awe. As he lifted the rose, he let out a murmur of thanks. Kris just smiled as he studied Jorell’s features, then leaned forward and gave him a soft kiss. He then stepped back and slowly ran his eyes over Jorell’s body.

“Jori…turn around for me.” He said in a softly seductive voice.

“Umm…” Jorell lowered the rose to his side and swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in his throat. “You want me to…turn around? Like in a circle?” Jorell remembered his earlier thoughts about prom. Maybe I’m not so far off. His heart rate picked up from the intense look in Kristopher’s eyes. Gone was the carefree young man from earlier. In his place stood a man with a mixture of passion and tenderness in his gaze.

“Turn around for me.” He said again in the same persuasive tone, this time with a hint of demanding edge. Jorell smiled self-consciously and slowly turned for his date. “Oh God, what have I done.” Kris groaned under his breath. Jorell spun back to face Kris.

“You regret asking me out. Already” Jorell said in panic. He began to back into the room, reaching out to shut the door and preparing himself for a drunken night alone.

“NO! God, No! “ Kris ran a hand through his hair as he stuck out the other to keep the door from slamming in his face. “I just meant,” he said quickly and frantically, loosing his confident demeanor for the first time since Jori had met him. “I just meant, that you look good. Damn good. I was just thinking how hard it will be to go out and not be all over you. I promised myself that if I ever managed to get a date with you, I would do it right. You’re special and you deserve to be treated that way.” Kris took a deep breath. “You look amazing.”

Jorell stared at him, touched. He didn’t know what to say. He turned toward the kitchen. “Let me put this rose in water, and then we can leave.”

END OF PART 1