Trial Of Strength (Book 14)

"THE GRADY HOUSE WORKS ITS MAGIC"

Men and boys of the tribe are gathering at the opulent Grady House. Among them is the handsome young Italian Angelo, who goes off to explore the grounds.  He stumbles on a stunning scene, where the tribe’s gypsy boss Randy subjects the action-movie star Grady to the rough sex he loves.  Angelo realizes it is a fantasy replay of a scene in one of Grady’s Tarzan movies.

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<><>    Making Plans At The Grady House    <><>

The Grady House was remarkable.  Sitting proudly at the top of a hill, the opulent estate centered on a magnificent two-story house, its white walls covered in flowering ivy, with bushy bunches of wisteria hanging like eyebrows over doors and windows.  The extensive grounds had been lovingly landscaped but still managed to retain a wild, natural look.

What made the estate more remarkable was that, despite the grandeur, it had the natural feel of a cozy, modest family home, with no hint of superiority, a tribute to the four men who lived there, and especially Grady himself. 

An international movie star, it was his lavish income from a succession of hit action movies that made all this possible. But despite his fame he preferred to be just one of the guys when the men and boys of the tribe gathered there, which happened often.

His handsome Italian lover Mario had brought to the relationship the natural Mediterranean ease and elegance of his Tuscany upbringing.  He loved, nurtured and protected Grady from the demands of his job and his celebrity.

Another of Grady’s joys was young Brian, a boy in a wheelchair who loved nothing more than when Grady hauled him into his bed at the end of the day and pumped him for all the gossip of the tribe.

The fourth member of the little family was Danny, a good-looking fun-loving young blond who was chef and house manager, often assisted by his own lover Tommy, a dazzling ex-gymnast who visited almost daily.

Given Grady’s fame, and the attentions of the press and paparazzi, security was crucial.  The house was surrounded by dense hedges, high fences and a linked series of cameras.  The tribe played its part in that too.  The leader of the tribe, tough gypsy construction boss Randy, made regular inspections of the perimeter, and the cop Mark ensured that the directional cameras were aligned and operational.

All in all, it was a perfect home for Grady, Mario and their boys and a favorite gathering place for the tribe.  These gatherings took several different forms.  The parties for the whole tribe were always a wild success, and the many bedrooms could easily house everyone overnight. On a more subtle note, the Grady House was a perfect refuge for men who had suffered some stress in their lives and, conversely, for men who needed to celebrate quietly and make love privately.

It was usually Mario who arranged events like this, as he did now when he called a meeting with Grady, Brian and Danny.  Brian had related all the tribe’s gossip as usual to Grady who asked Mario how they could get involved and help out.

“I have been thinking about that, amico, and I’m sure we have a role to play.  Two major events have occurred down there, one right after the other – one serious and dangerous, the other a happy event.

“First, of course, came Bob’s heart attack that threw the whole tribe into confusion. Thanks to Doc Chad’s skill and Randy’s deep love for Bob, he is making a recovery, but Chad has insisted that he stay quiet and take things easy until he’s completely well.  Naturally, Randy wants to stay with him to love and protect him.

“The other event, the joyful one, was the first marriage in the tribe – Ranger Pete and his boy Brandon.  Brian, you are Brandon’s best friend so you must know how they want to celebrate.”

“Yes, sir, I talked to Brandon about that.  They can only take a few days off work so there’s no possibility of a honeymoon trip somewhere.”

Grady interjected, “They don’t have to go away anywhere.  Right here is the perfect spot for a short honeymoon.  They could have our little summerhouse over there in the grounds.  It’s the perfect spot to be alone, make love, celebrate, whatever they feel like doing.  Do you think they’d go for that, Brian?”

“Absolutely, sir, it’s perfect.  You know how low-key they are, they’d love the idea.

Mario smiled.  “Benissimo, eccellente.  A four-day weekend is coming up, where no one will be working, including Grady, as the movie shuts down for a week.  And if by chance those quiet celebrations grow into a party for the whole tribe, you think we could handle that?”

“Of course, sir,” Danny said, “we’ve done it often before.  And it would be an excuse for my lover Tommy to spend a week here helping us... and I could sure handle that.”

Grady’s handsome face broke into the dazzling smile that won hearts all over the world.  “Sensational.  Another party ... several parties.  Er, I won’t have to dress up, will I, Mario?”

“When do you ever dress up, amico?  The usual old baggy shorts and tank top will do, just as you are now.”

Grady raised his arms and laughed.  “See, I’m already dressed for the occasion.  Let’s party.”

<><>    A Win-Win All Round    <><>

As eager for a party as Grady was, others involved were equally enthusiastic when Mario explained his plans for a celebration (Pete and Brandon) and recuperation (Bob and Randy).

In fact, after their quickie ceremony at the tribe’s dinner, the newlyweds had felt a sense of anti-climax at the thought of simply going back to work.  A short honeymoon, maybe?  But where ... how?

Those questions had now found the perfect answers.  They were both familiar with the charming guest cottage on the grounds of the Grady House, and the romantic Secret Garden that had brought joy to many couples in the past.

Bob and Randy felt similar relief, though for different reasons.  Doctor Chad had stressed the need for Bob to have complete rest in a return to health after his heart attack.  But at the tribe’s compound, and in his home office, constant work interruptions made relaxation nigh on impossible.  Randy too wanted to find a way to be with his lover all the time, and a few days at the Grady House was the perfect solution. 

And if those restful days ended with a noisy tribe party, so much the better.

There was another couple – actually a trio – who would welcome the chance to spend a few quiet days at the Grady House – the muscular Marine Hassan, his boy Eddie, and Eddie’s recently acquired boy, the handsome young Italian Angelo.

Eddie and Hassan had met Angelo at the hotel where he was a waiter and he and Eddie had soon formed an intimate bond – sexual, emotional and, surprisingly, professional.  Shy, at first, Angelo had surprised them with his talents.  He had a love of cameras, which fit right in with Eddie’s job as skilled cameraman on Grady’s current movie.  In no time Eddie had hired him as his assistant – and invited him to become his boy.

One thing that took Angelo’s breath away was meeting Grady, his movie idol, at a former Grady House party.  He had been charmed by Grady’s easy-going manner, and excited to spend time with Mario, speaking their native language, Italian.

The trio – Hassan/Eddie/Angelo were still working on their fledgling threesome and Hassan felt that Angelo still needed to spread his wings and assert his independence from them.  It was Mario who provided the opportunity for that when he chatted with Hassan and Eddie.

“By the way,” Mario had asked, “How is that new boy of yours. Is the charming Angelo, working out?”

Eddie answered enthusiastically, and Hassan said, “He’s still a bit on the shy side ... clings to us for protection.  I would like him to become more confident and learn to relax with others.”

“Bene, I know exactly what you mean, amico.  I sensed that on the one previous occasion you brought him here.  Of course he was stunned at meeting Grady, as so many guys are, but under his shyness I found him charming, and it was a joy for me to have a real conversation in Italian.  So may I make a suggestion here? 

“Several couples are coming here for the long weekend to relax – to celebrate and recuperate.  Why not come yourselves and bring Angelo with you? You would be free to do as much or as little as you wanted, of course.  You two both work so hard I think you could use a few days of rest and relaxation, while Angelo gets used to the company of others, including our boys Brian and Danny.  Sound like a plan?”

Eddie’s eyes sparkled.  “Brilliant idea, don’t you think, Hassan?  It would give you and me space to be alone for a while, too.  And I know Angelo would be thrilled to get to know you and Grady better, Mario.”

“Hmm, yeah,” Hassan mused.  “I could sure use a few days in the peace and quiet of your place, Mario.  It’s a long time since you and I hung out together, Eddie.  Just don’t expect too much of me, I need the rest.  I’d just as soon spend most of the time in bed with you.”

Eddie laughed.  “You won’t get any objections from me about that, sir.  A long weekend, a bed and a hot Marine, while Angelo trots off and explores the sights and sounds of the Grady House.”

“Are you sure you and your guys can handle that, Mario?”

“Hassan, we have hosted the more than thirty men and boys of the tribe many times in the past.  Providing an escape for a few men now would be ... how do you say ... un pezzo di torta ... a piece of cake?”

Hassan grinned.  “Mario, your grasp of English idioms is getting better and better.”

“Grazie, amico.  After so many years speaking English, it’s my Italian that could use work.  Your Angelo can take care of that.”

“Sounds like a win-win all round, dude.  “Thanks, it’s a deal, then.  How do you say? ... Grazie tanti.”

“Perfetto, capitano.  Assolutamente perfetto.

<><>    Pete Observes An Old Tradition    <><>

Brian and Danny were already at work, aided (and alternately hindered) by Grady, who picked bundles of flowers and attempted to arrange them in the summerhouse.  “What’s a typical wedding flower?” he asked.

“Not sure,” Mario laughed, “but you’ve picked such a large selection it’s bound to be in there somewhere.  But clean up after yourself.  You’ve left more on the floor than in the vases.”

“Aye-aye, maestro,” Grady saluted.  “Maybe I should have recruited one of the set decorators from the studio.  They’re the experts at this stuff.”

“Let’s not go overboard, amico.  This is supposed to be a restful, low-key weekend.  That applies to us too.”

Grady enjoyed being ordered around (especially by Randy, but more about that later), and by the end of the day the summerhouse was ready for the wedding couple.

Pete and Brandon arrived the next morning while the four guys were having breakfast at a table under a large shade tree.  Danny quickly set two more places and the couple joined them. It was clear they were already winding down after the rigors of the workweek.”

“So how was the wedding night, guys?” Grady asked, charging in with a typical lack of subtlety.

“Oh yeah,” Pete grinned.  “We did the occasion justice, don’t you think, Brandon?”

Brandon giggled happily in reply and Mario said, “Well, you have many more nights like that, provided you don’t die of hay fever from all the flowers Grady loaded into the summerhouse.  When we’ve finished breakfast we’ll take you over there.’

Soon they were threading their way through the grounds until they came to the flower-filled summerhouse and Mario flung open the door.  A heady sweet smell wafted out to them and Pete said, “I see what you mean, Mario.  OK, can’t let a moment like this go by.  Gotta stick to tradition.”

Pete approached Brandon’s wheelchair, bent down and scooped him out of it.  Holding him in his outstretched arms he kicked the door open and carried him over the threshold.”

Brandon laughed merrily, Mario, Grady and Danny applauded and Grady grinned, “And that’s the last we’ll see of them for a while.  Now for Bob and Randy.”

<><>    Angelo Gets A Key    <><>

Bob was still using a cane and walking slowly when he arrived, supported by Randy. 

Mario opened his arms wide. “Ciao, signori, welcome back to the Grady House.”

“Great to be here,” Randy said.   A perfect place for my man here to recuperate.  He needs plenty of rest.  Randy exchanged knowing smiles with Grady, sure that Grady had a hard-on just looking at the sexy gypsy.  “I’ll check in with you later, Tarzan.  But first I gotta put Bob to bed.”

“The main guestroom as usual, sir,” Brian smiled.  “It’s all ready for you.”

Randy led him toward the elevator, but Bob insisted on taking the grand curving staircase, trying to maintain a look of strength.  But when they reached their room Bob flopped down on the bed breathlessly. 

“Wow, not as strong as I thought I was.  Recovery is gonna take longer than I thought, and this is just the place for it.  But don’t let me cramp your style, Randy.  I’ll be fine here just dozing while you go out for a stroll.  I saw the exchange of lustful looks between you and Grady.”

Soon after that the gate buzzer sounded, and Brian looked at his phone.  “Ah, Hassan and Eddie, and they brought their new guy Angelo.  Guess we’ll be hearing a ton of Italian spoken between him and you, Mario.”

“Not too much, though,” Mario said.  “I love talking to Angelo, he’s a bright young man, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous.  But I make it a rule to speak Italian with him only when the two of us are alone together.  It’s impolite otherwise if others present can’t understand.  His English is as good as mine, though we both have heavy accents and make plenty of mistakes.

Brian buzzed the trio in and there were welcoming hugs all round.  Angelo hung back shyly at first, but Mario took his hand and drew him into the conversation.   The young Italian had been to the Grady House before, and had been awestruck to meet his movie idol Grady in the flesh.  He had also started to work on Grady’s movie as Eddie’s camera assistant, so he was no longer struck dumb in his presence.

Brian said, “You are in the big guestroom next to Bob and Randy.  Time to unwind, forget work and let the Grady House work its magic.”

Which is what all the new arrivals lost no time in doing.  Randy lay in bed with the sleepy Bob, while Hassan and Eddie relaxed over coffee with Angelo.  But Angelo knew that one purpose of this long-weekend break was for Hassan and Eddie to spend more quality time together than they usually did.  They both worked long hours and needed to kick back together more often. 

Angelo loved being with them, but was keenly aware of the old English saying ‘three’s a crowd.’  The last thing he wanted was to come between the two men in any way.  A threesome was a hard act to pull off, so he tried to give them their space as much as possible, which would be easier here at this large house and extensive grounds, especially with so few guests.

So after coffee he said, “Sirs, would it be OK if I left you alone and went exploring on my own?  Last time I was here I didn’t get the chance to do much of that.”

“Of course you can,” Eddie said.  ‘‘This is a vacation for you as much as us.  You can do whatever you want, you don’t need our permission.”

“Sure,” Hassan agreed.  “The grounds here are pretty spectacular, with surprises at every turn.  You never know what’s gonna happen or who you’ll meet.  So go for it, kiddo.  Forget about us, we can amuse each other.”

So Angelo took off.  Downstairs he paused, not sure what direction to take, when he heard, “Hola, Angelo, vieni qui ...”   He saw Mario sitting at a table some distance away.  He was writing, making notes about the party which he was determined would happen in a few days.

When Angelo approached, Mario hugged him and they had a lengthy conversation in Italian until Brian wheeled himself up to them.  “Hi, Angelo.  You left your guys alone I see.  Good move.  You exploring the grounds?  There’s a lot to see. I would join you but I have to talk to Mario about the party.”

“Ah,” Mario laughed, “so you too assume there’s going to be one.”

“What else, sir?,” he grinned impishly.  “A long weekend, the whole tribe off work – where else would they gather?  Angelo, when you were here once before, did you manage to explore the grounds?”

“Not really, Brian, there was too much going on.”

“Did you get to the Secret Garden?”

“I saw it, but couldn’t get through the high hedges, and the door was locked, of course.”

Brian glanced at Mario, who smiled and nodded.  “We can’t have you locked out of anything, bambino.  Give him the key, Brian.  You’ll find it’s a quite magical place, Angelo.  Anything can happen.”

“So I hear from the other boys, sir.  Thank you.”  He took the key and as he turned and walked away, Mario winked at Brian.

<><>    The Thrill Of Discovery    <><>

Angelo tried to remember where he had seen the Secret Garden last time but it was quite a while before he stumbled upon it, almost by accident.  It was unmistakable, a solid square of dense hedges with no apparent way in.  He walked around it a couple of times before he glimpsed the low wooden door hidden by branches.

He eased the large old-fashioned key into the lock and, after a little jiggling, the door creaked open.  Angelo walked in, the door closed behind him, and he stood still to take in the atmosphere.

It was different from the rest of the grounds in every way.  Unlike the rest of the estate, there was no sign of landscaping.  It was like a small jungle – unkempt bushes and brambles lined a small overgrown path, with sprawling trees hanging low.  The other notable aspect was the silence, broken only by the faint sound or running water, trickling seductively from somewhere in the middle.

The boy took a deep breath and set off slowly along the overgrown path.  Brambles plucked at his legs and he felt a vague sense of unease, but the thrill of discovery too.  A magical place, Mario had called it, and he was right.

As he stumbled forward the sound of water grew louder until he saw the source.  He came to a small clearing, with long, unkempt grass surrounding a narrow, shallow stream, fed by a small trickling waterfall.

He seemed to be alone, until he heard something stir in the long grass.  He took a few uneasy steps forward and stopped dead in his tracks. There was a man lying beside the stream – and not just any man – a beautiful, muscular man lying on his back eyes closed.  He was naked except for an old, frayed loincloth round his waist.

It was Tarzan – the same Tarzan he had seen and drooled over at the movies – Grady’s movies.  It was Grady himself, of course – Tarzan come to life.

<><>    Tarzan’s Ordeal    <><>

Angelo was stunned and confused.  His first instinct was to run away ... he shouldn’t be here, shouldn’t be spying on something he didn’t understand, in a place where he didn’t belong.  But he stayed rooted to the spot.  Mario had given him the key to the Secret Garden, hadn’t he?  He had encouraged him to take a look.  Did he know what Angelo would find?  And if so, what did he expect the boy to do now?”

Grady stirred, but appeared to stay asleep.  Angelo’s mind flew back to when he had seen Grady’s first Tarzan film.  There had been a scene like this, of Tarzan lying at the edge of a pond in the jungle. But wait ... he had not been asleep then, he had been unconscious, a prisoner of soldiers who had captured him and tried to get information from him.

Was Grady replaying the scene now, re-living a dramatic fantasy?  A fantasy?  Eddie had talked to Angelo about fantasy sex, playing out scenes with Hassan, whose rugged combat uniform was part of it.  When Eddie had described what they did, Angelo’s dick had got hard – just as it was now.

But what was he supposed to do now?  Join in?  One thing was sure.  He couldn’t leave now and miss whatever came next.  So he stayed where he was, motionless, hidden by a thick bush.  He wanted to jerk off just looking at the beaten Tarzan.  But after that he would have to leave, and something told him he had to watch this play out.

His decision to stay was rewarded when he heard a sound behind him.  Someone was coming, crashing through the tangle of bushes.  Angelo crouched lower and gasped when the man appeared.  Somehow it was not a surprise that the man was Randy.  He had heard from the boys that Randy loved to have sex with Grady, rough sex, every time Randy was here at the Grady House.

And he fitted into the fantasy now, wearing his construction boss work clothes – filthy old jeans, muddy boots and his usual, ragged tank top hanging loose over his solid, muscular torso.  In the movie Tarzan’s adversaries were soldiers, but this was even better – a tough, muscular gypsy, obviously ready to work Tarzan over, as the soldiers had done in the movie.

The sound made Grady open his eyes (Tarzan regaining consciousness) and he flinched as he stared up at the fierce gypsy staring down at him with laser blue eyes set in his craggy, swarthy face.

Randy pulled off his tank and growled, “You know what’s gonna happen to you now, ape-man, don’t you?”

“Fuck you man,” Grady stammered, but without much conviction.  He made a faltering move to crawl away, but Randy was on him in a second.  He leapt on top of him, knelt between his legs, pulled his arms up and, with one hand, pinned his wrists to the ground above his head.  With his free hand he unzipped his jeans and pulled out his long, beer-can-thick cock, then ripped off Grady’s loincloth.

A man of action, no foreplay, Randy rammed his cock in Grady’s ass.  Angelo was appalled and thrilled at the same time.  But the fantasy drew him in.  He was watching not Randy and Grady, but the scene from the movie where Tarzan was brutalized by the hostile soldiers.

Angelo recalled Tarzan’s agonized reaction in the movie, the twisted expression on his face.  But what had made the scene so vivid to Angelo, and the movie audience, was that the pained reaction was tinged with defiance that bordered on pride at withstanding the brutal assault.

And then Angelo remembered something else that Eddie had told him.  Grady had explained to Eddie that graphic look on his face.  Actors always draw on their own experience and feelings, and in that scene he had imagined that the soldiers in the scene were not beating him, they were gang-fucking him, which produced the extraordinary look on his face – a painfully erotic blend of pain and pleasure.

Angelo’s anxiety disappeared, knowing that this is what Grady wanted – both when shooting the movie scene, and now, in the Secret Garden.  Angelo had an overwhelming desire to pull out his cock and jerk off, but he held back.  He knew he would shoot instantly but he wanted to prolong the erotic experience as long as Grady obviously did.

It was an extraordinary sight – the handsome, macho Tarzan, pinned naked to the ground, his ass penetrated by the darkly savage gypsy whose long shaggy hair fell over his face.  His piercing blue eyes stared down at him, and were met with the equally defiant gaze of his naked victim.

“I’m gonna break you, stud,” Randy growled.  “You’re tough but I’m gonna make you spill you load for me.”

“Never.  Fuck you, man, I’ll never submit to you.”

The savage fuck went on and on and Angelo could see that Tarzan was nearing his breaking point. No man could ever withstand a brutal Randy fuck, no matter how much he wanted it.  That was what gave Grady his strength.  He didn’t want it to end, and he knew it would if he gave the ultimate sign of submission – shooting his load.

Ultimately Randy’s stamina prevailed, it always did.  Grady’s breathing became ragged, his expression changed and he lost control.  “No ... fuck ... I’m gonna cum.  I submit, man.  I can’t take any more.   Aaagh ... aaagh ...”  His cock reared up and spouted a long plume of semen that rose high in the air and splashed down on his handsome, tortured face as it thrashed wildly from side to side.

<><>    Angelo Lives His Fantasy    <><>

Tarzan had been broken by the gypsy, and Angelo, dazzled by the sight, had touched his own cock.  He felt his own climax approaching and uttered a shout.

“What the fuck?”

That was Randy, who pulled his cock out of Grady, stormed over to the bush and yanked Angelo out from behind it.  “So what have we got here?  Tarzan’s boy, spying on us.  OK kid, you’re next.”

“No ...” Grady murmured weakly.

“You don’t get a say in this jungle man,” Randy said scornfully.  He hooked his boot under Grady and rolled him over the grass and onto his back in the shallow stream.  Angelo gasped at the sight of the limp Grady with water trickling over his muscular, brutalized body, and dripping slowly on his face from the waterfall.”

“See, kid?” Randy growled.  “Take a good look at the defiant Tarzan, a broken man.  It’s good you showed up – ‘cos you’re next.”

Angelo flinched and Grady moaned, “No, please.  Not the boy ... please, I beg you.”

Randy laughed.  “Yeah, while you’re forced to watch.  But you know what, I’ll have mercy on both of you.  You have a choice, ape-man.  Either you watch me give the boy what I gave you ... or you fuck him.”

“Fuck this boy?  I just emptied my balls.  I don’t think I ....”

“OK, if that’s your choice, I fuck him.  Get naked, kid.”

“No, wait.  I’ll do it, I’ll do what you say.”  Painfully Grady hauled himself out of the stream and stood facing Angelo, with water dripping down his face and neck and onto his heaving chest.”

Angelo had no hesitation now.  He wanted this – wanted it badly.  He took off his shorts and T-shirt and lay naked on the ground.  Grady at last dropped the image of Tarzan and smiled at the handsome, naked young Italian.  “You up for this kiddo?”

“Yes please, sir.  Very much.”  At that moment Angelo realized something he had never realized every time he had watched Grady’s Tarzan movies.  He wanted Tarzan to fuck him. Now that the truth hit him it was powerful and he lay on his back staring up at his movie hero as water ran down his beautiful body.  “Yes please, sir,” he said again.  “I want it very much.”

Grady sank to his knees and, despite his recent orgasm, felt his own cock getting hard again.  Randy stood nearby with a satisfied smile on his face, a smile far gentler than the fierce grimace when he had savaged the naked Tarzan.

Grady stroked his wet cock, pushed Angelo’s legs back and eased his cock slowly inside the enthralled young man.  Again Angelo was in fantasyland, having watched the vivid Tarzan scene come to life and now submitting himself to his screen idol.

He had been so close to orgasm just now that he didn’t last long.  Grady smiled.  “I know your nuts are bursting, kiddo, and you are so beautiful you’ve brought me close again.  You feel so good I can’t hold back ... you ready, Angelo ... to feel Tarzan’s juice in your butt?”

Rand was impatient.  “Come on guys, do it, while I watch.  Damn you look gorgeous.” 

The naked bodies shook, tensed, and Angelo sighed, “thank you sir,” as he felt Grady’s cum flow inside him and his own cock erupted in a hands-free orgasm.  When they were drained, Grady straightened up on his knees, pounded his chest with his fists ... and shouted the world-famous Tarzan yell.

That caused gusts of laughter from all three and brought them back to reality.   Although ‘reality’ would never be quite the same for Angelo after his first fantasy trip to the Secret Garden.

<><>    A Hint Of Trouble    <><>

The three men stayed in the Secret Garden for a while, soaking up the enchanted atmosphere, then eventually left together. 

“Better clean up before we join the guys,” Randy said, shedding his boots and pants.  When they came to the pool Randy dove in naked, swam to the other side with powerful strokes and hauled himself out.  Grady and Angelo, already naked, followed suit and they all headed for the summerhouse.

On the terrace of the small house the other men were seated round a meal table – Mario and Bob, Brian and Danny, Eddie and Hassan and, of course, Pete and Brandon, still bathed in their honeymoon glow.

“Here they come,” Mario laughed.  “How did you like il nostro giardino segreto, Angelo?”

Angelo beamed.  “Sir, it was ... it was ...”

“I know, bambino, there are no words, in English, Italian or any other language – especially when you are sharing the magic with Randy and Grady.”

Brian ran into the summerhouse and emerged with three pairs of shorts that he flung at the naked men.  “We’re having an early lunch,” Bob smiled.  “It’s casual, but not dripping-wet-naked casual.”

They pulled on the shorts and took their places at table while Danny went inside and emerged like a dutiful waiter with three plates of food.

“Buon appetito,” Mario smiled.  “Now Angelo, tell us everything.”

In an excited jumble of words Angelo did his best to describe his adventure.  When he mentioned Tarzan’s loincloth, Grady produced the torn piece of old fabric, handed it to Angelo and grinned playfully, “Yours to keep, kiddo, a memento of your first adventure in the Secret Garden.”

“It’s kind of a ritual around here,” Hassan said.  “Eddie has lots of torn fragments of my uniform, left over from our wilder escapades.”

“Which I bring out sometimes when I’m alone,” Eddie grinned, “when I feel like jerking off.  And this definitely makes you one of us, kiddo.”

Angelo was certainly the center of attention and as he talked he gained confidence and relished being in the limelight.  That caused a subtle shift in the status of the boys at the table.  Brandon and Brian were certainly senior to Angelo, a relative newcomer, and being nudged aside like this caused the first small signs of resentment. They began showing off to him.

“Actually, we’ve all got some pretty sexy old torn clothes,” Brandon boasted.  “We’ll show you sometime, if you like.”

Angelo was about to thank him, but Brian charged into the conversation with boasts of his own.  As the conversation heated up, it took a strange turn.  It was not so much Brandon and Brian one-upping Angelo, but one-upping each other.  Bob, with his sensitive antennas, sensed this and exchanged troubled glances with Pete.

It was well known that Brandon and Brian were best buddies, facing the same challenges of life in a wheelchair, but in the past Bob had noticed glimmerings of competitiveness between the two friends.  That was probably inevitable, Bob thought, like most close friends, and did not threaten their friendship.  The sparring was mostly playful boasts, but now, with the new boy to impress, the conversation took a sharper turn.

“’Course,” Brandon said, “I’ve been in the tribe a lot longer than Brian.  We have quite a history.  Brian was living a solitary life in a run-down trailer in a shabby trailer park in the desert.  His Uncle Mike told me about him and I went out to see him.  I showed him that life in a wheelchair was not a death sentence, and that I could do most anything other boys did.”

Brian cut him off, “So anyway, I came to L.A. and we became friends.  And look at me now.  I’m the boy of a gorgeous movie star.  Guys all over the world would love to be me.”

Brandon smirked, “But you haven’t married him, like Pete and I have, or even been adopted by him.”

“Dude, everyone knows that would be impossible.  The publicity would be brutal.  But Grady loves me, and when he paid for a new wing of Doc Chad’s hospital he named it after me.  That’s something no other boy has – his name over the doors of a whole new hospital wing.

“Yeah, and not many boys can say they run the business affairs of a whole company.”

“While I take care of Grady and Mario.”

As soon as he said the words Brian knew how lame they sounded, compared with Brandon’s. Both boys realized that the tone of the conversation had become slightly embarrassing, and they were saved by Brandon’s Pete.  He jumped in with a smile.

“Guys, you are both wonderful kids, each with your own talents and achievements.  Everyone loves you and it warms my heart to see how you both love each other.  I see that as one of the tribe’s biggest achievements, bringing you two together.”

Pete’s words, calm and wise as always, brought them back to reality and they both blushed and grinned shyly at each other.  Brandon leaned over and kissed Brian who whispered, “Sorry, dude.”

Bob smiled at Pete.  Real conflict had been averted and the minor breach was healed – for now anyway.  But Bob wondered how deep these scratchy feelings actually ran.  The boys were close friends, for sure, lovers even, fuck buddies too, but they led largely separate lives, with separate homes, jobs and activities, so he supposed that occasional spats like this were inevitable. 

Surprisingly, his uneasiness was soon to be put to rest.

The meal continued in perfect harmony and the conversation turned to happier topics, like adventures in the Secret Garden.  It was winding down when the gate buzzer sounded and Bob said, “That’s probably Doc Chad.  He’s coming to check on me every day and said he would be here about this time.”

He was right.  The handsome doctor came in, dressed in his dark blue hospital scrubs, on his way home from working overnight at the hospital.

He was greeted enthusiastically and accepted Mario’s invitation to join them.  But first he performed a cursory examination of his patient.  “Hmm, very good ... strong, steady heartbeat ... I’d say you were well on the way to recovery.  But no more cavemen fucks yet for a while.”

“No worries, doc,” Grady grinned.  “The caveman got what he wanted from me in the Secret Garden, while Angelo here watched.”

“Some adventure, eh Angelo?” Chad smiled, and Angelo blushed.

“Actually, Chad added, I’m glad that Brandon and Brian are here together because I wanted to have a word with them about work.  I’ll go into the details later, I don’t want to interrupt the festivities now.”

“OK, you got us intrigued, doc,” Pete said.  “Can’t you give us a clue?”

“Well, I’ve always been intrigued by how well you two boys navigate the world and don’t let those wheelchairs limit your independence.  So, I have a project in mind at the hospital.  It’s sensitive work that would mean you two working closely together as a team – a team of two.  D’you think you’d be up for something like that?”

Brandon and Brian looked at each other, touched hands and exchanged loving smiles.

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TO BE CONTINUED IN “A Trial Of Strength – Chapter 661