Jude, dressed only in a T-shirt, is sitting at one of their potter's wheel throwing a series of pots. Connor enters the studio. He is barefoot, shirtless, wearing jeans.
"What are you doing, babe?"
"I felt inspired." Jude shrugs.
"At 2:23 am?"
He nods and presses his hands into a pot that is forming in front of him. Connor watches the sensual movement of Jude's fingers, molding and forming the clay. He is forceful, assured, gifted. The clay responds to his slightest effort. Slowly, almost unconsciously, Connor reaches for his shoulders and begins kissing them.
"You notice Noah's eyes today?" Connor continues. "They were all over you. That dude needs his own eye candy."
"What?" Jude asks in disbelief. "Are you jealous? Connor let me tell you something. He's not even looking at me. It's you he idolizes. If you asked me what I thought about him before you asked me that question, I would have said that he has a thing for you. He doesn't see me at all... Anyway, he's not my type. He just seems…..evil if you ask me."
Connor reaches over him and gently adds his fingers to the clay. Jude looks up at him.
"Connor, what are you doing?"
"Now I feel inspired."
Connor hands dig into the clay. Jude smiles. Their fingers seem to dance together. After a moment, Jude reaches up to him, his clay-covered fingers streaking his face and curving down to his chest. Connor grins and reaches down to him.
Jude watches, as Connor walks up to the jukebox. Connor presses two buttons on their jukebox. The mechanical arm selects a record and slowly, sensuously, lowers it to the turntable. The arm hovers over the record and then descends. It begins to play. The song is "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers.
Connor and Jude are both dancing in the middle of the dark loft. Moonlight pours through the windows and shines off the floor. Wads and wads of packing paper swirl sensuously around their feet. Jude then runs his fingers down Connor's naked back.
'This moment is sweet and erotic. I am going to marry this man.' Connor thinks to himself.
Connor slowly draws his fingers down over Jude's face, gently caressing his forehead, his eyes, and his lips. Connor slides his hands under Jude's T-shirt, slowly moving them toward his nipples. He notices that Jude's breathing slows down a bit. They dance silently, his brown hair swaying in the soft light. The sounds of their bare feet on the highly polished floor can barely be heard. Sensuously, Jude's shirt lifts above his navel as Connor presses into him. Their stomachs touch and part and touch again. He bites his lip. Connor eyes his boyfriend's moonlit form as he strokes his chest, slowly moving his fingers down his torso, around the curve of his hips, and then digging into the back of his jeans. Connor leans into Jude and nips at his neck. Jude stops dancing. His eyes close. He stands absolutely still. Connor's hands move to her backside. He pulls him closer.
"Connor?"
"Jude?"
"Make love to me. Right here, right now."
Connor and Jude are making love on the living room carpet. Paper and packing materials crumble beneath them and scatter across the floor. For all their sensuality, it is their hands and eyes that are most expressive, revealing a tenderness that is deeply moving. Their lovemaking is full of love.
"I love you. I love you so much, Jude." Connor says in between thrusts.
"Ditto." Jude says in a deep sultry voice.
The song ends. The jukebox arm retracts and gently slides the record back into its slot.
Connor and Jude are lying together on their bed, silently in their bedroom. Jude gazes at him.
"Babe?"
"Yeah, Jude?"
"What's the matter?"
"The matter?" Connor repeats.
"Something's wrong. I can tell. What's the matter with you babe?"
"Nothing... really." Connor says unsure of himself.
"You're worried, aren't you? About moving in together?"
"No. Not all, babe. You know I love you."
"Then what? Is this about the promotion?" Jude wonders. Connor sighs.
"I don't know. A lot of things. I just don't want the bubble to burst. Usually, whenever something good happens to me I'm just afraid I'm going to lose it. Now everything just seems…."
"You know what?" Jude asks while he gently strokes Connor's head.
"What?"
"Can you tell me that three word, eight letter phrase? Please?"
"I love you. I really love you."
"Ditto, and I hope that you'll never forget it."
Connor smiles and strokes Jude's cheek.
"Ditto, Jude."
Suddenly the T.V. blares into the room. Connor jumps up, grabbing the remote control unit from under his buttocks. Jude laughs as he turns the sound down. The news is on and they are showing the remains of an airline disaster. Connor stares at the tube.
"Oh Jesus. Another one. Every time?"
"Don't watch that stuff. I don't want you to worry about anything, Con."
He motions to wait. Dead bodies litter the screen.
"...It is estimated that 34 people died in the crash, the second in less than two weeks." The news correspondent reports.
The T.V. goes OFF. Connor, confused, spins around. Jude is holding the remote control. He nods for him to lie down.
"Maybe I should cancel my L.A. trip... These things always happen in threes. Besides, anything could happen to you when I'm not here when you go back to work at the bank. More than that, I have a bad feeling something is going to happen."
"Threes? Connor, get serious. Besides, you lead a charmed life, because I'm in it."
"Yeah. So did they." Connor says sadly.
"Babe, don't worry so much. You know that I've always had faith in your decisions."
Connor looks at Jude for a moment and then back at the screen.
"Amazing, huh?" Connor says as he snaps his fingers. "Just like that. Blackout."
Jude hugs him.