Trial Of Strength (Book 10)

"A STRESSED-OUT COP LASHES OUT"

The handsome police officer Mark is stressed with cop burnout, and gets angry even with his own boy Jamie. He irrationally vents his rage on the boss’s boy Pablo and forces Jamie to join in a savage spit roast of the young mechanic. Mark seeks therapy from Doctor Steve whose unusual treatment methods involve the erotic spectacle of the two athletic jocks Jamie and Tommy making love. 

In the previous chapter

Pablo was not only Boss Randy’s adopted son, he was the construction company’s chief mechanic. He was also in the doghouse right now and working his way out of it, on what could be called a retribution tour.

Pablo got in deep trouble when he discovered his boy Tyler fucking with the tribe’s good friend Mario, the lover of Grady, the heartthrob star of the hot Tarzan movie franchise. In itself this act of love was not against tribe rules but Pablo didn’t see it that way and he had ploughed into Mario’s ass in what could only be called rape.

In denial at first, Pablo had since acknowledged his guilt and had already been seriously punished by the tribe’s old friend Mike (known as Uncle Mike) and his boy Larry in Larry’s Palm Springs workshop. Pablo and Tyler then returned to Los Angeles to face the rest of the tribe.

On the advice of the tribe’s co-leader (and boss Randy’s lover) they went first to the Grady House for Pablo to make amends to the men he had injured most – Mario and Grady. Peace-loving Mario had invited them to ‘afternoon tea’ where he had used his European charm and wiles to, in effect, turn back time and allow them play out the incident with a different ending – with all four of them making love. “You see, Pablo,” Mario said, “the first version of the story was ugly but we have created a new version that’s beautiful.”

When it was over and peace fully restored Pablo and Tyler lingered a little longer at the Grady House, relishing the heady sense of relief that reconciliation with friends brought with it. Mario invited them to stay for dinner but Pablo said, “We’d love to Mario but we have to get back to the tribe so I can make my peace there.”

“Amico, I have a feeling that will not be so hard. I have been speaking to Bob by telephone and he wants the whole story to be closed and locked away in the annals of the tribe. I will call him again as soon as you leave and tell him about our … er … our little tea party. I feel sure that will clear the way for you.”

“As for Randy,” Grady said, “your dad can’t stay mad at you for long, Pablo. And tell him I’ll be there bright and early tomorrow to pick up our gym workouts where they left off. I’ve missed those session with the big gypsy … especially the reward I get at the end,” he grinned.

“So there you are, amico,” Mario said, then added quietly, “But I would look out for Mark. His boy Jamie has been helping us with our accounts and from what he told me I think there’s some tension there. The handsome cop is in love with Bob, of course, and hated to see him troubled – by what you did. He is a cop after all. Mark and Jamie have been content to stay quietly in the background lately but my intuition tells me they may play a more prominent role after this.

“But, there, what do I know?” Mario laughed. “I am just a simple paesano italiano. I am sure you and your handsome Tyler will be embraced with open arms when you get home. So Grady and I wish you both buona fortuna, amici!”

******************    BOOK 10: CHAPTER 8     *****************

Welcome Home

Mario’s prediction of a friendly welcome turned out to be true – well, almost.

When they arrived at the tribe’s compound Pablo and Tyler went straight upstairs to what was known as the second-floor family, consisting of three couples – themselves; Zack and his boy Darius; and Miguel and Finn. They had all heard of Pablo’s punishment in the desert and his reconciliation at the Grady house – and that was good enough for them.

Zack, the leader of the group, made it official by shaking Pablo’s hand warmly. “You made a mistake, dude, and you’ve paid for it – and that ends the matter as far as I’m concerned. Just try to steer clear of trouble in the future. And you should probably go and make peace with your dad Randy and especially with Bob. That guy has worked real hard to keep the tribe from falling apart over this so you owe a lot to him.”

“I know that, sir, and I planned on that being my next stop.” He glanced over at Tyler who was in an animated conversation with his buddy Finn. He grinned, “I guess those two are in for a long- haul gossip so I’ll leave him here and go across to Bob and Randy’s right now.”

As Pablo approached Randy and Bob’s house across the garden he was uncharacteristically nervous. He worshipped the rugged gypsy Randy who had adopted him as his son years ago. And he had huge respecter for the other tribe leader Bob, who was in turn worshipped by Randy. It was widely accepted that Randy was the brawn and Bob the brain.

Fortunately Pablo found the two together in their bedroom and it was obvious they had just made love – a frequent occurrence for them that always left them in a good mood. Randy was especially jovial and chuckled, “You missed your cue, kid. Couple a’ minutes earlier and you could have joined in.”

The sight of the near-naked men on the bed gave Pablo a hard-on as always, and Randy jumped off the bed in just his boxers and hugged his boy. “So, you survived Uncle Mike and Larry, and Tarzan and his mate. You’ve been through the wringer, kid.”

“Yes, sir, and I’ve come to apologize to Bob too for putting him through the ringer keeping everyone calm after I upset the boat. Sir, I apologize for causing so much trouble and I hope you can forgive me.”

Bob smiled. “Well, Pablo, if your dad here forgives you I should follow his example. You know how much I dislike turmoil in the tribe so I would just as soon lock this incident away in the archives. Mario phoned me a while ago and told me about what he called your ‘tea party.’ Not exactly a traditionally genteel tea party but as usual Mario had by far the best remedy.

“I loved the way he turned back time and allowed you all to change the ending of the story from hostility to love. He must have been recalling the famous quote by C. S. Lewis – ‘You can’t go back and change the beginning. But you can start where you are and change the ending’.”

“Louis?” Randy said suspiciously. “You know this guy? Has he …?”

“C. S. Lewis, Randy. No, I don’t know him personally and no he hasn’t fucked me. That would have been a tad difficult as he died over fifty years ago. He was an Irish author, famous for his quotes. Google him.”

“Fuck you, man, you think you’re so smart. But I’ll take your word for it. Don’t have time to mess with dead writers. I got my work cut keeping an eye on my construction crew. We got a few Irishmen – they’re the hardest workers and the most trouble. Real tough fighters.”

“Anyway gentlemen, we digress,” Bob chuckled. “So you’re in the clear with us, Pablo. Can we help you with anything else?”

Pablo frowned. “Well, sir, do you have any idea how the other guys are gonna react? It would help for me to know in advance.”

“Forewarned is forearmed, eh?” Bob grinned. “Yeah, I get that. I would say most of the guys just wanna forget about the whole thing. They’ll mostly take their cue from Randy.”

Bob frowned and shifted uncomfortably. “There is … er, there is one guy who might not be so forgiving, our buddy Mark. Tell you the truth, Mark has been going through what a lot of cops experience from time to time – burnout. Theirs is a stressful job and they have to cope with all kinds of unsavory characters in the underbelly of society, which can leave them full of rage.

“Mark is going through a spell of that now – he’ll probably go to Doc Steve for help. Steve gives anger-management therapy to cops and in fact that’s how Steve became aware of the tribe when Mark started seeing him years ago. That was before we knew Steve was Randy’s brother.

“Anyway, when he heard about your attack on Mario Mark kinda hit the roof … reacted like a cop … said you should be charged with felony assault. Also, he’s real protective of me and hated the worry it caused me. And my guess is he still has some hostility about the whole thing.

“Uh-oh. How do you think I should handle it, sir?”

Bob reflected for a moment. “I would go and chat to Mark’s boy Jamie – you and he get along well. He’s a good level-headed guy and he’s coped with Mark’s anger problems before. He might be able to smooth the way for you with Mark. I saw Jamie leave the office a few minutes ago so he’s probably in their apartment waiting for Mark to come home off his shift.”

“Thank you, sir. In fact, thanks to both of you for letting me off so lightly. I don’t deserve it ‘cos I know I behaved like an animal. I promise to try and keep my anger in check in future – in fact I’ll prob’ly check in with Doc Steve myself.”

“Great move, kid,” Randy said. “My brother Steve has helped me keep a lid on my rage before now. ‘Course, I don’t need it so much these days – Bob has mellowed me out. Hell, I didn’t even go and beat up this guy Louis, did I?”

Bob smiled. “There again, him being dead might have had something to do with that.”

**********************************

Police brutality

Pablo felt a mix of relief that Bob and Randy had been so forgiving, and apprehension that Mark might not be. When he knocked at the door of their ground-floor apartment he was buoyed by Jamie’s cheerful “come in – I’m in the bedroom”.

“Jeez, gorgeous as always dude,” Pablo grinned as he went into the bedroom and saw Jamie in just an old pair of board shorts. Good to see you’re keeping alive that California image of the super-stud surfer, eh?”

“You don’t look too shabby yourself, buddy,” Jamie said, eyeing the muscular Pablo, “especially after all the punishment you’ve taken in the last few days. Yeah, we know all about it … went up on the grapevine almost as soon as it happened.”

“Yeah, Tyler and me just got back home and I gotta say my guys, and Randy and Bob, have gone real easy on me. But … I guess Mark might be a bit different, right?”

Jamie winced. “Er yeah, Bob told you uh? He’s in one of his moods right now, really burned out from work – hasn’t had a break in a long time. I keep suggesting that we go away somewhere but he’s even a bit hostile to me. He goes through phases like this but this time it seems worse than usual.”

“Bummer, dude. Tough on you too.”

“Tell you the truth, buddy, the last couple weeks have been rough. I mean, he still loves me’ I know that, but his black mood has stifled that. Sorry to unload on you, bro, but I’m glad to have someone to talk to. I’ve tried to keep it between Mark and me but … Look, perhaps you shouldn’t stay, though, ‘cos honestly I can’t predict how Mark will react.”

“Nah Jamie, I’ll stick around. After getting beat up and fucked by Larry and hosed down by Uncle Mike, how much worse could this be?”

“Hear that? Seems like you don’t have a choice, dude, ‘cos that was Mark’s truck pulling up. I get to judge how angry he is by the force of the door slam.”

“And that one was a doozy,” Pablo grinned as the crashing sound reverberated from the gate.

“Yep. Brace yourself, dude.”

Seconds later the bedroom door flew open and there stood Mark in full cop uniform – black shirt with a triangle of white T-shirt at the neck, black serge pants with a silver stripe down the sides, cinched at his slim waist by a heavy black belt and tucked into high shiny motorcycle boots. His handsome chiseled features were clenched, his blue eyes cold with anger.

His gaze fell on Pablo in black jeans, muscles bulging under a tight gray T-shirt. “Ah, so you’re back,” he said coldly. “Couldn’t take the heat you got from Mike and his boy, come crawling back here.”

“Sir, I …” Jamie began but Mark silenced him with a look.

“If I’d seen you raping Mario I’d have arrested you on the spot for aggravated assault, boy. Felony like that carries serious jail time. If you were my boy I’d …”

“Well fortunately you’re not, sir – that would be Randy.”

“Don’t give me any lip, boy.”

“Just saying, sir. Randy’s my dad and he’s the boss.”

“And that gives you the right to fuck whoever you want, like a slave master? Have you been fucking my boy?”

“No I haven’t fucked with Jamie, and even if I did it wouldn’t be a crime.”

“Dammit, boy, you are one arrogant son of a bitch. Randy let you off too light, and Bob is too good a man to deal with a punk like you.”

Pablo was losing it and his anger welled up. “Well, they don’t go in for police brutality if that’s what you mean, officer.” Jamie winced. Pablo was touching all the wrong buttons and that last dig was exactly the wrong thing to say. Jamie glared at him, willing him to apologize, knowing what Mark’s reaction would be.

“Fuck you, boy, that does it.” The cop yanked a pair of cufflinks from his belt and expertly cuffed Pablo’s wrists behind his back. Pablo’s anger was cresting and his instinct was to fight back but Mark had been too quick for him. He knew his only option now was roll with the punches and let Mark take out his anger on him.

The cop forced the mechanic to his knees on the floor and pushed him forward over the edge of the bed, hands helplessly cuffed behind him. Mark knelt behind him and pulled his jeans down below his ass. Staring down at the firm white globes he sneered, “So that’s the famous ass Randy’s always boasting about. Let’s see if it can take the same punishment you dished out to Mario – a rape for a rape.” He unzipped his uniform pants and yanked out his cock.

“Aaaagh!” Pablo’s screams filled the room as the cop drove his huge dry cock deep in his ass. He buried his face in the bed and braced himself for the cop’s attack on his ass. As it ramped up to full bore one thing saved him – he had been fucked by Randy many times and had come to prefer the savage, animal fuck the rough gypsy specialized in. If he could take Randy’s caveman cock, he thought, he could sure take this one – and even enjoy it.

He relaxed his ass as much as he could and gradually the pain subsided when he raised his head and saw in the nearby mirror the homoerotic spectacle of the handsome cop pounding ass, his biceps flexing under his black, short-sleeved uniform shirt, his blond hair falling over his fierce square-jawed face.

Pablo’s cock got rock hard as he saw the cop undoing the buttons of his black shirt as he fucked, revealing the contours of his pecs bulging under his white T-shirt. “This is what you need, boy,” Mark snarled, “a dose of police brutality as payback for the brutality of the rape you committed.”

He pulled the shirt from the waistband of his pants, shrugged it off and tossed it aside. Pablo gasped at the sight of the raging cop stripped down to his T-shirt with sweat patches under his arms and down the cleft of his pecs.

By now Pablo not only tolerated the fuck but welcomed it – it was as if Mark represented the whole tribe in this act of retribution. If he could endure this he could emerge from the cloud of shame that had hung over him. Pablo also knew that this wasn’t only about him. Mark was using him to vent the rage that his job stress had built up inside him. Pablo was a handy target.

As the fuck intensified Pablo felt the same exhilaration he felt when Randy fucked him, the power of a rugged alpha male penetrating his ass.

But that effect was not shared by the other man in the room – Jamie. For over a week now he had lived with a changed man and recognized the signs of tension and anger in Mark that seized him periodically as it did most cops. Jamie idolized Mark and saw it as his duty to support him through these times, even though Mark’s irrational anger was often directed at him.

But he saw no reason why Mark’s rage should be directed at Pablo and he winced when he saw the ferocious way he was hammering his buddie’s ass. But he didn’t dare to interfere or even voice his concern. All he could do was watch helplessly and hope to help Pablo at some point. But Jamie’s angst only sharpened when Mark ordered him to do the opposite of that.

Mark’s T-shirt was now wet with sweat and he yanked it off and pressed it on Pablo’s face. He gagged at the rancid smell and was forced to swallow the sweat oozing from the shirt. “You like that, stud? That’s a cop’s sweat you’re drinking But that ain’t all you’re gonna drink, boy. Jamie, get your ass over here and kneel on the bed in front of him – now!”

“Sir, I’d rather … I don’t think I …”

“I said now, boy!” Mark bellowed. “You’ll fucking do what I tell you.”

“Yes, sir,” Jamie said meekly, knowing that a refusal would only make it worse for Pablo. So he dropped his shorts and got on his knees on the bed. The sight of the shirtless muscle-cop fucking always made him hard, but this time was different. He almost didn’t recognize Mark, his usually gentle demeanor now twisted with anger, and Jamie was anguished by what he was doing to Pablo.

Mark reached down, grabbed the neck of Pablo’s T-shirt and pulled his head back, forcing him to face Jamie’s cock. “Do it boy,” Mark commanded.

Jamie tried to convey his apology with the look in his eye as he looked down at Pablo, who conveyed his willingness by opening his mouth wide. “Get it hard, boy,” the cop ordered seeing Jamie’s semi-hard dick. Jamie eased it in Pablo’s mouth and Pablo clenched his throat muscles round it to help Jamie obey the cop’s order.

The two young friends were helping each other through the ordeal, both under orders by the ferocious cop. Mark fucked faster and yanked harder on Pablo’s T-shirt, ripping it so only shreds remained round his neck. Jamie fucked Pablo’s face as gently as he dared, knowing he was under the cop’s fierce eye. He did not look up at Mark but kept his eyes fixed on Pablo’s, each silently commiserating with the other.

Pablo caught sight of himself in the mirror, his ass being pounded by the shirtless cop’s shaft while the blond jock fucked his face. That pornographic image kept his own cock hard as Mark growled, “You should get ploughed like this more often, boy, keep you in line.”

In talking to Pablo Mark was speaking to all the young delinquents he tangled with every day. “I’d give you police brutality – me and one of my buddies drag your sorry ass in an alley, cuff you and force you on your knees. How’d you like to get spit-roasted by two hot cops, then have your ass thrown in jail and let those guys in there take care of you eh?”

Jamie winced at the ugly image painted by Mark, but he sensed that the cop’s anger was coming to a head and hoped his climax was too. Mark growled “Not so fucking arrogant now are you, boy? Look at you, on your fucking knees, hands cuffed behind you, waiting for the cop to bust his load in your ass while you drink his boy’s jizz.”

He yelled at Jamie. “Do it, boy, empty your cock in his mouth. Do it!”

Anxious to end this fast Jamie fucked hard and at last looked up at the bare-chested blond cop, his muscles flexed hard, sweat running down his face and over his chest and ripped abs. Jamie focused on that homoerotic image, put everything else from his mind, and yelled as his cock poured semen in his buddy’s mouth and Pablo gulped it down.

“Yeah,” Mark growled, “it’s what you deserve, boy. Now let me hear the arrogant young jock beg the cop to fill his ass with jizz … let me hear you beg, man.”

Jamie pulled out of Pablo’s mouth and cum ran down his chin as he sobbed. Please, officer, I can’t take anymore. I submit, sir. I’m begging you … cum in my ass, sir. Please, officer.”

“Fuck yeah,” Mark yelled. “Here it comes mother-fucker … yeaahh.”

Hs muscular body tensed and with one last thrust he blasted jizz deep in the jock’s ass. Mark was purging his demons, for now at least, almost as if he really were fucking the punk in the alley with his fellow cop. When his cock drained he yanked it out contemptuously and stood up.

He pulled from his belt the key to the cuffs and tossed it to Jamie. “Here, you can set your buddy free if you want. I’m gonna hit the shower and when I come out I want you gone, boy,” jabbing a finger at Pablo. And he stalked off into the bathroom.

*******************************

Bob Cracks The Whip

Jamie jumped off the bed, knelt on the floor beside Pablo and unlocked the handcuffs. He rubbed Pablo’s chafed wrists and groaned, “Buddy, I am so sorry. I didn’t wanna do that but if I’d refused it would have gone worse for you. Please, Pablo, I …”

Pablo turned to Jamie and kissed him. “No sweat, dude, I knew what was going on. You had to do what he ordered. Hell, I’ve taken worse from Randy – or you could say better depending on your point of view. I know he’s your man and all but dude, I gotta say, he’s got real problems. I know about cop burnout but he should hightail it to Doc Steve before he really hurts someone.”

“I know, buddy, but I’m his boy and I love him so I gotta stick with him and help. Are you sure you’re OK, Pablo?”

“Yeah, I’m tough – learned that from Randy. But speaking of the big guy I better get over there pronto. Don’t want him to hear about this on the grapevine ‘cos he’ll go apeshit and it’ll be war with Mark. Take it easy, bro, and if you’re in trouble call me right away.”

They hugged and Pablo left the room. He ran across the garden and through the gap in the hedge to the leaders’ house. He went straight up to the bedroom and was relieved to see Bob and Randy still together there.

But their reaction was anything but relief when they saw Pablo standing there with his shirt hanging on him on shreds, his hair messed up and red marks round his wrists. “What the fuck?” Randy growled. “What happened … who did this to you?”

“Sir, I’m fine so cool it please. Mark’s going through a rough time – real angry – and he … well he fucked me as a punishment for …”

Randy clenched his fists. “The hell he did. Any guy attacks my boy he answers to me. The cop’s gone crazy but I’ll beat some fucking sense into him.”

He started toward the door but Pablo grabbed his wrist. “No, please, sir. That’s why I came to tell you myself. Please don’t take it out on Mark, sir. I want this whole thing to end here so we can get on with our lives.”

“Pablo’s right, Randy,” Bob said. “Things were really calming down so please don’t escalate this any …” Bob tailed off as Mark burst into the room wild-eyed, barefoot and bare chested in jeans. “OK, man, he snarled at Randy, so I cuffed your boy and fucked his ass, something he deserved and won’t forget. So what you gonna do about that, big guy?”

Randy’s eyes blazed as he stepped forward, but Bob stepped between them, stretched his arms sideways and kept them apart. “No!” he shouted. “This all stops right here. If you two fight this whole saga will just go on and on, the same old cycle endlessly repeated. I’m in charge now and I’m telling you to stop.

“Since this all started with Pablo and Mario it has become blown out of all proportion with wild exaggerations and guys flexing their muscles in a pissing contest, showing off how macho they can be. It could roll on and on, but I say it stops right now. The story is ended, you get that?” The two men stood sullenly like scolded kids.

“Mark, I know what you’re going through right now and you have to go see Steve as soon as possible. He’s helped you through rough patches like this before and he’ll do the same again. In the meantime, go back to Jamie ‘cos that poor guy is suffering watching you suffer.”

Just then there was a knock at the door and young Will came in, in apron and chef’s hat, looking anxiously from Pablo, to Mark and the two men. “Sir,” he said to Bob, “I’m very sorry to interrupt but the twins asked me to find out what time you want dinner served and how many for. Will any of the guys be absent, sir?”

“Thank you, Will. Go back and tell the twins that dinner will be served at the normal time as usual. And everyone will be there – no absences,” glancing at Mark.

“Thank you, sir,” Will said and hurriedly left the room, leaving a tense silence behind him.

Mark glared at Randy and Pablo, but he loved Bob and had rarely seen him this forceful. So he gave in, turned and stalked out of the room.

“OK,” Bob said. “Now Pablo, you go back to Zack and the guys and your boy Tyler. In all of this our priority should be taking care of our boys who we have sworn to protect. From now on the routine goes back to normal – work, play, and above all love.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you for everything.” Pablo gave Randy one of his crooked smiles and Randy nodded back, a look of pride in his eyes.

As Pablo left the room Randy turned to Bob. “Dammit man when you take over and get all high and mighty like that I get so mad … and so fucking horny. Look at this.” Randy dropped his shorts and his massive cock sprang out hard as steel. “When you do the alpha stud thing you look so fucking hot, but you know I have to remind you who’s boss, don’t you?

Bob simply smiled at him and Randy growled, “So get on your fucking knees, man, and wrap your mouth round this. Make it good and wet ‘cos then it’s going straight in your ass, you get it?”

“Yes, sir,” Bob said and dropped to his knees.

“That’s better,” Randy said, looking straight into Bob’s eyes. “You wanted things back to normal – well this is normal.”

Bob couldn’t have agreed more and opened his mouth wide.

***************************

Walking On Eggshells

When Mark went back to his apartment Jamie was waiting for him anxiously. Normally when Mark got home from work Jamie was waiting for him naked on the bed and they made love. But that was obviously out of the question now and Jamie felt lost, though relieved that Mark had apparently not fought Randy.

Mark’s rage had abated, replaced by a distant coolness. “I told Bob we’d both be at dinner this evening, usual time. And just so you know, I’m gonna call Steve and make an appointment for tomorrow morning. In the meantime I don’t want you talking to Pablo.” He went into the bedroom, closed the door and Jamie heard him talking on the phone.

Jamie was miserable. It was Mark’s coldness he couldn’t take – in a way he would have preferred Mark to be mad at him … or something, anything. Jamie wanted to talk to someone, unload on them, but he knew if he did that would only stir the pot. He was walking on eggshells. Like the other times, he thought, this mood would blow over – or he hoped it would.

At that moment Doctor Steve was telling Mark to come see him tomorrow morning at ten. “And bring Jamie too.”

“Jamie? What the hell for, doc? This has nothing to do with him.”

“Mark, how many years have you been coming to see me when you go through shit like this? Trust me, officer. I know what I’m doing.”

“OK, doc, you win.”

A short time later – between getting fucked by Randy and going down for dinner – Bob called Steve and told him what had happened. Steve chuckled on the phone. “Yeah, I already heard, Bob. That grapevine works at warp speed. Seems Pablo told Darius, who mentioned it to Eddie, who called our boy Tommy up here, who couldn’t wait to tell Lloyd and me. Oh what a tangled web. Don’t worry Bob, Mark already called and I’m seeing him tomorrow morning.”

“Steve, I know you’re not supposed to talk about your patients but the guy I’m worried about is Jamie. I mean he’s in the thick of this, worried about the man he loves but getting a cold shoulder if not outright hostility from Mark.”

“I know, Bob. In cop burnout cases like this it’s the family that suffers, especially the spouse. But I’m already on it, buddy. I told Mark to bring Jamie with him. See, I have a hunch Jamie might be the key to this. I won’t see them together though. I have something else in mind for Jamie. You know my methods can be somewhat irregular.”

“Somewhat, yeah,” Bob grinned. “But they always seem to work.”

“They do, don’t they?” Steve chuckled. “Let’s keep our fingers crossed, buddy.”

******************************

Deep Freeze

That evening Mark and Jamie sat at the dinner table with the other men and boys of the tribe but the usual happy banter, especially from the boys, was more muted than usual. By now everyone knew what had happened and their natural sympathy for what Mark was going through was outweighed by their antagonism to the way Pablo had been savagely fucked, even after he had made his peace with the tribe.

Mark himself remained quiet, his mind deadened under the weight of his residual anger, depression and deep-down guilt at his own irrational behavior. On one level he was fully aware of the burnout condition he was suffering, but logic was suppressed under his deep depression.

He and Jamie left the table early, before dessert, and the group watched the forlorn couple enter their ground-floor apartment. Inside a leaden silence persisted as they got ready for bed. They still shared the same bed where usually Mark wrapped his arms round his boy and they slept like that. But recently Mark always turned his back on Jamie, leaving him to stare sadly at the ceiling.

The next morning as they were stirring there was a knock at their door and Will, again in chef’s hat and apron, came in pushing a food cart. “Sirs, the twins thought that as you had to go out soon you might like an early breakfast in your room ‘cos they have only just started to set up the buffet outside.”

Both Mark and Jamie recognized this for what it was – an act of kindness, probably suggested by Bob, to ease the way for them and help them avoid another uncomfortable group meal.

Will himself, rather than leaving after setting their breakfast on the table, hung around. His instincts for how men were feeling were fairly acute by now, which he had learned from the twins and Bob, and he sensed that the presence of a third person might help to thaw the cold atmosphere that hung over master and boy.

So he made small talk with Jamie until finally Mark went to the bathroom and Will said quietly, “Chin up, dude. It’ll get better, especially when Mark sees Doctor Steve. That guy can solve everything, you’ll see. I better skedaddle now though ‘cos I think I’m becoming ‘de tropp’ as they say. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed.”

Jamie stood up and gave his friend an impulsive hug. “Thanks, kiddo. You’re a real friend.”

Will left and Jamie’s thoughts turned with some relief to Doctor Steve. He wasn’t sure why Steve wanted him there but he trusted the doc to know what he was doing.

*****************************

Doctor Steve’s Prescription

In fact at that moment, up in his spacious Hollywood Hills home Steve was already preparing for their visit. His lover Lloyd had already gone to work so he was alone with their young house manager, the sexy blond ex-gymnast Tommy. Steve had occasionally before involved Tommy in his treatment of a patient, but only peripherally as a bit player as it was borderline unethical.

He explained to Tommy what role he was to play. “I hope you don’t mind doing this, Tommy, but I know you and Jamie are buddies and I think it might be helpful to both Jamie and Mark.”

“Oh I don’t mind at all, sir, I’m looking forward to it. Jamie is one of my best friends and I feel real sorry for what he’s going through. I know it’s complicated right now with Mark but I know you can help fix it and I’ll be happy to do my small part – very happy actually.”

Tommy went back to the kitchen and Steve back to his office to go over Mark’s case history. When the buzzer sounded at the gate Tommy pressed the security button and the gate swung open. He went out to the doorstep to greet them as Mark’s truck came down the drive.

Tommy was wearing his usual house uniform – a dark gray T-shirt and black pants. He wore both items tight – the shirt stretched over his muscled gymnast torso and his pants hugging his thighs and famous ice-skater butt that, as Randy so often said, ‘could make grown men weep’.

His dazzling smile went some way to easing the tension in the men’s faces as they got out of the truck and came toward him. Mark was in jeans and a white T-shirt, Jamie in his usual board shorts and a loose tank top. In the role of doctor’s assistant Tommy’s greeting was on the formal side as he shook hands. “Welcome, gentlemen, the doctor is waiting for you. Follow me.”

Any man who followed Tommy could not take his eyes off that flawless ass, flexing under his tight pants as he walked. And Mark and Jamie were no exception now, despite their tense mood. Steve came forward to greet them in the hallway. “Mark and Jamie, so good to see you. Would you like anything to eat or drink?”

They both murmured no thanks and Steve said, “Good, we’ll get started right away Mark. Er, Jamie, I need to talk to Mark alone first so why don’t you relax out by the pool? We’re likely to be some time so make yourself at home – go for a swim, get some sun. Tommy, you wouldn’t mind keeping our young friend company would you?”

“Of course not, sir,” Tommy smiled. “Jamie and I are old friends. Come on dude, the weather’s beautiful … so what else is new uh? It’s California!” He put his arm round Jamie’s shoulder and took him out to the deck while Mark followed Steve to his office.

Steve sat in an armchair by the window with his clipboard and Mark faced him on the couch. “Look, Steve,” Mark said abruptly, “I really appreciate your seeing me like this but I might be wasting your time. I’m just a bit down in the dumps is all, but it’ll pass. I don’t need therapy.”

Most cops resisted Steve like this at first and he was skilled at turning them around. “Fine, well let’s not call it therapy eh? I never liked that word anyway. But most of us when we’re feeling depressed can benefit by talking it out with a friend and, hell, we’ve known each other for such a long time, Mark, I think we qualify as friends – good friends.”

Steve conspicuously put his clipboard down on a side table. He hadn’t intended to take notes anyway – he often used the board as a prop to signal to patents that there would be no notes – just a friendly chat – and put them at their ease.

“I find that the problem with depression is that it can be so amorphous. It’s like a storm cloud that forms out of nowhere and we can’t work out why. The anxiety floats free, looking for something to attach to. In your case it was Pablo. So I often find it useful to talk specifics – you know, ordinary details about how your day went at work, that kind of thing.

“For example, yesterday when you came home from your shift you were real wound up. So talk about things that happened at work. I know that motorcycle cops especially feel exposed out there with not even the protection of a car. They must deal with a ton of ugly stuff going on.”

“Huh, you can say that again, doc. Like yesterday morning … it started when I was only ten minutes into my shift. There was this crazy guy who …”

And Mark was off and running describing his day, just what Steve wanted. It was obvious to the doc that Mark had been bottling it all up. He had seen this macho attitude before where a cop considers it a sign of weakness to unload this stuff on others. So Steve let him pour it all out with no interruption, except for an occasional nudge here and there to keep him talking.

It went on and on. The floodgates had opened.

****************************

A Swim, A Chat & A Tease

It was a whole different atmosphere out by the pool. Tommy was not only a beautiful man. As Steve’s assistant, welcoming stressed-out patients, he had developed a talent for putting people at ease. And he genuinely felt sorry for his good buddy Jamie, knowing what he sometimes went through living with a cop.

“You want something to drink, dude?”

“No thanks Tommy, but I could do with a swim – feel that water flowing over my naked body.”

“Mmm,” Tommy smiled playfully, “sounds sexy. I could go for some of that myself.”

Without hesitation Jamie kicked off his sneakers, pulled off his tank top and board shorts and dived naked into the pool. He swam to the side, propped his arms on the edge and looked up at Tommy as he undressed.

Tommy grinned as he shimmied his T-shirt off. “Tight clothes may look sexy and Lloyd sure appreciates them on me but they’re a bitch to take off.” Jamie was awestruck as always when he saw the gymnast shirtless, not an ounce of fat, ripped muscles gleaming in the sun. His cock got hard under the water as Tommy bent double from the waist and pushed down his pants.

He was wearing gray boxers briefs underneath that showed his ass to perfection. He turned his back to the pool and slowly pushed them down, exposing the flawless white globes that contrasted sharply with his golden tan.”

“Dammit, dude,” Jamie chuckled, “what do you have to do to get a butt like that?”

“Well, spend six hours a day on the ice rink as a competition figure skater, then switch to gymnastics and do six hours a day in the gym. But I don’t recommend that for you, buddy, ‘cos you’ve already got a spectacular ass from all those hours on a surfboard. Unfortunately it’s hidden underwater right now and I want a closer look.”

Tommy did an arching dive over Jamie for a clean entry into the pool. Then he turned and swam back underwater to Jamie who was still clinging to the edge of the pool. Tommy grabbed his hips, buried his face between the ass cheeks and pushed his tongue inside. He held his breath for a full minute, then broke the surface gasping for air with a big smile.

“Tastes just as good underwater as it does on land, dude. Come on, buddy, let’s see what you got. For the next few minutes they played in the water – splashing, grabbing, pulling each other under in long underwater hugs. When at last they got out of the pool they both had rigid boners.

Tommy pulled a couple of mattresses off the chaises and laid them together on the warm wooden deck. He threw himself face down on them and patted the space beside him. Jamie flopped down in his stomach and they turned their faces to each other propped on one elbow.

“OK, bro,” Tommy smiled, “tell me all your troubles. Spill dude.”

Jamie sighed, relieved at the opportunity to have a sympathetic ear to talk to. “It actually goes back a couple of weeks, Tommy …” He relayed all the difficulties of life with Mark when he was in a funk like this. As he warmed to the subject all his pent up anxiety poured out, much as Mark was pouring out his problems to Steve at that same moment.

The two versions had a different emphasis but they were two sides of the same coin and Steve and Tommy both had enough empathy to recognize a relationship in trouble – no right or wrong, no villains, just a lot of pain.

Trying to lighten the mood Tommy asked, “So how’s the sex going?”

Another sigh. “It’s not, Tommy, that’s another thing. Mark used to look at me with love in his eyes but now it’s this vacant stare like he’s miles away. We still sleep in the same bed but we don’t even touch. God that’s hard, sleeping next to a muscle-god like Mark. I don’t think that deep down he’s stopped loving me, but I’m not sure. It makes me real frustrated.”

“And real horny too, I bet.”

“No kidding. Man I’ve built up such a head of steam. I wanna jack off all the time but I don’t ‘cos – I know this sounds really weird – it would seem like a betrayal somehow. And besides, jacking off is so lame compared with fucking a guy.”

“Well, dude, at least there’s a remedy for that little problem. I mean, lying right next to you is what Lloyd describes as the finest ass in the Western Hemisphere – prob’ly the Eastern one too, he says. And I don’t think that would be a betrayal of Mark given the circumstances of his current deep freeze. He’s still pouring out his soul to Steve, and Steve did tell you to relax and make yourself at home. Knowing Steve that would definitely include a good fuck.”

Jamie chuckled. “Jeez I love you, dude. It’s so good talking to you. And I do have a roaring boner, as you may have noticed.”

“I think I did catch a quick glimpse, yeah,” Tommy grinned.

“So, I guess I don’t see any harm in …” Jamie leaned forward and their lips closed together.

***********************************

Sex Therapy

In Steve’s office Mark’s monologue had finally run out of steam and it was Steve’s turn. “The other aspect of this that really concerns me, Mark, is the effect on Jamie. You and I both know that when cops experience a burnout like this it’s often the family that suffers most. Of course you are familiar with the battered spouse syndrome – you must have responded to domestic abuse calls often yourself.”

Mark got animated. “I have never laid a finger on Jamie, doc. Are you suggesting I abuse him?”

“No, no, not at all. Not physical abuse anyway. But you know, emotional abuse can be just as painful in its way. And I think that, unwittingly, that’s what you’re doing with Jamie … like when you ordered him to face-fuck his friend Pablo, against his wishes.”

Mark’s outburst deflated and he slumped back with a sigh. “Yeah, you’re probably right, Steve. But … I dunno, I’m so wrapped up in myself, with my libido at zero, that I don’t have time for Jamie right now. I know that sounds cold but … I dunno … I don’t know how to love him anymore, or to show that I love him. He’s a good guy and all, but … it’s like I don’t even see him the way I used to anymore.”

“In these cases, Mark, an inability to feel or express affection is common. But…” Steve got up and pulled a chair next to his. “Come and sit here, Mark. There’s something I want you to see.”

While Mark had been talking Steve had glanced out of the window several times, where he had a full view of the pool – a view that Mark now shared when he sat beside Steve. In its way it was a beautiful view, two stunning young blond athletes starting to make love.

Mark gripped the arms of his chair and started to rise but Steve gently restrained him. “No, Mark, stick with me here, please. You can’t really blame Jamie for wanting the touch of warm flesh. My guess is he hasn’t been getting much from you.”

Mark glared at him. “Did you arrange this? Is this a setup?”

“Not exactly, Mark. Let’s just say I pushed the boat out to see if it would catch the current. You know my methods can sometimes be unusual.”

“Fuck you, doc,” Mark snapped.

“On the other hand you can march out there and break them up. Personally I wouldn’t recommend that as this is probably the first real act of kindness and affection Jamie’s had in some time.”

Mark grudgingly slumped back in his seat and watched the scene by the pool unfold. Steve opened the French window a crack so the voices reached them too.

Outside on the mattresses the two naked men had just broken apart after a long passionate kiss. “Is that all I’m gonna get, dude?” Tommy smiled. “You know I always lust for you every time I see you. It’s just that an opportunity like this doesn’t come up often.”

“Tommy, I miss Mark so much. I dream of him fucking me even while he’s lying with his back to me hardly aware that I’m there. Seeing as I still love him and want him as much as ever this wouldn’t be a betrayal would it, dude?”

“I can’t answer that, Jamie, it wouldn’t be fair. All I know is I’m dying to feel my buddy’s dick in my ass – that’s all, just fuck buddies. It’s up to you. Here, maybe this’ll help you decide.”

Tommy turned away and lay flat on his stomach, his ass on proud display, the dimpled mounds flexing in the sun. For most men it was irresistible … and Jamie was no exception. He got up and knelt between Tommy’s legs. “Spit OK, dude?”

“From you, buddy, I’d take it dry.”

Jamie spat in his palms, rubbed them over his cock, reached forward and braced his hands on Tommy’s slim gymnast waist. He eased his rigid cock between the mounds and didn’t stop as the head entered Tommy and slid gently all the way down until Jamie’s pubic hair was resting on the flexed cheeks. “Fuck, Tommy, that feels so good. You have a sensational ass. You know I fuck Mark sometimes too – or used to.”

“But now your fucking me, kid,” Tommy smiled over his shoulder.”

“Yeah, sorry, dude. Hard to get him out of my mind – but now it’s just you and me.”

Jamie pulled back, paused, and drove in again as Tommy sighed beneath him and pushed his ass upward. Soon Jamie pushed back off his knees and onto his feet, his athletic body arched over Tommy, hands braced on the small of his back. As he fucked in that position his own dimpled ass pointed upward.

“Holy shit,” Mark gasped. He watched spellbound as the two blond jocks made love, the surfer arched over the gymnast, his arms and shoulders bulging as his perfectly muscled body rose and fell, his cock driving in and out of the gymnast’s ass.

“Beautiful, eh, Mark?” Steve said softly.

“Fucking gorgeous,” Mark murmured to himself. Unthinkingly he was rubbing the bulge in his jeans, the first time in days he had got hard looking at Jamie.”

They heard Tommy say, “Dude, you are such a great fuck, but I wanna see you too – wanna see your eyes and your handsome mug.”

“No problem, stud,” Jamie grinned. He pulled out, flipped Tommy over on his back and pushed one leg up. Leaning against it with his shoulder he pushed his cock back inside Tommy’s ass.

They stared into each other’s eyes and broke into gleaming smiles. “Damn you’re beautiful,” Tommy said. “Bet you look hot on a surfboard. Could you fuck me on a surfboard in the water?”

“Dude, I could ride that ass on the crest of a wave. Damn I needed this, fucking a blond gymnast, so damn gorgeous – that face, that body.”

“So give it to me, stud,” Tommy grinned. “Don’t hold back. Not every day I get ploughed by a California surfer.”

“No problem there, dude. Surfers get real horny sitting astride a board, their balls grinding against it. Makes them fuck like this …” Jamie increased the tempo and his cock became a piston driving in and out of the athlete writhing beneath him.

From the office window Mark had a clear view of the gorgeous ass getting pounded by the handsome young jock, his tousled blond hair falling over his face, his ripped wet body gleaming golden in the sun.

Mark unzipped his pants, pulled out his cock and stroked it. He was mesmerized by the magnificent young man and imagined what it felt like to fuck him. Then he frowned with the puzzled realization that was not just a handsome boy, it was his own boy, his own Jamie and he had fucked him, every day, until …

Tears came to his eyes and rolled down his cheeks and he murmured, “Damn I miss him … I love him, Steve … I love the fuck out of him.”

The boys were nearing their climax. Jamie was fucking like a young stallion and Tommy clenched his ass round the pounding shaft. They smiled as they ran their hands over each other’s chest and tweaked each other’s nipples hard. “Think you can make me cum without touching it?” Tommy said.

“Dude, I could make you shoot with your hands tied behind your back. Come to think of it …”

“Another time, stud. Too late now, I’m too close. Next time you can lash me to a surfboard and plough me.”

“While we’re riding a wave to shore … and you gush just as the wave breaks …”

“You’re fucking crazy, dude, you know that?” They were laughing now as Jamie pounded harder and Tommy yelled, “Damn I’m close. Come on, man, take me, make me shoot. Lovin’ it, dude.”

“Then you’re gonna love this you crazy gymnast … a surfer’s jizz in that perfect butt … here it comes … all together now … yeaahh!”

Their laughter filled the air as their cocks erupted simultaneously. Tommy’s semen spurted all over his flawless chest and Jamie pumped his fist in the air and his cum in his buddy’s ass.

And there was another orgasm in the house as Mark pumped warm juice that spurted up high and splashed down on his white T-shirt. Tears ran down his face. “I love him, Steve, I need him, and I’ve treated him so bad. But I don’t know how to tell him. What am I gonna do?”

“Well,” Steve chuckled, “I think you just proved how much you love him. I’m guessing that right now what Jamie wants is your arms round him.”

In a daze Mark got up, zipped up his pants and went out to the pool. The naked boys stood up and Mark and Jamie stared at each other. Jamie waited … and Mark put his arms round him in a tight silent hug.

Suddenly feeling ‘de tropp’, as Will would have said, Tommy left unobtrusively and went into Steve. “Mission accomplished, wouldn’t you say, sir?” Tommy smiled.

“You did great, Tommy, absolutely perfect. Thank you.”

“The pleasure was all mine sir, as I think you know. I love making love with Jamie.”

Steve sighed. “But it’s not mission accomplished just yet, Tommy. Those guys still have a long way to go, lot to sort out. Mark’s depression won’t vanish overnight.”

“So what’s your prescription, doc?”

“They have to get away, away from here, away from all the triggers. And I know just the place for them. Did you know that way back, hard as it is to believe now, Jamie was one of a pair of skinheads running wild. His buddy was Larry, yeah Mike’s boy in Palm Springs. Well, Jamie found Mark, and Larry later found Mike. They cleaned up their act and became the great young guys they are now, and they’re best buddies again.

“So, what’s more natural than Mark suggesting he take Jamie out of town to Uncle Mike’s place in the desert? Actually, Mike had heard on the grapevine all about Mark’s problem and called me to ask if there’s any way he could help. I know he would welcome them with open arms and wise old Mike would be a great influence on Mark, while Jamie and Larry could have fun together.

“So you think you can swing it, sir? You know – convince Mark to take a break?”

“Hmm, I can give it a try.”

“And you think it will do the trick, sir?”

“Ah, as to that, only time will tell, Tommy. At least it’ll be another chapter in the saga of this crazy tribe.”

***********************************

TO BE CONTINUED in “A Trial Of Strength” – Book 10: Chapter 9