Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:57:11 -0500 (EST)
From: rw6789@aol.com
Subject: A Trial Of Strength - Part 66  by Rob Williams

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 66
By Rob Williams

IN THIS CHAPTER   Young Pablo's mauling by the brutal Hans has made him
lose his nerve.  He begs Randy to help him confront his fear, purge his
demons.  "Please, sir, use me, hurt me.  I need that, sir.   I can take
anything."  Later all the men have a joyful reunion at the beach.  But the
boys run into danger and Mark almost drowns rescuing them.   He is saved by
a stunningly handsome black stranger with "a physique carved in ebony."

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

As always, 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
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There's even a picture of me!  Also, click on the Support tab, go to the
Contact Us page and send me your comments and story ideas.  Enjoy!

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

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 66

Steve still could not believe what he had witnessed that morning, the
events that took place in this beautiful, lonely place.  As he gazed down
at the two naked men lying on the ground in a deep sleep, he shook his head
and murmured, "What a family!"  Because they were a family.

The ruggedly handsome muscle god, Randy, his face and body cut and bruised
from the beating he had taken, was cradling his sleeping boy, Pablo.  His
hands cupped Pablo's head protectively as it lay peacefully on his master's
chest.  Their breaths rose and fell in unison as their bodies pressed
tightly together.  Pablo's dog Billy lay at a distance on guard, his head
resting on his paws, eyes half open.

Hours earlier the peaceful clearing by the lake had been a scene of savage
brutality.  Pablo was bound, helpless and two beautiful alpha males, the
swarthy demon Randy and the tall, muscular blonde Hans had fought a brutal
battle for ownership of the boy.

Hans fought dirty and had given Randy the thrashing of his life.  The
broken bodybuilder, the magnificent man Steve called the King of the
Gypsies, lay beaten senseless in the shallow water.  But his protective
instinct for Pablo had roused him to a terrible revenge and he had returned
the beating, reducing Hans to a humiliated, shattered ruin.

Steve had watched the punishment in awe, as first Randy, then Pablo had
fucked the naked giant, and finally they had all three soaked him in piss.
Steve recalled Randy's parting words ... "If I ever lay eyes on you again,
I'll kill you.  I swear it." ... And the shattered, naked muscleman had
stumbled away and disappeared through the trees.

Now the lake lay like mirror glass in the afternoon sun and the clearing
was silent, except for the steady breathing of master and boy.  Steve was
sensitive enough to know that when they eventually woke from their healing
sleep, the two men would need to be alone.

Steve stripped down to his shorts, climbed into the rowboat and pushed out
into the lake.  His mind was still reeling.  These incredible men were
capable of intense love and affection and playful good humor.  But there
was always an undercurrent of physical confrontation and pain that could
erupt any time.  Despite his confusion Steve knew one thing for sure.  He
never wanted to lose the friendship of Randy and his extraordinary group of
men.

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

The ring of his cell phone intruded into Randy's deep sleep.  Drowsily he
reached into the pocket of his discarded jeans for the phone and looked at
the screen.  It was Mark.  His memory flooded back.  He remembered the call
he had made to his buddy the cop just after Hans had stumbled away.  He had
asked Mark to make a call to his Highway Patrol pals in the National Forest
area.

He had smiled as he said, "Ask them to look out for a big, blonde, muscular
guy on a motor bike ... German accent.  He should be riding the Angeles
Crest Highway in a few minutes.  He'll be covered in bruises, have a sore
ass, and stink of piss.  They can probably arrest him for `indecent
exposure.' ...  Oh, didn't I mention that?  He'll be butt naked."

Randy flipped open the phone and heard Mark's deep reassuring voice.  "You
sound like you're asleep.  Sorry to wake you, man, but I thought you'd like
to know that my Highway Patrol buddies had no problem finding that guy.
Said they'd never seen anything like it, big, blonde stud riding naked on
the highway.  Turns out this Hans has a rap sheet as long as your arm
... assault and battery, domestic violence, mayhem, you name it.  Seems
like our boy is one mean mother-fucker."

Randy rubbed his bruised knuckles and growled, "Yeah, I found that out the
hard way.  Still, I can be an even meaner son-of-a-bitch."

"You and Pablo OK, buddy?"

"Sure, we're on the mend.  No bones broken,"

"Say, maybe you could all use a breath of fresh sea air.  What say that
tomorrow morning you three come out to the Guadalupe dunes and spend the
rest of the long weekend with Jamie and me?  I could call Bob and have him
bring Darius too.  Be a reunion ... barbecue on the beach, the works.  What
d'ya say, big guy?"

"We could sure use something festive right around now.  Sounds terrific,
man.  God I love you, Mark.  You always know just what to say.  We'll leave
first thing in the morning.  Gotta go now.  There's a young guy here needs
my attention."

Pablo had stirred when he heard Randy's voice.  Randy snapped the phone
shut and gazed into his boy's face.  "How you doing, kid?"

"Much better, sir.  Was that Mark?"

"Yeah.  Hans is in jail.  And we are going to the ocean tomorrow, see Mark
and Jamie."

"Wow, that's awesome, sir."

Randy gazed at his soft brown eyes.  "In the meantime, kid, I need to make
sure all my systems are still in working order.  I'm gonna make love to
you, Pablo."

He was surprised when Pablo turned his face away.  Randy cupped his chin
and turned him back to face him.  "Hey, what's this?  You don't want your
master's dick in your sweet ass?"

Pablo frowned, hesitated.  Randy smiled, "Come on, kiddo.  What's up?
Level with me."

Pablo took a deep breath and tried to explain.  "Sir, what happened earlier
... that guy tying me up and working me over.  Sir, it scared the hell out
of me.  I feel like a wimp being that frightened.  Thing is, I love it when
you do it ... used to be my favorite thing.  But I'm afraid I'll never be
able to let anyone do that again ... no matter how much I want it.  I'll be
too scared."

Randy became serious.  "Now listen, kid.  You know what they say you should
do when you fall off a horse.  Get right back up and start riding,
otherwise you'll be scared for the rest of your life."

Pablo's eyes shone, with the relief that his master understood him.
"That's it, sir.  I need to conquer my fear.  So I was wondering if you
could ..."

" ... tie you up, rough you up, fuck the shit out of you?"

"Yes please, sir.  Use me, hurt me.  I need that sir.  But the real thing,
no holding back."

"Hey, kid, have you ever known me pull my punches?"  Jesus, he thought, the
kid's so much like me when I was his age.  When something scared him as a
boy his instinct was to tough it out, to confront his fears, not shrink
from them.  Later in life the remedy for a morning-after hangover was the
hair of the dog that bit you ... another drink, more of the same.  Randy
knew that only the real thing would work for Pablo.  It had to be rough.

Randy leapt to his feet, reached down and dragged the boy upright.  He
grabbed the back of his neck and pushed him over to the same tree Hans had
tied him to.  His voice changed, became harsh, guttural.  "You think Hans
was bad?  This is me, now, your master.  Look at me, boy.  I play real
rough.  I can do anything I like to you.  Anything!  Is that clear?"

Stunned by the abrupt change in his master Pablo looked into the steel blue
eyes set in the swarthy, bruised, ruggedly handsome face.  "Yes, sir," he
stammered.  "Please, sir."

Randy scooped up the ropes that Hans had left lying on the ground and
expertly bound the naked boy to the tree.  His arms were stretched tightly
behind him round the trunk, wrists securely bound.  More rope wound round
his body so he was immobile, and his ankles were also bound.

It was the memory of Hans that scared Pablo so much, so Randy wanted to
duplicate the sensation.  He grabbed his jeans from the ground, pulled them
on, then put on his heavy boots.  He was dressed just as Hans had been.
Randy stood back to admire his work, to gaze at this beautiful, brave,
defiant kid confronting his demons.

He knew just how to treat the boy.  "Just so you know how completely you're
in my power, boy, try to get free.

Pablo tried to struggle but he was bound so tight he could barely move.
His sturdy young muscles flexed and strained, his exotic face contorted and
his head thrashed from side to side.  But as Pablo struggled he realized
how totally helpless he was.  His mind flashed back to the image of Hans
and a wave of panic swept over him.  The look on Randy's face scared him.
His master was serious.  He really was going to hurt him.  "Sir, I'm not
sure I want this," he moaned in despair.  "I'm scared of you, sir.  Really
scared."

Randy's eyes blazed.  "You fucking little wimp.  I thought you were a tough
guy.  I thought you were my boy.  You want me to let you go, let you go out
of my life?"

A worse kind of panic seized Pablo.  "No, sir," he shouted.  "I am your
boy, sir.  Please, don't let me go.  I can take it, sir.  I want you to
work me over, sir.  Hard!"

Randy hated himself for making the boy he loved suffer like this.  But he
knew it's what Pablo wanted, what he needed.  It is what he himself would
have wanted when he was a boy.  Pablo desperately needed to prove his
toughness, to prove he had conquered his fear.

"OK, kid, you asked for it."  Randy seized Pablo's nipples in his fingers
and, with no pause, no build-up, he twisted them brutally.  The handsome
young face flew back, mouth wide open in a soundless scream.  His chest was
on fire, the pain was excruciating, but he was determined not to make a
sound.  Randy didn't let up.  He applied even more pressure, twisting the
nipples until it felt like they were being ripped off.  Tears poured from
the boy's eyes, but he gazed into his master's demon face with a look of
defiance.  And at that moment he knew he could take all the pain his master
inflicted on him.

Suddenly it stopped.  Randy's hands left his chest and rose higher, his
palms pressing the sides of Pablo's face.  He leaned forward and clamped
his mouth over the boy's, just as Hans had done, in a brutal, savage kiss.
The pressure on his mouth, the teeth biting his lips, hurt him but this was
not Hans.  He had been nauseated by the savage blonde, but now he savored
the taste, the smell, the essence of this other man, this glorious,
powerful man he was proud to call master.

Randy pressed his body hard against the boy's, wrapping his big, brawny
arms around the tree and squeezing the young body against it.  Pablo was
trapped, having the life squeezed out of him by the hard, sinewy body.  He
felt the muscular chest press against him, felt the rough denim rub his
legs, felt the huge bulge in the crotch crushing his own cock.

The mouth continued to grind against his, the body press against him.  He
was suffocating, having the breath squeezed from him by this wild man.
Fear shot through him again as he thought Randy had lost control, would
really crush the life out of him.  He couldn't breathe, he tried to pull
away but he was trapped.  He became dizzy, he thought he would pass out.

And then nothing.  As quickly as the pain had begun, it stopped.  He opened
his eyes and saw his master, body heaving, a few feet away from him.  The
voice growled, "What do you say, boy?"

Pablo nearly wept.  "Thank you, sir," he whispered.  Instantly he felt a
stab of pain as the back of Randy's hand swiped against his chest.

"Louder, boy.  I can't hear you."

This time Pablo shouted.  "Thank you, sir.  Thank you, master."  He sobbed
in relief.  "God, I love you, sir.  You are everything I need.  You can hit
me, sir, crush me, do anything.  Don't stop, sir, please."

"There is no stopping, boy.  But I'm not gonna hit you, not gonna crush
you.  You know what comes next, boy."

"I ... I think so, sir."

"I'm gonna fuck that sweet ass of yours, the ass I own.  And you know how I
fuck.  I'm gonna fuck your ass raw, boy, rip you open.  You're gonna feel
your master's cock deep inside that pretty body."

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

It didn't take long.  Soon Pablo was lying on the ground on his back.  His
arms were stretched sideways, each wrist roped to a tree on either side.
He was trying to ease the pain in his arms but they were pulled rigid.  He
gazed up at the man towering over him and he knew what was coming.

Randy dropped to his knees, ripped open his pants and pulled out his huge,
stiff cock.  He spit in his palm and wiped it round his cock.  In one swift
move he grabbed his boy's ankles, pushed his legs back hard and gazed into
his frightened eyes.

"Now, kid, if you can take this you really are a man.  Forget Hans, forget
your fear, this is me now.  This is your master."

He eased his hips forward, pressed the head of his dick on the hole.  Pablo
looked up at the handsome, stubbled face, the steel blue eyes, the
incredible body of the muscle god he worshipped ... and he waited.

Then it came ... the agonizing shaft of pain as the thick rod pierced his
ass, plunging agonizingly into the depths of his gut.  His mouth opened to
scream ... but no sound came.  Instead he gazed defiantly at his master and
Randy was astonished to see a slight smile come to his lips.

"I can take it, sir.  I'm not afraid any more.  I'm your boy, sir.  I can
take anything.  I want you to plough my ass, sir."

Randy gazed in awe and admiration at this tough young kid, and the sight
drove him wild.  He pulled his cock back, then plunged it in again, loving
the sight of the beautiful young face as it flew back in a frenzied mix of
pain and pleasure.  His fear had been exorcised, replaced by pure joy, by
the exquisite satisfaction of pleasing his master.

The pounding was merciless.  Never had Randy been so savage in fucking this
perfect ass.  All the strength in his magnificent body was concentrated on
the boy's ass as his cock pistoned into it.  Pablo pulled at his ropes,
twisted his body as he instinctively tried to ease the worst of the pain,
but in the end he had to submit to his master's power.

The brutal hammering continued for what seemed an eternity, as the two men
entered a private world of their own, a world where master and boy were
joined in a mutual need.  Pablo needed this stunning man, needed to be used
by him, to be hurt.  He needed to become fearless.  And Randy needed this
boy, needed to love him, train him, help him overcome his fears.  Most of
all, he needed to fuck his beautiful ass.

Their orgasms were almost an afterthought.  They were so enraptured with
each other that they were only dimly aware of their approaching climax.
Pablo suddenly felt the warmth in his ass as his master poured his juice
into him, and Randy looked with mild surprise at the creamy white liquid
pouring out of his boy's cock and over the beautiful, smooth brown body.

Their bodies heaving, pouring with sweat, they gazed at each other with a
look of surprise, almost as if they were strangers.  And in a way they
were.  They had reached unexplored depths of their feeling for each other
and found someone new, someone even more worthy of their love than ever
before.  Master and boy, father and son.  Their union was now truly
indissoluble.

Randy smiled down at Pablo.  "It's not over, kid.  Now you get your reward
... something I've been meaning to give you for a long time."

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

In the warmth of the afternoon sun Steve lay back in the rowboat, drifting
lazily in the lake, eyes closed.  His mind was running on Randy and Pablo,
imagining the tender love-making that was happening, calming them, healing
their wounds.  He was soon to discover how far off the mark he was.

"Hey, Steve.  Get over here.  I need your help."

Shocked by the bellowing voice Steve sat bolt upright and instantly began
rowing for shore.  It must be Hans, he thought.  Must have come back.
Rowing with his back to the beach he grounded the boat, and turned round.
The sight that met his eyes made him gasp.

Pablo lay on his back, tied between two trees.  His chest was covered in
sweat and pools of semen.  Randy towered over him, his cock still dripping
cum.  When Randy turned round Steve saw an exhilaration on his face he had
not seen before.

"Hey, buddy," Randy laughed.  "Like what you see?  We've just been getting
re-acquainted. I've been helping this kid overcome his fears, to face his
demons as you might say."

Once again Steve was knocked sideways by this amazing man.  "Jesus," he
said.  "In all my years as a therapist I've never come across guys like
you."

"And never will," Randy laughed.  He turned to Pablo.  "OK, kiddo.  Now for
your reward.  Can you guess?"

Pablo looked from Steve's face to Randy's ... two beautiful, rugged men so
alike they could be brothers.  It was like seeing double.  And then he
knew.  Double is what he was going to get.

"Sir, I know exactly what I want."

"Yeah, me too, kid.  You're not my son for nothing.  OK, Steve.  You
first."

And so continued one of the most incredible days in the young man's life.
The sight of the young, bound boy gave Steve an instant erection.  He
dropped his shorts and knelt in front of him.  He pushed his legs backward
to the ground and soon he was fucking the boy's ass gently, gazing in
wonder at his exotic young face.  He caressed the ass, made love to it and
just as he felt close to his orgasm he heard Randy's voice.

"OK, buddy, my turn."  The big man took Steve's place and without a
second's hesitation thrust his big, thick cock into his boy's ass.  He
smiled down at him.  "Not so gentle, uh?'

"No, sir," Pablo said with a grin.  It was quite different from Steve.  The
men may look alike, but the feeling was not.  Steve had been careful,
tentative almost, but Randy was the boss and showed it.  Even now, after
all they had been through, he had a way of taking Pablo all the way to the
edge of pain and then just over it.  And, with all his fear gone, Pablo was
in heaven.

And so the two glorious men took it in turns to use Pablo's sweet ass.  The
boy looked up and saw the two faces, like twins, above him, one inside his
ass, the other watching lustfully.  He was aware of the changing rhythm,
first tender, then rough.  And he loved them both.

Finally, though, when Steve's turn came next he could not hold back.  As he
smiled down at the beautiful boy his body flexed and jolted and he poured
his load of cum into the boy's ass.  Simultaneously Pablo felt heat rising
from his groin, and his cock erupted in yet another orgasm.

Pablo looked up at Randy with regret.  "Sorry, sir.  I wanted to save
myself for you."

"Yeah, sorry, man," Steve said.

"Sorry for what?" Randy growled, kneeling on front of the boy.  "Watch
this."  He threw Pablo's legs back, plunged his cock into his exposed ass
and pounded it one last ferocious time.  And one more time Pablo looked up
at the sweating, muscular torso rising and falling above him.  He marveled
at the gypsy face, blazing eyes, the square, stubbled jaw, the tousled
black hair falling over his brow.  He was magnificent, omnipotent.

"OK, kid.  Now I'm ordering you.  Do it again.  Cum again.  Now!"

"Yes, sir."  Pablo couldn't believe that his cock erupted again, only
minutes since his last orgasm.  Juice streamed out of him as he felt his
master's semen pouring into his ass.  When they were both drained Randy
pulled out and leapt to his feet in triumph.  He and Steve looked down at
the boy they had both fucked.

As Pablo gazed up at them his face shone, his eyes sparkling.  He had been
serially fucked by these two glorious men.  He had conquered his fear,
exorcised his demons.  He was strong, he was a survivor.  He was his
master's boy.  Still bound, he pulled proudly at his rope restraints and
his sculpted young body gleamed, flowing with the juices of three orgasms.

Randy threw his arm around Steve.  "Look at him, Steve.  It doesn't get
more beautiful than that.  Now you understand us.  Now you know why that's
the boy I adopted, the boy I love body and soul."

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

The sun was finally beginning to set after what seemed like an endless day.
Hans was a distant, dark memory, the only residual effect being their total
exhaustion.  They had a swim, to stretch their aching limbs and wash off
the cum that had poured from their bodies.  Then they had a quick, cold
meal.

Randy stood up.  "OK, guys.  We hit the road at dawn tomorrow.  Now we
sleep."  He pulled blankets from the truck and threw them on the ground.
In a very few minutes they were all sound asleep.  Pablo's head rested on
Randy's chest, nestling in the safety of the muscular arms enfolding him.
In his sleep he was dimly aware of the warm, hard body of his new friend
Steve resting lightly against his back.

Billy lay only feet away.  Several times in the night he growled softly as
he caught the scent of coyotes on the breeze.  Once he heard a noise in the
bushes and got up to investigate, only to see a deer bounding away into the
forest.  After that the only sound was the breathing of three men and the
lapping of the water against the shore.

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

The drive was a long one ... three hours.  The boat had been stowed in the
back of the truck and Randy drove fast through the Los Padres Forest headed
for the coast road.  Billy was in the back seat, and in the front Pablo sat
happily between the two almost identical men.  The mood was jubilant.  They
had all triumphed in their way.  Randy had demolished Hans, Pablo had
conquered his fears, and Steve had discovered the thrill of cumming inside
the ass of a beautiful boy.  He felt he was finally being accepted as part
of this incredible group of men.

Steve and Randy threw their arms over Pablo's shoulders and Randy's hand
rested lightly against the back of Steve's neck.  Steve heaved a contented
sigh.  "You know," he said.  "Every time I go somewhere with you guys I
feel like I'm starting a new adventure."

"You are, buddy," Randy grinned.  "You should know that by now."

Mark's shack in the Guadalupe dunes was not easy to find.  "Jeez," said
Randy.  "He said it was a hideaway but this is way back of beyond."  Then
they heard, rather than saw, their destination.

"They're here!"  It was Jamie's voice and they saw the young bronzed body
dancing on the top of one of the dunes.  Bob and Darius had already arrived
and the big reunion was a joyous one.  And noisy!  The three young guys had
a lot to relate and, as usual, all spoke at once.  Jamie talked of his
night alone in the shack with the beautiful cop, his master, Mark.  Darius
spilled out to story of his incredible pool-boy fantasy Bob had taken him
on.  And Pablo thrilled them with the description of the big fight and his
night with the two spectacular men.

Nobody noticed, away over to the side, the two figures holding each other
in a tight embrace.  Randy and Bob hadn't said a word.  At first they had
stood looking at each other, each surprised as always at the beauty of the
man he loved.  Then they had fallen into each other's arms and were
breathing each other in.  Randy murmured into his lover's ear, "God, I
always miss you like hell when I'm not with you."

Bob pulled his face back and gazed into the pale blue eyes he knew so well.
"Me too, buddy.  You know, whatever we do, and whoever it's with, it's
always only you.  It's you I long for, more than anything in my life."

"You'll always have me, Bob.  That's a solemn promise.  You know that."

Bob frowned.  "I can't believe Hans showed up again.  You look pretty
banged up.  You sure you're OK?"

"Nothing that a little tender loving care from my favorite guy won't cure."

Just then Mark came over and everyone crowded round.  "Hell, man," Mark
said.  "Looks like you took quite a beating."  Randy's reply was drowned
out by the chorus of boys' voices.

"Yeah," they shouted in unison, "but you should see the other guy."  And
they collapsed with laughter.

When finally they calmed down Randy addressed them all.  "OK, guys.  We're
all gonna have a blast here.  But right now I'm taking Bob away from you.
See you in a couple of hours.  Enjoy!"

He went to the truck, pulled out a blanket and threw it over his shoulder.
He threw his arm round Bob's neck and led him off down the beach.  They
walked for about two miles, in silence at first, re-bonding, getting the
feel of each other again.  Finally Randy spoke.

"God this feels great.  Do you ever wish it was just the two of us, like
before?  Me just a laborer on a construction site and you an accountant.
We should get away more often, just you and me."

Bob grinned.  "I wouldn't want to go any further than Room 14"

"Ah!"  Randy's mind flew back to the shabby motel where they had first been
together, in an extraordinary few days of sex and physical conflict.  "I'll
take you back there anytime you like, buddy.  In the meantime this will
do."

He pulled Bob away from the ocean, up into the dunes.  They walked down
into a hollow in the sand and Randy threw the blanket down.

"This is perfect," he said.  "Come here."  He pulled Bob down onto the
blanket and folded him in his arms.  They gazed into each other's eyes.
The only sound was the distance breaking of the waves and the breeze
sighing through the dune grass.  Bob stroked Randy's face, tracing the cuts
and bruises left from the fight.

"Still handsome as a prince, though," he smiled.  "Matter of fact, you look
even more gorgeous when you're banged up a bit.  It was rough, uh?"

"Yeah.  That mother-fucker's a tough son of a bitch."

"You wanna talk about it?"

"Nah, not Hans.  The asshole's not worth it.  Anyway, it was what came next
that's important."

"Let me guess ... Pablo."

Randy's eyes misted over.  "He lost his nerve, Bob.  That swine mauled him
so bad, scared the shit out of him so Pablo's demons all came back.  That
tough, brave young kid lost his nerve."

"And you helped him find it again."

"Yeah, I did."

Bob smiled.  "Yeah, you'd be good at that."

"I tied him up, worked him over, hurt him, fucked the shit out of him.  He
defied his demons and conquered his fear."

"Of course he did, buddy.  He was with you.  He worships you."

"God, I love the kid, Bob.  I just didn't realize how much."  He looked
deeper into Bob's eyes.  "And I realized something else.  I want you to
love him just as much.  I want you two to be just as close.  Hell you two
are the most important things in my life ... you first, of course, and then
him.  So I want him to think of himself as belonging to both of us.  To
love us as a couple.  Hell, sounds dumb to say it, but I want us to be a
family.  Do you think that's possible?"

Bob smiled.  "Randy, this is you and me.  Together we can do anything.
It's all possible.  And that boy will embrace us both, I promise.  You've
done your part.  Now leave it to me."

Randy relaxed.  "God, I love you man.  But I already said that, didn't I?"
Randy fell silent, thinking about the fight.  "You know, that mother-fucker
almost beat me."

"But he didn't, buddy.  You won.  You always win."

"Yeah, but ... maybe I'm losing my touch?"

"Let me be the judge of that," Bob smiled and pulled him close.  And for
the next two hours they made love in the dunes.

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

Back at the shack Mark had his hands full.  The three boys were in a highly
excitable mood, thrilled to be back together, and in such a beautiful
place.  They were unloading the rowboat from the truck and Jamie shouted to
Mark.

"Sir, OK if we take the boat in the ocean?"

Mark was dubious.  They were in such a hyped-up state that he questioned
their judgment.  Still there were three of them and the exercise would help
to soak up their energy.

"OK, but not too far out.  There can be rip tides out there, so stay close
to shore."

They pushed the boat into the small waves, Pablo threw Billy in and they
all jumped in after him.  Billy shook himself and drenched the boys who
screamed with laughter.  Mark watched them row a short way out, then turned
to Steve.

The two men were alone now, for the first time since Steve had made the
mistake of fucking Mark's boy Jamie and got brutally fucked himself as a
punishment.  There was an uneasy tension between them, neither being sure
how to break the ice.  Finally Mark smiled and held out his hand.  Steve
relaxed and shook it warmly.

"Truce?" said Mark.  "All that's in the past.  Hell, man, you and I go back
a long way.  We shouldn't be enemies."

"You know I've always admired you, Mark."

"Mark grinned.  "Hope I didn't hurt your ass too much."

"No ... as a matter of fact ..."  He trailed off.

"Steve?"

"Well, I probably shouldn't be saying this but, when you were fucking me
... Jesus, it felt sensational.  It was..."  Again he was lost for words.

Mark gazed at him and put his hand on his arm.  "No need to explain, buddy.
I felt it too.  Hell, man, you were one great fuck!  Pity about the
circumstances.  Still maybe we can get together again like that some time.
If you would like to."

Steve beamed.  "I'd love to, man.  Just name the day."

There was another awkward silence.  Perhaps they had pushed intimacy a bit
too far.  Steve took a deep breath.

"Look, I'm gonna go for a run along the beach.  You up for that?"

"Nah, you go.  I'll stay here and keep an eye on the boys.  I'm a bit
concerned about them.  They were acting kinda crazy.  Enjoy."

Steve took off and was soon a speck in the distance.  Mark sat in a chair,
in just his gym shorts, put his hands behind his head and raised his face
to the sun.  God he felt good.  Everyone back together, peace restored, and
his boy Jamie secure and happy.

He heard distant voices and put on his sunglasses.  He gazed out to sea and
saw the kids standing up in the boat, horsing around, dancing, screaming
with laughter.  He was concerned that they had gone out too far and he
stood up to wave at them to come back closer.  He saw them jousting with
the oars and was about to shout when he saw the oars clash ... and fall
over the side.  They leaned over the side ... but it looked to Mark as if
the oars were lost.

They would be helpless without oars.  Then Mark saw to his horror that the
boat was drifting quite fast parallel with the shore.  They had picked up a
rip tide.  "Jesus Christ," he murmured and sped down to the water.  He
launched his long, muscular body into the waves and began to swim out with
swift, powerful strokes.  He could feel the tide already and it was hard
for him to keep the boat in sight.  He poured all his strength into his
battle with the waves and, as he crested on a swell, saw with relief that
he was close to the boat.

The guys were standing up yelling at him and, when he was within hailing
distance he shouted, "Sit down!  All of you!  Don't move.  You'll capsize
the boat."  They did as he instructed and soon he swam alongside and
grabbed the side of the boat.  He looked around but there was no sign of
the oars.  He fought to regain his breath until he was able to speak.

"We're in the riptide," he shouted.  "There's nothing you can do.  Leave it
to me.  It's vital that you stay calm and still.  If the boat upsets we're
all lost.  Pablo, hold tight to Billy.  Darius, fling me the mooring rope
attached to the prow."

Darius threw the long rope out to Mark who treaded water and tied the end
securely round his chest.  "Now I'm gonna try and tow you in.  But for now
we'll have to go with the tide, parallel to the shore.  Don't panic.  Just
stay still."

And so began Mark's long, desperate, agonizing swim, towing the boat behind
him.  At first it wasn't so bad as he let the rip tide carry him and the
boat, and he concentrated on not being carried further out to sea.  The
boys were all scared but were reassured by the sight of the muscles
rippling in the broad back and arms cutting through the waves.

After a few miles Mark felt the tide weaken and he knew the time had come
to head to shore.  And this is where the real struggle began as he fought
the current, dragging the heavy boat behind him.  He was a strong swimmer
but this was muscle-breaking work.  He tried to keep his breathing even and
not swallow water.  He kicked his legs and pulled on his powerful arms,
moving yard by painful yard.

It seemed like an eternity.  He knew he was making headway but felt his
body weaken.  His muscles screamed with pain and he willed himself to keep
going until he could feel his feet touch bottom.  The boys watched in awe
as the muscle god powered through the waves, but they could see he was
flagging.  Mark knew he was near the end of his strength, near the end of
consciousness.  And then his feet touched sand.  "The bottom," he groaned
weakly before passing out.

The boys jumped out of the boat and realized they were chest high in the
water.  Their main task was to keep Mark's sagging head out of the water,
to stop him drowning.  To lose him now, after all his stupendous effort
would be a tragedy.  But the waves kept curling over them and they were
losing the fight.  Then they heard a deep voice.

"Hold on!"

They looked up and could not believe their eyes.  Striding from the shore
through the surf was the most incredible sight.  A tall black man, in
tattered old shorts, with a magnificent muscular physique and strong,
chiseled features.  It was as if he were carved in ebony.  His smooth, dark
black skin gleamed in the spray as he strode powerfully through the waves.
When he reached them he bent down and bodily lifted the unconscious man,
throwing him effortlessly over his broad shoulder and carrying him to
shore.

The boys struggled to follow, towing the boat carrying a wild-barking
Billy, behind them.  When they reached the shore the man had already laid
Mark gently on the sand.  He checked that his breathing was steady, lightly
slapped his face and watched as Mark began to cough and spit up mouthfuls
of water.  As he regained consciousness Mark looked up into a pair of
stunning, pale gray eyes set in a square-jawed ebony face.

The man spoke again.  "He'll be fine now.  Take good care of him.  He saved
your lives."

And before they could respond the man turned and ran back along the beach
in easy, powerful strides.  He was already disappearing into the distance
as Darius gasped,

"Who in the hell was that?"

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

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength -- Part 67"


Hi, guys, this is Rob Williams again, with ONE QUICK WORD before you sign
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