Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 01:33:27 -0500 (EST)
From: rw6789@aol.com
Subject: "A Trial Of Strength" - Part 132  by Rob Williams

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 132
By Rob Williams

IN THIS CHAPTER:
   Protective of his brother, Randy punishes Hassan and Lloyd.  "Look at
the tough stud Marine now... the big muscle-god.  Not so hot now, are you,
soldier? ... buck naked, roped to the tree, that beautiful body getting
thrashed."  But Bob persuades Randy to make love, not war, and Hassan sees
his other side.  "You are a great fuck Randy ... Man, I'd take endless
beatings from you if they all ended like this."

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

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - CHAPTER 132   "Randy Makes War ... And Love"

Hassan was back in Los Angeles ... to stay ... and he had accepted Steve's
offer of renting the guest cottage on the grounds of Steve and Lloyd's
house.  Mark and Jamie had helped him settle in, and now, except for their
visits, he was pretty much keeping himself to himself.  He was something of
a loner, not a great one for socializing, and chose his few friends
carefully.

The problem with the rental arrangement was Lloyd, Steve's lover, a man who
had an obsession for beautiful men ... and especially Hassan.  Steve was
aware of this, but went along with it ... just so long as it stayed in the
realm of fantasy.  He never believed for a moment that Lloyd would cross
the line from imagination to reality.

So he got a shock when he came home one day and looked in Lloyd's desk to
see if his car keys were there.  They were ... but so was something else.
Steve frowned and pulled out a pair of crumpled gray shorts.  They were not
Lloyd's, he knew that.  He pressed them to his nose and they reeked of cum.
But worse, they smelled of ... Hassan!  They were Hassan's!"

It was like a blow to the gut.  Steve reeled as he imagined all the
scenarios that could have led to this.  Now he knew where Lloyd was and he
stumbled out of the house, across the garden to the lip of the hill and
stood rooted to the spot.  Way below, by the cottage, Lloyd was lying naked
in the dirt in Hassan's arms.  And Hassan's cock was still in Lloyd's ass.

Unseen by the men, Steve stumbled away, round the house to the garage.  He
fell into his car and drove blindly away.  As he sped along Mulholland, he
struggled to get control of his reeling thoughts.  "Come on, man," he said
out loud, "get a grip.  You're a therapist, for god's sake.  `Physician,
heal thyself'."  That phrase made him smile grimly and brought him back to
earth.

Suddenly he knew there was only one place he could go.  His relationship
with Lloyd was in ruins and he needed family.  He needed Bob's calm wisdom
and Randy's strength.  He saw an image of Bob's smiling, sympathetic face,
felt his comforting arm round his shoulder.

And Randy too ... well, he wasn't so sure about that.  Randy, his
over-protective older brother, fiercely loyal, but quick to anger
... terrible in his anger.  His reaction would be ...  Oh what the hell,
never mind.  Steve was hurting, confused, and he needed them both ... no
matter what happened next.

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

"Steve!  What's the matter?  God, you look like you've just seen a train
wreck."

"Yeah ... a train wreck ... good one, Bob.  That's a good one."

The twins had shown Steve upstairs to Bob's office and then discretely left
them together.  Bob could see that Steve was distraught, on the verge of
panic.  "Now sit down," he said calmly, "take a deep breath and tell me
what's happened."

Just then the door burst open and Randy came in, straight from work in his
usual muddy cargo pants and sweaty, oil-streaked tank top.  "The twins told
me you were here, Steve.  Hell, you look like shit, man ... what the fuck
happened to you?"

Steve looked from one to the other, his eyes brimming with tears.  "Looks
like that's it for me and Lloyd, guys ... it's over, finito."

Bob smiled sympathetically.  "Come on, Steve, you're emotional right now.
That can't be..."

" ... can't be true?  Oh no?  You should have seen what I just saw."  He
gulped, took a deep breath.  "I just left Lloyd lying naked in the dirt in
Hassan's arms."

Randy sprang from his chair and paced the room, clenching his fists.
"Hassan!  That son-of-a-bitch.  I knew it ... didn't I warn you both?  That
fucking prick has always been trouble every time he's come here.  You wait
`til I ..."

"Randy!  Sit down!  Now let's all cool it and hear Steve's story."  Bob was
the only man who could speak to Randy like that, and even though Randy
glared at him it had the desired effect.

Steve took another deep breath.  "I guess it's been coming on ever since
Lloyd saw Hassan again.  You guys know how he jerked off watching Hassan
from upstairs, and he knew we knew.  But I was OK with that ... provided
that's all it was ... and I assumed his obsession would eventually go away.
But it got worse.  Almost every day he'd watch Hassan when he walked down
to his house after work, and I know he jerked off sometimes.  But I guess I
was in some kind of denial ... until today.  I happened to find in Lloyd's
desk drawer an old pair of gray undershorts, reeking of cum.  I knew they
were Hassan's."

He faltered, his voice cracked and tears started to flow.  "Shit, they must
have been having sex all along.  I went to confront them but I didn't get
further than the edge of the slope, and I saw them...."  He faltered again
and Bob put his arm round him.  "They were lying naked in the dirt
... Lloyd was in Hassan's arms.  They had obviously been fucking ...  hell,
the man's dick was still in Lloyd's ass!  I... I guess I panicked ... I
mean, I just came here and..."

His tear-stained face looked pitifully from Bob to Randy.  "Guys, I loved
Lloyd ... thought we were in it for the long haul ... but now I guess
Hassan has ..."  He broke down completely and slumped against Bob, who
glanced helplessly up at Randy.  He was shocked to see the look on Randy's
face ... a frightening mix of pity and thunderous rage.  Bob had to defuse
his anger, had to occupy him with something practical to do.

"Randy ... would you go down to the twins and ask them to bring some brandy
... plenty of it?"

Without a word Randy spun round and left the room.  Bob held Steve at arm's
length and said, "Now listen, buddy, a lot of what you've said is
guesswork.  You're projecting.  I mean, the fact that Lloyd had Hassan's
shorts doesn't been they've been having sex all along.  That's a bit of a
leap, you gotta admit."

Steve smiled at him through his tears, ran his sleeve over his eyes and
calmed down.  Bob continued to reason with him, trying to be as
matter-of-fact as he could, and it wasn't long before there was a tap at
the door and the twins came in with two trays.  There was a full bottle of
brandy and glasses, and a substantial snack ... smoked salmon, toast,
chicken salad.  Like discrete hotel waiters they put the trays on a small
table, poured two glasses of brandy and stood waiting for Bob's orders.

"Kids, that's great," he said quietly.  "You're the best.  I think that's
all we need now.  But come back in half an hour, if you can."  The twins
smiled and left the room.

And so for the next half-hour Bob tried to talk Steve down to a more
coherent frame of mind.  He didn't make light of what had happened ... he
knew how devastating the discovery was for Steve ... but he tried to pare
the situation down to the actual facts and to dismiss the fear and paranoid
speculation from Steve's mind.  And it was working.  Steve had become calm
and even managed to smile.

"Shit, man, you should be the therapist, not me.  You're real good at this.
I said to myself driving over here, `Physician, heal thyself', but you saw
how well that worked out."  He took another gulp of brandy and became
rational.  "OK, obviously the first thing I have to do is talk to Lloyd
... find out the truth and see where we go from there.  Maybe something can
be salvaged."

Bob grinned.  "Sounds to me like the physician's back ... and starting to
heal himself."

There was another tap at the door and Kevin came in.  "You said to come
back, sir.  Anything else you need?"

"I don't think so, thanks, Kevin.  We're doing fine."  Kevin turned and was
just going through the door when Bob said, "Oh, by the way, Kevin, what's
Randy doing all this time?"

Kevin turned and blinked.  "Oh, I thought you knew, sir.  After he came
down and asked for the brandy he went out.  Left the house in quite a
hurry, sir, well over half an hour ago."

Steve looked at Bob and the truth hit like a hammer blow.  "Jesus!  Oh my
god.  I gotta get over there."

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

In fact, just as Steve was calming down with the help of Bob and brandy,
Randy's mood had been careening in the other direction ... swelling with
rage.  As he drove his truck recklessly up to Mulholland he couldn't rid
his mind of the misery on his brother's face, his abject despair.  Randy
had spent most of his life protecting his younger brothers ... it was
second nature to him ... providing for them, healing their wounds,
defending them ... mostly with his fists.  It was an instinct bred in the
bone, an instinct that now blinded him to all else.

His brother had been hurt, wounded, and not by just anyone ... by Hassan
... the man he had always viewed with suspicion, with his macho attitude,
stunning physique and exotic good looks that had seduced those closest to
Randy ... Pablo, Bob ... and now Lloyd.  The truth was that Randy felt
threatened by him.  Deep down he knew that Hassan was an equal, which is
why he had fought with him so often and thrashed him brutally.  It was a
continuing trial of strength between the two men.  And now the
son-of-a-bitch had injured Steve ... his brother!

All those emotions came to a head now as his truck screeched to a halt at
Steve's house.  He vaulted over the gate and strode down the drive, round
the house and along the path to the guest house.  Just as Steve had done,
he stood at the top of the slope and looked down.  In his fury his mind was
playing tricks.  It was like a double exposure in a movie ... two naked
figures lying entwined in the dirt, overlaid onto a close-up of his
brother's tear-stained face ... the one a result of the other.

But then adrenaline took over and his mind cleared.  His anger became cold
as steel, focusing on one single goal ... revenge!  Like an enraged bull he
charged down the slope.  The sleeping figures were suddenly jarred awake by
hands grabbing an arm of each man, yanking them both to their feet.  Dazed,
still half asleep, Hassan felt the back of a fist smash against the side of
his face, making him spin round and crash to the ground.  Lloyd saw this in
a split-second blur before another fist sent him sprawling.

Randy looked wildly around and saw lengths of rope that the men had been
using to bale the brush they had cleared.  He worked with the speed of
experience and a steely determination, and when the stunned men struggled
back to consciousness they dimly became aware that their wrists were bound.
Hassan was sitting with his back against a tree, his wrists roped behind
it.  Lloyd was lying on his back, his hands tied behind him, and as his
vision cleared he saw a hazy image of a dark, demon face blazing down at
him.

"Mother-fuckers!" the voice bellowed.  "You mother-fucking bastards.  You
selfish sons-of-bitches.  You've hurt my brother ... insulted him
... betrayed him.  Any asshole who injures my brother injures me ... and
when you injure me you pay."  As he paced manically back and forth and
hurled obscenities at them, Hassan recovered his wits enough to painfully
slide his back up against the tree until he was standing, his wrists still
tied behind it.  Lloyd was lying at his feet, looking up with terror in his
eyes.

Randy's face was now inches from Hassan's, his hand round his throat.  "You
fucking prick," he snarled, "I should have finished you off when I had the
chance.  You've always brought a shit load of trouble to me and my guys,
and now you've hurt my brother."  He stood back, pulled off his tank top
and slid his belt from his pants.  "Well now you have to answer to me,
shithead.  And it won't be pretty."

He raised his arm and slashed the belt across Hassan's chest, then again,
and again, making the naked soldier scream in pain and pull frantically at
his wrists, flexing his massive chest to absorb the blows.  Randy paused,
his chest heaving.  "Yeah, look at the big stud Marine now... fucks every
man he wants ... the big muscle-god.  Not so hot now, are you, soldier?
... buck naked, roped to the tree, that beautiful body getting thrashed."

Hassan snarled back, "You've finally lost your mind, man.  I always thought
you were unhinged and now I know you're plum crazy.  Go on, asshole.  What,
you gonna kill me?  Go for it, man ... do your worst."

His defiant words served only to stoke Randy's fury and he lashed the bound
solider mercilessly, his body writhing in a futile effort to avoid the
belt, his muscles flexing hard as they became striped with angry red welts.
But even in his blinding rage Randy knew that he could not break this man,
and he slowly became aware of screams from below.  "Stop, man, please.
Stop whipping him Randy, it's not his fault.  It was all me.  He's not to
blame ... I am."

Lloyd's frantic words finally penetrated and Randy stopped and glared down
at the terrified face at his feet.  "Oh don't worry, asshole, you're next."
His voice became quieter, almost plaintive, as he said, "He loved you, man.
My brother loved you ... he wanted to spend his life with you."  His voice
was rising again to a crescendo.  "And what did you fucking do?  You
betrayed him.  You gave your sorry ass to this mother-fucker.  Big mistake,
Lloyd.  When you got tired of Steve you should have turned to his brother
instead.  He'd have fucked your ass good ... just like he's gonna do now!"

Randy ripped open his pants and yanked out his cock.  He dropped to his
knees and Lloyd pulled frantically at his wrists, tied behind his back.
"No!  No, Randy please.  Not that ... please, man, I can't take it."

"Shut the fuck up," Randy growled, pushed his legs up high and in one
savage move rammed his huge cock deep inside Lloyd's ass.  "Aaagh!"
Lloyd's scream echoed round the hills as he felt his ass impaled on Randy's
iron-hard shaft.  He inhaled desperately as he felt the cock pull back,
then spear his ass again.  He knew Randy's brutal fucks were legendary and
he howled piteously, "No, man, please ... not my ass, man."

"You should have thought of that when you let this prick fuck you, Lloyd.
Now this is what you call a real fuck."  And so Lloyd endured the agonizing
assault as Randy jackhammered his ass.  "Insult my brother?" Randy growled.
"You're not worthy to lick the man's boots, you shithead.  So, you wanted
the soldier's dick in your ass ... well you got mine now, and I'm gonna
cure you, you sick fuck.  I'm gonna rip your ass open so wide you'll never
want a dick in it again.

Lloyd spun into a vortex of pain.  All he could feel was the blistering
pain spearing his ass, all he could see was the blazing eyes of the wild,
dark gypsy torturing him.  Helplessly Hassan gazed down at the agonizing
scene and tried to end it by reaching his foot forward and kicking against
Randy's bucking body.  But Randy felt nothing ... except the gratification
of revenge against the man who had betrayed his brother.

In a delirium of pain Lloyd was sobbing, "Please, no more, sir.  My ass
... I can't take ... please, sir, I beg you ..."

"Oh you can make it stop, Lloyd.  You know what you have to do.  Shit I can
make every man do it ... even a prick like you.  So come on, asshole.  Do
it and I'll let you go."

"Thank you, sir.  Thank you ... here it comes, sir."  And as he felt the
cock plunge deep into his gut Lloyd shuddered, screamed and his cock
exploded in a river of cum that splashed all over his own body and mingled
with the sweat and tears streaming down his face.  He screamed again as he
felt the huge rod yanked out of him.  In an instant Randy was towering over
him in triumph pointing his cock at his face.

"Next time you want a man, Lloyd, remember this.  Open your mouth, asshole
..."  In a stupor Lloyd looked up and was blinded by the force of the semen
pouring from Randy's cock over his face and into his mouth.  He gulped it
down frantically, choking, until the onslaught finally stopped.  But only
briefly.  The gushing semen was replaced by the bitter taste of Randy's
piss as he put the finishing touches to his shattering revenge.

Lloyd was on the verge of unconsciousness as he felt hands grip his
shoulder and drag him over the ground until his head fell back onto
Hassan's feet.  Randy stood back and admired his stunning achievement.
Hassan was sagging against his restraints, his magnificent naked body
striped with the welts of the lash.  At his feet, lying naked on his back,
was the handsome architect, his jerking body gleaming with sweat, piss and
semen.

"That's it guys," Randy said in jubilation.  "Now you know what happens to
assholes who mess with me or my family.  So long, suckers."  He spun on his
heel and had only gone a few yards when he found himself face to face with
Steve.  Still in the flush of triumph he took his brother in his arms and
said, "See, buddy.  Your big brother always takes care of you.  Take it
from me, these assholes will never hurt you again."  He laughed grimly.
"Shit, they're in no shape even to walk."

There was a heavy silence as Steve looked over Randy's shoulder and gazed
stupefied at the two naked men ... one bound to the tree, his chest ravaged
by angry red stripes, and the other, Steve's lover, lying bound and
quivering in pools of cum and piss at Hassan's feet.  Suddenly Steve came
alive and shoved Randy away from him.

"What the fuck have you done, man?  Have you completely lost your mind?
You could have killed them.  Revenge! ... is that what you call this?
You're not a man ... you're a fucking animal ... you're not fit to call
yourself my brother.  Get this straight, asshole.  I can solve my own
problems without any help from my big, fucking asshole brother.  So get the
hell away from me, man.  Get out of my life, and don't come back.  From now
on you're no brother of mine!"

Steve ran to the groaning men and dropped to his knees beside Lloyd.  Randy
was left standing alone, in total shock, his mind reeling.  After his
moment of triumph his world was suddenly shattered.  He had done this for
Steve, for his younger brother.  Protecting his brothers was what he always
did, wasn't it?  He was the man, and they always looked up to him with
gratitude and pride.  But this ...this was ...

What the hell was happening?  Disoriented, he turned and stumbled away as
the words still pounded in his head ... `From now on you're no brother of
mine!'  His world was collapsing ... he was drowning ... he needed to find
safety ... a rock to hold onto ..."

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

Bob was pacing nervously in his bedroom while the twins watched, ready to
jump in and help.  He had decided to stay by the phone and wait `til he
heard from Steve or Lloyd.  Then he would know what to do.  But as time
dragged on he became increasingly concerned and was on the point of calling
Steve when he heard the squeal of brakes and recognized the sound of
Randy's truck.  He turned to the twins.

"Guys, go downstairs, find Pablo and stay in the kitchen.  Don't do
anything yet ... and don't any of you interrupt us, no matter what."

Frightened, the twins hurried downstairs and their fear was not lessened as
Randy rushed past them like a wild man.  Bob's heart was pounding as the
door burst open and Randy stood there, shirtless, his chest heaving, eyes
burning.  Bob knew beyond doubt what would happen next.  It had happened so
often in the past.

Randy rushed forward, gazed wildly into Bob's eyes grabbed his T-shirt and
with one violent move ripped it from his body.  He pushed Bob onto the bed
on his back, yanked off his jeans and stared down at him, breathing deeply,
as the sight of his beautiful, naked lover renewed his strength.  Then,
with the howl of a wounded animal he fell forward, yanked open his pants,
pushed Bob's legs up and plunged his cock into his ass, so hard that Bob
gasped with pain.

Their eyes met and lingered in that mystical communication that they alone
shared.  They both knew what was coming ... it had to.  Bob said softly,
"Fuck me, man.  Fuck me hard."  Randy's eyes brimmed with tears as he began
to pound the ass that he worshipped.  He felt Bob pressing down on his
cock, inviting him to take out all his aggression on his ass.

Instantly they entered their own secret world, a world where they felt
safe, immune to the conflicts raging outside.  Randy rose and fell over
Bob, his cock a piston, impaling his lover in an exquisite mix of pain and
euphoria.  Their union was at once ferociously physical and sublimely
spiritual, a sexual act that surpassed transitory lust ... a reaffirmation
of the eternal passion they shared.

And, if not exactly eternal, the savage fuck lasted a long, long time until
finally Randy leaned forward, gripped Bob's wrists and pressed them to the
bed.  Their faces close, he gazed at his lover with pleading eyes.  "Cum
for me, man.  Cum because you love me ... cum because you'll never leave
me, and you'll always forgive me.  Show me, man ... help me ...  aaah!!"

He felt his own juice flowing into the warm depths of his lover's ass as he
saw Bob's cock shudder and spurt ribbons of cum up so hard that they
slammed against Randy's chest and up to his face.  Their orgasms seemed
endless and the release of Randy's tortured emotions was spectacular.  With
his cock still in Bob's ass he straightened up and ran his hands all over
the cum on his own chest.  He smothered it over his face, sucking it into
his mouth, glorying in the soft, warm feel and taste of his lover's semen,
like a balm to heal all his wounds.

"Oh, man," he exulted.  "That is so fucking beautiful.  Thank you, man.
Thank you for loving me ... for not leaving me.  I couldn't live without
you, man."

He fell forward and his arms folded round Bob in a resolute grip ... a
drowning man who had found his rock.  He was safe.

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

It was some time before they pulled apart and showered together.  Bob
pulled on shorts and a T-shirt and phoned down to the twins.  "Hey, guys,
could you bring up some drinks and maybe something to nosh on.  Ask Pablo
to come ... and bring five glasses."

"It's all set to go, sir," said Kyle's voice.  They had been waiting for
their master's call, anticipating his needs.

Pablo appeared and held the door open for the twins, carrying trays
groaning under the weight of drinks and a ton of food, much more of a meal
than just `something to nosh on'.  Bob and Pablo helped them set it all on
a table as Randy stood gazing at them.  He walked over to them and wrapped
them all in his brawny arms, his eyes moist with tears.  This was family
... Bob, Pablo and the two boys, whose love and loyalty were unquestioned
... no matter what crazy stuff Randy blundered into.

"God, I love you guys," he said.  Then, as he pulled away, "and you know
what?  I'm starving!"

Bob insisted that the boys join them at the table and the twins' shyness
soon disappeared as they realized that the privilege of sharing intimate
moments with Randy, Bob and Pablo was taken as a matter of course ... they
were family.  They listened with rapt attention to the conversation ...
light banter at first as they let the last of the storm clouds drift away.

But the main topic still hovered over them and had to be broached.  After
the reaffirmation of his sexual prowess, thanks to Bob, Randy's confidence,
his bravado, were returning, and he launched into the stark details of what
had happened with Lloyd and Hassan, ending with Steve's final words, `From
now on you're no brother of mine'.  At the end of his account Randy paused
uncertainly and asked, "So what the fuck happens now?"

Bob smiled.  "As you have done so often in the past, Randy, you start to
rebuild bridges.  God knows you've burned enough of them.  Hell, you're in
the construction business, maybe you should specialize in bridge building.
You've already demonstrated your demolition skills."

"Asshole," Randy grinned, then sighed.  "Easy for you to say, man, but the
question is, where the fuck do I start?  If I show up, Hassan and Lloyd
will pull up the drawbridge, and Steve has made it clear he never wants to
see me again.  No, it's hopeless, man."

The silent impasse that followed was broken by the phone ringing.  Bob
picked up and said gently, "How are you?"  He listened intently for a
minute, then gestured to the others and silently put the phone on speaker.
They gathered round Steve's voice.

"So I had a long talk with Lloyd and the whole thing came out.  Actually it
was more like a confession.  Lloyd acknowledged that his obsession with
Hassan had totally consumed him.  He secretly jerked off watching Hassan
most days.  And Bob, you were right about the shorts.  Turns out that Lloyd
saw them when he went to fix a few things in the guesthouse while Hassan
was away.  He jerked off into them, then took them away.  Hassan knew
nothing about it."

There was silence as they heard Steve breathe deeply.  "But there's worse.
When Lloyd and Hassan were working in the garden Lloyd made his move.
Apparently Hassan rebuffed him saying he respected our relationship too
much, but Lloyd convinced him that we had an open relationship, as Randy
had fucked me and let me fuck Pablo.  (He didn't mention that all that was
before we became a couple.)  Anyway, Hassan believed him when Lloyd said
that a one-time fuck was OK.  You know the rest."

Bob looked hard at Randy.  "So, Steve, what you're saying is that Hassan is
really blameless in all this and that Lloyd ... well, he lied to get what
he wanted."

"That's about the size of it, though I hate to say it.  You know I told you
that Hassan had kept to himself ever since he moved in.  He's a fairly
solitary guy and I really think that everything that's happened to him with
you guys ... well, none of it was really his fault ... at least he had no
malicious intentions.  The guy's just had a bad rap.  Anyway, Lloyd's moved
out and gone to a hotel for the time being until I can get my mind round
what he did and see if there's a future for us.  I just called to fill you
in.  Thanks for being there, man.  You're the best."

After Steve hung up there was a heavy silence in the room.  Randy's eyes
were downcast but he was aware of Bob's eyes boring into him.  "OK,
asshole," Randy said defensively.  "So I fucked up big-time.  I guess I let
my anger and my dislike of Hassan blind me."

"It's not dislike, Randy.  You're wary of him because he's so fucking
gorgeous, so macho and self-assured, that he represents a threat to your
dominance.  I think you know how irrational that is, but that's just how
you are."  Bob saw Randy flinch and softened his tone.  "Buddy, in spite of
your anger and recklessness I know you are always a fair-minded guy.  You
reward the good and punish the truly bad.  That's the reason we men and all
the boys look up to you and respect you as leader.  And I believe that
deep-down you respect Hassan too."

"OK, man, since you know so damn much, what am I supposed to do now?"

Bob was saved from answering as the phone rang again.  "Yeah, Steve?"  Bob
again switched to speaker phone.  "Sorry to bother you again, Bob, but I
just thought you should know that Hassan's moving out.  I tried reasoning
with him but he blames himself for Lloyd and me breaking up.  He said he's
simply bad news and that everywhere he goes trouble follows him.

"And don't worry, you won't be seeing him in your house again as he feels
he's already caused way too much trouble for you guys.  You know, in spite
of everything I think he really respects Randy, but he understands why
Randy would hate him ... god knows Randy made that brutally clear.  Anyway,
Hassan's packing up his gear right now and he'll be moving on.  Listen, I
need to get out of the house and clear my head so I'm going to the gym for
a couple of hours.  I guess when I get home Hassan will be gone."

"The hell he will!" Randy growled.  "He's not going anywhere."  His
expression had darkened as he listened to Steve and now he grabbed a
T-shirt and pulled it on.  Bob hung up the phone and grabbed Randy's arm as
he turned to the door.  "Randy, be careful ... that anger of yours."

"I'm not angry this time, buddy.  Just determined."

Bob sighed.  "At the risk of sounding corny, buddy, the only thing I can do
is repeat that tired old phrase, `Make love, not war.'  Do it for me buddy
... because I love you."

Randy gazed deep into Bob's eyes, then turned and left the room.  Seconds
later they heard his truck roar away.  Bob turned to Pablo and the
astonished twins and smiled.  "Guys, I have a feeling everything's gonna
turn out OK."

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

For the second time that day Randy pulled up in front of Steve's house and
leapt over the gate.  He had a determined set to his jaw as he strode down
the driveway, noticing that the garage was empty so Steve must still be out
at the gym.  Good ... at least he wouldn't have to confront his brother
right now ... one at a time.  He went round the house, past the pool and
over the slope down to the guesthouse.

There was a bulging military kit bag propped outside the open door.  Randy
walked right in and saw Hassan, his back to him, stuffing clothes into
another bag.  He was so intent on his task that he didn't hear Randy come
in, but he did hear the demanding voice ... "Where the fuck do you think
you're going?"

Hassan whirled round and faced the glowering figure looming in the doorway.
He sighed with weary resignation and said simply, "Away."

"Like hell you are.  You're not going anywhere, man."

Hassan managed a half-smile.  "Oh no?  That's a switch.  What you gonna do,
beat me into staying?  Isn't that what you always do, Randy, use your fists
to get what you want?"

"Oh, man," Randy said, running his hand through his tousled hair in
frustration.  "I didn't come here to beat you up.  Yeah, makes a change, I
know, but this time I came to talk."

There was an uneasy silence as they stared at each other.  Then Hassan
said, "You want a beer, Randy?"  Taken aback Randy stammered, "Er, sure
... yeah, sure."

A few minutes later they were sitting facing each other on the small porch,
nursing beers.  Randy cleared his throat.  "Listen, man, the reason I came
is ... shit, it's never easy for me to..."

"So don't try, Randy," Hassan smiled.  "You don't have to.  I know Steve
called Bob and explained everything ... Lloyd's confession and all.  But
you know, all this is not really about Lloyd.  The problem is mine."  He
paused, frowning.  "Look, I've never confided this to anyone else, but I'd
like to explain myself to you, if you'll hear me out."

"Sure," Randy said, and he listened intently to the soft, accented tones of
Hassan's lilting voice.

"You know, the reason this house was so perfect for me that it was a
hideaway where I could be alone, away from everyone."  He searched for the
words and decided to open up to Randy.

"You see, I know I am a beautiful man, Randy, and it has been a curse for
as long as I can remember.  Every time I look in the mirror I hate what I
see.  Beauty can be a cruel companion.  In the Marines I try to make
friends but my fellow soldiers always keep me at arm's length ... They
regard me as an exotic ... different somehow ... not one of them.  Over the
years many people have desired me and every time that has led me into
trouble.  Those who lust for me pursue me ... those who envy me shun me
... those who feel threatened by me are hostile."

"And which category do you put me in?"

"The third," Hassan said with a smile.  "You do not lust for me, Randy
... you certainly do not envy me ... but I think that you feel threatened
by me, and that is why you are so hostile.  And I understand why you have
punished me for all of my attachments to your men.  Wartime has its own
rules, and it was my military duty to interrogate Mark, but years later you
thrashed me for doing so.  Pablo lusted for me and persuaded me to show him
the life of a Marine.  God knows I never meant to hurt him, but I did, and
again you tortured me.  And then came Lloyd's obsession with me and today I
paid the price ... also at your hands."  He saw Randy flinch.

"You know, Randy, when Mark first introduced me to your group of men I
thought I had at last found a place where I could be safe, where my beauty
was not exceptional.  I found what I thought was a band of brothers, men
who were all stunningly beautiful, at least as beautiful as I, and who
might accept me as one of them.  But that was not to be.  Their leader felt
threatened by me and, despite several attempts, could never overcome his
deep-seated sense of rivalry.

"Through all of this, Randy, you were the only one who was impervious to my
looks, the only man who was never seduced by me.  You remember at the hotel
in San Diego where you let me make love to Bob?  I loved that, and I thank
you for it ... he is a special man.  But I never really made love to you,
Randy.  I longed to but did not dare to, because you would not have made
love ... you would have fucked me savagely in the way you savaged Lloyd
today.  You are the leader, Randy, and you will never really accept me.
That's why I won't come to your house again.  And that's why I have to
leave here."

Hassan had finished and took a long draught of beer.  There was a long
silence.  Then Randy smiled.  "You say you never seduced me, man, but
you're doing a helluva job of it right now."

"But I'm not trying to Randy.  Believe me, whatever you are feeling is not
my doing."

Randy smiled.  "I know that, man.  The same as I know you never seduced
Pablo.  I was just madder than hell that for a short while Pablo chose you
over me.  But you got one thing wrong just now ... that stuff about me not
lusting for you.  I've always considered you a spectacular man and ..." he
smiled "... as we seem to be putting our cards on the table, I can tell you
this now ... every time you came into a room my dick got hard ...as it is
right now.  I always fought against it ... until now."

Hassan's breathing became heavy.  He was wearing only an old pair of
fatigue pants, shirtless, barefoot, and he looked more stunning than ever
as the setting sun slanted across his darkly exotic face and his perfect
chest, still bearing the stripes of the lash.  There was an electricity in
the air, sparking between the two men so intensely it almost crackled.
Randy said quietly, "There's an old phrase in this country, Hassan
... `Make love not war."

Hassan smiled.  "Sounds like something Bob would say."

Randy laughed.  "He did, actually, just before I left to come here.  You
see Bob understands.  He understands everything, especially men ... and
especially me.  He knew this would happen ... or hoped it would.  Yeah,
yeah, I know you've heard stuff like that before ... shit, you heard it
today from Lloyd.  But this time it's the truth.  I know Bob would want
this, Hassan.  That is ... if you do."

They stood up wordlessly and walked into the house.  Standing by the bed
they stripped naked, gazed at each other, then came together ... their lips
first, touching uncertainly, tentative at first but then building to a
passionate, grinding kiss.  They folded their arms round each other and
Randy pulled his head back.  "Oh, man, it may be a curse to you but you are
so fucking beautiful.  Man, I want to make love to you."

They fell onto the bed and rolled over and over, two beautiful, muscular
males glorying in the hard-body feel of raw masculinity, the scent, the
taste of each other, and mostly the look of deep communion in the eyes.
It's what should have happened the day they met.  They were equals in
beauty, strength and dominance, but that equality had flared up as rivalry
instead of passion.  Until now.

They came to rest with Randy lying on top of Hassan.  Hassan gazed up at
the dark gypsy face, the chiseled features, stubbled jaw, wild black hair
and ... the eyes, the pale blue eyes, soft now, all savagery gone.
"Please, Randy," Hassan breathed.  "Make love to me ... fuck me
... please."

Randy pushed Hassan's legs up, eased forward and gently slid his cock into
the waiting ass.  Their eyes opened wide as they felt the exquisite
sensation of their bodies joining together.  Slowly at first, Randy
massaged the warm membrane in the ass, then swelled gently into a steady
rhythm, his body rising and falling over the spectacular body beneath him.

"Aaah," Hassan breathed.  "You are a great fuck Randy ... your cock feels
awesome inside me.  Oh man, I'd suffer endless beatings from you if they
all ended like this."

"No more beatings, Hassan.  You're the man.  Here, show me."  Randy pulled
out, rolled over and pulled Hassan on top of him.  Hassan smiled down at
him, pushed his cock between the mounds of his ass and drove it inside.
"Aaaah!"  Randy's head flew back his body arched as he pushed his ass down
on the soldiers long, hard tool.  He went wild.  "Yeah, fuck me, man.  Fuck
my ass, soldier.  Oh god, that's incredible.  You are one sensational
son-of-a-bitch stud, man.  Fuck me!"

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

It went on and on ... two spectacularly matched muscle-gods who had fought
and tortured each other coming together at last in a wild, passionate
display of love, lust and admiration.  They were howling, laughing, pouring
with sweat as their magnificent bodies ground together, fucking, getting
fucked, each in turn.  But the climax had to come.  Randy was on top when
he said.  This is it, Hassan, I can't take any more ... you're driving me
wild ... I can't hold back ...Aaaagh!"  His body shook as his cock exploded
in Hassan's ass and Hassan shot a tower of juice high in the air.

They were still cumming as Hassan threw Randy off, rolled onto him and
pushed his streaming cock into Randy's ass.  Again Hassan screamed as his
second orgasm erupted deep inside Randy and he watched Randy freeze, hold
his breath, then howl as he blasted another load of semen all over his
heaving body.  They fell on each other, rolling over and over, their bodies
slick with sweat and semen, until they were once more gazing into each
other's eyes.

Randy smiled.  "Asshole, you're not going anywhere.  You're gonna stay put
in this hideaway house that's so perfect for you in the solitude you crave.
And when you want it, I will visit, Bob will visit, and sometimes we'll
both visit.  I know Mark will come to you often because you're in love with
each other, but maybe you can make some time for us too.  And another
thing.  Our house will be open to you at all times ... a place where you
and your exotic beauty can be safe in the rare company of a tribe of other
beautiful men.  You got all that?"

"Absolutely," Hassan grinned.  "Besides, would you ever take no for an
answer?"

"Hell, no!"

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

Bob looked up expectantly when Randy got home and walked into their
bedroom.  "Bob," he said uncertainly, "I got something to tell you, and I
hope you don't get mad.  I, er ... I just made spectacular love to Hassan."

Bob threw his head back and laughed.  "Well thank god for that.  It's what
you should have done when you first met the guy.  Would have saved a whole
mess of trouble."

"Yeah, well, at least it proves I'm still the best construction worker in
town, `cause that bridge has just been rebuilt stronger than ever."

"One up, two to go.  Now, what about Steve and Lloyd?"

"I'm working on it, man.  Won't be easy, but I've got a few ideas already."

"I bet you have.  In the meantime, got any juice left for me?"

Randy grinned.  "Always, man, you know that," and he slid into bed with his
lover.

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

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" ... Chapter 133


Hi, 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.  I
always reply.

ALSO, I urge you to visit my Web-site www.atrialofstrength.com.  You can
read the whole story, all the many chapters, with extras, including some
great artwork.  Click on the `Our Story' tab to read the current chapter,
or click on the green button to browse all the chapter synopses.

Enjoy!  Rob Williams