Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 02:59:04 -0400 (EDT)
From: rw6789@aol.com
Subject: A Trial Of Strength - Part 50  by Rob Williams

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 50
By Rob Williams

IN THIS CHAPTER Randy hates the immaculate, clean-cut architect, Lloyd.
But Bob feels an affinity for him, resulting in an unforgiveable act.  Bob
sees cold fury in Randy's steel blue eyes.  "You know I have to hurt you,
man.  It's all I know how to do."  In the desolation of the scorching
desert Bob's body and mind endure punishment.  The body builder stands
bound, naked, abandoned in the unforgiving wilderness.

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

As I always say, guys, I welcome your comments and suggestions.  They can
be very helpful.  E-mail me at rw6789@aol.com.

ALSO, NOW YOU CAN VISIT MY WEB-SITE: You can read the whole story, all the
many chapters, with extras, on my web-site www.atrialofstrength.com.
There's even a picture of me!  Also, go to the Contact Us page and send me
your comments and story ideas.  Enjoy!

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

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - Part 50

Pablo came back into the dining room wide-eyed.  "There's a real hot guy at
the door asking for Randy.  Says he wants to apologize."

That would be Lloyd, the arrogant, well-dressed, preppy architect who got
under the skin of the construction boss, Randy, and had paid a heavy price.
Randy had challenged him to work a day under his command on the site.  But
Lloyd had been jealous of Darius's position as foreman and had crudely
insulted the young black man with racial slurs.

Randy's fury had resulted in a brutal punishment for the handsome
architect, who had wound up lying in the dirt, reduced to a filthy,
shirtless, wreck of a man, covered in sweat, oil and urine.  Randy had
snarled, "Now get the hell off my work site and out of my face.  You're
finished here."

Now, that same evening, as the guys were finishing dinner, here he was at
the door.  Bob went to the front door and gazed at the tall,
broad-shouldered man dressed simply in jeans and white T-shirt.  Pablo had
been right, Bob thought.  The man was hot.  Clean-cut, short black hair,
squared jaw, gray eyes and neatly trimmed moustache and goatee beard.
Their eyes locked in a long, silent gaze.

They went into the dining room where Lloyd stood rooted to the spot.  Round
the cluttered table were six stunning-looking men.  He had trouble
believing his eyes.  The architect was dumbstruck as he looked in awe from
one handsome face to the next.

As Randy watched Lloyd's gaze settle on each man in turn he thought to
himself.  "Yeah, and all you get to do is look, asshole.  They're all
gorgeous ... and they're mine.  You lay a finger on any of these guys and
you answer to me."

Lloyd recovered himself, cleared his throat and spoke hesitantly.  "Er, I'm
sorry to barge in like this and interrupt your meal but I would like to
speak to Randy alone.  I ... er ... I have something to say."

Randy fixed him with a hostile look and growled.  "Anything you want to say
to me you can say right here, asshole.  These guys are all my buddies.
They need to hear it too."

Darius's eyes shone as he whispered to Pablo, "Damn right we do."  Pablo
kicked him in the shins under the table.

Intimidated by this audience Lloyd cleared his throat again and began.  "I
have come to apologize.  I don't know what made me behave like that today.
It was totally unacceptable and not like me at all.  I know I sometimes
come across as arrogant, but I guess that's just a defense mechanism.
Anyway, I deserved everything you threw at me Randy.  It may not seem like
it but I respect the hell out of you and just wanted to prove myself to
you."

He ran out of words and blushed.  Randy grunted.  "That all you got, man?
What about the "black boy" here?" he snarled, using Lloyd's own words of
earlier.

Lloyd blushed even more.  "I'm embarrassed to hear those words thrown back
at me.  I know I used ugly racial slurs and I'm deeply ashamed of what I
said.  From what I saw you're a great guy, Darius, and you did not deserve
to hear those words out of my mouth."  He hesitated, "Tell you the truth, I
guess I was jealous that you and Randy were so close."

The abject apology left them all silent.  Nervously Lloyd pulled out his
business card and threw it on the table.  "In spite of everything I would
like to continue as your architect on this project but I realize that's
your decision, Randy.  My home number's on the card, sir.  I hope you call
me."

Without another word he turned and walked out of the room and they heard
the front door close softly behind him.  There was a stunned silence, which
was finally broken unexpectedly by Jamie.

"Wow, that guy speaks real well ... real elegant."

Mark smiled and put his arm round his boy's shoulder.  "You're right, kid.
He sure has a neat turn of phrase.  But it's what he said that impressed
me.  He sounded really remorseful.  Took a lot of courage to say that in
front of all of us."

Randy jumped to his feet and took a deep breath, his fists clenched.  But
before he could speak Bob stood too and said, "I think we should sleep on
it.  No reactions or decisions right now.  Mark, we'll talk tomorrow.
Boys, clear the table.  Randy, bedtime."  He put his arm round his buddy's
neck and together they went upstairs.

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

The discussion the next day was a long one between the three partners in
the construction company, Randy, Bob and Mark.  Bob argued convincingly
that their firm needed a full-time architect on staff.  "I was crunching
the numbers and it makes a lot of sense financially.  Besides, if it was
our guy you'd have complete control over him, Randy."

Mark agreed but Randy was hard to convince.  Mark argued, "You've said it
yourself, buddy, Lloyd is a talented architect.  Real innovative."

"Yeah," Randy growled.  "Always talking about his fucking `vision'."

"Vision's a good thing, no?"

Bob brought the discussion to a close.  "Look, the first thing we need to
do is take a look at some of his past work."

"Count me out," Randy snarled.

"It'd be tough for me," added Mark. "I'm pulling 12-hour shifts right now."

"Well, I have a couple of days off work," Bob said.  "I could take a look
at his earlier projects and report back to you guys."

Randy gave Bob a strange look of disapproval mixed with suspicion, but he
voiced no objection.

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

Events moved pretty fast after that.  Bob called Lloyd and explained what
they had discussed.  Lloyd reacted with enthusiasm.  The firm he worked for
was based in San Bernardino, a city sixty miles due east of L.A., which is
where most of Lloyd's buildings were.  He was keen to show his work to Bob
and arranged to drive him out the next day in his Mercedes.  The men
considered it a business trip so it happened that both had dressed in
jacket and tie and dress slacks.

The drive to San Bernardino on Interstate-10 was only about an hour but in
that time they got to know each other well.  It turned out they had a whole
lot in common.  Both had lived previously in San Francisco, both had MBA
degrees from UC Berkeley, and both now worked for major companies.  They
easily fell into comfortable conversation and when they arrived in San
Bernardino Bob allowed himself to be driven from one impressive building to
another.

"And you were the lead architect on all of these?" Bob asked.

"Yeah.  They were team projects, of course, but I did most of the concept
design."

"Why on earth would you consider working for a small company like ours?"

Lloyd smiled.  "I need to be with guys who are forward thinking, to have
the flexibility to try new concepts.  That `vision' thing I talk about.
Besides, seems to me your company won't be small for much longer."

They talked about the synergy between architecture, engineering and
construction, cost effectiveness, budgets, environmental concerns.  They
spoke the same language.  They understood each other, related to each other
... liked each other.  The day was too short to take in all of the
buildings they needed to see so, without thinking twice, they decided to
stay overnight and continue the next day.  Besides, they found they really
enjoyed each other's company and wanted to talk more.

Bob called the house to tell Randy of his plans but only Pablo was home, so
he left the message with him and said they'd be staying at the local Hilton
overnight.  At the hotel registration desk they both pulled out their
credit card and slapped it on the counter.

Bob said to Lloyd, "My Company has a corporate rate with Hilton."

"So does mine," Lloyd laughed.

It turned out there was a convention in town so rooms were scarce.
"Sorry," said the clerk, "no doubles, but we do have a nice king-size on
the top floor."  They didn't have to think about it.  "Perfect," they both
said in unison.

Even when they entered the room the fact that they would be sharing a bed
never even crossed their minds.  They were so into their conversation that
sleeping arrangements never really occurred to them.  They went downstairs
to the restaurant for dinner, two smartly dressed, very handsome men who
made more than a few heads turn.  But they were oblivious.

The waiter handed them the menus and they both decided on the salmon.
Lloyd perused the wine menu.  "Hmm, it's an all-California wine list but
they have a nice Castle Rock Chardonnay.  That be OK?"

"Sure."  Bob smiled to himself, thinking how he had become used to beer all
the time with Randy.  This touch of sophistication was a new, and he had to
admit, pleasant experience.  After dinner they went to the hotel's martini
bar and became acquainted with the lavish array of martini flavors.  They
drank steadily as they talked.  They moved on from business topics and the
conversation became more personal.

"You told Randy you're divorced," Bob said, and he saw Lloyd blush.

"Yeah ... well it's true technically.  Truth is that for seven years I was
in a relationship ... with a guy.  We had a tough separation a year ago and
I haven't touched anyone else since."

"Sounds a bit lonely."

Lloyd's soft gray eyes held Bob's.  "You don't know how lonely," he said.
"All I have is work."

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

The bar closed at midnight and by the time they went up to the room they
were both pretty drunk.  It had been a great day.  Once inside the room
they looked shyly at each other.  Then, in unison, they shook off their
jackets and loosened their ties.  They watched each other through a
pleasant alcohol-induced haze as they slowly began to undress.  The shirts
came off and Lloyd took a sharp intake of breath.

"Jesus, man.  Sorry, but you're fucking gorgeous.  That body, that face.
I've never ..."

Bob interrupted.  "You're not so shabby yourself.  Wow.  You work out a
lot, uh?"

"Every day.  Work and gym.  That's pretty much my life."

When they finally took off their shorts they were embarrassed to see that
each had a huge erection.  "You too, uh?" grinned Bob sheepishly.  They
climbed into bed and lay apart, self-consciously, for a few minutes.  Lloyd
finally broke the silence and asked hesitantly, "Is it OK if I touch you?
It's been so long since I touched another guy."

"Sure," said Bob.  "Make yourself at home."  But his casual tone changed
when Lloyd reached over and put his hand on Bob's chest.  Bob's cock
immediately got harder as he looked into Lloyd's handsome face.  He gasped
as he realized what was about to happen.  He reached over and ran his hands
down Lloyd's body, luxuriating in the soft, silky, hairless skin, so
different from Randy's rugged body.

Emboldened by drink Lloyd said.  "God this feels great, man.  My cock's
like iron.  Is it possible ... I mean ... do you ever get fucked?"

"Only by one man," Bob said.  "Sorry."  Drunk as he was he knew better than
to give his ass to anyone but Randy.  He saw the look of disappointment and
sadness on Lloyd's face, so he asked, "What about you?"

"Haven't had anyone inside me for over a year.  But if the right man came
along ..."

"Come here," Bob whispered taking the smooth, sculpted body in his arms.
Lloyd turned over and Bob pressed his raging dick against the velvet ass.
As he eased it inside both men forgot all else, all sense of time or place,
and surrendered themselves to the joy of their new-found intimacy.  They
made love for a long time until they finally fell asleep in each other's
arms.

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

It was early in the morning when Bob woke with a start.  Disoriented he
took a moment to remember where he was.  Then he focused on the hotel room
blinds and it all came back.  He turned his head and saw the handsome face
on the next pillow sleeping peacefully with a slight smile on his lips.

Bob jumped out of bed and looked at himself in the mirror.  "Jesus," he
thought.  "What the fuck have I done?  You fucking idiot."  He stared at
himself aghast.  He had slept with the man Randy had so recently beaten and
humiliated.  He tried to tell himself that it was OK that he had got along
so well with Lloyd but, hell ... sex!  He became scared.  He had to speak
to Randy ... had to explain face to face.  Jesus, what a fucking mess.

He shook Lloyd.  "Sorry, man.  We have to leave right away.  I have to get
home ... something real important I gotta do."

Twenty minutes later they had checked out and were walking across the
parking lot to Lloyd's Mercedes.  The architect put his arm companionably
round Bob's shoulder as they approached the car.  Bob was about to get in
when something made him look up ... and his blood ran cold.  He stopped
breathing.  There, across the lot, was Randy's truck.

A pair of steel blue eyes narrowed as they watched the two men speak
quickly, urgently with each other.  Then they shook hands.  One got into
the Mercedes and the other walked quickly toward the truck.

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

"Get in."

The voice was expressionless.  No way for Bob to gauge the mood, though he
knew beyond doubt what it would be.  He guessed that Pablo had given Randy
his message and that Randy had immediately followed him out to San
Bernardino.  He had no doubt been waiting hours for him.  There was a short
silence, then Randy's words and his tone amazed Bob.

Calmly, Randy asked, "So how was your day?  You see his work?  What d'ya
think?"

Trying to keep cool Bob cleared his throat and spoke as normally as
possible.  "Great.  Er, it was a great day.  His work is excellent.  And
you know, Lloyd turned out to be a cool guy."

"Really?"

"Yeah, er ... turns out we had a lot in common.  Same background, both got
MBA's from U.C. Berkeley, both work for major corporations.  We talked
non-stop about business, architecture, engineering ... the works ... you
name it."  Bob was starting to stumble, with a vague sense that he was
saying all the wrong things.  The more he spoke the deeper the hole he dug.

"We decided to stay over ... so much to talk about.  We got along so well
... so compatible, you know?"  He was drowning.  "We came here and had
dinner in the hotel.  We both had fish.  And Lloyd really knows his way
around a wine list."

"Did he fuck you?"

The question hit Bob like a hammer between the eyes.  He was starting to
panic.  "No.  No, of course I would never let anyone ..."

"Did you fuck him?"

Bob visibly shrank, as if the air went out of him.  "Yes, sir."

"How many times?"

"Twice, sir."

"Did you sleep together all night?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did you hold him all night?"

"Yes, sir."

There was a silence.  Bob was aware of Randy clenching his jaw and gripping
the steering wheel hard in his fists.  Suddenly he turned on the ignition
and the truck sped out of the parking lot with a squeal of tires.

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

They careened through the streets of San Bernardino.  No words were spoken
but the air in the truck was heavy, like the oppressive heat before a
storm.  On the outskirts of town as they drove through a desolate warehouse
district Randy suddenly pulled the truck over and stopped.  He looked
straight ahead, raised his hands and banged them on the steering wheel.

"Fuck you, man!" he roared.  "Fuck you to hell!  I wish to God I had never
met you.  I was happy before I met you.  I was my own man.  I knew who I
was, what I was.  I don't know any more.  I can't see me any more, only us.
But that's over, man.  We're finished."

Bob was shaking with fear but managed to speak.  "Randy, I ... don't know
what to say.  There's no excuse.  But we'd been drinking and he was such a
decent guy and so lonely ..."

"So it was a mercy fuck?!"

Bob knew there was no point in saying more.  A silence again settled over
them and they both stared straight ahead.  Finally Randy once again
surprised Bob.  His tone was calm now, even gentle.

"I'm sorry, man.  You did the natural thing.  You know, deep down I was
always aware that this day would come.  I always knew I'd lose you to a man
like him.  I mean, look at you and look at him, driving away in his
Mercedes.  You're like two peas in a pod.  Both successful executives, well
dressed, sophisticated ... twin MBA's from Berkeley.  Then look at me
... just a fucking construction worker in a tank top."

"But that doesn't mean ..."

"Face it, man, you belong together.  You're both on your way up in the
world.  You're smart, successful executives.  You need to be with someone
like that, not me.  Shit, you need someone who knows his way around a wine
list, not some guy who's happy with a six-pack of beer.  Look at you man,
then look at me ... still in the same filthy old clothes I always wear.
When did you last see me wear a shirt, for Christ's sake?"

"STOP!"  Bob shouted.  He couldn't take any more.  "You got it all wrong.
I don't care about all those things ... the suits, the college degrees, the
Mercedes, the wine.  It's you I want, man."  He started to break down.
"Since I met you my life has become whole.  I need you, man.  I can't live
without you.'

"Well you're gonna have to, pal.  I had plenty of time to think in that
parking lot and I worked it all out.  I'm leaving.  I'll take Pablo with me
and I'll start over ... try to be a good dad for him.  You can have the
house ... share it with Mark ... and Lloyd if you want.  I won't stand in
your way."

Panic stabbed at Bob like a knife.  His vision blurred.  He strained to
collect his thoughts.  "No, Randy, please.  Please, sir.  I'll do anything
to keep you.  Punish me, thrash me, hurt me, I don't care as long as I can
stay with you."

"Fuck you, man," Randy growled quietly.

Bob turned to him.  "Look at me, Randy.  Please, please, look at me."
Randy finally turned to face him and the look of infinite sadness in the
pale blue eyes broke Bob's heart.  "Randy, we've had fights before, and
once when it was over you asked me to promise never to leave you, no matter
what happened.  Well now I'm asking you the same thing, begging, pleading."
Tears started to flow down his cheeks.  "Please let me make amends.  Please
don't leave me, sir."

As Randy stared into the pleading, moist, brown eyes something happened.
It had happened before.  The look that passed between became a union of
souls, mysterious, beyond comprehension.  It was what had joined them the
day they first met and held them together, united, ever since.

"Fuck you, man," Randy said again and started the engine.

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

The truck sped back toward the 10-Freeway.  Once again Bob was in for a
surprise.  When Randy drove onto the freeway it was not the westbound
on-ramp back to Los Angeles.  It was the eastbound ... toward the desert.
But nothing was said.  Bob was rigid with fear, expectation, hope.

Randy drove fast, breaking all the speed limits.  The 10 opened up when it
reached the desert and, just before Palm Springs, the truck exited the
freeway onto Twentynine Palms Highway toward Morongo.  In twenty minutes
Randy bounced off onto a side road, drove deeper into the desert.  The road
became a sandy track and the truck finally pulled off to the side.

After the speed and the roar of the road the silence was broken only by the
wind blowing over the empty expanse of sand.  As the men got out of the
truck the fierce desert heat hit them in the face.  It was desolate here,
nothing but sand for miles, no buildings, no people ... except two.  Two
men who faced each other, alone in the wilderness, alone with their
conflict of anger and fear.  Randy looked into Bob's eyes.

"Part of me wants to hurt you, man, and, God help me, part still loves
you."

"Yes, sir," Bob whispered.

"I'm not jealous of you and Lloyd.  I don't get jealous.  I get mad."

"Yes, sir."

"You know I have to hurt you, Bob.  It's all I know how to do."

"It's what I need, sir.  I'm ashamed.  I know I have to pay for what I
did."

Randy spun round and pulled from the back of the truck a long length of
nylon rope.  He reached down to Bob's hands and tied them tightly together,
wrist against wrist.  The other end of the rope he tied to the tailgate of
the truck.  He gazed into Bob's face, then put his hand behind his head,
pulled it forward and kissed him savagely on the mouth, grinding their lips
together.

"Is that he how kissed you, asshole?"

"No, sir.  Never like that."

His eyes blazed.  "Fuck you, man.  Fuck you!"

He jumped into the cab and started the engine.  He steered off the road and
headed toward the open desert.  Behind the truck the rope tightened and
Bob's arms were pulled out straight in front of him.  His wrists were
yanked forward and he stumbled after the truck as it moved over the sand.

The heavy-duty 4-wheel-drive bounced over the sand, faster and faster.
Behind it Bob had to run to keep up as the rope pulled him forward.  There
was no-one to see, but it would have made an awesome sight.  In the
limitless expanse of the desert a moving truck with a handsome, muscular
man tied behind it, trying to keep up, his white dress shirt starting to
stick to his sweating, chest and back.

A short while later Randy saw in the shimmering distance a single wooden
telegraph pole.  It had once been part of a phone line strung to a remote
house, long since abandoned.  Now the weathered pole stood alone, forlorn
and incongruous in this unforgiving landscape of sand and scrub.  Randy
aimed in that direction.  He looked in the rear view mirror and saw Bob
being pulled along, struggling to keep up and stay upright.

Once again his anger surged and he growled softly, "Fuck you man.  You want
to pay for what you did?  OK, asshole ... here goes."  His foot pressed
hard on the accelerator and the truck lurched forward, gaining speed.  The
rope tugged hard on Bob's wrists and he knew he was lost ... he could not
keep up.  He ran faster but lost his balance and fell forward into the
burning sand.  Randy was relentless and did not slow down.

The big muscle man was dragged through the sand.  His shirt quickly ripped
and started to peel from his chest.  He lost his shoes and his pants were
shredded as the sand rubbed and chafed against his struggling, suffering
body.  His face coated with grit Bob gasped for breath.  He felt the hot
sand scraping against his near naked chest, his legs and his crotch,
grating against his cock.  The friction and the heat amazingly caused his
cock to stiffen despite the pain.

His clothes in shreds the near naked body builder was being pulled
helplessly over the desert floor, his body writhing, heaving, twisting
through the sand.  The tortured man looked up in agony toward the back of
the truck and he moaned, though no one could hear.  "No, please sir.
You're ripping my body to shreds.  No more.  I can't take any more."  But
the sand coating his mouth stifled him.  His shoulder muscles burned, his
arms felt they were being wrenched from their sockets.  His grazed chest
was on fire as the grinding pain intensified, and as he gasped for breath
he felt himself losing consciousness.

Dimly he became aware that the truck had stopped.  He heard a door slam and
saw the boots by his face.  He felt his body being lifted up and thrown
backward, slamming against a pole.  He opened his sand-caked eyes to a
sight he had seen before ... pure fury burning in steel blue eyes.  His
body slumped in complete submission.

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

A few minutes later Bob became aware of his new predicament.  The rope was
now around his neck and stretched back ten feet to the pole, where the
other end was tightly secured.  His wrists were tied behind his back, his
arms secured at the elbows so he could not work his hands down and under
his feet.  He could walk as far as the rope allowed but otherwise he was
completely helpless.

Randy stood before him, reached forward and ripped the remaining shreds of
his shirt from his chest.  He did the same for the strips of his pants that
clung to his legs.  The muscular man was now a naked prisoner in the vast
emptiness of the burning desert.  He heard Randy's voice.

"Look at me, asshole."  Bob focused on his master's burning eyes.

"I could beat the shit out of you, but that's too easy.  I know you can
take pain ... Hell you'd get off on it.  But you deserve worse.  You're
gonna know the agony of doubt.  So you know what I'm gonna do?"

"No, sir," Bob groaned.

"I'm gonna go away and get drunk, that's what.  And I'll leave you here to
think ... think about what you did and what your life will be like without
me.  And when I'm good and drunk I'll think about what comes next.  If I
decide I never want to see you again I'll have someone, maybe the cops,
come and rescue you.  If I decide I can still stand the sight of you, I'll
come back for you myself.  But you'll have plenty of time to wait ... and
to wonder."

Randy stood for a moment gazing at the broken, bound man.  "And just for
old time's sake, I'll leave you with this."  His right fist smashed
brutally into the naked stomach, making Bob double over and fall to his
knees.  He lowered his head in abject misery as Randy jumped into the truck
and roared away.

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

The mid-day sun beat down mercilessly on the naked prisoner in the empty
desolation of the unforgiving desert.  His only companion was the wind that
blew relentlessly over the infinite sand.  Desperately he paced in a
mindless panic.  When he walked forward he felt the rope pull at his neck.
He tugged again and again until his neck was chafed.  He pulled at his
wrists but his hands and arms were securely tied.  His muscles strained and
flexed ... but it was no use. The big body builder was helpless, bound
naked to the pole, alone in the blazing desert sun.

For hour after hour he endured the furnace heat that scorched the scraped,
grazed muscles of his tortured body.  Sweat poured off him, mixing with the
coating of sand so streams of mud flowed down his face and body.

But worse than his physical suffering was what Randy had described as the
`agony of doubt.'  Bob knew Randy was serious about his threat to leave
him.  He knew his master well and had seen the fury in his eyes.  He knew
that nobody could betray a man like him without paying a price.

The broken man mouthed silent appeals for mercy.  He would do anything,
anything to have his master return to him.  The suspense burned into his
mind more brutally than the desert sun scorched his naked body.

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

Hours later the naked man was on his knees in a daze of fear and despair.
He had been forsaken.  Paranoia gripped him ... he would never see Randy
again.  In the ferocious heat he started to hallucinate.  He looked up and
gazed at the infinite expanse of sand shimmering in the heat.  He
fantasized that he saw a figure in the far distant haze.  But this was the
desert ... it must be mirage.

But it wasn't his imagination.  It was real.  As the approaching figure
grew larger a wave of panic seized him ... it must be a stranger sent to
release him.  Then he sobbed in relief.  He recognized the long strides,
the tall, muscular silhouette.  Tears poured down his cheeks and he closed
his eyes, close to collapse, and waited.

"Get up."  He could have shouted with joy to hear the familiar, savage
growl of the man he loved.  Exhausted as he was, he sprang to his feet and
looked into the pale blue eyes he knew so well.  But they were
expressionless.  He held his breath.  Randy gazed into the fearful face and
finally spoke.

"You say you really need me in your life."

"Yes, sir."

"Then show me how much."  Quickly Randy untied Bob's wrists and his arms
hung free.  "Let me see you reach out to me."

Bob opened his eyes wide and took in the full glorious image of the man
before him.  He reached out and touched his chest, running his hands down
the sweat-stained tank top.  He felt his cock get hard.  The relief of
being able to touch Randy's flesh left him breathless.

"Take it off," Randy growled.

Confused for a moment Bob hesitated, then he knew.  He grabbed the thin
tank and ripped it hard.  It fell away from Randy's broad shoulders and
dropped down around his waist.  Shirtless, now, Randy held his arms wide
and slowly began to walk backward.

"Come on, man.  Touch me.  Show me how much you need me.  Bob walked
forward, his arms before him, but then the rope tightened and he felt it
pull at his neck.  He strained to walk further but the rope was stretched
tight.

"Come on, man.  Touch my body.  Show me, man.  You said you loved me."

Desperate now Bob strained to reach forward and touch the man he
worshipped.  He saw the shirtless torso gleaming with sweat in the hot sun,
watched the muscles flex, saw the glorious, rugged face just out of his
reach.  He strained more, his arms outstretched, making the rope tighten
around his neck.

He gasped, breathless as he managed to utter.  "Please, sir.  I love you.
I need you, sir."

But the rope bit into his neck, choking him.  Veins stood out on his face
and neck as he began to gag and his vision blurred.  All he saw was the
hazy image of the man he loved, worshipped ... but couldn't reach.

He was desperate to touch him.  He would do anything.  The rope was tight
around his neck, his body became rigid, it shuddered, and his head started
to spin.  Then he screamed, he convulsed ... and a huge spray of semen
burst from his raging cock.  It poured from his straining body and fell to
the ground, absorbed instantly by the hot desert sand.

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

Slowly the exhausted man regained his breath, his vision became focused and
his body stopped shaking.  He looked up and saw the shadow of a smile cross
Randy's face.  Bob was in another world now.  He watched as the muscle stud
pulled off the remaining shreds of his shirt, kicked off his boots and
stepped out of his work pants.  He was naked now.  Bob gasped at what came
next.

Randy fell on his knees in front of him, leaned back on his heels,
stretched out his arms and gazed up at him.  He was displaying his glorious
naked body, offering it to him.  He spoke evenly.

"Now.  Do it again ... cum again."

Bob was startled by the sudden command.  He had only just shot his load in
a massive orgasm and now he had to cum again?  Impossible.  But it wasn't.
He looked down at the magnificent naked man, kneeling before him, his face
and body gleaming in the now setting sun.

Bob put his hand round his cock and felt it stiffen instantly.  He had to
show Randy, to prove himself to the man he had betrayed.  He stroked his
cock; it grew harder and harder.  He spoke to his master who was prostrate
before him.

"I love you, sir.  You're my life.  I can't live without you."

"Then show me."

Bob screamed, "Yes, sir," and shot another huge jet of creamy liquid.  This
time it was not wasted in the desert sand.  It splashed heavily onto the
sculpted face, the shoulders, chest and stomach of the naked muscle god
kneeling beneath him.  As he watched his own juice pour down the body he
saw in amazement a wide, gleaming smile spread over Randy's face.

***********

Randy stood up and spoke.

"On your knees."

Bob obeyed instantly and his naked master towered over him.  Wordlessly
Randy took hold of his own cock and began to stroke it.  It didn't take
long.  Randy gazed steadily down at his prisoner, the rope still tied round
his neck.  He was his slave ... he owned him.  The man could not live
without him.  Now he would take possession of him once and for all.

He stopped still.  Total silence.  And suddenly cum spurted from his cock,
pouring down over his slave's face and body.  Their eyes locked together
and in that moment they both knew that this was a baptismal act of
forgiveness, ownership and supreme control.  Bob gazed up in awe at the man
he lived for ... his master.

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

The sun had set, the sky was dark.  Bob was lying on the sand, the rope
still round his neck.  But he didn't care.  His master was lying with him,
his arms around him.  Both were still naked. They didn't speak as they
gazed into each other's eyes.  Eventually Bob broke the silence.

"Thank you for coming back for me."

"I had to.  You should have known that."

There was another silence.  Then Bob asked hesitantly, "What will you do to
Lloyd, sir?"

Randy smiled.  "You know better than to ask me a question like that,
asshole."

"Sorry, sir."

Bob turned over and pushed his back closer against Randy, who said softly
in his ear.  "But there is one thing you should know.  I told you a lie
earlier.  I said I was happier before I met you.  That was a lie.  Truth
is, buddy, I didn't know happiness until I knew you ... even when you fuck
up."

Bob smiled as Randy folded him tight in his arms.  And together they slept
under the glittering star canopy of the silent desert.

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

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength - Part 51