A Trial of Strength

A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 498 By Rob Williams

Chapter 498 – "CHAD FALLS IN – OUT OF HIS DEPTH"

IN THIS CHAPTER:

Still searching for monogamous love, rather than carnal lust, hunky Dr. Chad wonders which of the tribe's men might end up sharing his new house with him. After getting his ass ploughed by the macho young mechanic Pablo, Chad later forges a tight bond of friendship with the sexy Aussie Adam. It looks as if brotherly love might evolve into the sexual relationship he seeks, until suddenly his hopes are dashed. ___________________________________________________________________

IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER

Doctor Chad was a new arrival to the tribe and new to man-on-man sex. But he was instantly attracted to so many good-looking, sexy men and boys of the tribe and had already fucked with a number of them. He confessed to the tribe's therapist, Dr. Steve, that he felt like the proverbial `kid in a candy store'.

Steve smiled, "And you yourself Chad are the tastiest eye-candy in the store so all those guys were only too happy to hit the sack with you."

"Kind of. But Steve that's not me. I don't wanna be a fuck machine, sleeping with every guy I meet. See, I'm really a one-man kinda guy. When I fall in love it'll be just us two guys and our dog, sharing my new house – faithful lovers sipping cocktails before the fire, with an equally faithful golden retriever ... and wisteria over the door."

"I know, buddy, I heard about the monogamous lover, the fireplace and the dog ... and that wisteria thing is already the stuff of legend in the tribe. But while you're searching for Mr. Right my advice is to keep on sampling the candy offerings and eat your fill until you find that guy.

"You've fallen into a honeypot, dude, so enjoy the sweet taste until someone pulls you out – someone with a golden retriever and a bunch of wisteria. The fact is, Chad, you have probably met the guy already. You won't know it at first and it'll take time for the penny to drop, but when it does, bingo ... it's cocktails by the fire."

Chad took Steve's advice. He had bought a house close to the tribe which needed a lot of renovation, and several of the men and boys of the tribe were helping him. As he met them one by one he had a more-or-less permanent erection and wondered in the back of his mind if any of them would be the man who would end up as his faithful lover sipping cocktails with him.

The list was long. The tribe's leaders Bob and Randy were very involved in the house. Bob was helping Chad finance the purchase, and Randy, the rugged construction boss, was in charge of the renovations. Also, the neglected garden was a wilderness and the handsome Italian Mario was planning new landscaping, to be carried out by the young gardeners Finn and Tyler.

The cleaning inside the house was taken on by Adam's boy Nate. When Chad first met the hunky Australian Adam he was struck by his rugged Aussie looks. But unlike every other man, Adam did not make Chad's dick hard. That was something of a relief, which Chad put down to a lack of chemistry between them.

As Chad sat at the tribe's communal dinner he looked at all the fine faces round the table and the playful thought crossed his mind that, as he looked from man to man, whoever made his cock bulge hardest would be the one.

But then he met the construction worker Seth, the most unlikely of the men to end up sipping martinis by the fire. Seth had started as a rough-and-ready day laborer and had worked his way up to the manager of one of the tribe's construction divisions. He lived alone in the small guesthouse on the grounds of Dr. Steve's house and told Chad he would like to move into the tribe's compound to be with the other guys, but currently there was no room there.

Meanwhile Seth watched the sunset alone most evenings. "Who knows," he shrugged, "one day I'll meet a guy who'll wanna share the view with me. Except I'm no good at conversation. Can't imagine any guy who'd wanna spend time with me – except fucking, I'm good at that."

Seth was a tough guy, brawny and wild looking with rugged features and shaggy hair. After Dr. Chad had fixed up his sprained ankle Seth blurted out, "Damn, you are one sexy son of a bitch, doc. I'm real horny and I could kinda go for being butt-fucked by a musclehunk top guy and you sure fit the bill.

Chad was seduced by Seth's gritty sexuality and the ensuing sex was raw and wild, laced with obscenities. When it was over they stared at each other in disbelief at the crazy way they had behaved. Seth grinned, "Fuck, that was hot, doc. We gotta do that again soon."

Damn, Chad thought, he hadn't expected this. Seth was not a guy he had thought of as a potential lover, but god he was exciting. He was alone a lot and wondered if there was a man out there he could share the sunset with. Plus he was looking for a new place to live.

But what about all the other men he had met, the handsome faces round the dinner table, some he had even made love to already. And even the guys he had met just today – Mario, Adam, and now Seth? He had tried to push his obsessive search into the background and get on with his life, but he had such a strong feeling that one of these guys would be the man for him.

What had Steve had told him? "Doc, you've probably met the guy already. You won't know it at first and it'll take time for the penny to drop, but when it does ... it's cocktails by the fire."

That penny-drop moment seemed so far away. And yet that nagging inner voice kept telling him it was just around the corner.

******************* CHAPTER 498 ******************

<><> CHAD'S NEW LIFE <><>

The next couple of weeks were a blur of activity for Chad. His main preoccupation was his new prestigious job as Director of Surgery at a nearby hospital, which he planned to transform into a state-of-the-art facility for the treatment of sports injuries and work accidents.

That all coincided with the onerous task of renovating his new house and moving in. Boss Randy, in charge of the remodeling, estimated the work would take two weeks, and Chad spent much of that time at the house conferring with Randy and the other guys working on it.

He met several times with Adam's boy Nate whose home-management company had contracted to do the initial cleanup and regular cleaning thereafter. Once or twice Adam showed up to pick up his boy and he and Chad talked a lot about his plans for the house and garden.

Adam had once owned a house in Sydney and as they talked they found that they had much in common, and they soon became good buddies. Chad felt comfortable with the easy-going Adam for the odd reason of not getting a hard-on when they met. Chad was trying to push sex to the back of his mind and not to dwell too much on his search for a lover to share his house, so the lack of sexual chemistry with Adam worked just fine.

Chad quickly fell into a routine of spending much of his day at the hospital then returning to the new house in the late afternoon to check on the guys' progress. One day he met with the tribe's two young gardeners, Finn and Tyler, who were working hard on the extensive grounds that had long been neglected, and the garden was pretty much a wilderness.

Chad knew Finn well as he was the boy of the hunky Hispanic Miguel and they had recently spent a sex-filled weekend in the dunes. But he knew less about the other boy, Tyler, who was Pablo's boy and tended to be rather shy. Chad was even less familiar with Pablo with whom he had so far exchanged only a few words.

All he knew was that Pablo had been with the tribe almost from the beginning as Randy's boy, and that Randy had later adopted him as his son.

As the construction company's chief mechanic Pablo had grown into a tough authoritative young jock. He modeled himself on his hero Randy, in his muscular physique, his words and deeds, and his macho attitude, bordering sometimes on arrogance. Perversely, this brash masculine image turned Chad on and he looked forward to getting to know Pablo better. That opportunity was about to arrive.

<><> THE DOC MEETS THE BOSS'S BOY <><>

After Chad's meeting with the two young gardeners Tyler said, "Sir, Pablo will be coming to pick me up soon so I'll have to leave and he'll take me home. See, I'm his boy and he's ..."

"Yes, the boss's boy, I know Tyler," Chad smiled. "And that's OK, we've almost finished here anyway." Just then, on cue, they heard Pablo's truck pull up outside and he came striding across the garden.

Having come straight from work he was an imposing sight, shirtless in grubby blue jeans and boots, his muscled physique streaked with oil and grease. An old rag hanging from his back pocket somehow accentuated the curve of his gorgeous ass in his tight jeans, the ass that had first attracted Randy to him and which the boss had invaded often. To watch Randy butt-fuck Pablo was a master-class in how macho men fuck.

Tyler ran up to Pablo and into a tight hug. "Hey, kid, how's it going? Damn, this place is a mess ... shitload of work getting it in shape." He broke free, walked up to Chad and held out his hand. "Hi, doc," he smiled, "you putting my boy through his paces? He gives you any trouble you just let me know. I know just how to treat this young rascal when he steps out of line, eh kiddo?" He ruffled Tyler's hair and the boy blushed and grinned happily.

Grasping Pablo's hand firmly Chad smiled, "Tyler and Finn are doing a terrific job, Pablo, but there's a long way to go. You're right, the garden is a disaster zone but our handsome Italian buddy Mario has created a great landscape design and he's helping the boys."

Pablo was staring hard at Chad, and grinned, "I never realized what a good-looking stud you are, doc. I never really noticed you in the dinner crowd but I can see why my dad was so hot to fuck your ass." Chad smilingly accepted the compliment, brushing aside the indirect put-down of not previously noticing him, plus the fact that his dad Randy had already butt-fucked Chad.

Finn went back to work but Tyler followed Pablo and Chad as they walked slowly through the long grass discussing all the work to be done. At first they were somewhat tentative with each other but it gradually dawned on both men that their hesitancy was caused by growing sexual vibes between them.

Once again Chad had a hard-on just being next to Pablo, which somewhat dismayed him as he was trying to stifle any sexual feelings that would get in the way of all the work he had to do. Pablo however took his own growing lust as natural – it was who he was, son of Randy, it just went with the territory.

The similarity between Pablo and Randy was another thing that roused Chad. Randy was a naturally dominant alpha male, with his rugged gypsy looks, a born leader of men whose swagger added to his magnetic sex appeal.

And in some ways Pablo was a junior version, with the same natural acceptance of his own authority and good looks. He was muscular, like his dad, though his high-cheeked Mestizo features were different from Randy's swarthy blue-eyed gypsy.

Chad noted that Pablo had not once called him sir' as all the other boys did, referring to him as doc' or dude'. It would actually have seemed out of place hearing this tough young jock say sir' and Chad felt sure the only men he ever addressed as sir were Randy and his lover Bob.

When Chad came out of his reverie he realized that Pablo was talking about Randy, one of his favorite topics. "Doc, you couldn't have a better man doing your renovations than my dad. He's known in the construction trade as the best in the business. And when he gives orders everyone obeys – or else. Quick with his fists too. I've seen him get in lots of knock-down drag-out fights and he always comes out on top.

"Yep, no one says no to Randy" – Pablo grinned wickedly – "not even you, dude, when he pounded your ass in front of the fireplace in your empty house." Chad looked startled but Pablo chuckled, "Ah, my dad and me tell each other everything, and anyway he fucks every guy who joins the tribe – it's his seal of approval, a guy has to get that. Randy told me you and him christened the house with that fuck and you'll remember it every time you sit there by the fire."

Chad was stunned to be reminded of this event in so much detail and realized even more how Pablo was a junior version of Randy in thought, word and deed. Especially in deed, as he was about to discover.

"Yeah, my dad and me work together. I mean, him and you christened the inside of the house, but what about the garden here? Stands to reason, my dad does the inside job and leaves me to take care of the outside. So let's christen the garden, doc, in a place that's gonna be your favorite, a spot where you'll always remember this day."

Often during Pablo's swaggering speech Chad glanced at Tyler and was struck by the shining look of hero-worship in the boy's eyes. This was the master Tyler idolized, the strutting boss's boy praising Randy and implicitly asserting his authority even over the virile doctor.

Chad realized that Pablo was showing off to his boy who was hanging on his every word, eagerly waiting to witness Pablo's dominance. Chad did not want to disappoint the shy young guy – and anyway the handsome mechanic's butch act had Chad's cock straining in his pants. Still, he felt he couldn't just take this bombast lying down (literally) so he made light of it all.

"Hey, Pablo, I know you're Randy's boy and all but you don't have to come on like gangbusters. You seriously suggesting that we find a future `favorite spot' and christen it like Randy did? You think I'm just gonna surrender my ass to you?"

Even as he spoke Chad noticed the flicker of disappointment in Tyler's eyes and he almost regretted his words. But he needn't have worried as Pablo sailed confidently above it all. "Sure you will, doc, mostly because of that huge boner you got straining against those tailored slacks of yours. I know lust when I see it, dude, and I get to see it a lot. Think of it as a baptismal fuck, doc. Hey, this looks like the spot."

They had come to a secluded part of the garden, a small clearing among the fruit trees, still wild with long grass as yet untouched by the gardeners, but none-the-less with a serene beauty of its own. Chad recalled that Mario had marked this on his landscape design as what he called un giardino segreto – Chad's secret garden. Definitely the right spot for a baptism, Chad grinned.

"OK, if you insist, Pablo." Chad walked purposefully to the middle of the long grass. Staring straight into Pablo's brown eyes he unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off. He unbuckled his belt, unzipped his slacks and let them fall.

Tyler gasped, seeing the doctor naked for the first time. His mind flashed on a classical statue of a naked warrior he had seen in Mario's garden of the Grady House. It had Chad's chiseled physique, broad solid shoulders and bulging pecs, his flared lats narrowing to a slim waist. And below that a tangle of pubic hair out of which rose his long cock, hard as sculpted marble. There was a smile on his square-cut features, and his tousled light brown hair fell down almost to his seductive hazel eyes.

Tyler subconsciously felt the significance of the macho doc stripping naked before the shirtless mechanic, who kept on his oil-streaked jeans and boots. It was a symbolic act of one top-man surrendering his power to another. But for once Pablo lost his boastful attitude, almost (but not quite) intimidated by the man's chiseled beauty.

"Damn, I can see why my dad wanted you so bad, doc. It'll be a privilege to shove my dick in that gorgeous ass. " There was no feeling of triumph as he opened his pants, pulled out his cock and fell to his knees in the grass. Both men stroked their dicks, gazing into each other's eyes, prolonging the moment before one drove his rod inside the other.

Tyler watched mesmerized as the man he worshiped got ready to perform his own act of worship on the muscle-god beneath. The boy was only dimly aware of footsteps behind him. Randy had taken a break from work in the house and come outside for a breath of air. He had noticed action in a distant part of the garden and now came up behind Tyler.

"So what's going on, kiddo?" he said softly. Tyler turned, looked up at Randy and said, "Sir, you will not believe ... Pablo is gonna fuck the doc!"

"Well sure he is," Randy shrugged. "He's my boy ain't he? I already fucked the doc, so Pablo comes next – it's all in the family. And one day soon it'll be your turn, kid." Randy threw his arm round Tyler's shoulder. "So let's just stand back and watch and let you learn from your master."

<><> THE FAMILY THAT FUCKS TOGETHER... <><>

There was a difference in the way Pablo and Randy fucked the doctor. Randy had been as dominant as always, the boss ploughing the newcomer's ass as a right, exercising his droit du seigneur in a ferocious fuck without foreplay, where Chad was so turned on he would have let the savage gypsy do anything.

But even though Pablo strutted as the boss's boy, in the tribe's hierarchy he was just a senior boy and Chad had been instantly accepted as a master. So when their cock-stroking foreplay ended Pablo was less forceful and more respectful of the macho doctor. He spat on his palm and wetted his cock, grinning, "Spit only, doc, that's the way we work," (still implying that this was an extension of what Randy had done to Chad).

He pushed one of Chad's legs back and stared down at the exposed ass. "Damn, you're a gorgeous son of a bitch, doc. I'm gonna love this." He pressed his cock against the hole then drove it in deep. Randy had made Chad howl in pain, but this time he sighed and gazed up at the handsome young mechanic, his muscles rippling as he prepared for action.

Pablo pulled back and drove in again with increasing force, but never anything to match Randy's savage attack. Chad smiled up at him. "Damn, you're hot, Pablo. Now I see why you're the boss's boy. OK, dude, fuck my ass – give me something to remember every time I sit here in the garden."

Pablo's cock ramped up the action and pistoned inside the glorious body as they pressed their hands on each other's chest, digging their fingers into the solid pecs like wrestlers pushing against each other in a power struggle. But they were not fighting for supremacy – they just wanted to feel each other's flesh as one stud pounded the other's ass.

As Randy and Tyler watched Randy explained quietly. "See, kiddo, this is boss's boy versus alpha doc – a young stud mechanic and a hot new master. Pablo could fuck a man senseless, I've seen him do it, but he can be respectful like he is now, and even loving and tender as he is with you. That's the way I've trained him, Tyler, and I love him for it. Hell, I love that man ... he's my hero just as he is yours. Now watch as he toys with the doc's ass."

Instead of a brutal fuck ending in an explosive orgasm, Pablo was teasing Chad, edging him by bringing him right to the brink of his climax, then denying it by slowing down to a slow massage, driving the musclehunk wild. In frustration he gut-punched the mechanic's abs. "Fuck you, man, I'm so close ... that all you got, boy? Make me cum goddammit."

The demeaning word `boy' riled the quick-to-anger Pablo. He almost lost control but heard Randy clear his throat, which restrained him and made him resume the teasing, edging fuck.

Chad continued gut-punching him to make him lose his temper and fuck him till he climaxed, but Pablo absorbed the blows by tensing his iron-hard abs which excited Chad even more. He stared up at the bulging veins in Pablo's flexed arms and chest as sweat mixed with the oil and grease running down the exotic Mestizo face and muscled body.

The homoerotic image of the tough young mechanic pounding ass made Chad moan, "Man, I gotta cum. Let me touch my cock and jerk off, dude. I gotta cum."

"We can do better than that, doc." Pablo looked up at Tyler and said, "Hey, kid, like I said, it's a family affair so come here and give me a hand – actually a mouth."

Randy grinned at Tyler. "Go for it, kiddo, you know what to do."

"Yes, sir." As Tyler knelt down in the grass beside Chad, Pablo pulled the boy's head toward him and kissed him hard. Then he smiled, "OK kid, let's you and me finish him off, eh?"

Tyler grinned, thrilled to be included, and smoothly lowered his mouth over the doctor's rigid cock. He could already taste pre-cum oozing from it as Chad's hand folded behind the boy's head and his other hand dug into Pablo's chest. They all heard Randy's guttural laugh, having the last word, as always. "OK, guys, do it. Do it now!"

Dazed by Pablo's cock hammering his ass and Tyler's mouth working his cock Chad writhed and groaned, "Fuck, I'm gonna cum ... fuck ... fuuuck!" He spurted juice down Tyler's throat and heard Pablo's triumphant "Yeaaah!" as his ass filled with the mechanic's jizz.

Pablo pulled his cock out and fell on his back beside Chad, both gasping for breath. Randy pulled Tyler up ono his feet and smiled at him. "So what d'ya think, kiddo? You think we should jack off over these two muscle-heads?"

"Yes please, sir." Side by side they pulled out their raging cocks and soon Randy yelled, "You ready kid? Let's get `em." Pablo and Chad stared up as twin gushers splashed cum on their faces and chests and Randy laughed, "That's what you call keeping it in the family, guys."

Pablo stood up, pulled Chad up beside him and they stared at each, semen dripping from their faces and down their chests. "Damn, will you look at us," Pablo laughed. He pulled the old rag from his back pocket and wiped his face and chest, then wiped the cum and sweat off Chad.

He draped the wet rag over Chad's shoulder. "Here, this is yours, doc – a reminder of the day me and my guys christened your favorite spot in the garden. You OK now, buddy?"

"After getting the family treatment?" Chad grinned. "Never better."

Pablo shook Chad's hand, and Randy said, "How d'you like my boys, doc? Great ain't they. And so were you, stud."

Tyler hugged Chad. "Thank you, sir."

While Chad pulled on his clothes Randy and Pablo bumped fists and Randy said proudly, "That's my boy." Then they both hugged a beaming Tyler.

"OK, kiddo," Pablo said to his boy, better get you home. Walk us to the gate, Randy."

With Tyler between them Randy and Pablo threw their arms over the boy's shoulders and headed for the gate. Chad watched them leave, the tight little family laughing together as they walked through the long grass.

Tears came to Chad's eyes. That's what he wanted, a family like that. He wanted it so bad.

<><> CHAD HAS A GREAT IDEA <><>

With so much work to do the two weeks went by quickly in a blur of activity. True to his promise Randy was on track to meet his deadline and Chad walked round his new house beaming with pleasure. "Randy you're a knockout. It's just what I wanted, plus features I would never have thought of." He asked why Randy had built a discreet ramp to the front door, as well as steps.

"We got a couple a' kids in wheelchairs, Brandon and Brian, so there have to be ramps to all our buildings. The firmness and finality of Randy's words brooked no objection and once again reminded the doc of how Randy took care of the boys – his boys as he thought of them.

At noon every day at noon the young red-haired chef Will came by with trays of packed lunches for Randy's crew and Nate and his workers. There were not many guys eating lunch back at the compound so Will was freed up to feed the hungry workers here. He was always one of Randy's favorites and the smiling gypsy ruffled his hair. "Hey Red, you're a life-safer, what you got for us today?" Then confidentially, "You pack a beer for me?"

"Wouldn't dare forget that, sir. You might whip my ass."

"In your dreams, kiddo."

Nate and his crew of energetic boys were tackling the major task of cleaning out all the trash and then waxing floors and polishing surfaces. "How's it going, Nate?" Chad asked.

"Pretty good, mate," Nate grinned. "We're going room by room as Randy finishes up each one. The main rooms will be furniture-ready right away." He shrugged. "And when Randy's done he'll move on to Adam's and my house that needs a major renovation. So we're trying to work out where we'll be living for the next week or so."

"Surely some of the guys have guestrooms don't they?"

"Yeah, but we don't wanna crowd them. You know us, we like our privacy, so we were even thinking of moving into a hotel for a week. Adam gets an airline discount so we could afford it. Anyway, that's our problem, sir, not yours. You've got enough on your plate right here. Have you hired a moving company to get your furniture from your old apartment?"

"Nate," Chad said helplessly, "like I told you, I'm clueless about all this."

"Well my blokes could do the smaller stuff and in the past I've worked with a real good mover for the heavy stuff. I might use them to move out our own furniture and put it in Randy's warehouse for the week. No doubt about it mate," Nate said cheerfully, "gonna be a helluva busy week."

Nate went off to check on his boys, leaving a bemused Chad in the middle of the bare living room. He hated being so clueless and depending on Nate so much. And then suddenly he got a clue. Of course, why didn't I think of that before?"

He went and found Nate. "Nate, I've got it, the perfect solution. That guest suite I've got upstairs, is it finished?"

"Randy's guys are just completing it now, sir, and it'll take us just a few hours to clean it up."

"So that's it, Nate, that's the answer. Why don't you and Adam move in there while you're out of your place? You could even move your furniture in there rather than put it in storage." Before Nate could reply they were interrupted by a shout. "Hey, where are you, mate?"

"Up here, Adam." Adam came in wearing sweat pants and a black tank top that was wet with sweat and clung to his muscular torso. He put his gym bag down and said, "Hey, mates, I was on my way home from the gym and thought I'd drop in, see how things are going? Damn, what a transformation. Randy's worked wonders here. Hope he does our place even half as well."

Chad shook hands and said, "As a matter of fact, Adam, I have just come up with a brilliant idea about your place." He repeated his conversation with Nate and his solution. "I mean, Nate will be spending a lot of time working here anyway, and nobody's gonna let you guys move into a hotel, for chrissake. I know you guys like your privacy and the suite here is huge, even got its own kitchen, so I won't even know you're here. How about it, dude?"

A smile spread slowly over Adam's rugged, Aussie face. "You sure, mate? It does seem to kill several birds with one stone. But don't you wanna enjoy your new house on your own, doc?"

Chad looked a bit embarrassed. "Well that's another thing. Tell you the truth, Adam, now that the time's come for me to act like a grownup I'm kinda nervous about rattling round in this big place on my own. It'll be good to know there's other guys living here, even if only for the first week. And if you ever feel like keeping me company that'd be great too. Or not, just as you like."

"What d'ya think, Nate?" Adam asked. "Sound good to you?"

"Well, mate, it's better than crowding in with the other blokes, and a damn sight more appealing than a hotel. So I say, as the doc here is being so generous, it's an offer we can't refuse."

"Chad," Adam smiled, "sounds like you got yourself a deal, buddy. They shook hands warmly.

<><> MOVING IN <><>

When it came to it the double move was less traumatic than they anticipated, thanks mostly to an army of men and boys who showed their affection for Dr. Chad by mobilizing to move his stuff. As the compound's house manager, Eddie put himself in charge, yelling orders right and left, often getting mocking responses. The banter grew louder as several trucks drove to Chad's old apartment and another picked up furniture from Adam's house.

In the middle, like ringmasters directing circus clowns, Chad and Adam tried and failed to control the apparent chaos. But in spite of everything the operation worked and by the end of the day the furniture and effects were installed, haphazardly, it's true, but as Adam said to Chad, "No worries, mate. We've got a whole week to turn this mess into home-sweet-home."

Adam and Nate's guest suite was self-contained but inevitably they spent a lot of time with Chad in the main house. Adam said to Nate, "He's bound to feel a bit adrift at first so I think he'd like our company as much as possible."

So they helped him set up the living room until it looked cozy-chic, centered on the huge fireplace and the couch and shaggy hearthrug in front of it. They all tried their hand in the kitchen, getting in each other's way, laughing a lot at their amateurish attempts at cooking. "Where's Will when you need him?" Chad laughed.

One time when Chad and Nate were alone in the kitchen Chad broached a subject that had been on his mind. "Nate, I know how much you and Adam prefer to be alone, so please don't feel you have to keep me company. That was the whole idea of your separate guest suite."

"Ah, no worries, mate, we're enjoying ourselves – gets us out of our rut. And to tell you the truth, just between you and me, we were in a bit of a rut, getting scratchy with each other.

"Oh, nothing serious, but you know how it is when two guys spend most of their time together they can get on each other's nerves a bit. It's kinda like we've said everything there is to say and we've run out of conversation. Frankly I'm glad Adam has you to talk to, doc. You two are about the same age, have a lot in common and you've become good buddies. I always think it's good for a guy to have platonic friends `cos sex can muck things up and ruin a friendship.

"Actually it helps me out too a bit. I heard from an Aussie buddy of mine from Sydney who's visiting San Diego and he asked me to drive down and spend the day with him, maybe stay overnight. I didn't wanna leave Adam on his own but now he's got you for company I think I will."

"Funny," Chad smiled, "but the house won't seem the same without you, you've been around so much and worked so hard on it. But go and enjoy yourself if Adam agrees. Somehow I don't think he and I will run out of conversation anytime soon."

Adam thought it was a good idea for Nate to get away for a while. "You've worked so bloody hard, mate, you deserve a break. A change of air will do you good. And when you get back I'll be right here, hot and horny, ready to jump on that sexy body of yours.

Early one morning two days later, after long hugs and promises to Adam to drive carefully, Nate hit the road south, and Chad and Adam were alone in the house. Adam had to go into his airline office for a few hours and Chad spent some of the morning emptying packing boxes.

Bob dropped by to see how Chad was settling in. "Early days yet, Bob, but tell me something. Can I really afford all this? Must be soaking up money."

"Chad, as your business manager I keep a close eye on your finances and you're doing just fine. All those years you threw yourself into your work you earned real good money and never spent any. You were like a hermit, never went out. So yes you can afford it.

"There is one thing I draw the line at for now and that's the lap pool. I know you want one and Randy can put one in, but it's expensive, he gave me an estimate. I'd like all the bills to come in on this lot first and let the dust settle before we embark on a project like that, OK?"

"Aye-aye, sir, you're the boss. Hey what do think of my idea for Adam and Nate to stay here while they're exiled from their house?"

"It was a great idea, Chad. Someone to keep you company in that first week when you might feel disoriented all alone here, and it solves their problem of them finding somewhere to stay while Randy's doing their house." He gave Chad a curious look that Chad couldn't pin down. "Yeah," Bob smiled, "for lots of reasons I think it's a very good idea."

Chad chuckled. "Bob, why do I always get the feeling you got some plan taking root in that handsome head of yours?

"Just your imagination, doctor," Bob smiled enigmatically. "Nothing's taking root ... smoldering maybe ... and it might not even catch fire. Time will tell. But right now I have to love you and leave you, buddy. That damn budget awaits me in the office. Have fun with these boxes."

Again Chad was left alone and the house felt empty. He sat on a packing box, sighed and listened to the silence. And suddenly he knew what he wanted, what he needed. He made up his mind. He wanted to do it now, today. He heard a car pull up outside and Adam came in from work. Impulsively Chad said, "Adam, I know what this house needs, so I'm gonna do it."

"Do what, Chad?"

"I'm gonna get a dog."

"So soon?"

"Yeah, the house won't come alive until I have one. I Googled it already and the city has an animal shelter ten minutes from here just across Figueroa on Lacy Street." He hesitated. "Buddy, I need to ask a favor. I know when I get there I'm gonna fall apart, all those pathetic faces in cages begging to be chosen. Will you come with me, dude – you know, moral support?"

"'Course I will, Chad. Come on ... let's do it."

<><> HELLO MOLLY <><>

As soon as they got to the shelter they heard the dogs barking and Chad tensed. Adam smiled. "Courage mon brave, we'll choose him fast otherwise you'll come home with all of them." The attendant was helpful and Chad said, "Do you have any golden retrievers?"

"Well, sir, we don't get too many purebreds, and when we do they're adopted fast. Our dogs are nearly all mix-breeds, all shapes and sizes – mutts you're gonna fall in love with."

"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. We'll just look around, OK?"

As they walked between the cages Chad grabbed Adam's arm. "I'm not sure I can do this, buddy. The way they're all leaping up with those pleading eyes." But he steeled himself and they looked for a golden retriever. They were separated for a minute and then Adam came over to Chad and tugged at his elbow. "Hey, dude, come and look at this."

Chad thought the cage was empty for a minute until he saw a shaggy brown bundle huddled in the back. The mutt's head rested forlornly on his paws, as if he had given up, but he suddenly raised his face and Chad found himself looking into large, sad brown eyes. They stared at each other for a long moment, and Chad said, "That's the one, Adam. Quick get the staff."

Chad asked the attendant what breed the dog was and she smiled. "Hard to say, sir. This one is a real mix, I mean lots of ingredients. Same size as a golden so it's possible there's a little bit in there – along with everything else. I'd say her ancestors slept around a lot. She's about three years old."

"She? I was looking for a boy ..." The dog whimpered softly stood up and wagged her tail weakly. "Well now," the attendant said, "I haven't seen her do that since she got here."

"I'll take her," Chad said. "Is she available now?"

"Sure is. We hold them five days before they can be adopted, but she's been here almost two weeks already – rather hard to adopt. See, she's quiet and a bit goofy looking so people don't really notice her."

"Goofy's good," Chad said. "What do you think, Adam?"

"I think you found your girl, buddy."

The paperwork took quite a long time but she was already spayed and had her shots so Chad paid the fees and half an hour later they were walking her to Chad's car. "What you gonna call her?" Adam asked.

"Her name's Molly. Yeah that's it. We'll call her Molly."

<><> Two Men & A Dog <><>

For the next few hours it was all about Molly naturally. As Chad drove, Molly sat in the back on the back seat with Adam and licked his face. Chad grinned into the rear-view mirror. "Well she sure seems to have taken to you, man. Maybe she's got some Aussie blood in her."

"Why not?" Adam laughed. "She seems to have every other kind."

They stopped at a pet store and Chad left them in the car while he went in and bought a collar and leash, a bag of kibble, a dish and treats. When he came back he held up the dish that had Molly printed on it. "Look what I got. They had lots of names and Molly was one of them."

"Sshh," Adam said. "She's asleep." Molly had fallen asleep with her head on Adam's lap – and for some reason Chad's heart gave a leap.

When they got to the house Molly jumped down from the car and followed the men into the garden, stopping to sniff often, and then squatted and peed. "Marking her territory," Adam grinned. "And you know it is her territory, doc – she knows it is."

Within a few hours Molly was a changed girl – no longer the mournful mutt, now energetic and curious, exploring her new home. She followed Chad and Adam everywhere and when they split up in different rooms she seemed confused about which one to follow. She whimpered and wagged her tail when they were back together again.

They spent the rest of the day unpacking boxes, with Molly shoving her nose into everything. Adam commented on a lot of the pieces he pulled from a box. He held up a particularly hideous, misshapen purple dish. "Mate, this is what we Aussies would call ugly. Don't tell me – a graduation present from an old aunt who made you promise to treasure it always."

"Fuck you buddy, that was dear old Aunt Ada, who also, by the way, helped with the expenses of medical school. She said she was sure I would find a good use for it ..."

"... which you never did, of course."

"That's beside the point ... you really can be an asshole sometimes." They looked at each other and burst out laughing. And that set the tone of the rest of the day, as when they positioned an armchair, stood back to appraise it, then looked at each other with a simultaneous "Nah" and moved it elsewhere. When they tentatively moved the couch closer to the fire Molly instantly jumped on it and curled up. Chad laughed, "Well, that got her seal of approval so it stays."

The banter continued right through dinner prep where the contest for kitchen incompetence sent them skidding downhill fast. Chad filled a blender with fruit and protein powder for smoothies but neglected to put the top on before he started it. Fruit surged up and splashed everywhere, including on Chad's face. Adam roared with laughter – "Good on ya, mate" – so Chad scooped mashed fruit from his eye and flung it at him.

The inevitable food fight followed, with Molly barking madly, until they doubled over with laughter and surveyed the wreckage. "No, no - pax," Chad panted. "Let's get serious here and clean the place up or Nate will hit the roof when he gets home tomorrow. Chad filled Molly's bowl with kibble, which she wolfed down as if she hadn't eaten for days.

Chad went to the fridge. "Look, Adam, "dear old Will gave Nate some ready-made dishes that just need to be warmed up. Let's see. Hmm, his famous fish casserole followed by Will's own signature rhubarb pie. What d'ya say?"

"Sounds perfect. And ..." Adam pulled a bottle of white wine from the fridge. "Ta-da! A Puligny Montrachet 2014, my contribution to your first real dinner in your house. And before you ask, no I did not steal it from the galley on my last flight. I chose it myself."

(Now would have been the time for a hug, but the moment passed.)

Their shirts were splashed with the remains of the food fight so Chad fetched new ones from his bedroom. They pulled off the dirty shirts and Adam said, "Damn, for a doc who works long hours you must still have pretty long gym sessions to get rid of the tension. That is one ripped fucking body you got on you, bro."

"Back at ya, Adam. I can imagine you walking down the aisle of a plane leaving a trail of boners behind you. Maybe we could work out together sometime after all this mess gets settled."

Chad put on a dark blue polo shirt and gave Adam a white T-shirt that showed off the contours of his torso perfectly. They set dinner on the coffee table in front of the fireplace, with mismatched plates and glasses pulled at random from the packing boxes. They sat side-by-side on the couch, with Molly curled on the floor at their feet and raised their glasses. "Here's to your new house, doc. May you have many years together – you, the house and Molly."

"All we lack is the fire," Chad said. "I ordered a half cord of logs but it won't be here till tomorrow." Still, they kicked off their shoes and ate and talked ... and talked and talked – work, the tribe, sports, politics, it never stopped. They swapped some of the wilder work stories – belligerent passengers, demanding patients – and made each other roar with laughter. As they sipped brandy Chad sighed, "It's coming alive, Adam – the house I mean. Can you feel it?"

"Yeah, mate, I can. Another week and you and Molly will forget you ever lived anywhere else."

<><> WHATEVER BLOKE YOU CHOOSE <><>

But at last Adam said, "Damn, look at the time. Can't believe we talked for so long. I gotta hit the sack. Nate will be back in the morning."

"I'm bushed too, buddy," Chad said, standing up. "Been a long day, a lot happened." Suddenly Molly stirred herself and ran to the front door. "Will you look at that?" Chad grinned. "House-trained too." They followed her to the door and she ran out into the long grass to do her stuff.

The men stood in the moonlight and breathed in the night air, heavy with the scent of wisteria over the door. "Hmm," Adam sighed. "It's gonna be a great house, Chad – you, Molly and whatever bloke you end up with here. I've enjoyed today a lot, mate. I hope Nate and me will be regular guests, even after we're back in our own place."

Molly came charging back in and Chad closed the door. "We can leave that mess on the table till tomorrow. `Night, buddy. I enjoyed myself too today ... a lot." They smiled, hesitated, then Chad headed for the stairs and Adam went in the other direction toward the guest room.

But Molly stayed put, looking from one receding figure to the other. Confused, she threw her head back and howled, a long mournful cry. The men stopped, turned round and Chad said, "Come on old girl, this way." Molly didn't move, just looked from one to the other.

"Damn, this is kinda dumb," Chad said. "Adam, seems like the only solution is for all three of us to bunk in together."

"Fine by me, Adam said, "with a tinge of relief in his voice unnoticed by Chad." So they went up the stairs with Molly ahead of them. "Look at that," Chad chuckled, "she even knows the way."

In the bedroom Molly jumped determinedly onto the middle of the bed and curled up, staring at them with a defiant look. "To the manner born," Adam laughed. "OK, let's join her, bro."

They pulled off their shirts and dropped their jeans, leaving only their shorts. They smiled at each other in silent appreciation of each other's flawless body and handsome features. They got into bed from opposite sides, and smiled at each other across Molly, then closed their eyes, heavy with fatigue.

As so often before Chad's thoughts were a jumble. Sleepily he tried to concentrate on the things he knew for sure. He had really enjoyed Adam's company, a lot, and he loved the fact that they were together now in the same bed. But he felt sure this was just because they had so much in common and had become real good buddies.

Then he realized something. They had been together all afternoon and evening but they hadn't touched each other once. That surely proved they were just friends – a close friendship but one without sex. Yeah, he had felt his cock stiffen several times, especially when they sat on the couch together, and maybe Adam had too. But what of it? Hell, he had a boner now but that was nothing new, and certainly wasn't because of Adam.

The clincher was that Adam clearly felt no sexual attraction for him. Sure he had admired his body but all the other guys did that. It was natural among jocks who worked out at the gym.

Plus Adam had even made several casual remarks about Chad sharing the house with some bloke' – you and Molly and whatever bloke you end up with here.' Adam had specifically talked about himself and Nate, hoping they would be regular guests here, even after they were back in their own home. Yeah, one thing was sure, Adam would never be `that bloke he ended up with."

Even though it felt great sharing the day with him – and now his bed.

<><> FALLING IN – OUT OF HIS DEPTH <><>

Sleep put an end to Chad's tangled thoughts and he slept soundly in a dreamless sleep, at least as far as he could remember. He had been dimly aware of Adam's heavy breathing and Molly's gentle snoring and smiled in his sleep, unable to distinguish between the two. It all felt so right. And it still felt that way in the morning when he drifted blearily back to consciousness.

Yes, Adam was still there, stirring awake, and Molly too, licking her paws. Chad had a hard-on as he looked across at the handsome face on the pillow, but that was nothing new – he always had a morning hard-on, a piss hard-on before he took a leak.

"Mornin' ... sleep well, mate?" came Adam's yawning voice."

"Like a top," Chad said. "I must get it from Molly – she slept like a log."

Drowsily Adam reached across the bed and his hand rested on Chad's shoulder. Still only half awake he murmured. "Hmm, I feel horny, always do in the morning – always wake up with a hard-on. If Nate's already left I usually jack off, thinking of some hot jock I've seen at the gym – a guy like yourself, doc. Hey," he chuckled, "d'you think buddies jerk each other off? I used to in high school sleepovers, under the covers, and under the bleachers. What d'ya think, bro?"

Chad's heart was beating wildly and he gulped. "I, er ... I guess it depends ... it depends on the circumstances," he said lamely, cursing himself as soon as the words left his mouth.

"Well," Adam drawled, "what if the circumstances were a horny Aussie, still a bit drunk from too much wine, with a piss hard-on?"

"I ... I guess in that case ..."

Suddenly a car horn sounded outside. "Hey," Adam said, coming fully awake, "that must be Nate. He's back early – and just in time to stop his old man from making a fool of himself and embarrassing his new buddy. Sorry about all that drunken drooling, bro." Adam jumped out of bed and ran from the room, barefoot in only his boxers.

Chad heard the door open, muffled voices, the door closed and then silence. "Damn ... damn," Chad said to Molly, not sure what he was cursing at. All he knew was that he had a boner and Adam had been on the verge of ... "Come on, old girl, you probably need to take leak too."

In only his shorts Chad got out of bed and Molly followed him to the door. He opened the front door and Molly ran out in the long grass as she had the night before. Chad stood in the doorway and remembered last night, standing here shoulder to shoulder with Adam breathing in the heavy scent of wisteria overhead. He remembered how happy he had felt then, how complete.

When he and Molly came in Chad heard voices coming from the guestroom. Molly heard Adam's voice too and ran eagerly toward it. "No," Chad hissed, "come here Molly ... come here." But she ignored him and he caught up with her at the guestroom door. Through the partially open door Chad could see the reunion of Adam and his boy.

This was a private moment and he knew he should take Molly away with him. But he was mesmerized by the sight of the near-naked Aussie and, having just been deprived of an intimate moment with Adam, he stayed put and pushed the dog down into a sitting position.

"Great timing, mate," Adam was saying. "I just woke up and you know how I am in the morning."

"I do, sir, and that's why I left San Diego so early. I had a great time there."

"And now, mate, you gonna give me a great time?"

Nate walked up to him and ran his hands over his hard-muscled chest. "Don't I always, sir? This is the way I love you best, in just your boxers, feeling this ripped body and seeing that bulge rising in your shorts." Playfully he reached down and squeezed it through the shorts.

"Dammit, kid, you want me to cream my shorts or come in your ass?"

"The latter, please, sir." Nate stepped back, kicked off his sneakers, dropped his shorts and pulled off his T-shirt. Butt-naked he lay back on the bed, propped on his elbows and inhaled sharply as Adam dropped his boxers, his rigid cock sprang out and he stroked it slowly.

Chad stared in awe. What must Nate must be feeling, waiting for this gorgeous man to drive his cock in his ass? He pulled his own cock out of his shorts and stroked it, just as Adam was.

Nate pulled his legs back and Adam knelt on the bed. He spat in his hand, pressed it against the boy's ass and pushed two fingers inside. "Mmm," Nate smiled, "yeah I remember that ... and I think I know what comes next."

"You damn-well should," Adam laughed, "you get it often enough." He eased forward, pressed the head of his cock against Nate's hole and drove it inside. Nate sighed, reached up and again stroked Adam's chest and abs that flexed as he fucked ass.

Chad stifled a gasp as he watched Adam fuck. This was the man he'd had so much fun with yesterday ... the man who helped him choose his dog ... the man he laughed with and talked with ... the man he had sat next to at the fireplace with the dog at their feet ... the man who had shared his bed and ... and touched his shoulder. It was the beautiful man he was ... was he? ... the man he was falling in love with? He was as confused as ever.

But whatever he felt he could never confess it to Adam. Because Adam was just a buddy, like a brother. He had no other feelings for Chad, aside from feeling horny in the morning. Adam had Nate, he was making love to Nate right now, not to him, never to him. But as Chad watched Adam fuck he tried to imagine how it felt for Nate with the Aussie's dick in his ass.

He was turned on watching two guys fuck, no denying that, so he dropped his shorts, grabbed his cock and stroked it slowly, careful not to cum even though he was close. He watched Adam's magnificent body – the ripped torso, the pecs, the washboard abs, the long, sexy waist, the sharp tan lines contrasting his white ass with his golden tan. And that face, that square jaw, sculpted features and intense dark brown eyes under heavy brows.

Confused he almost thought Adam was talking to him when he said, "You close, mate? You wanna cum ... you wanna feel my jizz in your ass?" But of course his words were for Nate. "OK, stud, I'm gonna cum ... I'm gonna cum ... yeah ... yeaahh." Adam's body tensed and bucked, his muscles flexed and Chad imagined his warm sperm pouring into Nate as the boy jacked off and sprayed jizz all over his lithe young body.

Adam laughed, "Good on ya, mate, you never let me down. Damn I needed that. It was building in me all day yesterday." He pulled out and used his shorts to wipe Nate's chest.

Those words pounded in Chad's head – `It was building in me all day yesterday'. The day they spent together! Chad realized he himself had not cum and he was glad of it. It would have meant ...he didn't know ... he didn't know anything. Fuck ... fuck ... fuck ... He had to leave. But it was too late. Roused by Adam's jubilant yell Molly ran into the room and licked his leg."

Adam laughed merrily. "Nate, meet the new girl – the name's Molly. Hey, Chad, you out there? Come in and join the family, bro."

Chad hastily pulled up his shorts and walked into the room. The `family' consisted of Nate, propped up on his elbows, grinning from ear to ear – Molly wagging her tail at Adam's feet – and Adam himself, buck naked, holding his cum-soaked shorts, his long cock still dripping cum, swinging between his legs.

Chad felt completely out of his depth. He had no idea what came next.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 499

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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