Title: Panther
Author: Bj Jones
Rating: FRAO
Summary: Panther can make the manliest gay men squeal like a drag queen.
~*~
It had been a while since Horatio had been in ‘The Closet’; a well-known secret within the gay community in Miami. He headed back towards the private rooms, giving the boy stripping on stage a slight glance. Tonight was a close friend’s bachelor party. Robert has been a close friend since childhood, and tonight was his night.
Robert and Thomas had decided after ten years of being together to make a public commitment to each other. They were having a small beach ceremony in front of friends and family. Horatio had been honored when Robert asked him to stand next to him on his big day.
Horatio slipped into the room quietly, he had been running late due to some paperwork he had to finish up at the lab. He smiled at the bartender and asked for a whiskey straight up. He leaned against the small bar and watched as Robert soaked up all the attention. He might be a hard nose District Attorney by day, but at night he was a drama queen. Robert waved at Horatio and motioned him to come join them. Horatio just waved back and stayed by the bar. Robert pouted. Horatio laughed, Robert could be pissy with the best of them.
He downed the whiskey then turned to the bartender for a refill. He picked up his refilled glass when he heard a very unmanly squeal out of Robert. He sat the drink down and turned to look at Robert. He took in a panting and giggling Robert.
“Panther can make the manliest gay man squeal like a drag queen.” The bartender laughed at Robert’s antics.
“Panther?” Horatio asked looking at the bartender.
The bartender motioned towards the figure moving towards Robert. “Panther. He’s the club’s most sought out stripper.”
Horatio watched the man glide across the floor. He was graceful each step fluid and precise. He could see why he was named Panther, he moved with the ease of a big cat. He had on a ragged pair of blue jeans with holes in strategic locations showing off smooth skin and hot flesh. The white button down shirt hung easily off his shoulders the cuffs open and hanging past his wrists. It reminded Horatio of something – someone but he couldn’t pin point who. There was a black silk scarf wrapped over his head and upper face – masking his identity. He looked like a rugged Zorro.
“That’s what makes him so appealing.” The bartender commented from the sideline noticing Horatio’s expression. “No one knows who he is – only the boss knows his name.”
Horatio nodded but his concentration centered around Panther as he started to move with the music. The slim hips gravitated and swayed with the down beat of the music; setting a sensual rhythm.
Panther moved his hands up his chest resting on the first button. He swayed his hip side to side as he unbuttoned each of the buttons. Revealing a tanned muscular chest, pert nipples peaking through a soft crop of chest hair. A nipple ring swayed with the body as he moved with the music. It tantalized everyone – touch me.
The shirt slid off his shoulders pooling at his feet. Panther cupped his hands in front of his groin, showing off the arm and shoulder muscles. With his feet spread he bent back, his legs squatting, and with a fluid move popped back up the muscles rippling through his chest. With each of beat of the music he moved closer to Robert until he was sliding down his chest, his mouth close to Robert’s hard cock. With a grind and twist he slid his whole body back up against Robert. He grabbed Robert’s hands placing them on Robert’s hips; his own holding them in place as he pulled Robert into the sensual dance.
Horatio could hear Robert cooing from the bar. Panther stepped back his hands moving to the waist of his jeans. With a dip and twist he had them unbuttoned a repeat move in the opposite direction they were open. One last dip and twist and they were laying low on his hips. With each sway with the downbeat they inched down his legs, finally pooling at his feet. Leaving him in a black silk thong that left nothing to anyone’s imagination.
Robert fell back in his chair squeaking. Panther turned around shaking his tight ass towards Robert. Horatio gasped, on his upper back along the shoulder blades was the reason he was called Panther, there was a tattoo of a black panther lying across a branch. He turned back around slipping into Robert’s lap. Robert kept his hands down by his sides to keep from touching – one didn’t touch the talent at ‘The Closet’. Panther eased off Robert’s lap and with one last dip he finished his routine.
He nodded to Robert, picked up his clothes and walked out. Robert was left panting in his chair.
“I’ve seen men come in their pants just watching.” The bartender smiled.
Horatio grinned, “I can see why.”
***
Horatio found himself back at ‘The Closet’ a month later. He had discovered that Panther was performing on the main stage. He hadn’t been able to get the young dancer out of his thoughts. He had woken up on more than one occasion panting with sticky sheets.
He slid into one of the back booths with a beer in his hand and waited. There were a few dancers on the stage – they were young, thin, and a tad to pretty.
Panther was an older dancer – a bit scruffy, a look that reminded him of a certain CSI. A CSI he had been in love with for over a year. The moment he met Speed he lusted after his body. The scruffy beard, dark eyes, lean frame – had made Horatio’s mouth water. Over time he had grown to love him. The sarcastic remarks, the deep caring for the victims, and the brain that absorbed knowledge like a sponge. At night, Speed’s image replaced Panther’s in the sensual dance – a dance just for him.
The music pulled him out of his thoughts. Panther was on stage starting his routine. Horatio gasped as a spike of arousal went through him. Panther was wearing leather chaps, only a small loin cloth covering his groin. His face was still obscured by the black silk scarf.
Horatio left the club mortified that he had lost control and actually came in his pants just watching Panther move. He would never look at a pair of chaps the same again. Panther had just given the term ride like a cowboy a whole new meaning.
***
Horatio grinned at Speed’s disgusted expression. “Problem?”
“I hate flop houses.” Speed groaned as they walked up to the house. “They are living creatures in there that I don’t want to know about.”
“But it’s your job to find out what they are.” Horatio smiled at him
Speed just glared at him. “After you.”
The moment they walked into the building the smell of death and decay over-whelmed them. Speed held up his un-cuffed shirtsleeve up to his face. Horatio glanced at him then paused, the image looked familiar. Speed breathed through his mouth. “That’s going to stick for a while.”
They moved towards the back of the house. Alexx had already cleared the body and all that was left was to process the scene. They were seriously short staffed. Calleigh was in court and Delko was down with the flu which left Horatio having to help process the scene.
They were half way through the house when two HAZMAT personnel walked in and dragged them out of the house and into a make shift detox center. Alexx had found a large amount of radiation in the victims system. She had called HAZMAT and they ordered an evacuation of the house until they figure out where the radiation was coming from.
Horatio and Speed had been stripped down and pushed under the showers. Horatio had turned slightly taking in the smooth flesh of the man he wanted in his life. His eyes caught a glimpse of something, turning he stood stunned. Along Speed’s upper back along his shoulders was a tattoo of a black panther lying on a branch.
Speed was Panther.
Panther was Speed.
***
It took him a week to figure out what he was going to do with the information he uncovered. In the end there was only one thing for him to do.
The bartender wasn’t kidding, getting a private dance from Panther was not only pricy but he had a waiting list. It took Horatio two long weeks before he got a viewing, and it took a big chunk out of his checkbook.
Horatio knew the moment Speed walked in he would recognize him; he hoped that Speed would realize that Horatio recognized him.
Horatio sat down in the chair and waited. The room darkened as the music started. A soft light accented Panther as he began moving with the music. He was wearing tight, might as well have been spray painted on, leather pants. There was no shirt just a leather collar and wrist cuffs. The silk scarf was firmly in place, the only difference was this time Horatio could see the small navel ring, a hoop with an emerald in it. The pants were low on his hips. Horatio’s eyes followed the trail of dark hair that disappeared into the pants.
Horatio was enthralled as the leather moved with the body like a second skin. As Panther moved closer, turning towards him Horatio saw the slight pause – Speed had recognized him.
Speed’s eyes caught Horatio’s – recognition in both pairs of eyes. Speed gave Horatio a small grin and then closed his eyes loosing himself in the music and dance. It had taken every ounce of Horatio’s iron control not to reach out and touch.
Horatio groaned deep in his throat as Speed moved over and around him. Touching but not. Sex without the sex. Speed slid into Horatio’s lap the leather encasing his obviously hard cock At the end of the song Speed locked eyes with Horatio. The lust was evident but the emotion behind it was overwhelming. The two sat there for over a minute not moving just staring – saying everything without saying anything.
Speed leaned forward their hard cocks rubbing together, “My place.”
***
Horatio knew the moment he walked into Speed’s door there would be no turning back. Speed didn’t let people in easily. He guarded his heart protectively. This was Horatio’s one opportunity to walk through that door. If he didn’t show up he knew Speed would never speak of it again. It wouldn’t affect their relationship, but he would never get another chance to be with the dark haired beauty.
Speed opened the door letting Horatio into the loft apartment. The door barely closed before Horatio had Speed up against the nearest wall. He took Speed’s mouth into a possessive kiss, devouring it, tasting it. He moaned as he tasted Speed for the first time. Speed opened his mouth under the assault, encouraging Horatio to deepen the kiss, his tongue dueling with Horatio’s into a slick delicious battle. Horatio’s hand slipped into Speed’s black silky strands holding him still as he explored the willing mouth.
Pulling back for oxygen he looked into Speed’s dark lust filled eyes. Speed held this questioning look, answering the unspoken question. He took Horatio’s hand and led him up the stairs to his loft bedroom.
He pushed Horatio onto the bed then stepped back away from the bed. He began a slow sensual dance, giving Horatio his own private striptease. Moving to the music only in his head, Speed slid out of his shirt, his pants, and last his boxers.
Horatio reached out and touched the erect member. Encouraged by Speed’s groan he stroked the hard cock, his thumb caressing over the leaking head. His hand moved upwards, teasing the small hoop in Speed’s navel. Speed’s keening sounds thrilled Horatio. More confident, he moved upward over the tight stomach muscles. Fingers caressing through the chest hair, flicking the nipple ring. Speed moaned and his eyes locked on Horatio. Horatio smiled before taking the erect nipple into his mouth and pulling at it with his teeth. Speed’s hands dug into Horatio’s red hair holding him to his chest, groaning at the sensations Horatio’s mouth was causing his body.
Speed pulled Horatio’s head up taking his mouth in a bruising kiss. Horatio felt his jacket slip off followed by his shirt. He pulled back to see Speed grin as Horatio felt his pants drop to the ground. He pushed Horatio back into the bed. He pulled off Horatio’s shoes, socks, pants and boxers. Horatio crawled father back and laid down, his erection standing proud. Speed licked his lips eyeing the beautiful cock. He quickly reached over to the nightstand and pulled out a condom and lube. He set them down on the bed and crawled on to it. Straddling over Horatio’s legs he leaned over and took Horatio’s hard cock into his mouth. Horatio’s head fell back a moan ripped out of his throat his hips thrusting upwards wanting more of the warm wet heat.
Speed pulled back the hard cock slipping from his mouth. He grabbed the lube and squeezed some of his fingers. Then with a feral grin he began to prepare himself. Speed groaned as he fucked himself. He pulled his fingers out and grabbed the condom, placing it on Horatio then lubed him up. Speed straddled Horatio’s hips. Horatio’s blue locked with Speed’s dark eyes as Speed slid down moaning deep as Horatio’s hard cock filled him.
Horatio groaned deep in his throat, almost a deep purr. His hands held Speed’s hips as he began to ride in earnest. As Speed moved downward Horatio thrust upward hitting that one spot that caused Speed to scream in pleasure. The two set a hard and fast rhythm. It didn’t take long for either man to find release, screaming as they came.
***
Horatio held Speed close as the morning dawned filling the room with a soft light. He was very thankful that the two of them had the weekend off. He had plans to keep Speed in bed, learning each part of his new lover’s body. He felt Speed shift next to him as he slowly began to wake.
Speed shifted so that he was facing Horatio. “Morning.”
Horatio caressed Speed’s cheek. “Morning.”
“You stayed.” Speed smiled brightly.
“As long as you want me.” Horatio assured.
Speed leaned over and kissed him softly. “Breakfast?”
“You cook?” Horatio asked surprised.
“I have lots of hidden talents.” Speed smirked as he got out of bed, grabbing his jeans and slipping them on.
Horatio slipped out of bed pulling his own pants on and slipping on his shirt. “I noticed.”
He followed Speed out of the bedroom and down the hall. He stopped at the kitchen edge when a black cat jumped up on the counter and looked at him.
“That’s Snowball.” Speed pulled out eggs out of the fridge. “Pancakes?”
“Snowball?” Horatio asked eyeing the cat. Speed just grinned. Horatio laughed, “Whatever you want to make.” Horatio sat down at the kitchen table watching Speed prepare the batter. “Why?”
“Why what?” Speed turned and looked over at him.
Horatio’s eyebrow rose, “Stripping.” He petted the cat that had jumped up onto the kitchen table. “And don’t give me some cliché story about your sick Uncle who was dying of cancer and you had to help your Aunt pay the mortgage.”
“It was my cat.” Speed deadpanned. “She needed a new kidney and I wasn’t a match. They weren’t sure when a donor would come up so I took drastic measures, I heard about this guy who can get anything. So I flew down to Peru…” Horatio was laughing hysterically at Speed’s tale of the black market of illegal cat kidneys. “…In the end she survived the surgery, but it wiped out my bank account.”
Horatio wiped away the tears as he patted Snowball gently. “I’m glad she’s going to be okay, but…”
“I was bored.” Speed shrugged. “I was tired of coming home to nothing but a cat and the Discovery channel.” Speed set the batter down and turned towards Horatio. “I used to go out to the club to go dancing – just to loose myself after a bad case. The problem was…”
“People touching and wanting…” Horatio stated easily.
Speed sighed, “Yeah. Sometimes I would take someone up on their offer but most of the time I just wanted to loose myself. One day this older gentlemen came up to me and asked if I wanted to dance for his club. I knew who he was and what his club really was, so I declined. Over time he kept showing up at the club watching me. Finally he convinced me to do amateur night. He persuaded me by pointing out no one could touch me – they could watch but no touching. I did it… Why? I don’t know.”
“I failed miserably at my first striptease, didn’t even get my pants off.” Speed grinned at Horatio. “I had gotten lost in the music. The audience didn’t think I failed and I ended up winning the competition. Later the owner said that it was because they were so enthralled in my moves that it didn’t matter whether or not I had clothes on. Though I got bigger tips the fewer clothes I had on.” Speed grinned.
“I decided to stick with it.” Speed went back to the breakfast makings. “On the one condition that no one knew who I was, so I wear the mask.”
“Because of the lab…” Horatio stated.
“Didn’t want my or the labs credibility to be ruined.” Speed informed him. “Plus it enhanced the mystery with my clients.”
“How much do you make?” Horatio asked curious.
“On a good night…” Speed grinned at Horatio. “Three grand.”
Horatio looked a bit shocked. “How long have you been doing this?”
“Three years.” Speed shrugged. “Before you came to be our supervisor. How did you find out?”
“Saw you at a bachelor party for a friend.” Horatio admitted. “I even came to see you perform again. But it was the tattoo that clued me in.”
“The flop house.” Speed nodded.
“When did you get it?” Horatio asked.
“Over ten years ago for my first lover.” Speed looked up a small smile on his face. “He always loved the big cats wanted to become a Vet specializing in big cats working for the New York Zoo. That was the plan. I would heal people he would heal the big cats.”
“The friend that died?” Horatio asked his voice soft.
“He had been paralyzed from the neck down after a snowmobile accident.” Speed looked at Horatio. “I went out and got the tattoo. I told him this way he would always be surrounded by a big cat.”
“It’s beautiful.” Horatio looked at the tattoo on Speed’s shoulders. “Almost seems alive.”
Speed stopped what he was doing and looked at Horatio. “Is this more than one night?” He asked suddenly.
“You want it to be?” Horatio questioned, their eyes locking.
“Yes.” Speed whispered.
“So do I.” Horatio stood up and walked over to Speed. “But…you only strip for me.”
Speed smiled. “Only for you.”
***
Horatio sat in one of the back booths amazed at the crowd of people. ‘The Closet’ had announced that tonight was the last performance of Panther – he was retiring. Horatio swore the whole gay community was here – he saw Robert somewhere in the crowd. Horatio looked up when an older man sat down next to him.
“You are one lucky son of a bitch.” The older man saluted him with his beer.
Horatio saluted back. “I know.”
The music started grabbing Horatio’s attention. He laughed when he saw Panthers outfit – a suit. He had the black scarf firmly in place concealing the man underneath the façade.
He watched as Speed moved with the music, the jacket going first and into the crowd. The tie was second to go, he slipped it around an admirer grinding against him then moving on. The shirt was slowly peeled off showing off the chiseled chest and flat stomach. He moved down the stage grinding with the music. Horatio shook his head at the responses Panther was invoking from the crowd. Panther dipped and turned the pants dropping to the ground, and with a flick of his foot went flying into the crowd.
Horatio caught the small smile that was for him and him only. He was one lucky bastard to have Speed in his life and in his bed. He couldn’t wait to get home and get an encore performance – minus the thong.