This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Shakespeare (Hamlet)
Thanks to Chael for editing and 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:
Stepping across the prone body, the wrestler reached down for the ankles of the other. Without thinking, Alejandro kicked off his loafers and in a split second was up, vaulting over the barrier. Grabbing the man standing, Alejandro pulled him off his opponent.
The wrestler spun and faced Alejandro. With a sound between a growl and a roar he lunged toward Alejandro.
Chapter 31
Alejandro feinted to the side, grabbed the man's arm and swung him around. Surprised and enraged, the wrestler continued his momentum and caught Alejandro on the chin with a closed fist. He followed through grabbing Alejandro. Alejandro, stunned and momentarily seeing stars, was caught by the move and both sprawled on the mats. The wrestler's weight pinned Alejandro down.
Quickly, Alejandro's head began to clear and he snaked his legs around the wrestler's waist, locking his heels together. He tightened his quads into a vise grip that had the wrestler's eyes popping with the sudden pressure and inability to get his breath. Alejandro grabbed the wrestler's arms to keep him from trying another punch.
Suddenly both me were surrounded by patrons who'd been drinking and talking while the match was in progress. The barkeep called the wrestler by name while cranking a reverse headlock around his neck. He pulled him off Alejandro. Amid the shouting and general turmoil a guy knelt beside Alejandro checking on him, asking if he was alright. Alejandro grinned his response while rubbing his chin.
"Hey, thanks for jumping in there. I'm Trevor. That guy's a son-of-a-bitch and can be mean sometimes. It could have gotten real ugly real fast if you hadn't taken some action," Trevor said as he gave Alejandro a hand up.
"Is his opponent going to be alright?" asked Alejandro. "His arm was bent at a strange angle."
"Somebody called 911 and I'm sure they'll sort it out. They've got a cold pack on it now trying to ease the pain. Looks dislocated to me. Painful enough, but better than a break," Trevor answered.
"Hey Rex, glad you gave him the bum's rush. What a bastard!" Trevor remarked as the barkeep came to check on Alejandro.
"Thanks for volunteering to help, Bud," Rex said as he gave Alejandro's shoulder a manly grip and slap. "I've warned him time after time but he's too bone-headed to get the message."
"Is someone going after his clothes? You sure as hell threw him out on his ass," Trevor chuckled.
"Yeah, one of the guys is heading for the door now to toss him his things. Good riddance, if you ask me," Rex retorted. "You sure you're okay?" said Rex directing his question at Alejandro. "You took a good one on the chin from the way your neck snapped back."
"Yeah, thanks. I'm gonna be fine," Alejandro replied.
"I'm Rex Dinwiddie. Let me buy you a drink," the barkeep said as he motioned Alejandro and Trevor back to the bar.
"Thanks, a cold beer sounds real good right now. I'm Alejandro Algara, but just call me Alex; it's easier," Alejandro smiled.
"Uh, yeah, Alex." Rex hesitated trying to get his mouth around the pronunciation but quickly giving up. "That beer, and one for your buddy is coming right up."
"You guys mind some company?" Trevor asked as Alejandro headed back to the table to join Zach.
"Not at all. Tell your friend to please join us also," Alejandro replied. Trevor motioned and his friend walked over with their beers in hand.
"This is Will Shannon, my partner and ne'er-do-well wrestling opponent," Trevor said with a big smile, putting an arm around Will's waist and pulling him in affectionately.
Alejandro looked quizzically at Trevor as Will replied with mock anger, "I'll give you ne'er-do-well when I get you in bed tonight!"
With a grin Will directed his comments to Alejandro and Zach, "He's just a roughneck, one generation removed from the docks. Thinks he can browbeat me just because he tries to muscle other guys around on the mats occasionally."
Will, fair-haired and fair-skinned was comparatively small at five-foot-eight and couldn't have weighed more than 160 lbs. soaking wet. Trevor easily stood 6'3 and was sporting heavy stubble with his five o'clock shadow. He was well muscled, his pecs clearly defined within the tight knit material of his sport T. Well defined, venous biceps pushed against the knit of the sleeve. The buttons of his Levis protruded giving indication of a fully packed jock. All in all, he was a hunk, as both Alejandro and Zach noted.
"You didn't hesitate to jump in there, Bud. I was impressed. Spend any time on the mats?" Trevor asked.
"Enough to know that bully posed no serious threat. Though got to admit, that haymaker caught me off guard. Shouldn't have, but it did," Alejandro admitted grimacing.
"You guys are new here I'm guessing. We're here often and have never seen you. Are you planning to wrestle?" Trevor asked.
"Not unless my friend Zach here wants to go a few falls. We just came to check the place out on the recommendation of a friend of mine," Alejandro replied.
Zach nodded his greeting at the informal introduction as he shook hands.
"What's with this Trevor stuff?" Will asked with arched eyebrows? "That's your bank and business name, the name your Mother uses when she's ticked with you and what I call you when I'm pissed off." Turning to Zach and Alejandro he added, "Everyone calls him Trev."
"Oh, right. So it is. Trust you to correct me, Big Guy?" Trevor said as he grinned looking down at Will.
"That's right; make fun of the short person! I don't find you complaining when we're alone," Will retorted with an injured, campy attitude. "The fact that I like to see you flexing your stuff on the mats doesn't give you license to make fun!"
"What he means is that he likes to see me get my ass whipped. Then he rags on me til we get home and I pin' him," Trevor said with a leering grin at Will.
Zach grabbed two adjacent chairs and pulled them to the table for Will and Trevor. The four men were comfortable with each other and easily found common areas to talk about.
"If you guys want to work out, this will be a good night to do it. Thursday is usually slow and there's plenty of mat time available," Trevor said.
"Alex is the wrestler, not me," Zach said.
"Whoa, what about some of the stories you told me of your college days and horsing around with your roomie?" Alejandro asked, but then immediately regretted it, fearing he'd crossed a line with Zach. He was relieved when Zach smiled.
Alejandro, when pressed, shared his knowledge of the club from the list he'd gotten from Liam. With his description of the Bears' Den, Trevor's face split with a big grin.
"So would you be interested in a match?" Trevor asked as he leaned toward Alejandro. "I can't stay tonight but will be back tomorrow and already have a mat time reserved."
"Yeah, that'd be fun I think." Alejandro replied. "But wait, don't you have a match already lined up? You said you had mat time."
"I always book time on Fridays and have no trouble getting a match. I've got nothing scheduled for tomorrow. Friday's busy and if you want to play with the big boys you need to make arrangements in advance. There are several guys I work out with on a regular basis. They book time. I book time," Trevor explained. "It'll be alright if you and I use the mats. We'll get sweaty, beat on each other and have some fun."
Alejandro asked Zach, "You okay with that?"
"Heck yeah," Zach answered.
"We'd better go, Will," Trevor said as he picked up his glass and drained the remaining beer. "We've both got early days tomorrow."
"Great meeting you guys," Will said. "Can't wait for tomorrow," he added cocking his head up and grinning at Trevor while giving him an elbow in the ribs.
"Keep it up, Buddy, and see what happens," Trevor replied with a grin.
"You just make sure you can keep it up!" Will playfully challenged. Trevor cuffed him on his shoulder and everyone laughed as they said their good nights.
Alejandro and Zach agreed that they had been fortunate to meet such friendly guys and both looked forward to the next night.
"You smiled when I mentioned you and Ben wrestling a few moments ago. I didn't want to press it then but would you like to grab some mat time while we're here? You know, just play and push each other around," Alejandro asked with an eyebrow raised and a challenging smirk on his face.
"We don't have any gear and I don't want to strip to my boxers," Zach protested weakly.
"We can just lose our shirts and wrestle around in our jeans. It'll be fun. Come on!" Alejandro urged.
"I don't know," Zach said looking at Alejandro.
Leaning across the table Alejandro whispered sotto voce, "You know you've been wanting to get your hands on me all day. Well here's your chance, Boy. Let's do it!"
A grin split Zach's face as he blushed. "Okay, check and see if it's alright with Rex."
Alejandro was so excited he pushed his chair back suddenly and it fell to the floor. They both laughed as Alejandro righted the chair and hurried off to the bar.
"Rex, can Zach and I use the mats for a little while?"
"Sure, we're not that busy." Glancing over toward Zach he added, "It's on the house. You guys have fun."
Returning to the table Alejandro said, "It's okay; let's go stud."
With that he stripped off his polo and kicked off his loafers. Zach followed suit and soon they were facing each other on the mat. One of the guys who had helped Rex get rid of the miscreant earlier, whistled and giving them a thumbs-up said, "All Right!".
Alejandro nodded in response then turned his attention back to Zach. "Get ready to get your ass whipped, Boy!" Alejandro teased with a mocking threat.
Zach just grinned in reply and began to circle. Alejandro held his hand out, fingers spread in a challenge of strength. Zach eyed him warily but met the challenge.
Alejandro locked in his grip and they both began to lift their arms seeking leverage. Alejandro pulled his hands up quickly and brought their bare chests together. Twisting back and forth several times he rubbed his matted fur against Zach's nipples.
Zach's eyes closed and his head rolled back involuntarily with the shock of erotic pleasure.
"You want it bad, don't you, Boy?" Alejandro rasped as he watched Zach yield to his desire.
With a sudden motion, Alejandro stepped back, pushed the heels of their hands apart and lowered his arms. With a jerk downward, he broke their locked fingers. He looped his arm around Zach's neck and pulled him forward tripping him, taking both down to the mat surface.
"Oooffff!" Zach gasped as Alejandro's weight fell on him.
Alejandro quickly shoved Zach's shoulders forward and slid an arm up and back catching Zach in a half-nelson. He growled softly as he slipped his legs between Zach's to tie him up in a grapevine. Securing Zach's other hand, Alejandro began to push his jeans-clad cock against Zach's muscled butt.
"Unghhh! Get off me!" Zach groaned with a strained chuckle.
Alejandro laughed in return as he slid his other arm up and finished the nelson. Arching his body, he drove his crotch again and again against Zach's ass. Zach lifted, pushing back, obviously enjoying the situation.
Alejandro released the nelson and rolled off Zach. "On your feet, Boy. I'm not going to fuck you here. Besides I'm just warming up."
They both got to their feet, grinning at each other, obviously enjoying the candor of the sexual desire they both felt.
Alejandro began to circle with Zach following his lead. Alejandro feigned attempts to tie up several times. Zach's inexperience was evident, but he was game and finally rushed Alejandro.
The move was obvious. Alejandro faked an attempt to block Zach's rush, allowing him to catch Alejandro in a bear hug. Zach's grip tightened. He was strong and Alejandro felt himself lifted off the mat.
"Nhhnnnn" Zach growled as he applied more pressure. "How do you like that, Boy?" he added with emphasis as he exerted control.
After letting Zach enjoy his display of dominance, Alejandro planted the heals of his hands against Zach's chin and began to push back. Zach couldn't resist "Arrggggg!" He finally broke the hug.
Alejandro stepped quickly between Zach's legs and cinching his arms for an abdominal stretch, he began to apply pressure.
"Uhhhhhhhh!" Zach groaned. He quickly changed his tune when Alejandro reached down and cupped Zach's crotch in his hand and began to squeeze.
"Yeah, been wanting to check that out," Alejandro laughed as he maintained control without causing pain.
There were whistles and catcalls from the bar area. Alejandro looked up and lifted his chin in acknowledgement.
In one smooth motion, Alejandro stepped clear of Zach's legs and dropped him to the floor while falling along side. Throwing one leg across Zach to get leverage he caught the other behind the knee. Lifting it, he grabbed his other hand that had snaked around Zach's neck and secured a cradle hold.
"Unhffffff! Ungh, ungh!" Zach gasped as his air was forced out of his body. "Damn, you're good!!", he gasped.
Lowering his ear closer to Zach's, Alejandro rasped in a sexy whisper, "You just don't know. But don't worry; you're going to find out!"
Alejandro continued the pressure on Zach's leg, stretching his crotch `til he'd had enough fun and Zach's face was blood red. Alejandro released both Zach's head and legs and straddled him in a schoolboy pin with Zach's arms stretched out on the mat.
Zach was gasping for air. Alejandro lifted his weight off Zach's chest. With a grin he asked, "You had enough, Big Boy?"
"Yeah," Zach answered between gasps for air. "Glad you're on my side. Whew, can't wait to see tomorrow's match. Maybe you'll get some competition." Zach grinned up at Alejandro. "Now get off me you, Big Lummox!"
Alejandro rolled to the side, stood and offered Zach a hand up.
As he stood, Zach said, "That was fun!"
Back at the table they found a couple of towels draped across the back of a chair. Looking around, Alejandro caught Rex's eye and saw him smile. Mouthing his thanks, he quickly wiped off the sweat and pulled on his polo.
When Zach was dried off and dressed they discussed another beer but decided against it. They agreed it was time to leave and headed to the bar to thank Rex for the towels.
"Thanks, Rex. It was nice not to have to wipe down with the shirt," Alejandro said as he shook the man's meaty paw. "Hey, maybe you could give me some help."
Rex looked puzzled.
Alejandro continued. "Trev and I have discussed a match tomorrow night. He and Will both struck me as great guys but what's Trev like as a wrestler. Am I getting myself in trouble?"
Rex smiled and Alejandro began to worry for a moment.
"From what I've seen tonight, you'll be okay facing off with him. He's strong, you could tell that, but, you are too and, damn, you're fast. I think you boys will have fun. I'll vouch for him, and with your buddy here to watch your back you'll have a great time," Rex said.
"See you tomorrow then." Alejandro and Zach hit the door and drank in the cool night air.
They both made small talk about Will and Trevor. Alejandro answered Zach's questions comparing Grapple Grotto with Bears' Den.
"Tomorrow will tell the real story. I've never seen Bears' Den that empty. I imagine the Grotto will be jammed tomorrow night. Should be a lot of fun."
As the wound their way through the hills and curves of the outskirts of San Francisco, conversation was easy and ranged across various topics. As they neared downtown Zach turned and looked at Alejandro for a moment.
"What?" Alejandro asked.
"You want me to drop you off at your place?" Zach asked hesitantly.
"Only if you plan to come up with me. I can think of several items of unfinished business we need to take care of," Alejandro said and smiled.
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