A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 507 By Rob Williams
Chapter 507 – "PABLO'S PAINFUL THERAPY FROM DOCTOR STEVE"
IN THIS CHAPTER:
Pablo is in trouble. The hot young Mestizo mechanic, in a rage, has abused and hit his own boy Tyler, the boy who worships him. Guilty and confused Pablo gets solace from his longtime lover, sexy black muscleboy Darius who puts his 10-inch cock to use. Next he has an intense session with the therapist Dr. Steve, whose extreme methods bring Pablo to a catharsis where he howls, curses, sobs – and finally admits the truth. ___________________________________________________________________
IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER
Pablo – the good-looking young Mestizo mechanic, adopted son of the tribe's boss Randy – had done it again.
The self-styled `Boss's Boy' had been deemed man enough to have a boy of his own – the shy young Tyler who idolized Pablo as his hero. But in the past Pablo had lost his temper, raged at Tyler and hit him. And now he had done it again when he found Tyler giving a blowjob to the Marine Hassan.
Blaming himself Tyler was shattered and had sought refuge in the large house of the tribe's therapist Doctor Steve, where he was cared for by his two older buddies Finn and Larry. "Come on kiddo," Finn said, "we'll take care of you. You're with us now, buddy. Nothing bad's gone happen to you while we're around, eh Larry?"
Meanwhile, the contrite Pablo had faced his dad Randy, and Randy's lover and co-leader Bob – who was understandably furious. "Pablo, we've been here before. Last time this happened I said I was disappointed, and now I'm disgusted. I thought you were a man but I now see I was wrong. A man does not abuse his boy, a boy who trusts and admires him."
The core problem was later summed up by Doc Steve. "You see, domestic abuse follows a well-known pattern. The abuser gets angry and hurts his spouse and the spouse leaves. When he's calmed down he apologizes abjectly, pleads to be taken back, swearing it'll never happen again. But it does, and the whole routine is repeated."
But when Pablo faced Randy and Bob there were early signs that things might be different this time and the cycle of abuse might be broken. Randy had said, "You and me we're alike, son. We get angry fast and let fly with our fists, it's a natural reaction for men like us – it's what makes us men. But you shouldn't take it out on the boy, you should have punished the soldier, but he beat you. You could a' taken him, I taught you how to fight. We'll go over the fight and see where you went wrong. So next time ..."
And that did it. That was the point where things changed as Pablo leapt to his feet.
"No, we will not go over the fight so I can beat to a pulp the next guy who messes with my boy. Because there won't be a next time. You said you might have done what I did but, sir, that don't make it right just because you do it. You're wrong that raging and fighting makes us men.
"I wanna break that cycle – me losing my temper and lashing out, then apologizing and saying it'll never happen again – until it does. What I did was disgusting like Bob said. I'm ashamed at making that sweet kid cry, making him scared of me. I don't know how I'll ever make amends to him, but I'll damn well try. This is my fault, though I know where it comes from.
"Ever since I met you, Randy, you've been my hero. I was so proud when you adopted me and I've tried to copy you in everything – the fighting, the winning, being the toughest and best. I loved watching you demolish a guy. Even when you flew into a sudden rage and pounded on a guy I thought that was cool, and I wanted to be like you. But you know what, sir? It was not cool – it was crazy. It wasn't being a man, it was being a crazy guy.
"Man, I'm not blaming you. I blame myself for not being independent, not making up my own mind about stuff – for not being a real man. I shouldn't be a copy of anyone. I should be myself, and from now on I will be. I'll get help from Doc Steve and do whatever he suggests. You're still my dad and I'm proud of that. But I have to find out what kind of man I am. Like I said, I'm not blaming you, this whole thing's on me and now I'm gonna put it right."
He left the room and Randy was stunned. "What the fuck just happened here, man?"
Bob smiled, "Your boy just became a man before our eyes, that's what happened, buddy. Or at least he took the first steps by facing up to who he was and who he wants to be."
Randy took Pablo's words as a rejection of him, but Bob reassured him. "No, Randy. He said he's proud to be your son. You should be proud of him too, Randy. Pablo didn't reject you, he just said he shouldn't be a carbon copy of you."
"Yeah, but he blamed me for fighting, using my fists. Damn, if I hadn't done that back in Texas me and my little brothers would never have survived. And I've fought for you and the boys here, lots of times. Dammit, man, what d'ya want? You want me to change, to become a pussycat?"
Bob chuckled. "Randy, I could imagine you as lots of things but a pussycat? Nah, never. No, I don't want you to change – I still want that gorgeous, arrogant, brawling, maddening wild gypsy I fell in love with. You see, Randy, you're the boss, always will be."
Randy soon had the chance to prove his manhood when Bob became sexually dominant and the shirtless muscular gypsy ended up kneeling with his hands tied behind him, a leather collar round his neck, a pornographic picture of abject submission by the rugged top-man.
Next morning Tyler was working in Steve's garden with Larry and Finn when Pablo came out of the house after his first therapy session with Doc Steve. "I can't stay more than a minute, kiddo, `cos the doc says we shouldn't be together until I've sorted myself out and got my act together.
"I just wanna say this, kid. I've been a damn fool and haven't treated you like a man should treat his boy. I'm ashamed of that and with the doc's help I'm gonna change – this time for real. I love you Tyler, and I'm gonna make it up to you, 'cos you're my boy and always will be. We'll soon be back together again and in the meantime you've got great buddies in Finn and Larry.
"Come here ..." He pulled his boy into a tight hug and a long lingering kiss.
========= CHAPTER 507 =========
<><> THE CALM AFTER THE STORM <><>
After Pablo's brief visit Tyler was all smiles. No matter the fear and panic of the last few days, Tyler's hero had said he loved him, he was still Pablo's boy and always would be.
He excitedly told his buddies, "Doc Steve says we'll have to wait a while to live together again – not until Pablo has got is anger under control after shrink sessions with the doc. But I can wait as long as it takes just as long as I know Pablo loves me."
And in the meantime he was up here in Steve's spacious Hollywood-Hills home with his good, protective buddies Finn and Larry, doing the work he loved best – gardening. Tyler and Finn were the permanent gardeners at the tribe's compound but Bob had loaned them to Steve and his lover Lloyd for a week to get their "wilderness" under control.
They were being supervised by the stylish, handsome Italian Mario, an expert landscape artist who was also the lover of the sexy movie-idol Grady, the star of the blockbuster Tarzan movies. Making the small gathering even more festive was the presence of the tribe's much-loved Uncle Mike who had brought his boy Larry here for a week's vacation. Finn's master was also here – the hunky Hispanic Miguel, along with his lover, the rugged black construction boss Zack.
And to put a culinary crown on the party, dinner for ten was being cooked by the tribe's assistant chef, the adorable young freckle-face redhead Will, loved by all and an absolute monarch in the kitchen. On loan from the tribe's main house Will was assisted in the kitchen by Tyler, Finn and Larry, all of whom were wearing matching dark-green aprons and white chefs' hats, at the insistence of Will, a stickler for kitchen protocol.
Steve's house manager – the blond ex-gymnast Tommy – had helped Lloyd set up a long table by the pool and when dinner was served Will and his three assistant chefs stood in a row for their bow – a tradition in the tribe. In unison they raised their chef's hats high in the air and swooped them down in a low theatrical bow, to hearty applause and cheers from the men.
It was the start of a long, rowdy, festive meal, full of laughter and relief that so many troublesome dramas seemed to be on the mend.
<><> DARIUS PLAYS IT COOL <><>
One person who was still mending was Pablo, nursing his troubled soul. After his first session with Doctor Steve Pablo had gone straight back to work at the construction site as the company's chief mechanic. He buried his confused thoughts in hard manual work and, with his young assistant Ben, focused on the heavy machinery that was in for repair.
Randy of course was the boss of the construction crew but he and Pablo kept their distance from each other, not sure yet how things stood between them since Pablo's impassioned speech to him the day before. One comfort was the additional presence of the young foreman Darius, Pablo's muscular black lover for years now, almost from the beginnings of the tribe.
Darius had matured in a more levelheaded way than Pablo. As always both boys reflected the influence of their masters. Darius's man Zack, the other boss of the construction company, was a tough muscular black stud, but cooler, less impulsive than Randy, and this was reflected in their boys. Zack's boy Darius was easy-going, rarely judgmental, which was just what Pablo needed now.
Darius sauntered over to Pablo and smiled, "So how's it going dude?"
Pablo pulled his head out from under the hood of a truck and sighed. "Oh, you know – win some lose some."
"So I hear. Of course I know all about your trouble. Young Eddie knows everything that goes on here and that motor mouth of his feeds me all the details."
"I don't wanna get into that stuff right now, dude. Ben and me got work to do." He put his head back under the hood.
"Hey, kid, this is me Darius. You don't brush me off that easy. Here's a thought. Did you know we're gonna be all alone in the second floor complex tonight? Zack and Miguel are spending the night at Steve's, prob'ly fucking their brains out. Finn and Tyler are up there too, prob'ly fucking their brains out. And my boy Ryan is gonna be staying the night with his pal Will once Will gets back from making dinner at Steve's."
"Yeah, so?" Pablo muttered from under the hood.
"So, I was thinking you'd prob'ly rather not have dinner with the tribe tonight, tiptoeing around the subject of your recent exploits they all wanna ask about. Am I right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"So I thought maybe you and me could make dinner for ourselves as it'll be just us on the second floor. Be kinda cool – bit like old times, just you and me."
"You don't give up easy do you, pal? You make it sound like a fucking date night." Pablo's voice was muffled, his face was still buried under the hood of the truck.
Darius shrugged. "Call it what you like. Hey dude, like my mom used to say to me – `look at me when I'm talking to you'." With an impatient sigh Pablo reluctantly pulled out from under the hood and looked up at Darius's chiseled, ebony features and pale green eyes.
"That's better. Now look, dude, I know you're going through a lot of shit right now and as your buddy all I'm saying is maybe you'd like to kick back with me tonight, cook dinner, talk – or not – just chill if you want. Thought it might help, some. But if you don't want to that's cool too ..."
"No, Darius I do want that – it's exactly what I want. I'm sorry, dude, my mind's so messed up right now, I didn't mean to diss you, bro, you of all people."
Darius flashed his gleaming smile. "Shit, if you can't diss an old buddy like me who can you diss? So it's a date, then?"
"It's a date, buddy. Man, I really appreciate that."
"Well don't get too comfortable `cos we still gotta cook dinner yet, and myself I can't boil water. Now get your head back under that hood and while you're bent over the truck I'll just stand here and drool at that spectacular bubble butt of yours."
"Fuck you, man," came Pablo's muffled voice. Darius watched him flex his ass cheeks under his tight jeans and stood there for a while rubbing the bulge of his ten-inch cock. Then he walked away with a broad smile on his face – and drool oozing from a corner of his mouth.
<><> DATE NIGHT <><>
After work the two senior boys drove home together from the construction site and went straight upstairs. They cleaned up, changed into sweatpants and T-shirts and popped open a couple of beers. They kicked back on the couch and, trying to keep the mood light, Darius said, "Damn that was a tough day. We got way behind schedule and you know how Randy is about bringing in a project on time. It's a point of pride for him.
"And Zack wasn't best pleased neither," Darius continued. "He don't say much but I can read him like a book and I could see the frustration on that handsome mug of his. After work he drove off like a bat out of hell, going straight up to see Miguel at Steve's place, I'm sure. That hunk will calm him down by making love to him. Always does the trick."
Pablo nodded in agreement but didn't say a word, drinking his beer silently with a faraway look in his eyes. Darius could see he was still deep in his troubled thoughts, so he jumped up off the couch. "Hey, I am fucking starved. Let's see what we can rustle up from the fridge."
Pablo managed a smile. He loved Darius like a brother (brothers who fuck) and knew he was pulling out all the stops to cheer him up. He followed him to the kitchen where Darius had opened the fridge and was staring forlornly at the contents. "Fucked if I know what we're gonna eat. I wish Will was here to cook for us."
But when he opened the freezer his eyes lit up. "Ta-da! Look at that, Will is here after all. Remember how he left cooked meals in the freezer in case we ever wanted to eat alone here? Damn I could hug that kid, or fuck him or whatever. OK, he's labeled them and it looks like we have a choice of Gourmet Beef & Veggie Casserole or `Will's Famous Fish Pie' – not shy about tooting his own horn is he? So what'll it be, amigo?"
"Hmm, the beef I think."
"Coming right up, sir. He's even written microwave instructions on the lid. Love that boy."
Pablo opened a bottle of red wine and a few minutes later they were sitting at the kitchen table facing each other with plates of steaming beef casserole before them. Darius raised his glass and smiled, "Here's to us, Pablo, for old times' sake."
"And a bright future," Pablo said hopefully. "Darius, I love you bro. Thank you."
"That's the spirit, kid. Damn this food looks good." He shoved a forkful in his mouth, took a sip of wine, then said. "About that bright future, dude. Do you wanna talk about all the shit you're going through or give it a rest?"
"Darius, right now you're the only guy I can talk to `cos I know you won't be judgmental. I mean, Bob gave me the tongue-lashing I deserve, and my first shrink session with Doc Steve was OK, but you're my pal from way back and know you're on my side."
"Whoa, hold it right there, buddy. I don't take sides in stuff like this, I'm not on anyone's side. What you did was wrong, that's obvious, but I'm not here to criticize. I'm here because I love you, kid, and wanna help you get through this crap."
Darius sighed. "Thing is, though, I'm lost from the start, `cos, as well as I know you, I can't understand why you do this stuff. I've seen you looking at Tyler and it's clear you love him. He's a great kid for you, worships you, and it could be a big thing in your life, nurturing and bringing up a boy, same as Randy brought you up. Well, maybe not the same as Randy but that's another story. So, dude, how come you end up slapping your boy around?"
"That's just it, Darius, I don't know! Everyone talks about the cycle of abuse and I'm stuck right in the middle of it. I get angry, flare up and take it out on the boy I love by hitting him. But when I've calmed down I hate to see that scared look in his eyes and I feel ashamed of myself. I apologize, swear it'll never happen again, and I really mean it.
"Of course Tyler forgives me, `cos he loves me. But down the road I do the same damn thing again. And I don't know why. It's like I have no control, like I'm sick, I've got a disease or something."
"Sounds like a classic case for Doc Steve," Darius said. "He's trained to get to the bottom of stuff like that. In the meantime, you've still got Bob and Randy who love you."
"Ah, Randy loves me too much. When I spoke to him he said I was only being a man, like him, and he wanted to talk about how I lost the fight with Hassan."
"You've got me too, dude. I wish that when you feel that rage coming on you would call me right away and I can talk you down – like a sponsor in a 12-step program."
"That wouldn't work either, Darius, `cos I'm too close to you. If you told me to calm down I'd tell you to go to hell. Damn, I'd prob'ly take a swing at you too and we'd end up in a big ol' fist fight." Pablo frowned, took a swig of wine and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.
"Nah," he continued, "my best bet is the doc. When he goes into shrink mode he becomes kinda clinical, neither friend nor foe, just my analyst. I know his methods can be really weird sometimes but I trust him, man. He's got all the good qualities of his brother Randy but without his anger and that savage side of Randy that turns me on."
"Yeah, you're right there, dude. I just wish there was more I could do. I mean, we go way back, dude, I'm your best friend but I feel useless."
"No, you do plenty, Darius, just by being there and loving me even when I'm a prize idiot." Pablo paused and stared at Darius's handsome face and cheerful grin. "'Course, there is another thing you could do. The thing that always makes me feel safe and loved."
Darius gave his dazzling white-teeth smile. "I'm glad you mentioned that kid, `cos I didn't know how to bring it up. You might think I was being crude."
"Nothing wrong with a bit of crude sometimes – even ten inches of crude."
"Damn, when I watched you at work bending over that truck, with that picture-perfect ass pointing up like an invitation, I had such a fucking boner."
"You still got it?"
"With you, always, bro. Come on, let's cut the crap and hit the damn bed."
<><> PABLO IS IMPALED <><>
They went into the bedroom and followed the same ritual as they had for years. Gazing at each other they pulled off their T-shirts, then their sweat pants. Naked, Pablo jumped on the bed and lay on his back. He hooked his hands behind his knees pulled his legs back and grinned up at his gorgeous black lover, his ebony muscles gleaming under the ceiling spotlights.
His huge ten-inch cock was standing out from his curly pubic hair, rigid as a flagpole and almost as long, Pablo thought. Darius stared down at him and said, "Nah, I let's start doggy style, dude. I wanna get a good look at that bubble-butt."
Pablo rolled over, knelt on all fours and looked over his shoulder with that crooked smile that always got to Darius who groaned, "Fuck, I love you bro – that fucking ass." He knelt behind him and stroked the perfect white globes that contrasted with his tanned body. He slapped them lightly and watched them bounce under his hand until they were marked by faint red handprints.
He reached forward, grabbed the Mestizo's thick black hair and pulled his face back so he was staring into the full-length mirror at the foot of the bed. Darius was slowly stroking the whole length of his cock and he grinned, "Like I always say, buddy – my cock and your ass, a match made in heaven. Remember the first time I fucked you?"
"I remember the pain. Took a lot of trial and error and gobs of lube before I could take even half that monster."
Darius chuckled. "And now all it takes is a lick of spit." Darius spat in his palm and curled his hand round his cock, from his pubes to the head and back. Then he pushed a couple of wet fingers in Pablo's ass, making him groan with anticipation. "Fuck me, bro. Fuck my ass."
"Man, that's gorgeous, like a porn scene – a hot muscle-stud mechanic, kneeling on my bed buck-naked and begging to get butt-fucked by my ten inches of prime beef. That's an offer no red-bloodied man could refuse. Here it comes, bro."
Darius clamped his hands round Pablo's hips to hold him rigid, pressed the head of his cock between the solid mounds and eased it over his sphincter. Slowly, inch by inch, he pushed into Pablo's ass, pausing when he felt him flinch, then sliding in deeper and deeper. "You OK, kid?"
"Fuck," Pablo moaned, "there's nothing like it, bro, being impaled on that massive schlong. I'd like to block out the world and stay here as your fuck slave. You could tie me down to the bed and come in and spear my ass as many times as you want."
"You think you could take it, dude? You think you could take this all day?" Darius pulled all the way back and plunged in again, all ten inches in one blow, then again and again.
Pablo looked into the mirror, stunned by the sight of the handsome black stud and the erotic sensation of his long shaft filling his ass, his razor-sharp abs flexing hard as his hips moved back and forth. Pablo clenched his jaw, bracing for the jackhammering he knew was coming. "Give it to me, stud. Make me feel it. Aaagh!"
He groaned as the powerful muscleboy pounded ass, his rod pile-driving into him as sweat formed on Darius's face, ran down his square jaw and dripped on his pecs. He looked magnificent and Pablo again fantasized about being the captive fuck-slave of the black man who owned his ass. The pain had gone, overwhelmed by the ecstasy of surrendering to the massive dick pounding his ass.
Darius was exhilarated by the feel of the tight ass clenched round his dick and stared in awe at the chiseled Mestizo features that grimaced with each powerful thrust. But he recalled the sadness in that face only minutes before and his heart went out to his troubled friend. So he eased up until his cock was sliding in and out slowly and then pulled out.
"I wanna make love to your ass, bro. I wanna make love to you. Roll over on your back."
Pablo obeyed and went into his initial start position – on his back, his hands hooked behind his knees pulling them back and offering his ass to his lover. This time Darius eased in slowly. He leaned forward and smiled at Pablo while gently massaging his ass. "Feel better, buddy?"
Pablo stared up at the smiling green eyes. "Darius, you'll always be here for me, won't you?"
"I ain't going nowhere, kid, no matter what happens. Even when you fuck up – which you do a lot – I'll be right here, still loving you. And my cock will be right here making love to your ass." He bent down and his full lips closed over Pablo's in a long tender kiss, while his cock caressed his ass.
When he pulled back Pablo said, "I am such a mess right now, Darius, you're the only solid thing in my life. In all the craziness you make me feel safe. God, your cock feels good."
"You wanna feel my juice inside you, bro?"
"You bet, man. I'm so close right now. Please, buddy." Pablo grabbed his own cock and stroked it slowly while his lover's cock buried deep in his ass.
Darius grinned. "Here it comes, dude. I wanna see you shoot jizz all over that sexy body. You ready?" Pablo stroked faster, Darius plunged deeper ... and they both gasped as Pablo's cock splashed cum over his heaving body and he felt the gush of hot jizz filling his ass.
Darius leaned down again and kissed Pablo while their cocks drained. Then he pulled out slowly and watched Pablo wince as the massive rod pulled clear at last. Darius flopped down beside him and regained his breath. "'Course, you know it's that beautiful ass I'm in love with, don't you?" he kidded with a big grin. "Makes up for all the other ways you fuck up."
"Then I better keep it good and ready for your cock," Pablo chuckled. "They're old friends."
"I hope I made you feel better, bro. Like they say, it was good for me, was it good for you?"
Pablo laughed. "You know the answer to that, man. You just have to look at all this jizz on me."
"So, we spend the night together, and what comes next. dude? Another session with Doc Steve? You ready for that?"
"I don't think I'm ever ready for Steve. Tell you the truth, I feel nervous about it. He wants to see me again tomorrow `cos he says in today's session we only scratched the surface, whatever that means. His methods can get pretty wild."
"Yeah I know, definitely not in the official shrink's playbook. But if you get a mind-fuck from the doc you know where to come for a butt-fuck to, like, cleanse your palate. But enough about that for now. Like the lady said, `Fiddle dee-dee. I'll think about it tomorrow'."
Pablo laughed. "Such a scholar – and not a bad fuck either."
Darius wrapped his arms round his lover and that's how they slept.
<><> BOSSY WILL <><>
Early next morning they were still asleep when there was a knock at the door. It was Will carrying a big breakfast tray. "Rise and shine, guys. Here's breakfast, `cos I know you guys don't know how to boil an egg. I see from the mess in the kitchen you went for the gourmet beef and veggies last evening. Must have been one of those eat, fuck, sleep nights."
"Mornin', Will," Darius smiled rubbing his eyes. "You were a lifesaver last night with those frozen meals. It was delicious. How about I show my gratitude with a fuck?"
"Don't think I can't take your ten inches, dude, but not right now, thanks. I gotta help the twins get breakfast on the table for the guys. Then you better get to work, Darius, `cos Randy's in a stew about being behind schedule. And Pablo, you gotta get that cute ass up to Doc Steve's." Will's freckled face broke into a smile. "See, I've been keeping up with the grapevine."
"Damn, you can be a bossy, kid. You're starting to sound like Bob." Darius jumped out of bed, took the tray from him and put it down, then pulled him into a tight hug. Will felt the naked muscular body press against him and he groped down to Darius's cock. "Is this thing really ten inches?"
"Actually a bit bigger – 27 centimeters, I had a guy measure it."
"And then you fucked him I suppose."
"Sure, why else would a guy measure my dick?"
Will laughed. "I can't stop here talking trash with you dude. I gotta get to work – and so do you."
He was right, and after a quick breakfast Darius pulled on his black jeans and work boots. He smiled at Pablo. "Thanks for last night, bro, you were terrific – so was your ass. And good luck with your shrink session. I mean, what's the worst that can happen? You get a close-up look at that fucked-up brain of yours. Not a pretty sight."
"Fuck you, buddy," Pablo grinned. "But thanks, dude. You and your dick worked wonders."
<><> SCRATCHING THE SURFACE <><>
When Pablo was left alone all his fear and uncertainty came back and he found himself anxious to get up to Steve's. When he arrived Tommy was at the door to greet him as usual, and his glamorous but friendly smile put him at ease, as it was meant to. Tommy was good at that, putting nervous patients at ease, having worked with Steve for so long.
"Steve's out on the deck talking to Tyler and Finn about the garden but he asked me to take your through to the office. He won't be more than a few minutes." He offered a drink to Pablo, who declined, and Tommy left him alone. He looked round the office and when he came to the French widows overlooking the pool he watched Steve in conversation with Tyler and Finn.
Steve's lover Lloyd was there too. Apparently the architect was off work today as he was wearing just board shorts, looking very sexy, Pablo had to admit, with his tanned gym-honed body and classically handsome face. Pablo idly wondered why Lloyd was in the conversation and he felt a frisson of irritation as Tyler stood close to him.
If he had heard the gist of the conversation he would have been even more concerned, especially by Tyler's closing words. "OK, sir, I'll do it if it helps Pablo. You know I would do anything to help him – whatever it takes."
The meeting broke up, Steve came into the house and in a few seconds appeared in the office. "Hi, sorry to keep you waiting, Pablo – just tying up a few loose ends out there. OK, take a seat and we'll pick this up from where we left off yesterday."
"Sir, I have a question. Why did you say at the end of yesterday's session that we only scratched the surface?"
"Ah, excellent question Pablo, and it actually gets to the whole purpose of therapy and what we're doing here.
"See, we have talked often of the cycle of abuse – the anger, the act, the feeling of remorse, the apology and promise it will never happen again. But those are only the visible parts of the problem, the symptoms. The real source of the problem lies much deeper, harder to detect. Talking about it is useful as a first step, rather like taking medication for a persistent cough. But the doctor has to explore the reason for the cough, which takes a thorough examination."
"So," Pablo said, "what we've done so far is treat the symptoms by talking, then letting the dust settle. What we're doing next is a thorough examination ..."
"... so it doesn't happen again, exactly Pablo. What he have to do is pull the plant out by the root instead of just trimming the leaves. Let's see first how far we get with just a simple examination. When you saw Tyler having sex with Hassan do you know why you flew into a towering rage? Think about it before you answer."
But Pablo didn't have to think about it. "Because he's my boy and he was sucking another man's fucking dick, that's why."
"But we've already agreed that, according to the rules, it's OK for guys in the tribe to fool around. You know, everyone knows, that Tyler and his pal Finn fuck all the time."
"But Finn's his buddy – they work together and they're kinda fuck-buddies. But look at Hassan, he's this big fucking Marine, built like a brick shithouse, a big alpha stud and sexy as hell."
"Pablo, I think you've just described why Tyler, on the spur of the moment, horny without Finn, offered to suck Hassan's dick. To him it was just casual sex."
"Not with the Marine! That was not casual sex that was a betrayal."
"But it isn't with Finn? What's the difference?"
"There just is, that's all. Why can't you just accept that and let it rest?"
"Because it's my job not to `just accept' things. I have to look beneath the surface like we said."
"What if there is no below-the-surface, doc?" In his mind Pablo saw the scene vividly. "It's simple. I caught my boy sucking the soldier's dick, so I fought with the Marine, then punished my boy with a few slaps."
"And you'd do it again."
"Damn straight I would, yeah." Pablo stopped abruptly, realizing what he had just said."
"And so the cycle would be repeated."
"You're tricking me doc, laying traps for me. This ain't working, we're just going round in circles."
"I agree with you, Pablo. We've gone as far as talk will take us." Steve frowned and came to a decision. "Pablo, I want you to trust me and do what I tell you."
"I do trust you, doc. They all say your methods can get real weird but I don't care. I want my boy back. I'll do whatever it takes"
Steve smiled, "Funny, someone else said those same words to me a few minutes ago. OK, but you have to follow my lead and do what I say, even if things get painful for you."
"Cut the crap, doc and get on with it, whatever it is."
Steve stood up went to the French windows and looked out at the pool. "Come here, Pablo, there's something I want you to see."
<><> HITTING ROCK BOTTOM <><>
Pablo went to the window and followed Steve's gaze. He clenched his fists. "What the fuck?! That's my boy. What the hell is Lloyd doing to him?"
"He's fucking Tyler, just like Tyler sucked Hassan's cock. Believe me, it's consensual – look at the smile on Tyler's face."
Both men were naked. Tyler was on his back on a towel on the wooden deck, his legs raised, and Lloyd was kneeling behind his legs lubing up his cock. He smiled down at the excited boy and eased his cock in his ass."
"No! Fuck this shit, this is not what I signed up for, doc. He lunged for the handle of the French doors but they wouldn't open.
As he rattled them furiously Steve said calmly, "They're locked, Pablo. And please don't break the glass `cos you'll get cut and I'll have to bill you for the damage."
Pablo whirled on him. "You fucking moron. You call this therapy? You're not a shrink, you're a fucking quack. You're hurting my boy out there."
"No I'm not," Steve said in a level tone. "Look at his face grinning up at Lloyd. He's having a great time – and not breaking any rules."
"But why would he do this to me? Does he hate me that much?"
"He doesn't hate you, Pablo. He's doing this because he loves you so much – and because I asked him to."
"You what?! You fucking crazy asshole. OK, this bullshit ends right here. I'm going out there ..."
"... to beat up Lloyd and slap your boy around – like you did before?" Pablo please, I told you it would hurt but you said you'd do what I asked you to do. Tyler said that to help you he'd do whatever it takes – exactly what you said."
"What do you fucking want from me, asshole?"
"I want you to tell me why you're so angry, Pablo. Tell me the truth. Tell me - why?"
Pablo shouted, "'Cos I don't wanna lose my boy! Dammit he's getting fucked by Lloyd, a sexy mother-fucker with that gym body and great looks. He's rich and successful and seducing my boy. Hell, he's an architect, diplomas up the ass, designs all the buildings for the construction company, and I'm just a fucking grease monkey mending trucks all day. That's enough to make any boy leave me for a guy like him. I don't wanna lose him, Steve. He's my boy, I love him. I'm scared of losing him, don't you get that? I'm fucking scared, man."
Steve opened his arms and Pablo fell into them sobbing, "Please, doc, I don't wanna lose him to another guy."
"Pablo, you are not gonna lose him. You didn't lose him all the times you slapped him around, did you? You really think the kid gives a shit about what work guys do or how much money they make? Real love doesn't work like that. He idolizes you, boy, you're everything to him."
Steve's words calmed Pablo down a bit. Steve held him at arm's length and smiled. "Dude, I planned all this to make you angry and jolt you into finally blurting out the truth. Kind of mental electric shock treatment. I started what's going on out there and I can stop it if that's what you want."
Pablo looked through the window at Tyler who was grinning as Lloyd fucked him. "No, doc, don't stop it. He's having a good time, I don't wanna spoil his fun. I want what's best for my boy, doc. I want him to be happy."
"Come sit down, Pablo, I want to tell you a story. A long time ago when Bob and Randy first hired Lloyd as their architect, Bob and Lloyd went out to San Bernardino for an overnight trip to look at real estate they were interested in. They stayed the night in a hotel and one thing led to another and they fucked. Somehow Randy got wind of it – intuition, paranoia – and he drove out there. Bob being Bob he was open about it and told Randy what had happened.
"You can imagine ... Randy went totally apeshit. He beat up Lloyd, threw Bob in the back of his truck and drove out to the desert where he tied Bob behind the truck and dragged him through the sand to punish him. Insanely brutal right? And you know why he did it? Fear. He was scared shitless of losing Bob to Lloyd, `cos Lloyd was this classy, talented architect and Randy was just a gypsy construction worker. Those were his words. Sound familiar?
"The reason you're not scared of Tyler and Finn together is cos Finn's just a boy and no threat to you. But Lloyd is an attractive professional guy, and Hassan is this sexy alpha Marine. In your mind, because you're just' a mechanic, you feel inferior to them. That's why you're scared they'll steal your boy from you.
"It's amazing, Pablo, how life imitates life and boys imitate their dads. Randy's just' a construction worker, but through grit, hard work and determination he happens to have built a successful and respected company out of nothing. You are just' a mechanic, yet you have worked up from a young lost kid to become the expert, and essential, chief mechanic. The company would grind to a halt without you."
Pablo was listening calmly now. "I hear what you're saying, doc. But there's another thing. If I just let Lloyd and Tyler get away with this without saying anything Randy will think I've wimped out or something, I haven't lived up to his expectations."
"Ah Randy, yes, that's another thing. Pablo, tell me why you keep fighting to keep his respect and why you copy your dad in everything – even the anger and the fistfights."
"'Cos he's my hero, I don't wanna let him down. I don't wanna disappoint him."
"Why? What do you think would happen if you did?"
"Randy likes guys who are tough and stand up for themselves. If I didn't do that I'd lose his respect and he might even, like, lose interest in me and find another boy to train. Doc, I love the guy so much I'm ..."
"... scared of losing him? Like you're scared of losing Tyler? Pablo come over here to this mirror and look at yourself. What I see is a handsome stud with that chiseled Mestizo face and ripped body. I see a young jock full of confidence, a touch of arrogance even – a guy any man would be proud to have as his boy, and any boy would be proud to have as his man.
"And that's what everyone else sees in you. What they don't know is that inside that tough exterior is a frightened boy, scared of losing the two men he loves most. And it's that fear that makes you fly into a rage and lash out. Randy's the same. Dammit, he used to put Bob through hell sometimes, thinking the only way to keep him was to tie him down, literally, and dominate him. But you and I and everyone else know Bob is so much in love with the big gypsy he would never ever leave him."
"You make me sound like total basket case, Steve."
Steve chuckled. "Pablo, in my practice I see hundreds of troubled guys and you know what? In a majority of cases the root of their problems is fear and insecurity. Fear makes people act in irrational ways. Kiddo, in this world everyone's scared of something. And when love comes along out of nowhere it's so precious that the fear of losing it is always there. Show me a father who doesn't have fears for the kids he loves, a husband who hasn't said `I can't imagine life without her'."
Pablo grinned. "Dammit, doc, you really have a way of stripping a man naked. So what's the answer?"
"Just what we're doing now, Pablo – facing up to it. Don't bury the fear – look it straight in the eye. You're tough enough for that. In other words, man up – and I don't mean with fists. Be that confident young jock you see in the mirror.
"Pablo, at the beginning I told you we have to get right down to the root of your problem, to hit rock bottom. That meant tearing you down, making you scream and curse and sob – what we call a catharsis. Now we've done that we have to build you up. It'll take a while, you have to take it step by step."
"Can you at least point me in the right direction, doc?"
"Right now the direction is out by the pool – your boy. You see, Pablo, another feature of abuse is that the abused boy assumes it's all his fault. He mistakenly thinks he did something wrong and that's why you hit him. Tyler is working hard to make amends so you will forgive him. So you will forgive him! That sense of guilt can cause long-term damage in a boy. All his friends have told Tyler he is not at fault, that he did nothing wrong. But he won't really believe that unless you, his hero, can convince him.
"I would prefer that you still don't live together again for another week or so, but I think that right now Tyler needs more reassurance than just your words. Why don't you take him into the guestroom and ... hell, you don't need me to draw you a picture. You love the kid – you know what to do."
"I sure do, doc. Er, by the way, I'm sorry for all that stuff I yelled at you ... you know, crazy moron, asshole, quack, all that shit."
Steve threw his head back and laughed. Pablo, that was nothing to some of the insults I've had thrown at me by patients. If these walls could talk! They'd broaden even your vocabulary. Nah, think nothing of it, kid, it goes with the territory. At least you didn't slug me – that shows we're making progress don't ya think?
"Now go out there and do your thing with your boy, and I want to see you again in two days. Of course, you can call me night or day if there's a crisis."
"Thanks for everything, doc." Pablo shook Steve's hand, then pulled him into a hug. Pablo strode to the door with a new spring in his step while Steve smiled to himself and went to his desk to write up his notes.
<><> MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME <><>
Tyler was sitting alone by the pool in just his shorts, drying off after a swim to clean off. Lloyd and Finn were down in the garden talking about landscaping. As Pablo came out he had an odd feeling that all of this was choreographed by Steve, like a puppet master pulling the strings.
When he saw Pablo Tyler jumped to his feet and tensed. He flinched as Pablo approached him, but Pablo smiled, "Hey kiddo, please don't be afraid of me, `cos it's all good. Come with me into the guestroom you're sharing with Finn. I want us to talk."
When they were inside Tyler blurted out, "Sir, are you gonna punish me? See, I let Lloyd fuck me, but I was doing what Doc Steve asked me to `cos he said it would help you."
"And he was right, buddy. But of course I'm not gonna punish you. I know all about it cos I saw you and Lloyd from the window, as Steve intended me too. It was all part of his plan – his treatment' as he called it. Kiddo, I hate to see you scared of me. Come here." He wrapped his arms round his boy and held him tight until the shivering stopped.
"There that's better." They sat on the edge of the bed. "Kid, I don't want you ever to be frightened of me again. We love each other and that's not how a man behaves to a boy he loves. I've been a damn, hotheaded fool. All this is my fault – you are not to blame in any way. It's real important for you to believe that and I want to try and prove it to you.
"I had a kinda wild session with the doc and he opened my eyes to a lot of stuff. He said I behaved badly to you `cos I was scared of losing you."
Tyler's eyes opened wide. "Really, sir? But I've always been scared of losing you."
Pablo chuckled. "What a pair. Steve was right when he said everyone is scared of something, especially of losing someone he loves. But we're gonna put all that behind us, Tyler, `cos the fact is we never stopped loving each other, did we? I know I've said this before but this time I really think it's true. I don't wanna hurt you kiddo. Steve showed me how stupid that is and he's gonna help me keep my promise."
"That makes me real happy, sir."
"The doc said you and me can start living back together in a week or so. We gotta make up for lost time, `cos we got a whole lot of loving to do – starting right now. I know you just got through having sex with ..."
"Oh I can do it again, sir. I can always do it with you."
Pablo stood up and Tyler watched him pull off his T-shirt and kick off his boots. Pablo grinned, "So anyway, how was the fuck with Lloyd, kiddo?"
"Oh, it was great. Lloyd is a real nice man, handsome and all, but ... well, it was nothing like when you make love to me, sir."
"As you're gonna find out right now, boy." Pablo leaned down, picked Tyler up bodily and hugged him, his feet clear off the floor. Pressed against his master Tyler felt his muscles flex, even felt his heart beating against him. Pablo clamped an open-mouthed kiss on him, sealing their lips so they shared the same breath in and out.
While they kissed Pablo carried his boy to the bed, then laid him down gently on the sheets. He pulled down Tyler's shorts and smiled at him. "That's how I like my boy best – butt naked."
Pablo pulled opened his jeans and let them drop. Tyler gasped staring up at the naked jock, the mounds of his pecs, his eight-pack abs and long slim waist. He gazed at his exotic Mestizo features with high cheekbones, square jaw and tousled black hair. It was like a dream and he said, "Sir, it is real, isn't it? I mean, it's not gonna fade away."
Hey, I told you not to be scared anymore – that's in the past. All this is real, kiddo, and it belongs to us. This is real too. He stroked his swelling cock and Tyler slid his heels back on the bed, presenting his ass to his hero.
Pablo knelt on the bed between his legs, spat on his cock and pressed the head against Tyler's hole. "I love you, sir," Tyler breathed as he felt Pablo's cock sliding slowly into his ass. He was used to the fierce fucks of the past when Pablo instinctively copied Randy, but this was different. This time his cock made love to his ass, caressing it gently.
"Kinda feels like the first time, eh, kiddo? Like the first time we made love. This is how it's gonna be from now on. Except ..." He grinned, leaned over Tyler and pinned his wrists to the bed and teased him with the same fantasy he had shared with Darius. "When we're living back together maybe I'll tie you up so you'll be there whenever I come home horny and wanna fuck. All day you'd be thinking about how my dick's gonna feel when I come in and shove it in you."
Tyler smiled, "Trouble is sir, I'd fantasize about it all day and I'd keep cumming even if I couldn't touch myself."
"Yeah, fantasies are all very well but there's nothing like the real thing, eh? Like this ..." Pablo made love to his boy for a while longer gazing into his wide-open eyes until Tyler asked, "Can I touch you, sir?''
Pablo released his hands and pulled back, kneeling upright while Tyler reached up to stroke his chest and feel his sinews rippling beneath the smooth flesh. Pablo wrapped a hand round the boy's rigid cock and stroked it. "I want us to cum together kiddo. Can you do that?"
"I can do whenever you want me to, sir. I'm real close ... oh, actually real close, sir.' His breathing got heavy as Pablo smiled down at him and said, "I love you, Tyler. This is for keeps. Here it comes, kid ... damn I love your ass. I'm gonna cum ... fuck, yeah ... aaah." He sighed deeply and flooded his boy's ass with his jizz while he stroked Tyler's cock and watched a stream of juice splash down on his lithe young body.
They smiled at each other, then laughed with the joy of knowing they had entered a new chapter in their lives. Tyler lay in Pablo's arms feeling safer and more secure than he had ever felt in his life.
<><> THE VISIT <><>
They could have stayed like that all day, but eventually, reluctantly, Pablo said, "I gotta get off to work, kiddo. Randy will be wondering where I got to after my shrink session."
But in fact Pablo was wrong. Randy was not at the construction site. He had taken time off work to pay a visit.
In the house across the street from the tribe's compound another man had just got off work too. He was still wearing military fatigues and a sleeveless denim shirt hanging open over his brawny chest, when there was a knock at the door.
The Marine Captain looked up and smiled. "Ah Randy, I've been expecting you. What took you so long? You got something to say to me about me and Pablo? OK, let's have it, man."
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength – Chapter 508
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.
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