I offer many thanks to all the readers of the first chapter who sent feedback. I hope that you enjoy this chapter.
A very special thanks goes to my volunteer editor, Karen B. Her assistance has made this a far better story then it would have been. She is also a main reason I have decided to continue this series.
KB, you rock!
Owen circled the ring. He was crouched slightly, his muscles tensed. His eyes were locked on to his opponent.
Rex also circled. Owen and Rex had been practicing defensive tactics training like this for about a month now, and Owen enjoyed the physical training a great deal more than the academic training he was receiving.
The academics taught him The Order had global reach, and had members from every corner of the world; all sworn to protect the great secret during their tours as its guardians and to pass the torch gracefully when their time had passed.
Since he had decided to attempt to join The Order of the Falcon Watch, the academic lessons had been about the history of The Order, and while it was quite interesting to study the rather colorful pages about the secret society scattered throughout the books of history.
Owen much preferred the time spent with Rex in the ring- both of them tense, alert, and ready to strike without a moment's hesitation.
Rex wore red Lycra shorts and Owen wore blue ones. Their bodies were slick from sweat, which made grappling very difficult, but Owen always ended up getting bested by the older Rex.
Rex was in his early forties, but his body was very fit. Rex was maybe two inches taller than Owen and outweighed him by a good ten pounds. His muscles were well defined, his body tanned. Rex also had extensive knowledge in the art of self defense.
Owen feinted to his right, and then shot in, in an attempt to take the older man down. Owen dipped lower, to try to take out the legs. Rex very easily stepped back and pivoted around to the right. As Owen went by, Rex wrapped his left arm around Owens neck. The bicep of Rex's left arm was against the side of Owens's neck, the forearm against the right side of his neck. They went down on the mat, Owen on his stomach, Rex on Owens back. The hair of Rex's whiskers brushed against Owens face as he said, "Owen, you have got to stop telegraphing your moves..."
Owen began to squirm underneath Rex, making an attempt to escape, but Rex was locked on. Owen felt Rex's hot skin along his back and nipples on his back.
Owen also felt the heat and shape of Rex's cock, trapped in the Lycra shorts, grinding gently into the cleft between his buttocks as Rex maintained his grip and held his opponent to the mat. Owen's cock began to swell as unsolicited thoughts about the implications of the position Rex held him in ran through his mind.
Owen tapped on Rex's thigh and Rex eased the pressure on his neck, and then released altogether.
"Alright, alright, we'll call it a day. Let's go shower. We have to meet Mr. Chapin in his office in a few minutes."
The shower, just down the hall from the training area, was as flawless and impeccable as the rest of the complex, and was one of Owen's favorite places in the building. The water was always the temperature he set it to, and it was a center of refuge and relaxation after a long day's training.
Once in the locker room, Owen took off the wrestling shoes and socks and peeled off the Lycra shorts. He suddenly had an urge to look at Rex naked, and it was quite a sight to behold.
He took good care of his body; Owen still had some of the bruises from training to prove it. He watched as Rex pulled his shorts off, throwing them onto the floor into the pile with the rest of his clothes. The globes of his ass round were well defined, and his calves and hamstrings were in no worse condition. His hair was close cut, military style, and gray on the temples. His goatee was cut close also and pencil thin.
When Rex turned around Owen took the opportunity to openly stare at his cock. It was semi-erect, cut and probably not much bigger than Owen's; Rex's balls, shaved, hung low.
Owen felt his dick start to swell again as he took in the picture in front of him, remembering how Rex had pinned him so forcefully to the mat.
Naked, they went into the shower area. Rex had his shower set for just below scalding; Owen still couldn't understand that preference. The steam wafted up and filled the shower while Owen soaped up; catching sight of Rex, he stood transfixed as Rex soaped up his body, reached for his cock and having caught Owen staring, slowly and teasingly stroked it. Owen felt his own cock swell even further, and when Rex turned to challenge his stare, Owen asked, "Could I...um... stroke it too? I could finish for you, if you would like..."
Rex smiled seductively. "Now, now, Owen, let's just control ourselves for a bit."
Owen was immediately embarrassed and turned back toward the shower wall. It was humiliating enough to have made such a request, and to be turned down just made it all worse. He had come a long way as far as trusting the others went, but he still had a few hang ups about this kind of thing. Oh well, he thought, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist. Guess I'll just have to get used to it.
After donning their street clothes, they proceeded by elevator to the top floor of the skyscraper, the same building where he had been introduced to Mr. Chapin.
There were many people of Owen's age, scampering around with files and papers, and just looking generally busy.
Seeing Owen's curious expression, Rex offered an explanation. "They're administrative assistants. You know, gophers."
"Oh," Owen said simply.
Upon reaching the outer office, they were met by Fred Siegel-clad security personnel. After identification badges were checked, the secretary beckoned them and said, "Mr. Chapin will see you now."
Entering the inner sanctum of Chapin's office, Owen was awed by the brightness of everything in it. Everything appeared to shine. Rising, Mr. Chapin smiled. "Owen, my boy, how are you? Have a seat, please. How is your training coming along?"
Owen told him that the experience was incredible and that he was enjoying the training immensely. Rex pointed out that Owen had been excelling in every phase of the training, and Mr. Chapin was pleased.
"I take it that your stipend has been direct-deposited into your account, as I had arranged?"
Owen told him that everything was fine in terms of money, but that he'd had to lie to his parents, telling them that he had gotten a job as a security guard in this building.
Neither Rex nor Mr. Chapin had suggested how he was to handle that. It was a problem to which The Order would offer no solution.
Mr. Chapin then turned serious.
"Owen, the time has come for the next phase of your ordeal. It will be in four days...this Friday. You are to refrain from any sexual contact, and that includes masturbation, until after this next phase. You will arrive at this building promptly at 7:30 PM and await instructions. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do you have any questions?"
"No, sir...I don't have any questions."
"Very well, then, if Rex has no further training for you, you are free until Friday at 7:30."
He rose and shook Owen's hand and Owen and Rex exited the office.