"This above all: To thine own self be true, for it must follow as dost the night the day, that canst not be false to any man." Shakespeare (Hamlet)
Though the theme of wrestling will be a key component in the early chapters and a continuing theme, the story is about relationships and being true to oneself. Thanks to TalonRider for assistance proofing the story. This is wholly fictional with no reference intended to persons alive or dead.
Please do not distribute to other sites without permission of the author. Comments can be sent to firehosejoe@yahoo.com
From the previous chapter:
Reaching down, Nicco offered a hand to Alejandro. Grasping his wrist he gently pulled Alejandro so he could sit. Leaning back on his hands, Alejandro looked up. "Thank you. I don't have any place on me that doesn't hurt but thank you." He said smiling weakly.
"Let's get you in the shower. Come with me." Taking Alejandro's arm, Nicco helped him to his feet and pulling Alejandro's arm around his shoulder, Nicco led him back to the showers.
Chapter 23
"Hold on a minute and let me adjust the water." Nicco said as Alejandro leaned against the tile wall. Soon the temperature was warm enough to soothe aching muscles. "Wait here, let me get something."
Nicco went into the adjacent hall and brought back a short aluminum bench and set it in the spray. Directing Alejandro to sit, he massaged and soaped his back and chest with his strong hands and thumbs. Carefully pulling Alejandro to his feet, Nicco soaped his crotch and legs finally turning him to rinse the soap away. Redirecting the water, Nicco helped Alejandro lay back on the bench resting his legs atop Nicco's who had straddled the bench. With a bottle of oil he had nearby, Nicco began to massage Alejandro's penis with gentle firm motions. He never varied his speed or pressure.
Despite the muscle weariness and pain he felt nearly everywhere, Alejandro's cock began to respond. Slowly it stiffened and began to leak precum. He groaned as his abs shuddered with the growing desire for release.
Nicco gently rubbed himself while concentrating on Alejandro. He smiled when he heard the beginnings of a continual moan from his young friend. Seeing Alejandro's balls retract he watched in anticipation. Soon it came. Involuntarily, Alejandro arched his back and cried out with both pain and pleasure as he shot rope upon rope of creamy cum. Nicco kept up his work on Alejandro's rigid muscle until he reached down to stop him. Nicco increased the pressure on his own cock and with a few firm pulls on his muscle began to cover Alejandro with his cum.
When his contractions subsided, Nicco reached across and smeared their blended cum across Alejandro's chest, abs and crotch. Grabbing his arms, Nicco helped Alejandro sit and they let their tongues explore each other's mouth with passion and leisure. They were both spent, both sated.
Finally Nicco redirected the spray and once again cleaned Alejandro's chest. Little had been said other than a few brief instructions by Nicco.
"Let's get dressed and grab something to drink at the bar. We still need to talk." Nicco said.
Finally at the bar Nicco asked, "Was I too rough. The match, was it anything like what you expected? Tell me what you're thinking."
Alejandro realized he was at the beginning of a new experience. No, it hadn't been too rough but with the wrong person it might have turned out differently.
"I needed to see how serious you were Alejandro. You are strong, fast; you have skill and are a quick learner." With a bit of concern, Nicco asked, "Was what we did after Ok?"
"Yes! What do you mean?"
"I didn't want to force anything." Nicco chuckled. "That's a lie, I wanted to force a lot of things but we hadn't talked about that."
Before he could go further Alejandro said, "Nicco, what we did was all I could do at the moment. Now that I'm a bit more rested, well" he let the words fall away as he offered the gentle challenge with a smile.
Nicco smiled in return. "Perhaps you'll give me a match again soon and the winner will claim his prize." Nicco said with a challenge. "You want to do more of this kind of wrestling? I mean with me and possibly others."
Alejandro felt himself warm at the thought. "Yes. If I can find a person who will work with me but, um" he didn't know how to finish.
"What is it?" Nicco encouraged.
"I was willing to trust that you wouldn't try to injure me. I still don't have much more than a clue as to what's appropriate and what isn't as far as rules and, as you say, `claiming your prize'."
Nicco chuckled. "When men step onto the mat with the understanding that they will fight without specific rules or regard to time limits certain understandings should be reached first. Anyone I would suggest you wrestle understands that and wouldn't take advantage of you.
"I have several men in mind who would likely welcome an opportunity to work with a young, skilled, wrestler like you. Two of them are partnered with men who don't enjoy wrestling but are willing to let the other pursue his interest when an appropriate opportunity arise, barring erotic involvement.
"Three of the others offer different challenges. Two are as aggressive as I was today and will see the contest as one where the winner takes what he will from the loser. With each you will need to build a sense of trust and together understand what is within your individual limits. They will respect yours as you will theirs. The third is a more traditional wrestler. By that I mean he is not given to kicks and punching. Usually, he will not quit a match until both men have spent their loads on each other. Most often the match ends with both men nude.
"Do you have any preferences?" Nicco asked
Alejandro answered, "I'd kinda like to talk to them, to get a feel if I'm comfortable."
"Unless you have objections, I'll talk to them, tell them about today and see what they think. If they are interested, you can take the next step whether just to talk or whatever. That way you'd be able to see more what your style and preference might be.
"If you will give me a phone number I should be able to contact you this week with some of their responses, if not all of them." Nicco offered. They soon parted -- Nicco to his preparations for the week to come and Alejandro headed home.
Even though he'd blown a load in the shower, Alejandro drove home feeling that familiar stirring in his balls. He wanted to tell someone of the day. Frederick would have understood immediately. Alejandro wasn't sure Charles would understand. Still, he called and casually asked if Charles was busy that evening.
"Forever reading, Alejandro. You know how it is. The research is unending and some, oh be honest, most of it schlock. It is the stuff of sloppy dissertations." Asking about Alejandro's day, Charles enthusiastically encouraged him to come over for a light dinner, and a glass of wine.
Over their wine and dinner, Alejandro tried to describe the night before and the day. He could tell Charles was engaged but not quite able to understand the passion that fueled him.
"Everything, or nearly everything in my life has been proscribed by expectations of self, my family, and community. Somehow this makes me feel real. Oh, that sounds ridiculous. Let me try again.
"Wrestling is like many individual competitions. There are accepted rules and formats that are followed. It appeals to me because of the immediacy of it. Success or failure is known in the moment and not measured by arbitrary standards set by one's self or others. The fact that it involves nearly continual body contact appeals to me for the obvious reasons." Alejandro smiled.
"The wrestling match with Nicco was different than any I've had. It was more of what I imagine a fight or brawl might be. There was obvious sexual tension combined with the knowledge that we were fighting to make the other submit to our strength, our skill and ultimately our sexual desires. Understand Charles, the fight is real and the desire during the grappling is to defeat the other and there is little `pleasure' involved then.
"That comes after. The primal element of fight blended with the sexual urge for conquest and domination fuels both the contest and the pleasure that follows. For me it was a whole different experience that I want to repeat often."
Charles looked thoughtful as he listened. "You called this place Bear's Den, right? May I go with you some time to see what it's like?"
Alejandro, with a look of surprised pleasure turned quickly toward Charles and said, "Of course!" He felt his back spasm with pain from all the abuse it had taken. He caught his breath for a moment.
"You need to get those muscles relaxed. Listen to me. Go to the bathroom and draw a tub of hot water and soak while I clean up here. Afterward I'll work on your back. Don't argue with me about this. Stubbornness will only result in greater pain tomorrow. Now go!"
Later, lying on the bed, Alejandro relaxed under Charles' strong hands. The heated oil enabled him to knead the muscles in Alejandro's back, shoulders, and neck. Rolling him over, Charles continued working all of Alejandro's muscles and watched as his cock began to respond.
"Do you want to take care of that?" Charles asked smiling.
"Yeah, I want to fuck you; but, I'm sure it would undo all the work you've done on my back. Do you mind just getting us both off." Alejandro said.
Charles stretched out above Alejandro and began to rub their cocks against each other. Carefully balancing his weight he increased the body contact as their dicks rubbed against each other until they each erupted spewing cum between them.
Later at home, Alejandro lay in bed thinking about the events of the last 24 hours and wondered what would come next. Thinking of Nicco and their wrestling, he fell asleep.
Late Thursday afternoon Alejandro's private phone rang. Nicco called to let him know he'd contacted the men and had gotten a positive response of interest from each. He gave Alejandro the names and numbers. He said he would regret not seeing Alejandro the coming weekend. There were some pressing deliveries needed so he would be driving most of the weekend.
Alejandro looked at the list trying to decide how to proceed. Deciding to invite them to lunch seemed a good way to have a conversation on neutral ground. Of the two men Nicco had subtly cautioned Alejandro about, one was no longer interested and the other agreed to meet him at a neighborhood bar after work the following week.
Liam O'Donnell's directions were easy to follow. Alejandro drove around the neighborhood getting a feel for the place. 20 years ago it was typical working middle class neighborhood. A balanced mix of stand alone and duplex two story houses filled the streets. The requisite Catholic school was nearby as were several small restaurants and bars.
Alejandro pushed the door open and stepped into the place. The noise was jovial, with laughter and loud conversations. A few eyes followed him, an obvious newcomer. Liam had told him to look for him at the bar. With the bar at near capacity, Alejandro wondered just how he'd know who Liam was.
Mid way down, a man turned and looked at him full on, sizing him up openly and with a hint of derision. Gaining his feet, bringing his beer, the man walked toward Alejandro. Not knowing what to do, Alejandro simply stood and watched the man approach. He was an inch or two shorter than Alejandro and built like a stout barrel. His hair was close cut, his eyes blue and his skin fair.
He stopped a few feet in front of Alejandro and looked him up and down. "From what Nicco said, I was expecting someone with a bit more beef on their bones. Liam O'Donnell." He simply said extending a meaty paw to shake Alejandro's hand.
"Hand's more than a bit soft. Not a working man are you?" It was said more as observation than question. Alejandro noticed the coarse rough calluses on Liam's hand.
"Alejandro Algara. Call me Alex if you like." Alejandro said, choosing not to respond in any other way. He held Liam's gaze then asked, "Is there room at the bar or should we try for a table?" Liam held his gaze as if trying to make up his mind. Then with a slight jerk of his head, he nodded toward a table, turned and walked toward it without another word.
When they were seated, Liam caught the eye of a waiter and when beers had been ordered he said, "So you want to wrestle me, do ya?" The faint left over Irish brogue played with Liam's speech. It was lilting in a way that nothing else about the man was.
Alejandro met his look and simply said, "Nicco suggested we talk. I want to find someone to workout with. That's why I'm here."
Beers were served. After taking a long swallow Liam set the bottle down and looked at Alejandro. "I don't workout boy, I wrestle. If you want to workout go to a gym." Picking up the bottle he took another swallow as he kept his eye on Alejandro.
Alejandro felt completely out of place suddenly. Part of him wanted to get up and leave. Another wanted to face this man and find out why Nicco had recommended him. With his gaze equally leveled he said, "Wrestling's a good workout. I don't need a gym. I just need somebody to, uh, fight with." Alejandro said not wanting to be chided about `workouts' again.
Slowly a smile began to play with the corners of Liam's mouth. "Need somebody to fight with, eh? Well there's plenty here who'd be happy to oblige." With that, he raised his voice a bit and called to a friend, "Matty, got a boy here lookin' for a fight." He said with a bit of laugh and lilt in his voice. The man turned, looked and laughing waved him off.
"Liam, if you're not interested I'll leave." Alejandro started to get up.
"Calm yourself boy-o. Just havin' a bit of fun at your expense. It's not usual for a stylish young man like yerself to come waltzin' in here looking for a fight. Not that there haven't been more than a few since I've been coming here. But I'm guessin' you know what I mean." With that Liam chuckled to himself, his chest shaking with mirth.
Alejandro quickly understood the humor of the situation and laughed at himself. "Ok Liam. Drinks are on me but don't be expectin' me to haul you drunken ass out of here."
"Well that more like it, lad!" Liam exclaimed, slapping the top of the table as he laughed. "We may just have something to talk about after all."
Liam had grilled Nicco for information. At first he wasn't interested in the least but after hearing Nicco's description of Alejandro and the match he'd had with him he was willing to give it at go, for a drink and a bit of amusement if nothing else.
With a characteristic bluntness typical of his work blended with his natural Irish wit and humor he drew out Alejandro `till both were talking easily and finishing their second beer. Liam was a Mason's Supervisor on a large condo high-rise being built in Chicago. He apprenticed himself in his mid teens and become a Master Mason by his early twenties.
He didn't leave the heavy work for his crew. Beside them daily, he lifted mortar, brick and block. His additional responsibility as the Job Foreman was to insure that his crews followed the building design and blueprints. On the job, Alejandro imagined he was a no-nonsense construction supervisor who led by example. As they talked, Alejandro tried to imagine what Liam must look like without clothes.
He could see the bulging shoulders and thick neck. His flannel shirt concealed his arms till he moved. Then Alejandro could see the thick biceps push against the fabric at times. Liam's hands were chunky and strong with short fingers that showed signs of hard work.
Leaning his elbows on the table and shifting his weight he drew Alejandro toward him with a nod of his head. "I probably don't have to tell ya, but this kind of extra curricular activity is not something I share with my friends. We'll not meet here again, and if anyone is to ask you, you're here to talk to me about a bit of work. Got it?" Alejandro nodded.
Liam continued talking softly, "Nicco said we could work at the club unless you've other arrangements. Course we'll need to talk about the particulars." Liam raised an eyebrow and winked, "We can do that later when we've a bit more privacy, don't you think lad?" Leaning back with his voice at a normal level Liam continued, "So what's it to be. I'm sure I can do the work' for ya if ya want me. Shall we meet at the job site to discuss it in more detail?"
Alejandro, quick on the uptake understood immediately. "Yes, come out to the car and I can give you directions and show you a sketch of what I have in mind." With that he pulled out a $20 and left it on the table, gathered his coat and walked to the door not looking back to see if Liam was following. Smiling to himself he thought, `give him a bit of his own back and see how he likes it'.
On the sidewalk, Liam smiled. "Cocky little fooker, aren't ya?"
"Guess that's what this is all about, isn't it?" Alejandro said as they walked to his car. They agreed that when they met the next day, they'd talk about their mutual expectations.
"Are ya quite sure what you're gettin' into, boy? I think we both need to be clear about how we'll do this thing. Agreed? We'll talk more tomorrow." Liam said then added, "In private, I usually wrestle in by shoes and a jock. Wear what you want. I'll see you tomorrow." With a handshake they parted company.
Ps. Guys, I'd enjoy having someone do a read through before editing to catch the things I don't see -- you know `can't see the forest for the trees'. Anyone interested?
A writer's peculiar food and drink are the comments of his reader. Feel free to share your thoughts with me. firehosejoe@yahoo.com