Chapter 12: Promises

As Jason drove home he thought about Carli and what she said about her dream. He felt good knowing that she was dreaming of him in that way. He had never done the act before but was willing to try it just for her. He heard it was a very pleasurable experience for women and was curious about it. No one had done it to him either. He wondered if it was something he and Carli could explore on their wedding night. 

He slowed the car down as he was coming up on the Paradise Flats apartments and turned the vehicle carefully into the driveway. He parked the car, got out and armed it. Now he was feeling a little hot and bothered. He needed to take a shower and get some sleep. Jason walked up the stairs to his room, opened the door and locked it behind him. He placed his keys on the small table nearby the door, then sat on the bed. He removed his shoes and lay back on the bed. 

He turned on his side and got a whiff of something interesting. He clumped a handful of the bed sheet in his hand and smelt it. It was Carli’s scent on the bed: the lavender oil she said she used. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, revelling in the fragrance.

Jason knew based on his physical reaction to the smell, if she had come back to his apartment, by morning she would no longer be a virgin. Just her smell on the sheets was enough to evoke such a strong response from him. He looked at his crotch to confirm. He turned on his back and laughed softly at himself. He agreed with Omar. He was whipped.

He got up and started stripping off his clothes down to his underpants. He took out a bar of soap and his wash cloth. Carli said she had used one of his towels. He was going to use it, just to make this sweet torture he was feeling complete.

He went into the bathroom and entered the shower. Out of the corner of his right eye he noticed something that wasn’t supposed to be dangling from the shower knob. He looked at it directly and realised that it was some sort of lacy fabric. It was a yellow color. He took it up to look at it closely and realised that it was Carli’s underwear. She had left her panties in his bathroom. He squeezed it. It was still a little damp. An inconceivable thought crossed his mind. 

Could he? Maybe the question is: Should he? He mused. He thought about what she had said about her dream. If the lavender oil from her hair and neck was driving him this nuts, he wondered what her primal scent would do to him. His body was telling him to do it, but his mind was saying no. He lifted the delicate fabric in his hand to his eye level, examining the intricate lacy pattern. He was wrestling with himself.

Grunting loudly, he dismissed the thought and threw her panties in the clothes hamper just outside the shower. These intrusive thoughts were a trip. He turned on the shower and wet his head, closing his eyes. He turned up the shower so that the pressure caused the water to fall like bullets over his body, beating against his skin. It was cool and refreshing. 

After a five minute shower, he entered the bedroom with the towel Carli used wrapped around his waist. He decided to wear spacious boxers. He took out a small fluffy handkerchief from his duffle bag and dried his hair with it.

After he finished, he crumpled up the cloth in his hand and rested it on the table. He put on his boxers and returned the towel to the rack in the bathroom. He went back into his bedroom and jumped on the bed.

Jason turned on the internet data on his phone and checked Whatsapp statuses. There was a picture of himself and Carli at his mom’s house arm in arm smiling. He sent her heart eyes and blow kiss emojis. Within a minute she sent a reply to him. 

“Hey baby,” she texted.

“Hey beautiful,” he replied.

“You home safe?”, she texted.

“Yes, honey. I’m home safe thinking about you and your sweetness,” He bit his lip as he sent the message off.

She sent a heart emoji. “My sweetness?”

“Mhmm. The sweet honey between your thighs.” He sent a peach emoji.

Carli sent a blow kiss emoji. “I was thinking about you too. Been thinking about what’s between your thighs too.” She sent an eggplant.

Jason smiled. He felt his body respond to her. He lay on his back. He made a voice note:

“Mmmh … You know, you left something here, something that is very delicate and close to you. I found your panties in my shower and I was tempted to find out what you smell like.”

 He sent it to her.

Carli replied with a voicenote also:

“Oh. When I went into my room and checked my bag I wondered what happened to it. I figured I must have left it at your place. I was going to go back for it earlier today, but I forgot when you came in from off the road. I’m sorry.”

Jason texted her back: “It’s okay baby. It was a surprise, but a pleasant one.”

“You were tempted to find out what I smelt like?”, she texted him.

“Yes. I was laying on the bed and got a whiff of your lavender fragrance on the bedsheet. I enjoyed that. So imagine my surprise when I saw your panties dangling in the shower,” he replied.

“Did you?” she asked. She sent a gif of a nose.

Jason laughed. “I wanted to but I didn’t,” he texted back.

“Why didn’t you?”, she asked.

He thought about it. What should he say?

His fingers started typing: “I guess I thought it might be weird and if you found out you would be grossed out.” He pressed send.

He saw the notification that Carli was typing something. It was taking awhile. He wondered what she was going to say.

To his surprise she sent a picture of the panties she was wearing. She had lifted her skirt, taken a picture and sent it to him. Smooth, beautiful, brown thighs curved into voluptuous hips and triangular flesh that was covered over by another lacy undergarment. This time the color was light pink. 

She sent him a text: “Today you told me that there was nothing embarrassing between us. So, nothing you do where you and I are concerned is weird to me, or will gross me out. If you want to find out what I smell like you can.” 

The phone started to ring. Jason answered.

"Hey beautiful,” he answered, his voice was husky and deep.

“Hey baby,” she replied. Jason could tell she was turned on.

“If you want to find out what I taste or smell like down there I’m willing to help you explore,” she said.

Jason lay on his back, he put one hand behind his head, the other held the phone to his mouth. “Sounds really good. I’ll be sure to take you up on that offer very soon,” he said smiling. He closed his eyes as he thought about her, visualizing what being with her would be like. “I’ve been thinking about your dream. I really want to fulfill that for you. Although, I’ve never done it before.”

“You’ve never?”, she asked.

“No, never, but I want to try it with you,” he said softly.

“Oh. I’ve never either. Well I’m a virgin.” she giggled. “Thank you. I was always curious about it, but you know, I want it to be with someone special.”

Jason nodded, though Carli couldn’t see him. He opened his eyes. “I can understand that,” he said. “That sort of thing is very intimate. You shouldn’t do it with just anybody.”

“Has any girl done it to you? I mean gone down on you?” Her voice dipped low. 

Jason smiled. It’s still a taboo topic in this country, he thought.

“No, I’ve never had it done to me. My ex didn’t think it was clean behavior. She thought it was nasty.”

He heard Carli sigh. “I get you,” she replied. “I don’t think it’s nasty. I think it can be a beautiful experience with the right person, and of course if you and the person are clean; have good hygiene, it shouldn’t be a problem.” 

“I agree with that,” he said.

“I wanna experience that with you. I’ve never done it either, but I think I have an idea,” she said shyly.

“You do?”, he was amused, but also intrigued.

“Yeah, like licking ice cream or sucking on a lollipop,” she said with a playful tone in her voice.

She sounded very sexy to Jason’s ears. Her words were making his thoughts wander to places they shouldn’t, and they were about certain soft, pink lips.

“So are you offering?”, he teased her.

“Are you?”, she countered.

“Yes!” 

They were amused to find that they both said ‘yes’ at the same time. Jason chuckled. He heard her giggle softly across the line.

“Can’t wait to peel back all the covers and see you, all of your beauty for my eyes to feast on,” Jason said with a sigh.

Carli giggled. “Me too. I think I’ve noticed a bulge once or twice down there. I’m curious to see what you look like,” she said her voice breathy. 

“You’ve noticed?” Jason was surprised. He thought he was doing a good job of hiding it from her.

“Mhmm. I have. I was tempted to touch but held back,” she said.

Jason felt himself harden.

“To be honest I would want you to, but I don’t think that’s a good idea, not yet.” Jason said. He wouldn’t have minded if she reached down and touched him, but knew that was a recipe for a broken vow.

“I know,” she replied.

“I promise you this. Very soon I’ll put us both out of our misery.” He chuckled. He had to move quickly.

“How soon?”, she asked. There was a longing in her voice that made him want to weep. It must feel like torture to her, just like he felt.

“Just a few more months baby, I promise. Just let me clear up a few things, one of them being that job in Montego Bay, and if you will have me I want to make you Mrs. Singh”

He heard her say, “Yes. I want that very much.”

Jason felt his heart beating fast. He was happy. “I love you.”

“I love you,” she said. She spoke softly, her voice held an air of awe as if amazed by what was happening between them. Jason felt overwhelmed by these feelings too. He wanted her by his side always, to hold her, to please her, to make her happy.

“Baby, I need to get some sleep. I have an early morning tomorrow, first with your aunt to go to the tax office to get the car registered and then I have some errands to do for my mom,” he said blowing her a kiss.

“Okay baby. Call me tomorrow?”, she asked him.

“Yes, beautiful brown thighs, I promise to call you tomorrow.”

“Ahh! Go away.” She laughed. She blew him a kiss. 

“Good night,” she said.

“Good night beautiful.” 

She hung up. 

Jason put the phone down and smiled to himself. This girl. He shook his head. He picked up the phone, unlocked it and scrolled up to the pic she sent him. She was beautiful, every inch of her. He couldn’t wait to experience every part of her. He exited the messages and put the phone down. He turned on his side and thought about her until he fell asleep.

                                                                                    *******

Carli woke up to feeling sharp pains in her pelvis and a dull ache in her lower back. She turned on her back and used her hands to lightly massage her abdomen. She sat up slowly. She took up her phone and checked the time. It was 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.

She felt a strong urge to pee. She got up and went to the bathroom to relieve herself. As she sat on the toilet she looked down on her panties and realised that her period had come. She sighed. Right on time, she thought. She got up, patted herself dry with toilet paper and flushed the toilet. 

She went into the bedroom and retrieved dark brown cotton panties, a pair of black cotton tights and a rose pink, baggy t-shirt from two drawers reserved for her clothes, and laid them on the bed. She took off her pajamas and placed them in the dirty laundry basket. She stepped into the shower and drew the curtain.

She removed her panties and started soaping them up and washing them. When she was done she hung them on the shower valve, turned the valve on and let the luke warm water wash over her.

After she was finished bathing she reached for a clothes pin she had placed on the top of the toilet tank, she leaned over to retrieve it and clipped the wet underwear on a clothes hanger she had hanging on the shower rail. She would put that in the sun later she said to herself. 

Carefully, she stepped out of the shower and planted her feet on the mat, reached for a towel on the rack and dried herself quickly. She went into the bedroom and took out a sanitary napkin from a pack she placed in a ziplock bag.

She dressed herself, putting on the napkin as neatly as she could. Carli sighed and checked the bed for stains. None, thank God. She lay down again until morning. When she woke this time, she checked her phone. It was 7:00 a.m. She thought of Jason. He was probably on his way over to meet her aunt to get the car registered in his name.

She pressed redial to call him. He answered after the fourth ring.

“Hey beautiful. I’m actually on my way over,” he said. His voice was soft and tender, caressing her senses.

“Hey,” she responded. “Can’t wait to see you. I got to tell you something.”

“Oh, what’s that?”, he asked.

“First of all, I love you.”

She heard him say: “I love you too.”

“Secondly, my period came.”

She lay on her side as she felt sharp pelvic pain.

“Hush baby,” he said, blowing her cute little kisses. “Do you need anything?”

“Just you,” she said. “... and chocolate.”

“You want some chocolate candy?”, he asked her.

“Mhm, if you can please. Yes.”

“Okay. Any type you like?”

“I like the ones with rice crispies but plain chocolate will do,” she said smiling. She enjoyed talking to him.

“Okay baby. I’m gonna stop off somewhere and pick up some for you.”

“Thank you baby. Can we get a few minutes to talk before you and aunty leave.”

“Maybe. Anything wrong?”

“I just want a hug,” she said.

“Okay. I’ll try. Don’t know how soon she wants to leave. I called earlier and she said I should get there by 7:30 a.m. There’s a grocery store down the road from your house. I’ll see if they have any chocolate candy, okay?”

“Okay.”

He blew adorable kisses through the phone then hung up. She turned on her back and sighed.

At about 7:35 a.m. he was at her bedroom door. He knocked and called her name. Melissa had let him in. She apologized to Jason for her prank, who just nodded and said it was all good. As Jason entered Carli's room, he looked around. He saw sports paraphernalia. 

“I take it the original owner is a sports fan?”, he looked at her amused.

Carli laughed. “Yeah, my cousin Brandon is a huge sports fan.”

“Sounds like my kind of person,” Jason said grinning.

“Yeah,” Carli said. “He’s a really cool guy.

Jason took out the chocolate bar from a brown paper bag. “Here you go,” he said.

Carli took it from him then went into his arms. He held her close to him, rubbing her back. He remembered he brought something important for her. Holding her at arms length, he dug into his pocket and took out the lacy panties she left at his apartment. He swung it playfully on his index finger. Carli laughed and grabbed it from him.

She stood on tiptoe to plant a kiss on his cheek. Jason bent forward and received it. He laughed softly. Carli winked at him, went into the bathroom and dropped the panties in her dirty laundry basket.

When she returned she saw that he was looking around the room with a curious gaze. She reached for his hands, circled them around her shoulders, and placed her arms around his waist and leaned into him.

“Tell me where it hurts,” he said.

“My lower back and tummy, the lower part,” she said in a soft baby voice. 

Jason pursed his lips. There was something he could try to help her. “Lay down,” he said, touching her face.

Carli did as she was told. She put the chocolate bar on the night table.

“Lay on your tummy,” he said. 

She did so. He sat on the edge of the bed and told her to lift her t-shirt above her waist.

She lifted the blouse and waited. Gently, Jason used his finger tips to probe the muscles in her back. 

“Where’s that bottle with the lavender oil at?”, he asked her.

“You want the diluted or undiluted?”, she asked him.

“Undiluted,” he said.

“Look in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.”

He went to retrieve it and opened it carefully. The fragrance was even stronger than he ever smelt it on Carli. This is strong stuff. He thought.

Carefully, he squeezed a few drops in the palm of his hands, then vigorously rubbed them together and used his warmed hands to massage her. He focused on her lower back, hips, and her flanks.

Carli felt like she could moan his name. His touch was doing things to her she never expected.

Oh gosh! She thought. Why did he make her feel like this?

She was trying to choke the sounds in her throat but as he worked on her, it was almost as if she couldn’t stop herself. She wanted so much for him to caress her buttocks. She pushed them up to him, moaning softly. Taking the hint, Jason gently caressed her bottom, squeezing and rubbing it.

"Baby, you okay?" Jason's voice was silky, soft to her ears. She wished she could get undressed. She wanted to feel his hands on her bare flesh.

"Ohhh! .." she moaned a little louder.

"Shhh! Carli, baby not so loud," Jason said trying to get her to tone down the sounds she was making.

"Baby, I can't help it," she said gasping for air.

Jason gently gripped her bottom and squeezed. Carli reared up, pushing herself up to him. Her breathing was shallow as she made sounds that expressed how pleasurable his touch felt.

"I'm sorry," she breathed.

"It's okay, baby. You're very sensitive right now. I don't mind. I love your bubble butt." He patted and rubbed her bottom.

Jason liked the view he was getting. Her butt was round, firm and voluptuous. She also felt good in his hands. He imagined himself behind her, making love to her.

Jason blinked. Back to reality he told himself. For now, he had to focus. He needed to make sure he gave her a back rub so she could get relief from the pain. He cleared his throat and tried to refocus his thoughts.

"Lay back on your tummy Carli, let me finish your back rub," he said.

As she sat up and moved further up the bed to lay down again, her blouse fell down to her waist. Jason helped her lift it as she settled on her tummy. He rubbed her lower back thoroughly. Focusing on the area she said hurt, his fingers expertly massaged her muscles.

He massaged her for five minutes in a circular motion until he felt her muscles relaxing. He needed to do that thing Antonia taught him. Aggressively, he pressed his thumbs then palm of his hands in succession, repeatedly in the centre of her back and she cried out. 

“You should feel the tension releasing after this,” he said calmly.

“What did you do?”, she asked dumbfounded. The pain was gone.

“Something a friend taught me.”

She felt sleepy. 

“How do you feel?”, he asked her.

“Really sleepy.” 

“Good. You should be fine. Eat the chocolate after you wake up.”

 Jason watched her as she drifted off to sleep.

*****

As he watched her sleep he thought of the day Antonia taught him that special massage. His half sister was in a lot of pain because of her period and it seemed like painkillers barely helped her. Antonia had called him into the room and showed him what to do. 

Now as he looked at Carli sleeping, there were so many things he wanted to share with her. He didn’t want to hold anything back. He would have to tell her about the apartments very soon. If she was to be his wife she needed to know. 

He leaned forward and kissed her head. She fell asleep on her tummy. Gently, he placed his arms around her shoulders and waist turning her over on her back. She looked so peaceful. He brushed feathery kisses on her forehead. As he sat up straight, he remembered the first time they met. He could see that her defences were up. She seemed like a guarded person overall. Now, she was more open to him. 

He thought of the sounds she was making while he massaged her back. She sounded ultra sexy. He longed for the day he would be one with her in every sense of the term ‘two become one’. For now he would settle for making her smile. I only want to make her feel better and that will always be the goal. He thought to himself.

He got up and silently exited the room and went down stairs. Aunt Sandra met him at the foot of the stairs. She had a cheeky look on her face. “What in the world were you doing to my niece?”, she asked.

Jason blushed. She heard her. “Nothing she didn’t need,” he replied.

He saw her eyebrows raised close together. “And what did she need?”, she asked amused.

“I gave her a back rub. That is all.” He smiled at aunt Sandra who laughed. Sandra leaned towards Jason. She could smell the lavender oil fragrance on him.

"Don't you smell good," she said with an amused look.

Jason's lips quirked up in a slight smile. "I used the lavender oil she has to massage her back for her," he said matter of factly.

“Okay, I hear you,” she said, looking at him with a reflective gaze. She grabbed her bag from off the floor. “Let’s get going,” she said.

Jason nodded and followed her out the door.

*****

Carli woke up to see Melissa watching her. She was a little confused. Wasn’t Jason just here a few minutes ago? 

Melissa smiled at her. “Hey,” she said. “Feeling any better?”

Carli lifted her hands to her mouth to stifle a yawn. She sat up slowly. She looked around. Jason wasn’t in the room. Melissa, realising who she must be looking for, said, “Jason isn’t here. He and mommy went to sort out the car.” Carli looked at Melissa who had a mug with something that smelt really good in it. 

Seeing that Carli eyed her suspiciously, Melissa braved a smile, hoping Carli would reciprocate. “I brought you some chamomile tea with honey. It’s really good. I drink it when it’s my time of the month.” Melissa extended her hand with the tea in it to Carli who took it from her and rested it on the night table.

Carli stretched. She noticed that she wasn’t feeling any pain at all just a little stiffness. 

Melissa cleared her throat. Carli looked at her but said nothing. Since the incident with Jason and Heather, the so-called family friend, Carli hadn’t spoken to her. She couldn’t believe Lissa would do something like that.

Lissa sat on the edge of the bed. “Carli, I’m really sorry for what I did. To be honest, I didn’t think what I did right through, and I’m sorry. You’re my fave cousin …”

“I’m your only cousin,” Carli quipped, cutting her off.

Melissa looked at her hands. “You’re not gonna make this easy for me, are you?” She looked up at her cousin’s stone faced expression.

Carli shook her head and mouthed the word “no”.

Melissa came up closer to Carli. “I have a story to tell you, well … it happened to me. You wanna hear it?”

“Go on.” Carli was non-committal.

“At seventeen I was raped,” she said holding her head down. It had a been a long time she hadn’t spoken about what had happened to her. “I was in love. At least I thought I was. His name was Shaun. I thought he was in love with me,” she said.

Carli shifted her body. She never heard about this. She turned more towards her cousin. Melissa looked towards the wall, she didn’t look at Carli.

“There was this party that he invited me to, he wanted me to come but I wasn’t sure. I asked my mom if I could go. It was supposed to be at one of our school mate’s house. My parents were adamant that I shouldn’t go, but I was adamant that I would. I snuck out because he said he would have me back home by around 1 or 2 o’clock, long before they woke up. So I tidied up, put on my little outfit to go, but covered it up with my pajamas. As soon as I thought it was safe I called him and told him to come get me. He borrowed his cousin’s car and came for me around 11:30 that night.” 

Carli noticed that a tear had slid down Lissa’s cheek. Carli sighed heavily. She scooted over to her and put her arm around her cousin's shoulder. The dam of pent up emotions broke and Melissa shuddered. She started crying, her body shaking. Carli was stunned. She turned fully towards Lissa and hugged her as she cried uncontrollably. She didn’t know what to say, and maybe it was for the best.

After her crying became soft whimpers, Carli reached for the tea, sipped a little of it and offered the rest to her. Melissa took it from her and gulped down a little. “Thank you, she said. “It was for you though.” Her voice was shaky.

Carli smiled kindly at her. “It’s for whoever needs it,” she said.

“Is that why you work with that sexual offences unit in the police force?”, Carli asked her.

Melissa nodded. “Yes and the domestic violence unit in New Kingston.”

“Right,” Carli said nodding. 

“How come I never knew about this?”, she asked her cousin.

“You were a baby then,” Lissa said drying her eyes with her fingers.

“Oh yeah. Right,” Carli said, thinking about the age gap between them.

“Brandon was just ten years old at the time,” Melissa said. She took a deep breath and blew it out vigorously.

“Tell me what happened.” Carli said, rubbing her cousin’s back.

“I snuck out to see him. He was supposed to take me to the party but he took me somewhere else, a seedy motel. He told me the party was inside so I went inside. He said the kids said it was at the guy’s house because they didn’t want to get in trouble with their parents. When I went inside there was music blasting but only a few people inside and I didn’t recognize any of them.

“He told me to sit by the bar and wait. I felt uncomfortable but I waited. Afterwards, he came back and told me change of plans and we left. He said he would take me home.”

"So what happened? Do you know why you guys didn’t stay?”

“Apparently, the clerk at the reception desk saw that we looked like two kids up to no good so he refused to give him a motel key. I only found this out after he was charged and we had to go to court.”

Melissa wrapped her arms around her torso. 

“He said he would take a shorter route home but he took me to a quiet road and held me down and did what he did.”

“Did you know where you were?”, Carli asked.

“Somewhere in Naggo Head,” Lissa said. “Bear in mind this was the 1990s, some places in Portmore were still bush. The house party was supposed to be in Independence City, so you see how far off we were.”

Carli nodded to show she understood. 

“Carli you have to understand. I was a virgin. I thought I could trust him. The minute I told him this, he started acting strange towards me. He started talking about sex and touched me in intimate ways even when I didn’t want him to.

"I was so in love, I didn’t see what happened to me coming. So, when I heard about your friend I was triggered I guess.” Lissa looked at her cousin. “I only want what’s best for you. As you corrected me, you are my only cousin. I have no more. I just want you to be safe.”

Carli briefly hugged her cousin. “Lissa you don’t have to worry. I know Jason loves me. We haven’t had sex yet, but I know he loves me. We talk about so many things. I feel like I can trust him.”

“Has he touched you intimately?”

“My hips and butt, but I allowed him to,” Carli said confidently. “And this morning he rubbed my back." A flash of memory came into Carli's thoughts of how he caressed her earlier. She pushed it aside.

"We spent alone time together yesterday at his apartment, and he never touched me in a way that made me feel afraid," she said smiling at her cousin.

Melissa looked at her in disbelief. “Even at his place?”, she asked. She couldn’t believe it. That should have been his opportunity to make his move. They were alone together.

Carli smiled at her cousin. “I told you. He’s a Christian and he’s celibate. He wants to wait until marriage, and he’s told me I’m the one he wants to marry.”

“Really?” Melissa was skeptical but decided for her cousin’s sake she would back off and just observe for now. “Alright, if he makes you happy I will accept him, but he better not do anything stupid. I will not tolerate that.”

Carli smiled. She hugged her cousin, pressing her cheek to the side of her face. “I’m sure you will move heaven and earth to protect me.”

“Damn right!”, Melissa said hugging her back. 

“So will he hun. Trust me. If you don’t trust him, trust me.” Carli’s eyes pleaded with her.

Melissa sighed. “Okay. I will give him a chance.”

Carli smiled and gave her a hard squeeze.

“Ahh! Tek time wid me!” Melissa exclaimed. She touched her cousin’s elbow and patted it. Carli released her laughing.

Carli reached for her chocolate bar and used her teeth to pull off the top of the wrapper. She broke off a piece and handed it to Lissa who put it in her mouth and chewed. Carli bit into the chocolate candy. She did a little jig on the bed as the bitter sweet flavor hit her taste buds. Smiling to herself, she wondered how Jason knew dark chocolate was her favorite.

“More tea?” Melissa asked Carli. She reached over and broke off another piece of the chocolate and put it in her mouth.

Carli said, “Sure, if you’re drinking with me.”

“Okay,” she said smiling happily. “Soon come.” Melissa took the mug from Carli and went downstairs to make more tea for both of them.

Carli closed her eyes as she sunk her teeth into the candy and chewed it happily. 

"Mh, mmh," she said. She thought of Jason. He was like this chocolate bar: Strong, dark, a hint of bitter, but undeniably sweet.

*****

Jason watched as aunt Sandra returned to the car. She was an attractive woman with flowing, relaxed hair. Most of all she had such an engaging personality. He bet her staff really love her. She opened the door and slid inside. 

“Got everything?”, he asked her.

She smiled and patted the bag full of groceries. “Mhm… Carli’s mom usually cooks her favorite meal for her when she’s having her menstrual. She’s not here so as honorary mom it’s my duty to continue the tradition.”

Jason started the car and looked in his right rare view mirror. Once the road was clear he drove off. He noticed that aunt Sandra was watching how he was driving.

“Is something wrong?”, he asked her.

“No,” she said. “Just observing how you hold the steering.”

“Okay,” Jason said amused.

“So I’ll be cooking some curry goat. That’s Carli’s favorite comfort food. Whenever she’s depressed or sick with the flu or having period cramps, that’s what she likes to eat.”

“Oh. Okay,” Jason nodded. An idea came to his mind.

“You didn’t know?”, Sandra asked curious.

“No, I didn’t. I know she has a special love for food,” Jason said smiling. “Yesterday I took her to meet my mom and she fell in love with her stewed peas.”

Sandra laughed. “Yeah. That’s Carli. You know she once said that she wanted to be a chef.”

“Really?”, Jason asked. This was news to him. 

“Why didn’t she pursue it?”, he asked her aunt.

“Her mom, my sister,” Sandra said her voice, sounded disapproving. “Her mother wants her to have a corporate job.”

Jason looked over at Mrs Dixon. She saw Jason’s expression and nodded. 

Jason focused his gaze back on the road. “She had mentioned something about graphic design or dance. She never said anything about culinary arts,” Jason said. He was a little perplexed.

Sandra leaned back in the car seat and relaxed. After watching Jason for the past two minutes she was confident he was a very capable driver. She was the one who drove them to the tax office downtown. Now on the way back home, she relinquished the car to him.

“Those are things that Carli likes and she is very good at them, but what she loves is baking and cooking. When she was thirteen after winning this bake-off competition in her home economics class she came home with the winning cake and told her mom she wanted to be a pastry chef. She even called me and Marcus and told us she won the bake-off and wanted to be a chef. Her mother was amused and a little proud of her, but told her, though that was nice, it was only for a hobby.”

“Ohh,” Jason said.

“Graphics design and dance were the only things her mom encouraged her to do but baking was a backward step for a modern woman.”

“Is she any good?”, Jason asked.

Sandra gave him a look, which meant: What kind of a question is that?

“Yes she is,” she said. “She bakes and sends me Christmas cake every December. She also does it for a few folks I expose her talent to. I was able to convince Sharon to allow her to do it for me, by saying I need it for my staff and clients, as a way of saying thank you. I always make sure Carli gets paid if I get a customer for her. 

Sandra looked at him intently. “Have you tasted any of her cakes?”

“No. Not yet,” Jason said.

Sandra laughed and rubbed her hands. “Well you’re in for a treat!”, she said.

As they turned onto the road where the Dixon’s lived, Jason turned to Sandra and said, “Thank you so much for doing this for me today.”

“You are most welcome hun. I always want to help someone who is progressive.” She patted his shoulder.

Jason smiled.

“Park the car inside, okay,” she said.

“Okay,” he replied. He was curious as to why but held his tongue. He figured he would know soon enough.

He stopped in front of the gate and Sandra got out and opened the gate for him. He drove in and parked the car beside her SUV. He came out, locked the car and armed it, while Sandra closed the gate. She retrieved something from the grass. It was the gate lock. She padlocked the gate. 

Jason was surprised. 

Sandra turned and saw his surprised expression. 

“You were planning to leave?”, she asked him.

He cleared his throat, “Well I was planning to go home. I won’t be able to do the errands for my mom today but I was thinking of going home and getting an early night.” 

“Well I’m inviting you to stay," she said. "Since you won't be doing the errands for your mom till morning you can stay and I’ll make sure you can get to leave early. Don’t worry, Carli told me you’re celibate there’s actually a guest room. You can sleep there. Well, if you don’t mind.”

Jason was mind blown. Was he being kidnapped? He was amused a little bit.

“Am I being kidnapped?”, he asked amused.

“No,” she said laughing. “You can leave if you want to, but since Carli isn’t feeling well I assumed you would want to spend a little time with her. I’m just preempting her asking me.”

“How do you know she’s going to ask you?”, Jason asked curious.

“She may not, but I have a feeling,” she said her eyes showing mischief.

Jason nodded. This family was something else. “Okay. If she wants me to stay I will,” he said.

“Okay.” She was grinning. “Let’s go in.”

Sandra pushed her key in the door and opened it. Jason followed her as she entered the foyer.

They both heard laughing. They followed the sound to the kitchen. 

Carli and Melissa were chatting and digging in to some fried chicken and fries. Carli was caught with the soda cup in her hand. 

Sandra entered the room with a comical look on her face. “Any left for me?”, she asked, feigning indignation.

Both of the ladies looked at them and laughed.

“Just this chicken breast,” Melissa said, pointing to the piece of meat in her box.

“Okay," Sandra said. “Don’t mind if I do.” She picked up the chicken breast out of Melissa’s box, broke it in two and extended her hand to Jason. He hesitated a little but when he saw aunt Sandra’s expression he took it and bit into it. It did taste good.

Carli jumped up and went to Jason. She reached up on tiptoe to kiss him. He bent down and kissed her. It was a bland peck. Jason wasn't sure he wanted to give her a full blown kiss in front of her eccentric family. Carli understood. She waved at them. “Bye folks. We’ll be in my room.”

Sandra smiled. “We’ll be having curried goat for dinner and Jason is sleeping over,” she declared.

Melissa’s eyes flew open with surprise.

Carli was also surprised and ecstatic. “Really?! Are you sure?” She looked up at him smiling broadly.

Jason looked over at aunt Sandra who winked. Melissa caught that exchange between them and felt uncomfortable. What was mommy up to? She wondered.

“Would you like me to?” Jason asked Carli. He only had eyes for her. 

She jumped up and launched herself into him. He caught her, lifted her up in his arms and spun her around before placing her back on her feet.

“Yes. I want you to stay, please.” Her eyes showed her excitement.

“Okay. I will, in the guest room.” He looked over at Sandra who nodded in agreement. “I’ll prepare the room,” she said.

Carli’s eyes were captivated by Jason’s smile. She pulled him upstairs with her. He did not resist. When they were in her room she locked the door and pushed him on the bed. She climbed on top of him and kissed him.

Straddling him, she kissed him passionately, savoring the feel of his full lips. Jason closed his eyes and revelled in her onslaught on his senses. She took the lead and teased him with her tongue, daring him to open his mouth to her. He opened for her and she slipped her tongue inside and moaned. The sound was muffled between their lips.

Jason cupped her bottom with his hands and kissed her passionately. He lifted himself up and kissed her neck, suckling on it. Carli pulled off her t-shirt and threw it on the floor.

Hungrily, Jason buried his head in her bosom and kissed her flesh. The bra she was wearing was made with soft fabric. Jason could see her nipples standing at attention for him. His mouth captured a nipple through the fabric of the bra and sucked it gently. She leaned her head back and whispered his name. He used his thumb and index finger to tease the other nipple.

“Ohh Jason! Jason!”, she whispered.

He grunted and lifted his head. His hands moved behind her back and unhooked her bra. He dropped it on the bed. Her breasts, freed from their restraints, perked up before him. He cupped her bare flesh and bent his head to suck on each nipple. She moaned his name, running her hands through his hair. Carli closed her eyes as she was swept away by sensations his lips and hands were evoking in her. He lifted his head and looked at her while massaging her ample breasts. She was beautiful beyond words he could use to describe her.

He groaned. She was a gorgeous, sexy vixen. Her breasts were round, full, twin peaks encased in soft, delicate skin. He kissed each nipple tenderly then held her close to him. He could feel her heart beating fast.

He had to stop this. He had to stop this now, he told himself. If he went further it would be over. There would be no turning back for them. 

He lifted her up in his arms and lay on his side, cradling her close to his chest. Carli opened her eyes to see what he was doing. He held her gaze. Blindly, he searched for her bra. He felt it close to the edge on the left side of the bed. Carli closed her eyes. He kissed her forehead and cupped her face. She opened her eyes. He saw a longing that mirrored his.

“Put your bra on, baby," he said.

Reluctantly, she took it from him. She sat up and put on her bra. She looked sad. He reached for her and cradled her in his arms and kissed her brow tenderly. Gently, he caressed her face. 

“Marry me,” he said. His heart skipped a beat.

Carli's eyes watered. Jason knew he shouldn’t have allowed it to go this far. She was frustrated and so was he, but he was the one who made this promise to God, not her.

“Baby, I’m sorry. I’m gonna make you these promises and God help me to keep them.”

“What?”, she said, her voice trembling. Tears were running down her face now. He leaned forward and kissed her eyelids. He used his thumb to wipe the tears away then held onto her hands.

“I promise you that from now on, I won’t kiss you or touch you intimately until the day I make love to you on our wedding night. I promise to only kiss your hands or your forehead for now. The next time I kiss your lips will be when we say ‘I do’.” 

He kissed her hands and said, “The next time I kiss your beautiful breasts will be when a wedding ring is on your finger, and when that time comes I won’t stop and I won’t hold back this love I feel for you, and you will be happy.”

Carli closed her eyes. Could she believe him? 

“When Jason? When?”, she asked him. She wanted him so much it almost felt like physical pain.

“Within the next year I promise to satisfy you the way you need to be satisfied; the way you fantasize.”

Carli opened her eyes and looked at him. 

“Marry me?” Jason whispered.

“Yes. I will marry you,” she answered him. 

Jason reached out his hand and touched her face. She leaned into his touch. Tenderly, he kissed her forehead. “I love you,” he said.

“I love you too,” she said.

“This is not our engagement. I’m going to do this thing properly. I love you and I want this relationship to be solid, on a good foundation.”

He sighed. “I don’t ever want your tears to be because of me ever again.”

Carli nodded. “I’m not angry with you. I just ache for your touch and you, just you.”

“Me too,” he said. “I won’t frustrate both of us by allowing this to continue the way it has. I want you. It’s only you and I’m gonna make sure I do everything to fulfill this love God has given us, but in the right way."

Carli nodded. 

“I’m weak Carli, but for you I will try my best to be strong, but if I go off, help me.”

“I will," she promised him. He kissed her hands again and hugged her. She relaxed in his embrace. She was sure about him. 

****

Dinner was quiet. Sandra wondered what had transpired between Carli and Jason to cause them both to be in a reflective mood. She tried to pull them out of their reverie by telling jokes and even poking fun at Carli but nothing worked. In the end, Melissa nudged her with her foot under the table and shook her head telling her to stop. She hoped they would be okay soon. She hated when the house was too quiet.  

Melissa too noticed the change in mood but decided not to say anything. She offered to clear the table and wash the dishes. Her mother catching the hint agreed to wash dishes also. Now Jason and Carli were alone sitting at the table.

"You wanna sit on the couch," Carli asked him

Jason nodded. "Yes, I would."

They sat on Carli's favorite couch, the navy blue one. Jason leaned back and Carli leaned into his arms. Jason bent forward briefly and kissed the side of her head. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," she said. 

Carli threw her legs over his lap. He rubbed her thighs. "How did you know dark chocolate was my favorite?" She looked at him, her eyes showed her appreciation.

Jason smiled. "I didn't. I just asked the shopkeeper to sell me a chocolate bar and that is what he gave me."

She reached up and started playing with his chin. "It's my favorite kind," she said.

"Okay. I'll definitely keep that in mind." He kissed her forehead.

"I'll be leaving in a few days," he said. "I want you to know I'll be thinking about you when I'm down there. No one else."

Carli scooted closer to him. She pressed her left cheek on his chest to feel his heart beat. It was strong but was beating a little fast. She placed her hand where she felt it. Jason gently stroked her face. 

"I've never felt this way for anyone. I know I'm inexperienced, but I don't think there's anyone else who can make me feel like this. I will miss you a lot," she said looking up at him.

"I feel the same way. I'll make sure to call as much as I can. I'll try to Whatsapp you also. I'll miss you too," he said.

She nodded.

"Carli, soon I'll come back and I'm gonna make sure to have you all to myself. I'll be back and forth so you'll see me. I promise."

She smiled. "Mek sure," she said, her voice playful.

Jason chuckled. He gently massaged her head. "I will."

Aunt Sandra went over to them smiling. "Okay, Jason," she said. "Your room is ready. You can go in and tell me if there is anything else you need."

Jason nodded. The only thing I need is for Carli to be beside me tonight, he thought to himself. 

"Thanks aunt Sandra," he answered her politely. "I appreciate it." 

When she left he kissed Carli's cheek. "Let's get some sleep," he said. 

Carli nodded. She did feel sleepy. She yawned sleepily and tiredly rested her head on his chest. Jason slipped his arms underneath her legs and stood up, lifting her in his arms. He adjusted her weight pulling her closer to his chest.

Carefully, he carried her up the stairs. Carli sleepily put her arms around his neck. Both Melissa and Sandra watched as Jason carried Carli up the stairs to her room. They looked at each other then at him, watching to see what he will do next.

Briefly, he placed her on her feet with one arm still around her, she leaned on him. He opened the door, then lifted her in his arms again and gently laid her on the bed. He sat by her side for a minute looking at her. 

"I promise to protect you even with my last breath," he said. He knew she didn't hear him because she had fallen asleep, but he said it anyway, more to himself to be accountable. 

Melissa and Sandra however heard his vow. They had quietly come up the stairs behind them to see what he would do. The door was not closed when he laid her on the bed. Each woman looked at the other and smiled. 

Melissa felt a pang of guilt. She was probably wrong about him after all. Quietly, they tiptoed down the stairs and pretended to be waiting for him in the living room. When he came down stairs they looked at him as if they knew nothing.

Aunt Sandra showed him to the guest room. She turned on the room light for him so he could see the freshly done up bed and pillows with clean pillow cases. The room had a pine scent from being freshly cleaned.

He turned to her and smiled. "Thank you," he said.

Aunt Sandra nodded and said, "Anything for  my future nephew in law." She winked at him and left him by the door.

Jason shook his head and smiled. What a family?

He entered the room and closed the door. He stripped down to his underwear and lay on the bed. He thought about what he promised her. 

Closing his eyes Jason prayed:

Father,

Hear me as I cry out to you.

You have given me the love I have always wanted and the woman of my dreams,

Help me to be worthy of this gift you have given me;

Help me to put her needs before my own; 

Help me to honor you in this relationship.

Help me to keep this vow, my promise to you,

And help me to keep my promises to her;

Help me to prepare to be the husband she deserves.

I pray in Jesus name.

Amen.  

Jason lay on his back and smiled to himself. He remembered what his mentor said: 

"Being a Christian is not easy but it is a noble life to live." 

He closed his eyes and went to sleep. 

*****

Carli stretched and opened her eyes. Her mind went straight to last night. She remembered the ecstasy she felt when Jason loved on her breasts. She blushed. Subconsciously, her hands brushed on them.

She closed her eyes and thought of him. He's in the guest room, she thought, I can just go in and see him. Carli sat up. She realised she was still wearing the second change of clothes she had on last night. 

She quickly took out a pair of black jeans and a dark gray fitted blouse. She would wear dark colored underwear until her menstrual was done. She took out a set of black panties and bra, and a pad. She laid everything on the bed. She headed to the shower. 

She got out after five minutes and got dressed quickly. Quietly, she walked across the hall past Melissa's room to the guest room where Jason would be sleeping. As she approached she realised the door was slightly ajar. She pushed it open and discovered that he was not on the bed sleeping.

She wondered where he could be. Her nose caught a spicy, savory odor coming from the kitchen. She walked down the stairs to investigate. She heard food sizzling and spices being sauteed. 

As she entered the kitchen she saw her husband-to-be with his back turned to her, dicing up tomatoes. She sneaked up behind him and put her hands on his back. She ran her hands over him, admiring his broadness and strength. She laid her head on him and circled her arms around his waist. 

Jason clasped his hands in hers.

"Good morning beautiful," he said.

"Good morning handsome," she said her voice low and seductive.

Jason turned around and looked at her. She burrowed herself in his arms. Jason smiled and hugged her. 

"You slept well?", he asked her.

He looked down into her eyes while she looked up at him. She nodded. "Yes. Thanks for asking," she said.

"Any pain?"

"No, not now."

Jason nodded. "Good," he said.

He turned around and tended to the feast he was making. Carli walked around from behind him. "What are you cooking?", she asked.

"Decided to do some toasted bread, I stole some pieces of leftover curried goat to make some omelettes. I steamed some callaloo, and I also prepared a traditional Indian dish made with some Irish potatoes. I also thought you might want tomatoes with your omelette. I usually eat them with mine," he said. He popped a few pieces of diced tomatoes in his mouth and chewed.

Carli was impressed. Everything looked good. She wanted to go on tiptoes, reach up and kiss him but instead she touched his hand. He looked up from what he was doing, saw the look in her eyes and smiled ruefully. He knew what she was thinking. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. 

"I won't take long, Carli. I promise."

She nodded.

She turned her attention to the food. She eyed it hungrily. She examined the Indian dish he made, carefully. They looked like fried dumplings but not quite. 

"What are these called?", she asked, her mouthwatering.

Jason looked at her and laughed softly. Quite the foodie, he thought to himself.

"It's called aloo puri. I was actually planning to cook this for you the next time you came to my apartment, but since your aunt insisted I stay, I thought it might be good to do it here."

"Oh," Carli said. 

"So what's it made from?", she asked.

"Boiled potatoes that are shredded and mixed in flour with some herbs and a little salt. There are some things that your aunt doesn't have here like coriander leaves so I substituted that for some parsley and baking powder for the semolina ... oh, that's a type of flour," Jason smiled at her apologetically, realising she wouldn't know what he was talking about.  

"It didn't come out the way it really should, but I think I did my best."

He picked one up and handed it to her. "Taste it and let me know what you think."

She took it from him and bit into it. It was crispy, but it was the flavours that blew her mind. 

"It's really good! Jason!" She looked at him. 

"You like?" He looked at her nervously.

"Mhm. Can I have more?"

"Go ahead," he said smiling. "They should be a bit softer but I think they turned out well considering my limitations."

She bit into her second one. "Where did you learn this?"

"My half brother and half sister's mom. She was very close to my grandmother. She taught me a few things she learned from her."

He would always be grateful to Antonia for sharing a part of his heritage with him, even though she didn't have to.

"So you know how to do it with all the right ingredients?" Carli asked curious.

"Yeah I do," Jason replied.

"Okay, we'll see what we can do next time."

Jason laughed softly. "I thought the steamed callaloo would be a great complementary vegetable dish with it."

Carli nodded. "You might be right," she said smiling at him.

Just then they heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"What's going on here?" Sandra asked walking into the kitchen. Melissa was close behind her.

Jason wiped his hands on the kitchen towel. He smiled at them both and said, "Consider this my thanks to you guys for everything you've done for me." Jason cleared his throat. "I stole a few pieces of curry goat meat to add flavor to the omelettes I made. I made four."

Sandra laughed. "That's okay, man. If you keep making food like this, you're welcome to using anything in the kitchen."

Jason grinned at her.

"So you made one large batter for us and portioned them?" Sandra asked, looking at the omelettes.

Jason nodded. "Yes."

How many eggs did you use?" Sandra asked.

"Five," he said.

Aunt Sandra nodded. "Okay," she said.

"I also added in some milk, sweet peppers, a little salt, black peppers, minced garlic, little bit of shredded ginger to give it a kick, the goat meat cut up in little pieces, and just a pinch of turmeric, just a tincy wincy bit," he said. He used his thumb and index finger to indicate how small.

Sandra was impressed. "Well, you're welcome to cook in this kitchen whenever you're here," she said smiling.

Jason smiled. "Thank you," he said. He looked at Carli and winked. Carli had a broad smile on her face.

"What's this?" Melissa asked eyeing the aloo puri nicely piled in a platter.  

"Oh, that's aloo puri. Well, improvised aloo puri," Jason said laughing softly.

"How many are there?" she asked. She was captivated. 

"I got about fourteen pieces, but your cousin ate two." He looked at Carli who playfully showed him her tongue. Jason grinned at her.

"They taste really good Lissa, try one!", Carli urged her.

"Not so fast," Sandra said. "This is breakfast, right?" She looked at Jason who nodded.

"Okay, let's wash our hands first and then eat. Carli, please help him prepare the food for the dining table. Lissa, let's freshen up." She looked pointedly at her daughter who reluctantly agreed and followed her upstairs.

Breakfast was a success. The ladies raved at Jason's culinary skills. He was happy to do it for them. He hardly got the chance to cook for himself or anyone else, so this was a treat for him. 

Sandra and Melissa volunteered to wash up the dishes to allow Carli and Jason to say their good byes. Carli walked Jason out to the car. Aunt Sandra had handed the key for the padlock to her so she could open the gate for Jason. 

"Thank you for what you did today. I think both my aunt and Lissa were impressed."

"I'm glad they like it, but there's only one taste bud I want to wow." Jason smiled at her.

She hugged him. Jason circled his arms around her. "I need to take you to meet my mentor Sunday morning. That okay?"

"Yes," she said. She closed her eyes basking in his embrace.

"I won't be able to come by for the rest of the week until then. I have to move some more of my stuff to the new place, furniture and so on."

Cali nodded. His touch made her happy. She pulled away from him and looked into his eyes. "I understand," she said. "I will see you Sunday."

The statement sounded more like a question to Jason ears. "Yes. See you on Sunday," he said. He lovingly reached out and touched her face. Gently, he kissed her brow. 

"I love you," he said softly.

"Love you," she said. She covered his hand with hers. 

Jason released her and slid into the car. He turned the key in the ignition and started the vehicle.

Carli pulled the lock and opened the gate for him. He drove out. He honked his horn at her, smiled, then drove off.

She closed the gate and went inside the house. Melissa and aunt Sandra looked up to see Carli coming into the house. She had a broad smile on her face. The two of them looked at each other knowingly.

Cali smiled at them then went upstairs.

Lissa sighed. "So that is what love looks like," she said looking at her mother.

Sandra smiled. "Indeed it is." 

They finished cleaning up the kitchen.