Trial Of Strength (Book 14)

"COWBOY CHARLIE LEARNS THE MEANING OF MANHOOD"

Cowboy Charlie is a macho straight stud who has never felt the slightest sexual attraction to men. His love for his boys, Vic and Noah, is like the love of an older brother. So he is shocked when sex happens between him and the boys. His manhood threatened, he loses his cool and asserts to the tribe, “I’m not gay like y’all – I’m all man.”  The therapist Doc Steve sets out to educate Charlie on what “all man” really means.  

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<><>    Not All Fun & Games   <><>

The Grady House party was in full swing, another of the regular parties given for the whole tribe by the sexy action movie-star Grady and his Italian lover Mario.

And already the weekend gathering was proving to be more than just an opportunity to have fun together, though they certainly did that.  The colorful group of thirty or so men and boys ranged from tough, rugged construction workers through a whole range of different guys to young, shy boys who relied on their men for love and protection.

Sex was inevitably the backdrop to most of the action among these horny guys, but it was not all fun and games – many of the events that occurred were not of the party-hearty kind.  Naturally, among so many relationships there were bound to be problems and complications, and this was an ideal time and place to resolve them – in the expansive setting of the opulent house and lush grounds.

As co-host Mario said in his charming Italian accent. “That one reason we are all here, amici, a large group of loving and supportive friends.  If we cannot sort out our problems here, where can we?”

So far, the party had been a sequence of wildly different events.  One of the guests, the hot rodeo cowboy Charlie, had even arrived on his rodeo horse.  Then Charlie had teamed up with his brothers – big boss Randy, and therapist doc Steve – to treat Charlie’s boys Noah and Vic to a hearty sexual five-way.

Soon after that, the ever-horny Grady, despite his image as a macho screen action star, had submitted his ass to the two Aussies of the group – Adam and Nate – in an Aussie spit-roast that was quickly dubbed “Grady being Aussiefied.”

Attention had then turned to the wild and rugged construction boss Seth and his freckle-faced redheaded boy, young assistant chef Will.  They were so totally different that occasional strain was inevitable, but the couple had resolved their differences and demolished the walls between them.

Watching all this action with Grady and Mario were the tribe’s co-leaders, Randy and his lover Bob.  Bob grinned, “You know, Mario, I could almost swear you set up these events at your parties, like a puppet master pulling the strings.”

Mario laughed merrily.  “I wish I could take the credit, Bob, but I can’t.  I have nothing to do with the entertainment, except to invite you men up here and let you take over.  You guys make your own party and solve your own problems.  But this is only the beginning, signori.  Plenty more challenges to come.  How do you say in English – stay tuned?”

<><>    Charlie & His Boys In The Secret Garden    <><>

No one knew at the time that the party’s talent for solving problems was soon to be put to an alarming test.  It was sparked, innocently enough, by a suggestion from Mario to cowboy Charlie. 

Like everyone else, Mario had earlier watched the stunning sexual five-way involving Charlie and his boys. That had been brought about by the fact that Charlie was the only man here who was straight.  He was a ladies’ man, a stud, and had never felt the slightest sexual attraction to men.  His love for his boys, Vic and Noah, was more like the love of an older brother. 

This was not a problem for the boys as they had always found sexual fulfilment with each other.  They hero-worshipped Charlie, with no expectations of sex with him – (though they occasionally fantasized secretly about what that would be like.)

That is why Doc Steve had come up with the sexual five-way, to create a semblance of sex for them with Charlie.  They loved simply watching the handsome cowboy, especially when he took his shirt off, as he always did at the finale of his rodeo performance.  So, in Doc Steve’s scenario, Vic and Noah were butt-fucked by Randy and Steve while the boys watched the sexy cowboy slowly strip to the waist. 

The combined sensation of cocks pumping their asses and the erotic sight of the shirtless Charlie gave the excited boys gushing orgasms – a version of sex with Charlie without even touching him.

Charlie was so secure in his heterosexuality that he had no problem being around all the men and boys here having sex with each other.  ‘To each his own,’ he said with a smile. He loved his shy boys deeply, a platonic love that would never include him so much as touching them in any sexual way.

It was an unusual arrangement, but one that suited them all.  The boys were happy to be loved by the macho cowboy, and Charlie could consider his manhood intact.

But then came Mario’s innocent suggestion.  After watching the very public five-way sex it occurred to Mario that Charlie and his boys might like some time alone, not surrounded by a crowd of cheering men and boys.  And the ideal place for that was what Mario called, il mio giardino segreto – his secret garden.

This was a hidden garden on the grounds of the house, a place often considered magical, as so many couples had discovered when they had been entrusted with the key by young Brian, the boy of Mario and Grady.

As the crowd got noisier and more animated Mario watched Charlie, Vic and Noah trying to have an intimate chat.  “Amici,” Mario said, “you have not yet tasted the delights of our Secret Garden, I think.”

“No,” Charlie grinned, “but we’ve heard all about it.  It has quite a reputation.  Some kind of enchanted place, so they say.”

“Brian, I think it’s time we gave them the key, don’t you think?”

Brian flinched slightly.  “Do you think so, sir?  Are you sure?”

Surprised by Brian’s hesitation, Mario gave him a winning smile.  “Why not? I think that’s just what these three need after all that public display – a place where they can spend time alone.”

Brian was still doubtful.  “It can have a powerful effect, sir, as you know.”

“And all of it good,” Mario smiled reassuringly.

“Very good, sir.”  Brian raked around in the saddle bag of his wheelchair and produced the large old-fashioned key. “Here you are, guys. I think you know where the secret garden is, though it might take some searching to locate the door.

Charlie was amused by the thought of visiting the place he had heard so much about.  The boys were excited.  They easily located the square garden surrounded by tall, thick hedges but, as Brian had warned, finding the door was more of a challenge.  But eventually, Noah shouted, “Here it is.”

The low wooden door was hidden behind thick bushes and when Charlie inserted the key it creaked open slowly. As soon as they went inside they felt the other-worldly atmosphere – the ‘magic’ as some had called it. Unlike the manicured landscape of the Grady House grounds, this garden had been left to run wild, with bushes and brambles hanging over a small dirt path.

The boys instinctively grabbed Charlie as they made their way along the path toward the sound of trickling water.  Even Charlie, always so practical and secure in his everyday world, felt a shiver run down his spine, a sense that he was not in control, that anything could happen.

As they made their way along the path, brushing the brambles aside, the sound of trickling water grew louder until suddenly they found themselves in a small clearing, with long unkempt grass bordering a shallow stream fed by a small waterfall.

“Wow,” Charlie said, “this is all kinda weird. I see what the other guys meant by magic.  like its own little world, and we’re the only ones in it.”  He threw himself down, lay on his back in the grass and smiled up at his mesmerized boys.  Even they looked different to him, lit by the dappled sunlight shining through the trees. “Hey, kids, why don’t y’all give that waterfall a try?”

With no shyness or hesitation Vic and Noah kicked off their sneakers, dropped their shorts and stepped into the stream’s shallow water, laughing as they splashed each other.  They pulled off their shirts and, wearing just their undershorts, they stepped up to the waterfall and let it trickle over their heads and down their chests.

They smiled at each other in a way Charlie had never seen before.  They were … in his mind he searched for the right word and came up with a word he never used … they were enchanting.

Then the boys kissed each other, and Charlie saw their cocks get hard in their wet shorts.  And the strangest thing – Charlie’s own cock stiffened.  This would normally have disturbed him, but in this place it didn’t matter. In this place it seemed right – he welcomed it.

Charlie closed his eyes and gave himself up to the dreamlike atmosphere of the secret garden – no matter what came next.  The gurgling stream seemed to carry him along with it, and when he opened his eyes, the boys were standing ankle-deep in the stream smiling down at him, water running down their bodies and making their shorts cling to their bulging cocks.

Charlie had never seen his boys like this.  They were – again he searched for the right word, and again found one he never used about his boys. Vic and Noah were sexy.

Charlie was no longer surprised or embarrassed by his own hard-on.  He unbuttoned his jeans, pulled out his cock and stroked it, smiling up at the boys he loved. The boys too were neither surprised nor embarrassed, even when Charlie said, “Hey, kids, you wanna give me a little help here?”

It felt natural to them as they stepped out of the stream and knelt beside him in the long grass. Vic wrapped his hand round the cowboy’s cock and stroked it gently, while Noah bent down and kissed Charlie on the lips.  Charlie opened his mouth and welcomed the warm feeling of his boy’s tongue in his mouth.

Losing all inhibitions, the boys happily went to work making their man feel loved … making him feel sexy.  They took turns stroking his cock, kissing his lips – and his cock.  He looked down at the boys licking his cock together … and they looked beautiful.  He grabbed the back of Noah’s head, pulled his face down and sighed as he felt the boy’s warm wet mouth round his cock.

Charlie had received blow jobs from women many times, but they never felt like this.  When Vic took over from Noah, the cowboy sighed, “Damn that feels incredible.  Where did you kids learn to do it like this?”

Noah smiled, “Eddie taught us, sir.  He taught all the boys.”

Something about the image of Eddie giving them blowjob classes made Charlie’s smiled break into laughter.  “Damn, I love you, kids.  Yeah, suck your cowboy’s cock … feels incredible.”

It was as if all their past years of budding platonic love suddenly burst into flower and Charlie gave himself up to the novel sensation of getting his cock sucked in turn by these sexy boys, a sensation unlike any he had ever felt before.

The pace quickened, the boys became ever more passionate, and Charlie felt semen race up his cock and explode in Vic’s mouth.  The boy gulped it down, Noah took Vic’s place and Charlie shot another load in his mouth.

In an erotic daze Charlie looked up at the boys kneeling over him, stroking their cocks, their eyes sparkling.  He heard their laughter, saw the joy on their faces, and felt their warm juices splash down on his face and body.

Charlie was stunned. What had just happened here? … He had had sex with his boys … and it felt good, it felt magical – everything felt magical.  Of course … they were in the Secret Garden.

<><>    Charlie Loses His Mind    <><>

Charlie went blank as reality started to invade the magic.  He touched his own cheek and it was sticky.  That’s right, his boys had shot their wads on him.  He was covered in their jizz.  He had had sex with them, with boys.  No, it couldn’t be.  He was straight, a stud, a ladies’ man.  He shook his head.  All he could think of was getting out of this place.

He didn’t want to hurt his boys, but he had to leave.  “Hey kids, you stay here and have fun.  I gotta … I gotta take care of something.”  He pulled up his pants and stumbled away down the path, brushing bushes aside, brambles clutching at him as if trying to keep him here.

He found the door, pushed it open and staggered out – into the real world, a world where he didn’t have sex with men, where men didn’t kiss, didn’t cum on each other. At least he didn’t.  No way.

Frantically he spat in his hand and scrubbed the jizz from his face.  In his confusion he heard voices, laughter.  In the distance he saw Hassan and Eddie in a clearing … and the Marine was fucking the boy in his ass. 

He averted his gaze and found himself approaching the group of men he had left so recently. They looked up and their smiles faded when they saw the cum-splashed cowboy and the look of anguished confusion on his face.

“Hey, dude, how’d it go in there?” Randy asked.  “Where are the boys?”

“I left them there … I couldn’t … I … dude, I had sex with them.  I had sex with two boys … I still got their jizz on me.  I just saw Hassan butt-fucking his boy.  Dammit, he’s a Marine captain, he could have any woman he wanted, and he was having sex with a boy.  I could have any woman I want, but I had sex with boys.”

“Good for you, bro,” Randy ginned.  “Join the club.”

“No, man, you don’t get it.  I’m not in your club, I ain’t no fag.  You’re just a bunch of faggots.  I don’t belong here.”

With his usual lack of finesse, Randy laughed, “Ah, chill, cowboy, it was only a matter of time.  So how was it?  They’re cute kids.  Did they suck your dick?  They learned that from Eddie.”

Charlie’s eyes flashed.  “You don’t get it, asshole.  I don’t do that, I’m not like all of you.”

Bob put a restraining hand on Randy’s arm and said, “Charlie, calm down.  It was your first time. It takes time getting used to it and in future you’ll love it.”

“There ain’t gonna be a next time, dude.  I don’t belong here, I gotta get away.  I’ve heard that guys like you recruit other guys into your sick lifestyle.  I’ve seen you kissing my brother Randy.  He never used to be like that, you turned him into a faggot like yourself.  It’s disgusting.”

Just as Randy had greeted Charlie with a lack of finesse, he now reacted just as viscerally.  Bob had been insulted, and no man got away with that.  Randy sprang to his feet and poked his brother in the chest.  “Take that back, asshole.  That man is the finest you’ll ever meet.”

“No, he’s a fucking faggot just like y’all.”

“Fuck you man,” Randy shouted and reacted in his usual way, with his fists.  He hauled back and punched the cowboy in the face. Charlie staggered backward but stayed on his feet and retaliated.   He launched himself forward and slammed Randy in his gut, making him double over in pain.

The fight was on, despite the efforts of Bob, Steve and Mario to restrain them.  They all knew there was no point in trying to stop Randy in a fight.  Randy was avenging his lover Bob, and Charlie was out of his mind, reeling from the horrific impact of having had sex with boys for the first time.  In his deluded mind he was protecting his manhood.  So the men looked on helplessly as the warring brothers rolled over on the ground trading punches.

Young Will had been making the rounds clearing away dishes when the argument started.  Bob looked up at him and nodded in the direction of the Secret Garden.  He went in and found Vic and Noah huddled together by the stream looking bewildered and scared.  Noah asked, “What’s going on Will?”

“Er, I came to find you guys ‘cos we have a problem in the kitchen.   We’re running way behind schedule and need help. Can you guys come back with me and help us out?  We really need it.”

“Where’s Charlie?” Vic asked.

“He’s, er, talking to Randy.  Can you come back to the kitchen with me?”

Dazed and confused they followed Will out of the garden and didn’t notice that he was taking them the long way round to the kitchen, avoiding the brawl by the pool.  But Will’s ploy didn’t work. 

At that moment Charlie had Randy pinned on his back on the ground, punching his chest.  Randy bent his knee and pressed his boot against Charlie’s chest above him. He shoved hard and Charlie reared up, staggered backward and splashed down in the pool.  Randy was on his feet in an instant, raced forward with an animal howl and dived in after him.  They broke the surface still punching wildly.

Unfortunately, the howls and splashes occurred just before Will and the boys entered the kitchen.  Vic and Noah looked up and raced off in the direction of the shouting.  Aghast, they saw their man in the pool fighting with Randy. They both assumed this had something to do with what had happened in the Secret Garden and shouted, “No! Please, sir, stop.  This is all our fault. It’s because we …”

Bob and Steve ran over to them and restrained them before they too jumped in the pool.  “This is not your fault, boys,” Bob said calmly.  “It’s between Randy and Charlie,” Steve added. “You didn’t cause this.”

But the sight of the anguished boys had its effect.  Charlie looked up and stopped fighting.  Randy was poised to slug him again, but seeing him staring up at the boys he lowered his fist.

The fight was over.  The effort to sort out the tangle of bruised feelings was just beginning. 

<><>    The Therapist Explains    <><>

The group rallied to restore calm. Bob quietly asked Brian to go and get dry shorts for the men.  They climbed out of the pool, looking rather sheepish as their anger abated.  Will knew just what was needed.  He brought from the kitchen a bottle of Randy’s premium Scotch from his private stash, and a bottle of Tequila, which he knew was the cowboy’s favorite drink.

A combination of cooler heads, Scotch and Tequila shots did the trick, and Bob pulled Vic and Noah down on the seat beside him and gave them one of his famously reassuring smiles. The uncomfortable silence became oppressive, and Bob looked pleadingly at Doc Steve.  It was clearly the therapist’s moment, and Steve rose to the occasion.”

He cut through the silence with his reassuring, professional tone. “OK, guys, I think we would all agree that that was not a pleasant scene.  But it’s clear to me what is going on here.”

Charlie shrugged. “I’m glad it’s clear to someone, ‘cos I don’t have a fucking clue.”

“As I see it,” Steve continued, “it all started with the Secret Garden.  I’m a psychologist and I don’t believe in magic, but I have to admit that place can have a strong effect on people, which seems to have happened here.”

“And that’s my fault,” Mario said, “mi scusi, signori.  When I suggested that Charlie take his boys to the Secret Garden Brian flinched and was clearly not happy with the suggestion.  He knew better than I that the garden is wonderful for lovers to make love, but for men who are confused about their sexuality, there can be problems.”

Charlie bristled.  “Don’t pin this on me, dude, I don’t doubt my sexuality.  I am one hundred percent straight, heterosexual, all man.”

Steve looked pensive.  “Hmm, strange you should use that mix of words, Charlie, because it takes us straight to the heart of the matter.  First of all, I am not trying to pin anything on you or anyone else.  That includes you, Vic and Noah.  You did absolutely nothing wrong …  you simply made love to the man you love.  It’s Charlie’s reaction that brings us to this point.

“I find it interesting that you used the word percentage, because I was about to.  Here’s my theory.  Being gay or straight is all a matter of percentages.  We are all to some degree both –some percentage of both.  People who are proudly bisexual can be right in the middle of the range – fifty-fifty – as happy making love to men or women. 

Most of us identify as one or the other, as you certainly do, Charlie.  You may not be aware of any gay inclinations, but the proof of the pudding tells it all. The ingredients here were two sweet boys you love – platonically as you thought – the right time and place and, OK I admit – maybe a touch of magic.  You three were just swept along by the strong sensual currents of the place.  You lost control – I would say lost your inhibitions – and we know the result.

“All that was normal. You were being true to yourselves.  What was not true, or normal, was your violent reaction, Charlie.”

“Listen, doc, I don’t understand what happened in there, but it don’t change the fact that I’m straight as a die, I’m all man.”

“Yes, I was interested to hear you use those words just now.  Do you think that having sex with the boys you love makes you any less of a man?”

Charlie was flustered.  No … well, in a way, I … I dunno, doc.”

“I know,” Steve smiled, “difficult question.  I guess it depends on how you define ‘all man’.  What is it that makes us a man?  If it depends on brute physical strength, you clearly are all man, judging by the way you traded punches just now with your brother Randy.  If it depends on being kind, loving and protective to those weaker or younger than yourself, again you get top marks.

“However, if it means flying into a rage, insulting your friends and calling them faggots, you land at the bottom of the class.  There’s nothing manly about throwing a hissy fit.  After all,” Steve grinned, “hissy rhymes with sissy.  But you, cowboy, are no sissy – not the way you went toe to toe and blow for blow with your big tough brother.

“And just for the record, Charlie, we never, ever, recruit anyone to our lifestyle of … what an ugly word that is. ‘faggot’.  It is a curse word yelled out by insecure little men with limited vocabularies – and very likely little dicks.”

Amid the laughter, Charlie said, “I kinda get what you’re saying, doc.  But where does that leave us, especially me?  I insulted my boys, the boys I truly love, and my brother and his friends, who I also love.”  He squeezed Bob’s hand.

“Ah, to answer that, my friend, I have to ask you a crucial question. You undoubtedly had sex with your boys.  You let them suck your cock, and then they sprayed your body with their semen.  So, here’s the question – one used by every therapist since the dawn of time … How did you feel about that, Charlie?”

Charlie actually blushed as he smiled at the boys.  I … I guess I liked it.  It gave me two orgasms.  But that was probably because of the Secret …”

“Oh, let’s stop blaming a garden, shall we.  It’s a wonderful place that Mario wisely let run wild.  It’s conducive to good things happening, but it does not create them.  Grass, trees and streams cannot make something out of whole cloth – the desire has to be there in the first place. 

“So, here’s my diagnosis, Charlie.  You love your boys, platonically as you thought.  But when it spilled over into physical sex it felt great, like a natural climax that produced two orgasms.  And it did not detract in any way from your manhood.”  Steve grinned slyly. “The same cannot be said of your subsequent tirade, your hissy fit, which came from your old-fashioned insecurity – and not, I’m sure, from having a tiny dick.”

“You’re right about that, doc,” said Noah, to another burst of laughter.

“So, here’s my advice, guys. Just carry on being yourselves. Don’t push things, just go with the flow, wherever it takes you.  I predict that you’ll find it improves your relationship.  When you accidentally touch each other in future, you won’t pull back in case it leads to sex, you’ll let it.  And future kisses will actually be on the lips – what a concept.  And you can be sure, Charlie, your manhood will still be intact.”

There was a hopeful silence as the men sipped their drinks.  “Thanks for coming to my protection, you big ol’ caveman,” Bob grinned – and kissed him on the lips.

Still somewhat confused Charlie grinned.  “Hey, maybe we should try that, kids, what d’ya think?”

“Yes please, sir,” the boys said in unison.  Charlie leaned across the table and planted his lips on Vic’s.  He did the same with Noah, even probing the boy’s mouth with his tongue.

“Taste good?” Charlie smiled.

“Tastes of Tequila, sir,” Noah giggled.

“Great.  Maybe we can persuade Will to create a secret stash for us three.”

<><>    One Room Or Two?    <><>

After that, the party settled down surprisingly quickly.  Steve said to Mario, “I’m always surprised how adaptable this group is.  Scenes of anger and violence cool down as quickly as they had flared up.  Is that the Grady House influence do you think?”

“Amico,” Mario smiled.  “You just said yourself, a place cannot create love if love doesn’t already exist.  I have no fears for Charlie and his boys.  Especially with your wise words to guide them.”

Just then Will appeared.  “Gentlemen, dinner will be served in fifteen minutes.”

Noah looked up with concern.  “What about that crisis in the kitchen you told us about, Will?”

“Gone away,” Will smiled.

Randy ruffled his shock of red hair.  “Just goes to show, eh Red?  Like the doc said, you can’t create a crisis if there wasn’t one there to start with.”

Charlie grinned, “Although us guys sometimes give it a damn good try, eh bro?”  The brotherly feud was evidently something else that had died down as quickly as it had flared up.

It was surprising to realize that dinner was the first group event of the weekend, because so much had happened already – running the gamut from five-way sex, Charlie’s first sex ever with boys, and the cowboy’s resulting meltdown and fight with his big brother.  So much for everyone to talk about – and dinner was always the place they talked.

As always, the meal began with the tribe’s leader Randy giving the traditional thanks to the five chefs who stood in a row, still in their aprons and chefs’ hats.  They acknowledged Randy’s effusive thanks by removing their hats, holding them high in the air, then sweeping them down in a low theatrical bow.

It was the signal for the talk to begin, and it built quickly in enthusiasm and volume.  That was just as well for Charlie and his two boys, as it masked their uneasy silence.  They were sitting together as usual, but they were unsure exactly where their relationship now stood after they had had sex for the first time and Charlie had reacted with shock and anger.  It was all very well in the Secret Garden, but they were back in the real world now.

Doc Steve’s wise words had placated Charlie for now, and he had even kissed his boys. But where did they go from here?  Steve had advised them to just be themselves, but what did that even mean? ‘Go with the flow’, he had said, but they were not sure where the flow would take them – into a ditch or into a new and happy life.

The first indication of that came when Brian wheeled himself up to them and spoke hesitantly to Charlie.  “Er, sir … It’s my job to assign the guestrooms to all you guys.  And, er, when I came to you and Vic and Noah, I put you all in the same room.  But now … if you prefer to have two separate rooms, I can manage that.  So, er, one room or two?”

Charlie answered impulsively. “Thanks for checking, Brian, but it’s one room of course.  Yes, definitely one room … we’ll all three share one room … yes …definitely.”

The boys heaved a quiet sigh of relief one, and Brian flashed his big round-eyed smile.  “Thank you, sir, I was hoping you would say that.  One room it is, then.”

The boys gave Charlie a shy smile and the mood lightened.  Soon they were chatting like old times – meaning the boys chattered like starlings and Charlie listened affectionately.

Many around the table noticed the easing of tension between the cowboy and his boys and were glad of it.  Grady whispered to Mario, “Guess that little story is over, amico.”

But Grady was wrong.  There was a long way to go yet.

<><>    In The Buff    <><>

When the long dinner ended at last and guys started heading for their assigned rooms, some of the earlier tension returned to the trio.  Brian had assigned them a nice large room – but with only one bed.  A king-size, to be sure, buy it meant that they would share a bed as well as a room.  The last time they had been alone together was when they had had sex.  What now?

Shyly the boys took off their shirts, and Charlie noticed their hesitation.  “Hey, kids, something I always wondered.  When y’all are alone, just the two of you, what do you wear in bed?’

They looked at each other and blushed.  “Nothing, sir,” said Vic.  “We don’t wear anything.”

“Me neither,” Charlie grinned.  “When I sleep alone, I’m in the buff. So why do you keep your undershorts on when you’re with me?”

More blushes, then Noah giggled, “To hide our hard-ons, sir.”

Charlie laughed.  “Well, we don’t have to worry about that anymore, do we?  Not after I saw everything you got in the Secret Garden. So … ta-da”

He dropped his shorts and his long cock flopped out and hung halfway down his thigh.  The boys smiled and followed his cue. They pushed down their shorts and, sure enough, their cocks sprang out, proudly erect.

“There,” Charlie grinned, that wasn’t so difficult, was it?  So, let’s stop pussyfooting around and hit the sack, kids.”

More confident now, they all climbed into bed butt-naked, Vic and Noah on either side of their cowboy.  Charlie curled his arms around them and, for the first time, they didn’t flinch nervously.  “See?” Charlie said, “it’s like Doc Steve predicted.  Now, whenever we touch in bed, we don’t have to be afraid it’ll lead to sex – cos we already did that.”

“Yes, sir,” Vic said, “but this time you don’t have a hard-on.”

“Yeah, not much I can do about that.”  They were taking faltering first steps, somewhat clumsily, but it was feeling good now that their inhibitions were fading.

“Tell you what,” Charlie said, hugging them tighter. “In the mornings I always wake up with a morning hardon.  I slide out of bed, go to the bathroom and jerk off. But now I don’t have to.  I got my boys right here to help me get my rocks off – just as you did in the Secret Garden. That sound like a plan?”

“Yes please, sir,” the boys said in unison, nestling close to him and feeling excited about the morning. 

The boys knew that Charlie’s plan did not exactly spring from spontaneous passion.  It sounded more like a blowjob by appointment.

But it was a start ….   

<><><><><><><><><><><><><> 

TO BE CONTINUED IN “A Trial Of Strength – Book 14: Chapter 16