Trial Of Strength (Book 13)

"A BOY IS TAG-TEAMED - A MARINE IS TOPPED"

Thai boy Ryan becomes assistant to the handsome lawyer Bob. But he is so sexually aroused by his new boss that he’s afraid his own lover, the black construction worker Darius, will get mad. Bob & Darius find a solution together by tag-teaming the helpless boy. Meanwhile, in a dramatic role reversal, the near-naked Arab Marine Hassan surrenders his ass to his newly assertive boy Eddie.

In the previous chapter

The tribe’s co-leader Bob had agreed to become the attorney for their movie-star buddy Grady, in his upcoming contract negotiations for his next action movie.

As the job would add to his already heavy workload Bob realized he would need a personal secretary/assistant.  He told the company’s young business office manager Brandon, “I need someone who’s got a good business sense, can stay calm under pressure, and someone who understands our lifestyle.  And above all, someone I can trust to be discreet, especially with Grady’s affairs.”

Brandon suggested their computer expert, the young Thai boy Ryan, and Bob instantly saw that he would be the perfect choice. Stunned by the offer, Ryan accepted and Bob said, “Wonderful, you have all the qualifications, and I’m positive you can handle it.  You already know everything about our construction company – hell, you created all its computer systems. 

“But I want to stress that the job calls for complete discretion as you’ll get to learn a lot of private, confidential things about clients.  And representing Grady brings its own challenges as we will be drawn into his celebrity world.  You know how the tabloids can be with the rumors they spread about a major star like Grady.  He hates that side of it, so the press will call us for comments as his legal representative.  We’ll go over all that later.

Bob was happy at how quickly he had clinched the deal with Grady and then with Ryan.  But one guy was not so happy about it.  Bob’s lover Randy, the rugged gypsy boss of the construction company, felt he had been ‘left out of the loop, not consulted’ in these latest developments. Also, he felt wary of the new closeness between Bob and Grady.

He stormed into Bob’s office, provoking a ferocious argument.  But with Bob’s gentle diplomacy and Randy’s sexual magnetism, the problem was defused, as so often in the past, by making love.  The macho gypsy reasserted his masculinity and topman status with overpowering sex.

“Not quite finished, Randy next went up the sprawling Grady House estate where he found the muscle-jock action star lying naked in the sun. He made it clear that he, not Grady, was Bob’s boss.  Once again his intense sexual magnetism proved his point in a driving assault on Grady’s ass that thrilled Grady and left him exhausted, with a dazed smile on his handsome face. 

He was still smiling goofily when his Italian lover Mario, and their boy Brian came up, having excitedly watched everything from the house. “Are you feeling OK, amico?” Mario asked.

Grady grinned, “What do you think, buddy?  You saw what happened.”  Grady ruffled Brian’s hair.  “OK, kiddo, now we gotta get ready for our big house party for the tribe next weekend.   I can’t wait – we’re gonna have a blast.

=========    Book 13: Chapter 17   =========

<><>    Bob & Ryan Start Work Together    <><>

Next morning, men and boys straggled bleary-eyed into the garden of the tribe’s compound to help themselves from the buffet breakfast set out by the young chefs.

The buzz was all about the major weekend-long gathering of the tribe in a couple of days at the lush Grady House estate.  Movie star Grady and his Italian lover Mario, with the help of their boys, threw these parties once in a while, and they were always an occasion for the men and boys of the tribe to relax, let their hair down and party – with no holds barred.

This time there was the added interest of the tribe’s co-leader Bob having agreed to become Grady’s lawyer in pending contract negotiations with studio executives for Grady’s next movie, due to begin shooting in a month.

There was even more excitement that one of the boys, Ryan, had been hired by Bob as his assistant.  This, of course, made Ryan the center of attention at breakfast as the boys pumped him for details. 

“Guys, at this stage you know as much as I do,” Ryan said.  “Today’s my first day working for Bob.  And by the way, he warned me that a lot of the stuff he’ll be handling is strictly confidential, so I won’t be able to tell you everything.  You know how Grady hates publicity and he gets so much of it.”

“Don’t I know it,” said young Eddie self-importantly.  “As you know, I myself work close with Grady as a cameraman on his movie.  My job is to get candid pictures of him for publicity and the gag reel, and wherever we go we have to dodge the press and paparazzi.”  Eddie spoke like an experienced hand to a rookie.  “Bob and you will probably get that too.”

“Yes, Bob told me that.  As Grady’s attorney, we’ll get calls and questions from the press and I’m to politely refer all enquiries to Bob.”

“Are you excited about the job, dude?” asked his young buddy Tyler.

“Of course, but nervous too.  I don’t know what to expect.  Didn’t even know what to wear so I went for new jeans and a polo-shirt that Darius bought me.  Oh, is that the time?  I better get up to Bob’s office.  Mustn’t be late on my first day.”

“Good luck, dude,” the boys all chorused.  They always looked out for each other, and circled the wagons supportively when one of them got into trouble or had exciting news.

Ryan’s heart was beating fast when he went into the Boss House and tapped on the door to Bob’s office.  Bob smiled warmly as he came in.  “Welcome to your new job, Ryan.  How do you feel?”

“Excited and a bit nervous, sir.  I mean, dealing with a lot of high-powered people, I’ll be way out of my depth.”

“Not with me, you won’t.  Just remember, you are my assistant, I will direct you and guide you through any sticky moments.  So don’t get intimidated, just follow my lead.”  He chuckled, “When I was starting out and uneasy about meeting bigwigs, my father used to tell me, ‘if they get pompous and try to intimidate you, just imagine them naked’.”

“Thank you, sir, I’ll remember that,” Ryan laughed, feeling better already.

“‘Course, don’t take that too far.  Leave it in the imagination.  If all else fails, think of your man Darius naked, that’ll give you confidence.”

“Oh, I already do that, sir.  And that don’t stay only in my imagination, not when he gets home.”

“Good, now this morning we’re both gonna take a plunge into the deep end ‘cos we have our first meeting.  It’s essential for me to establish myself right away as Grady’s attorney of record, taking the lead in contract negotiations.  I already called Grady’s current attorney Vernon Blair, whom I already know through Grady.

“And how does he feel about being replaced, sir?”

“Overwhelming relief, I think, Ryan.  He’s getting up there, in his late seventies, and longing to retire.  He was fine while Grady’s career was ticking along, but these upcoming negotiations could be tough and he wanted to bow out.  He’s pleased it’ll be me taking over.

“He suggested I meet him at Warner Studios this morning to make it formal, and he’ll introduce me to the studio execs who’ll be handling the talks.  Just an informal meet-and-greet for now.  But I find that when people are relaxed in a casual meeting, they let words and opinions slip out that are significant and might be useful to us in the future – helps us get a feel for the lie of the land.

“So here’s what I’d like you to do. I want you to take notes on everything that’s said, so that I can look over them later.  Can you do that?”

“You mean like minutes of the meeting?  No problem at all, sir.  I’ll have my tablet with me and I type real fast, so I’ll sit in the background and write it all down.  They’ll forget I’m even there.”

Bob smiled and touched his hand.  “Ryan, that’s perfect, exactly what I want.  A tape recorder is not appropriate at a casual meeting like this, so someone unobtrusively taking notes in the background is perfect.  Oh, I think we’re gonna make a fine team, kiddo.”

“What about clothes, sir?  Should I change into something smarter?”

“You look just fine as you are.  It’s a movie studio, where casual dress is taken for granted.  And the execs will be sizing me up, not you.  As you see, I’m wearing my usual tan slacks and open-necked blue dress shirt, and I’ll slip a blazer on over the top.  So, we’re all set.  A last cup of coffee and we’ll be off.”

<><>    Tricks Of The Trade    <><>

As they went through the garden to the gate Randy, Zack and Darius were leaving for work at the construction sites.  “Damn you look hot, dude,” Randy grinned at Bob.  “You hang around here too long and I’ll rip those classy clothes off you.”

“That’s why we’re not hanging around here, you caveman.  We’ll be hanging around Warner Studios instead, where my ‘classy clothes’ will be more appreciated.”

“Off to tangle with the big boys, eh?  Knock ‘em dead slugger, I know you will.  You get any grief from them just tell me and I’ll go down there and sort the assholes out.”

Bob rolled his eyes at Zack.  “Ah, how to ruin multiple careers in ten minutes flat.”

Darius gave Ryan a good-luck hug.  “You’ll clinch the deal, kiddo. No one can say no to you, even me.”

“You don’t have to, sir.  I always want you to say yes.”

The men piled into their trucks and Ryan slid into the passenger seat of Bob’s Mercedes.  It felt rather grand sitting in a gorgeous car next to a gorgeous man, but when the hulking studio walls came into view he felt a fresh stab of nerves.  They pulled up to the main gate and Bob gave his name to the security guard.

“Good morning, sir.  Mr. Blair is waiting for you in Grady’s bungalow.  You’ve been there before haven’t you?” 

“Thank you, Jack.  I know the way.”

As he maneuvered the car between the sound stages on the huge lot Ryan said, “Grady’s bungalow?”

“One of the perks of being one of the studio’s star attractions.  I hope we can match his salary to his reputation.

They parked in front of the small bungalow and when they went in a tall gray-haired man stood up and shook Bob’s hand.  “It’s a relief to see you, my boy.  You’re about to lift a load off my old shoulders.  Let’s get right down to the signing ceremony, shall we?

“Sure.  This is my associate Ryan, Vernon.  If you don’t mind, he’ll be making notes.”

“Great idea, I should have had that.  At my age I forget so much.  Welcome to the nuthouse, Ryan.”

The meeting was brief and amicable, and soon they were joined by two studio executives.  Bob introduced Ryan, they shook hands and one of the men said, “Hello Ryan.  Are you a friend of Grady?”

“Caught off guard for a second Ryan rallied and said, “Well, I know Grady of course, sir, who doesn’t?  But I would not describe us as friends.”

Bob heaved a silent sight of relief at this discreet answer and Ryan melted into the background with his tablet.  While he took notes he watched the conversation carefully.  On the surface it seemed like casual small talk, but he had a keen sense that a lot was going on under the surface, a lot of mutual ‘sizing up’ as Bob had called it.  

Bob turned on the charm that was very familiar to Ryan, and he and the execs traded funny stories Grady had told them about acting on a surfboard – and falling off it.  There were gales of laughter and when the meeting ended one of the men said, “It’s been a real pleasure meeting you, Bob, and we look forward to working with you.”

After they left Vernon smiled. “Well done, Bob, you had them eating out of your hand.  I know the tricks of the trade and I saw you pull a few.”

Bob and Ryan got back in the Mercedes and drove up to the exit.  The same security guard smiled and stepped out of his box for a confidential word.  “Bob, I know I’m way out of line and shouldn’t be asking you this, but there are so many rumors flying around.  Er, Grady is going to make the next movie isn’t he?  He won’t bail on us?  He is so popular around here, the studio wouldn’t be the same without him.”

“Jack, we’ll have to see how the talks go, but I promise I will do everything I can to ensure that he makes the next movie, and the one after that.  Keep your fingers crossed, buddy.”

As they drove away Bob said, “So Ryan, what did you make of all that?”

“Well, sir, there was obviously a lot going on under the surface, I saw how you were softening them up.  Like when they talked about how much Grady meant to the studio you kept them on the subject and they let slip that they expected the next movie to be the best yet.”  Ryan looked down at his notes. “Here it is ... they said, ‘we have a terrific script and, because of Grady, we firmly expect the movie to gross more worldwide than all the others’. 

“They, er, shouldn’t have said that to you, sir, should they?”

“Ryan, you amaze me how you pick up on the subtleties.  No, they certainly shouldn’t have.  They’ve played right into our hands, letting us see how much they value Grady, how essential he is.  Now perhaps they’ll be ready to give us a percentage of that huge gross they expect.”

Ryan said, “And what the guard at the gate said, about the whole studio loving Grady.  Do you think the execs know that, sir?”

“Another good point, Ryan.  Sure, they know it, something else that will work in our favor.”

After that, Ryan lapsed into silence and a frown deepened on his face.  Bob sensed his discomfort.  “Er, is anything bothering you, Ryan?”

Ryan hesitated. “Well ... I really enjoyed that meeting and I love working for you, but ...”

“But ...?”

“Well, sir.  See ... like ... I don’t think I can work for you anymore.”

“What?  Whyever not?  You did a great job in there and, with your analytical skills, you’re perfect.  Tell me what’s wrong.”

Ryan blushed deeply and squirmed in his seat.  “Well ...”  It all came out in a rush.  “See, all the time, in the car and the meeting, I’ve had a big erection in my jeans ... because of you, sir.  Watching you talk and charm those guys was so sexy. 

“I know I shouldn’t be turned on, and I tried to make my erection go away, but I can’t ... and I don’t think Darius would like that at all.  I love Darius, I’m his boy. I want him to be proud of me, not angry, and I don’t want to do anything to upset him.  Also, I remember what you said about not mixing business and pleasure.”

“Hmm,” Bob murmured, “I see.  Are you sure Darius would be upset?”

“I don’t want to risk it sir.  I mean, I love you, everyone does, but this is, like, sexual attraction ... Can you imagine if you fucked me?  He’d go crazy.”

“Will you tell Darius this?”

“Of course, sir.  I tell him everything.  Except what happened in the meeting.  I know I mustn’t breathe a word of that to anyone.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that, Ryan.  The things you and I talked about ... if it got back to the execs that I had played them that way, it would be much harder to make a deal.  As for your other problem, I suggest you talk to Darius before you make any decision to quit your job.  Can you promise me that?”

“Of course, sir.  I don’t want to quit at all, and anyway I have to transcribe all the notes I made and print them, so you can have a hard copy to refer to.”

Bob wanted to hug the boy, but had to avoid increasing his sexual urges.  When they got home they went straight to Bob’s office.  “See your desk over there Ryan?  This morning I asked Randy and Seth to bring it over from the business office.  All your stuff is there, laptop, everything.  Now you get to work and I’ll go to our little kitchen across the hall and make coffee.”

Bob watched Ryan go over to the desk and pull out his tablet.  The eager concentration on his youthful Thai features moved Bob and he again had to resist giving him a reassuring hug.  Instead he went to the small private kitchen, put on the coffee ... and phoned Darius.”

<><>    Darius Takes Over    <><>

“Hey, Bob.  Your meeting over?  How did it go?”

“Beautifully, Darius.  It was just a casual meet-and-greet but I laid the groundwork for the hard bargaining later.  And I gotta say, your boy Ryan was outstanding.  I used lots of my subtle diplomacy tricks, and Ryan got them all and asked me more questions as we drove back.  He is a super-smart kid, really intuitive, a prefect assistant for me.”

“Damn, that’s good to hear, Bob.”

“But here’s something that’s not so good to hear, Darius.  He thinks he might have to quit working for me because of a personal problem that he thinks would make you mad at him.”

“What ?!”  I’m proud as a peacock – why in the world would I be mad at him?  Listen Bob, our lunch break is just starting here.  Would it be OK if I came over there and talked to him?”

“I wish you would, Darius.  I want to resolve this quickly but I’m not sure how to.”

Bob left the kitchen carrying a tray of coffee back to his office.  He placed a cup on Ryan’s desk and the boy hardly looked up, he was so engrossed in his work.  Bob sat at his own desk and they both worked silently until they heard footsteps on the stairs. 

As Ryan’s handsome black lover Darius came in, straight from work, shirtless as usual in black jeans and boots, Ryan gasped and jumped to his feet.

“Hey, no need to get up, kiddo.  Didn’t mean to interrupt your work. Bob told me how great you were at the meeting today and I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you.”

“Thank you, sir.  But ...”

“But...?  There’s a but in there?”

“Ryan,” Bob said gently, “we’re all friends here, so why don’t you tell Darius what you told me?”

Ryan blushed uncertainly, but Darius smiled and nodded encouragingly.  So, hesitantly at first, Ryan told him how he had enjoyed the meeting but confessed that he had an erection in his pants all the time – because of Bob.

“I couldn’t help it, sir.  Watching Bob, looking so confident and gorgeous in those smart clothes, turning on the charm for those guys, he was so sexy.  But I thought you would be angry that I was turned on.  And I would probably always be turned on when I’m with Bob, so I know the only thing I can do is quit my job with him.  It’s OK to love my job, but not love my boss, sir.”

There was a heavy silence as Ryan stood shifting uneasily from foot to foot staring at Darius, waiting for his angry reaction.  But there was no angry reaction.  Instead, a smile crept over Darius’s face and he threw his head back in a full-throated laugh. “Come here you beautiful kid.”

He pulled Ryan into a tight, sweaty hug, his ebony muscles flexing as he wrapped his arms round his boy.  Ryan was stunned into silence, though he loved the feel of Darius’s bare chest pressing tight against him.

Darius pulled back at last, held his boy at arm’s length and gazed at him with his shining green eyes.  “First of all, kiddo, getting a hard-on when you’re with Bob is no crime and nothing unusual.  Happens to everyone, join the club.  Eddie has his own name for it – a Boss Bob Boner.”

“But sir, I’m your boy and I save myself for you ‘cos I love you. How can I have a stiff dick for my boss all day?  I know you always say I can fuck with other guys in the tribe provided I tell you first.  But that’s at home, not work.  You wouldn’t like it if I came home and told you, ‘Oh by the way, my boss fucked me today’.”

Darius glanced at Bob who saw the sparkle in his eyes, so he played along.   “Bob, we have ourselves quite a problem here.  The way I see it is this.  We have a boy who lusts for one man at work, and another at home.  Both guys give him a hard-on.  That confuses the hell out of him and he thinks the only way out of it is to give up the guy at work by quitting his job.  Have I got that right so far?”

“You pretty much nailed it, dude.  So what’s the solution?”

“Hmm, let’s see ...   Right, come here, kid, let’s get a good look at you.  Take your clothes off.”

Ryan was surprised but obeyed without hesitation.  His initial nervousness when Darius came in had quickly dissolved to a quiver of excitement as he got naked before his master and his boss. He knew for sure that Darius would not hurt him, and neither would Bob, and he wanted to please both men.

“Look at that, Bob,” Darius smiled, stroking his boy’s bare chest.  “He’s a beaut, ain’t he?” 

“Very sexy, Darius.  In our meeting I kept glancing at him, so calm and confident.  Boosted my spirits, I can tell you.  What do you have in mind for him now, dude?”

Ryan’s heart beat faster as he heard the men exchange ideas about what they would do with him, like two men who had picked up a boy and forced him to sit naked before them, at their mercy, awaiting his fate.

<><>    Tag-Teaming Ryan    <><>

Darius grabbed a straight-backed wooden chair from against the wall and set it in the middle of the room.  “Sit down, kid.” 

Ryan sat on the chair, his arms dangling at his side.  He stared up at the two macho men, so different from each other – one a handsome business executive in tan slacks and a light blue shirt open halfway down his chest ... the other a muscular black construction worker, shirtless in black jeans and boots. 

“OK,” Darius said, “as I see it, Bob, the problem here is divided loyalties.  Like I said, we have a boy who lusts for one man at work, and another at home.  So the first thing we have to decide ... is he at work right now or at home?”

Hmm,” Bob stroked his chin in thought. “That’s a tricky one.  See, right now he’s in his workplace, my office.  His desk’s right over there.  But ... he’s also at home.  He lives with you just across the garden.”

“And right there’s our solution,” Darius smiled.  “You know the old saying – if you can’t beat them, join them.   He’s at home and at work, waiting to get worked over by his man or his boss.”

“Or, his man and his boss,” Bob smiled.

“Bingo.  We join up, and the kid won’t have to choose between us.  And boy, is he ready!  Look at that fucking boner ... his dick’s already oozing pre-cum.”

Realizing he was about to get double-teamed by these alpha topmen, Ryan’s hand automatically strayed up to his cock.  But Bob was having none of that.  “Oh no you don’t, kid.  Darius, he’s put us to all this trouble, he can’t get away with just rubbing one out in a quick cum shot.  He’s gotta work for it.”

“Damn straight.  I’ll take care of the hands.”

“Here use this, buddy.”  Bob pulled off his shirt and tossed it to Darius, who twisted it into a rope.  “Hands behind your back, boy.”

Obediently Ryan wrapped his arms round the back of the chair and Darius quickly bound his wrists.  “Now you really are at our mercy, kiddo.  You said you were turned on by your boss at the meeting in his smart slacks and dress shirt.  How d’you like him now with no shirt at all?”

Ryan stared at the shirtless executive, with chiseled superman looks and bare muscled chest, and opened is mouth wide in a gasp.  “Hold it right there, boy.  Darius, hold his head still.”  Bob unzipped his slacks, pulled out his cock and shoved it in Ryan’s sagging mouth, while Darius stood behind the chair, his hands clamped round the boy’s head.

And so began the double-teamed attack on the young Thai boy they both loved.  Having nursed his erection at the meeting, watching the handsome executive charm his hosts, here he was, tied naked to a chair, swallowing his boss’s rod.  He was so excited he could have lost his load, but Darius ordered, “Don’t you dare cum, boy.  Not till me and your boss have finished with you. 

“Damn,” Bob groaned, “your kid’s mouth is hot, buddy.  I’m real close, so you take over.”  He pulled out just in time and Ryan saw Darius rip open his jeans and pull out his ten-inch black cock, a monster Ryan had sucked many times before.  He easily swallowed it whole, thrilled now at being used by two men he loved to serve.

His jaws were aching after the long serial face-fuck, as the men tag-teamed him, invading his mouth in turn. Darius sensed the boy had had enough and said, “Hey Bob, how about we have a crack at that cute bubble butt.”

“Sure thing, Darius.  Haul him off that chair.”  Darius grabbed Ryan’s waist and pulled him up, his bound hands sliding up and over the back of the chair.  He kissed him, then laid him gently on his back on the floor and grinned down at him.  “You ready for more, kiddo?”

“Yes please, sir,” Ryan panted.  His hands still tied behind his back he pulled his legs back, offering up his ass. 

“Man, is he ever ready for this!” Bob laughed.  “Me first?”

“Be my guest, Bob.  He’s all yours.”  That excited Ryan even more, hearing his master loan him to his buddy to butt-fuck him.

“Don’t untie him, dude,” Bob said. “Makes him a hotter fuck, helpless like that.”   Bob knelt on the floor, pushed Ryan’s leg’s further back and entered his ass.  Darius stood close, in Ryan’s eye line, so he could watch for signs of distress.  But all he saw was ecstasy on the boy’s face as he stared up at his handsome boss pounding his ass.

He felt no pain, no anxiety, only the exhilaration of having his ass double-teamed by what he considered the two most beautiful men in the world.  Occasionally he strained at his bound wrists in a reflexive effort to free his hands and touch his shuddering cock.  But the realization that he was bound tight, at the mercy of his boss, almost made him cum.

Just in time, Bob pulled out and Darius took over, easing his massive cock inside his boy inch by inch by endless inch.  Being butt-fucked by Darius was Ryan’s favorite thing in life, with the added edge this time of being helpless in bondage and watched by the gorgeous man who had become his boss.

Again they took turns at his ass as a tag-team, but the time came when three straining climaxes could be put off no longer.  “What do you think, Bob?  The face I think.”

“Right there with you, big guy.”

Bob stood back while Darius leaned down, pulled the boy up bodily and seated him back on the chair, hands still tied behind him.  The two men towered over him, stroking their cocks.  “Dunno about you, Bob, but my nuts are about to burst.  You ready?”

“I could blow any time, dude.  Look at that pretty Thai face with its delicate features and almond eyes.  Time to mess it up a bit, dontcha think?”

“Damn straight dude.  And when we do kiddo, you’re gonna blast your own load hands-free.  That’s an order.”

“Yes, sir.” Ryan stared up at the squared-jawed executive and the black muscle-jock as they turned and kissed each other.  Then they looked down at him and their muscles flexed, eyes blazed, as they pumped their cocks harder and faster until ... “Aaagh” ... their howls echoed round the room.

He saw two jets of semen blast from their cocks and felt them slam into his face, stream after stream, splashing into his hair, face and neck, until he felt he was drowning in cum.  He pulled frantically at his bound wrists, desperate to touch his shuddering cock until he realized some of the echoing howls were his.  His cock was erupting all on its own, and his own cum was mixing with the men’s juice that streamed down his face and onto his heaving chest.

Dazed, Ryan closed his eyes and was vaguely aware of Darius untying his wrists.  Then he felt the men wiping cum from around his eyes and kissing his cheeks.  He opened his eyes, and a satisfied smile spread slowly over his face.”

“You OK, kiddo?” Darius asked.

“I feel wonderful, sir.  What does it all mean?”

“Always looking for a solution to the equation, eh Ryan?” Bob laughed

“OK,” Darius smiled, “so the solution is this. You can forget all that nonsense about quitting your job ‘cos you thought I’d get mad about your Bob Boners.  As you just saw, I’m fine with you having sex with Bob, if that’s what it comes to, as a relief from those dreary meetings. 

“But I have two conditions, one for each of you.  Bob, there are times during the day when I get real horny, so if I call you here in the office, I’d appreciate your giving Ryan an hour off to come see me in my trailer office at work.”

“Deal,” Bob chuckled.

And Ryan, if you come home and tell me you had sex with Bob, I get from you twice what Bob gave you.”

“Deal, sir,” Ryan grinned.  “Er, by the way, sirs, I’m still technically at work and I was in the middle of transcribing those meeting notes.  I really need to finish that if it’s OK with you.” 

They agreed, he went to the bathroom and came back with a towel, wiping the residual cum off his face and body.  He quickly got dressed, sat at his desk and opened his laptop.

Bob smiled at the concentration etched on Ryan’s face that had so recently been streaming with jizz.  “That’s some boy you got there, Darius.”

<><>    Beach Bum Or Movie Star?    <><>

Preparations for the gathering of the clan at the Grady House were heating up.  It was to be a combined effort, and plans were already in place for chefs from the other houses to meet up there and work shifts so they could each take time from the kitchen to enjoy the party.

Meanwhile, Bob had arranged more meetings at the studio and told Ryan, ”I hope we can wrap this up before the big party. I don’t want it hanging over us, casting a shadow over everything.”

As it happened it went down to the wire.  The deal was finally closed after a long final session on Friday afternoon, and Bob and Ryan drove straight from the studio to the Grady House.  Brian opened the gates for them and looked at them anxiously.  “Any news, sir?”

“Yes there is, Brian, but I should meet with Mario and Grady first.”

“Of course, sir.  They’re upstairs in the master suite.”

Grady and Mario looked up expectantly when Bob and Ryan entered.  “Hey, guys,” Grady smiled, “the suspense is killing us. So, am I gonna be starring in the next Hunter movie?”

“Yes you are Grady, if you agree to the contract we hammered out.”  They all sat round a table, Bob took a paper from his briefcase and slid it across the table to them. “That’s your fee.”

They read it and Grady said, “Oh, er great, Bob.  Kinda what I was getting on the last film.”  There was a deflated feeling in the air, until Bob said, “Ryan?”

Ryan took out another paper and showed them,  “Plus five percent of the gross, sirs.”

Their jaws dropped.  “Five percent?” Mario stammered.  “Of the gross revenue?” Grady echoed.

Bob chuckled.  “Explain please, Ryan.”

Ryan said, “Five percent of the first-dollar gross, and that’s the worldwide gross, which they expect to be huge.  First-dollar means from the moment revenue starts coming in.  Which in laymen’s terms means buckets and buckets of money.”

“Ryan you’re a genius,” Grady said.

Ryan laughed.  “I have to confess it wasn’t me who made the deal.  I was quietly taking notes in the background.  The credit all belongs to my boss here.”

With a wild shout Grady launched himself across the table and hugged Bob.  “Didn’t I tell you, Mario, this was the guy for us?  He can charm the birds out of the trees.  Bob, how can I thank you?  You can fuck me right now, my ass is yours.”

Bob laughed.  “Grady I don’t think I need to dangle five percent of a worldwide gross to do that.  Fucking you is the low-hanging fruit.  I suspect all I have to say is, ‘on the bed, dude,’ and I could pluck your fruit just like that.”

Bob went over some of the other provisions on the contract, explaining the other perks he had negotiated, but as he spoke, Grady’s face clouded over as the truth sank in.  “Wait a minute, guys.  This means I’ll be getting ... what? ... about four times what I got on my last film.  Which also means I have to be four times better than I was.  I can’t, I’m not worth all that money, and we don’t need it anyway.  Can’t we just give it back?”

Bob smiled.  “Grady, that is the most cockamamie logic I ever heard.  The truth is that you should have been getting money like this all along – at least after the first couple of movies were such a success.  Dude, you have made a fortune for that studio, first with the Tarzan franchise and now the Hunter series. And they expect the next movie to be an even bigger blockbuster.  It’s high time they started paying you accordingly.

“As for not needing the money, maybe right now you have enough ... with this house and all ...  and these big parties don’t come cheap.  But like I’ve said before, the gravy train won’t keep rolling forever.  I assume you and Mario plan a long life together.”

“Of course we do,” Grady said in some alarm, grabbing Mario’s wrist.  “He’s all that I want in life ...” he grinned ... “well, that and young Brian to feed me gossip and Danny to take care of us all.”

“Right, so you don’t expect to spend all this dough right away.  I’ll invest it for you and you’ll enjoy a happy, comfortable old age together, long after the treasure ship has sailed.”

After some reflection, Grady said, “But what about the other guys, the crew, the actors, the extras?  I’m one of them, they’re my buddies, my family.  They’ll resent the hell out of me when they learn what I’m being paid.”

“But they won’t learn it, Grady.  Listen, the studio is adamant that this deal remains private, it’s one of the conditions.  If it got out, actors, producers, director would all expect more.  This is very important, guys.  What we’ve said today stays within these four walls. 

“Ryan, when the boys pump you for information, as they will, you just say that the important thing is, the contracts have been signed and Grady will be starring in the next movie.  That is, unless the actual work makes you unhappy, Grady.”

“The work? I love the work, horsing around surfing with all the guys. I’d do that for no pay at all.”

Bob knew there was a lot more involved than ‘horsing around with the guys’, but he shrugged.  “Well, of course you can just be a beach bum hanging out all day with your surfer dudes.  Or you can get a small fortune for doing much the same for the studio.”

Grady looked at Mario, still squeezing his wrist.  “Amico, what do you want me to do?”

Mario smiled.  “Well, Grady, you would make a really sexy beach bum, I could go for that.  But I’m also really turned on by the even sexier movie star who chose me as his mate.  Either one works for me, but on balance, I’d choose the movie star, and a comfortable old age with him.”

Grady kissed him.  “That clinches it.  OK Bob, five percent, whatever ... where do I sign?”

“We’ll get down to those details later, Grady.  But right now, don’t you two have a party to host?  Judging by the noise downstairs the troops are starting to gather.”

“Bob’s right, amore, we have to go down.  I know you’d like to celebrate in bed, but there’s time for that later.  Right now, let's leave all this business stuff behind and have fun.  Don’t forget, in this crowd you are neither beach bum nor highly paid movie star.  You are just one of the guys.”

<><>    Let The Gossip Begin    <><>

Above all, Mario and Grady did not want to make a grand entrance to their own party so they went down to the garden separately and slid unobtrusively into the crowd.  Mario was elegantly casual as always and Grady wore his faded red boardshorts and saggy old tank top, his attempt to disguise himself as just one of the guys.

The guests played their part too. From long experience they knew Grady well – his dislike of the limelight and his need to just mix in.  After the hero-worship he got from fans in the outside world these parties were like therapy, a chance to relax and be a real person again.

Central to this was his boy Brian for whom Grady really was a regular guy, sharing laughs with him and trading gossip.  Like his boyfriend Brandon, Brian used a wheelchair and he rolled up to Grady with a smile. “Hello, sir, I was waiting for you.  I’ve got a couple of margaritas over here.”

“You read my mind, kiddo.  Lead the way.”

When they were seated at a small table under a tree Brian said, “So what’s the deal, sir?  Are you still a movie-star?”

“Reluctantly yes.  They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

“Yeah, I’ve spread the word that we’re not to pump you or Ryan for details ‘cos they’re secret.  But that ‘reluctant’ thing, sir.  You can’t fool me, sir.  I know you love your work.  But you’re not a celebrity to me, sir, just Grady, the guy who pumps me for gossip all the time.”

“Kiddo, you know me better than anyone – except Mario, that is.  I love you, kiddo, you know that.”  He raised his margarita and they clinked glasses.   “But you’re right about one thing.  I do want gossip.  So tell me what gives, kid.  Everything under control is it?”

“Oh yes, sir, with the help of the other guys.  Bob’s twins, and Will and Felipe are working with Danny in the kitchen and Danny’s lover Tommy is the party planner, tending bar right now.  My boyfriend Brandon is jazzing around troubleshooting.  I’ve done the room assignments – there’s quite a skill to that so I went over them with Mario.  So I’d say everything’s hunky-dory, sir.”

“Come on, kiddo, in this hot and heavy group of guys there must be something brewing, always is.  We’ll have our usual long gossip session tonight, but give me something to chew on in the meantime.”

“OK, sir, well how’s this?  It’s Eddie and his big ol’ Marine Hassan.”

“That hunk.  Man I’d like to tangle with him again.  So what gives?”

“Well, sir, Eddie told me something nobody else knows, even you.  Seems the studio is so happy with Eddie’s camerawork on your movie they want to put him under contract.  Eddie’s happy as a clam, of course, but I don’t get the same vibe from his man Hassan.  Eddie wants to show the draft contract to Bob first.  I told him that Bob and Ryan are still in the master suite and he should try his luck now.  I hope I did the right thing.”

“Sure you did, kid.  Bob can take care of himself, I can vouch for that.”

“I have a feeling Bob might be calling me, sir.  You wanna wait with me to see if he does?”

<><>    The Surly Marine    <><>

Upstairs at that moment Bob and Ryan were packing up their papers when Hassan and Eddie came in.   Eddie did the talking, as always. 

“Sorry to barge in, sir.  I know you’re finished with work and want to join the party, but when you have a moment I’d like you to take a quick look at this.” He handed him a folder.  “Thing is, sir, the studio, is so impressed by my work that they want to put me under contract.”

Bob smiled and shook his hand.  “Congratulations, Eddie, you deserve it.  You must be very proud, Hassan.”  Hassan grunted and forced a grudging smile.  Bob added, “So you’d like me to look the contract over before you sign it, is that it?”

“Only when you have time, sir.  I don’t understand shit about all those ‘whereases’ and ‘heretofores’.”

“I’ll be happy to, Eddie, later on today.”  He scanned the first couple of pages.  “Hmm, seems like a standard format, Eddie, but I have to make sure it’s not an exclusive contract.  Exclusive would mean you are restricted to work only for the studio – no freelance work in your spare time, like you once did for Charlie, taking shots of him and his buddies for the cowboy calendar.

“Leave it with us, Eddie, and I’ll go over it with Ryan and see if we need any changes.  But either way, it’s a big feather in your cap, kiddo, don’t you think Hassan?”

Yeah, sure,” Hassan grunted again.

Bob sensed some heavy tension in the surly Marine and engaged them in small talk to get to the bottom of it.  He knew that Hassan was crazy about his boy, and Eddie idolized his macho Marine, but as they talked now there was a coldness between them that Bob had never seen before.  He made a quick decision.  “Tell you what, guys, I’d like you to do something for me.  When you go back down to the party, go see Brian.”

And that’s when Brian got the phone call he had half been expecting, and he gave a thumbs up to Grady.  When the brief call ended Brian looked at Grady with shining eyes.  “Well, get this, sir.  Seems there’s trouble in paradise with the Marine and Eddie.  Bob asked me to check with you or Mario for permission to let them into the Secret Garden.  Would that be OK?”

Grady chuckled, “Brian my boy, right now I owe so much to Bob, if he asked me jump off a cliff I would.  Of course let them into our little garden, especially if it helps the hunky soldier and his boy sort out their problems.  This is great stuff, kiddo.”

In a few moments Hassan and Eddie appeared and Brian told them what Bob had asked him to do.  Eddie said, “Hey I’ve always wanted to see the Secret Garden, find out why the other guys loved it so much.  What do you say, sir?”

Hassan shrugged.  “Sure, why the hell not?”

And so, with a backward smile to Grady, Brian led the two men across the grounds to the high dense hedge that surrounded the hidden garden.  Brian fumbled through the hedge for the low gate and unlocked it.  “There you go, guys.  Take a few deep breaths, chill out ... and enjoy.”

He closed the gate behind them and smiled broadly.  He couldn’t wait to get back to Grady.

Just then Bob came down to join the party at last and sat down with Randy, who grinned, “So all that high finance is over at last, buddy.  Word is that you cut a great deal for Grady, I’m so damn proud of you.  Hope you’re getting a hefty chunk of change out of it.”

“Don’t worry, I’m getting a nice percentage.”

Randy chuckled, “One thing’s for sure.  If my ass ever gets thrown in jail I’ll have a great lawyer to come bail me out.”

“Don’t bet on it, Randy.  If I’m mad at you I might just let you rot in your cell.”

“You do that and I’ll bust out of jail myself, then come and work you over good.”  His stubbled gypsy face broke into a gleaming smile and he kissed Bob hard.  Damn, I love you, dude.  Fucking crazy about you.  Now tell me all about you and Darius double teaming young Ryan ...”

<><>    A Pornographic Soldier    <><>

The Secret Garden had been created by Mario, an expert landscaper, as a refuge for Grady and him whenever the going got rough. 

Mario had deliberately let the garden grow wild, with long grass, unruly bushes and brambles, in the theory that giving nature free rein would do the same for human nature. The only sign of cultivation was in the center – a small waterfall and a stream with grassy banks.  It was here that many other troubled relationships had been healed.

Like visitors before them, Hassan and Eddie instantly felt the soft serenity of the garden, so different from the boisterous party outside.  The only sound or movement was the breeze rustling through the trees and the ripple of water in the distance.  Instinctively that’s where the two men headed now.

“Wow,” Eddie said softly when they reached the small waterfall.  “I see what the other guys were talking about.  This is kinda ... special, don’t you think, sir?  Can we sit here a while?”

“Mmm,” Hassan murmured, looking at Eddie’s shining face, lit with dappled sunlight coming through the trees.  They sank down and sat shoulder to shoulder, staring at the water trickling past them.  Not unexpectedly, Eddie was the first to break the tranquil silence. 

“Sir ... can I ask you something?  When I first got the news from the studio I instantly thought how proud you’d be of me.  That’s all that matters to me really. So, like ... up there with Bob ... weren’t you just a little bit proud of me?”

Hassan leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.  “Of course I was, kid.  I’m sorry if I didn’t show it.  It’s just ...”

“Just what, sir?”

Hassan shrugged.  “Just that your news kinda stole my thunder, dampened the pleasure I was feeling about something else.  See, you know I’m in charge of Marine recruitment and training at the base.  Well, we’ve been using a couple of old promotional videos that are tired and out of date now, and the chiefs want me to create new ones.  They want a lot of candid shots of rookie Marines in training, plus one short, staged scene, like a rescue or something,

“I told them I know a terrific cameraman who specializes in candid shots like that and he would be my choice to direct and edit the videos.  I was gonna break the news to you, Eddie, but you preempted me with your much bigger news of the offer from the studio.  I felt, I dunno, kinda crushed.”

Eddie stared at him wide eyed.  “You mean me, sir?  Directing and shooting your videos?”

“But I realize now, it’s small potatoes compared with your work on a major studio blockbuster movie, Eddie.  Besides, you’d never have the time. 

“It would mean living on the base for a few days, moving around unobtrusively getting casual shots of the young rookie Marines – you know, training, relaxing, lots of male bonding in team sports, kidding around in the locker room, all that macho testosterone that runs through lusty young studs trying to look tough.  All the feel-good stuff that might make young guys outside realize that the Marines could be right for them, and encourage them sign up.”

“But sir, that’s exactly what I do on Grady’s movie, all that candid behind the scenes kinda stuff that the public laps up.  I would love, love to do that for you, sir, I know I could.  Don’t worry about the other thing.  Bob said the studio contract has to be non-exclusive so I can take on outside jobs – just like this one.  I know it would work, sir, if you’ll just give me the chance.”

A long silence followed, broken this time by Hassan.  “That’s not the only thing I was having a problem with, Eddie.  There’s something else that excites me, but that I find hard to accept. 

“Take for example Jamie and Darius.  For a long time they were the boys of what they called their masters, Mark and Zack.  But as the boys grew and took on major jobs they matured into fine young men.  Mark and Zack now look on them more as their men than their boys.  I’m starting to feel the same about you, Eddie, with your career taking off like this.”

“You mean you don’t want me to be your boy anymore, sir?”

Hassan chuckled.   “Eddie, you will always be my boy.  But now I want you to be my man too.  You’ve grown up, dude.  Look at you, juggling two major jobs – Grady’s movie and, I hope, working with me and the rookies at the Marine base.  You’re in the big-time now, man.  And that kinda turns me on, even more than the kid who gives great blowjobs.”

“You, er, don’t want me to suck your dick anymore?”

Hassan grinned, “Of course I do, buddy, and I’ll suck yours.  But, er, like I said, you’ve matured from a cute kid to a handsome young stud – my man. And that’s a big sexual turn-on for me.  I didn’t know how to handle that until we came to this place.  Bob was right, it is kinda magical, sets a man free to explore all his desires. 

“So let me show you one of my desires, dude, my lusts. Right now, this is what I want from you.”

Hassan was wearing his usual fatigue pants and boots, and a sleeveless denim shirt over a khaki tank top.  Now, sitting on the grass, he leaned forward, unlaced his boots and pulled them off.  Tingling with excitement Eddie watched him stand up, unbuckle his belt, rip open his fatigue pants and let them drop.

He towered over Eddie, naked from the waist down.  His massive cock swung between his muscled thighs, and for a moment Eddie thought he was about to feel it shoved up his butt.  But instead, Hassan shrugged off his denim shirt and turned his back to Eddie.  Below the bottom of his tank the mounds of his hairy ass curved up from his waist, a pale contrast to his deep olive skin.  Eddie’s cock jolted in a premonition of what was to come.

The near naked Marine took a few steps toward a tree, then lay on his back in the grass.  He reached up and grabbed a small branch of the tree close to the ground.

His heart beating wildly, cock rigid in his shorts, Eddie gazed down in disbelief at the homoerotic sight.  The rugged Marine Captain lay on his back, naked except for the khaki tank stretched over his muscled torso.  His muscular arms were stretched up in a V, hands gripping the tree branch.  His cock hung from a wiry mass of black pubic hair and lay across his thigh. 

Eddie stared at the swarthy Marine’s chiseled, olive-skinned features – heavily stubbled square jaw, high cheekbones, slanted dark eyes, black hair falling over his brow as his head moved slowly from side to side.  His biceps flexed as he grabbed the branch tighter, as if tied to it. 

The muscular near-naked Arab soldier was a pornographic fantasy.

Hassan opened his eyes and slid his heels back on the grass, knees bent, surrendering his ass.  His deep voice growled.  “This is what I want, dude ... and I want it from my man.”

 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

TO BE CONTINUED in “A Trial Of Strength” – Book 13: Chapter 18