The Cruiserweight (20 page)

“Things have really been happening to you the
last few months.”

“I don’t remember being as happy as I have been
the entire time since my release from the last company.”

“You new boss wouldn’t happen to have seen
these ‘racy’ photos?”

“If she did, nothing was said.” He smiled. “I
didn’t come here to discuss work.”

“Of course not.” She took their empty cans and
disposed them in a nearby wastebasket. Turning back around, she saw
the look in his eyes and walked back over to him. They kissed long
and passionately. Brett’s hands traveled up and down her back while
he felt her hands in his back pockets. The sensation aroused him.
She then had her hands in his hair and her tongue was thrusting
into his mouth. He let his hands slide up under the sweater to get
a nice feel of her warm skin.

“Missed me, didn’t you, baby?” he asked in a
low moan.

“Mmm hmm, and unless you left something in your
pocket, I think you missed me too.”

He leaned over to kiss her again, and pulled
her toward the bed. She wasn’t sure about the concept of making
love while being pregnant, but followed him without protest. He
slipped off her clothes, one piece at a time, and lay her on the
bed. He kicked off his shoes and then wasted little time stripping
his own clothes, smirking at her as he did.

She ran her hands over his body. “Looks like
you put on a few pounds too. I like that.”

Karen loved how his skin felt under her hands,
how he tasted, the sound of his voice, the feel of his lips on
hers, the little noises he made when they were intimate, the feel
of his hands as they moved all over her, and the way she always
responded to him.

Brett moved on top of Karen and kissed her
again. She began to shiver with pure pleasure and wrapped her legs
around his waist, drawing him closer to her, locking him there. His
fervent kiss drove her wild as she reached up to run her fingers
through his hair. He relished being inside her, the woman he adored
so much. His fingertips moved down her neck and over her breasts in
light strokes. He pulled her closer, exploring every inch of her.
with his mouth, her sensitive nipples giving him the reaction he
sought.

For that moment, being in the early stages of
pregnancy slipped away from her mind. The communication between the
two of them from that point was the sensations of each other’s
bodies, the moans and sighs that were muttered from their lips
during their erotic moment. They moved in unison, never taking
their eyes off the other.

When they climaxed together, Karen’s shuddering
was uncontrollable. They fused together in such spiritual release
that he thought he would lose consciousness. He whispered in
Karen’s ear and nibbled the lobe below it. She heard soft tones how
much he missed her, needed her, loved her. She was his. He was
hers. They were one.

CHAPTER 36

It was the next morning when Karen woke up,
shocked that she’d slept the rest of the previous day and entire
night. Turning around, she noticed Brett was still asleep beside
her. He hadn’t gone home. She gave him a playful poke. “Hi,
Sleeping Beauty.”

Brett groaned through the tangled mess of hair
which covered his face. “Huh?”

“I love you too.”

His eyes widened. “Was I here
all night?
Jesus, I have to be somewhere at one! What time is it?”

“Nine-thirty. You have a few hours to spare.
Want some coffee?”

He heaved a sigh of relief, grateful he hadn‘t
slept in after all. “Sounds great. Mind if I use the
bathroom?”

“It’s all yours.”

While she ordered coffee and breakfast, Karen
could hear Brett in the shower singing in his silly, off-key voice.
She wondered how anyone could be so happy first thing in the
morning. She struggled to get out of bed most mornings, even more
so since she’d been pregnant.

When he emerged from the bathroom, she was
sipping tea and nibbling on graham crackers. “Wow, you mean I even
get breakfast? Here I thought you wouldn’t respect me in the
morning,” Brett joked.

“I respect you all the time.”

“I know you do.” He glanced at what she was
having. “Is that all you’re eating?”

Karen came close to telling him about the baby,
then changed her mind. “I’m not a big fan of breakfast,” she said.
“I’ve gotten fat enough.”

“Women and their weight issues. You look better
now than the last couple of times I saw you.”

“Thanks, but tell that to the jeans in my
closet which no longer zip.”

“Get new ones. You’re beautiful, sweetheart. I
wouldn’t have you any other way. I‘m no stick figure
either.”

“Yeah, I saw a comment on one of the wrestling
boards about you ‘getting fat’, meaning out of shape. I swear if I
hear one more ‘weed munchies’ joke about you, I’m going into kill
mode.”

“Too bad all of those assholes don’t know I
haven’t had a joint in months. No one important is complaining
about me packing on a few anyway.”

Karen smiled. “Especially in your ass, but I’m
not going to criticize
that.
Your back pocket’s
ringing.”

“Shit.” He pulled out his phone out and looked
at the screen. “I better take this.”

He left the room for several minutes, leaving
her alone with her thoughts. Karen wondered when she should tell
him about her pregnancy. Things were going so well in his career,
and Karen abhorred the idea of spoiling everything by bringing up
the subject of a child she’d presumed Brett didn’t want.

“That was Stephanie. She wants to see me in
about an hour.” He bent down and kissed her. “Thanks for breakfast.
I have to get back home before Patrick starts telling the papers
I’ve been kidnapped by aliens.”

“Good luck with your meeting, though I doubt
you’ll need it.”

“Thanks. Karen?”

“Yes?”

“I appreciate how you’ve stuck by me the past
several months. I ceased to exist in a lot of people’s minds once I
lost my last job. You being in my life means so much to me. I guess
it’s times like those one finds out who are the most loyal. Thanks
again.”

She nodded, reassuring he could wrestle on a
worn mattress in someone’s back yard and she’d still be his number
one fan. Karen had faith that Brett was once again going places in
wrestling, and that better opportunities would open up for him
sooner than anyone expected.

CHAPTER 37

“98
…
99
…
100!” Brett grunted each time he raised off the concrete
floor while doing push-ups in preparation for his official debut
with Orlando Wrestling. He was eager the entire week about debuting
on a pay-per-view, and the anticipated night had
arrived.

Even though there was speculation on various
wrestling sites he was going to be Red Rodent’s “mystery opponent”
for the Florida Middleweight Title, for the most part, his
scheduled appearance had been kept secret. He chuckled at the
thought, getting up from the floor.
Even Pat still thinks I’m
doing a dark match.

A loud slap on his ass startled Brett, causing
him to yell, “What the fuck?”

“Nice to see you too, Kerrigan,” a voice
replied. “Got a little fatter, otherwise, you haven’t
changed.”

He turned around. “Rat Man, Jesus! How the hell
are you, old fart?”

“No complaints. Just wanted to come of out of
my rodent hole and welcome you to the roster before I own your ass
tonight.”

“In your dreams. A bony old shit like you will
whoop my ass. Ha ha, tell me another joke. How’s your exciting
life?”

“Still married to my old lady. She likes the
schedule they have here, says it’s more time for me to have
‘honeydew vacations’.”

“Huh?”

“You know, honeydew vacations. ‘Honey do
this,’ ‘Honey, do that,’ all that happy shit. No rest for the
weary.”

Brett laughed. “I think that’s a standard thing
for a lot of wives. Not that I’d know anything about
marriage.”

“So, you ever find a woman or still screwing
the rare bird who comes along?”

“Found me a prize about a year ago. She’s one
of the reporters covering the show tonight. Want to meet her
later?”

“Sounds good. Drinks on me.”

“Now there’s a first.”

“It’s the least I can do once I retain my title
tonight. See you in the ring, fat boy.”

*****

Karen sat in the press area and organized her
work space, taking note of the much smaller Orlando venue in
contrast to the major arenas where Brett had wrestled. Orlando
Wrestling’s studio where their TV tapings took place was more
intimate, fans much rowdier, and the more “off color” content
edited before each episode aired. With pay-per-views, anything
could happen, but just as exciting as the weekly television
matches.

How great is this? My last field
assignment for the next several months in Florida, sunny and
seventy degrees, instead of freezing back in Pittsburgh like poor
Eddie. Brett appearing is a bonus, even though it‘s bad timing to
let him know about the baby
…

“Hi.” Another reporter sat down beside her.
“Looks like it’s shaping up to be a good night.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen you before. First
Orlando Wrestling assignment?”

It’s also my last until the baby comes.
“Yes, my boss had me come down from Pittsburgh to
cover this show. I‘m Karen Montgomery.”

“James Steele, from Toronto.”

“You’re quite a long way from home.”

“I’ve covered Orlando Wrestling from the time
they had their first show, so I’m used to it. Sure beats the
Canadian cold, eh?”

“I won’t argue. One of my colleagues called
earlier and said it’s only eleven degrees in Pittsburgh. Too bad
I’m going home tomorrow.”

“Same. Any predictions?”

“I’m getting familiar with everything, and
looking over the final card. I’d have to watch every match before
forming a firm opinion.”

“Word’s going around that Brett Kerrigan is
going to be Red Rodent’s mystery opponent.”

“Anything’s possible.”
Please let the rumor
be true. That would be a perfect opportunity for Brett’s debut.
Maybe that’s why he hurried home after Stephanie Cross called the
other day.
Karen checked her watch, seeing it had stopped.
“What time is it?”

“Almost seven-thirty. Show’s getting underway
soon.”

“Thanks. I have a feeling tonight is going to
be an experience neither of us will forget.”

*****

Fans didn’t have to wait long for the
much-anticipated Florida Middleweight Championship bout. Though the
current champion received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd,
when Red Rodent’s surprise opponent was announced, deafening cheers
rang out for Brett Kerrigan when he made his entrance in a new
white Speedo and a different design of his now-famous, trademark
jacket, his hair slicked back.

As if they’d forgotten Brett was the match’s
“bad guy,“ the crowd began chanting his name as he took down Rodent
from the beginning, followed by several arm bar take downs. In
between, when they were out of the crowd sight, the contenders
joked with each other.

“Ow! You little fat fucker, that hurt!” Rodent
growled in Brett’s ear. It was difficult for either of them not to
laugh.

Brett continued his assault on Rodent with a
camel clutch with forearm shots into a crossface. Rodent came back
on him with a big snap hurricanrana before Brett fired back with a
big running spear on Rodent.

“Here, something to make your rat face look
better,” Brett said before sending Rodent to the outside with a
flying kick to the face. When Rodent made it back into the ring,
Brett kicked him off his feet before going to work on his knee,
applying pressure against the ropes.

“Call me fat boy again, and I’ll give you
worse.”

“Whatever you say,
fat boy.”

“Oh, yeah, your bony little ass is going to get
it!” Brett escaped to the top before Rodent caught him with a big
kick to the head.

“You asshole!” Brett yelled.

“What, did that tickle?” Rodent took him out
with a huge senton dive off the top turnbuckle, followed by a
missile dropkick on Brett in the ring. “I always guessed you were
ticklish.” After a missed shot on him by Rodent, Brett came back
with a single leg Boston crab on Rodent.

“Now who’s ticklish?” Brett cackled in a
near-whisper.

“Let go of me, shithead!” He kicked Brett in
the head, followed by a rolling armbar. Brett had a with a near
fall on him before Rodent pulled off a pin fall on Brett with a
springboard Rat Trap to retain his Florida Middleweight
Championship.