Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2022 21:45:07 +0000 (UTC)
From: rw6789@aol.com
Subject: "A Trial Of Strength" - Part 595  by Rob Williams

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 595 by Rob Williams

CHAPTER 595 – "THE GYPSY & THE FIREMAN – SHELL-SHOCKED"

IN THIS CHAPTER

Two macho men, recovering from traumatic events, seek relief in the arms,
or ass, of their boys. Rugged construction boss Randy's trauma was
self-inflicted and he restores his manhood in the flawless ass of the hot
gymnast Tommy. Fireman Jason's trauma fighting forest fires was far worse,
and he finds comfort, peace and tender love in bed with his sexy young
gypsy-boy Ben.
____________________________________________________________________

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

The expansion of the tribe's construction company had put huge work
pressure on Randy, the boss of the whole enterprise.

Even when the pressure eased after the first week Randy continued to work
like a demon, despite his lover Bob's plea for him to take a break.  Bob
knew from bitter experience that Randy under pressure was liable to blow
his top.

Bob's fears came true in an especially painful way.  Inevitably the
powerful gypsy's famously volatile temper erupted – and in the direct
line of fire was the young assistant mechanic Ben, Randy's own kid-brother.

Ben had been working with his boss Pablo setting up the new machine
workshop. When Pablo left to get spare parts he suggested that exhausted
Ben put his head down for a nap.  Randy saw him sleeping, and in a fit of
rage barked, "If I catch anyone sleeping on the job I fire him on the spot.
So you're fucking fired, boy.  I don't need a loser like you.  Get the fuck
outa' here."

Ben was already feeling fragile, nervous about his lover Jason, a fireman
who was away fighting the massive fires in Northern California.  In despair
Ben ran away from home and work, and sought refuge in an older man.  He
drove to the Palm Springs home of the tribe's Uncle Mike.

Mike embraced Ben and assured him that his own boy Larry could give him a
job in his motorcycle repair business where work was piling up.  Mike later
reported back to the tribe's co-leader Bob.

"Hi, Bob.  I told you I'd take care of the kid and everything's just fine.
Actually, `taking care of Ben' included making love to him.  He needed to
feel protected and loved by an authority figure, so yours truly took on the
role.  And now he's dashed off to bail out Larry at his shop."

"Mike that's just what he needed – the reassurance and love of a
dominant man, and a good fuck that he hasn't had for weeks since Jason
left.  And now he'll be buried in work, helping a buddy.  That's a whole
load off my mind, I can't thank you enough."

"And meanwhile, back at the ranch ...?" Mike grinned.

"It's surprisingly quiet.  See Mike, what Randy did has knocked him for a
loop.  He worships that kid-brother of his and he's horrified that he
caused so much grief to him, at a time when the boy was already depressed
and anxious about Jason.  But Randy doesn't know Ben came to you and he
won't find out.  The few people who know where he is are sworn to secrecy.
It tortures Randy that he can't see Ben and hug him – a torture he
deserves, Mike.

"I tell you, Mike, I've never seen Randy so lost, like a kid in a
thunderstorm.  I told him he needs professional help, and he's in such a
daze that he actually took my advice – that's a first.  He's going up to
his brother Doc Steve, who will treat him professionally as doctor/patient.

"The worst part for me is I feel desperately sorry for Randy.  Appearances
to the contrary he idolizes his little brother.  He always marvels at how
Ben had the guts to walk and hitchhike over eleven-hundred miles from West
Texas to find his big brother in L.A.  And now that big brother has
rejected that same gutsy kid, ousted him, and Ben has run away from the
home he trekked so far to find.  That's a special kind of purgatory for
Randy."

Meanwhile, Larry had welcomed Ben to his workshop. "Dude, am I glad to see
you.  Look around you, broken bikes as far as the eye can see.  I'm
desperate – my fucking drugged-out assistant bailed on me and now
customers are threatening to take their business elsewhere if I can't
deliver on time."

Larry knew what a skilled mechanic Ben was and they got right down to
work. But Ben was still very anxious about his man Jason, as communication
with him was near impossible.  Ben hadn't heard from him in five days.  Now
suddenly, as Ben worked, Jason called.

"Sir, where are you?  Are you OK?  I've been so worried."

"Sorry about that, kiddo, I was dying to call you but we were deep in the
forest and there was no communication out, except for our walkie-talkies to
the other guys.  But we just came back to base for the first time and I'm
fine, except totally exhausted and missing you kiddo.

"But listen, I can't talk long.  My tour of duty's over and they're
releasing us tomorrow as we're handing off to a crew from Montana.  And
guess what.  I have a whole two weeks off.  They do that for crews who've
worked flat out for so long."

"Sir, I'm in Palm Springs with Uncle Mike and Larry.  Why don't you come
straight here?  It's a great place to rest and relax – like a vacation."

"If you're there kiddo, that's where I'll be."  I'll get a flight from
Sacramento to Palm Springs tomorrow.  Can you pick me up at the airport?
Can't wait to see your smiling face, kiddo."

Ben excitedly called Mike.  "Sir, it's him ... he's coming ... got two
weeks off ... I told him to come here.  Sir, can he stay with me here for
two weeks?  Please say yes, sir."

Mike chuckled.  "Ben, after what that guy's been through we'll give him a
hero's welcome, `cos that's what he is.  And we'll give your guy the best
vacation he's ever had."

========= CHAPTER 595 =========

<><> RANDY'S HEART-TO-HEART WITH WILL <><>

Randy's mind was reeling.  He still couldn't believe what he had done.
Stressed from pressure of work, the rugged construction boss had lost his
cool and, in a fit of rage, had fired the firm's assistant mechanic, the
young gypsy-boy Ben.  Who also happened to be Randy's kid brother.

As he stood by his truck outside the tribe's compound he had a devastating
image of the boy's tear-stained face as he fled from his home – the
little brother he idolized and had always sworn to protect.  In a daze he
heard a truck approaching and had a wild hope that it might be Ben coming
back.

His heart sank as he saw the assistant chef Will drive up, the young
redhead who normally would have brought a smile to Randy's face.  He always
felt a special connection to the eager freckle-faced kid he called `Red',
but all he felt now was disappointment he was not Ben.

Will knew the whole story of Randy's rage, his firing of Ben and Ben's
flight from home, so he got out of his truck nervously.  "Hello, sir.  I
just got back from delivering the crew's lunch boxes to the construction
sites."

Randy said brusquely, "Where's Ben?  Everyone claims they don't know where
he's gone, but you're his best buddy.  He would call you first, you must
know."

Will gulped.  "Sir, Bob has told all us boys that we mustn't discuss Ben
... with anyone."

Randy snarled, "I'm not just anyone, kid.  I'm the fucking boss of this
outfit, so tell me."

Will tensed.  "With all due respect, sir, you're not my boss, the twins
are, and their boss is Bob."

"Don't get smart with me, kid, I don't take lip from a punk like you.
Where's Ben? Tell me or ..."

He raised his arm but Will looked at him defiantly. "You can hit me, sir,
but I still can't tell you."

"Fuck you, boy."  Randy clenched his fist, but when he looked at the plucky
freckled face staring fearfully up at him, his anger melted and his arm
dropped by his side.  He groaned, "Oh, Red, I could never hurt you, kid.  I
love you, you know that ... come here, kiddo."

He opened his arms and wrapped them round the boy.  "I've done something so
fucking stupid, Red.  I fired my little brother Ben ... I love that kid
... he came here all the way from Texas to find me, and now I've kicked him
out."

He pulled away and leaned against Will's truck like a man defeated.  "Did
he ever tell you the story of his gutsy, risky trek hitchhiking all the way
from West Texas to L.A. to find me?  He loved me, kiddo, and I swore I'd
protect him and he'd always have a home here.  Instead, I've fired him from
his job and he's run away.  I'm so worried about him, Red ... if anything
happens to the boy I'd ..."

Tears welled in his eyes and Will said, "Sir, I'm not allowed to tell you
where Ben is, but I can tell you that he's quite safe and nothing bad will
happen to him.  He's been kind of frantic about his guy Jason fighting the
fires up north.  He hasn't heard from him in nearly a week, `cos he's way
up there in the burning forest.  Now that, sir, is a real life-or-death
threat ..."

"Yeah, kinda makes a dumb-fuck like me look like a cretin, blowing my top,
yelling at the boy and hurting him when he's already hurting so bad."

"Well, sir, if you put it like that, yes, you do look ..."  Will hesitated.

"Come on Red, give it to me, I deserve it."

"Well, sir, yes, it does make you look cruel – kinda caveman-ish."

"You do know I didn't mean it, don't you?  Not that that's any excuse."

"Of course I know that, sir, I know how you love Ben, he's always been
proud of that.  After all, when there's stress at work we all get mad
sometimes and lose our temper.  Occasionally in the kitchen when we're all
under pressure I've even yelled at the twins, even though I'm their boy and
love them.  `Course, I would never yell at Bob though.  I mean he's such a
wonderful man, nobody would ever curse at him or hurt him ... oh, sorry,
sir," Will winced.

"That's alright, Red, give it to me with both barrels.  Yeah, I slapped Bob
to the ground, even though I've promised so many times never to hurt him
again."

"Oh, I think Bob's used to that by now, sir ..."

"But that's the point, kiddo, he shouldn't have to get used to it, being
slapped around by the guy he loves.  That makes me some kind of sicko,
don't ya think?"

"Well, since you ask ... yes, sir, right now anyway.  But sir ... I don't
want to step out of line here ... but you can get treatment for anger like
yours.  Your own brother, Doc Steve, does that `cos he's a shrink.  I heard
it was Mark who first went to him `cos the doc does anger-management for
the police force.  Maybe you should try it."  Will blushed, thinking he had
gone too far.

But Randy smiled and ruffled Will's red hair.  "That's one thing I love
about you, Red, you always give it to me straight, don't pull any bunches.
Dude, if I ever slap you around, which I never would, but if I did, I want
you to slap me right back."

"Slapping people is not really my style, sir," Will smiled shyly.

"Matter of fact, Red, you're quite right.  Bob told me I need to go see
Steve and I was trying to clear my head and go up there right now.  Talking
to you has helped me think straight, kiddo.  But, er, are you sure that Ben
is OK right now?"

"Actually more than OK, sir. Driving here I got a call from him that Jason
phoned him at last.  His tour of duty is over, and tomorrow he gets two
whole weeks off.  He's gonna spend them with Ben, who's over the moon.
Says he has the time `cos he's got no job to go back to anyway."

"Did he, er, mention me at all, Red?"

Will shifted uncomfortably.  "Well, sir, only when he made me swear I
wouldn't tell you where he is.  Says he, like, don't wanna see you right
now.

"But sir, I wanna say one other thing.  I know Ben loves you deep down,
he's told me so often that you're his hero.  And Bob loves you of course,
and all the other guys too.  When things go wrong like right now, they're
more disappointed than mad.  Like ... how's that saying go ... their hero
has feet of clay?  And they don't just mean muddy boots sir."

Randy smiled and pulled Will into a tight hug.  "What about you, Red, do
you still love me?"

"Always, sir, you know that.  I know you're the boss and all, but I think
of us as buddies."

"Go on thinking that, buddy, and I'll try and make myself worthy of you.
And please go on being a buddy to Ben.  I know how close you two are –
first guy you had sex with, right?"

Randy kissed him full on the lips, then pulled away.  "Now I've gotta get
my ass up to brother Steve's to get my head shrunk."

"Sir, you better make sure he's free.  You know he sees patients all day by
appointment.

"Oh he'll see me, Red.  I'm his brother not a patient.  I don't need no
stupid appointment."

Randy leapt into his truck and sped away.  Will gazed after him and sighed,
"Oh dear ..."

<><> THE ART OF SEDUCTION <><>

As Randy drove up to Steve's house in the Hollywood Hills the mellow
feelings he'd shared with Will wore off and the tension of the day returned
– a mix of residual anger, guilt and animosity.  He always resented the
idea of going to his brother for help, a resentment that he countered with
bluster and macho swagger.

When he arrived at the gate to Steve's house in the Hollywood Hills he
punched the intercom button.  House manager Tommy answered and Randy
barked, "Randy – open the gate."

Tommy remained silent and the gate swung open.  Randy floored it and the
truck sped down the drive, stopping with a screech of brakes at the front
door.  Tommy always greeted guests at the door and he was there now with a
calm professional smile.  "How pleasant to see you, sir ..."

Randy cut him off.  "I gotta see my brother."  He pushed past him into the
house and Tommy ran after him.  "Where is he, in his office?"

Tommy caught up, ran round him and tried to block his way. "Sir, the doctor
is with a patient right now and cannot be disturbed.  If you care to ..."

"I don't wanna talk to you, boy.  I'm Steve's brother, and he'll see me
now."

Tommy put his arm out to block his way.  "No, sir, I told you, the doctor
is with a patient.  But he has a slot open after this patient so maybe he
can fit you in then, if you ..."

Randy's eyes blazed.  "Boy, do you know who you're talking to?  I'm not
some guy you can fit in a fucking slot. Only time I fit in a slot is when
my dick's up your ass.  Get out of my way or I'll ..."

He raised his hand to strike Tommy, but hesitated when he saw again the
image of the fearful young freckled face of Will looking up at him.  He had
been about to strike Will too, just as he had struck his lover Bob on the
construction site.  His arm dropped limply at his side and he murmured.
"Fuck you, boy.  Fuck you ..."

Tommy seized the moment.  "Sir, Doctor Steve should be free in about
thirty-five minutes.  Maybe I can make your wait more pleasant.  I was
about to go for my afternoon swim, and I would be happy to serve you a
drink by the pool while you wait."

Tommy's calm professionalism, his blond good looks and perfect body,
annoyed Randy.  It felt like he was talking down to him, like soothing a
child having a temper tantrum.

Then something annoyed him even more.  Against all odds, his own cock was
swelling in his jeans as he stared at the handsome blond, his perfect
gymnast body and that incredible butt straining against his formal black
pants.  Feeling disoriented, unsure what to do next, Randy followed Tommy
out to the pool.

"Please, sir, make yourself comfortable on a chaise and I'll bring you a
beer.  Randy flopped on his back on a chaise and watched as Tommy turned
and walked off, the mounds of his ass flexing as he sashayed away.  Fuck,
Randy thought, Bob was right, I'm a fucking mess.  But at least I can still
get it up, he smiled to himself as he stroked the bulge in his jeans.  He
needed to talk to Steve, but maybe this boy could help him pass the time in
this maddening wait.

Tommy reappeared with a beer bottle and a glass resting on a silver tray.
"There we are, sir," he said, like a respectful waiter angling for a tip,
with more than a hint of arrogance.  "I won't join you sir because, as I
said, I always swim a few laps about now while the doctor is busy.  But
feel free to ask if you need anything else."

Randy ignored the fancy glass and wrenched off the bottle-cap.  Fuck, was
this kid taunting him – the cool, self-assured young jock playing with a
guy who was slowly losing his mind?  Yeah, well he'll pay, thought Randy,
recovering his footing on the more solid ground of the macho boss role.  He
knew exactly what the young gymnast was doing, trying to seduce him,
starting with a slow striptease.

Tommy stood by the pool and pulled his dark gray T-shirt off over his head.
He folded it neatly and bent forward to lay it on a chair by the pool.
Randy moaned softly as he stared at the shirtless gymnast, his black dress
pants hugging his slim waist and his flawless ass.  His supple body bent
double as he unlaced his black shoes, pulled them off and placed them
neatly under the chair, followed by his socks.

Tommy straightened up and stretched, shrugging his shoulders and circling
his arms as a pre-swim warmup.  Randy was longing to pull out his cock and
stroke it, but didn't want to give the conceited young jock the
satisfaction of knowing how much he turned him on.

Facing the pool, his back to Randy, Tommy unzipped his tight pants and
pushed them slowly down, over his ass and down his legs, bending lower and
lower until he tugged them off over his bare feet.  Underneath he was
wearing black bikini briefs that showed off his ass to perfection.  He knew
Randy was staring at him and took his time shaking out his pants, folding
them carefully and draping them over the back of the chair.

He bent low over the pool and ran his hand across the surface to test the
temperature, giving Randy a stunning view of his ass, as if offering it to
him.  Which, of course, he was.  He straightened up, slid his hands inside
the briefs and pushed them down and off.  He picked them up and Randy would
not have been surprised to see him twirl them around and toss them to him
like a second-rate striptease artist.

But this was too corny even for Tommy and he placed the briefs on the chair
with his other discarded clothes.  He walked to the deep end of the pool
and stood on the edge, the sun glinting on his athletic naked body.  "Holy
shit," Randy growled as Tommy went up on his toes, paused, then executed a
perfect swan dive into the water with barely a splash.

<><> THE BOSS IS BACK <><>

Randy felt hot – partly the afternoon sun, partly the effect of seeing
the ripped athlete strip naked – and he pulled off his T-shirt.  He sat
up higher on the chaise to get a good view of the young jock slicing
through the water with powerful strokes.

But Randy was not focused on the boy's arms.  He was riveted by the white
globes of his bare ass that just broke the surface of the water as Tommy
swam lap after lap.  The water splashed repeatedly over his ass, then slid
off, and Randy groaned at the stunning sight of the mounds flexing as water
poured off them.

The erotic sight transformed Randy.  Until now he had been a confused,
guilt-wracked man who, in a fit of rage, had devastated his kid-brother,
struck his lover, and come close to striking the young redhead he
loved. Now, watching the sexy blond gymnast, he found his focus as a
confident alpha male who knew exactly what he wanted and had the audacity
to grab it.

In full command now he got up from the chaise and stood at the side of the
pool, rubbing his hand against the massive bulge in his pants.  As Tommy
swam, his mouth turning to the side and breaking the surface with each
breath, he caught sight of the muscled, bare-chested gypsy looming up over
the pool.  The vision made him lose his rhythm.  He coughed, swam to the
side of the pool and rested his arms on the edge, staring up at Randy.

Randy looked down at the chiseled face, water pouring off it ... and
roared, "Fuck you, boy."

He bent down, hooked his hands under Tommy's armpits, hauled him up clear
out of the pool and flung him down on the chaise.  Startled, the naked
athlete bounced down on his back and gazed up at the smoldering gypsy, in
no doubt what he was in for.

"You've toyed with me long enough, boy.  You thought I was down, weakened,
but I don't stay down for long ... the boss is back, dude.  Sure I hurt
some guys along the way, but the difference with you is you want it.  You
wanna be slapped around, don't you?"

"Yes, sir," Tommy said, his cock rising up like a pole from his nest of
blond pubic hair."

"Tell me what you want, stud."

"I want your dick in my ass, sir.  Nobody fucks like you ... I want you to
work me over, sir, fuck my ass."

"Turn over, boy"

Tommy obediently turned face-down and Randy gazed at the muscular back,
gleaming wet, slanting down to a slim waist and the perfect globes, white
against the tan lines of his bronzed body.  "Fucking hell," he growled.  He
bent down and slapped the jock's ass watching the mounds bounce under the
blows. Tommy stretched his arms up and grabbed the top of the chaise,
moaning with pain and pleasure at the gypsy's attack on his ass.

Tommy knew that Randy was venting his rage and frustration on him and his
ass, and the boss's sexual savagery was what Tommy craved.  He looked back
over his shoulder and saw Randy rip open his jeans and yank out his massive
beer-can-thick cock. He spat in his palm and stroked it.

"You know where this is going, boy?"

"Yes, sir, in my ass ..."

Randy knelt on the chaise between the jocks splayed legs, leaned forward
and grabbed the flexed globes of his ass.  He pulled the cheeks apart
... and drove his shaft hard between them.  Tommy's naked body spasmed and
he howled, "Thank you, sir.  Fuck me."

Randy now braced his hands on the small of Tommy's back, pressed down on
his slim waist and began the merciless fuck he was famous for.  From the
depth of despair earlier, Randy was now at the peak of his power,
dominating the naked athlete who had taunted him so arrogantly.  The proud
jock was his, the flawless ass was his ... the boss was back.

He pounded ass under the hot sun till sweat poured down his face and chest.
Then he growled, "Dammit, I wanna see that arrogant face wince in pain."
He pulled out roughly, stood up and hooked his foot under the boy's
stomach.  He flipped him over and Tommy fell on his back, panting hard as
he starred up at the savage gypsy stroking his giant cock.

Tommy stretched his arms up and again grabbed the top corners of the chaise
– an act of subservience, as if his wrists were tied.  "Yeah," Randy
snarled, "now you know who the master is around here, eh pretty boy?"

"Yes, sir.  You are, always."

"Damn straight, you better believe it.  Your ass is mine, stud, and now I'm
gonna finish you off."  He knelt on the chaise again, pushed Tommy's legs
back and pressed the head of his cock against his hole.  Randy was a master
at teasing a man, driving him wild, and that's what he did now to the
conceited gymnast.  His cock pressed against his ass without entering it,

"Please, sir ... I need it so bad.  Please ..." The head passed over the
sphincter and Tommy sighed, "Thank you, sir."

But it stopped there, just inside, taunting the boy in retaliation for his
earlier arrogance.  "Please, sir," Tommy moaned.  "Fuck me please ... all
the way."

Slowly Randy pushed deeper, pausing intermittently to increase his
frustration.  In the end the cock was in deep, pressing against the
sensitive inner sphincter.  And there it stopped."

He was driving the naked jock wild.  "Please, sir.  I'm begging you.  I
need it so bad ..."

"OK, big boy, here it is."  At last Randy pushed over the inner sphincter
into the fiery depths of his ass, then pulled back slightly and massaged
the sensitive sphincter with the head of his cock.  The erotic sensation
made the athlete's body shudder, his handsome face thrash from side to
side.  He let go of the chaise, raised his fists and pounded the gypsy's
rock-hard chest.

"No .... no ... fuck, you're driving me crazy ... I can't take it, not
anymore ... please, sir, I'm gonna cum ... aaagh...!"

His cock blasted jizz all over his ripped, writhing body, stream after
stream until he was drained.  But Randy didn't stop massaging deep in his
ass, making Tommy yell louder still.  "Please, sir. I beg you ... I give
up.  You're the master, sir.  Have mercy, cum inside me sir ... please ..."

His shouts turned to sighs as he felt Randy's huge cock erupt deep inside
and flood his ass with the master's hot juice."

<><> SHRINK SESSION <><>

"Well, well, well, so that's what all the noise was out here."  Steve was
smiling.  "Fortunately My office is soundproof once I've closed the
windows, which I did when the yelling started.  Not the most soothing
background noise for a therapy session.  Brahms maybe, but not bellowing."

Tommy jumped to his feet, butt naked.  "Sorry sir, we were just ... has
your patient left, sir?"  Improbably, Tommy pressed his hands modestly over
his cock

"Yes, he just left, Tommy." Steve chuckled.  "And, er, you don't need to be
so modest.  Nothing we haven't seen before.  And hello, brother Randy.  I
suspected you might be the cause of all the racket out here."

Well you know me, bro, never saw an ass I didn't wanna fuck."  Randy was
buttoning up his jeans.  Steve noted Randy's familiar bravado, not quite
what he had expected of the man who had recently messed up so badly.

"Bob called me and briefly told me what went down at the construction site
today.  He said you might come up and consult me, so how about we go in to
my office?"

Randy grinned.  "Not sure I need a shrink session after all, bro.  I kinda
got therapy out here – though I wouldn't call it a shrink session, if
you know what I mean."

Steve raised his eyebrows with an exasperated sigh.  "Tommy, I suggest you
clean that jizz off in the pool and complete your swim that seems to have
been interrupted.  And Randy, put your shirt on."

Tommy walked to the edge of the pool and, with one last seductive look at
Randy raised up on his toes and executed another elegant swan dive, as he
had when he was seducing him – perfectly bookending their sex-in-the-sun
episode.

Obeying Doc Steve's commanding tone Randy picked up his T-shirt, threw it
over his shoulder and followed Steve into his office.  Steve picked up a
clipboard and sat in his usual armchair.  "Shirt?" he said abruptly.

"I know that tone, doc.  I can see you're gonna give me a hard time."
Randy pulled on his shirt and sat heavily on the couch facing Steve, arms
stretched along the back, legs manspread.  Steve recognized this as a macho
pose, which he read as insecurity.

"Randy, I realize that your little episode out there with Tommy has
temporarily renewed your confidence in your manhood.  You've flexed your
big-boss muscles, but we still have serious issues to discuss – starting
with our wounded brother Ben."

Feeling his control slipping away already Randy grunted, "I don't wanna
talk about that."

Steve crossed out something on his clipboard. "OK ... so no Ben ... not
important enough."

"I didn't say that, dude," Randy snapped.  "Of course Ben is important, I
just don't wanna rehash all that again."

"Fine, so let me do it for you so we can get our story straight.  I don't
like going on sketchy second-hand reports.  Right, as I understand it
you've been under pressure of work for some time and Bob begged you to take
a break.

"But, obstinate as ever, you wouldn't stop, the pressure built and you
exploded in a fit of rage when you saw Ben taking a nap that his boss Pablo
had suggested.  You lost your mind and fired Ben, saying something along
the lines of Ben being a `lazy fucking loser' and he could `get the fuck
outa' there'. This from the brother he idolizes.  And when your lover Bob
showed up to protest, you slapped him to the ground.  Does that pretty much
cover it?"

Randy grunted, which Steve took as a yes. "The result was that Ben,
predictably, ran away."

"Yeah, and nobody will tell me the fuck where he is.  I could put it all
right if I talked to him."

"There I disagree.  I would imagine that you are the last man that
sensitive young Ben wants to see right now.  I don't know where he has
gone, but I understand from Bob that he's safe.  There's someone he's much
more concerned about than you – his fireman Jason who's up north
fighting the forest fires.  He hadn't heard from him for five days so he
was feeling really nervous when you decided to attack him so savagely.
Great timing, bro."

 "I don't wanna hear this, doc."

"Oh really?  You scared of hearing how cruel you've been to your
kid-brother and then your lover?  Scared to face the truth?"

"I'm not fucking scared of anything, asshole."  But suddenly, hearing his
own rising anger, the big gypsy seemed to crumple and tears came to his
eyes.

Steve softened his tone.  "The good news is that Jason's tour of duty is
ending and I hear he's going to join Ben tomorrow.  Ben's thrilled and,
like I said, you're the last man he wants to see right now.  You would only
apologize, `I didn't mean it, it'll never happen again'.  Until it does,
next time your anger flares up.  You've been to that rodeo over and over
again with Bob."

"OK, so you're the fucking shrink, what's your remedy for all this?"

"Randy, we've confronted this issue before in this very room, and here we
are again. It runs very deep, we can't paper over it.  You can't just read
the instructions on the packet – wash, rinse and repeat – and expect
it to go away.  One shrink session is not gonna do it. You've a long way to
go, bro, a lot of bridges to mend.  The dust hasn't settled yet and until
it does we'll take it one step at a time.

"OK, so first of all, these fiery rages all have something that triggers
them.  The trigger this time was clearly pressure of work – you pushed
yourself too hard, got wound up so tight you snapped, and young Ben just
happened to be the closest target.  So, the first thing is to remove the
trigger, meaning time off work and distancing yourself from all that's
happened.  I don't want you rehashing all this over and over in your mind
– that only makes everything seem worse."

"So how do I do this distancing act, eh, doc?"

"Randy, my suggestion is that you stay here for a day or so.  And before
you object, Bob told me that Zack has reassured him that he and the other
managers can cope with the running of the company in your absence.  You are
not indispensable, dude.  Zack did say it's a tribute to your organization
skills and strong leadership that the company is in such good shape that
others can take over for a while.

"So that takes care of work.  Bob also mentioned that he will be sleeping
with the twins tonight."  He noticed Randy wince.  "Yes, he must be feeling
very ... disappointed, to say the least.  So a little distance between you
two for the next few days is also a good idea.

"The rest ... and I mean lots of rest ... is up to you.  I know you're not
the kind of men who can just veg out, you need distraction. Of course you
can have our guestroom, it's very comfortable, but I'd rather you not be
alone too much. That's when your mind would keep churning.

"Now this suggestion may seem odd, but I never was known for being
orthodox.  I'll be sleeping with Lloyd tonight as usual so Tommy will be on
his own.  Unless you want to share his room."

Randy did a double take so Steve hastened to continue.  "Of course I would
get Tommy's approval, but I think I can safely say that he would love to
spend time with you, rather than the usual routine slam-bam-thank-you-man
he just got out by the pool."

Randy pouted.  "Do I have any choice?"

"About staying here, I don't think so.  But the choice of room is yours.
Let me call Tommy in."

Steve pressed a button on his desk and in a few seconds Tommy came in,
dressed as he had first been – smart black pants and shoes, and stylish
dark gray T-shirt.  The only sign of their pool activity was his damp blond
hair brushed back off his smiling face.  "You rang, sir?"

"Yes, Tommy.  Randy and I have been talking and I made a suggestion that he
spend the next day or two taking time off work and relaxing up here with
us."

"Very well, sir," Tommy said with only a fleeting glance at the man who had
so recently ploughed his ass."

"Er, I suggested something else, which would involve you. I would rather
Randy not be alone in the guestroom, so I was wondering if you would be
ready to share your room with him.

"Now I hasten to add, I'm not suggesting an eight-hour, all-night marathon
fuck, a mere continuation of what went on by the pool.  You would be
company for Randy, a chance for you to get to know him better.  Up to now
there's only one part of your anatomy that is well acquainted with Randy
– your butt. But the choice is yours Tommy, you don't have to agree

"I ... I think that could work, sir."  This time Tommy's glance held steady
on the rugged gypsy sprawled on the couch, his manspread legs accentuation
his bulge. "Sir, I sleep in a king-size bed and there's also a queen-size
bed in the room."

Randy bristled.  "Do I look like the kinda guy who sleeps in a queen bed?
Nah, If I share your room I share your bed, or it's no deal."

"OK, it's a deal, sir," Tommy responded, a little too eagerly.  Steve
grinned to himself.  Yeah these two would get along just fine, and Randy
would have the distraction he needed.

<><> HARMONY RESTORED <><>

So Randy stayed, doing his best to relax, as the doctor had prescribed, and
Tommy was attentive to their guest's needs all the way through dinner with
Steve and Lloyd.  Dinner conversation was general and steered clear of the
events that had brought Randy up here.

They retired to bed early, and in Tommy's room there was some hesitancy as
he and Randy started to undress.  Up to now they had always fucked when
they met and that was it.  But now they were facing the unfamiliar prospect
of spending the night together.  And as Steve had cautioned, it was not to
be a marathon all-night fuck-fest.

Tommy undressed modestly this time, with no showy attempt to seduce his
guest with his usual slow striptease.  Randy grunted.  "Er, just so you
know, I always sleep commando."

"No problem, sir.  I too always sleep naked."  When he had undressed, Tommy
got quickly into bed and pulled the sheet up to hide his erection.  Randy
was not known for modesty and seemed hardly to notice his own massive
hard-on, a more or less permanent state with him.

He climbed into bed next to Tommy and grinned.  "Feels a bit weird, don't
it, kid?  Steve was right, we don't know each other well.  We never give
ourselves time, too busy with that slam-bam thing as the doc calls it."

"But this feels nice, sir.  Makes me feel kinda safe.  Is it OK if you put
your arms round me?"

"'Course it is, dude. Turn over."  Tommy turned his back to Randy and they
lay like spoons, with Randy's chest pressed against his back.  His cock was
pressed against Tommy's bubble-butt too but, for once, that's where it
remained – outside, not inside.

Randy folded his arm over Tommy who sighed and held lightly onto his hairy
forearm resting on his chest.  Randy smiled to himself.  Tommy was right,
this did feel good.  And his brother Steve was a pretty good shrink too.
His methods might be a bit off-the-wall, but they always seemed to work.
They sure did this time, he thought as he drifted off to sleep with Tommy
in his arms.

The harmony was not confined to Steve's house either.  Surprisingly, after
such a tumultuous day, a calm had settled over the other houses too.  Bob
was in bed with his twins after a long chat over after-dinner drinks; and
Will was wrapped in the brawny arms of his stepdad Seth, feeling much
relieved about his best pal Ben.

As for Ben himself in Palm Springs, he had worked late with Larry in his
workshop and they had managed to get through a surprising number of bike
repairs.  With huge relief Larry had called his impatient customers with
the good news that they could pick up their bikes at last.

Of course, Ben was supercharged with the prospect of seeing his man Jason
the next day, after a four-week absence.  He was so excited during dinner
that Mike, after a quick word with Larry, asked Ben if he would like to
sleep with them.  Ben jumped at the chance, knowing that if he slept alone
he would toss and turn with excitement and barely sleep at all.  And he
wanted to look his best for Jason.

As he lay between Uncle Mike and Larry, Ben smiled to himself.  After the
shock of his brutal rejection by Randy, and his lonely, tearful drive out
here to the desert, who would have thought that, barely twelve hours later,
he would be feeling so warm and happy, and so excited over what tomorrow
would bring.

<><> THE HERO RETURNS <><>

Next morning Ben and Larry woke early and brought breakfast in bed to Mike.
"Hey," Mike laughed, "I'm gonna keep coming back to this hotel.  What's not
to like?  Room service from two gorgeous young men.  Come join me, boys,
and tell me what's on the agenda today."

"Jason," they chorused and sat on the bed, helping themselves to food from
the tray.

"What time's he due in at the airport, Ben?"

"Two o'clock, sir.  Before I go to meet him and welcome him back, I'm gonna
work as long as I can with Larry at the workshop."  He grinned.  "Then
Larry's giving me the afternoon off so I can ... you know ..."

"Welcome him back?" Mike grinned.  "Hey, listen, I had an idea. You know
that guestroom we built a few years ago out in the garden?  It's actually
more like a guest cottage, with a small living room, kitchen bedroom and
bath.  We planned it for when guys like Bob and Randy come out here for a
short vacation, and Randy himself supervised some of the construction, so
you know it's top quality.

"We haven't used it often up till now, but now that we have a real life
hero coming to decompress on a two-week vacation, the cottage is a natural
– provided he has someone to take care of him.  Preferably someone cute
... like, say, a sexy gypsy boy who can take care of all his needs.  Do we
know anyone like that?"

"That's a terrific idea, sir," Larry said.  "Jason can stay quietly on his
own if he wants to, and when he feels like being sociable he's just across
the garden from us.  After all, he's been through a really rough time, I
can't begin to imagine, so he might be a bit shell-shocked mentally as well
as physically exhausted.  What do you think Ben?"

"Sounds perfect," Ben beamed, "thank you, sir.  Should I go and get it
ready for him?"

"Nah," Mike said.  "I'll do that while you two are at the workshop, `cos I
know where the supplies are.  Before you go though, Larry, take Ben and
show him the place so he knows what's what."

Ben leaned over to hug and kiss Uncle Mike.  Larry brought in a
nifty-looking shirt for Ben.  "We'll take this with us, kiddo, for you to
change into.  Can't meet your man looking like a grease monkey, can you?"
Ben was wearing jeans and the old, torn, grease-stained T-shirt he always
wore to work.

The boys went across the grounds to inspect the cottage, and after a few
minutes they left in Ben's truck.  Mike grinned after them, happy to see
young Ben so excited after the trauma he went through yesterday.

It was hard for Ben to concentrate on work but he knew he had to as they
had only made a dent in the pile of bikes waiting for attention.  The
urgent ones of the most demanding customers had been collected yesterday so
the pressure was off, but Ben wanted to get through as many as possible
before he took the rest of the day off.

He found that getting immersed in the work he loved helped his
concentration and time flew by.  In fact they lost track of time until
Larry said, "Hey kiddo, you should be off.  The airport's only five miles
away but don't forget you gotta give yourself time to park, that can take a
while."

"Oh shit I forgot about parking.  I mustn't be late, gotta be there to meet
him.  Sorry, dude, gotta run."  He dropped his tools and rushed out of the
workshop.

Larry smiled, then noticed the new shirt Ben had forgotten about.  He
grabbed it and ran out waving it.  "Hey Ben, you forgot ..."  But Ben's
truck was already racing down the road.

Larry had given him easy directions – straight up Route 111 – and
anyway there were signs to the airport, but when he got there parking was a
bit complicated.  He finally found a slot, got out and ran to the terminal.
He caught sight of his reflection in the plate-glass window and muttered,
"Oh shit."  He had forgotten the smart shirt, and he looked exactly like
the grease monkey Larry had warned against, with his torn greasy shirt and
oil smudges on his face.

Too late to do anything about that now, he thought, and ran up to the
Southwest ticket counter.  "Ma'am, is the flight from Sacramento in yet?"

"Coming in to land now," the agent said, smiling at the grease-stained
youngster.  "Gate Nine."

He ran in the direction she had pointed and saw a cluster of people at the
gate waiting to board the outbound flight. The plane taxied to the gate and
stopped, the jet-bridge jerked to its door and there was an agonizing wait
until the passengers started to come down the jetway.  There seemed to be
so many, none of them Jason.  He started to panic ... was he at the wrong
gate?  Did he have the wrong time ... or day?  Had Jason missed the flight?

Then suddenly there he was, one of the last, striding down the jetway
dressed in his black uniform pants, belted at his slim waist, and black
uniform shirt with badges and patches.  With a backpack slung over his
shoulder he looked stunning to Ben, who had a sudden shyness attack.

"Hello, sir."

"Hey, have you seen a well-dressed young man I was supposed to meet here?
I know he would dress up to greet me.  Guess he didn't come.  Ah well, what
the hell, you're a grubby, greasy- looking kid but sexy as all get out.
What say I forget the smart kid?  Can you take me home with you instead?"

Ben laughed, his shyness gone as Jason wrapped his arms round him and
hugged him tight.  "Sorry for the clothes, sir, but ...'

"Hey, wouldn't have you any other way, kiddo, you look good enough to eat.
And I might do just that when I get you home – after I've cleaned you up
a bit."

"Can I kiss you, sir?  Prob'ly not here, eh?"

"Ah, best not.  Not until I get you in the car.  Lead the way, sexy."

Jason had no checked luggage so Ben led him out of the terminal and across
the parking lot.  They reached the truck, and as soon as they got in Jason
leaned over and smothered him in a grinding kiss.  When at last he pulled
away he said, "And there's a lot more where that came from.  Where are you
taking me anyway?"

"To Uncle Mike's, sir, and you're gonna love it.  Him and Larry have this
... guest cottage they call it ... in their garden, and they're letting us
use it.  It's like a little house – kitchen, bath everything, and
air-conditioned so it's nice and cool."

"Yeah, cool is good," Jason said in a faraway voice.

"Er, how are you feeling, sir?"

"Ben, I am totally bushed.  I fell asleep on the plane and they had to wake
me up when we landed – that's why I was almost the last one off.  Now I
feel I could sleep for two days straight."

He paused with a faraway look in his eyes.  "Kiddo, do you think when we
get there I could go straight to this `cottage' without saying hi to Mike?
I don't wanna be impolite, but right now I can't face anyone, don't feel
like socializing.  Except with you, kid."

"Of course, sir.  Mike said you must do whatever you want, and don't do
anything you don't want to.  Would you like to be left alone, sir?"

"Except for you, Ben.  I want you with me, I gotta have you." There was a
kind of muted panic in his voice that concerned Ben.

"When they got to the house Mike did not come out to the gate, as he
usually did – his way of not crowding Jason.  They got out of the truck,
Jason grabbed his backpack and Ben led him across the extensive grounds to
the cottage standing quietly in the shade of trees.

They went in and Jason sighed, "Perfect."  Ben led the way to the bedroom
and said, "Would you like to go to bed right now, sir?"

"Oh yeah, I've been dreaming of a real bed for weeks, rather than those
cots we used up there."

"Let me help you, sir.  Ben knelt on the floor, unlaced Jason's black
uniform boots and eased them off, while Jason unbuttoned his shirt,
shrugged it off and tossed it over a chair.

Ben stared up at the muscular torso he knew so well, reached up and stroked
his bare ripped abs and chest.  He lowered his hands to unbuckle his belt
but Jason said.  "Wait a minute Ben, let me look at you.  He ran his hands
through Ben's shaggy black hair.  "So beautiful.  If you knew how many
times I've wanted to do this.  I needed you so bad, kiddo."

There was another pause, and then ... "Ben there is one thing you could do
for me before I hit the sack.  See, up there in the ... all our energy went
into the job.  There was never any thought of sex.  I haven't even whacked
off for four weeks.  But I'm real tense and I think it might help me relax
if ..."

"Say no more, sir.  I'm your boy."  Ben unbuckled Jason's belt, pulled open
his pants and pulled them and his shorts down, letting his cock spring out.
It was rock hard with pre-cum already oozing from it.  Ben could tell it
was ready to blow with the juice that had been building for weeks.  There
was no time to lose.

He licked the pre-cum, then the head of his cock, then opened his mouth
wide and felt Jason push his thick cock deep inside him.  Ben gave silent
thanks to his pal Eddie who had taught him all the skills that go into
sucking cock and taking it deep without choking.  While he sucked he
reached up, stroked the fireman's bare chest and tweaked his nipples hard
in his fingertips.

"Oh yeah," Jason gasped.  He clamped his hands on Ben's head and forced his
mouth down and up his cock.  "I've missed this so bad, kid, missed you.
Fuck, that feels so that that I can't hold back, I gotta cum.  It's been
building for so long.  I'm gonna cum in your mouth, Ben.  Swallow it, boy
... swallow all of it ... yeaaah!"

Jason's sperm blasted in his boy's mouth with such force it almost knocked
Ben's head back.  But he kept sucking and gulping hard, swallowing every
last drop until the cock stopped shuddering and slowly pulled out of his
mouth.

Jason pulled Ben up, wrapped his arms tight round him and kissed him,
sucking his own juice out of Ben's mouth.  There were tears in Jason's eyes
as he said softly, "Dude, I've missed you so bad.  Night after night, tense
and lonely, I dreamed of you, but when I woke up and reached over for you,
you weren't there, it was just a dream. But you're gonna sleep with me now
right?"

"Of course I am, sir.  And whenever you wake up, I'll be there, always."

Jason let go of him and Ben pulled the covers back on the bed.  "Your bed
awaits, sir."

Jason dropped his pants, stepped out of them, and fell naked on the bed, on
his back.  "Oh, that feels so damn good.  But there's one last thing, Ben.
It was rude of me not to at least say hi to Mike.  Could you just run over
there and explain that I was so bushed, I ..."

"Yes, sir, I was thinking of that myself."

And when you get back I'll probably have dozed off, but I'll know when you
slide in bed with me and I put my arms round you."  Jason closed his eyes
and Ben stared down at the beautiful man he had missed for so many weeks.
Then he ran quietly out of the room and across the garden.

<><> NO DREAM THIS TIME <><>

Mike was in the living room going over his bar's accounts, and he looked up
and smiled.  "So he's home safe and sound, eh?"

"Yes, sir, but he asked me to come and apologize for not coming to ..."

"Hey, kiddo, what did I tell you?  While Jason's here he must do whatever
he wants.  There'll be plenty of time for hellos later on.  How is he?
Tired I bet."

"Completely exhausted, sir.  All he wanted was bed ... er, and, er ..."

"Let me guess.  Hasn't had sex for weeks and needed to bust his load ... in
your mouth right?"

"How did you guess, sir?"

"Easy ... got jizz on your chin, kiddo.  Here let me ..."  He wiped Ben's
face.  "And how did you find him otherwise?"

Ben frowned.  "I dunno, sir, there was this faraway look in his eyes, and
his voice sometimes.  Oh, he wanted me real bad, but still there was this
distant look ..."

"Ben, before you go back to him I wanna tell you a couple a' things to
expect.  No-one can imagine the hellish scene up there in the midst of
those fires – the things he's seen, the fear he's felt.  My guess is his
exhaustion is mental as well as physical.  And that distance you noticed?
It wouldn't surprise me if he has some level of PTSD ... post-traumatic
syndrome.

"All those weeks he's trained himself to suppress his natural emotions –
his fear, his tension – as they would interrupt his focus on the job he
had to do.  But now the nightmare is over, he's safe, back in the real
world, and he can finally give way to all those feelings."

"You yourself had your own trauma yesterday when the brother you love
seemed to reject you.  And how did you react?  You suppressed you despair
and gritted your teeth.  Bravely, defiantly, you stormed off and hit the
road for a long, lonely drive.  And when you got here I put my arms around
you, you felt safe, and you unleashed all those pent-up feelings and sobbed
in my arms.

"That's kind of what Jason's doing now.  Oh, not sobbing, maybe, but
certainly taking you in his arms.  He loves you, you represent tenderness
and safety, the reverse of what he's experienced up north.  His instinct
now is to shut down and stop thinking about the past, which accounts for
the vacant look in his eyes.  All he wants now is to fall asleep with the
boy he loves."

"Yes, sir, I get it.  And I haven't told him about Randy and all that
stuff."

"So don't.  He's got enough to deal with, he needs peace, not anger at what
Randy did.  He thinks you came here to help Larry out at work, which is
true, so we'll leave it at that right now.

"There's one other thing before you run back to him.  As I said, he doesn't
want to think about the past, least of all talk about it.  But the time
will come when he does want to purge his demons and tell someone of
everything he went through.  But he won't do that with you, Ben.  He always
wants to stay strong in your eyes, the tough firefighter, and he feels he
might seem weak when he confesses his fears and failings.

These last weeks he's been taking orders from authority figures in that
hellish place.  And now that he's back in the real world, eventually he'll
mostly likely seek out an older authority figure to pour out his feelings
to.  I hope that man will be me.

"In my years as a bar owner I've seen many men who've gone through
something traumatic.  First thing they do is hit the bar.  I make sure they
don't crawl into a bottle and drown their sorrows in booze.  But I do let
them talk ... and talk and talk.  And if that's what Jason wants, I'll be
here for him, the same way you'll be there for him now in his bed."

"Thank you for explaining all that, sir.  But right now I should be getting
back to him.  He said he needs me a whole lot."

"Oh, Ben, right now Jason wants you more than anything else in the world.
Here, let me wipe those oil-streaks from your face.  Good, now go get your
ass in that bed.  Go on, scoot."

Ben hugged Mike, then ran out of the house, across the garden and into the
bedroom where Jason was lying with his eyes closed.  Ben pulled off his
shirt, kicked off his boots and pulled down his pants.  He lay down naked
next to Jason and rested his face on his chest.

Jason curled his hand round his boy's head and murmured drowsily.  "Hello
kid ... hmm, I've dreamed of this moment."

"But when you wake up, sir, this time I won't disappear like a dream. I'll
still be right here."

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

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 596


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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