A Trial of Strength

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH - PART 390 By Rob Williams

CHAPTER 390 – "THE FIREMAN FLEXES HIS MUSCLES"

IN THIS CHAPTER:

The narcissistic fireman Jason has been spending too much time with a mirror instead of his boy Ben. Ben's brother Randy takes charge and subjects Jason to a more rugged kind of vanity. "Jason gazed at himself in the mirror, a near-naked gym-jock, arms hammer-locked behind him, a rope round his the neck." Then the swarthy young gypsy Ben crawls to the macho fireman in an erotic act of hero-worship. _____________________________________________________________________

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

The big gathering of the tribe was only just getting under way at the Grady House, hosted by the hot movie star Grady and his Italian lover Mario, but already there had been plenty of action behind the scenes.

Upstairs in one of the guestrooms three of the most senior men of the tribe – Randy the gypsy boss and founder; his lover the stunning young business executive Bob; and the muscular blond cop Mark – had been going through a ritual of testing each other's manhood.

The three men, all dominant alpha males, loved each other but they accepted the fact that from time to time even the most dominant of top men had a craving to reverse roles and submit their bodies to another top man. As Bob had put it, "Men like us spend all their time being tough, ordering people around, that they sometimes feel a need to have the tables turned on them ... to be tested to the point of submission."

So that's what had happened. Mark and Bob had reenacted their first homoerotic meeting where the cop had made the businessman strip naked and jerk off. And Randy, who had been tied up, whipped and fucked by the rugged leatherman Miguel, had restored his manhood by handcuffing the cop, ploughing his ass and proving that his irresistible sexual magnetism made him the undisputed leader of the tribe.

When the orgy of male dominance and submission was over the trio lay together on the bed and the young houseboy Brian rolled in in his wheelchair. "Perfect timing, kid," Randy said. "Have you come to tell us we're late for the party?"

"Well, not exactly, sir, but I came to see if you need anything, like ..." he smiled playfully at the ripped T-shirts on the bed ... "like shirts, sir. It's surprising, really, that so many of our guests need new shirts sooner or later. If so, you will find in the chest over there an assortment of T-shirts, polo shirts, all sizes." He hesitated. "And, er, do you think I could take those torn T-shirts, sir. See, me and the boys ... well, we kinda collect them."

Randy gave his full-throated laugh. "Well, kid, they're all sweaty and soaked in jizz but they're all yours if you want them. Here, catch." He tossed them to him but then Brian hesitated, seemingly in no hurry to leave, and sat fidgeting in his wheelchair, a troubled look on his face.

"What's up, kiddo? Is there something else? Everything OK?" Randy crouched down beside Brian's wheelchair and Bob and Mark were treated to the other side of this complex man, the complete opposite of the rugged, whip-striped, powerful boss. Now his voice was soft, gentle, his eyes full of concern for the troubled boy. "Come on kiddo ... you can tell me."

Brian saw in Randy's blue eyes not the ferocity the men had just seen, but a kindness that encouraged him to speak. "Well, sir, I'm not sure ... Ben told me not to say anything, but ..."

"Ben? Something happened to Ben?" Suddenly Randy was on high alert, all his protective instincts roused at the mention of his kid brother Ben.

"I ... I'm not sure, sir. I mean, he's Jason's boy, but Jason wasn't with him when Ben got here. And it looked like Ben had been crying ... oh sorry, he wouldn't want me to say that, sir."

"Now listen, kiddo. Take a deep breath and tell me."

"Well, sir, far as we can tell there's trouble between him and Jason. But he won't say much, and he didn't want me to tell you `cos he's afraid you would beat Jason up. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to go against my buddy, but you've always told me if I had a problem to come to you, sir, so ..."

"You did the right thing, Brian, and I'm real grateful. You're a great kid. Is Ben downstairs now?"

"In the garden with the other boys. You know how they all circle the wagons when one of us ..."

"Thanks, kid, I'll go right down."

Bob had listened to Brian with mounting concern and now held Randy's arm. "Randy, Ben is Jason's boy and you`ve always said we shouldn't come between a master and ..."

"Listen, Bob," Randy growled. "Ben is my little brother and I have to take care of him. Don't worry, buddy, I won't go off the deep end." After Randy left, Bob raised his eyebrows at Mark and shrugged. "Wouldn't be too sure about that."

As Randy went downstairs he thought about Ben's master Jason, the gorgeous fire-fighter whose picture in the fireman's calendar was under every boy's bed. He had nothing against Jason. He liked him and admired his courage in the job he did. Sure he was vain – who wouldn't be with a face and body like that, but it was harmless. Ben worshipped him and Jason treated him well but Randy kept an eye on them from a distance. As Bob had said, men don't interfere between a man and his boy but, dammit, Ben was his little brother.

In the garden he walked straight over to the knot of junior boys and, as he approached, they fell silent and parted to let Randy in. "Mind if I borrow my little brother for a minute guys?" Randy said, and pulled Ben gently over to a table where they sat facing each other. Ben looked sullen and wouldn't make eye contact and there were obvious tearstains on his young gypsy face."

"Have you been crying, kiddo?"

"No, sir," Ben said indignantly. "We never cry, you always told us."

"Sometimes it's OK to cry, kid ...even I do. So what's up? Is it Jason?"

"I don't want to talk about it, sir."

"Listen kiddo, I'm your brother, I take care of you. You've always told me everything and I want you to talk to me now."

"But you'll beat him up, I know you will. I know how you are and I don't want you to hurt Jason."

"Look, I promise I won't get angry, whatever it is. You're Jason's boy and I respect that. But if there's a problem I want to help."

The troubled young gypsy looked into his brother's eyes that were so like his. "OK – if you promise. Well, sir, it's like this ..."

********************** CHAPTER 390 **********************

Ben hesitated, not sure where to begin, so his big brother prompted him. "You came up here on your own? Why didn't Jason bring you?"

"He ... he told me to come on up here and he'd come later – maybe. See, he'd just got back from the gym. Even though he has his own gym on his patio he often goes down to the public gym where he sees his buddies."

"Does he take you with him?"

"No, sir. Like I said, he's got his buddies there. A lot of our guys go to regular gyms, like Lloyd, Adam, Pete."

"Yeah but they mostly take their boys with them, work out together."

"Anyway, sir, this morning Jason came back to the house with his friend Cody – they've been workout partners for a long time and they like to ...

Ben stopped and frowned, and Randy said, "Come on, Ben, guys get into all kinds a' shit around here ... They like to what?"

"Well, sir, you know how Jason's always been kinda ... you know, narcissistic ... like, looking at himself in the mirror. It's why he posed for that picture in the fireman's calendar, and he's gonna do another one soon. Anyway, Cody's real buff and gets off on mirrors too. That's why they spend so much time together. It's what they were doing in the patio gym, prob'ly still are.

"It looked real hot and I stood at the bedroom window and jerked off watching them. Then I waited for them to finish and for Jason and me to come up here to the party. But ..."

Ben hesitated again. "But Jason saw me standing at the window and told me to come on up here on my own. Said he had stuff to do with Cody and wanted me to leave them alone." Ben shrugged, "so here I am, sir."

"Alone and upset," Randy said. "Does this kinda stuff go on a lot, kid?"

"More and more actually, sir. See he likes to show off to guys, guys like Cody, and I ... I kinda don't fit into that. I mean, he don't get off looking at me like that, why would he? So I stay indoors on my own, sometimes eat dinner on my own, or I go up to the main house and hang out with the boys."

He saw an angry look come to Randy's eyes, a look he knew well from the past. "Oh, I think Jason still loves me, sir ..." his voice cracked ... "at least I think he does. I mean he never mistreats me or anything. But like, he's got friends his own age who are jocks like him, and I'm only his boy, after all."

Randy bristled. "You are not only his boy, kid. A brother of mine is never only someone's boy. I always raised you to be proud, as good as anyone else, if not better. A brother of mine is never neglected and left to eat dinner on his own. Hell, look at me, kiddo. Do I look like only the boss?

Ben managed a wan smile. "You're not only anything, sir. But I'm OK, sir, I really am. It's just that ... well, at big parties up here the boys like to show off their men ... you know Eddie has Hassan, Brandon has Pete, and now Tyler has Pablo. We kinda like to make our buddies a bit envious. But this time I got no one to show off and it makes me feel ... sorta stupid. Oh, the boys all rally round me but I can see they feel sorry for me. But I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me. I want ... I want Jason."

His eyes filled with tears again and Randy wrapped his arms round him. "And you will have him, kiddo, I promise. He'll be up here and you'll be able to show off your gorgeous stud fireman to the whole tribe better than any of the other boys do. You'll be the toast of the party."

"But, sir," Ben said anxiously, "you won't beat him up, will you. I don't want you to hurt Jason."

"I promise I won't hurt him, kiddo. Whatever I do to him, or with him, it won't hurt him. I'm just gonna make him see sense, is all. Now go back to the boys and hold your head up high. You're not only the fire-fighter's boy, you're the boss's brother, a gypsy like me, kiddo. You remember when you were a kid back in Texas what I told you and your brothers? Nobody messes with the gypsies."

Ben smiled broadly this time and kissed his big brother. "Thank you, sir. I love you, and I knew you'd make everything right like you always have."

As Randy watched Ben run off to join the other boys, this time the tears were in the eyes of the big brother.

Bob had been hovering out of earshot and now moved in before Randy could leave. "Hey, buddy," Randy said. "Why the hell is it that everyone's always scared I'm gonna beat someone up. Young Brian said it, my li'l brother Ben said it ... makes me feel like some club-swinging caveman. What's up with that?"

Bob smiled, "You really have to ask that question, Randy? You do have a certain reputation, you know. I don't think there's a man in this tribe that you haven't roughed up at one time or another, me included – especially me."

"Well, maybe so," Randy said grudgingly, but with a slight hint of pride. "But only when a guy deserves it."

"And you are judge, jury and executioner, eh? But more important than all that, what's up with Ben? He seemed pretty upset."

"Ah, near as I can make out Jason's been neglecting him, even making him feel not wanted sometimes. Hell, the kid sometimes even eats dinner alone while Jason is off at the gym showing off to his gym-jock buddies."

"Yeah," Bob said, "well Jason's always had that side to him. It can be real hot, and he's not the only one. I myself just got through watching Mark take off his uniform and that is one amazing sight, as you know. But Randy, you gotta tread carefully here. It's always been a touchy situation with Ben being Jason's boy and your brother. I understand that you're protective of Ben, like you are all the boys, but I want you to treat Jason carefully."

Randy tensed. "I'll treat the guy however I damn-well want, man." Then he stopped himself and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, dude. I guess that was my inner caveman."

"A man I have been familiar with lo these many years, Randy."

"Asshole," Randy grinned and was getting up to leave when Grady and Mario came up. They had been upstairs until now and were winding casually through the group, more like guests than hosts at their own party."

"Hey what's this?" Grady said. "Not leaving already, Randy? Something we said? If we upset you, you can always take it out on me. I'm the host so feel free to, er, punish me."

Randy laughed. "You never change do you, Grady?"

"Not if I can help it, dude."

"Nah, just something I gotta take care of, buddy. Won't take long. I'll deal with you later. In the meantime go swing from a tree or something, jungle man."

As Randy walked away his smile faded and there was a determined set to his jaw. Grady said, "Hey, Mario, I get the feeling we missed a whole chapter here while we were fooling around upstairs. I need Brian, he's always got his ear to the ground – knows everything that's going on.

They found Brian wheeling himself from the kitchen ferrying things out to the big table by the pool. Grady waylaid him and said, "Hey, kiddo, I gotta take you out of service for a minute. The party's only just started and it seems I'm already missing out on a lot of the gossip. We can't have that, so come over here and fill us in, dude."

A minute later all three were sitting under Grady's favorite tree, Grady knee to knee with Brian staring into his eyes giving him his full attention, because Grady loved gossip and he loved Brian. Mario smiled as he watched the two. This is when he loved Grady best – gone was the heartthrob movie star, the man who turned heads and hearts wherever he went. Now he was more like an excited boy, hanging on Brian's every word.

Brian spoke quickly. "Well, sir, we're real busy right now and I don't wanna let the guys down, but I can give you the speed-read version of what went down so far. Here goes. Randy, Mark and Bob were the first to arrive and went round the garden on their security inspection. Then the leathermen arrived – you know, Zack, Darius and Miguel – and that thing clicked between Randy and Miguel – you know that thing they got going between them ..."

"Yeah, I know, I know ..."

"So they went off together and Miguel tied Randy to a tree and whipped him, gut punched him and fucked him and made him cum. Course, Randy fucked Miguel too."

Grady's eyes gleamed. "Wow, wish I'd seen that."

"Oh don't worry, sir. Darius got the whole thing on video."

"No kidding! Hey, Mario, we gotta have a screening for all the guys in the theater downstairs, this afternoon. OK, Brian, then what?"

"Well, sir, while Randy and Miguel were doing their thing, Bob and Mark were up in a guestroom and from what I can gather they kind reenacted the first time they met and watched each other get naked – you know how they get off on that. Well, Randy barges in and he's all freaked out `cos he think he's lost that masculinity thing he has – not that that stud could ever lose his masculinity. Anyway, Mark helps him prove that's not true and Randy cuffs the cop to the bed and fucks his brains out, and then cums all over Mark and Bob while they kiss.

"Stop, stop," Grady laughed, "you're gonna make me cream my shorts here."

Brian grinned, "There were two ripped T-shirts on the bed that Randy gave to me. I've got them in my saddlebag right here."

"I bet you have," Grady chuckled. "But hey, what's this thing with young Ben?"

"Oh right. Well, sir, Ben shows up without Jason, and he's been crying. He told me not to tell Randy, but I did and he had one of those big-brother talks to Ben. Eddie, kinda ... overheard ... by accident of course, and it seems Jason has been getting into that narcissist stuff hot and heavy lately and neglecting Ben, so Randy's protective thing kicks in and he's gone to see Jason. Ben made him promise not to beat Jason up but you know how rough Randy can get so I'd say it's anybody's guess, sir, wouldn't you?"

Brian took a deep breath. "So that's about it, sir, up to date, sir ... and now I gotta go."

Grady smiled and hugged him tight. "Brian, I love you so much kiddo. So off you go, and remember, you're my eyes and ears. You know all the stuff that's going on before I do, so keep me in the loop and report back to me later, OK?"

"Okey-dokey, sir." As Brian wheeled himself away Mario grinned at Grady. "Amore, you are so wicked making Brian your – how do you say? – your gossip-monger."

"But he loves it, buddy, and so do I."

"And you love him, don't you?"

"You know I do, Mario. Like crazy."

"As Randy drove down the hill he was (not for the first time) wrestling with conflicting emotions. The macho gypsy had always acted on instinct – the instincts of an animal whose main impulse as a leader of the pack was protecting the young. His kid brother had been hurt – not physically it seemed, but certainly emotionally – and Randy's instinct now was to retaliate. And if that meant using his fists – which it usually did – so be it.

But over the years those caveman instincts had been somewhat refined by Bob, after much subtle and gentle persuasion. So now, as he drove to meet Jason Bob's last words still rang in his ears – "I want you to treat Jason carefully".

Randy was also disturbed by how the boys, Ben and Brian, had both been afraid that he would beat up on Jason. Dammit, was he really such a savage? Bob's other words haunted him. "I don't think there's a man in this tribe that you haven't roughed up at one time or another, me included – especially me."

But he was the leader wasn't he? Had to keep everyone in line, especially when it came to their treatment of the boys. Hence his confusion. As he clenched his stubbled jaw it was not a sign of his anger but rather his determined effort to control it. He had to put things right with Jason and Ben but, above all else, he wanted Bob to be proud of him and the way he did it.

He drove straight past the tribe's compound, empty now as everyone was up at the Grady House, and headed further down to the Arroyo Seco where Jason's house was nestled in old trees beside the stream. He pulled up outside and saw that the gate was ajar, so he went in quietly and stood partially hidden by bushes watching the scene.

As Ben had said, Jason was still in his open-air gym on his patio, and there was another guy with him. That must be the workout partner, Randy thought. What had Ben called him? Cody, that was it. He was a looker too, a dark-haired version of blond Jason in a way – same height, same muscular build, handsome features and, it appeared, the same interests, which were not confined to just working out.

They were working out only the vaguest sense of the word. Mostly they were posing, both of them staring in the mirror at themselves and each other, smiling as they indulged in something like a bodybuilder pose-off where both men flexed together trying to outdo each other.

Randy's reaction was mixed. The immediate effect on him was a boner in his jeans as he watched the two handsome gym-jocks strutting their stuff, flaunting their ripped bodies wearing only gym-shorts and sneakers. His first reaction was genial. Nothing wrong with this, two athletic guys getting off on their looks, comparing their gym-honed physiques. He had seen this a hundred times at gyms and what was the harm in it?

Then he flashed on the image of his little brother's tearstained face, and realized that this otherwise benign scene meant that Ben had been excluded, leaving the kid alone and feeling neglected, something that Ben said happened more and more often. Feeling his anger rise Randy left the shade of the bushes and strode across the garden.

A surprised Jason looked up and smiled. "Randy. Hey, old buddy, what brings you here?"

"This must be your gym buddy Cody," Randy said. He reached out and shook Cody's hand. Randy's vice-like grip could have been a sign of friendship or, more likely, a warning proof of his superior strength as Cody winced.

"How did you know that?" Jason asked.

"Ben told me – your boy Ben. We've just been having a talk. We were up at the Grady House with all the other guys. Shaping up to be quite a party. The guys were missing you, especially Ben. He was missing you, but he said you might not come."

"Oh, I am gonna come, dude. I just got kind of involved here and ... hey, Cody, maybe we should wrap this up for today, uh? I got a party to go to. See you next week at the gym, OK?"

They bumped fists, then Cody turned to Randy. "Good to meet you, Randy."

"Likewise." They shook hands again and this time Randy gave him that look – where his blue eyes pierced Cody's like lasers, with the full force of his sexual magnetism. Randy glanced down at the bulge in Cody's gym shorts and grinned, then gave him another bone-crushing handshake.

Clearly unnerved Cody smiled, "Quite a grip you got there, Randy. Quite a ..." He collected himself and said, "Right, so adios guys," and walked out through the gate nursing a big boner.

Jason had noticed the not-so-subtle treatment Randy had given Cody and shrugged, "Er, Cody and me have been workout buddies for a long time, but we're not ... I mean, we don't fuck or anything. If you were thinking we ..."

"I'm not thinking anything about you and him, Jason. Seems like a nice guy, great body. He's your buddy, I don't care what you two do. No, what I do care about, why I came down here, is my kid brother Ben."

"Ah yeah, I thought that might be it. I guess I have been a bit hard on him lately, neglected him. And you get angry when anyone messes with your brother." He smiled nervously. "Have you come to beat me up, Randy?

"Godammit, why does everyone keep thinking I'm gonna beat you up? Do they think I solve every problem with a right hook to the jaw?"

"Pretty much," Jason grinned. "You do have a certain reputation."

"Look, man, I have no quarrel with you. I like you, admire the work you do as a fireman. And hell, I've got a stiff dick just talking to you. I'm just concerned about my brother. Now he's your boy and we have a rule that other men don't interfere between and a man and his boy. But I just wanna know one thing, man. Do you still love my brother ... still want him to be your boy?"

"Oh yeah, sure, of course I love him. He's a great kid. I enjoy his company, love him in my bed. It's nothing like that, it's just ... Well I guess you saw just now what me and Cody were doing." He shrugged with a weak smile. "You know I've always had that narcissistic streak. Not a big deal, though ... usually ..."

"Usually?"

Jason sighed and paused, as if weighing up whether to level with Randy. "Here, Randy, grab some water, have a seat." They each picked up water bottles and sat astride a workout bench facing each other. "In my line of work I run across a lot of guys who are vain like me. Firemen spend a lot of time working out in the Station House between calls and they're real proud about the way they look. That's why the Fireman's Calendar came into existence. It's why I did one."

"Yeah I know," Randy said, "the August page. Every one of our boys has a copy under his bed and that page is all sticky with their jizz."

"I know, Randy, and that's the point. See, I love that ... I love the thought that guys are jerking off over my picture. It's a big ego boost. But you know, narcissism can be a drug. And like any drug, you need to keep upping the dose. It's kinda got to the point where I need guys to get off looking at me – which is the reason I spend so much time with Cody, `cos he's real into that."

"Look, man," Randy said, "there's nothing wrong with guys spilling their loads looking at hot guys like you. Hell, my man Bob just got through jerking off watching Mark take off his cop uniform. Anyone would bust a nut seeing that police officer without his shirt. But I don't understand why you have to shut Ben out of all this."

"Ah, I guess I feel kinda ... kinda embarrassed doing stuff like that in front of my own boy. It's OK with gym guys like Cody but ... I dunno, Ben and me – we're too close for that. He'd think it was kinda dumb."

"Are you kidding? You mean you don't know that Ben jerks off looking at you when you're asleep? He told me so.

"He does? No I didn't know that. Like I said, he's a great kid."

"And why the hell do you have to go outside the tribe to jack off? Shit, you won't find a hotter bunch of guys than ours no matter how many gyms or fire-houses you go to. I mean, face it, all this flexing your muscles in front of a mirror with some guy. Is that the best you can do? Bit vanilla, wouldn't you say? Guy like you, a big stud fire-fighter, needs more than that."

"Like – what do you mean?"

"Stand up. What you got on under those shorts?"

"Jockstrap is all."

"Perfect. Lose the shorts."

Jason did as ordered and stood there in just an old white jockstrap and sneakers. "See what I mean?" Randy grinned. "Smokin' hot, stud. I could just jerk off looking at you and go home. But nah, we got work to do. Let's see here ... yeah, every gym has ropes lying around. This one's long enough. And don't get nervous, dude. I ain't gonna hurt you – not much anyway."

Randy, a master of ropes and knots, tied Jason's wrists behind his back. He made him bend his elbows, pulled his arms higher up his back, looped the rope round his neck and secured it. "See that? Look in the mirror, stud. Your arms stretched up behind you in a double hammerlock. See how the shoulders pop and the pecs flex. And you're trapped `cos your wrists are tied to the back of your neck. Now for the master touch."

Randy took the long trailing end of the rope and tossed it over the chin bar above them. As the rope came falling down he attached the end to the rope round the fireman's neck. "Jesus, man," Jason gasped, looking at himself in the mirror, a muscular jock stripped down to jockstrap and sneakers, arms tied behind his back, neck tied by a rope to the chin bar with enough slack for him to move several steps.

Reflexively he pulled at the ropes in an effort to get free, took a few steps forward but the rope round his neck jerked him back. "Jesus," he said again and Randy grinned, "Looks hot, eh, buddy? Look how those muscles strain and bulge. Hotter than some gym rat flexing his biceps in a mirror, eh?"

"Damn straight. Fucking beautiful, man."

"But that's only the start. Do you ever work out in the fire-station gym alone?"

"Sometimes, after a shift ends and the other guys have gone home."

"And tell me this. I know all you guys are pretty close buddies, but there must be one or two you don't get along with."

"Yeah, now you mention it. This guy Vince, big mother fucker, older than me, real competitive. He's never liked me, jealous of me – that calendar thing and everything. Long black hair, thick stubble on his chin, blue eyes a bit like you, though not the awesome stud you are."

"Good. So let's run a little fantasy here – makes the narcissism thing ten times hotter. You're working out alone and Vince walks in. He sees his chance, overpowers you and ties you up helpless just like this."

Randy stood behind the bound fire-fighter reached round to his chest and twisted his nipples. "Got you now, asshole. Not such a hotshot now, tied up at my mercy. I'm gonna enjoy this ... cutting you down to size. I'm gonna work on that body you're so proud of showing off, and watch that pretty face twisting in pain."

Suddenly, looking in the mirror took on a whole new dimension for Jason. Sure it was him, his own beautiful face and body, but this was different. He heard the voice growling in his ear, saw the swarthy face and blue eyes over his shoulder and he could believe that he really was the captive of Vince, the guy who had always envied and resented him. He struggled more now and watched the body strain to get free, muscles rippling, face grimacing with effort.

"Narrow your eyes," said the voice over his shoulder. When Jason did so the picture blurred so it didn't look like him anymore – a stranger, some captive muscular hunk in a jockstrap, tied up, pulling at his restraints, body writhing, his handsome face thrashing from side to side."

"Fucking incredible," he said, as much to himself as to Randy. Then Randy took the fantasy a notch higher. "Yeah, it's me, asshole, your old pal Vince and I've got you the way I want you at last. I always wanted to humiliate and break you, you arrogant son-of-a-bitch."

Randy reached down and cupped the hard globes of Jason's ass in his hands. "Always flaunting your prefect butt, ain't you, mother fucker? So let's see how perfect it really is." Randy unzipped his jeans, pulled out his rigid cock and spat on it. In one quick move he pushed it between the mounds and drove it deep in Jason's ass.

"Aaagh!" Jason's body spasmed as he stepped forward to escape the shaft in his butt, only to be jerked back by the rope round his neck. He writhed desperately and tugged at his bound wrists behind him, but quickly his focus changed from the pain in his ass to the homoerotic sight in the mirror – a near-naked muscle jock stripped down to an old jockstrap, roped by the neck, arms stretched up behind him in a hammerlock. He had never seen himself look this good. His shoulders bulged, his pecs and biceps were rock hard as his ass got hammered from behind.

"Man, he looks fucking beautiful," he groaned, speaking of the stranger he saw in the mirror. "Tied up and butt-fucked by his rival. Yeah, fuck him, man, pound that ass, make that body writhe in pain. It's pornographic, man. He looks so fucking hot ... I'm gonna cum in my jock. I'm real close ..."

But right on the cusp of orgasm Randy pulled out and came round to face him. "Ah shit, man," the fireman groaned in frustration, "I've never looked that hot. You shoulda let me bust my load."

"Nah, you can always replay that scene with one of your buddies. But this ain't about you getting off on yourself, dude. I've got something better to show you. Randy stepped back and pulled off his T-shirt, displaying his naked torso still marked with the red welts of the lash where Miguel had whipped him with his belt.

"Holy shit, what happened to you, man?"

"My run-in with that Hispanic leather-stud Miguel. Man, he can be brutal. I'll show you." Hanging above them were gymnastic rings and Randy jumped up, grabbed one of them and hung from it, his feet off the ground. He adjusted to a more tolerable grip by putting his hand through the ring and grasping the rope.

"Holy shit," Jason said, staring in awe at the macho gypsy hanging by one arm, stripped to the waist in jeans and boots, his chest and abs striped with whip marks, his huge dick hanging out of his pants. "Did he do that to you? Tied you up and took his belt to you?"

"Thrashed me real good, but I took it, just hanging there. But he was a mean son-of-a-bitch and in the end he had me begging in submission. But he wouldn't stop until I had busted my load in front of him."

"Shit damn," Jason moaned, lost in the fantasy of this tough alpha male, his magnificent body stretched in bondage, being lashed into orgasm. Reflexively Jason looked at himself in the mirror once again, but the image of the other man was far more erotic and he gazed at Randy again, mesmerized, his cock pulsing in his jock.

As if back in the moment Randy groaned, "Damn, I can't take any more. I gotta cum. Help me cum, buddy. Suck my dick ... make me cum."

Staring at the swarthy gypsy begging for help Jason dropped to his knees. There was enough rope for him to do that but now it was almost taught and he was able to push his face forward only a few inches. As he swung from the rope, Randy's rock-hard cock was pointing at his face, inches away, and Jason heard him groan, "Suck it, man ... help me ... make me cum, buddy."

Jason's neck pulled against the rope and he flicked out his tongue, just far enough to touch the tip of his buddy's cock and taste the pre-cum oozing from it. The musky taste increased his desperation to suck the cock but he recoiled in frustration.

He glanced in the mirror and saw a sight so erotic it was like a hard-core porn movie – two muscle-jocks, one shirtless, striped by whip marks, hanging by one arm, desperate for release by shooting his load. His gym buddy, naked except for his jockstrap, was kneeling before him, arms hammer-locked behind him, roped by the neck, straining frantically to suck the cock only inches away and save his buddy by making him cum.

Jason tried again, but realized he was helpless – both gym-jocks were helpless. He gazed up at the rugged gypsy, his muscles straining, sweat running down his face and body and dripping on the fire-fighter's agonized face.

Randy groaned, "Suck my dick, buddy. I can't take any more. I gotta cum. With his free hand he grabbed his cock and stroked it, slowly at first, then pounding it hard. Jason stretched his tongue out again and touched the tip of the cock as Randy howled, "I gotta cum ... I'm gonna bust my nuts ... I'm gonna cum ... aaagh."

Jason saw the thick shaft shudder in front of him and a split second later felt semen slam into his face, on his forehead, in his mouth, his chin, and into his eyes which he shut tight. He heard Randy jump to the ground and felt his hands under his armpits lifting him to his feet.

The deep voice, said, "Open your eyes, buddy." Jason opened them slowly, his vision still blurred behind a film of semen. But as it cleared his mirror image came into focus and he gasped. The man in the mirror was stunningly homoerotic, a muscle-jock in bondage, arms tied behind him, a rope round his neck.

Wearing only a jockstrap his naked body was pumped from the strain of the ropes binding him, and his face was smothered in semen that ran down from his forehead, oozed from his sagging jaw, ran down his chin onto his chest, mixing with the sweat pouring off him.

"Now that," Randy grinned, "is one hot mother-fucker."

"Oh fuck, man, it's beautiful. He's never looked hotter than that."

"So make the most of it, man. Make love to that fucker. He deserves it."

Randy adjusted the rope above Jason, lengthening it so he was able to walk right up to the mirror. He pressed against it, against the handsome gym-stud, grinding the bulge in his jock against the one in the mirror. He stared at the face – the short blond hair, chiseled features, high cheekbones and square lantern-jaw, all streaked with sweat and cum.

From a distance Randy watched the two identical men pressing against each other. They smiled at each other – and kissed, slowly at first, then ravenously, paying tribute to the other's beauty. Finally the faces separated and Jason said, "Make me cum, man. Let me feel you cum. That's it, yeah, grind that fucking cock against me. I'm real close. Yeah, that's it, I'm gonna cum ... you look so fucking hot ... make me cum, buddy ... yeah ... fuck ... aaah."

With a deep sigh Jason pressed hard against the mirror and his body shuddered. And when he pulled away cum was oozing though the thin mesh cotton of his jock and running down his thigh. Randy came round to face him, stroking his own cock, and as he gazed at the erotic sight he shot the last few drops of cum left from his explosive orgasm.

He quickly released Jason and held him at arm's length. "Now that, dude, is what I call real narcissism. Fucking gorgeous. See what a dose of fantasy can do? You gotta admit, it's better than a quick jerk-off flexing you biceps in the mirror, eh?"

Jason grinned, "Randy, I said you had a certain reputation and I didn't mean only your fists. You are without doubt the sexiest man I have ever met. You ooze sex, not only your incredible face and body, but your mind too. Shit, what we did just now was fucking awesome, dude. Something I'll jerk off to for a long time."

"Well," Randy grinned, "they do say that the largest sexual organ is the brain, though I can think of a few other body parts that come close."

"Randy," Jason said as he pulled on his gym shorts, "that was great for me, but can you help me make everything right with Ben again. I really do love the kid like crazy and he used to look up to me. But I guess I got sidetracked somehow, lost my sense of direction, and I'm ashamed of myself for neglecting that sweet kid."

"OK, we took care of that narcissism thing for now, and I showed you how it should be done. In itself vanity is harmless but, like you said, it can be addictive and, like any addiction, it needs to be treated. So you gotta go see my brother Steve real soon. As a shrink he treats a lot of good-looking guys who are obsessed with themselves and can't stay away from the mirror.

"But that's for later. Right now the tribe is gathered up at the Grady House and the boys are showing off their men to each other. All except Ben who thinks he's losing face with his buddies `cos his man ain't there. Now I know you just shot an impressive load of cum, but do you think you can get it up again for your boy pretty soon?"

"Are you kidding? Of course I can. Let me tell you, Randy, that brother of yours is a tiger in bed. I guess it's the gypsy blood but, wow, he is one hot young buck – loves it when I fuck him. He may be a bit quieter than the other boys in public but, man, get him between the sheets and he's a pistol. Randy, I told you you're the sexiest man I know, but your kid brother comes a close second. You brought that kid up to be just like you, man, a chip off the old block."

"You think so, buddy?" Randy said proudly. "Yeah, I guess he is, at that. OK, Jason, what I have in mind will kill two birds with one stone – it'll let Ben show off to his buddies, and give you another stage to flaunt your vanity. So here's what I want you to do ..."

They talked for a while longer, then Randy left and drove all the way back up the hill to the Grady House. He half expected all the guys to be sitting together at lunch, but he was wrong. While they waited for his return they were all sitting together, sure, but on the big lawn, most of them facing toward the gate expectantly.

Word had gone round that there was trouble between Jason and his boy Ben and that big brother Randy had gone down the hill to sort Jason out. The betting was just how badly he would hurt Jason, as they all knew how Randy got fired up when one of the boys was hurt, especially his little brother.

The boys were clustered around Ben, including the two boys in wheelchairs, almost literally circling the wagons to protect him. Eddie was agog, as always, and said, "Dude, you OK? Not scared or anything that there's gonna be some big knock-down drag-out fight? You think Jason will come up here after all?"

Actually Ben was the calmest of them all. "I'm just fine, Eddie. Randy told me he'd take care of everything and promised he wouldn't hurt Jason. My bother always takes care of things and if he promises me something he does it. He said not to worry, that Jason would be here ... so he will. Because Randy said so."

It wasn't long before they heard the squeal of brakes, the gates swung open and Randy drove in and parked his truck in the driveway. He jumped out and strode across the lawn toward them, bare-chested, T-shirt slung over his shoulder, and it was obvious from his arrogant stride that it was `mission accomplished'. He flashed a broad smile and said, "So who do you have to fuck to get a drink around here?"

A forest of hands went up amid shouts from the boys, "Me sir, me sir," but it was Brandon who broke from the pack, wheeled himself to the outdoor bar and brought him a beer. Randy grinned his thanks and sat next to Bob who looked at him questioningly. "Everything OK, buddy?"

Randy shrugged, "Hey, dude, it's me you're talking to. Of course everything's OK. And no I didn't beat up Jason. Actually he's a great guy, just got a bit sidetracked is all. `Course, he's a big narcissist. He was doing a pose-off with one of his gym buddies in front of the mirror. But when his buddy left I showed Jason some real vanity – how to really use a mirror to turn himself on. All it took was a long rope, a dose of fantasy and he was fucking making love with himself, I kid you not. Looked damn hot too. Made me bust a nut.

"Main thing is he really loves Ben, feels real bad about the way he treated him, neglecting him and all. But I told him how to put it right and he'll be here soon. I took care of that."

Bob loved Randy when he was in his confident big boss mood. The sexual magnetism was more powerful than ever and Bob's cock was rock hard in his jeans as he gazed at him. "Er, Randy, sometime this afternoon is there any chance we can escape up to one of the guest rooms and, you know ... fool around?"

"Oh that's already on the agenda. While I was watching that hot fireman, tied up naked, I thought of you and knew I would fuck you when I came back here. Right after lunch, OK?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Nope." The gypsy's arrogant tone made Bob's cock swell even more.

The tension in the group had eased since Randy came in as it was obvious from his attitude that things had gone OK with Jason, with no real harm done. And their sense of relief was heightened when they heard Jason's truck pull up outside the gates.

All eyes were on the gates as they swung slowly and silently open. Nothing happened for a moment and then Jason appeared. There was a collective gasp from the group as he came in and stood still, milking the moment like any skilled narcissist as the gates closed dramatically behind him.

Jason was wearing his fireman's uniform – heavy boots, dark blue pants and shirt, with a black T-shirt under the open neck. The contours of his muscular torso filled out the shirt, which had uniform flashes on the sleeve and his fire-fighter's badge on his chest. The short sleeves gripped his solid biceps, and his lats tapered down from his broad shoulders to a slim waist cinched by a heavy black uniform belt.

All this contrasted with his tanned face with its fine chiseled features, strong jaw and cheekbones and close cropped blond hair. He was a stunning, iconic figure and he knew it. He stood before the tribe and bathed in their admiration, as many of the boys flashed on the shirtless version in the calendar under their beds.

The boy whose heart beat fastest was Ben. Jason was here, looking spectacular, the center of all attention ... and he was the fireman's boy ... wasn't he? ... still his boy?"

In a fleeting moment of doubt Ben glanced across at Randy who smiled with a reassuring nod. Then Jason confirmed it by holding out his hand and saying, "I want my boy."

Ben sat stunned and Eddie hissed in his ear, "That's you, dude. Go. You're the one he wants."

Keeping his eyes fixed on his master Ben got up and walked toward him, slowly at first but, when he saw Jason open his arms wide he ran to him and the arms folded round him. Jason hugged him so hard Ben could scarcely breathe, and his heart beat faster as he heard Jason's deep voice in his ear. "I'm sorry Ben, sorry I neglected you. I love you, boy." He pulled back and smiled at him. "You are still my boy, right? You forgive me?"

"Absolutely, sir. I'll always be your boy."

"Good, so let me take a look," Jason grinned. "Let me see what I'm getting here, the total package." He reached behind Ben and pulled his T-shirt off over his head. He ran his hands over the young gypsy's muscular chest, the result of their many gym sessions together at the house. Then he touched the exotic, dark gypsy face with his deep-set blue eyes, thick dark eyebrows and long disheveled black hair. "Beautiful, fucking beautiful."

He reached down, pulled open Ben's shorts and let them drop. Ben stepped out of them, kicked off his sneakers and stood buck naked before his master. Jason turned him round to face the crowd and put his arm round his shoulder. "Gentlemen, this is my boy Ben. And right here and now we are gonna make love. You don't have to stay and watch, but we don't mind if you do."

There were cheers of derision – of course they would watch – wouldn't miss it for the world.

Jason smiled at Ben and said, "Remember that picture in the calendar, kiddo?"

"Duh, everyone remembers that picture, sir. They boys look at it all the time."

"Good," Jason smiled playfully. "So let's give them the real-life version, eh?"

Silence descended on the group as they watched with rapt attention while Ben slowly unbuttoned Jason's shirt and ran his hand under it feeling the slabs of his pecs through the T-shirt. He undid it all the way down, pulled the tail out of his waist then pushed it off over his shoulders. As it dropped, a low gasp went round the group seeing the tight black T-shirt stretched over the muscles of the fireman's torso.

Ben took a step back and watched mesmerized as Jason reached behind his neck and pulled the shirt up – clear of the waist, sliding up over his eight-pack abs, then his rock-hard pecs, then off over his head. He slung the shirt over his shoulder, provoking another gasp from the group. This was the picture – the picture in the calendar of the muscular young fire-fighter, stripped to the waist with his shirt hanging over his shoulder.

"Sir," Ben said, awestruck. "That's the August page. Just like that – come to life. The one all the guys jack off to."

"And what do you think they would do if they came face to face with the guy, like you are now? Why don't you show me ... and them?"

Ben grinned at the man he knew so well, indulging his vanity and thrilling his boy in the process. He knew that when the boys jerked off over his picture it was hero-worship, so that's what he would do now. He walked a short distance away, then faced the shirtless, musclehunk fire-fighter ... and fell to his knees, then on his stomach in a prostrating act of worship.

Naked, he crawled across the grass, the dimpled cheeks of his ass flexing as he moved, and when he got close, grabbed the fireman's boot. He pulled himself forward and pressed his face against the boot, licked it, then licked the uniform pants all the way up to the waist. On his knees he unzipped the pants, pulled out the long, thick cock and took it in his mouth.

Knowing this was every boy's dream, sucking the fireman's cock, Jason grabbed Ben's head and flexed his muscles as he pulled it forward and drove his shaft deep in his mouth. Every boy watching was either stroking the bulge in his shorts or had thrown caution to the winds and pulled out his cock, pounding it as they all watched their buddy, the beautiful, shy young gypsy do what they had fantasized about so often.

The men too all had stiff dicks, and Grady leaned close to Mario and whispered, "Now this is what makes a great party, amico."

Jason knew how stunning he looked and his vanity, coupled with the incredible sensation in his cock, brought him close to his orgasm. So he pulled out and looked down at his boy. You know what they would really want the fireman to do to them, don't you, boy?"

Ben smiled, "Yes sir." He lay on his back on the grass, grabbed his own legs behind the knees and pulled them back, offering his ass to the fire-fighter. Jason looked at the expectant crowd with a playful smile. "Anyone wanna see the hot gypsy boy get his ass ploughed by a fireman?"

There was a roar of cheering and wolf whistles, and Jason laughed. "OK, OK, guys, I'll take that as a yes. And how about you, kiddo?" waving his dick down at Ben. "You want your master's rod in that sweet ass?"

Ben smiled back. "Duh!"

"I guess that's a yes too. OK, kid, here it comes. He spat in his hand and stroked his cock, then knelt behind Ben and leaned forward over him, the tip of his cock touching the curly black hair round the boy's hole. "We make a great team, kiddo. I love you like crazy. We should do this more often." He pushed his hips forward and his cock sank into the warm depths of Ben's ass.

"Aaah, thank you, sir. I love you, sir. I've missed you."

"Well not anymore, kiddo. Which means that hot ass is gonna get fucked a lot more often. Damn it feels great."

It was a long, classic fuck, with Jason pinning his boy's wrists to the ground and bending down often to kiss his face and mouth while his cock pistoned in his ass. Many times Jason took Ben to the cusp of orgasm before pausing, then slowly ramping up the action again.

Looking down at Ben's swarthy face with its blue eyes and long black hair was like looking at a junior version of Randy. Remembering how Randy had looked earlier Jason looked up and grinned at him in the group watching them.

At one point Jason pulled out, pulled Ben up on his hands and knees and fucked him doggy style for a while. He looked spectacular, one hand on Ben's butt, the other fist high in the air like riding a spirited young colt to the cheers of the crowd.

Later, on his back again, Ben reached up and pressed his palms against Jason's chest, digging his fingers into his pecs, feeling the sinews underneath as his master's cock massaged his ass. "I love you, sir. Fuck me in front of all the boys. Show them I have the most gorgeous master in the world."

"Shit damn, kid, talk like that is gonna make me cum. Your ass is so fucking hot I'm real close. So let's show `em, boy. How do you want it? In your ass or splashing all over you?"

"I want to see you standing over me sir, showing off. I love it when you show off and now I can show off to my buddies too."

"Got it," Jason grinned. He pulled his cock out of Ben's ass and got to his feet, standing astride his boy, both of them stroking their cocks. It was a breathtaking sight – the naked gypsy boy on the ground gazing up at the rugged fire-fighter, shirtless in his uniform pants and boots, muscles rippling as he pounded his cock in his fist. The crowd was on its feet, mesmerized by the ultimate display of narcissism and sexual bonding between master and boy.

Breathing heavily Jason smiled down at his excited boy. "Look at me, Ben. I want you to cum looking at me. I want the guys to see my boy getting off on the way I look. Can you do that?"

Ben grinned, "Duh! Of course I can, sir. And I want them to see the gorgeous fireman they all jack off to, showing them that I'm his boy by spilling his load all over me. Can you do that, sir?"

"Duh," Jason laughed, echoing his boy. "Let's go for it, kiddo."

Ben gazed up at the man he worshiped and it took only a few more strokes of his cock before his body tensed and he yelled, "I'm gonna cum, sir ... I'm gonna cum ... yeaahh!" His cock spurted jizz all over his abs and chest, with a few shots landing on his face.

The sight of his boy smothered in his own juice did it for Jason, and in a display that would satisfy any man's vanity he flexed his muscles, pounded his cock, and howled as his cock erupted with semen that splashed down on his ecstatic boy, proving to the whole tribe that Ben was loved by his master and the envy of every one of the boys.

When the last of their juice had drained from them Jason pulled Ben to his feet and raised his hand high in the air like a triumphant fighter. The cheers were thunderous and, when Ben had put on his clothes and hugged Jason he ran to Randy and hugged him too. "Thank you, sir. You said you'd make everything right and you did." Then he went to the boys who surrounded him with enthusiastic hugs and envious eyes.

Jason went to join Randy but was waylaid by Grady who laughed, "Jason, that was fantastic. You got more admiring looks than I do as Tarzan, and I have to swing from the trees for mine. Man, you, me and Mario have to get together real soon." Just then Brian wheeled past and Grady grabbed the back of his wheelchair and pulled him back.

"Sir," Brian pleaded, "I gotta go help the boys get lunch on the table. All this has made it late."

"I know, I know, but you can give me and Mario a few minutes to talk about the party. How d'you think it's going so far?"

Brian wheeled himself beside Grady's chair and said, "Awesome, sir ... a whole lot of action and we haven't even got as far as lunch. But Brandon and me were talking and we kinda predicted it would go something like this."

"I bet you did," said Grady, his eyes shining. "And I bet you can predict what comes next."

Brian looked at Mario who smiled encouragingly. "Indulge him please, Brian, or we won't have any peace."

Brian took a deep breath and said, "OK, sir, well let's see here. You see Randy and Bob over there? Randy is in his big-boss-can-fix-anything mood and he pulled off a real big deal with Jason and Ben. And see the sexy way Bob's looking at him? Rumor has it that soon they'll disappear upstairs and Bob will ... well, you know ... thank him. I'm gonna get one of the guest beds ready for them.

"Then you've said you want everyone to go downstairs to the theater to see the video Darius shot of that scene this morning when Miguel tied Randy up and whipped and fucked him. That should get the guys going, especially the leathermen Zack, Darius and Miguel.

"And I did overhear Randy telling Bob that he wants Jason to have a therapy session with Dr. Steve `cos that narcissist thing, which I personally love by the way, could turn into a problem, like it almost did between him and Ben. In fact Jason will probably take Ben with him – kind of a joint session, and Steve will do his thing with them."

Brian shifted uneasily. "Er, is that enough to be going on with, sir, `cos I really gotta help Danny and the boys."

"Yes, bambino, that's enough even for Grady," Mario smiled. "So you go along and do your stuff and check in with us later, eh?"

Brian grinned gratefully and sped away. "Wow," Grady said to Mario, "this is shaping up to be one helluva party, buddy. And it's given me a whole lot of ideas."

"Uh-oh," Mario said, "I don't like the sound of that, amico."

"Oh you will, dude. Trust me, you will."

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 391

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

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

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