changing in the evenly matched men.  First the Ranger knelt astride the
Arab soldier, pounding his pecs with his fists, until Hassan reached up and
clawed at Pete's chest.

The battle continued until Hassan forced Pete onto his back and pinned his
arms to the floor.  His dark eyes stared down at the Ranger, both men
panting hard, trying to regain their breath.  Hassan's dark chiseled
features broke into a smile.  "You are one gorgeous son-of-a-bitch, Ranger,
but I don't wanna do battle, I wanna make love.  Don't know why it's taken
me so long."

"Think of it as foreplay, soldier."

"Yeah, but now for the real thing.  I told you before how equally-matched
alpha-males decide who's topman, who fucks who."  Hassan got up off the
floor and knelt beside the bed.  Pete did likewise and knelt on the other
side facing him.

With a roguish smile Hassan reached forward planted his elbow on the middle
of the bed, forearm straight up, in the ritual wrist-wrestling challenge.
Pete grinned and rose to the challenge.  He reached across the bed and took
up the same pose, their forearms pressed against each other, hands locked.
Their eyes locked too, arms tensed and took the strain – the contest was
on.

If you could call it that.  In fact, this `contest' lasted all of fifteen
seconds before Hassan slammed Pete's arm down on the bed.

"Dammit, you threw the match, Pete, you didn't even try.  Looks like you
wanted me to ..."

He trailed off seeing the broad smile on Pete's face.  "Soldier, what does
it take to get through that boneheaded Marine skull of yours?  What do you
think I've wanted ever since I watched you plough Tommy's perfect ass
today?  I saw the Arab stallion rear up over the pleading young gymnast and
longed to know how Tommy felt looking up at you, how your cock felt in his
ass."

Hassan huffed, "And why do you think I talked so much about two alpha studs
making love instead of just a slam-bam fuck?  Why do you think I said Bob
was like you – soft-spoken, gentle, loving – and if I found myself
alone with Bob, I'd jump on him like a shot?  Why d'you think I told you
that dream of fucking you?  Dude, what the hell does it take to get through
that boneheaded Ranger skull of yours?"

Their smiles turned to laughter and Pete said, "For two so-called dominant
alpha-males we've sure been tiptoeing around like a couple of nervous
first-time teenagers. Longest foreplay ever."

"Well foreplay's over, dude.  It took us a while, but it's time to cut to
the chase."

<><> THE INEVITABLE CLIMAX <><>

The mood changed.  Now that they had satisfied their pent-up physical lust
in an impulsive, frenzied release of passion, they were ready to slow down
and do what they had wanted all along.  They were ready to make love.

Lying together on the bed, having regained their breath, their hearts
pounded now not from physical exertion but from the simple pleasure of
lying naked next to each other.  They took their time, frantic action
replaced by mellow contemplation.

Pete's virile self-confidence and unruffled, smiling demeanor had a calming
effect on Hassan, the tough, naturally dominant military man.  Now he
didn't feel the slightest need to assert his dominance.  He was content to
enjoy the quiet presence of the handsome Ranger and the anticipation of
making love to him.

"How long since you felt cock in your ass, buddy?"

"Well, sometimes I lower my ass on Brandon's cock, he loves that.  But
fucked by a topman? So long ago I can't remember.  How long since you made
love to a topman?"

"You mean rugged musclehunks like Randy or Zack? Sure, I've fucked them in
the past, but not made love, not to a dominant man like you.  Until now.
After all," Hassan grinned, "you lost the arm-wrestle."

"Yeah I did, didn't I?  Guess I gotta pay the price."

Hassan got up slowly and stood astride Pete on the bed, towering over him.
Pete knew now how Tommy must have felt, staring up at the dusky Arab Marine
who showed off his body in bodybuilder poses.

Hassan didn't treat Pete to poses – flashy stuff like that was for the
boys.  But his muscles rippled naturally as he stood smiling down at him,
buck naked, his long cock swinging between his muscled thighs.  Casually
the soldier wrapped his hand round his cock and stroked it slowly, then
sank to his knees astride the Ranger.  He sat low on his stomach, trapping
his cock, pressing it flat under his ass.

Pete gazed up at him with his warm sexy smile and raised his arms.  Hassan
was used to men reaching up and grabbing the headboard, a prelude to
bondage.  But not Pete.  Instead he bent his elbows and linked his hands
calmly behind his head on the pillow, a better angle to watch the soldier's
moves.

For Hassan there was something infinitely sexy about a strong, supremely
confident man lying back and calmly inviting him to make love ... much more
erotic than watching a guy flexing his muscles, struggling in bondage.  The
enticement was different, the rhythm gentler.  Much more accustomed to
heavy action, Hassan was intimidated by the quiet authority of this man,
and he hesitated.

Pete smiled.  "What, losing your nerve, soldier?  Hey, I lost the fight
... it's your move."

"Yeah, you lost and I'm supposed to be the topman here, dude, but you're
making me nervous."

"Buddy, we're both topmen, that's the whole point.  I had to teach my boy
Brandon the joys of sharing and helping each other.  Do I have to teach you
how to fuck ass?"

"Fuck you, Ranger," Hassan grinned.  He leaned forward, braced his hands on
the bed and kissed Pete.  It was a loving, tender kiss but there was power
behind it, the power of manhood.

Maintaining his laidback demeanor, hands still linked behind his head, Pete
smiled, "There, does that feel better?  You want me to tell you what to do
next?"

"Fuck you, man," Hassan said again.  "I'm the Marine, I'm the one who gives
orders here."

"Oops, I forgot.  It's just that I wanted to feel your cock in my ass, but
maybe you go cold feet."

Hassan smiled, "God, I love you, man.  Dammit – soldiers, gypsies,
leathermen, all the fist-swinging fraternity – you're stronger than all
of them without landing a punch.  As for the cock-in-ass thing, your word
is my command, Ranger."

Still straddling Pete, Hassan reached over to the jar of lube that Brian
strategically left on the nightstand of every room.  He dipped his fingers
in and coated his cock.  "None of that pleasure/pain thing for us," he
smiled.  "Just pleasure."

He shuffled back on his knees until he was kneeling between Pete's legs.
He pushed them back, pressed the head of his cock against his ass ... and
it slid right in as if it had always belonged there.  Pete still didn't
move, didn't flinch or wince, but his smile broadened and he sighed deeply.
"Oh yeah ... yeah, now I know how Tommy felt."

"`Course," Hassan said, "I was a tad more savage with him, `cos that's what
he wanted, what I wanted too, teach the arrogant young jock a lesson.  But
if anyone's getting a lesson here, dude, it's me – a lesson in manhood.
You're fucking beautiful, man, so damn sexy with that strong silent thing
you got going."

"So fuck me, soldier.  Make love to my ass."

And that's just what the soldier did, easing his cock in and out of the
Ranger's willing ass, slowly, gently, deeply, for a long, long time.

The brandy buzz had worn off.  The long, wordy preamble was over, where
they had explored and justified their feelings and tiptoed across bridges,
careful not to expose their deeper emotions and muted passion.  Then the
romping letting-off steam until they came to the point of absolute clarity
... simply making love, as they did now.

"It was worth the wait, dude," Hassan smiled.  "You look incredible lying
under me with my cock in your ass.  That face, that hunky, hairy chest
... those eyes."

They made love in silence, except for the sound of their heavy breathing.
They stared deeply into each other's eyes, floating into that state of
bliss where they felt alone in the whole world, making love.

"I gotta touch you, dude," Pete said at last.  He unlinked his hands,
reached up and stroked Hassan's face and body.  "So beautiful, those dark
Arab features, almond-shaped eyes with their mix of danger and mystery.
Man, I love that cock inside me."  He ran a finger over Hassan's face, neck
and dark olive flesh, then clamped his hand over the slabs of his pecs that
rose and fell over him.

He sighed and resumed his former casual position, hands behind his head,
gazing up at the homoerotic image of the naked soldier smiling down at him,
cock moving rhythmically inside him.

"Yeah that's the look," Hassan said.  "If Eddie were here I'd have him take
a picture of you just like that.  And when I'm all riled up I'd pull out
the picture of you lying calm and casual like that, and it would soothe my
raging mind.  I'd jack off making love to it."

"You don't need a picture when you've got the real live man – whenever
you want him.  Talking of jacking off to a real-life man, buddy, how about
this live man?  You're already inside him.  Can you jack him off while you
cum inside him?"

"Like I said earlier, your word is my command, Ranger – I could have
shot a hot load a hundred times just looking at you.  So here we go, dude,
the Marine and the Ranger, topmen out of uniform making love."

Hassan wrapped his hand round Pete's cock and stroked it as he pushed
deeper into his ass.  And being equally matched topmen, of course they
climaxed simultaneously..  There were no screaming eruptions, no howls of
pain ... just two men smiling at each other, sighing deeply as the soldier
poured sperm into the Ranger who sprayed semen over his own abs and hairy
chest.

They stared at each other silently, letting their heartbeats slow.  Then
Hassan pulled out of Pete's ass, grabbed a towel by the bed and wiped his
own cock and Pete's body.

Hassan lay on his side beside Pete and grinned.  "Well, I'm glad we got
that settled.  It took a while, all that convoluted chat.  Like you said,
longest foreplay ever.  Hey, buddy, you're sober now, so you could probably
find your room.  But you're gonna stay the night here aren't you?

"You need to ask?"  Of course I am.  Maybe not wrapped in your arms like I
do with my boy Brandon.  I mean topmen don't do that, do they?

"Dude, topmen can do whatever the fuck they want.  And we just proved it.
Come here."

They hugged ... and fell asleep.

<><> EDDIE HAS A STORY TO TELL <><>

A knock on the door and, "Breakfast, sirs."

The two men looked up groggily as the door opened and two wheelchairs came
in, each tray table loaded with a breakfast tray.  Brian said jauntily,
"Good morning, sirs.  Sleep well?"

He rolled up to Hassan's side of the bed while Brandon wheeled round to
Pete's side.  The men sat up, propped on pillows and the boys slid the
trays onto their laps.  "Wow," Pete said, rubbing his eyes, "breakfast in
bed.  This place has better service than a luxury hotel."

Brandon smiled, "Oh we provide services no hotel would ever offer."

"The mind boggles," Hassan laughed.

Brian said, "Sirs, this is just a Continental breakfast.  Full cooked
breakfast is available down by the pool.  Take your time, sirs, no hurry."

The boys left the room without even a hint of a nudge and a wink.  "How
about that?" Hassan said.  "No reaction, like it's the most normal thing in
the world to find two grown men like us in bed together."

"It's the younger generation, dude.  Much broader minded than older guys
like us with our hang-ups that took up so much of that endless chat last
night."  Pete chuckled, "And after all, this is the Grady House.  Remember
that half-dozen toothbrushes in the bathroom?"

"Yeah, well at least we won't be using all six of those.  Then you're
talking orgy time."

Taking a leaf out of the boys' playbook the men didn't re-hash last night's
discussion or activities.  They took a shower together like it was the most
normal thing in the world.

When they joined Danny, Tommy and the boys downstairs nothing was said of
who slept with whom last night, or who fucked whom, though they could all
have made a pretty good guess.

Already their vacation days were settling into something of a routine –
notable not for their activities but for the lack thereof.  They lazed
about, in and out of the pool, reading, chatting, snacking, or silently
enjoying each other's company.

Hassan was the only one of them to show any signs of uneasiness.  He
watched Pete and Brandon lying together on the grass, talking quietly,
laughing softly, a man and boy totally in love.  And he felt a sudden,
acute longing for his own boy, Eddie.

As he had said last night to Pete, `it's when a boy is away that you
realize just how much you miss him'.  His love for Eddie had grown with the
passage of time and now he would have given anything to hold him in his
arms, as Pete was holding Brandon.  He missed his smiling face, his cheeky
sense of humor and silly jokes.

It was early afternoon and he wondered what Eddie was doing right now,
which city he and the group were, what the time difference was between here
and there.  The last thing he wanted was to interrupt Eddie at work like an
anxious parent, but he thought he would have a stab at calling him.  He
could always let it go to voicemail if he was busy.

As it happened as soon as the phone started ringing Eddie picked up and
that familiar cheerful voice said, "Sir, how great to hear from you."

"I'm not interrupting anything am I kiddo?  Is this a good time?  I can
call back."

"No, it's perfect timing, sir.  Matter of fact I was just gonna call you.
I miss you so much, sir."

"I miss you too, Eddie, like crazy.  I guess I just wanted to hear your
voice and to find out how you're doing – wherever you are."

"Chicago, sir, and this is a big one.  We already had a morning press
thing, and we've got another big one this evening, with a big dinner, ugh.
We all hate those dinners, people think it's fun but they don't realized
how tiring it is at the end of the day, being `on' all the time, and dying
to veg out in the hotel."

"But I'm sure you've got a ton of stories, eh, kid?"

"Oh, do I have stories.  One in particular that just happened.  That's why
I was gonna call you.  Hey, are the other guys there, sir?  I'd like them
to hear the story as well if you don't mind.  Could you put them on
speaker?"

"Sure.  Hey guys," he called out.  "Eddie's on the phone, got a juicy story
to tell.  You wanna come and listen?"

They jumped at the chance.  Nothing like Eddie to liven up a sleepy
afternoon.  They came over to Hassan and chorused, "Hi, Eddie."

"Hello, guys, good to hear your voices.  Miss you all.  Like I told Hassan,
now's a good time to talk `cos we just got back from an event and I'm alone
in the hotel suite in Chicago.  Grady and Mario are in their room, in bed
as usual, and Jamie and Nate are down in the gift shop buying stuff for
their men.

"I was telling Hassan, we had a press conference this morning and there's
another this evening, but as this is Chicago they squeezed in something
else this afternoon, the one we just got back from.  I gotta say, it was a
whole lot of fun.  Here's the story, and dudes, you will not believe ..."

<><> TAKING THE SHOW ON THE ROAD <><>

"OK, so the publicity guys had set up an appearance by Grady on one of
those chat shows – you know, the one hosted by Sally and Joe.

"I love that show," Brian said.  "I watch it often – three-pm on Channel
Four."

"That's the one," Eddie said.  "Goes out live in Chicago with a live
audience, then it's networked all over the country.

"Well, Grady was not looking forward to it – he doesn't like shows where
every eye in the place is on him and he has to be charming and witty all
the time.  He resisted this one more than most because they wanted him to
appear like he does in the movie – shirtless in his red lifeguard shorts
and sneakers. He called it a corny sexy gimmick.

He asked us guys to accompany him to the studio as moral support, to calm
him down in the limo.  Mario came of course, but he spent his time in the
control booth with the director watching for things that had to be bleeped
out.  It's broadcast on one of those five-second delays.  That's a
technical term we use in the business."

Pete smiled at Hassan whose eyes sparkled, listening to his excited boy
showing off his technical knowledge and sounding like a pro.

"So, picture it – me, Jamie and Nate standing just behind the scenes
with Grady, who looked tense and uncomfortable in `these stupid shorts'.  I
was filming him, of course, like I always do, but that never worried him,
seemed to calm him down as he mugged for my camera.

"Anyway, when they announced him, the tension left, he raised his head,
smiled and strode out to the set to huge cheers and gasps.  We could see
women in the audience fanning themselves like they were about to faint with
lust for the gorgeous lifeguard.

"You know they have that applause sign flashing on and off for the audience
to make them cheer, but they didn't need it this time.  In fact, when they
switched it off the audience wouldn't stop cheering until Grady laughed and
signaled for them to sit down.

"The interview went well, with Sally and Joe lobbing the usual questions he
gets everywhere.  He charmed them, of course, like he always does but,
after a while, those of us who know him so well could tell he was feeling
the strain.

"OK, guys routine stuff so far, but listen up, here's the kicker.  What
Grady didn't know was that Jamie and Nate had changed into their lifeguard
shorts, just like him.  And suddenly Sally was asking about the surfing
scenes and Grady was saying how much he depended on the two surfers who
controlled those scenes.  `We work so well together,' he said.  `Matter of
fact they've become real good buddies of mine'.

"Sally laughed, `It's just as well you guys get on so well because we have
a surprise for you Grady – they're right here in the studio.  Jamie and
Nate, come on out'."

"I gave the guys a thumbs up and they walked out onto the set.  They didn't
quite have that star swagger that Grady has but they got just the same
standing ovation – two hot surfers in red boardshorts, no shirts, just
like Grady.

"Grady had known we were all behind the scenes, of course, but it was a
total surprise for him that they would appear on the show.  He laughed with
relief and pulled each one into a quick man-hug.  They all sat down on the
couch, but the cheering wouldn't stop until Joe pleaded with them.

"The hosts asked Jamie and Nate standard questions about what it was like
working with a great big star.  Jamie said Grady was a dream to work with,
they didn't even think of him as a star he was just one of the guys.  Then
Nate charmed them with his Aussie drawl.  `Too right mate, we have a blast,
it's bloody brilliant.  You wouldn't believe the stuff we get up to'."

Pete said, "Oh-oh, dangerous territory there."

"I know, right?" Eddie laughed.  "Mario told us later that the director had
his finger poised over the bleep button, but the guys kept it clean, kind
of.  Grady was saying, `Actually you might see some of that soon `cos
they're gonna make a behind-the-scenes documentary of the filming and even
this publicity tour.  Another buddy of ours travels with us and takes those
shots.  Matter of fact Eddie was behind that curtain there just now filming
me as I got ready to come out here'.

"Joe laughed.  `Wow, I bet he's got stories to tell.  As they say in the
gossip business, he's got the negatives on Grady ... in this case
literally'.

"Nate said, `Too right, mate.  Our Eddie's a great storyteller'."

Eddie paused his story dramatically. "OK, guys, this is the bit you won't
believe.  I got the shock of my life when Sally said, `We never say no to a
great storyteller on this show, eh Joe?  So let's bring him out.  Eddie,
get your butt out here'.

"Guys, my knees buckled.  I didn't think I'd heard right until one of the
assistants nudged me and said, 'She means you, Eddie.  Go on, she wants you
on set'.

"I remembered how Grady takes a deep breath and braces himself before an
appearance, so I stood up straight and marched right out there, still
carrying my camera.  My nerves disappeared when the guys stood up from the
couch and applauded me – and so did the audience ... me, your old pal
Eddie.

"Well, as you know, I'm always the showman, so I looked at the three
shirtless guys and said, `Can anyone join this club?'  I put down the
camera pulled, off my T-shirt and flexed my biceps.  `Course I couldn't
match those guys, I was still in my old cargo shorts and sneakers, but I
got a huge round of applause anyway. I tell you, the big problem for the
hosts of this show was controlling the audience, they were having a ball.

"Anyway, I picked up my camera and pointed it at Gardy who raised crossed
arms and yelled, `Aaargh, no more pictures."  The laughter wouldn't stop
and Mario said later they were supposed to cut to a commercial, but the
director said quietly in the hosts' earpieces, `We're not cutting away
... keep it going, this stuff is priceless'.

"Sally asked me a few softball questions, then, `So Eddie, you probably
know Grady real well, taking pictures of him all day.  Can you tell us what
kind of candid shots you go for?'

"'Well ...' I said and paused for suspense. Grady grinned, `Careful, Eddie
...'  Mario later told us that finger was poised over the bleep button
again, but I restrained myself.  `Oh,' I said, `all kinds of off-the-wall
things, like when Grady falls on his butt or picks his nose.'

"Grady was on form now, guys, and ran with the joke. He gave that goofy
cross-eyed look of his, tongue hanging out the side of his mouth, and slid
slowly down off the couch.  When his butt hit the floor he shoved his
finger up his nose.

The audience went wild, Sally and Joe couldn't stop laughing.  Then while
he sat there with his finger up his nose looking totally stupid, I knelt
down with my camera and went in for a closeup.  Like before, he crossed his
arms in front of his face and groaned, `Please no more pictures.  I'm not
camera ready.'  I said, `For my camera you are, dude.  That's why they pay
me.'

"Jamie and Nate stood up and got in on the act.  They stood behind me,
hooked their hands under my arms and pulled me to my feet.  Then they did
the same for Grady who turned to the audience and flashed that gleaming
smile he's famous for.  `I love you guys,' he yelled above the din.  Then
he turned to us and applauded, `And you guys too.'

"He stood between Nate and Jamie and me.  We held hands, in a line facing
the audience, then raised our arms high, like in a curtain call, and bowed
low to thunderous applause.

"And that's when they cut to commercial."

<><> THE WEST COAST FEED <><>

"So that's my story dudes.  Afterwards Sally and Joe thanked us, still
laughing.  The director came down, beaming, and thanked us too.  `Terrific
show, guys, best we've done in years.  You should take that show on the
road.'

"Grady laughed, `We have ... this is the show and this is the road, and I
owe it all to these, guys.  Mario came up and hugged us all.  He gave Grady
a brief man-hug too, but us guys knew the kind of hug he wanted to give
him.  A few minutes later we were in the limo and now we're in the hotel
and Mario's in bed with Grady, giving him a whole lot more than a hug.  So,
how d'you think I did, sir?"

Hassan smiled, "Kiddo, like I said many times before, I'm so damn proud of
you.  That audience loved you, but nobody loves you the way I do.  And I
can't wait to give you what Mario's giving to Grady – a whole lot more
than a hug."

"Oh wait, wait, sir, I forgot the main reason I was gonna call you.  That
show we just did.  Like I said, it went out live in Chicago but the West
Coast feed is two hours later, so you can watch it."

"That's right," Brian shouted ... Channel Four, half an hour from now.  I
gotta call the guys down at the compound, then we'll watch it in the
viewing room here.  We'll record it too for the guys at work to see later."

"And you'll see I didn't exaggerate one bit," Eddie said. "Kind've a first
for me, eh?  Guys I gotta go.  Jamie and Nate just came in and we gotta
rest up before this evening's press conference and another gruesome dinner.
Sir, I love you and miss you like crazy.  I'll call you tomorrow."

When the call ended Hassan's eyes were misty and Pete put his arm round
him.  "Dude, that is one really special kid you got there.  Come on, at
least you can watch him on TV.  He's a star."

"He's always been a star for me, Pete." Hassan grinned, and they followed
the others into the house and downstairs to the Grady House viewing room.

<><> TROUBLE BREWING <><>

It was Brandon who phoned Will, working in the kitchen as usual, and told
him to spread the word about the TV show.  "But don't worry if you can't
get away to watch it `cos Brian's gonna record it for you all.  It sounds
like those guys are having a blast."

Will didn't reply and Brandon frowned, "What's up, Will?  Something wrong
down there?"

"Not sure, Brandon, but it sure looks like it."

"That problem with Randy again?"

"Something like that.  You know Bob's been real worried about Randy working
too hard on the company expansion.  After that first real hectic week most
of the guys have slowed down to a normal routine, but not Randy.  He's
still pushing himself, putting himself under a lot of pressure. And you
know the boss, him and pressure don't go well together.  I've heard Bob and
him arguing about it, but you know how obstinate Randy can be

"Most of the guys are keeping their heads down, waiting for the storm to
pass, but you know how easy it is to get caught in the crossfire when
Randy's on a rampage and the shit hits the fan. Er, hold on a minute, dude,
call coming in from Ryan in the office, I'll put you on hold.

Brandon waited with a troubled frown.  His frown got deeper when Will came
back on the line.  "Fuck, dude, looks like the shit just did hit the fan.
Ryan says Randy just fired Ben."

"Fired Ben?!  His own kid brother?  That's insane.  Ben and Pablo were
working so hard on that new central mechanic's shop."

"Yeah, well that seems to be the problem.  Ben just stormed into the office
and gave his keys to Ryan `cos he said he's just been fired by Randy.  Then
he took off like a bat out of hell without telling anyone where's he's
going.  Dude, I gotta go and find Bob.  He's gonna go apeshit."

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

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 594


Hey guys, this is Rob Williams. I hope that chapter turned you on, and I
welcome your comments and suggestions, which can be very helpful in
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