Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2017 02:03:09 -0400
From: rw6789@aol.com
Subject: "A Trial Of Strength" - Part 357  by Rob Williams

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 357
By Rob Williams

IN THIS CHAPTER:

1) Grady's Tarzan movie revives Mario's insecurity of loving a movie
star. So Grady acts out a movie fantasy where Tarzan rescues a captive,
then falls in love.  "Yes I have come to rescue you but I cannot release
such a beautiful man - not until I..." 2) Construction worker Zack nurses a
grudge against boss Randy that erupts in a fight.  The winner gloats, "I am
the best. You're nothing, man, beaten into the dirt."


CHAPTER 357 – "THREATENED MANHOOD"

************ In the previous chapter *************

The big party at the Grady House was already a roaring success even before
the main event – the private screening of Grady's new movie where the
handsome actor stars as the new Tarzan.

He and his Italian lover Mario were hosting the entire tribe of men and
boys to the big event that had been planned by their house manager Danny
and his new boyfriend, the flawless gymnast Tommy.  They were, as always,
assisted by the junior boys Brandon, Brian, Eddie and Ben.

The last few days had seen some surprising and happy events.  When Grady
and Mario had returned from a two-week tour of South America promoting the
movie, they had announced to their young houseboy Brian they wanted him to
be their boy.  Mario had explained, "Grady and I want a little family.  We
want a boy, a boy we can love and take care of, and someone who loves us.
We already think of you as family but this makes it official."

Brian was over the moon, and he wasn't the only one with stars in his eyes.
Danny, the chef and house manager, had been quietly feuding with Tommy for
a long time until things had come to a head two nights ago.  When they
shared a bed they discovered that their animosity had been a mask for the
lust and love that had always simmered under the surface.  From that time
on, as they worked on planning the party, they had been inseparable and
made love constantly.

In fact they were doing just that in Danny's bed when something happened to
intensify the lust and love they felt for each other.  On the day of the
party, when it was clear that things were going well, they had sneaked away
from the crowd to Danny's bedroom to fuck.  But they were interrupted by
the boss of the tribe, the macho, rugged gypsy Randy.

As he loomed in the doorway he said, "Danny, I'm told you and this young
stud Tommy are suddenly a couple.  Well good for you, boy, he's a beauty
and you're a good match.  Only thing is, as leader of the tribe, I usually
have to give this kind of thing my approval, and there's only one way to do
that.  So I'm gonna have to borrow your new boyfriend for a few minutes.
But don't worry, kid, you'll get him back in better shape than ever, I
guarantee."

Tommy idolized the magnetically sexual Randy and willingly surrendered to
another of his legendary savage fucks.  When it was over Randy picked him
up and laid him on the bed.

Now it's your turn, kid," he said to Danny.  "I said I'd prime your
boyfriend for you and I have.  He's dazed and exhausted, his ass is fucked
raw and he's drained his cock of jizz ... which means he's good and ready
for you.  So here's what you're gonna do ... you're gonna fuck your
boyfriend.  You're gonna push your dick in that ravaged ass and make love
to it.  And believe me, it'll be the best fuck both of you will ever have.

And Randy was right.  What followed was the most exquisite, other-worldly
sensation either one had ever felt as Danny gently eased his cock slowly
past the sore, raw membrane of Tommy's ravaged ass, soothed only by the
coating of Randy's warm juices.  "Tommy, your ass has never felt like this
before.  It's incredible."  Tommy too was overwhelmed.  "Oh ... oh ... that
feels ... oh my god, it's never felt so ... My ass is ready for you.  Make
love to it, Danny."

And so, gently, carefully, lovingly they did.  With eyes only for each
other they were unaware of Randy smiling down at them, unaware of him
pulling on his T-shirt and quietly leaving the room with a smug, satisfied
grin on his face as he closed the door silently behind him.

Randy went back to the party in the garden and when he emerged from the
house a hush fell over the group.  His eyes gleamed, his unruly damp hair
hung round his face, and his T-shirt clung damply to his sweaty body.  It
was obvious to them all that he had just fucked ... and they all knew who.

Randy was never more sexy than when he had just fucked ... and he knew it.
With an arrogant grin and a casual all-in-a-day's work shrug he sat beside
Bob, picked up a beer, tilted his head back and drank deeply, his prominent
Adam's apple sliding in his throat.  They all felt his sexual magnetism and
were quietly awestruck until conversation picked up again, as rowdy as
before.

Randy's lover Bob, and his brother Steve, were the two most socially
attuned to the currents that flowed through this lusty crowd of men and
boys.  And both saw that one man seemed not to share in the general awe of
Randy.  Zack, the handsome, muscular black construction boss, as much a
rugged alpha male as Randy, was sitting alone brooding over his beer.

Doctor Steve (the tribe's therapist as well as Randy's brother) had earlier
noticed Zack's reaction when Randy had first arrived at the party and a
surly cloud had passed over Zack's face.  That had surprised Steve as the
macho black musclehunk was a close buddy of Randy's, and they worked
together as co-bosses of the construction company.  There was rarely any
bad blood between them – they were more like brothers.

Steve had dismissed that incident as a passing mood, but now it was obvious
something was up and he exchanged worried glances with Bob.  Bob leaned
close to Randy and asked quietly, "Er, is there any, like, problem between
you and Zack, buddy?"

"Fucked if I know," Randy retorted gruffly with an indifferent shrug.  Bob
and Steve rolled their eyes at each other.

Bob pushed the matter out of his mind until, a short while later Danny and
Tommy emerged, positively glowing.  It was obvious they had been making
love after Randy's visit to their room.  They walked straight over to Randy
with dazzling smiles and said in tandem.  "Thank you, sir."

A knowing buzz ran through the group, but Zack jumped to his feet, glared
down at Randy and said loudly, "I gotta take a piss."  As he strode away to
the house Bob looked wide-eyed at Doctor Steve and said softly, "Looks like
a case for our resident shrink, old buddy."

"Maybe so, maybe so," Steve smiled.  "We shall see."  Then, seeing Grady
stand up, he added, "Not just yet though ... looks like it's time for the
big movie."


********************* CHAPTER 357 *********************

"Gentlemen," Grady announced, "I guess we can't put this off any longer.
It's movie time.  Bring your drinks, please, and there'll be plenty more in
the screening room.  Like I said before, the only way to see this movie is
good and drunk."

Mario stood up beside him and said, "Before we go, signori, a few words of
thanks and two announcements.  Grady and I want to thank our house-manager
Danny, and Steve's house-manager Tommy, for supervising this affair, along
with the twins Kyle and Kevin for working their magic in the kitchen.  And
a special shout-out to our tireless boys, Brandon, Brian, Eddie and Ben for
taking such good care of us.

There were cheers and raised glasses all round and Mario again waved for
silence.  "And now for the announcements.  First, Danny and Tommy – drum
roll, please – they're lovers!"  More enthusiastic cheers and the two
boys stood up and kissed, with increasing passion and to bawdy shouts of
"Get a room!"

Mario grinned, "They already did that, guys, as our good friend Randy can
testify."  Randy raised his fist in the air.

"'Course," Grady grinned. "I always said those two were made for each
other."

"No you didn't," said Mario.

"Did too," Grady protested."  Brian coughed loudly.  He had heard this
routine before.

Mario laughed, "Ah, that would be Brian our designated referee.  Which
brings me to my second announcement, one dear to my heart and to Grady's.
As most of you already know – another drum roll, please – our
beautiful Brian has agreed to become our boy!"  To renewed cheers and
chants of Bri-an, Bri-an, Brian wheeled out in front of them and spun round
in his wheelchair in dizzying wheelies that Brandon had taught him.

When the cheers died down the group broke up and straggled off to the house
and down the stairs to the screening room.  The last to leave were Steve
and Bob, Darius hovering close to them, and his master Zack still morosely
nursing a beer at the end of the table.  Bob looked at Darius, frowned, and
nodded toward Zack.

"Gotcha, sir," Darius said.  "Er, can we talk later?"

"Sure thing, kid," Steve said.  "But go take care of him."  Darius ambled
over to Zack, bent down and whispered a few words in his ear.  Zack nodded,
reluctantly rose from the table and allowed his boy to lead him to the
house after the others.

"So, doc," Bob said, draining his drink, "as our resident shrink, what do
you make of that?"

"Well there's obviously something going on and it seems to be directed at
Randy.  `Course it could be that Randy is just the nearest target.  I mean,
those two are so close, so alike in strength and macho dominance, they
could be brothers.  And like all brothers there is bound to be an
undercurrent of rivalry that usual stays friendly but occasionally erupts
into conflict because of some tension or other.  Hell, Randy and I were an
example of that when he found out we were brothers and he stormed into my
office, knocked me down and fucked my ass."

"Yeah," Bob laughed, "and I recall what he said afterwards as he wiped his
dick.  `So much for brotherly love, eh, Steve?  Didn't feel very fraternal
to me either.'  But you know, I have a feeling that whatever's going on
between him and Zack, Randy's not the aggressor this time."

"I think you're right, Bob.  Well, we'll let it simmer a while before I get
involved.  But come on, buddy ... don't wanna miss the opening credits of
Grady's movie."

Steve couldn't know it at the time but the Zack situation never did have a
chance to simmer before Steve was involved whether he liked it or not.

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

They took their seats in the already crowded screening room.  It was a
large room with a giant screen and plenty of cushioned seats, but even so
Danny and Tommy had brought in extra chairs to accommodate the two dozen
men of the tribe.  Grady was seated in the front row with Mario on his
right, their boy Brian on his left and Brandon next to him.  Danny was in
charge of the console, inserting the DVD he had brought down from the safe
and dimming the lights.

But before they started Grady stood up and faced the crowd. "First thing
you should know, guys, is I'm shit scared about your reaction to the movie.
You are among the very few who will have seen it outside the studio –
they haven't even test-screened it yet or done focus groups, so you'll be
the first critics.  Be kind, fellas.

"A few words about the movie credits and cast list.  You will see a name
you recognize ... our good buddy Brandon.  Ta da!" he laughed as Brandon
waved.

Grady explained, "Brandon was visiting the set one day when the boy playing
a small role of a kid in a wheelchair who gets rescued by Tarzan, failed to
show up.  For reasons of authenticity – and political correctness too
– the director wanted a boy who actually uses a wheelchair. He turned
round and there was Brandon. It was intended to be a short walk-on part
– sorry, kiddo, roll-on – but Brandon was so effective that they
wrote a second scene where Tarzan reunites the kid with his parents – a
real tearjerker.

"But ... wait for it guys ... here's something even Brandon doesn't know.
I just saw the whole finished draft of the sequel that we've already begin
filming and they've written a couple of short scenes for the wheelchair boy
again – kind of a tearful reunion with the jungle man who rescued him
last time.  `Course, it's a sequel so it has to be the same actor –
depending of course on your availability, Brandon, in your busy film
schedule," Grady teased.

Brian threw his arms round Brandon next to him who blushed deep red at the
applause enveloping him.  "Yeah," Bob shouted, "and because he is so
popular his price just went up for the next movie.  So Grady, have your
people speak to Brandon's people to negotiate."  Grady threw his head back
and joined in the laughter, then waved them quiet.

"There's another boy who helped out behind the scenes.  You'll see a scene
where Tarzan goes back to London as Viscount John of Greystoke and fucks a
servant girl.  I found this near-rape scene difficult to get my mind round,
so Brian here ran lines with me over and over again in my bedroom.  It got
so heated, so real, that he ended up playing the victim on the bed while I
fucked him.  The scene turned out great, real authentic, mostly because
when I acted out fucking the girl on the set I was thinking about sexy
young Brian.  So thank you, kiddo."

Amid the cheers Grady held up his hand.  "OK, guys, I'm almost done, but I
really have to pay special tribute to one other name you'll see in the
credits.  Under "Very Special Thanks" Randy is listed as my body coach and
trainer."  More wild applause.

"He alone is responsible for Tarzan's muscles and his `gorgeous body',"
Grady joked.  "One thing the credits don't mention of course is that the
only reason Grady dragged himself to those early morning, bone-crunching
gym sessions is that Randy fucked Tarzan's ass at the end of each one.  Now
it can be told!"

The room erupted with more laughter – except for Zack who had one more
reason for envy and resentment.  Grady said, "OK, guys, that's it, I'm
done.  Sit down and shut up, Grady.  Danny, if you please ... lights,
cameras ... aaand action."

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

After seeing their buddy Grady standing before them cracking jokes it was
something of a shock to see his name come up on the big screen ... before
the movie title.  That nailed his future stardom right there and certainly
brought thunderous applause in the room.  Then silence fell as the movie
began with a startling action scene where Tarzan made a dramatic first
entrance swinging on a vine.

The audience gazed in awe at the magnificent Tarzan.  They had all got to
know and love Grady as their buddy, just one of the guys, but it was a
shock to see him looking so glamorous and so sexy on the big screen.

But soon they were engrossed in the action and sat mesmerized through the
two-hour movie The bondage scene, where Tarzan is captured by hostile
soldiers, tied to a tree and whipped to force information from him, held
them especially spellbound and there wasn't a limp dick in the room.  Tears
came to Brian's eyes seeing his hero abused, and Brandon squeezed his hand
and whispered, "It's only a movie, dude."

Apart from sporadic gasps from the spectators, the only time the room broke
into cheers was when Brandon made his appearance in his short scene.  And
there was a stirring during the servant girl scene where everyone imagined
not the girl, but Brian being butt-fucked by Grady.

When at last the movie came to a dramatic, action-filled finale, ending
with a close-up of Tarzan doing his triumphant Tarzan yell, the room
erupted in sustained applause.  It swelled when Grady's name rolled up at
the top of the credits, and when, much lower down, Brandon's name appeared.

And the cheers reached a crescendo when, lower down still under Very
Special Thanks, Randy's name rolled up the screen.  It clearly wasn't only
because of his participation in the film.  It was a noisy tribute to the
esteem and affection that the whole tribe had for the charismatic founder
and leader of the tribe.

During the ovation Bob snuck a glance at Zack who seemed to be
slow-clapping sarcastically with a thunderous look on his face.  Steve had
seen it too and caught Bob's eye with another of their eye-roll looks.

When at last the applause died down Grady stood up and thanked them for
their enthusiastic reaction.  But a strange thing happened.  A kind of awed
silence fell over the room.

The tribe knew and loved their good buddy Grady who had become a favorite
in the group with his easy-going fun-loving ways.  He was drop-dead
gorgeous of course, but in this crowd physical beauty was no rarity – it
was a tribe of handsome men.

And of course they all knew he had been making this film for months, he had
made them laugh with tales from the set, and a few of them had even visited
the set as his guest.  They were aware of his growing celebrity world-wide
and took great pains to preserve his privacy in the Grady House.  But to
them he had always been just one of the boys – just our Grady.

However, now they had actually just seen him on the screen, larger than
life, magnificent – and it was a revelation.  They all found it
difficult to reconcile this new movie star of a major big-budget film with
the down-to-earth guy who was their friend.  This was the new reality.
Grady was different from them ... hell, he was a movie star!

As Grady looked at them his heart sank.  He knew the look on their faces, a
look he had seen so often from fans who were scared to approach him, so in
awe of his celebrity that they saw him as something not quite human, out of
their league.  So now Grady's habitual smile faded and a look of muted
panic crossed his face.

"Oh, guys ... not you ... not you too.  As all this movie-star bullshit has
grown I've felt more and more remote from the real world.  This has become
my real world – you guys, my buddies, the tribe.  I'm no different now
than I was before you saw the movie.  I'm not Tarzan, guys, I'm Grady, your
Grady.  Please don't let this damn movie come between us."

His eyes brimmed with tears and an uncomfortable silence hung over the
room.  Then suddenly the gap between them was breached by ... Randy of
course.

He stood up and said, "Yeah, boy, you're a mere mortal like the rest of us,
but unlike us your looks and your body are how you make your living.  And
that's why you need me.  So if you're not in my gym by 6 a.m. tomorrow
morning I'll damn-well fuck your ass raw.  Well, you're gonna get that
anyway.  I treat all you guys alike, and you're no different from the
others, you're one of us.  So you get your ass down to my gym and be ready
to work.  Do I make myself clear, boy?"

Tears ran down Grady's face.  "Absolutely, sir.  Thank you, Randy, that's
just what I needed to hear.  I hope that goes for the rest of you guys,
too."

As usual they took their cue from Randy, got to their feet and gathered
round him, showering him with praise and questions about the movie, the
special effects, the other actors ...  When at last he broke free he sat
down next to Bob.  "Buddy, I'm so glad you and Randy are in my life.  But I
wanna ask you something.  I wanna know what you thought of the movie, `cos
I know you'll tell me the truth.  Be brutally frank, Bob.  I can take it
from you."

Bob frowned.  "Well, great big movies like this are not usually my cup of
tea.  I'm an art-house kind of guy."  He chuckled.  "Even foreign films
with subtitles don't faze me.  Now this film has great production values,
well directed, amazing special effects, but even so it could have been just
another Tarzan movie, only bigger than the rest."

Grady tensed nervously, then Bob's face broke into a smile.  "But it's not
just another Tarzan movie, Grady ... because of you.  You are what raised
this film head and shoulders above the others.  And I don't mean just your
incredible looks, though you have to be the most gorgeous Tarzan ever to
grace the screen.  Much more than that it's your charisma, your attitude of
maybe not quite taking it too seriously, like there's a sense of humor
under all your character's toughness and heroics.  Your Tarzan is a fully
rounded man.

"Your sexuality leaps off the screen so we drool over this Tarzan, sure,
and cheer for our hero, but you also make the audience smile.  You are this
movie, buddy, which is why it's going to be a great success and you are
gonna be a major star.  It's also why these guys were numbed when they saw
their friend up on the screen looking larger than life and didn't know how
to treat you.  Thankfully Randy put paid to that.  He has a knack of
dealing with stuff like that.  Nobody is larger than life than Randy –
even a major movie star."

Grady threw his arms round Bob and said, "Thank you, thank you for that,
Bob.  No matter what reviews we get from the media, your review is the one
I will always remember.  It kinda makes all the hard work and celebrity
bullshit worthwhile."

There was a gentle cough above them and Grady looked up to see Mario
smiling down at him.  Grady stood up and looked nervously at him.  "So
what's the verdict, amico?"

"I'll show you in a minute, amore, after I have spoken to our guests."  He
raised his voice above the din. "Er, Attenzione, signori.  On behalf of
Grady I want to thank you for your enthusiastic reaction to his movie.  The
movie is over but the celebration is not.  We invite you all to stick
around, eat, drink and be merry and stay with is for dinner.  If you all
move upstairs the boys will take care of you."

Before the noise level rose again, Mario added, "And, er, if you will
forgive us, signori, Grady and I will leave you for a short time while the
boys attend to your needs.  We, er, have something to attend to upstairs."

"What's that?" Jason asked jovially, "another sequel to the movie – the
conquest of Tarzan?"

"You could say that, Jason," Mario laughed.  "Only difference is, this
one's not for public viewing."  As bawdy laughter filled the room Mario
pulled Danny aside.  "Danny, you and the guys have worked so hard I'm sorry
to pile this on you too.  Do you think you can cope?"

"Sure we can, sir," Danny smiled.  "The twins and I saw this coming and
we've already planned a menu.  Nate has offered to help Brandon and Brian
clear up after the brunch as they can carry so much stuff on their tray
tables.  And Tommy will supervise Eddie and Ben serving drinks and setting
up for dinner.  The boys are all so stoked after the movie that they need
some way to burn off all that energy.  So it's all in hand, sir.  You go
and, er ... relax with Grady, sir.  Don't worry about a thing."

Mario kissed him on the lips.  "You are so good to us, Danny.  When this is
all over we'll make it up to you."  Mario went over to Grady and pulled him
out of the crowd.  "Excuse me, guys, but I'll bring him back.  And he'll be
better than ever, I guarantee."

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

As soon as they entered their bedroom and closed the door behind them there
were tears in Grady's eyes as he pulled Mario into his arms and hugged him
tight.  "Buddy, I couldn't go through all this without you.  The pressure
gets so great and it's only gonna get worse as we come closer to the
premiere."  He pulled back and held Mario at arm's length.  "And look at
you ... you look so fucking gorgeous in those clothes."

Earlier, when they had dressed for the party, Grady had given Mario a gift
to celebrate the occasion – the brown calfskin pants that Grady, as
Viscount John, had worn in the movie's 19th Century England scenes.  To
please Grady, Mario had worn the pants along with a floppy white
renaissance-style shirt, open halfway down his chest.

"You look so damn sexy dressed like that, Mario.  With those chiseled
Italian features and curly black hair you look just like that painting we
have in the hallway downstairs of the Renaissance Florentine nobleman."

"And I can even do the accent, mio signore," Mario smiled.

Then Grady grew serious.  "But what d'ya think, amico?  You think the guys
really liked the movie or were they just being polite?"

Mario laughed.  "Sei stupido, amore.  Of course they loved it, and not only
because it's you but because it's a great movie.  I overheard what Bob told
you and he was absolutely right.  He expressed it well, a ringing
endorsement."

"But what about you, buddy?  Yours is the most important opinion to me."

"I told you, Grady, I agree with Bob.  The movie's going to be a great
success and you are gonna be a major star."  Grady looked into his eyes and
saw a cloud there.

"But what, buddy?  I feel a `but' there.  What's the matter?  Tell me."

"Well, you know that reaction from the guys when the movie ended?  How they
stared at you like fans do, the big movie star who's in a whole other
world, like your feet don't touch the same ground as theirs?  I ... I
thought I was ready for seeing you up there but I guess I wasn't, quite."

Panic sprang to Grady's face.  "No, please, not you too, Mario.  I remember
your paranoia after we first met that I was in on a whole different level
from you, that my celebrity was a barrier between us.  `The movie star and
the gardener,' you said.  It even split us up for a while, the worst few
weeks of my life.  But, man, I thought we got over all that on the trip to
Tuscany.  Please, amico, tell me you're not feeling it again."

"No, Grady, no, not really.  But seeing you up there on the screen, a movie
idol, knowing that the world is gonna fall in love with you, I did have a
frisson of ... I don't know, I ... I wanted to be up there with you.  I
wanted you to shout, "Hey world, this is my real lover, Mario. I wanted to
be the one that you rescued from danger in the jungle, the one you carried
off and made love to.  Except she was Jane and this time your lover would
be me."

He trailed off.  "Now it's me who is stupido.  I'm not making sense, I
know.  Pay no attention, amico, it's just my stupid insecurity."

"No, no, I understand what you're saying," Grady said.  "But I don't like
to hear you say it, and I'll make sure you never do again." His voice took
on a harder edge.  "Come here."  He pulled Mario to the bed, shoved him
down on it and Mario fell heavily on his back.

And it was that man, still dressed in tight calfskin pants and loose
renaissance shirt, and barefoot, who now looked up at Grady in surprise.
Grady's usually sunny expression had changed to the fierce frown of the
Tarzan in the movie.

He yanked Mario's arms up to the corners of the bed where there were always
ropes hanging from the bedposts, remnants of games they had played in the
past.  Except that usually Grady was the bound captive.  Not this time.
Quickly Grady tied Mario's wrists to the posts, glared down at him ... then
abruptly strode out of the room.

Mario lay there dazed, not sure what was happening.  He tugged at the ropes
but realized that Grady had tied them tight so there was no escape.  That
feeling always caused a momentary surge of panic that this time quickly
morphed into the paranoia he had felt before.  He had been so stupid saying
what he had to Grady.  Did Grady take it as a lack of trust?  Did he feel
Mario did not love him enough to overcome that ridiculous celebrity thing?

The look on Grady's face had been fierce, he had treated him so roughly and
left the room so abruptly ... he must be angry.  Yes, he had seen it in his
eyes.  "Che stupido," Mario murmured, blaming himself.  He had said the
wrong thing, he had to make it right.  He had to go to him.  He pulled
frantically at the ropes, desperate to get free and run to Grady.  But he
was helpless.  The only person who could free him was Grady.

He looked up desperately at his wrists and tugged harder.  So intent was he
on his task that he didn't hear the door open quietly, didn't see the
figure in the doorway watching the handsome young nobleman writhing
helplessly in bondage trying to get free.

Then Mario saw him and his heart pounded faster.  It was the magnificent
man he had just watched on the screen – the muscular Tarzan wearing only
a brown rawhide loincloth, staring at him from across the room.  Mario had
to talk to him, had to explain, had to make it come right.  He grew even
more desperate to be free, and his body strained and flexed as he struggled
against his restraints, his handsome face thrashing from side to side,
tousled black hair flying.

As he walked slowly forward and paced silently round the bed, staring down
at the helpless man, Grady was entering a world of movie fantasy. Grady was
the consummate actor and when he played the role in the movie he became
Tarzan ... it was easy, to shed his skin for another.  It was easy now too
as he watched the muscular nobleman struggle, and heard him beg.

"Untie me, man.  Please, set me free.  I can't get loose ... help me."

Mario too was quickly falling under the spell of make-believe, the spell of
this man he had seen play just such a scene as this – the rescue in the
jungle.  Grady leaned down and ran his hand under the open shirt and
stroked the prisoner's chest.  His deep voice said, "You are a beautiful
man.  Yes I have come to rescue you but I did not expect such a beautiful
man.  I am not sure I want to set you free ... not yet ... not until I ..."

He stood at the foot of the bed and Mario stared in awe at the homoerotic,
near-naked muscle-god, at his flawless physique and the bulge in his
loincloth.  Suddenly Tarzan fell forward and braced his hands on the bed on
either side of the captive's face.  Their eyes met, he lowered himself onto
him, their bodies ground together and their mouths closed in a ravenous
kiss.

Then Grady pulled off, sprang to his feet by the bed and Mario heard
Tarzan's voice.  "I want you ... I must have you."  He ripped open the
brown pants and pulled them and the briefs down over his legs and tossed
the aside.  He saw the prisoner's cock spring up hard as a rod and smiled,
"And you want me too, I see that.  We shall see how much.  Yes, I will free
you, but only on one condition."

He knelt between Mario's legs, leaned forward and ripped open his shirt.
"Oh yes," he breathed, reaching down and cupping his hands over the hard
pecs.  "Oh yes, I want you, and I will have you."  He pulled back on his
knees, pulled his rigid cock from under his loincloth, spat on it and
stroked it.  "This is how I will own you – like this ..."  He pushed the
prisoner's legs in the air, his eyes blazed down at him ... and he drove
his cock deep inside his ass.

"Aaaagh ..." Mario screamed.  And as he felt the savage shaft pounding his
ass all shreds of reality vanished and he was launched into a fantasy
... he was in the movie, a bound prisoner.  The jungle man had come to
rescue him but had fallen in love with him, had ripped off his pants and
was plundering his ass with his pile-driving cock.  "You are magnificent,"
his captor shouted, "and I will pour my juice in your ass.  Let me see how
much you want me, man."

The wild fuck became ferocious and sweat poured off the naked man's body as
it flexed over his victim.  The savage grabbed his shirt and pulled his
back up off the bed as his attack intensified until, with the force of the
pounding fuck, the fabric ripped and Mario fell back on the bed, his
tattered shirt hanging in shreds over his muscular chest.

Even as he struggled hopelessly against the ropes binding him Mario knew he
was lost ... lost to the fantasy, lost to the sexual power of this man.  He
saw the Tarzan face tense, the eyes flash and heard the deep voice
... "Magnificent ... yes, I want you.  I will take you ... now!"

The rod plunged deep inside him, paused, shuddered, and he felt warm juice
filling his ass.  With one last desperate tug at the ropes Mario's body
bucked, muscles bulged ... and semen blasted from his cock and splashed
down on his abs, his chest and his face and his torn shirt.

For an instant the Grady grin shone down at him, but it was quickly
replaced by the clenched-jaw intensity of Tarzan.  "I knew you wanted me,"
he growled.  "But I want more ... I want this all the time, every day, and
I will plough your ass now until you surrender to me.  You don't think I
can?  This is how much I love you."

Incredibly Grady's cock was still hard and started to move again, not
savagely this time but gently massaging the raw membrane of Mario's ravaged
ass.  His imagination went into overdrive as he stared down at the handsome
dark-haired nobleman, helplessly bound, naked now except for the shreds of
his shirt hanging from his shoulders.

As he fucked him slowly he said, "This is how it will be, every day, all
the time. I will only release you when you agree to belong to me.  And even
then you will still be my prisoner, my willing prisoner.  I will carry you
off to my home where you will live with me forever, and we will make love
every day.  I do not want you to be afraid of me because of who I am
... afraid that I am more powerful than you.  We will trust and need each
other.  We must be equals, friends, lovers – inseparable."

Grady's eyes penetrated Mario's.  "Do you agree to that?  Don't speak.  If
you agree to be my lover you must show me.  Here, I will help you."  Grady
wrapped his hand round Mario's cock and stroked it as he continued to make
love to his ass.  And they both knew the answer.  There was no question
... of course Tarzan would carry the Italian nobleman off to his home and
of course they would live there as lovers forever – just as Grady and
Mario would.

And the proof of their passion came very soon.  As one man fucked the other
and stroked the man's cock the mood changed – it was the real world and
the Grady grin was back as he said, "How was that, amico?  Quite a scene,
eh?  Should be in the next movie – Tarzan carrying his new lover off
into the jungle.  Do you want to seal the deal?  Can you?"

"Of course I can, amore – let's do it together."  And once again, so
soon after their first tumultuous orgasm, as they smiled at each other
their bodies trembled and their cocks poured juice again, this time not in
a frenzy of lust but with the balm of love, a love they knew now would last
forever.

With his cock still inside Mario Grady grinned down at him and said, "End
of movie, roll credits."  He raised his head, cupped his hands round his
mouth and the room shook to the sound of the triumphant Tarzan yell.

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

The jubilant sound carried throughout the house and out to the men and boys
who had reassembled in the garden.  Conversations paused and knowing smiles
spread over faces.  Mark chuckled, "Sounds like the final shot of another
movie.  I guess the sequel is pretty much like the first, except that this
one only has a cast of two."

"That's all it takes, mate," said Adam in his Australian drawl.

The clamor of voices resumed and reached a pitch when Grady and Mario
reappeared with dazzling smiles, bowing to acknowledge the cheers.  Grady
was in his usual shorts and a loose tank-top, Mario was wearing the tan
pants again but this time with a plain white V-neck T-shirt.

Then went over to their boy Brian who whispered to Mario, "What happened to
your shirt, sir?"

Mario bent down to him and said quietly, "It's on the bed, bambino, kind of
ragged and wet with jizz.  You might want to go up and rescue it.  I know
you like to collect shirts like that – hell, sometimes I think you
auction them off to the other boys."  Brian grinned impishly and wheeled
himself quickly into the house.

A few yards away Bob, Randy, Steve and Mark were sitting together when
Darius came over to them.  "Where's Zack?" Bob asked.  "Is he still
downstairs?"

"No, sir, he went home.  I wanted to go with him but he said he wanted some
time alone to think.  I think what he really meant was to brood.  Er, can I
talk to you guys for a minute?"

"Huh," Randy huffed, "he should have let you go with him.  All that guy
needs is your ten-inch rod up his ass."

"Randy, that's not helpful," Bob frowned.  "Of course you can talk to us
Darius, take a seat.  Now, do you have any idea what's bugging that man of
yours?  You don't have to betray any confidences if you choose not to, you
know that."

"Oh I want to talk about it, sir, `cos it worries me.  I've never seen Zack
like this – I mean, he's always so tough and self-confident, real macho
if you know what I mean.  But lately it's like he's ... he's sulking.  It's
been coming on for some time and I do have a vague idea what it's about."

"Good," Steve said.  "It's useful for us to get your point of view, Darius,
as you know Zack probably better than anyone.  And whatever you tell us
here is in strictest confidence."

"Well, sir, like I said, sir, Zack is a real tough guy, a leader of men.
Thinks of himself as a match for any guy ... even you, sir," he grinned at
Randy.

"Ah, so this is all about me, is it?" Randy growled.

"Well, in a way, sir," Darius frowned.  "I think, for whatever reason, Zack
feels ... it's hard to find the words ... that he's kinda not getting the
respect he deserves, like ... like his masculinity is threatened.  There's
a word ... I dunno ... immaculate something ..."

"Emasculated," Steve said.  "It means, literally, having his balls snipped,
losing his masculinity.  Of course it's mostly in his imagination, a kind
of paranoia.  A loss of self-esteem is a condition therapists see very
often.  But I wonder what's causing it in Zack.  Any idea?"

Darius frowned again.  "I ... I think it has something to do with his work
at the construction company and how he compares himself with you guys.  He
don't feel ... quite equal."

"But that's not true," Mark said.  "He's one of the four directors of the
company, Randy, Bob him and me, and we all have an equal vote."

"Well, that's not how he sees it, sir.  He was rambling on one day about
how the board is stacked against him.  He thinks when an issue comes up Bob
will always vote with Randy, of course, and Mark too, `cos you're all a
... like a trio kind a' thing.  And recently he overheard Pablo saying that
Randy was thinking of putting him on the board of directors, and then Zack
would feel like a real outsider."

"Bullshit," Randy growled.  "These guys are all independent, they vote the
way they feel.  Shit, they don't let me get away with nothing and that
makes me so mad I wanna slug them.  As for Pablo, maybe Zack didn't hear
the bit about putting you on the board too, Darius, and maybe Jamie.  We
all think you guys deserve it."

Randy clenched his fist.  "Nah, this is all about me.  Hell, I think of
Zack like a brother.  He's right, he's one of the few men that can beat me
in a fight.  We show off at work all the time with these little tests of
strength, friendly usually but sometimes they can get serious ... a real
rivalry.  That goes with the territory for men like Zack and me, but I
think that's what's eating him."

"Darius?" Steve looked enquiringly at Zack's boy.

"Well, sir, there may be something in that.  Like today, when Randy and Bob
first arrived there was a hush fell over the crowd – there always is,
kind of respectful.  I was watching Zack and he wasn't best pleased.  Then
it got worse when Randy went up to Danny's room and did a number on Tommy,
making those guys even more in love.  You came back with that sweaty,
just-fucked strut of yours, sir.  And when they came down they thanked
Randy in front of everyone.

"The clincher came when we watched the movie and Grady gave that
enthusiastic shout-out to Randy for their gym sessions, and in the end
credits when Randy's name came up there was a big cheer.  I mean, face it,
sirs, any so-called brother of a guy who's that popular is bound to feel a
bit ... you know, second rate."

Steve put his hand over Darius's.  "Darius, I gotta hand it to you, you
make a lot of sense.  You are observant, objective, and reach logical
conclusions.  And you're compassionate too.  I applaud you for ending up by
coming to Zack's defense, and I think you're right about that too.  And if
these guys do decide to give you a seat on the board, you'll be a very good
influence."

"Well done, Darius," Bob smiled.  "I agree with Steve."  He sighed.  "But
Steve, I'm more troubled than ever.  Is there anything we can do to help?"

Steve shrugged.  "Not much, I'm afraid.  Sounds like he could benefit from
therapy but I can't get involved professionally unless Zack actively seeks
my help.  For now, I suggest we back off and humor Zack, and above all
don't aggravate him and make things worse.

"That goes especially for you, Randy.  I know what a hair-trigger you've
got, bro, with those clenched fists ready to swing at any time.  I know
it's not in your nature to back off, but even if Zack bad-mouths you, don't
react.  You two together are like a powder-keg ready to blow.  If you were
to beat him in one of those knock-down drag-out fights between you it would
be disastrous and make him even more resentful.

"As for you, Darius, you're Zack's boy and your role is to support him no
matter what.  When you go home try to calm him down ... be the aspirin for
his headache," Steve grinned.

Darius flashed a smile, "I got ways to calm Zack down, sir."  He rubbed the
huge bulge in his jeans.  "Only problem is it might give him a headache
rather than get rid of one."

Darius always had a knack of defusing the tension and the meeting broke up
in a gust of laughter.  They all went back to the party and soon everyone
was trooping into the large dining room for dinner that the boys had set
up.  It was, as expected, a lively affair, with most of the talk focused on
the movie.  Brian, sitting next to Grady, said, "Sir, is there any chance
we can see the movie again soon?"

"You mean you really want a re-play?  My, you're a glutton for punishment,"
Grady laughed.  "But sure you can.  Danny will have the disc locked in the
safe and if anyone wants to see it again ask him.  Depending on his
workload he'll bring it out and screen it for you again.  Needless to say,
the disc can't leave the house."

Grady put his arm round Brian.  "As for you kiddo, you'll be sleeping next
door to the real thing, so you can come in and fuck with the real live
Tarzan, or watch him on film ... your choice."

That brought bawdy comments and suggestions from the other boys that made
Brian blush.  After that the dinner wound down and, after a very long day,
the party broke up, with many effusive thanks and congratulations to Grady
and Mario.  They all paired off and went home, no doubt to talk out the
party and the movie over late night-caps.  Tommy stayed here with Danny,
and Grady suggested they and Brian join him and Mario for a late brandy in
their room.

"Hey, kiddo, did you clean up the bed yet?"

"Oh no, sorry, sir," Brian blushed, "but I'll do it right now."

"Don't you dare, bambino," Mario laughed.  "The bed is just the way we want
it.  It's Grady's favorite thing, a rumpled bed smelling of jizz.  Sets
just the right tone." Mario raised his glass to the boys.  "And before we
go up amici, Grady and I want to thank you for all your hard work in making
the premiere of the movie un grande trionfo!"

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

Over the next couple of days the men tried to follow Steve's advice and
play it cool with Zack, not get under his skin and provoke an eruption that
seemed increasingly likely.

The most awkward place for that was the construction site.  When the whole
crew was there it wasn't so hard for Randy and Zack to keep their distance,
though it seemed strange as they usually worked so closely together.  In
fact, as the day wore on, their unusual separation took on a significance
of its own.  It only heightened the sense of rivalry, an implication that
their antagonism was becoming so intense that they had stopped
communicating.

That was not Randy's intention, of course.  He was only trying to do what
Steve had suggested and not make waves.  As always in stressful situations
he poured his energy in his work and became an even tougher boss, throwing
orders around and reinforcing his role as boss of the outfit.

Zack saw this and it made his resentment even fiercer.  Who the hell did
the fucking gypsy think he was?  Dammit, Zack thought, he'll be yelling at
me next.  Zack's paranoid delusions created a circling vortex of resentment
that got stronger and stronger.  Randy sensed that things were coming to a
head and it was a relief when the whistle blew for the end of the shift.

As the crew put down their tools and straggled out through the gates Randy
hoped Zack would follow them, which would relieve the tension.  He said to
Darius and Pablo, "Guys, I'm gonna stick around and while.  Few things I
wanna finish up here."

Pablo and Darius had been aware of the situation ever since Darius's
conversation with Steve and Bob, and throughout the day they had kept an
anxious eye on the delicate dance going on.  They were not about to abandon
Randy so Pablo said, "Same here, sir.  We wanna finish up with this truck,
so we'll work a bit longer too."

If they thought that would bring the tense situation to an end they were
wrong.  In his irrational state Zack saw this as Randy and the boys closing
ranks, and he was damned if he was gonna be dismissed along with the rest
of the crew.  He needed to assert his masculinity, which he did by an
ostentatious feat of physical strength.

There was a heavy metal I-beam resting on a six-foot high scaffold that
needed to be moved down on the ground.  The crew had left it for the
following day as it would normally take at least three men to do the heavy
lifting.  But Zack strode over to it, put his shoulder under it and
strained to lift it.  It rose unsteadily a few inches up and Randy looked
up in alarm.  As boss his mantra was always `safety first' and he knew that
what Zack was doing risked serious injury.

"What the fuck?" he yelled.  "Man, you can't lift that on your own."  He
ran over and took the weight of the other end on his shoulder.

They were facing each other in a senseless trial of strength, their eyes
blazing.  So fixated were they on each other that they lost the vital focus
on the shifting weight and in a split second the balance was lost and the
beam crashed to the ground.  Mercifully their reflexes were fast enough
that they both leapt away an instant before their limbs would be have been
crushed.

Randy naturally hit the roof.  "What the fuck crazy stunt were you pulling,
asshole?  You know damn well one man can't lift a beam like that.  What
have I always told you about safety?"

"Oh, yessir massa, sir," Zack said sarcastically.  "Da black man should
have obeyed the white boss."  He poked Randy in the chest.  "Who the fuck
do you think I am, dickhead, one of your peons that you can shove around as
you like?  I've had it up to here with you, man, playing the big boss
around here and whenever the tribe gets together.  Just because you own the
goddam company, just because you've got that hot boyfriend, just because
these boys think the sun shines out of your fucking ass.

"Well here's a newsflash, asshole, I'm not one of your servants.  I'm twice
the man you are, stronger, tougher, and I can take you down any time I
want.  Come to think of it, that's what you need right now, motherfucker
– a man who can knock you off your pedestal and cut you down to size.
So let's see what you got, big guy.  Let's see who'll be the last man
standing, eh?"

The horrified boys took a step forward but Randy said, "Back off, boys.
This is between me and him."  Summoning up all the self-control he could
muster Randy stared at Zack.  "Look man, I dunno what demons you got
burning inside you, but this ain't the way to solve anything.  I don't
wanna fight you, and I'm not gonna.  Now just cool it, bro, and let's
talk."

Zack's eyes blazed and he continued jabbing Randy in the chest, "I am not
your `bro', asshole.  Take a good look – me black man, you white man
– a greasy gypsy white, but still white.  What, you chicken, too scared
to fight, `cos you know I'll whip your ass?  Come on, boy, fight me."

Randy realized there was no reasoning with the man and when he saw the pain
bordering on madness in his eyes he felt a wave of pity and knew he
couldn't fight him.  He held his arms out to the sides and said, "OK, Zack
if that's the way you want it, take your best shot.  Come on man, don't
wimp out on me.  Hit me."

Incensed by Randy's cool attitude Zack took a swing and slammed the back of
his fist against Randy's cheek.  Randy reeled backwards, his eyes burning
with anger, every fiber of his being straining to fight back.  But somehow
Randy suppressed his natural urges of the street fighter.

Randy was a man of impulse and acted instinctively.  He rarely reasoned
things out – he felt them.  And now, conditioned by his brother Steve's
advice, his instinct was not to retaliate, but to let his buddy Zack get
the rage out of his system.  Besides, Randy knew intuitively that a man
proved his strength and toughness more by taking a beating than by
delivering one, so he braced himself for the attack, which came instantly.

"Come on asshole, fight," Zack yelled, punctuation his words with his
fists, slamming Randy's face, one side then the other.  The rugged gypsy
staggered backward under the blows, his arms hanging down loose, his long
black hair swinging wildly as his face was slapped from side to side.  He
fell back against a truck and Zack gut punched him.  Randy double over,
slumped to his knees, then fell forward on his stomach in a daze."

The boys watched in horror, knowing they could not intervene, and Darius
grabbed Pablo's arm and squeezed it, knowing how agonizing this was for
Randy's boy to see his hero get thrashed.

Stripped to the waist in black jeans the powerful black muscle-stud towered
over Randy, his chest heaving.  "Get up, man," Zack growled, "get up and
fight."  He hooked his boot under Randy's stomach and heaved him over onto
his back.  He leaned down, grabbed the greasy tank-top Randy always wore
and used it to pull his back up off the ground.  As he hung limply in that
position Zack continued to slam his face, his head swinging helplessly from
side to side.

At last the thin tank ripped and Randy fell back on his back in a dazed
stupor.  By this time Zack was running only on adrenaline, on his urge to
prove his manhood no matter what.  His body was on fire, muscles rippling
... and his cock was rock hard in his jeans.  He growled, "Look at you,
man, beaten in the dust.  Not the big gypsy boss now are you, stud?  I am
the best – you're nothing.  And now you're gonna get what you've had
coming for a long time."

Zack kicked the limp body over onto his stomach, and pulled the beaten
man's workpants down to his thighs, baring his ass.  He yanked his own cock
out of his jeans and dropped to his knees between Randy's splayed legs.
"Yeah," he snarled, "the King of the Gypsies has been thrashed by the real
boss of the outfit.  He's met his match, now he's bareassed in the dirt
waiting for the final humiliation."

Zack reached out to grab a nearby narrow plank that he pressed down on the
small of Randy's back, pinning him to the ground, giving him a clear shot
at his helpless ass.  "Here it comes, big guy.  You lose!"  Holding him
down with the plank Zack pushed his cock between the ass cheeks, paused,
then rammed it deep inside his ass at the start of a brutal dry fuck.

Randy's scream echoed round the construction site and he reached forward in
a helpless attempt to crawl away from the attack on his ass.  He grabbed
the tire of the truck and dug his fingers into the tread, bracing himself
for the pain to come.  And it came right away as Zack became a fuck
machine, his gleaming ebony body flexing and sweating, his massive black
shaft pounding like a merciless piston.

The boys stared in disbelief as the master of the tribe, the big powerful
gypsy, his ripped shirt hanging from his bruised body, lay face down in the
dirt, gritting his teeth as he endured the ferocious pile-driver pounding
his ass.

But he was saved from serious injury by the testosterone flooding through
Zack's heaving body and swelling his balls and cock.  Beyond thought or
reason Zack felt empowered, his masculinity restored as he proved his
muscular supremacy over the macho construction boss.  "I am the best," he
howled.  "Here it comes, man, the final degradation.  I'm gonna blast my
jizz in your gypsy ass ... Fuck you, man.  Fuck you ... Yeeeah!"

With one last brutal thrust Zack's cock exploded in Randy's ass, flooding
it with his sperm as Randy clenched his jaw, dug his fingers in the tire
and flexed every muscle to absorb the pain.  He shuddered, groaned ... and
went limp.

Feeling triumphant Zack pulled out, leapt to his feet and loomed over his
battered rival.  "Man, you have been whipped good.  Look at you, bare-ass
in the dust, shirt ripped to shreds, with my jizz oozing out your ass.  I
got one last thing for you, bossman."  Holding his cock he let loose a
stream of piss that splashed down on the gypsy's head and neck, over his
back and ass, and soaked his jeans, in a final act of abject humiliation.

Having purged his demons and proved his manhood, or so he thought, Zack
shoved his cock back in his jeans, zipped them up and stared down at
Randy's limp body.  He blinked and frowned with a puzzled expression,
almost as if he were seeing Randy for the first time.  "OK, man, get up.
It's over.  I proved I'm the best, so get up now."

But the body didn't move and Zack's voice lost its authority, became almost
plaintive.  He nudged the body with his foot and said, "Randy, get up, it's
over.  Please, man, get up."

"Jesus Christ," said Pablo as he and Darius ran forward and dropped to
their knees beside the motionless body.  Gently they turned him over and
gazed down at the bruised face, the eyes closed.  "Sir, sir," Pablo said
urgently.  "Wake up, sir, please ..."  Zack stared down numbly at the scene
like he was watching a slow-motion train wreck, mumbling, "Get up Randy.
Get up."

"Darius, quick, get some water," Pablo urged.  Darius sprinted over to a
bucket that was full of water, brought it back and poured it over Randy's
face.  His eyes opened, he coughed and shook his head.  He looked up,
frowned in confusion and mumbled, "What the fuck?  What d'you go and do
that for?"

Pablo brushed the water from his face.  "Sir, are you OK, sir?  Please,
look, move your fingers for me."  Randy raised his arm with difficulty,
wiggled his fingers and said with a week grin, "Like this, you mean?"

"Thank god," Darius murmured.  "Yeah," came Zack's shaky voice from above
them.  "That's good.  Yeah, that's good."

Pablo looked up at him.  "Sir, he's gonna be alright, but if you don't
mind, sir, I think you should leave us alone with him.  We'll call Bob and
Mark and everything will be OK."

Darius looked up and said, "He's right, sir.  I think you should leave."

Zack looked down at them as his head cleared.  He knew the boys would never
openly criticize a master, but he saw it in their eyes anyway – the look
of accusation, disapproval and disappointment.  Yeah, they were right.  He
had to get out of here ... had to get away.  With one last look to make
sure Randy was OK he turned on his heels and stumbled to the gate, got into
his truck drove away.

Focused on driving, his head cleared and gradually the enormity of what he
had done overwhelmed him.  He was starting to thinking clearly for the
first time in weeks, to question his actions.  He blinked and shook his
head.  What had he done?  What had he been thinking?  And why?  Had he been
jealous of Randy?  Well, Randy had been putting him down, hadn't he?  So he
had a right to be angry, didn't he?  Hell, he was a man, a leader, he
couldn't let himself be pushed around.

But then he flashed on the sight of Randy lying beaten in the dirt.  And
he, Zack, had done that.  But he loved Randy, or used to.  What had changed
– was it him?  If only Randy had fought back, they could have settled it
in a fair fight and that would be that.  Damn him, damn the man!

As he drove up the hill his mind swirled in a mass of conflicting emotions
– confusion, guilt, defensiveness, anger ... yes, above all anger.
Anger at himself?  Anger at Randy, at the tribe, at his whole goddam life?
He needed help, he needed to talk.  Not Bob, not Mark.  They were probably
taking care of Randy right now. No, he needed a clear, objective mind.  He
knew where he had to go.

So he drove up and up into the hills to where the houses became bigger,
grander, and finally pulled up at Steve's gate.  He didn't stop to buzz the
gate.  He climbed right over it, strode down the drive, his anger mounting.
What the fuck was he doing here?  He didn't want to be here, but he had to
be.  He pounded on the front door and it was opened by Tommy.

"I need to see Steve."

"Sir, Steve and Lloyd are having dinner right now but I'll see if ...

"Don't fuck with me, boy."  Zack shoved Tommy aside and he staggered back
against a table, knocking it over.  Steve appeared and said sternly, "Zack,
you do not come into my house and abuse Tommy like that.  If you're gonna
behave like an animal you can just leave, or I'll call the cops."

"Fuck you, man, I might have known you'd be on his side.  You're his
fucking brother.  You, Bob, Mark, you're all on his side.  Well I don't
take shit from any of you, I'm bigger than any of you and I just proved
that to your loser brother, you can ask him."

"I don't need to, Zack.  I just got a phone call from Bob and he told me
what happened."

"Sure you did, of course, you're all in this.  Did he warn you off me, tell
you to throw me out?"

Lloyd appeared from the dining room having heard the commotion.  "Are you
OK, Steve?" he asked, making a threatening move toward Zack.

"Yeah, yeah, buddy, thanks.  I've got it, I can handle this."  He turned to
Zack who was pacing the floor with clenched fists.  "Zack, would you like a
drink?"

Zack frowned, taken off guard, and said, "Yeah – Scotch – large."

Steve nodded to Tommy who poured a very large Scotch, straight up, and
handed it to Zack.  Steve walked to his office door and opened it.  "Zack
if you would like to bring your drink through to my office I'll be right
with you.  We'll be completely private in there."

Sullenly Zack went into the office and slumped onto a couch.  Steve turned
back to the other two and said, "Tommy, I'm real sorry about that.  Are you
OK?"

"Oh sure, sir.  No problem.  I'll just set the table back up."

"But will you be OK, buddy?" Lloyd asked Steve.

"Oh sure.  I`ve seen guys in a state like this before."  Steve chuckled.
"Hell, if I can handle my own brother Randy I can surely handle Zack."

"Time for one of those unorthodox therapy treatments you specialize in,
eh?" Lloyd grinned.

"Yeah, but this one's complicated.  I'll have to come up with a major new
remedy this time to make it come right.  A guy like Zack is gonna need
something real special."

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

TO BE CONTINUED IN "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 358


Hey guys, this is Rob Williams.  I hope that chapter got you off, and I
welcome your comments and suggestions, which can be very helpful in
planning future chapters.  E-mail me in confidence at rw6789@aol.com.

ALSO, I invite you to visit my Web-site www.atrialofstrength.com. You can
read the whole story, all the many chapters, with extras, including
pictures and biographies of all the characters.  Click on the `Our Story'
tab to read the current chapter, or click on the green button to browse all
the chapter synopses.  Enjoy