Trial Of Strength (Book 13)

"INITIATION OF NEW BOY OSSIE"

Tough macho Seth and his boy Will are a big hit in the luxury hotel, and end their stay with sex in a cave where the boy tops his man. They bring home a new boy, Ossie, who seeks a job in the tribe’s office. He is stunned by the tribe’s lifestyle, and shocked when gypsy boss Randy storms home in a rage, vents his fury on his lover Bob’s ass and shows Ossie who is “boss around here”.

<><>    Moonlight    <><>

The construction boss Seth and his boy Will we’re living it up in in the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Laguna Niguel, an hour down the coast from Los Angeles. 

They were there because of the roughneck laborer’s feelings of inferiority.  As he told Will, “I’m just a scruffy construction worker, only good for digging dirt and getting drunk.”

Young Will proved him wrong, proved that he could hold his head high with the best of them.  On the advice of the tribe’s co-leaders Randy and Bob, Will had persuaded Seth to spend a few days in the five-star hotel.  The experiment was working as planned and Seth said, “I guess there’s some truth in the old saying, ‘the clothes make the man.”

Seth had exchanged his grubby construction clothes for smart tan suede leather jeans and a black polo shirt that accentuated his muscled torso and long slim waist.  The clothes contrasted with his rugged stubbled features and tousled, shaggy hair, and as he strode through the hotel lobby he turned many a lustful head.  He was even mistaken for a movie action hero by an awestruck youngster in the lobby who asked for his autograph.

Will smiled, “That smart/savage look is a hit, sir.”  In truth, Will knew that, deep down, Seth still had the soul of a wildman, which he soon proved by treating an excited Will to a homoerotic fantasy, featuring a roughneck who is roughed up in bondage. 

They ended their first day by sitting on the beach below the hotel watching a glorious sunset, then having room service set up their dinner on the private terrace of their suite.  After Seth signed the bill and added a tip, the waiter said, “Sirs, don’t hesitate to call us if you need anything else.   Anything at all.”

After he left Seth grinned, “Why do they all add ‘anything at all’, like they’re offering a blow job or something?”

“They probably are, sir, to you.” Will giggled.  “You’re an action-movie star after all.”

“Well they’re barking up the wrong tree.  I already got me a boy, and I’m gonna make love to him for the next three nights.  “I just love being here with you, kiddo.”  He poured the wine and they clinked glasses.  “To action heroes and any new fantasies we can come up with.”

As it turned out, that night was not of the action-hero variety at all – in fact it was an antidote to their earlier wildman bondage fantasy.  After dinner on their terrace they went into the bedroom whose plush, elegant look still took their breath away – a large beautifully made-up king bed, soft beige couch, and sheer voile curtains that wafted in the gentle sea breeze coming through the open French doors.

“Perfect place to make love, eh Will?”

“Is that what you had in mind, sir?  Funny, the same thought crossed my mind too.”

Seth laid his arm over his boy’s shoulders and they stood at the open French doors onto the terrace that ran the length of their top-floor suite of the three-story clifftop hotel.  From there they had a stunning view over the ocean that had been lit with gold at sunset, but now sparkled silver in the light of the full moon.

Seth took Will’s hand and they walked out onto the terrace. “Picture perfect eh, kid?”

“Yes, sir,” Will murmured dreamily.

They turned to each other and kissed.  Seth said, “You’re perfect too, Will.  Being here with you like this in this magical place gives me a whole new perspective on you, me and us together.  I feel like a whole new man.”

Will’s freckled face broke int an impish smile.  “A man who wants to make love to his boy?”

“That’s just where I was going with this, kiddo.  I’m ready for bed if you are.”  Seth pulled off his shirt and dropped the sweatpants he was wearing.  Will, likewise took all his clothes off and Seth pulled him into a warm hug – father and stepson naked on the terrace in the moonlight, with only the wheeling seagulls to see.

Seth led his boy inside to the bed and pulled the covers down.  “So, let’s see if the bed feels as good as it looks eh?”  He picked Will up in his arms and laid him gently on the soft sheets.

“Mmm,” Will sighed.  “Feels even more luxurious than it looks, sir.  Now all I need is a rugged, naked he-man to share it with me.”

Seth looked round at the empty bedroom and smiled, “Hmm, guess you’ll have to settle for me, kiddo.”  He lay beside his boy, wrapped his arms round him and kissed him – forehead, eyes cheeks and lips.  Then he made love to him, slowly, tenderly, easing into his ass until at last, mouths pressed together, their juices flowed.

Seth kissed Will’s face again, then lay on his back and murmured, “Now all I wanna do is sleep all night with my boy in my arms.  ‘Night kiddo.” 

Will rested his face on his dad’s hairy chest as it rose and fell in sleep.  He gazed at the curtains blowing lazily at the opened windows, and at the moonlit sky beyond.  This is it, he thought.  This is the happiest I have ever been in my life, hands down the best I have .... 

But he didn’t finish the thought before his eyes flickered closed and he fell asleep.

<><>    Will Dazzles In The Hotel Kitchen    <><>

When they woke next morning they both felt a sense of liberation.  They had finally shed the identity doubts and confusion that had caused this trip, and they felt they had changed – been reborn.  Now they didn’t have to worry about ‘fitting in’ in this luxury environment.  Seth had made a few minor gaffes but they had laughed them off and the staff seemed not to have noticed.

Seth was aware of being widely admired in the hotel, leaving a trail of awestruck looks as he walked through a crowd or into a room.  And his new sense of self-esteem reflected on Will – like an orbiting moon lit by the reflected light of its sun.  Now they could have fun and laugh with no nagging restraint, no grey cloud dimming their happiness.

They had showered and were getting dressed to go down for breakfast when the room phone rang.  Seth answered and a refined voice said, “Good morning, sir, I hope I haven’t disturbed you.  This is Henry, the hotel’s head chef, and I was told by our executive chef in LA, Miguel, that your son is a chef and might like to visit our kitchens.”

“Sure.  I’m sure he would.  He’s right here.”  Will took the phone eagerly and listened, with the occasional, “Definitely .... that would be great ... I would love that.  Sure, I’ll talk to my father and if he’s OK with it I’ll see you at eleven-thirty.  Thank you for calling.”

His eyes were shining when he turned to Seth.  “Henry is the chef de cuisine and he asked if I’d like to visit the kitchens here at lunchtime today.  Then I would join you for a late lunch, eating the food I’d helped cook.  Except ... that would leave you alone for a couple of hours, sir, so if you say no I’d quite understand.”

“Hey, hey ... say no?  Why would I do that? I know that’s been a dream of yours for a long time.   Don’t worry about me.  I’m confident enough now to spend time on my own in the hotel without disgracing myself.  Besides. I really wanna get some sun by the pool, be on my own to think.  Do my soul good.”

So after breakfast they spent an hour by the pool together, then Will ran upstairs to shower and change, before making his way to the kitchen.  Henry met him at the door and gave him a white wrap-around apron and chef’s hat to put on. 

He began with a tour of the busy kitchen, introducing him to several of the chefs, sous-chefs’ and pastry chefs.  He explained, “The kitchens supply most of the various restaurants in the hotel, so they are busy all day.  As you see, they are currently cranking up for the lunch rush.  Here’s what I would suggest.  One of our big sellers at lunchtime is the salmon, and Miguel told me you have a favorite salmon sauce.”

“I do – Scotch whiskey and Worcester sauce, plus a few little touches of my own.”

Henry grinned. “And apparently a famous and very popular rhubarb pie. We just had a shipment of rhubarb and we want to offer a dessert special, but I was looking for a good way to serve it.

“Yes, I usually do a standard big pie, but I also have a lighter, fancier version that might fit better with your nouvelle cuisine image.”

“So here’s the deal, Will.  If I give you a couple of junior chefs, who know where everything is stored, could you make us a batch of the salmon sauce, and bake some of your pie – the nouvelle cuisine version?”

Will eagerly accepted the challenge, met the two chefs who were about the same age as him, and they got to work.

Meanwhile Seth was happily soaking up the sun on a chaise by the pool.  He had once again caused quite a stir when he walked out to the pool wearing brown and white boardshorts.  He had ordered a margarita and was now leaning back, eyes closed, letting his mind run on the events of the trip so far. 

He was in a totally different frame of mind from the anxiety he had felt on the drive down here.  Not only did he feel like a changed man, but his attitude to Will had changed.  Before this, he had felt overmatched by his boy – he a rugged laborer, Will a skilled young gourmet chef. 

But now, his newfound confidence helped him feel more like an equal to his boy despite their age difference, as they were both skilled at their jobs, albeit in different lines of work. He felt elated by his new image of Will – no longer just a freckle-face boy, but a determined take-charge young man.  Will’s assertiveness in planning this trip had impressed Seth, nudging his own stepdad into a greater sense of self esteem. 

It somehow made Wil even sexier, and suddenly it dawned on Seth, beyond a doubt, what he wanted from Will.

He smiled to himself as he imagined Will at this moment asserting himself in a large hotel kitchen that would have intimidated most young chefs.  Even as he thought of Will, Seth heard someone clear his throat.  He opened his eyes and looked up at a smiling waiter.

“Sorry to disturb you, sir, but we just had a call from the kitchen, where your son is apparently impressing everyone with his culinary skills.  He asked us to suggest that you meet him for a late lunch at two o’clock on the terrace restaurant.  That’s in a little over an hour from now, so I brought you another margarita – on the house, sir.”

Seth’s rugged features broke into a gleaming smile.  “Thanks, Gary (glancing at the nameplate he wore) I appreciate that.  That’ll give me plenty of time to go up and change.”

“Sir, the terrace restaurant in the afternoon is very casual.  Your boardshorts would be perfect with the white polo shirt you were wearing when you came out here.  Most appropriate if I may say so, quite stunning actually.  There, now I’ve said too much, I apologize.”

Seth laughed.  “Gary, take it from me, you never need to apologize for giving a compliment.  I appreciate the suggestion.  Right, so boardshorts and polo shirt it is.”

<><>    Real Cave Men    <><>

When Seth appeared on the terrace at two o’clock, the maître d’ smiled, “Hello again, sir.  Your son is already seated at that table in front, the one you had yesterday.  I’ll bring you lunch menus.”  Many pairs of eyes followed his progress across the terrace, where he sat facing a beaming Will.

“So how’d it go in the kitchen, kiddo?”

“Very well, sir, I think.  I loved all the activity, the professionalism, and really liked the head chef Henry, an old friend of Miguel, it seems.  He lent me two of the junior chefs and together we cooked a couple of things.  I’m having the salmon.”

The maître d’ arrived with menus but Seth waved them away.  “We know what we’re having – the salmon, please.”

Excellent choice, sir.  We’ve been having rave revues on that dish all through lunch.”

Will ordered the wine and Seth noticed the smug smile on his face.   “What’s up, kid?  I know that look.  Something to do with the salmon?  Did you cook it?”

“No, sir, but I made the sauce, an old recipe that I’ve played around with and added my own touches.”

When the salmon arrived the maître d’ asked Seth to have a taste.  He swallowed and smiled. “Wow, I can see why it got the rave reviews.”

“Your son made the sauce, sir, that’s the secret.”

Will smiled.  “I’ve written down all my ingredients and cooking instructions for Henry and he said he’ll incorporate it in the regular menu from now on.”

“I hope you did the same for rhubarb pie,” the waiter chuckled.  “We added it today as a dessert special and it was a major hit.”

When it was time for dessert Seth almost didn’t recognize the rhubarb pie he knew and loved.   “No, sir, this is the nouvelle cuisine version – fancy presentation, smaller portion.  Our guys prefer the classic big ol’ pie, especially Randy who wolfs it down.”

Seth grinned, “Will, I am this close to leaping across the table and giving you a big wet kiss.

“Remember, sir, my etiquette book says no-go.  Not in a hotel as fancy as this one.  Let me tell you about the kitchen instead.”

Seth loved watching the enthusiasm on Will’s face as he described working in the frantic pace of the huge noisy kitchen.  “It was wonderful, sir.  If I was ever out of a job I would choose to work here.  Except that I prefer our own four-chef kitchen at home.  The pace can be just as frantic but we four work so well together.  It’s more intimate, more personal.”

“Hm,” Seth said, “that’s kind of what that boy Ossie said yesterday – that he loves his office work here but would prefer a job with a smaller company where he knows the guys he’s writing payroll checks for.  I hope we can do something for that kid.”

They had met Ossie the evening before, sitting on the rocks watching the sunset.  He told them he worked in payroll in the hotel’s large office and. even though he enjoyed his job here, he was really a big-city boy and wanted to move to L.A.  Will had later called his pal Brandon, the tribe’s office manager, as he was looking to hire an extra assistant.

“Oh,” Will said to Seth, “talking of Ossie, that reminds me.  He came into the kitchen to ask Henry about part-time staff.  He pulled me aside and whispered that tomorrow he gets a long lunch hour and would like to take us to a little Italian Trattoria on the beach past Dana Point.”

“That was nice of him.  What do you think?”

“I told him that sounded great idea.”

“Good, so we’re on.  I’d like to know him better if you’re gonna recommend him to Brandon as a possible new office assistant.  But right now, kiddo, I want to talk about you and me.  I’d like to take you for a walk on the beach, help us digest the salmon and the pie.”

“I’d love that, sir.”  So a few minutes later, both barefoot in boardshorts, they were walking down the zigzag path down the cliff to the beach.  They turned south, headed for a more remote part of the beach, too far for most people to walk.”

They walked in companionable silence for a long while until Will said, “Sir, you said you wanted to talk about you and me.  Should I be nervous?”

Seth laughed.  “Nervous? .... with me?  Nah, it’s all good kiddo.  Let’s see ... You remember some weeks ago when you told me the story of Hassan and his boy Eddie?”

“Yeah, except by that time the macho Marine was calling Eddie his man, not his boy.”

“That’s the point I was coming to.  Eddie had just got that prestigious job at the movie studio, and Hassan then asked him to produce recruitment videos for new Marine cadets.  His new responsibilities made Hassan realize that Eddie had grown up into an assertive young man, and he saw him more as his partner than his boy.”

“I know, sir.  You, you might say that the balance of power in their relationship had shifted a bit. So where’s this leading to, sir?”

“To us, kiddo. When you organized this trip, taking charge so confidently, I saw a whole different you, and it changed my perception of myself and of us. Like Hassan and Eddie – partners.”

“Yeah, and I remember how Eddie gushed to us boys about how Hassan, the big butch Marine, wanted to see his new dominant man in action. And boy, did he ever!  Talk about role reversal.”

A silence fell over them again as they splashed through the water’s edge, getting further and further up the deserted beach.  At last Seth said, “I didn’t tell you this, Will, but when I chatted with Randy before we left, he told me about a place he took Bob to, that few people knew about.  And it’s coming up now.  See those scrubby bushes over there at the foot of the cliff?  That looks like the place he described.”

Will felt a shudder of excitement as they walked away from the water, up to the back of the beach toward the bushes.  They were pretty dense but Seth pushed in and said, “That’s it, just as Randy said.  Follow me.”

Seth eased into the bushes and parted them for Will.  They closed behind them and they found themselves standing at the mouth of a cave.  “Wow,” Will said, “looks like it’s deep.  Carefully they walked forward, aiming for a patch of light where the sun shone through a gap at the top of the cave’s mouth. Like a spotlight, it lit up an empty patch of the hard dry sand underfoot.

They both sensed the other-worldly atmosphere in the cave, the eerie silence broken only by the distant sound of breaking waves and the cry of seagulls overhead.  They looked at each other and both knew sex was inevitable.  Will stroked Seth’s hairy chest while Seth cupped Will’s freckled face in his hands and kissed him.

“Do you want me to lie on the ground, sir?”

“Not this time, Will.  Remember what you said about Eddie and Hassan ... how Hassan wanted to see his new dominant young man in action?”

“Really, sir?”

“Yes, really, Will.”  Seth unlaced his boardshorts and let them drop.  He spread them on the hardpacked sand and lay down on them, on his back.  Of course Will knew what Seth wanted.  It was something Will couldn’t have done before, but now he felt newly empowered.  Yes, he wanted it too – he longed to fuck his man.

He dropped his shorts and knelt down between Seth’s legs.  It amazed him to see the tough, rugged construction boss hook his hands behind his knees and pull them back.  Will’s cock was raging, oozing pre-cum as he grabbed it, leaned forward and pressed the head against Seth’s hairy hole.”

“Fuck me man,” Seth growled.  “Fuck my ass, man to man ... yeaaah!”

He groaned hoarsely as he felt Will’s stiff rod push into his ass, deeper and deeper until Will’s tangle of pubic hair pressed against his butt.  Will leaned forward and pressed his hands down on Seth’s shoulders, pinning them to the floor of the cave.

As Will pulled back, then in again at the start of a forceful fuck, Seth spread his arms to the side and clenched his fists, like a captive staked out in the sand. 

Will recalled yesterday’s fantasy where Seth had described the savage roughneck tied up and roughed up, struggling helplessly.  This was the ultimate climax to that, where the stud laborer, in the final humiliation, gets his ass pierced by another man’s cock.

Seth gazed up at the boy, transformed into a dominant young jock, backlit by a shaft of sunlight penetrating the cave’s gloom, his jaw set, hazel eyes staring down at the man he loved.

It was a magical moment, a bonding of two men, as if for the first time, the younger one topping his macho alpha lover.  “You are such a young stud, Will.  Yeah, pound your man’s ass.”

Will took his time, enjoying the sensation of butt fucking his stepdad as they stared into each other’s eyes.  But gradually the pounding grew more intense and he moved his hands from Seth’s shoulders to his chest, digging his fingers into his flexing pecs.  Seth at last lowered his arms, wrapped his fist round his cock and stroked it, his eyes penetrating Will’s.  “You’re so fucking hot, man, you’re gonna make me bust my load.  Can I cum, man?  Please ...”

“OK, but wait for me to fill your ass with my sperm.  Here we go ....”

Will’s eyes gleamed, he drove his cock in harder, faster as Seth pounded his own cock.  Their jubilant shouts bounced off the walls of the cave as Will blasted cum in his man’s ass while the muscled roughneck spurted semen over his own hairy, heaving chest.

They stared at each other in disbelief, then Seth’s craggy features broke into a gleaming smile.  “Un-fucking real, dude.  Man you’re a great fuck.  So damn sexy getting my ass fucked by my own stepson.”

Will grinned.  “Quite a trip, butt-fucking my dad.  But I have a feeling I’m gonna get payback later for doing that.”

“You betcha.  I’ll get my own back, dude, you can count on it.” 

<><>    A Trattoria On The Beach    <><>

After all that action they were happy to settle down and enjoy being pampered.  Will’s reputation as an inventive chef quickly spread among the staff and, coupled with his stunningly sexy smart/savage stepfather, they were quite the celebrity couple.

That night they got dressed up – Seth in his blazer and white open-collar shirt – and had dinner in the classy dining room.   Even when Seth dropped a fork he knew to ignore it and accept a new one discretely presented on a napkin by an attentive waiter.

That night Will got his payback, which didn’t feel like payback, more like tender lovemaking.”

Next day at noon they had arranged to meet Ossie at the staff parking lot in back of the hotel.  He was waiting with what he called his ‘old banger’ of a car.  He smiled cheerfully, “Sorry for all the cloak and dagger stuff, sirs, but like I said they don’t like staff to fraternize with guests so we’ll avoid the valets and take my old banger.  It should make it to Capistrano Beach, it’s only five miles down the coast.”

Will sat up front with Ossie so Seth could stretch his long legs in the back seat.  As they sputtered down Pacific Coast Highway Ossie grinned, “Something wrong with the timing, I’m told, whatever that means.  I’m clueless about cars.”

Will said, “We know a couple of mechanics who could knock this into shape in no time.  Either that or find you an inexpensive replacement.”

“Sounds like you know a whole lot of guys, Will.”

“Yeah, you could say that,” said Will, glancing at Seth in the rearview mirror.”

“Where are you taking us, Ossie?” Seth asked from the back seat..

“Ah, my favorite place, sir – Sofia’s Trattoria, a little Italian joint right on the beach.  Best Italian food in Orange County.  Sofia’s a dear, treats me like her son.”

That was evident when they pulled up behind the small, rustic restaurant and a large ample woman came out and threw her arms round Ossie in a crushing embrace.  “Bambino, where have you been?  Seems ages since I’ve seen you.  And who are these handsome devils?”

“Ossie introduced his new friends and she led them out to a table on the small rickety terrace on the beach.  Sofia treated them like family and Ossie’s boast about the food had been no exaggeration. 

Ossie told them more about himself.  His own mother had died several years ago and he had lost touch with his father – they didn’t get along.  “So I’m pretty much alone.  I had a boyfr ... a friend,” he corrected himself, “but not anymore.  Now all I have is a pal in L.A. who, like I told you, I’m gonna see tomorrow for four days.  Down here, you might say I’m married to Netflix.”

“They laughed a lot with Ossie who had a keen, rather wicked sense of humor, and they soon felt like old friends.  After lunch the old banger made it back to the hotel in one piece.  Before they parted Ossie asked, “Does your offer of a ride to LA still hold, sir?  If not I could always take the train.”

“Of course it does, kiddo,” Seth smiled.  “We were planning to leave about eleven tomorrow morning if that works for you.  Will will text you when we’re ready.”

“Perfect, sir.  And thank you for lunch.” (Seth had paid, of course.)  Sofia took a real shine to you.  She already has nicknames for you ... Bix Sexy and Big Red.”

Seth laughed.  “We’ve been called worse.  See you tomorrow Ossie.”

<><>    Ossie Has A Confession    <><>

Next morning Seth and Will said effusive thanks to the staff who expressed genuine hopes they would come again soon.  That was echoed by chef Henry who had come to see them off.   “And next time, Will, bring more of those secret recipes of yours and we’ll put you to work again.”

They picked up Ossie at the bottom of the long drive as arranged, as overly cautious Ossie didn’t want to be seen fraternizing with guests.   He was highly impressed by the big gray truck as Will pulled him in to sit in the front seat with him and Seth.  “This is huge, sirs, big enough for all of us to sit in front.”

“Ah, you ain’t seen nothing yet, kid,” Seth laughed.

But as they hit the freeway they did not tell Ossie much about what he would see if he came to the compound. They had discussed it the night before and decided not to give him all the details of their lives with the tribe.  “After all,” Seth said to Will, “we’re not even sure if Brandon will call him for an interview.  So he might never set foot in the compound.”

“Plus,” Will said, “I wouldn’t want to frighten him off with stories of the men and boys.  Might be a bit rich for his blood.  Not many guys could take all that in.  I kinda hope we stay friends with him ‘cause he’s good company, but I agree we should low-key it for now.”

However, part of their reticence was put to rest when, after a long silence where Ossie seemed to be making up his mind about something, he cleared his throat and said, “Sirs, there’s something I should have told you earlier.  If I had you might not have wanted to ride with me.”

He paused uncertainly and Seth smiled, “Hm, sounds mysterious.  OK, kiddo, what’s the big secret?”

“Well, sir, see ... what I didn’t tell you was ... that I’m gay, sir.”

Seth and Will broke into laughter and Will patted the boy’s knee.  “Oh we’re not laughing at you, dude, we’re laughing with you.  Why on earth would you think that would upset us?  This is Southern California in the twenty-first-century, dude.  Why should your sexual orientation make any difference in the way we feel about you?”

Ossie smiled.  “Phew that’s a relief.  See, I really like you guys and I’m relieved that you can accept me as I am.”

He visibly relaxed and they chatted like old pals for the rest of the trip.  Seth and Will did not tell him the whole story, of course, in line with their decision not to give him details of the tribe nor their own sexual relationship.  They would leave all that to Brandon if he decided to hire him.  Brandon would become his boss, after all.

When Seth exited the Golden State Freeway and drove up Figueroa, Ossie directed him to the small house in Highland Park where his buddy lived.  Will said, “This is real close to our place just up Mt. Washington Drive. OK, buddy, I’ve got your cellphone number so we’ll be in touch.  And by the way, that friend I mentioned who manages a business office.  His name’s Brandon and he said he might call you about a possible job opening.”

“Thanks, Will, that would be great.  I’d love to work up here.”

“So one way or another, we’ll see you soon, kiddo.”

They hugged, Ossie got out of the truck and they watched him walk to the house, his backpack slung over his shoulder.

“Gee I really hope we can do something for him, Seth.  Such a sweet kid.”

“I hope so too, Will.  The ball’s in Brandon’s court now.”

When they pulled up at the compound and got out of the truck Seth smiled at Will and pulled him into a hug.  “Great trip, dude, thanks to you.   Like I said before, I feel like a changed man.”

That change was evident as soon as they walked into the compound and were greeted enthusiastically by the guys who were at home.  Everyone noticed Seth’s new, confident body language and smile – he seemed to stand taller than before. 

Seth said to Will.  “I better change into my work gear and go straight up to the worksite, check in with Randy on how my crew has managed in my absence.”

“And I gotta report to the twins and relieve young Felipe.  They must have been working without a break in my absence.”

“So, see you at dinner, kiddo.  And tonight in our own bed.  Deluxe it ain’t, but it’s ours.”

Before going to the kitchen Will looked in at the office where Brandon and Ryan were hard at work.  They looked up and smiled as Will came in.  “Don’t have to ask how the trip went, dude, it’s written all over your face. And we saw Seth from the window here – now that is a real boss, right up there with the best of them.”

“Thanks, Brandon.  I won’t keep you a minute ‘cos I see how busy you are.  When are Vic and Noah coming back from Charlie’s rodeo?”

Another couple of days – it’s tough and I know Bob is missing his assistant Ryan.  Makes me realize how urgently I need to hire another guy. Any news on this kid of yours? Ossie, right?”

“Yeah, we just dropped him off at this buddy’s house.  I won’t go over his work experience, that’s your territory. But we did get to know him a bit.  He took us to lunch at his favorite trattoria, and then of course we talked on the drive back here.  He is so cute.  One thing he ‘confessed’ to us nervously, is that he’s gay.”

“He ‘confessed’?” Brandon chuckled.  “Oh dear.  Sounds like a rookie, has a lot to learn.”

“Well that’s just it, Brandon.  We didn’t tell him anything about the tribe nor about my sexual relationship with Seth.  We didn’t want to overload him with information that might put him off.  We thought it better to leave the lifestyle stuff to you ... if you decide to hire him that is.

“Good,” Brandon said, “I prefer to work from a clean slate.  I’ve already written a job description and Ryan got the pay scales for admin staff at the hotel, and I think we can match that?”

Will grinned.  “Hacked into the hotel’s computers, eh Ryan?”

“Not exactly,” Ryan laughed.  “I prefer to call it research.”

“OK, I gotta go to the kitchen.  Here’s Ossie’s cell number, Brandon.  His real name’s Oscar but he goes by Ossie.   So I’ll leave it to you, buddy. As Seth said, the ball’s in your court now.”

<><>    The Job Interview    <><>

Brandon called the number soon after Will left.  The sooner he hired someone the better, because whoever he chose would probably have to give notice at his current job.

“Hi, my name’s Brandon.  I believe my friend Will told you about me and that I’m looking for an office assistant.”

Yes, sir, thank you for calling.  He said you might phone me.”

“I’m especially looking for someone who has worked in payroll services.”

“That would be me, sir.  I told Will that I love doing payroll ‘cos it seems more personal than ...”

“Yes, yes, we’ll go over all that when I see you.  Are you free to come here at eleven tomorrow morning?”

“Yes, sir, that would be fine.”

“Right, here’s the address.  It’s straight up Mt. Washington Drive, a large compound on the left.  “Here’s the office number in case you need it.  I look forward to meeting you tomorrow.”

Brandon hung up and frowned.  “Was I too abrupt with him, Ryan?  I sounded curt to me.”

Ryan laughed, “No dude, you were businesslike – gave him date, time and place, and got off the phone.  You didn’t want to do the interview over the phone, did you?”

“Thanks, Ryan.  Truth is I’m a bit panicked.  There’s so much work piled up we’re in the weeds, as overloaded waiters call it.  When he comes I’ll interview him in the back office if you can cope out here alone while I do.”

“Don’t sweat it, Brandon, I’ll cope.  And Noah and Vic will be back in a couple of days.”

Brandon relaxed and they got back to work on their laptops.

Which is exactly where they were again next morning.  Will was in the kitchen, of course, helping the twins prep for lunch while Felipe took a well-deserved day off with his buddy Jamie. 

Just before eleven, Will heard the gate click.  The window overlooked the garden and Will saw Ossie walk in nervously, neatly dressed in jeans, loafers. an open-neck white dress shirt and smart blue blazer. Will said to the twins, “Just going out for a minute, guys, two minutes tops.”

Without taking off his apron and chef’s hat he ran out and greeted Ossie, who smiled, “Hey, Will, didn’t expect to see you here.  Great outfit, by the way.  You look real professional.”

“You should talk kiddo, in that cool outfit.”

Ossie grinned, “My buddy lent me the blazer, shirt and loafers.  I wanted to make a good impression.”

“You’ll do that alright.  The office is that low building over there, up those few steps.”

“You, er, you work here too, Will?”

“More on that later, kid.  Get your ass into the office, don’t wanna be late.  Good luck, Ossie.” Will watched as Ossie went to the office, took a deep breath and walked up the steps.

Inside, Brandon wheeled his wheelchair up to him and shook his hand, rather moved to see that he had dressed up for the interview.  “Excuse me for not getting up,” he smiled.”  You must be Oscar.”

“Most people call be Ossie, sir.”

“That’s right, of course.  I’m Brandon, the firm’s Director of Finance and office manager.  And this is Ryan, he’s the boss’s assistant, on loan to us while our other two staff are away.”

“Hey, Ossie.”  Ryan shook his hand, slightly taken aback by the new black boy’s resemblance to Ryan’s man Darius – same coffee-colored skin and green eyes.”

“OK, Ryan,” Brandon said, “the office is all yours.  Ossie we’ll talk in my office.  Follow me.”

With a shy smile to Ryan, who gave him a thumbs-up, Ossie followed Brandon into the back office where Brandon told him to take a seat and sat facing him.  He didn’t wheel his chair behind his desk, as he always felt a desk between boss and applicant inhibits relaxed conversation.

Ossie pulled a paper from his jacket’s inside pocket.  “Here is my resumé, sir.”

Brandon cast a cursory eye over it and put it on his desk.  “I always find it best if a candidate gives me his resumé in his own words.  Written resumé’s can seem so canned, don’t you think?  I don’t want you to be nervous.”

“I am a bit, sir.  Interviews make me nervous.”

“So don’t think of this as an interview – just a chat for us to get to know each other.  By the way, I’m sorry if I sounded abrupt on the phone.  It’s just that we’re so swamped, being short of staff.” Ossie just smiled, not knowing how to react when the boss apologizes.  “OK, Ossie, so you began to tell me about how much you enjoy working in payroll.  That’s unusual.  Usually payroll is the least favorite job in an office, and the most time-consuming.  It certainly is here.”

“Well, sir.  Usually business affairs are always about just figures, but I find payroll is more personal ... it’s income for the people who work there, people I know.  That’s why I’d like to work for a smaller company where I know most of the workers.  I like the hotel, though, because the staff is so varied ... salaried staff, hourly, and temporary day workers.  I love the challenge.”

Brandon smiled, slid a paper from his desk and gave it to Ossie.  “This is the job description for this position.  Read the fourth item aloud.”

Ossie cleared his throat and read, “Preference given to applicants with knowledge of complex payrolls ranging from salaried staff, hourly workers and casual day laborers.”  Ossie smiled and Brandon said, “Sounds like a perfect match to me.  Right, so tell me more about your job and yourself, Ossie.” 

He launched into the details of his hotel job and his life outside work, which sounded pretty simple to Brandon.  “People think I work in paradise, which in some ways I suppose I do, but, like I told Will, at heart I feel like a big-city boy, where there’s a bit more excitement, you know?”  He paused and frowned.  “Oh and there’s something else you should know. I, er ... I’m gay, sir.”

Brandon smiled, “Well, Ossie, as a prospective employer I am certainly not allowed to ask a job applicant questions about his sexual orientation, nor even about his age.”

“I’m nineteen, sir.”

Brandon laughed, “OK, well that’s another cat out of the bag.  Which actually brings me to my description of our company and, er, other aspects, some of which might surprise you – a lot.  Please stop me at any time if you hear something that might persuade you the job’s not for you.  I will understand.

“So, we are a medium size, and rapidly growing, construction company, currently with four active construction sites, residential, commercial and two government contract sites, each with its own manager.  Er ... Seth, whom you met, manages the commercial division.  And ... most of the workers, on the worksites or here at the compound and in the office, all live here or in adjacent houses.  It’s what we call a tribe.”

“You mean like a sort of fraternity, sir?”

“Kind of like that, Ossie, yes.  We are pretty much self contained with our own kitchens and four chefs, one of whom is your friend Will.

“But here’s the part you might not be ready for. Most of the men have partners, what we call lovers.  Often it’s a man and a boy.  Oh don’t worry, everyone here is over eighteen – some well over,” Brandon grinned.  “One example – and they won’t mind my telling you – is Seth and Will, who are lovers.”

Ossie’s jaw dropped.  “But Seth’s his dad, sir.”

“Stepdad technically, not that that makes much difference to them.  They told you they were father and son, which is true, but they didn’t tell you the other stuff as they liked you so much they didn’t want to shock you.  They left that for me to do.  Have I shocked you, Ossie?”

A silence followed, then a smile spread over Ossie’s face. “Not really ... I don’t think so, sir.  I think it’s kinda cool that Seth and Will are ... partners.  They’re a great couple.”

“And by the way, Ryan whom you just met, is the boy of a man who is one of the other site managers, Darius, who happens to look a lot like you – black with green eyes.”  Brandon chuckled.  “I know, all this is a lot to take in and I don’t want to overload you with too much information.  So let’s concentrate on the job itself.  Much simpler.

As I listened to you talk I got the feeling that you would be just right for the job. Your job experience certainly matches our requirements and I believe you would get along with our other staff, Vic and Noah, who are off for a few days.  If I were to offer you the job, would you be interested?”

“Yes, sir.  Definitely ... definitely, I would.”

“Good.  Now what I would like to do is introduce you to our Managing Director, who is my boss and has to OK my choices, though he seldom disagrees with me.   He lives across the garden here in a separate house that we call the Boss House.  Are you OK with all this so far?”

“Yes, sir.  Definitely, sir,” Ossie repeated, looking slightly dazed. 

They went out to the office and Brandon said, “Ryan, I’m just taking Ossie across to meet Bob.  But I promise not to leave you sweating this out for too long.  I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“No pressure, dude.  There are two of us in the office – me and my computer, and he’s a lot smarter than me.  Good luck with Bob, Ossie.  Take it from me, dude, you’re in for a treat.”

<><>   Initiation – In At The Deep End    <><>

Ossie followed Brandon as he wheeled himself down the short ramp outside.  He said over his shoulder, “Our construction boss Randy built ramps to all the buildings so I could be as independent as the other guys.  He’s terrific like that.  I’ll just call Bob to make sure he’s free.”

Ossie stood a discreet distance away, out of earshot of the private phone conversation, during which Brandon filled Bob in on the interview and his approval of Ossie.  Ryan had already emailed Ossie’s resumé to Bob.

They went across the garden and up the ramp to the second floor of the impressive boss-house.  Brandon knocked on a door, and when they went in, a man sitting at a desk looked up and flashed a smile that made Ossie’s heart miss a beat.   He thought he had never seen a more handsome man than this, with his square, chiseled features, deep brown eyes and dark wavy hair – and when he stood up, an obviously muscular body under the V-neck white T-shirt he was wearing.

Bob came out from behind the desk and strode across the room, barefoot in jeans.  “So you are Oscar,” he beamed.  “Sorry, I got that from your resumé, I know you prefer Ossie.  He shook his hand and the boy’s knees went weak.  “Come and sit with me on the couch so we can get acquainted.”

They sat together and Brandon wheeled his chair to face them, noticing that a bulge had formed in Ossie’s jeans – a good sign, Brandon thought.  Bob leaned back and stretched his arm casually along the back of the couch.  He engaged the nervous boy in easygoing conversation that soon put him at ease.  He asked him about his family (mother deceased, father estranged from him) and his friends. 

“I’m friendly with my coworkers, sir, but don’t hang out with them socially.”  He smiled sweetly. “Like I told Will, sir, my best friend down there is Netflix.”

Bob chuckled.  “You should try Amazon Prime too.  I can find almost any movie on that.  And, er, your pal you’re staying with here in Highland Park.  Is he your boyfriend?”  Bob had matter-of-factly steered the conversation lightly onto the subject of sex.

Ossie blushed a little.  “No, sir.  He’s an old friend who lets me stay in the house he shares with his girlfriend.  But I am gay, sir.  At present I live in a small room in the staff wing of the hotel.  If I come up here to live I’ll find a room to rent, sir, no problem.”

“Hm, well if Brandon does offer you the job (Bob already knew he would) we could probably find somewhere for you here.  Actually, Will has a small apartment over the kitchen but these days he lives full-time with Seth in his house next door. I’m sure we can work something out.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Bob asked a few more seemingly unrelated questions, subtlely probing a bit deeper, and made Brandon laugh more than once. 

But suddenly the mood changed when they heard a crashing sound downstairs.  Bob sighed and looked at Brandon.  “Oh dear, sounds like Randy’s come home.  In the middle of the day, that can only mean trouble.”

The door flew open and Ossie gasped at the sight of a big, muscular gypsy-looking man, obviously a construction worker, judging from his dirty jeans, muddy work boots and an old sweaty tank top hanging loosely over his heavily muscled chest.  His craggy, darkly stubbled features, with square clenched jaw, high cheekbones and long shaggy black hair, contrasted with stunning pale blue eyes that currently flashed with rage.

“I’ve had a fight,” he growled, which was obvious from the torn shirt and the bruises on his face.

“Motherfucker!” he bellowed, pacing the room, clenching and unclenching his fists. “That son of a bitch Karl badmouthed me in front of the crew.  I swung at him and the asshole fought back, a massive knock-down drag-out brawl.  Man, the guy’s a fighter, gave me a real beating in front of my men ... almost finished me off.  But I beat him back, broke him and stomped on him in the mud.  Told him he was finished, I fired his ass.  Should a’ done it years ago.”

All this time Brandon held the hand of the terrified Ossie and calmed him with office talk.  “Happens a lot, kiddo,” he whispered. “He prob’ly won’t fire him, he admires a good fighter.  But if he does we’ll have to prepare his final check, plus a month’s severance pay Randy always gives guys who leave.  Then we take him off the payroll.”

“I know how to do all that, sir,” Ossie whispered back.

At that moment Bob managed to confront Randy and urgently indicated Brandon and Ossie on the couch. Randy turned, looked at Ossie and calmed right down. 

“Hey kid, you’re the new boy in the office, eh?”  He towered over him and ruffled his hair.  “Welcome aboard, kid.  I’ll talk to you in a minute.  Right now I got staff to take care of.  But don’t leave.  I’m the boss around here and if you’re gonna be one of us, you gotta see how we take care of stuff here.”

His fury resumed and he angrily wheeled round and confronted Bob.  “You ... on the bed.  Now.”

Ossie grabbed Brandon’s arm as he watched the incredible sight of the handsome executive, the Managing Director, obediently throw himself on his back on the bed and rip open his jeans.  The big gypsy reached down, grabbed the bottom of his jeans, tugged them down and tossed them aside.  Ossie was shocked to see Bob’s huge cock spring up, hard as a rock.

He gasped even louder as Randy ripped open his own work pants and pulled out his massive, beer-can thick shaft, hard as steel..  He spat on it and glared down at his lover, naked now except for his T-shirt.  He knelt on the bed, stroking his huge cock, and roughly pushed Bob’s legs back.  With no preamble or foreplay he drove his rod deep in the young executive’s ass.

“Aaagh,” Bob howled, and a startled Ossie started to stand up.  But Brandon pushed him back down.  “Don’t worry, kid, no one’s getting hurt.  They’re both loving it.  When Randy’s masculinity has been challenged, especially when he was nearly beaten in a fight, he has to reassert his authority and his manhood.  Best way to do that is to butt-fuck the other boss of the tribe, who also happens to be is lover.

“He ordered us to stay and watch, and no one ever dares to intervene or disobey when he’s in this mood.  He’s proving he’s the boss, demonstrating in action what I just explained to you verbally about the tribe.  Now watch what happens next.”

Randy was pounding Bob’s ass and the handsome face was thrashing from side to side on the bed.  Randy reached down, grabbed the neck of Bob’s shirt and pulled his back up off the bed.  Ossie saw his blue eyes staring down at Bob, and could only imagine the effect that hypnotic gaze had on a man.

As the fuck became more intense, Ossie heard a ripping sound and saw Bob’s shirt tear in two and come apart in Randy’s hand.  He fell back on the bed, completely naked, his muscular body writhing as Randy pounded ass more ferociously, waving the tattered shirt in the air in triumph.

Brandon whispered.  “Get a good look, Ossie.  This the man everyone in the tribe accepts as the ultimate boss.  They love him, lust for him, and right now everyone would envy Bob.  It might not look like it, but Randy is crazy in love with Bob, and Bob with him.  Now watch how it ends.”

Randy tossed the shirt aside, leaned forward and pinned Bob’s wrists to the bed.  He bent lower and pressed his mouth against Bob’s in a grinding, passionate kiss.  When he pulled back his blue eyes penetrated Bob’s and he said, “Let me hear it, dude, who’s the boss of this outfit?”

Mesmerized, Bob said, “You are, sir.  You’re the boss.  Let me show you.”

Randy pulled back, upright on his knees, grabbed Bob’s ankles and pushed his legs high.  His massive cock pistoned in the muscle-god’s ass, Bob stared up at him and yelled, “I love you man ... I love you ... aaagh!”

Ossie watch in disbelief as Bob’s cock shuddered in a hands-free eruption of semen that splashed down on his muscled pecs, while Randy howled in triumph and shot his load deep inside him in a display of alpha male dominance.

Ossie was aware that his own cock was straining against his jeans as he watched Randy fall on top of Bob in another passionate kiss.

A minute later Randy pulled out, sprang to his feet, and shoved his dripping cock back in his pants.  “Right, I’ve done what I came here to do, and now I gotta get back to work.  Er, Brandon, don’t take Karl off the payroll till I’ve talked to him again.  As for you, kiddo,” he smiled warmly at Ossie and pulled him to his feet.  “All that was like throwing you in at the deep end, I know.  After what you’ve just seen, you still wanna come and join us?”

“Yes please, sir.  More than ever.”

Randy roared with laughter.  “Good answer, kid, that’s my boy.”  He ruffled Ossie’s hair again.  “You see that man over there, the one I just fucked up the ass?  That is the finest, most gorgeous, sexiest man on the planet.  He’s your boss’s boss, you do what he tells you, and you and me are gonna be pals.  And if ever anyone hurts you, you come straight to me and I’ll take care of you.”

He bent down and kissed the boy.  “Yeah, you’re our kinda guy, kid, you’ll fit in real well.  You’re hired.  He’s hired, Brandon.”

“Just what I was about to say, sir.  You took the words right out of my mouth.”

Randy strode out of the room, and the door closed behind him.  Ossie turned to face Bob who had pulled on his jeans and was zipping them up. “Congratulations, Ossie.  I’m so glad you’ll be joining us.” 

Ossie stared at the spectacular man, stripped to the waist, his bare, sculpted chest still splashed with his own semen.  Bob smiled, opened his arms, folded them round the mesmerized boy and gave him a loving open-mouthed kiss.  Ossie felt the warmth of his breath, felt the muscles of his chest ripple as they pressed against him.  In a trance, he felt a warmth spread over his whole body ... and his cock erupted in his shorts.

His body shuddered as Bob pulled away and looked down at the wet patch growing larger on his jeans.  Bob laughed, “OK, Ossie, now you really are one of us.  Brandon, take this boy away, sign him up and take real good care of him.  He’s exactly what you need.”

“Thank you, sir, I agree.  Come on kiddo, let's get you settled in – and find you some dry pants.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 

 TO BE CONTINUED in “A Trial Of Strength” – Book 13: Chapter 24