Trial Of Strength (Book 13)

"LOVE & LUST AT A GATHERING OF THE CLAN"

The first day of the Grady-House gathering of the clan is action-filled. Aussie surfer-stud Nate, kneeling on all fours, transforms his boys, Vic and Noah, from fearful to forceful in a role-reversal spit-roast. Then black construction boss Darius challenges gym-jock architect Lloyd to an arm-wrestle contest for dominance, where the winner tells the loser, “Your ass is grass, dude.”

In the previous chapter

The Grady House party had not even got underway yet when the hosts, movie-star Grady and his Italian lover Mario, satisfied their sexual needs – with other men.

The newest member of the tribe, young black guy Ossie, had told Grady he often jerked off to a scene in one of Grady’s Tarzan movies, where Tarzan is captured and interrogated.  So Grady treated Ossie to a fantasy replay where Tarzan is butt-fucked and surrenders.

Meanwhile, refined, elegant Mario, found himself lusting for the roughneck construction worker Seth, who manhandled the stylish Italian and gave him the rough-sex treatment he craved.

When it was over, Seth picked up his sweat-soaked T-shirt he had used to gag Mario. “Yours to keep, stud.  Share it with your movie-star boyfriend, I hear he’s into fantasy.  So now you’re even with him.  He got fucked by a new boy, and you got your elegant ass ploughed by a tough sweaty roughneck.  Huh – talk about opposites attract. So anytime you get tired of playing top man with Grady and want your ass ploughed, you know where to come.” 

They heard voices from down in the garden.  “Sounds like your guests are arriving, dude, you’ve got work to do.  Jump to it.”

“Aye-aye, sir,” Mario smiled.  “But you stay here as long as you like.  Take a shower, and I’ll leave you a clean T-shirt.  As for this one ...”  Mario picked up Seth’s sweaty T-shirt that had gagged him. “I’ll put it under Grady’s pillow and he can fantasize to his heart’s content.  And now, as the saying goes, ‘Let the games begin’.”

Seth grinned.  “Dude, after the wild action in here, I’d say they already did.”

=======    Book 13: Chapter 34    =========

<><>    The Party Warms Up    <><>

After his rough-sex scene with Seth, Mario took a quick shower. He got dressed in his usual beige linen lounger pants, slider sandals and loose white linen shirt, and smiled down at Seth, still lying on the bed.

“Thank you again, Seth, for giving me just what I needed.  I have to go down and greet the party guests as they start to arrive, but you can stay here and relax as long as you like.  I’ve put out a clean T-shirt for you, to replace the sweaty old thing you took off.  I thought black would look sexy on you.

“And I hope you’ve put behind you the silly concerns you had about being socially inferior to all the other guys.  As I told you, that macho muscular roughneck thing of yours is not a negative, it’s a huge plus.  It sure impresses all the men and boys who envy your rough, tough masculinity.  You have nothing to feel embarrassed about, especially not all those all those erections you cause in guys everywhere you go.”

“Thanks, buddy, coming from you that means a lot to me.”

Mario bent down, kissed Seth on the cheek and left.  He walked slowly down the stairs to give his cock time to calm down after yet another Seth-induced boner.

In the garden Grady’s boy Brian was temporarily handling the duties of greeting the first guests to arrive – the handsome executive chef Miguel and his boy Finn, and construction boss Darius and his boy Ryan.  Benvenuti, signori, welcome to the Grady House.  I’m sorry that neither Grady nor I were here to greet you, but I see Brian is doing the honors admirably.  Grady is over there somewhere dozing. Wake him up if you can find him.  And I was with ...”

“Yeah,,” Darius interrupted with a grin, “how was Seth when you left him?”

“Heavens, the tribe’s grapevine is fast.  Was this you doing, Brian?”

“Well, sir, I happened to tell Brandon in the office what was happening, and he told Ryan and ... yada, yada, yada ... it’s on the grapevine.”

“Besides,” Darius grinned, “you still have that afterglow.  Seth can be quite a handful, can’t he?”

“Actually, amico, I think I was the handful ... or you might say manhandled.  But enough about my sexual exploits, you’re here to enjoy yourselves, not listen to my gossip.

“Sir,” Brian protested, “good gossip is part of the enjoyment.  I write everything in here for Grady ...”  He waved his notebook.”

“Si, bambino, we all know that gossip is mother’s milk to Grady.   So, gentlemen, Tommy has set up the bar under that tree.  He will be out here as bartender when it gets busy, but in the meantime it’s an open bar so please help yourselves.  The chefs will soon be setting out a buffet brunch as our guests will be arriving at different times.  So relax, have a swim, have fun.  Anything you need, ask Brian, who’ll be circling round here all the time.

The group headed for the bar and Miguel said quietly. “Do you think the chefs need any help, Mario?  I’d be happy to oblige.”

“Thank you, Miguel, but you are here to relax and get away from all your hard work in that classy hotel. I think the boys have everything under control, but you might just look in on them in the kitchen later, in case they need your culinary advice on something.”

It wasn’t long before the grounds started to fill up as more guests trickled in.  Brian was kept busy wheeling himself back and forth from the kitchen, his wheelchair tray table piled with plates and food for the buffet.  Miguel said, “Brian is sure kept busy. Mario.  Doe he need help?”

Mario smiled.  “Miguel, you know our boys in wheelchairs, Brian and his boyfriend Brandon.  They value their independence and always politely decline offers of help.  Besides, Brian is having the time of his life.  He loves these parties.  You see, he takes care of all Grady’s needs here at home – including updating him on the latest gossip,” Mario chuckled.

“But Brian takes no part in all the outside glitz and glamor.  And when Grady is away working, the house is very quiet during the day. He watches events on TV, and when he sees fans clamoring for Grady’s attention, Brian has a private smile on his face because he knows that, at the end of the day, he’s the one Grady will pull into bed beside him to trade gossip and often make love.  

“After all the craziness in his celebrity life Grady loves Brian’s natural simplicity. Most fans would trade places with Brian in a heartbeat.”

Grady suddenly emerged from somewhere looking tousled, and dressed sloppily like he just got out of bed, which in a way he had.  He proved Mario’s point about Brian by heading directly over to him and saying, “Howdy kiddo?  So what gives out here?  What’s the state of play so far?  Who’s with who, and who’s with someone they shouldn’t be?”

“Well, sir, no drama just yet, give it time. Miguel was first to arrive with Finn who is now talking gardening to Mario, while Miguel checked in with the kitchen.  Darius arrived with Ryan, looking more lovey-dovey than ever, so that silly jealousy thing about Ossie is a thing of the past.”

“So, pretty boring so far, eh?”

“Sir, that’s not fair.  You don’t need bust-ups to make a party interesting.”

“You’re right kiddo, that was a dumb thing to say.”   

“So far, sir, the juiciest gossip by far is about you and Ossie fantasizing in the Secret Garden, and Mario and Seth with their own ‘roughneck-plows-classy-Italian’ fantasy of their own’.”

“Yeah, that’s a real juicy one.  Mario and I will talk about that, of course, but can you get the details from Seth’s point of view, d’you think?

“Easy, sir.  Seth will tell his boy Will, who’s a special friend of mind so I’ll get it all from him.” 

Just then the gate buzzed and Brian used his cell phone to open it.  A small truck drove in and Brian squinted.  “Ah, Vic and Noah arriving together, all alone.”

In a few minutes the young boys came round from the garages and stopped, looking bewildered by the sight of the big, noisy crowd.  “Oh dear, they look a little lost, sir.”

“And I’m the one to rescue them kiddo.”

“Thank you, sir, ‘cos I gotta get back to work.  More later, sir...”

“You bet your sweet ass, dude.”  Brian wheeled away and Grady headed for the lost boys.

<><>    Grady Works His Magic    <><>

Standing uncertainly on the sidelines, youngsters Noah and Vic took refuge, as always, in each other.  They had been best friends for a long time, and lovers since they joined the tribe and discovered the joys of man-on-man sex.  They enjoyed their work in the tribe’s business office but spent much of their leisure time alone with each other – as they were now, shyly facing a raucous crowd.

They were startled to see Grady approaching them carrying three beer bottles.  On the few occasions they had met him they had liked him, but they still saw him as a famous movie star, and that intimidated them.  With his glamorous life, they assumed he moved in a much higher sphere than their own simple domestic lives.  But here he was headed straight for them.

He bathed them in his world-famous dazzling smile.  “Hey Vic, hey Noah, great to see you here again.  You got here just at the right time, the party’ started to warm up, but it’s not yet hot enough to burn your fingers.   A bit intimidating I know, that’s why I brought you these, to take the edge off.  Care to join me at this table?”

“Thank you, sir, “they chorused and sat down facing him.  He twisted off the bottle tops for them and raised his own bottle.  “Here’s to having fun, kids.”  They smiled, raised their bottles and clinked.  Grady was right about taking the edge off.  As the cool beer flowed down their throats, their tension began to ease.

“So listen, kids.  You know how I love to hear about all the guys in the tribe, but one I haven’t heard much about lately is your Cowboy Charlie.”

They immediately brightened – Charlie was their favorite topic – a star on the rodeo circuit, and also the brother of boss Randy.  Sexually he was straight but he was easy-going about what other guys did together.  His attitude was live and let live, and he had developed a liking for these two shy kids

“Well sir,” Vic said, “Charlie’s in Houston right now but he calls us often and says he misses us.”

They always spoke in turn, and Noah added, “And he sends us rodeo stuff like the old cowboy hats he’s worn in the ring and waves in the air when he does those victory laps wearing no shirt. He goes through a lot of rodeo gear ‘cos it’s sweaty work.  He just sent us two of the old sweaty bandanas he’s worn.  We have them in out pockets.”

“In your pockets?!” Grady protested.  “They should be proudly round your necks to remind everyone you’re the boys of a sexy cowboy.”

They took them out of their pockets and Grady said, “Here, let me do it.”  He began with Noah.  “See here’s the trick.  You tie it first round your nose and mouth like a mask ... like that.  That’s what cowboys do to stop breathing in all the dust when they’re herding cattle.  Then later they pull it down, like this, so it hangs loose round their necks.   See, look at that ... way sexy.”

He did the same thing for Vic, then smiled at them both.  “That looks way hot, kids.  Where’s Eddie’s camera when we need it?  You got your hats with you?”

“In the truck, sir.”

“Good.  When Eddie gets here I’ll ask him to take a picture of you wearing your hats and bandanas.  You can send a copy to Charlie, he’ll get a kick out of that.”

“They beamed.  “Thank you, sir.”

But kids, there’s something else I’m confused about.  I know you’re the boys of Charlie, but weren’t you once Nate’s boys?”

“Oh we still are, sir,” Vic said eagerly.  “See, it was Nate who first asked us to be his boys, and Charlie came later.  About the time we met Charlie, Nate was real busy working on your movie at the beach.  He was spending nights at that Malibu beach hotel with y’all.”

(Grady smiled, hearing the Texan “y’all” they had picked up from Charlie.)  “OK, but I’m still confused.  How does all that work?”

“Well, sir,” Noah explained, “as you know, Charlie isn’t here very much, only when the rodeo circuit comes to California.  So most of the time we’re still Nate’s boys.  But, like Vic said, Nate will soon be working with Jamie and all the surfers on your new movie.”

Vic added, “And even when Nate’s here in town he spends a lot of time with Adam and Chad ‘cos they’re all lovers.  But we get to see him quite a lot ‘cos Chad and Adam need their own space, and then Nate spends the night with us.  It all works out, sir.”

“I guess so,” Grady grinned.  “Sounds like a tangled web – and it makes you the boys of a sexy cowboy and a sexy surfer.  Don’t get much better than that.  

“But listen, kids, when both your men are away I don’t want you to isolate.  I want you to feel free to come up here to the Grady House whenever you feel like it.  If Nate’s working at the beach that means I am too, but Mario would love to see you and I know Brian would.  Gets a bit lonely up here for him, except when his boyfriend Brandon visits.”

By now the boys had lost all their shyness, and they thought of Grady as a friend, not just a movie star living in another world.  Mario had been sitting watching with Miguel who said, “Looks like Grady is working his magic again over there, making those shy kids feel at home.”

Mario smiled, “You know, Miguel, that’s when I love Grady the most, when he’s taking care of nervous kids like those two.  Like a lot of people, they’re intimidated because they see Grady as this distant movie star.  But they soon realize that up here he truly is just one of the guys, and a kind one at that.

A short time later the gate swung open and in walked Adam, Chad and Nate with their dog Molly, who bounded up to Vic and Noah.  “She knows us,” Vic laughed, “‘cos we take her for walks.”

“Hey, don’t I get a hug too?” Nate grinned.  Grady looked on smiling as the handsome young surfer threw his arms round the boys.

Grady chuckled, “Good thing you got here when you did, Nate.  I was about to run off with these sexy young guys and live happily ever after.  Don’t forget what I told you, boys.  Any time you’re at a loose end, you’re always welcome at the Grady House.”

“Thank you, sir,” they said in unison.

Grady went back to Mario who smiled, “Well done amico.  You certainly have a gift.  That’s two more boys in love with you, joining the millions around the world.”

<><>    Sex Education    <><>

Chad and Adam headed off to join the main group at the bar, with Molly bounding after them. Nate said in his sexy Australian drawl, “Sure good to see you, mates.  Was Grady taking good care of you?”

“He’s a wonderful man, Nate,” Noah said.  “He talked to us like we were the only ones in the place.  And he said when you are away working and staying overnight in Malibu, we should come up here to the Grady House and hang out with Mario and Brian.”

“That was nice of him, and it’s a great idea.  I hate to think of you all alone while I’m off working.  And talking of hanging out, how about doing that with me now that we’re all together – I’ve missed you.  You wanna take a walk round the grounds, see what new landscaping Mario and Finn have been creating?

Of course they did, and their smiles answered for them.  They both thought the handsome Aussie looked very sexy in the red lifeguard shorts that he wore in Grady’s movies, as a trainer of the many surfing extras.  He also had on a plain white T-shirt and sneakers.  That and his easy-going Aussie drawl made him even more attractive.

They all took off toward the extensive, elaborate gardens, and Nate chuckled, “I see you’re wearing those bandanas Charlie sent you.”

“That was Grady’s suggestion,” Vic grinned.  “He said we should wear them round our necks to show everyone we’re a cowboy’s boys.” 

“He was right about that.  Looks great, gives me a woody.”

“Grady said that us being the boys of a sexy cowboy and a sexy surfer, it don’t get much better than that. 

“He’s right about that too.  Grady knows cute guys when he sees them.  Hey look, that little garden over there surrounded by flowers and hedges, that’s new.  Let’s go take a look.  They headed though a gap in the hedge and Nate said, “Wow, Mario and Finn know their stuff too.   Real peaceful in here.  You wanna hang out here a while?

The boys nodded eagerly and they all sat on the grass.  “Hmm, this is the life eh, kids?  A taste of how the other half lives.  Although, despite all their money, Grady and Mario don’t seem like the other half.  It’s no big deal to them, and they value their friends above anything else.  Grady’s just like that with the film crew.  They all make fun of him and kid around together, you’d never know he was this great big star.”

Nate tugged playfully at the bandanas round their necks.  “Like I said, mates, you are both looking real sexy right now.  Gives me a boner.  Trouble is, I didn’t get any from Adam and Chad this morning.  Chad gets up real early when he’s doing surgery at the hospital, and Adam slept in late after a long flight yesterday.”

Noah frowned.  “Sir, when you do have sex with Adam and Chad, I’ve often wondered who does what to who?”

“Noah,” Vic scolded, “you can’t ask a question like that, it’s private.”

Nate laughed.  “Nah, no worries, mate, ask away.  Us three are buddies, we can talk about anything.  But I gotta say, there’s no clear answer to your question, Noah.  We play top or bottom depending on our mood.  I mean, most guys think of Chad as an alpha hunk, but just the other day he was in the mood to take it at both ends from two Aussies.  So Adam and me spit-roasted him.  It was brilliant, he really got off on it.

Vic’s brow furrowed.  “But, sir, don’t they consider you their boy?”

“They used to, but now I’m more like their mate.  But even if I was their boy there would be nothing wrong with me fucking either one of them.”

Noah said, “But wouldn’t that be like a boy fucking his master?”

“Kind of, yeah.  But what’s your problem with that?  Hey, kids, I can see I gotta pay more attention to your sex education.  See, it’s a thing called role reversal.  OK, for sure, the topman usually fucks his boy.  But every topman sometimes wants to feel a dick in his ass – even a super macho guy like Randy.”

Noah was pensive.  “So, maybe it was true after all.  The other day in the office Ryan was boasting that he had fucked his man Darius.  I mean, can you believe, macho Darius with that humungous cock?  We didn’t believe it ... by you think ...”

“Of curse I do.  And here’s another surprise.  I was kicking back with Pablo last week and he mentioned that his boy Tyler had topped him.  I mean, tough mechanic Pablo getting butt-fucked by shy young Tyler?  Now that’s a role reversal.”

A silence ensued as they lay on their backs on the grass gazing through the trees at the bright blue sky.  The boys were deep in thought trying to get their minds round what they had just heard from Nate.  Nate himself was much clearer headed, with a playful smile on his face.

One thing they all had in common was stiff dicks, caused by all the sex talk and by just being close to each other, lying back on the grass in this mellow setting.  Nate’s sexy Aussie accent roused them from their thoughts.  “So, mates what d’ya think?  You up for it?”

“Up for what, sir?” Vic asked tentatively.

Nate, lying between them, reached both hands down and cupped the bulges in their shorts.  “There’s my answer,” he laughed.  “Good on ya, mates, you’re up for it.”

Nate jumped to his feet and the awestruck boys gazed up at him as he pulled off his shirt, kicked off his sneakers and dropped his shorts.  The naked jock grinned and held out his arms, showing off his muscular surfer physique.

Vic stood up and pulled Noah up beside him.  Nate said, “Right, let’s see what you got, boys.” Hesitantly they pulled off their T-shirts, much less flamboyantly than Nate had just stripped.  They eased off their sneakers and fumbled as they unbuttoned their shorts and pushed them down.  Their cocks sprang out poker hard. 

Nate came forward and kissed them in turn.  He grinned, “OK, Noah, suck your buddy’s cock.”

Obediently Noah knelt on the ground and clamped his mouth over Vic’s cock, something he had done countless times before.  When Noah had made the cock good and wet Nate said, “OK mate, stand up.  This is where you two young bucks take over.”

The boys gasped as the macho young surfer dropped to his knees, leaned forward and braced his hands on the ground.  They were stunned at the sight of their man, the handsome Aussie, on all fours.  So this is where it had all been leading.  A spit toast of Nate, only this time not by his men Chad and Adam, but by his own boys ... if they were up for it.”

Their cocks sure were, already starting to drip precum, but ...

Their confidence almost failed them, but Noah, the less assertive of the two, surprised himself by smiling at his boyfriend. “You’re already lubed, Vic.  You take the rear.”

They kissed each other and the dam of reticence broke.  They were expected to spit-roast their man and they determined to make a job of it.  It was surprising how quickly they evolved from reticent boys to the determined young bucks Nate wanted.  Vic knelt behind the Aussie and eased his cock between the perfect round globes of his surfer’s ass.  Noah stood at the other end, grabbed Nate’s hair and pulled his face up level with his cock.

“Let’s do it, bro,” Vic said and, in perfect unison, they drove in their cocks, one in his ass, the other in his mouth.  Now they had begun, all their former reticence dissolved and they spurred each other on.

Groaning into the gag of Noah’s cock Nate felt a sensation that was new and exhilarating.  He had been spit roasted before, by the macho topmen Adam and Chad.  But that was a familiar experience of willing surrender to alpha men older and stronger than himself.

But this was the reverse.  He loved and protected his usually compliant boys, but now they were dominating him in a humbling spit-roast.  He had told them he needed to take charge of their sex education – and this was a graphic part of it – how to dominate their man.  Now they were in charge, not him.

The boys were having the time of their life.  Vic grabbed Nate’s hips and pounded his ass harder and deeper, while Noah pulled him forward by the hair and forced his cock deep down his throat.

The boys were such intimate friends that they shared the same feelings and desires.  Now, as their cocks drove in and out of the naked jock, they felt not only physical excitement but, even more, the empowering sensation of jointly dominating the man they loved and admired.

They had never before felt this combination of physical and emotional euphoria.  They had made love together many times before, but now, as they stared at each other across their man’s heaving body, they had never felt closer or more loving than now.

All three cocks were roaring hard as the climax approached.  Noah smiled at Vic.  “OK, let’s fill him up dude.”  Their spontaneous orgasms poured juice in his mouth and ass as Nate uttered a muffled shout, his mouth full of his boy’s shuddering cock.

But then, after being supercharged by their racing adrenaline, they were not sure what came next as their cocks drained.  So Nate led the way.  He pulled his face back off Noah’s cock while Vic’s slid out of his ass. 

“You were brilliant, mates. See what you did to me?” He pointed to the pool of jizz he had poured on the grass beneath him.  “Damn you were hot.”  Then he grinned, “But Noah, what the hell was that ‘fill-him-up’ thing you said?  Didn’t see that one coming?”

“Yeah,” Vic giggled, “that was a bit over the top, Noah.  Sounded like a car driver giving his order to a gas station attendant.”

The boys collapsed with laughter and ended up lying on the grass in the arms of the muscular young Aussie they idolized – and had just topped in a role-bending spit-roast.

<><>    No Complaints    <><>

The trio’s jubilant shouts had carried across the garden, penetrating even the noisy clatter of the gathering tribe, who now paused and stared expectantly across the garden.  When at last they appeared, Nate walked between the boys, his arms over their shoulders.  They were all barefoot in shorts, naked above the waist except for the cowboy bandanas round the boys’ necks.

They were, of course, greeted with cheers and wolf-whistles, and everyone noticed the difference in the boys – confident and proud rather than shy and reserved.  Their office manager Brandon shouted, “What you been doing to my staff, Nate?”

“It’s what they’ve been doing to me, mate – spit-roasting their man.  Better watch out, Brandon, you got a couple of rebels in the office, they’re into role-reversal.”

“Oh, not in the office, Brandon,” Noah said.  We would never ...”

“That’s OK, dude, I was just kidding.  Let’s go get a drink.”  They blended into the crowd and headed for the bar.

The partying continued, and Grady asked Mario, “Wonder where Bob got?  He should be here by now.”   Mario asked Bob’s assistant Ryan if he knew.

“I left him in the office, sir, he told me to come on ahead.  He was on a long phone call – to Grady’s studio, I think.”

When Bob finally arrived he was warmly greeted by the crowd and made his way over to Mario and Grady who were still talking to Ryan.  “Sorry to be so late, guys, but I was on the phone to your studio, Grady.  And they finally gave in to your request about the Malibu hotel.

“I told them you were troubled that, when you all stay overnight at the hotel, they put you in that posh beach hotel, but the bulk of the crew stay in the cheap motel down the street.  After a lot of back and forth they finally agreed they would book rooms at the hotel for everyone, crew and all.  Hell, the studio gives that hotel so much business they good as own the place.”

“Great news, Bob, I really worried about the crew guys being in that cheapo. It’s like class discrimination.  How did you swing it?”

“Well, negotiations are always a bit of give and take, as you know.”

“So what did you give them, Bob?” Mario smiled

“Ah, well Grady might not like this, but it’s for the best.  See, they wanted to go public with this – leak it to the press – you know, what a generous guy Grady is, his one demand was not for himself but for his crew ... that kind of stuff.”

Grady frowned.  “But won’t that look like a cheap Public Relations stunt, Bob?”

It might – if it really was only a PR gimmick.  But it’s true, Grady, it really was a genuine concern of yours.  And incidentally, it actually will be good PR for you personally – the kind and generous movie star – and we can never get enough of that. They agreed that after it leaks and goes viral, the studio will put out an official press release ... and I’ll have final wording approval.  So the public will know the truth about you.”

Grady grinned roguishly.  “Not the whole truth, I hope.  Like me getting butt-fucked by young Ossie this morning, in that Tarzan fantasy?”

“Hmm,” Bob smiled.  “Well ... OK, if you’re a good boy I won’t leak that one.”

“Oh I’ll be a good boy, Bob.” The roguish grin was back. “As you say, negotiations are all give and take.  So if you want to give it’s my turn to take.  Just say the word.”

“Down, tiger.  Mario, can’t you control your movie star friend?”

“Mi amico, I gave up on that years ago.  He is, how we say, incorreggibile.”

“I don’t hear you complain, dude,” Grady growled.

“Now, now, no quarreling, boys.  If you two break up that really would be fodder for the tabloids.”

“OK,” Grady shrugged, “you’re right Bob.  Mario, looks like you’re stuck with me for ever and ever.”

Mario smiled.  “As you just said, amore, you won’t hear me complain.”  

<><>    The Cowboy Photoshoot    <><>

Their light-hearted banter set the tone for the rest of the afternoon, with the buzz of voices growing louder as the last of the guys arrived.  Two of these were Hassan and his boy Eddie, as ebulliently talkative as ever.  Once Eddie settled down, Nate approached him. 

“Hey mate, great to see you.  Did you by chance bring your camera?”

“Duh” Eddie scoffed, producing his camera with a flourish. “This thing’s like an extra limb to me.”

“Good, ‘cos I got a commission for you.” Nate explained about the boys, their neckerchiefs and cowboy hats.  “They’re dying to send pictures of them dressed like that to Cowboy Charlie.  He’d get a big kick out of it.”

“Say no more, dude, I know exactly what you need.  First we gotta get them kitted out.  Hey, Brian, I know you’re really busy, but could you spare a few minutes to help us with clothes for Noah and Vic for a photoshoot?  It’s in a real good cause.”

Brian grinned.  “I always have time for those two guys, and Grady says we’ll be seeing a lot more of them up here.  OK, dudes, follow me.”

Eddie yelled to the crowd, “Guys, I have to deprive you of my company for a while, ‘cos I have a commission for an important photoshoot.”

“Go ahead, kid,” Hassan laughed.  “It’ll give someone else a chance to get a word in sideways for a change.”

“Sir, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.  My career comes first.  And stick around, all you guys, I’ll need you for what we in the business call ... er, ambalance.”

Bob cleared his throat.  “Er, Eddie, I think you mean ambiance.  It’s a French word.”

“Thank you, sir, that’s the one.  I knew that.  Come on, guys, hair, makeup and wardrobe.”

Eddie and his team trooped off after Brian, leaving an expectant crowd behind them.   A short time later Nate ran out and round to the garages, and went back indoors with the boys’ cowboy hats from their truck, all of which served to increase the suspense. 

The crowd was growing impatient when at last Eddie appeared carrying a portable light reflector that he set up facing the sun close to a pair of trees.  He stood back and looked through his camera viewfinder to adjust the focus.  Brian wheeled himself out and said, “Guys they look fabulous.”

Finally, Nate emerged with the boys, and applause erupted from the crowd.  Vic and Noah were wearing jeans and cowboy boots that Brian had rustled up from Grady’s closet.  The boots were too large, but it didn’t notice.  They were both in plaid shirts and, of course, their bandanas and cowboy hats, pushed back on their heads at a rakish angle.

Vic and Noah would normally have blushed with embarrassment at being the center of attention. But the effects of their recent spit-roast of Nate had done a number on them – increased their self-confidence and bolstered their self-image.  So they now faced the crowd, raised their arms and flexed their biceps, to renewed cheers. 

“OK, kids, here we go – we’ll use the trees first.”  Eddie led them to the trees and made them lean back against them.  “Good, legs slightly apart, arms loose by your sides and stare ahead, no expression.”  Eddie clicked the shutter repeatedly moving around them, crouching down, pulling back, getting as many angles as he could.

“OK, guys, now turn your heads and look at each other with a trace of a smile, lips slightly apart.  Perfect, hold it right there ... ooh I like that ... so will Charlie.  Don’t change the pose, except cross your legs casually at the ankles, one boot over the other ... yeah, just like that ... perfect.  Now you, Vic, bend one leg and press the boot back against the tree – excellent.”

And so it went on, with Eddie giving instructions, constantly moving round them, adjusting the light reflector, and at one point standing on a chair for a downward shot.’

“Very impressive,” Bob said to Hassan, sitting with him and Randy. 

“Ah, he’s having the time of his life, showing off, and I don’t blame him.  He has become a real expert at this, but most of the time on the movie he works in the background, getting the candid shots the director loves so much.  But right now he’s in the spotlight showing how the maestro works.  So he’s milking it, who cares?  I love the showman in him.”

Randy grinned.  “Sounds like you’re mighty proud of him, buddy.”

“Randy, I’ve always loved the kid – his energy and sense of humor ... plus he’s the best little cocksucker in town.  But now that he’s grown into a young professional, skilled at his job, I just wanna ... I dunno, hug the kid ...”

“And fuck him?” Randy chuckled.

“Yeah, that too, buddy ... always that.”

They were interrupted by Eddie who had switched cameras and turned to the crowd.  “OK, guys, now for the video.  And this is where I want you’re help, for the amb...”

He hesitated and Bob prompted, “ambiance.”

“Yeah, that.  Imagine you’re at the rodeo watching these two young cowboys strutting their stuff.    He went over to the boys and whispered instructions to them.  They smiled and nodded eagerly.  Eddie stood back and studied them, then undid the buttons of their shirts halfway down and pulled the shirttail out from the waist on one side and let it hang loose.

“OK, you’re kinda disheveled after the rodeo and relaxing with your buddy, right?.  Then you do what I just told you ... got it?.”  They nodded and Eddie turned to the crowd.  “And you guys, you’re the cheering section.  Get ready to go loud.”  He turned back to the boys and aimed his camera.  Aaand ... action!”

The crowd started to cheer and whistle, getting into the spirit of the moment and supporting the two young kids in their love for their cowboy.  As instructed, the boys turned their heads and smiled at each other.  With one finger they pashed their hats further back on their heads, then slowly unbuttoned their shirts, pulled the tail out of their waist and let them hang open.

They ran their hands under their shirts and stroked their chests, then turned bodily to face each other, still stroking themselves seductively.  Finally they pushed the shirts off over their shoulders and let them drop to the ground.

The cheers increased as the boys took off their hats and held them in one hand at their sides.  They walked toward each other, wrapped their free hand round their buddy’s head and pulled him forward into a grinding kiss. 

The crowd went wild, especially when the boys pulled apart, turned and smiled directly at the camera.  “We love you,” they said in unison to the camera ... and waved their hats triumphantly in the air, like their jubilant cowboy Charlie they had watched so often.

Raising his voice above the roar of the crowd Eddie shouted, “And that, gentlemen is a wrap.”

<><>    The Challenge    <><>

Glowing with pride and self-confidence the boys raised their hats high. then swept them down in a low theatrical bow, exactly as they had seen the chefs do at the start of a group meal.

After they had received the praise and congratulations of their buddies, and a big tearful hug from their man Nate, it was time for dinner, which, of course, after all the excitement, was a raucous affair. 

The meal began with an event that had become something of a ritual at these parties.  With a nudge from Mario, Grady got to his feet and raised his hands for silence.  But the racket continued until Randy’s voice boomed, “Listen up, guys.  Grady has something to say.”

That brought instant silence and Grady said, “Thanks, boss.  OK, well ... unaccustomed as I am to public speaking ...”  That falsehood was greeted with howls of derision.  “OK, OK, so I have made a few speeches in my time, but boy, this is a really tough room.”

“Get on with it,” someone shouted ... and then the barrage started.  Eddie was first to break off a chunk of bread and hurl it with deadly aim so it struck Grady’s forehead.

“Hey, there’s no need for that ...” Grady said, which unleased a storm of break chunks raining down on him.  Grady lost it, laughing so hard that he couldn’t have continued even without the bread.  Mario stood up beside him and kissed him – and the bread fight ceased.

“Signori, signori,” Mario smiled, what Grady was trying to say – before he was interrupted – was it’s an honor for us to see you all in the Grady House for the last party before his movie starts filming.  And we especially want to thank our boys Danny and Brian and all the chefs and tireless helpers who have made this all happen. 

“Brian has told most of you of the guestroom assignments, and there are labels on the doors.  But feel free to sleep with whomever you choose, I know you will.  So now ...”

“So now let’s eat,” Randy bellowed. “I’m fucking starved.”

“Thank you, Randy,” Mario smiled, “always the soul of elegance.  You took the words right out of my mouth.”

So that’s how the meal began, and continued in the same vein of lively irreverence and laughter through all the courses.  Having completed most of his tasks Brian was seated at Grady’s side because, as always, Grady wanted a good gossip.  He loved to play the game of surveying the crowd and quietly working out what was going on with the various couples – or trios.

“Dude you get around these parties a lot and you keep your ear to the ground for the latest gossip ... you know where the bodies are buried, and you’re expert at sussing guys out.  So what little dramas are brewing now?”

“Hmm, no real dramas, sir, not yet.  Obviously Vic and Noah are on a roll, and I’m happy to see that.  Ossie too, after playing out that Tarzan fantasy with you.”

“OK, so the boys are happy, but what about the men?”

Well, usually we look to Randy for drama, but he seems to be in a mellow mood, especially after Will brought him his premium Scotch from their private stash.  But I sense something about those two there, halfway down the table.”

“You mean Lloyd and Darius?”

“Yes, sir.  I noticed when Lloyd arrived he made straight for Darius who was already here.  And there was this spark going on, but I couldn’t make out whether it was lustful or confrontational for some reason.

“Could be both, kiddo.  Like two stags who admire each other but lock horns ‘cos the herd ain’t big enough for two alphas.  I mean, they are both gorgeous men ... Lloyd with that gym-built physique, and Darius a black beauty, built like a brick shithouse.  Either one could put his shoes under my bed any day of the week.”

“And maybe already have, sir?” Brian grinned.  “And when you put it like that, sir, you’re probably right.  Plus, they have equal status in the construction company – Darius a site manager and Lloyd the company architect.  Look at them now. Even when they’re talking to other guys they keep glancing over at each other.  In my experience, sir, as the evening wears on and they get a bit drunk, the truth will out.”

As usual, Brian was right.  As the meal continued, conversations grew louder and Grady and Brian strained to hear snatches of what the two men were saying. “Is that so?” said Lloyd. “But if there’s no architect there’s no building.”

“And if there’s no strong site-manager there’s no residential division, the foundation of the company.”

“Randy,” Lloyd asked, “you’re the boss so what do you say?  Who ranks higher – the company architect or a site manager?”

“Oops,” Grady said, “they’re appealing to Randy.  Not a good idea ... bound to get physical.”

“Ah,” said Randy dismissively, “you know I don’t give a shit about titles.  A man does a good job, he’s the guy for me.  But this is about more than job titles.  You two have been sparring all evening, challenging each other. I know all about being challenged from my days as a casual laborer on the streets of Texas.  If a guy challenged me, I fought him – only thing to do.  And I always beat him good as a warning to other guys not to mess with me or my brothers.”

“Randy,” Bob said in a conciliatory tone, “are you suggesting that one of these guys beats the other to a pulp to prove a point?”

“Nah, don’t have to be fists.  Arms and wrists are good enough.”

“Fine with me,” Lloyd said.  Darius countered. “Bring it on, dude.”

One of the boys shouted, “Fight, fight ...” a chant that was picked up by all the others gathering round, spurred on too much liquor.

“You were right, sir,” Brian said to Grady.  “It’s got physical.  But look at the gleam in their eyes. Like I said at first, there’s lust in there too.  This is as much about sex as it is domination.”

“Or a combination of the two. I mean, sex and domination go together ... I should know.”

<><>    Black Muscle Versus Gym-Jock    <><>

The table had been cleared and the men sat facing each other, elbows planted on it, forearms raised.   All the men and boys gathered around to watch as Randy, the self-appointed referee, said, “OK, guys.  Winner takes it all – the other guy’s ass.  Ready? Start ... now!”

Their hands locked, their eyes locked, they tensed and pushed.  It became clear from the start that, though they may have been equal in job status, Darius was the stronger physically. 

Darius’s boy Ryan looked anxiously at Bob, who smiled reassuringly.  “Don’t worry, Ryan, your man is tough.  I’ve never known him get beaten in a fight – except maybe by Zack or Randy.  Lloyd has a perfect body, but his are show-muscles with nowhere near the same physical strength. Darius works with his muscles every day. Lloyd works with his brain and blueprints.”

Bob was right, of course.  Darius toyed with Lloyd for a while, allowing him to push his forearm back almost to the table, but soon he proved Bob’s point and slammed Lloyd’s arm down flat.

“We have a winner,” Randy shouted, and raised Darius’s arm.  “OK, guys, you heard what I said.  Darius, Lloyd’s ass is yours.

The two men stood up, Darius walked round the table and confronted the loser. As Lloyd stared into Darius’s green eyes, Darius smiled ... and pulled Lloyd’s face against his in a grinding kiss, which lasted so long that their mutual lust was obvious.  Lloyd pulled back and, still staring at the stunning black man, pulled off his T-shirt and dropped his shorts. 

Darius stared at the etched gym-honed body and ran his hands over Lloyd’s pecs.  “Fucking perfect, stud.  Damn you’re hot.  Darius sank to his knees and clamped his mouth round the naked jock’s cock.  Lloyd gazed down at the chiseled black face as it pounded his cock.  

Darius reached up, stroked Lloyd’s eight-pack abs, then his pecs, and squeezed his nipples. Lloyd had a passion for handsome men and Darius was superb, not only physically beautiful but powerful.  He stared down at the black stud’s bulging shoulders and biceps as Darius grasped Lloyd’s hips ... and Lloyd couldn’t hold back.  He felt semen racing up his cock and he howled as he gushed in Darius’s mouth, to gasps from the stunned crowd. 

Darius got to his feet, curled his hand round the back of Lloyd’s head and pulled him into another kiss, sharing Lloyd’s own cum with him.  When they separated, Darius flashed a triumphant smile.  “I made you cum, Lloyd.  Now it’s my turn.”

Lloyd winced and recoiled.  “No, man, I just shot a huge load in your mouth.  I can’t take your cock in me after that.”

“I never said it would be easy Darius grinned, and turned to Randy.  “Hey, ref, we need a decision.  Does the loser still have to take the winner’s dick up his ass after he’s just cum?”

Randy grinned.  “Like I said, guys, winner takes it all, whether he’s shot his own load or not. Your ass is grass Lloyd.”

“You heard the man, buddy.”  Darius pulled off his shirt and dropped his jeans, and Lloyd gasped at the sight of the monster ten-inch black shaft that sprang out, hard as a steel rod.

Lloyd stammered, “I’ll make you cum, man.  I can do it.”  It was his turn to kneel and suck cock. His mouth opened wide and sucked in the huge head of his rival’s cock. He tried to relax his throat as he swallowed the shaft as deep as he could.  Breathing desperately through his nose Lloyd pounded down on the black cock, trying frantically to make it cum. 

But in the end he choked and pulled back, tears streaming down his cheeks.  Darius grinned, “Face it, stud, the only place this cock is gonna spill its load is in your ass.”

“I can’t, man. Not after my own orgasm.  Please ...”

“Hey dude, you wanna wimp out in front of all your buddies here?  You’re a gorgeous hunk o’ man, Lloyd, but you want these guys think you’re all just show?  Like Randy said, he had to beat a guy to show him who’s boss.  I’m the same, Lloyd.”

Darius pressed his foot against Lloyd’s chest and shoved him, so he fell on his back on the grass.  “No foreplay, dude, and my dick’s already lubed by your mouth.  So brace yourself, big guy.”  Darius knelt between Lloyd’s legs, pushed his cock against his ass and eased it in.

“Aaagh,” Lloyd moaned, as the cock began its long inexorable journey down his chute.  “I’m going easy on you. stud.  This weapon of mine can rip a guy open, but with you I’m gonna let you take it inch, by inch, by ...”

Watching spellbound, Grady squeezed Brian’s hand.  “This is epic, kiddo, one to remember.  I recall when Lloyd fucked me, so damn gorgeous, and now here’s that same handsome jock getting his own ass creamed by that monster black rod.

Sitting next to Lloyd’s lover Doctor Steve, Bob asked softly, “You OK with this Steve?”

“Oh sure, the doc smiled.  I know Lloyd and his cravings. He’s turned on by gorgeous men and he’s been lusting for Darius ever since we got here.  Oh he’ll protest, but just wait ... you’ll see.”

The muscle-jock had started to beg.  “No more, please.  I can’t take anymore. It’s too big.”

“Nah, you can take it. It’s almost all the way in.  Deep breaths, Lloyd.  Relax your butt, don’t resist.  There, that’s it, it’s in.  I’ll stop there.  Look at me, dude, into my eyes.  Feel my body.”

Lloyd stared at him and reached up to run his hands over the solid pecs, shoulders, neck and rugged ebony face.  “That’s it Lloyd, take a good look.  I know you get a hard-on when you look at me, you prob’ly jerk off thinking about me.  But now I’m here, and that giant back shaft is filling your ass. How’s it feel, Lloyd?  Feel good ... feel good?”

Mesmerized, Lloyd gazed up into the piercing green eyes.  He felt the massive cock filling his ass, he relaxed and the pain subsided. “Hell, yeah.  Feels fucking incredible ... fuck me, man.  I wanna feel that cock fuck my ass.”

And so the spellbound crowd was treated to the spectacle of the muscled black construction worker fuck the ass of the handsome young gym jock, lying naked and helpless at the mercy of the ten-inch cock filling his ass.  There was no cheering, just an awestruck silence as men and boys watched the homoerotic spectacle play out. 

They saw the chiseled black body rise and fall over the naked architect, whose expression was transformed from fear to euphoria, his desperate pleas now groans of ecstasy.”

As the cock eased in and out of his ass Lloyd said, “You are the best, Darius, the winner.  I submit to you.”  Lloyd stroked his own cock.  “You’re so fucking gorgeous you’re gonna make me shoot again.  Your cock feels so good, I wanna feel its hot juice inside me.”

“You’re a beautiful man, Lloyd, and you know it.  There are no winners or losers here, just two hot guys having great sex.  Yeah, I’ll cum inside that hot ass.  Let me see you splash your load all over that perfect body.  We’ll cum together, bro.  Now ... now ... yeaaah ...”    

Their muscles tensed and gleamed in the sunlight as both men shot their loads, the construction boss deep inside the architect, the gym-jock’s over his own writhing body.

Suddenly the awed silence was shattered by the lusty cheers of the tribe, thrilled by the epic spectacle, a fitting climax to the first action-filled day of the Grady House party. 

Brian smiled at Grady.  “Hot enough for you, sir?

“As you would say, Mario, spettacolare.  Guys, I love these parties, I love this tribe, and most of all I love you two.  Now I’m gonna take you both to bed to rehash today’s action, and we’ll see if you can make a few predictions about tomorrow, kiddo.  You have a perfect score so far.”

Brian smiled happily.  “I’ll do my best, sir.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 

TO BE CONTINUED IN “A Trial Of Strength – Book 13: Chapter 35