Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2022 20:56:22 +0000 (UTC)
From: rw6789@aol.com
Subject: "A Trial Of Strength" - Part 597  by Rob Williams

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 597 by Rob Williams

CHAPTER 597 – "BEN HAS TWO HEROES"

IN THIS CHAPTER

Young Ben has two heroes. He is the much-loved boy of the sexy fireman
Jason, who's been heroically fighting raging forest fires. Ben is also the
kid brother of the macho gypsy Randy, who has heroically rescued Ben from a
vicious biker in a brutal fight. But the heroes become rivals for Ben's
affection, and Ben takes on the task of restoring peace between the alpha
men he idolizes.
___________________________________________________________________

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

Young Ben had been on an emotional roller coaster – despair, relief,
joy, fear, and back to relief.

The construction company's assistant mechanic, and kid brother of big boss
Randy, Ben had been worried about the man he loved, the young blond fireman
fighting the forest fires in Northern California.  Then he was devastated
when big brother Randy, in a fit of irrational blind rage, had fired Ben
from his job.

Ben had driven the more than a hundred miles to Palm Springs, to the
comforting arms of Uncle Mike, the wise older man loved by the whole tribe.
Mike's lover Larry had offered him a job as his assistant mechanic in his
motorcycle repair job, where Larry was overloaded with work and hounded by
irate customers waiting for their bikes to be repaired.

Then Ben was gripped by joy at the ecstatic news that Jason's fire-fighting
duties had ended and he was coming to join Ben at Uncle Mike's house for
two weeks of rest and recuperation.

As for Randy, he had been roundly criticized for his irrational attack on
Ben and had gone to stay with his therapist brother, Doc Steve.  Nobody
would tell him where Ben had run away to, until he overheard a conversation
where Steve let slip the truth.  Impulsively, macho gypsy Randy had sped to
Palms Spring and gone straight to the bike workshop to find his little
gypsy brother Ben.  He arrived to find Ben in peril.

Larry had gone off to deliver a customer's bike, leaving Ben alone in the
shop, when an angry biker, Vince, showed up to pick up his repaired bike.
Vince was known as an arrogant hothead, handsome and muscular but feared by
many.  Seeing the sexy young gypsy he threatened to attack him sexually,
just as Randy arrived.

Fiercely protective of his kid brother Randy lunged at Vince and began a
long, brutal knock-down-drag-out fight on the greasy floor of the workshop.
Ben watched as the two evenly matched alpha males did battle.

It was touch and go at first as first one man then the other had the
advantage. But the bruised and battered Randy dug deep down to a final
reserve of strength and caught Vince in an agonizing submission hold that
had the biker begging for mercy.  Randy tied his limp body face down on his
own bike, as Ben watched and said, "Sir, don't you think he's had enough?"

Randy cupped Ben's chin in his hand.  "Kiddo, this man insulted you, called
you a greasy little gyppo, and he was gonna throw you over his bike and
torture your ass.  Now it's his body sagging over it and he's gonna get
it. That's what happens to a thug who attacks my boy."

When Randy broke a man he did it body and soul.  The rugged biker was
forced to look into the gypsy's fierce, square-jawed face.  "Look at me,
Vince, and tell me what you want."

The broken man stared into the hypnotic blue eyes and heard his own voice
groaning, "Fuck me, man.  I wanna feel you're dick in my ass."  Randy
treated him to a savage fuck, and told Ben to fuck the biker's mouth.

"So Vince, you wanted us to spit roast my boy, and you got this instead
– a `greasy little gyppo' at one end and a greasy big gyppo at the
other."  After Ben splashed cum all over the biker's handsome grimacing
face, Randy untied his prisoner, pinned him on his back on the oily floor
and came in his ass. Vince shot his own load in a final humiliating act of
submission.

Randy buttoned up his jeans and cut Vince's pants off him. "OK, try your
bike now, dude.  Vince had been stripped naked except for his boots, but he
obeyed Randy and revved the engine.

"Sounds good to me," Randy grinned.  "Off you go then.  Good doing business
with you, buddy."

"But ... but I ..."

"Hey, you don't have an option.  Unless you wanna stick around for another
few rounds of what I gave you before."

Vice flinched.  "Fuck ... fuck you man ..."  But Randy was right.  He had
no option but to ride bare-assed through town."

"So long, Vince.  See you again, I'm sure ... any time you wanna tangle."

Ben had shot video on his cellphone of the bound, degraded biker, and now
got a final shot of the humiliated hunk, face and body smothered in grease
and semen, riding away buck naked – except for his boots.  As he rode
off Larry's truck pulled up.  "What the fuck was that?  Did I see what I
just saw?  Vince riding away butt naked?  What the fuck's been going on?"

"Long story short, dude," Randy grinned, "Vince came to pick up his bike
and decided he wanted to work over our young gypsy boy. Unluckily for stud
Vince I showed up and gave him a little demonstration of what happens to a
guy who messes with my kid brother.  Sorry, place is a bit of a mess,
Larry, but I'd like to take Ben back to your house now."

"Er, sure, sure, Randy ... I can lock up here and clean up later. Damn now
I've seen everything."

"Thanks, Larry.  Come on, kid, I'll take you to Mike and, er, to Jason. My
turn to face the music."

========= CHAPTER 597 =========

<><> TWO HEROES <><>

As Randy drove Ben back to Mike's house he had mixed emotions.

First, there was the euphoria he always felt after a ferocious fight where
he had demolished a big tough guy like biker Vince – had humiliated him
physically, mentally and sexually, forcing a sobbing submission out of him,
begging for mercy.  It was even more satisfying to know he had done all
that to save and protect Ben, the kid brother he loved.

But canceling out that sense of macho triumph was the painful knowledge
that only days earlier, Randy himself had shocked and devastated that same
little brother, with a wildly impulsive burst of rage where he had scared
and insulted Ben and made him run away from home. The once-admired big boss
had demeaned himself in the eyes of the men and boys of the tribe he led.

In particular he had no doubt incurred the wrath of Mike, the man he looked
up to as a father figure.  Plus, he had antagonized Ben's man Jason, who
had been away up north, a real-life hero fighting hellish forest fires.
Now Randy had to face both men.

Sitting beside him Ben had no such conflicting emotions, only feelings of
joy and satisfaction.  He had been saddened by the rift that had opened up
between him and the big brother he idolized.  He had not understood why
Randy had rejected him, nor how he could face him again.

But Randy's sudden appearance had changed all that with his savage
demolition of the thug who was threatening him, rescuing him like the big,
strong bother who had always protected him.  To Ben, that spectacle had
wiped away all his former doubts and fears and restored his faith in, and
love for, his macho brother.

As they drove the few miles home in his powerful truck Randy said
haltingly.  "Er, kiddo, all that firing nonsense.  You, er, you do know it
was nonsense, right?"

"I wasn't sure, sir.  It was hard to believe, but you were so fierce and
loud, and that's why I ran away and came here.  I'm going to stay here with
Jason for two weeks and help him recover from fighting those fires, but
after that ... do you think I can get my job back, sir?"

"Kid, you never lost it.  No, I lost my mind, and when I shot my mouth off
you happened to be in the line of fire.  I feel so guilty about hurting
you, and if I could take it all back ..."  Randy choked up and Ben pressed
his hand on Randy's resting between them.

"But sir, back there in the workshop, that was my real brother, my hero,
fighting off that thug and making him pay for hurting me.  You were
awesome, sir, and I loved you so much.  So can we forget all that other
stuff, and two weeks from now I'll come back to town and everything will be
the way it always was?"

"Sure we can, kiddo.  But I don't think it's gonna be that easy with Mike
and Jason, nor with Bob when I go back.  Thing is, I injured Jason's boy
and I know how I'd feel."  He smiled grimly.  "Hell, I just showed you how
I felt when that goon threatened you.  Ben, you gotta take real good care
of Jason.  What he did in those fires sure makes my little tantrum seem
real petty."

"Yes, sir, but like I said, the way you handled Vince made you my hero
again."  Ben giggled.  "So I guess I got two heroes in my life."

They had arrived at the gate of Mike's and Larry's house and Randy tensed.
"OK, showtime.  Facing Mike and Jason will be ten times harder than facing
Vince."

Ben grinned, "'Cos this time you can't solve it with your fists, sir."

<><> BEN'S STORY <><>

Inside, Mike and Jason were kicking back by the pool.  They had been having
a long casual chat, and Jason found it soothing and reassuring that, in
spite of everything, the world keeps on turning, even if it seemed to be
coming to an end in those hellish fires.

Of course the two men had no inkling of what was happening at the workshop,
or even that Randy had come out to the desert.  So the sight that now met
their eyes shocked them – a shirtless Randy, bruised and covered in oil
and grease, with Ben next to him smiling proudly.

The two men got to their feet and Jason clenched his fists.  They didn't
need the bruises and the grease to tell them Randy had been in a fight.
After beating a man to a pulp Randy always had a machismo glow about him,
the testosterone-charged swagger of a warrior.

"Randy," Mike said, "what the fuck you doing here – as if I need to ask?
You've obviously been in a fight, and it looks like you took quite a
beating."

Randy grinned, "Yeah, Mike, but you should see the other guy."

"Ben," Jason said in alarm, "are you OK?"

Ben ran to him and threw his arms round him.  "Never better, sir."

Jason looked over his shoulder and glared at Randy.  "You've got your nerve
showing up here after everything you did to my boy.  How did you know he
was here?"

"No one told me, I overheard Steve ..."

"Yeah," Mike growled, "well you should a' called and asked me if you'd be
welcome.

"And you'd have said no, Mike."

"Where's Larry, is he OK?"

"He's fine.  We left him locking up the workshop.  That sounds like him
now."

Larry came in and felt the tension right away.  Ben saw the men glaring at
Randy, and he suddenly broke away from Jason and faced them all.  He was
shaking a little but took a deep breath and tried to copy the tough,
determined look his big brother always had.

"Sirs, please.  Can I say something?"

Jason, still tense, glanced at Mike who gave a small nod of approval.  Mike
was quick to size up a situation and realized that young Ben was about to
come to the aid of his big brother.  He saw in the gutsy young gypsy the
same strength of will as his brother.

"See," Ben began, "I don't want any more fighting because of me.  I love
everyone here and I want you all to get along.  You don't know what
happened, so I'll tell you."  Mike, Jason and Larry sat at the table, while
Randy stood on the background and let Ben speak.

"Uncle Mike, you remember before when you mentioned that biker Vince and
said you didn't like him at all.  Well you were right, sir.  While Larry
was away in Indio delivering a bike, Vince showed up at the workshop to
pick up his bike that I had worked on.  When he started it up he said it
was a mess and I hadn't fixed it good.

"I told him it was fine but he said I was calling him a liar.  He said he'd
take the bike as is, if I would suck his dick.  When I refused he said he
would tie me over his bike and fuck my ass.  I was plenty scared, but just
then my brother Randy showed up and heard Vince call me a greasy little
gyppo.  So of course there was a huge fight.

"Vince is a tough customer ... you know, tall, tough and strong as Randy.
They were evenly matched, first one on top then the other, and they both
got knocked around a lot.  When Vince got Randy in a real painful
full-nelson hold it looked like curtains for him.  But you know Randy," Ben
grinned, "tough guy to beat.  He powered out of the hold and got Vince in a
double hammerlock – and I knew that was a submission hold, `cos Randy
once told me that.

"I tell ya.  He really made Vince squeal and sob, begging for mercy. Randy
told me to watch him suffer and I did better than that.  I pulled out my
cellphone and got it all on video.  Randy near squeezed the life out of him
and gave him a choice – either get his arms broken, or get his ass
fucked. 'Course, he chose the fuck, in fact he was begging Randy to shove
his dick in his ass.  I got that on video too"

Ben was warming to his subject, boasting of the exploits of the brother he
idolized. "Dudes, that was some sight, I tell ya ... that big stud
musclehunk thrown over his own bike, tied down at Randy's mercy.  Well, you
know what a savage Randy fuck can be like, and he really hammered the guy.
He wanted the thug spit-roasted so I got in front of him and shoved my dick
down his throat.  I came all over his face, and videoed that too.

"But Randy hadn't finished with him, you know how he can demolish a guy. He
untied him threw him on his back on the floor and fucked him some more. But
here's the best part. You know how Randy can make anyone fall in love with
him. Those blue eyes of his stared down at Vince and he was a goner. He was
begging Randy to ream his ass and bust a load inside him, and guess what.
Randy was pinning his arms down and Vince came, no hands, just staring in
his eyes."

By now the men were grinning at Ben's enthusiasm.  "But wait, there's more.
Randy got a knife and cut Vince's jeans clear off.  He gave Vince no
choice, either take another beating or ride off into the sunset
... bareback, butt-naked ... like Lady Godiva, freedom rider," Ben
chuckled. "Talk about humiliation eh?"

Ben finally stopped talking, eyes shining with excitement.  The sudden
silence was broken by Larry, clapping slowly.  It was picked up by Mike,
and then Jason, as Ben beamed and took a bow.  He went up to Randy grabbed
his wrist and raised his arm high, like a prizefighter.

Then Ben ran to Jason who stood up and hugged him.  "Did I do OK, sir?  You
see why I don't want you to fight Randy?"

Jason kissed him, then broke free and went to Randy.  "Dude, I had every
intention of slugging you when I saw you, but after that story I'll do what
Ben wants ... plus I don't wanna end up riding a bike bareassed through
downtown Palm Springs," he grinned.

Randy replied, "Jason, I don't often say this to a guy, but I feel humbled
to be with you.  You are a true hero, fighting those fires, not me fighting
some bully on a greasy workshop floor.  Can I shake your hand, man?"

They shook hands and Jason said.  "Thank you, Randy, for rescuing my boy,
our boy.  Ben is really stoked."

"Yeah, dude, but that don't excuse what I did to him back home.  I was out
of my mind and I gave the kid a really hard time, just when he was so
depressed and worried about you.  I'll never forgive myself for that and
I'll find some way of apologizing to you properly later on."

That brief gush of mutual admiration was only a temporary thaw between
them.  A silence now descended on them, soon broken by Ben's shout
... "Here it is, guys." They all gathered round Larry's laptop that he had
brought out of the house.  Ben had loaded the fight video on it from his
phone, and they stared in awe at the total annihilation of the muscled
biker, with Randy going full-out caveman.

Randy hung back, but soon Mike broke away from the group and came up to
him.  Randy was unusually bashful, not sure what to expect from the man he
looked up to as a father, the man he had let down so badly.

Mike looked at him expressionless.  "Come indoors with me, boy, and let's
get you cleaned up."

<><> THE FATHER RANDY NEVER HAD <><>

They sat in the bathroom and Mike dabbed at the bruises on Randy's face
with a wet cloth.  "You took a lot of hits, boy, I knew that Vince was a
tough fighter ... he used to be a boxer.  But I saw on Ben's video what you
did to him.  He sure got the worst of it – bigger they are the harder
they fall, uh?

"And that final humiliation, that's something I never saw before, where a
tough alpha topman actually wants his rival to fuck him – craves it,
begs for it, and busts his load without touching his dick.

"I tell you something Randy, I got a hard-on watching that video of you
pounding ass.  I've always hated that guy, so fucking arrogant, thinks his
own crap don't stink.  I've always wanted him to be brought down, but never
dreamed it would be that far down.  I have a lot of influence in this town
and the guy is finished here.  I'll keep a copy of that video, and put the
word out that I've got it.  My guess is he'll hightail it out of town –
and good riddance.

"Thank god you came along when you did, Randy.  If he had done what he
threatened to young Ben it would have wrecked him, and Jason too in the
weakened state he's in.  We all have a lot to thank you for, boy."

In the ensuing silence, Randy said.  "But ...?  I hear a but coming, Mike"

"Well of course there's a but coming, there always is with you.  Randy you
are one helluva man, a great leader, great lover, great protector of the
boys.  You built that construction company out of nothing, the tribe loves
and respects you ... until ..."

"Until I fuck up."

"And you always do, boy.  It's like I told Jason, it's two opposite sides
of the same coin.  That strength and dominance almost guarantee that you'll
fuck up sometimes.  On the one hand you defend the boys like a tiger, fuck
like a caveman and work like a mule ... you're the rock holding up the
tribe.  But on the other side, you can't control your outbursts of rage.

"Ben's a classic example.  You lose your temper with him, for no reason,
you fire him and he runs sobbing away from his job and his home.  Then, out
here, you come to his rescue and dazzle him with your strength and power,
so he worships you like a hero.  Which is what you are, until next time you
become a pathetic bully throwing a temper tantrum."

"What you're saying Mike is that what I just did for Ben out here in no way
makes up for the way I hurt him."

"Oh, it does for Ben.  He came out here hating you, and now you're his hero
again.  You saw his shining eyes when he told that story.  But it don't for
the rest of us, Randy.  We can never forgive behavior like that, holding
our breath waiting for the next trigger to set you off."

Randy looked chastened. "Everything you say is true Mike.  I've promised my
brother Doc Steve that I'll go to him for regular shrink sessions.  I don't
know what else I can do.  Tell me, Mike.  Tell me what I can do."

"Randy, so far we haven't mentioned the man at the center of all this –
that gorgeous lover of yours, Bob.  Dude, you hit your lover across the
face ... you hit the man you say is more precious to you than your own
life.  I can only imagine what's going through his mind right now.  Don't
worry, I'm in constant contact with him, letting him know what's going on,
and as soon as you and I have finished here I'll call and update him on the
latest.

"But here's what I'll say to you, boy.  You are not a one-man band.  You've
got a whole bunch of loyal, capable guys backing you up, like Zack, Seth
and Darius at work, the boys in the office and, course Bob, always Bob.  So
don't take everything on your own shoulders, be ready to fall back on their
support.

"Oh, I know where it comes from.  When you lived in Texas everything was on
your shoulders – finding work, protecting those younger brothers of
yours, waging their battles, fighting off the bullies.  But times have
changed, dude.  You got guys you can hand off to, and Bob tells me Zack and
the others have everything under control, it's all running smooth as ever.

"So, if you feel the tension building in you, take a break, even spend time
up at your brother Steve's place, like you did this time."

"Yeah," Randy said, "Steve's good in those shrink sessions, but the peace
and quiet at that house in the hills was driving me nuts.  Lloyd's off at
work, Steve's seeing patients, and all I got is Tommy walking around and
flashing that perfect ass at me."

"So choose your support, boy.  You've got Steve for the professional
therapy, Bob for the love and support at home, but you can use me too, you
know.  Treat me like your sponsor in a support group.  When you feel you're
gonna blow, and especially when you've already lost your marbles and done
something stupid, pick up the phone and call me.  You've got my private
cell number and I always answer that."

Randy looked at the wise, older man, the father he never had, and tears
brimmed in his eyes.  "Mike, I love you, man.  I should have called you,
come out to visit you, you're always so good for me.  And I say back at ya,
buddy.  If ever you need help, just call me and I'll be out here like a
shot.  Like if you got some asshole biker like Vince giving you a hard
time, I'm your boy. I'll take care of him."

Mike's weather-beaten face broke into a smile. "I know you would, boy, we
got video to prove it."

"So what now, Mike?  How should I handle it from here on?"

"I keep thinking of Bob, Randy.  You gotta confront him soon, but not by
phone.  That kinda stuff has to be face-to-face – but only after you've
settled things out here with Jason.  I know you, Randy, a verbal apology
ain't enough.  You hurt Jason's boy, and by your own rules you feel you
gotta do some kind of penance.

"But here's my hunch.  Take your cue from young Ben.  Last thing he wants
is for you two to fight over him.  He loves you both, thinks of himself as
the boy of both of you, in different ways, of course – one a lover the
other a brother.  I have a feeling the kid will tell you what he wants.

"My advice is for you to spend today and tonight with us, and go back to
Bob in the morning.  Like I said, I'm gonna call Bob after I stop gabbing
with you, and I'll tell him what I've told you – I'll reassure him that
you're not avoiding him, you stayed the night here at my suggestion."

Randy grinned. "Sounds like I'm already shrugging the weight off my
shoulders, Mike, leaving the decisions to others.  Feels pretty good, too."

"See?" Mike chuckled. "Always works.  Unless, of course another mean
musclehunk like Vince shows up.  That's your territory, boy.  We'll just
stand back and leave it to you."

<><> A COMPLEX SITUATION <><>

At Mike's insistence Randy took a shower, then put on clean cargo shorts
Mike offered him, and went out barefoot and shirtless to join Jason, Ben
and Larry by the pool.  Mike brought out beers and a plateful of tapas left
over from yesterday's lunch.

Sitting between Jason and Randy, Ben had a smile of pure joy on his young
gypsy face.  After the despair and fears of the last few days he was
reunited with his two heroes, facing two weeks of bliss with Jason, coupled
with the satisfaction of working at a job he loved with his pal Larry.

While Ben chatted with Larry about the bikes still to repair, Mike talked
to Randy and Jason, watching carefully for signs of residual strain between
the two men.  Ben loved them both, and both men looked on Ben as their boy,
competing heroes, a situation Mike felt could spell trouble.

For most of his life Randy had fiercely protected his little brothers –
it was bred in the bone – so now it was natural that he made sure Ben
was treated well by Jason.  But Jason was his own man and sometimes felt
that the big gypsy was supervising their relationship.

The mere fact that Randy, rather than Jason, had rescued Ben from the
brutal biker made Jason uneasy, as it enhanced Ben's image of Randy as his
hero.  Though, at the same time, Jason felt enormously grateful to Randy
for saving his boy.

A complex situation, Mike mused as he paid careful attention to their body
language and tone of voice.  But Mike also had a strong feeling that Ben
was aware of the possible tension between his two men.  Ben was a bright
boy who had long been a keen observer of the many friendships and conflicts
in the men and boys of the tribe, so he must surely be aware, even if only
subconsciously, of the potential for conflict now, Mike thought.

Certainly the boy wanted his current state of bliss to continue, and he was
determined to keep the peace.  But he knew Randy well, and was fully aware
of his creed that if a man hurts another man's boy he must get punished.
So this had to apply to Randy himself, didn't it?  But Ben would never
allow them to come to blows and he instinctively acted to prevent that.

Ben thought of where he had been happiest and, without being quite sure
what he was doing, he asked Jason, "Sir, could we show Randy the little
cottage Uncle Mike has lent us while we're staying here?  He supervised
some of the construction after all. Would that be OK, Uncle Mike?"

Mike beamed.  "Kiddo, you don't have to ask me that, the place is yours
while you're here.  But I think it's a great idea for Randy to feel the
vibes of the place he helped build."

Jason caught Mike's encouraging look and said, "Sure thing kiddo. Let's
go."

As they left Mike said quietly to Ben, "Hey Ben.  You love `em both, so see
what you can do for those two."

"Okey dokey, sir," Ben said brightly.  "I'll do my best."

<><> COMPETING HEROES <><>

The two men, barefoot and shirtless in shorts, followed Ben prancing,
almost skipping ahead of them across the grounds to the small house shaded
by trees.  The men walked a few feet apart, not sure how they should
interact, leaving Ben to keep up a non-stop happy banter.  He proudly led
them into the living room, showing it off as if he owned it.

To break the silence between them Jason said stiffly, "You did a great job
in here, Randy."

"Thanks," Randy replied without making eye contact.

When Ben led them into the bedroom he noticed Randy tense as he looked at
the bed where Ben and Jason had slept and made love.  Randy glanced at
Jason, then looked away quickly.  Ben's happiness was diminished by the
uneasy atmosphere in the room and he plucked up his courage to say what he
had been vaguely rehearsing in his mind.

He frowned and took a deep breath.  "Sirs, is it OK if I say something?
See, I'm feeling real happy right now, but ... but I don't think you are
happy, and I know why.  It's about me.  But sirs, like I said before, I
don't want you fighting or quarreling over me.  I ... I love you both,
you're my heroes, and I want you to love each other too.

"I know all that stuff about when a man hurts another man's boy he has to
get punished.  But Randy, you always say that once he's been punished it's
over ... water under the bridge, you call it.  Well I want all this to be
water under the bridge too, sir.

"Oh, and one other thing.  A few times when I've fucked up I've been
punished by one or other of you.  But even when you did it, I never stopped
loving you.  In fact I ... I kinda loved you even more `cos I knew you were
doing it for me."

Ben suddenly blushed deeply and his voice cracked.  He stood before them,
shifting uneasily from foot to foot, afraid he had said too much.

There were tears in the eyes of both men, and Jason reacted first.  He
walked over to Ben and wrapped his arms round him.  "Ben, thank you for
saying that – we needed to hear it.  We'll do our best to be worthy of
you."

He released Ben and walked over to Randy.  "How about it, dude.  Better do
what the boy says."  Jason reached forward, rested his hands on Randy's
shoulder, leaned forward and kissed him hard on the lips.  And Randy
reciprocated.  When they pulled apart their eyes locked and Randy said,
"I'm sorry I hurt you and your boy, Jason.  I have to make amends in the
way I know best."

Randy fell to his knees before Jason, unlaced his boardshorts and let them
fall to the ground.  Jason's semi-hard cock swung before him and Randy
scooped it in his mouth.  It was hard in seconds as Jason stared down at
the ruggedly handsome gypsy, mouth wrapped round his cock, shaggy dark hair
falling over his face as it moved back and forth, his shoulders flexing as
he reached forward and held onto Jason's hips.

All three men in the room understood that this was Randy doing penance, a
topman on his knees servicing the man he had wronged.  Ben's eyes sparkled
as he watched one of his heroes, his big brother, debasing himself on his
knees to his other hero, his fireman lover.

The swarthy gypsy sucked the fireman's cock harder and deeper before
finally pulling back and groaning, "I submit to you, man."

"Then get up, get naked, on the bed."

Randy obeyed, dropped his cargo shorts, threw himself on his back on the
bed, stretched his arms up and grabbed the corner posts.  Jason picked up
off the ground two discarded old T-shirts and tossed them to Ben.  "You
know what to do kiddo."

Ben quickly and expertly tied Randy's wrists to the bedposts (having been
taught by Randy himself) and stood back to let Jason take over.  Jason
smiled ruefully at the naked construction boss tied to the bed.  "Sorry
about this dude, but you know it has to happen."

Jason knelt on the bed and spat on his cock.  He pushed Randy's legs back
... and drove his rod in his ass.  Randy winced only slightly as the
fireman's cock pierced him, and Jason stared down at the unflinching blue
eyes.

Ben watched with mixed feelings ... excitement, of course, watching his big
macho brother get his ass ploughed by the handsome young fireman, but some
anxiety too that one of them might get hurt.  Mostly he felt relief that
this was the ritual that would put an end to the painful story.

As Jason fucked harder and deeper, Randy stared up at the muscular young
stud and growled, "Damn you're beautiful.  Fuck me, dude, pound that ass, I
deserve it."

Jason's ripped body had a sheen of sweat as the action intensified and his
rod pistoned in and out of the gypsy's ass.  Ben stared in awe at the
spectacle of the man who had recently demolished a thug in a brutal fight,
then hammered his ass and made him beg for mercy.  Now, that same
triumphant alpha stud was himself tied down, his face still bruised, and
getting his own ass pounded in an act of surrender to the man he had
wronged.

Jason too flashed back on the video of Randy and Ben spit roasting the
brutalized Vince.  After jackhammering the gypsy's ass he said, "Hey, Ben,
time to really turn the tables on this guy.  Untie him, kiddo."

Again Ben obeyed and Jason pulled out of Randy's ass and stood on the bed,
towering over the naked construction boss.  He hooked his foot under
Randy's chest and flipped him over on his stomach.  "Up on your hands a
knees, big guy."

Randy obediently knelt on all fours, across the bed.  Jason stood on the
floor behind him, grabbed is hips and yanked him back on his cock that
speared his ass again.  "OK, boy, remember what you did to Vince?"

Ben hesitated for a moment until he saw Randy's stubbled jaw sag open.  He
stood on the floor on the opposite side of the bed and looked across at
Jason.  Just as Randy had done to Vince, Jason reached froward, grabbed a
fistful of Randy's long black hair and yanked his head back.  His jaw
sagged open again and Ben slid his cock down his throat.

Ben felt a sense of euphoria, taking part in the last act of this searing
drama that had started with pain and suffering and was now coming full
circle, with him and Jason spit-roasting Ben's muscular brother in the
penance he needed to purge his demons and bring peace at last.

By now, after long minutes of pounding the sexy gypsy, Jason was
approaching his climax. Ben was so turned on by the act of fucking his
macho brother's face and watching the handsome, ripped fireman pound his
ass, that he too had to shoot his load.

"Sir, I gotta cum ... can I cum, sir?"

"Ya hear that Randy?  You're kid brother's gonna pump his load down your
throat and I'm gonna fill your ass.  It's called penance, dude, the
humiliation of getting spit-roasted by your own kid brother and his man."

Jason smiled at Ben across the muscled body.  "You ready, Ben?  Let's do
it, kid.  Let's fill him up ... here it comes kiddo ... yeah ... yeahhh!"
Ben watched the fireman's ripped body flex as he howled and pumped jizz in
Randy's ass, and the boy lost his load deep in his brother throat."

Panting hard, they pulled out and Jason rolled Randy on his back.  His cock
rose up long and thick and Jason grinned, "See that kid?  You wanna do the
honors?"

Ben knelt by the bed, leaned down and took his brother's cock in his mouth.
On the opposite side of the bed Jason knelt, leaned forward and smiled,
"Randy, you are one hot sexy son-of-a-bitch.  He clamped his mouth over
Randy's in a grinding kiss as their tongues searched deep inside and they
shared the same heaving breath.

Randy gave a muffled groan into the gag of Jason's lips and his cock
erupted in the mouth of the little brother he loved.

Ben gulped down his brother's cum, and after it had drained Randy lay back
and flashed a gleaming smile.  "And that, guys, is what you call water
under the bridge."

<><> CONTAGIOUS LAUGHTER <><>

Ben fell on the bed beside Randy and laughed that silvery laugh that both
men knew and loved, his beaming smile so contagious it ended up on their
faces too.  Jason lay on the other side of Ben as he continued to laugh
joyfully.  "How do you shut him up, dude?" Randy asked.

"Only one way to do that."  Jason pressed his lips against the side of
Ben's mouth, and Randy did the same on the other side.  Ben sputtered under
the weight of both men, but when they pulled away the laughter began again.

Finally Ben paused for breath, his eyes sparkling.  Jason asked Randy,
"You're not gonna run right back to L.A. are you, buddy?"

"Not till tomorrow morning.  Mike persuaded me to stay the night, then
drive back and talk to Bob.  That's gonna be a toughie – I haven't
spoken to him since I left our house to stay at Steve's place.  But Mike
says he's been in touch with him all the time, letting him know what's
going on.  He said I should confront Bob face to face rather than on the
phone.  So tonight I'll be staying in Mike's guestroom.

"On your own, dude?  You should bunk in here with us.  The bed's big
enough, god knows.  Everything's king-size in any house you design."

"Even the men," Ben chuckled.

"Watch your lip, kid," Randy said.  "Looks like you're gonna be sleeping
with two tough guys tonight.  You OK with that?"

"Yes please, sir."

"And you gonna stop all that laughing?"

"Can't guarantee that, sir.  I feel so happy."

It was that same laughter that Mike and Larry heard as they sat by the pool
drinking cocktails, and Mike smiled, "Sounds like good news.  I had a
feeling young Ben could work one of his gypsy spells on those two alpha
studs.  It's the best medicine for Jason too after four weeks in wildfire
hell."

"So you think this whole sorry story has a happy ending, Mike?"

"As far as those three in the guesthouse are concerned.  I'd say Randy and
Jason now share a love and respect they never really did before.  But the
last hurdle for Randy is the toughest ... making everything right with Bob.
You know, Larry, after each one of these rage eruptions with Randy I wonder
how many more times Bob can forgive him.

"The love those two have for each other is so deep and passionate I can't
really see them splitting up ... they're joined at the hip.  But this
ritual of injury, apology, penance and forgiveness is repeated time after
time.  It's the classic pattern of the battered spouse syndrome.  Bob's a
gorgeous man, could have anyone, but still he puts up with Randy's caveman
behavior."

Larry said, "Don't you think that's part of the attraction, Mike?  I mean,
the caveman on a rampage is hard to take, but the caveman in bed can be
thrilling.  I know that most of the guys in the tribe are attracted to that
– Randy's dominance, the forceful way he fucks and makes love."

"Oh sure, I agree, Larry.  It's like I've been saying all along, it's two
sides of the same coin, one exciting, the other exasperating. The gypsy's
strength and dominance are great as a leader and a lover, but he's so
intense it's almost a given that he'll blow his top sometimes and start
swinging his fists – the bad side of the coin.

"But you're right Larry, would we want him any other way?  It's probably
why Randy and Bob are such a great fit.  Randy has great strength but so
does Bob in his own quiet way.  It's a match of opposites – rugged West
Texas and classy Marin County.  And when, all those years ago and against
all odds, these men from opposite sides of the tracks met in that unlikely
scruffy bar, it was for keeps."

"Yeah, but you know what they say, Mike, making up is hard to do.  Like you
said, how many times can Bob take this before he has to break the cycle
... whatever it takes?"

They were interrupted by the triumphant trio returning, Ben talking
nineteen to the dozen.  He flung his arms round Mike.  "Sir, ain't it
great? Randy's staying the night with Jason and me?"

While Larry busied himself serving drinks and snacks to the men, Mike
talked quietly with the excited boy.  "So it came out alight eh?  How'd you
do it, kiddo?"  "Well, sir, I made a little speech – how I loved them
both and wanted them to love each other.

"`Course, we still had to do the punishment thing, but I told them
punishment and love can go together – like fucking rough and making love
go together sometimes.  You know what a tough topman Randy is – well all
he needed was to submit to Jason and take it up the ass.  It ended up with
Jason and me spit-roasting Randy, just like him and me spit-roasted Vince
in my video."

Mike chuckled.  "You sound like you got it all sewed up, kiddo.  I'll come
to you for therapy next time Larry and me have a fight."

Ben laughed and called over to Larry.  "Hey dude, how about you and me have
a stab at making dinner tonight?  My pal Will is a great chef and he's
taught me a thing or two.  I often cook for Jason when we're alone and I
ain't had no complaints yet."

"Sure, Ben.  Mike and I don't order in all the time, we often cook dinner
together ... makes us feel kinda domestic after all that leather biker
stuff in the bar.  So you're on kiddo."

And that's how the afternoon and evening went, mellow with relief that the
drama was over and newfound love had triumphed.  Dinner was a success, and
that night Ben slept blissfully between his heroes in a tangle of muscular
limbs.  He was, as Mike put it indelicately when he reported to Bob
... `happy as a pig in shit'."

<><> "SO LONG, FELLAS <><>

Next morning after Randy disentangled himself from the bed, it was obvious
his thoughts were shifting to a new focus.  And that focus, naturally, was
Bob.

He wolfed down his breakfast and Mike grinned, "Raring to hit the road, eh
boy?  I put your jeans and T-shirt through the washing machine so you
wouldn't show up at Bob's looking like the grease-covered prize-fighter you
did yesterday.  Not much I can do about the bruises though – can't wash
them away.  But I guess Bob's used to seeing you bruised and battered, eh?"

"I guess so, Mike.  Just hope he don't throw me out this time."

"Randy, get over yourself.  That gorgeous man will never throw you out, you
know that by now.  But I won't go into all that again.  I've spent way too
much time analyzing you two inside and out.  Now it's time for you to
simply face the music.  Just be yourself, dude – minus the fisticuffs.
It's you he loves, warts and all.  Oh, he'll be cold to you at first, has
to be.  On the surface anyway.  But inside, the mere sight of you will
light his fire as it always does."

"Thanks Mike.  I kinda wish you could be there."

"Nah," Mike laughed.  "You're a big boy, you gotta handle this yourself."

Randy went inside and put on the clean jeans and T-shirt.  When he came out
he hugged Jason and kissed Ben.  "Love you guys.  Have yourselves a great
vacation out here.  And Ben, Pablo will be real stoked that you're coming
back.  Says you're an ace mechanic, finest assistant he could ever have."

Randy hugged Larry.  "Thanks for being so good to my little brother, dude,
and take good care of your old man here.  He's real precious to me.  And If
you have any more trouble with Vince or any other biker thugs, just give me
a holler and I'll be right out."

"I will, sir, only next time I'm gonna film the whole thing.  Great thing
to whack off to on those lonely evenings when Mike's at the bar."

Randy grinned at Mike.  "As for you, man, I ... I love you dude, you know
that."  He wrapped his arms round Mike in a long, tight hug.  There were
still tears in his eyes when he said, "So long fellas ... have fun," and
strode away to his truck.

As he drove away he felt a warm glow as his memory wandered over his new
friendship with Jason ... Larry's cheerful affection for Ben and love for
Mike ... the deep love Randy himself shared with Mike ... and above all,
the silvery laughter of his kid brother Ben, who had traded his despair for
the joy of being loved and protected by his two heroes.

As the miles sped by Randy's thoughts shifted from what he was leaving
behind, to what awaited him at his destination.  He was longing to see Bob
again, but nervous and unsure about the reception he would get.  Mike had
told him to be himself, but he wasn't even sure what that was – just a
mess of conflicting selves and fiery passions.  Normally when confused, he
would go to Bob for help.  But now his confusion centered on Bob, the man
who was his whole life.

<><> BOB & RANDY – FACE TO FACE <><>

In what the tribe had dubbed `The Boss House' at the compound, Bob was, as
usual, working at his desk in his bedroom. Deep in the financial statistics
of the Construction Company expansion he had stifled his concerns about the
return of his lover.  Will had brought him a tray of coffee and sandwiches
and he had squeezed the boy's arm with murmured thanks as Will quietly
left.

It was sometime later that there was another knock at the door ... but
nobody came in.  Bob assumed it was Will again, or one of the shy boys from
the office.  Maybe they had questions, in the absence of the office manager
Brandon who was on a short vacation at the Grady House with his lover Pete.

These thoughts ambled vaguely through his mind as he worked.  As no one
appeared he called out "come in", and continued working.  A few seconds
later he glanced up from his laptop ... and saw Randy.  For one absurd
moment he looked like a nervous schoolboy who'd been sent to the
headmaster's office for discipline.

Bob stood up – and cursed himself for feeling his cock get hard as he
looked at the macho gypsy.  "Randy, you're home."  An awkward silence.
"Er, how are Ben and Jason doing ... and Mike and Larry?"

"They're fine.  Everything's fine out there."

"And ... and you?  Ben sent Will his video and we watched it.  Come here."

Randy walked haltingly toward him and Bob reached up to his face and
brushed his fingers lightly over the bruises.  "Do they hurt?  Are you
hurt?"

"Nah, nothing broken.  You know me, I bounce back fast after a fight."

"Randy, Mike gave me the whole story and I have to thank you for what you
did to protect your brother.  Seems this thug ... Vince or whatever ... was
quite the fighter, an ex-boxer."

Randy shrugged.  "Yeah but nothing I couldn't handle.  Me and Ben ended up
tying him to his own bike and spit roasting him.  I sent him off on his
bike butt naked.  Quite a sight riding through downtown Palm Springs, like
Lady Godiva, Ben said."  He grinned, with a hint of pride.

There followed another uneasy silence as neither man knew where to take
this next.  They stood staring at each other, each with a major erections
in his pants.  When the silence grew too heavy Randy, as always, followed
his impulses.  He suddenly wrapped his hand round Bob's head and pulled him
into a churning kiss.

After a few seconds Bob pulled away and protested, "Randy, you can't make
everything right with a kiss."  He instantly regretted his words.

"Dammit, man, I wasn't trying to kiss everything away."  He raised his
voice. "I kissed you because I love you, I've missed you, and I've got a
roaring hardon in my fucking pants just looking at you.  Dammit, there I go
shouting again, losing my temper ... I've fucked up again like I always do.
I'm no good for you, dude, I ..."

Bob silenced him with another kiss, this one passionate, lips grinding
against each other, tongues probing deep. When at last they separated Bob
said, "I'm sorry I said that, Randy.  I didn't mean it ... I guess I'm
nervous."

"That makes two of us, buddy."

Bob picked up the phone.  "Will, would you bring more coffee and sandwiches
... and a second cup, please?"

"Right away sir.  I have them right here."

Bob shut off the phone and managed a tense smile.  "Sit down Randy,
please."  He lightly kissed the bruises on Randy's face.  "Maybe I can kiss
those away at least."

Randy sat down at the small table and grinned, "Ben told me that's what his
mom always said when he was a child ... kiss it better."

"Is he really happy, Randy?"

"As a clam at high tide, dude.  Me and Jason slept with him last night, he
loved it.  He calls us his heroes.  And you know what?  That Jason is a
really neat guy.  I always worried he wasn't treating Ben right, but now I
know him better I see how much he and Ben love each other.  And man, what
he's been doing up north in those fires!  That takes guts – a real
hero."

A tap at the door and Will came in with another tray.  "Here we are.
Welcome home, sir, everybody's missed you a whole lot."

Randy grinned and ruffled Will's red hair.  "Thanks for saying that, Red.
Means a lot."

Will made another discreet exit.  Bob poured Randy's coffee and said, "Glad
to hear that the story of Ben and Jason has a happy ending.  So now for the
situation down here.  I can tell you that the construction sites are all
running smoothly, thanks to Zack, Seth and Darius.

"Also, I spoke to Doc Steve.  Naturally, he didn't tell me what you both
covered in therapy, that's confidential doctor/patient stuff, of course.
But he did like the way things are going and said you were on track for
regular therapy sessions, especially whenever the going gets rough.

"So I guess you could say that in general the dust has settled and we have
a way forward."

Randy reach forward and squeezed Bob's hand.  "But what about us, dude, you
and me.  Bob, I hit you again.  How many times have I said I'd never do
that again?  And yet ... I got so mad I hit you, buddy. I'm afraid next
time I'll piss you off so bad you'll walk out on me. That would kill me."

"So, we have to make sure it doesn't happen, Randy," Bob said calmly. "Or
at least, if the threat looms we know how to handle it.  I've been thinking
about that.  It might sound kinda weird, but I started to compare your
rages with you having rough sex.  They're a bit alike, you know.

"You know how when you get into bondage and rough sex with guys, you always
insist on a safe word.  So if passions and lusts get out of control, and
one of you loses control and goes over the limit, the one tied up just has
to say the safe word and it triggers something, stops the action cold, no
matter how wound up you are."

"You thinking of a bondage scene right now, dude?  Me and my boner would go
for that."

"Down, tiger.  No, I was just thinking that if ever you go over the top
with me, like you did the other day when all this started, I could yell a
word when you raise your hand and it would stop you dead in your tracks.

"Hmm, maybe so.  And I suppose you've already come up with a word."

"Kind of.  You remember the motel where we met?  That's where our passion
first peaked, you got angry, tied me up and roughed me up, but you stopped
short of injuring me, and you released me and let me leave.  I came back,
of course, couldn't stay away. If the word reminded you of that, it could
jolt you back to reality.  The word I was thinking of is ... Room-Fourteen.

Randy smiled, "Yeah maybe ... worth a try. But buddy, what about right now?
I gotta find a way of apologizing for what I did to you. You know me, I
gotta pay my debts.  What can I do?  Help me, dude."

Bob smiled.  "Maybe it's not so much what you can do as what I can do.
After all, we've both got roaring hard-ons, don't we?"

Randy grinned.  "And we wouldn't even need a safe word."

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

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 598


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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