Chapter 14: Laying foundations.

 After Carli finished drinking the broth Jason made, she got up and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She turned on the faucet, gathered some water in the palm of her hands and washed her face thoroughly. Then she rinsed her mouth. 

She reached for the tooth brush, put some toothpaste on it, and brushed her teeth and tongue. There was a bottle with some mouth wash in it. Carli rinsed the tooth paste out of her mouth and used a little of the mouthwash to gargle her throat and swilled the liquid around in her mouth. She spat it out and rinsed her mouth thoroughly. 

When she returned to the room Jason had already washed her soup bowl, spoon and the pot he used to cook it in.  He was drying his hand on an old t-shirt he had placed on the faucet top of the kitchen sink. She went over to him and put her arms around his waist, looking up at him. Jason bent forward and kissed her forehead. He threw the old t-shirt in the sink behind him.

"Thank you for feeding me," she chuckled. "I liked it. It's been awhile since I've had any type of soup."

Jason placed his arms around her. "It was my pleasure," he said. She saw Chinese takeout perched on the hot plate. "Gonna eat sumn?", she asked.

"Mhm," he said.

She left his embrace, took up the bag and brought it to the bed. Jason watched her. What is she doing? He wondered. 

She took out a plastic container with the chicken and rested it in her lap. She motioned for him to sit beside her, patting the bed. Opening the plastic dish, she took out a chicken wing, bit into it then handed the container to him. Jason laughed and took it from her. 

Carli got up, went to the kitchen faucet. She then went on tip toe and opened the cupboards. She found the large plastic container he used to store his utensils and took out a fork for him, then covered the container and closed the cupboard door. She went back to the bed and handed the fork to him smiling. Jason smiled broadly. She was indeed something else. He thought. A beautiful something else.

He started eating. The food was no longer hot but he didn't mind. It was still delicious.

He looked over at her. "So tell me how you got the name Red?"

Carli smiled at him. She bit the flesh off the chicken bones and chewed into the gristle. He pointed to the takeout bag. 

"Put your bones in that," he said. Carli nodded and did as she was told.

"When I was fourteen I was transferred from my old high school to a new one where Matthew was," she said. "I was very nervous but Matt was very friendly and made me feel welcome." 

"One day I left school and was walking to the bus stop to take a taxi to go home when the class bully stopped me. He was trying to get my attention for about three weeks but I did my best to ignore him. I think he wanted me to be his girlfriend or sumn like that." Carli looked over at Jason who smiled reassuringly at her. He handed her a paper napkin, and she wiped her hands in it and gave it back to him. Jason placed it in the bag.

"His name was Leroy," Carli said chuckling. "Anyhoo, he hit my books out of my hands and then tussled with me to grab my bag from off my back. I was a little afraid of him but my parents, well my mom especially always told me to never back down from a bully." Carli tucked her feet under her buttocks. Jason inched closer so she could feel his body near her. 

"I tried to ignore him. So I picked up my books and then he pulled them out of my hands again. I said to him, 'Leave me alone or I will do something you will regret'. I proceeded to take up my books again and he pushed me." 

"So I got angry. I got so angry I pushed him back, like really hard, and he fell to the ground. He got up, and he and I started wrestling. He slapped me so I kicked him in his knee. I believe he was about to punch me when Matt intervened and beat him up for me. We've been good friends ever since, Matt and I." Carli looked over at Jason, who was smiling at her. 

She continued:

"So, how the name came about was that I was at school again and the same guy hid my school books. How I knew was that the kids told me it was him, and he was missing. It was lunch time and he was no where to be found. I usually brought lunch to school but that day I felt like having a patty with the sandwiches I brought with me. When I got back from the canteen the kids told me they saw him go into my bag and take out my school books."

"I had some red cool aid in my thermos. I went into his bag and took out his textbooks and poured the cool aid on all of them. Then I went into the principal's office and told him that Leroy was bullying me and that we fought on the road, that he hid my books and what I did in retaliation."

Jason laughed. Carli looked at him, she started laughing too.

"I got about two weeks of suspension, while Leroy got a month," Carli lay back on Jason's bed. "I was a chubby kid back then and stucky." Carli laughed. "I guess people thought I was a push over. Luckily, soon after that he got transferred to another school."

Jason dug into his rice mixing the meat and gravy from one container to the other. "Well, you showed him," he said chuckling. "Did you get your books back?"

"Yeah, his parents made him give me back my books the next day. The incident happened on Thursday. The principal allowed us to finish the week, so we were allowed to go to school the Friday. Friday morning he came with my books and his parents made him apologize and hand the books to me in front of the class," she said. "My parents however had to pay for the price of the textbooks I ruined."

She lay down, turned on her side and looked at him. Jason finished eating quickly. He cracked the chicken bones in his mouth and sucked out the marrow. Carli watched him amused. 

Jason saw how she was watching him and chuckled. He spat out the chewed bones into his hand then dropped them in the bag. "What?", he asked her smiling.

"And I thought I was the only foodie around here," she quipped.

Jason chuckled. "You got me," he said smiling at her. He got up from the bed and checked if there were any crumbs on the sheet. He didn't see any rice grains or anything like that. He brushed off the bed anyway. Carli followed his lead, checking her side and brushing off the sheet. He looked over at Carli's side. He didn't see anything. He went into the tiny kitchen and dropped the remains of his lunch in the large plastic bag he had deposited the vegetable skins in, then went into the bathroom to wash his hands, his mouth and brushed his teeth and tongue. 

When he came back into the room Carli had her eyes closed. He climbed onto the bed and looked at her. She had loosened her scrunchie just a little bit so her hair wasn't neatly piled on the top of her head. It was the most gorgeous look on her he'd ever seen. 

He touched her face. "Continue your story. I wanna understand you," he said. Carli reached out and pulled him down beside her. He laughed softly and looked at her as he lay next to her. She giggled.

"I can have a really bad temper like my mom," she said. "Only thing my fuse is a bit longer than hers." Carli looked at him. 

"I'm like my dad in that I like my peace. I don't like confrontation but that doesn't mean I won't fight. I will fight for what I want and I will fight for what belongs to me." She reached out and touched Jason's face.

Jason realized that she was sending him a subtle message. Strangely, it was a turn on for him. He held her hand and kissed the palm. 

"What happened between you and Matthew?", he asked, his eyes kind.

"It's been a while since I've seen him and I used to be an insecure kid. There were little things he used to do to reassure me, you know, like he used to heat up pastry for me when I visited his house and he would rub my back when I'm scared to do something, especially if I'm doing it for the first time."

"I would also be afraid to speak up for myself so he would speak for me. It would annoy the teachers but it was just how I coped. So one day I had this class presentation to do and I was afraid to go up and say anything, so he said to me 'just like how you weren't scared to pour red cool aid on Leroy's books, think of the red cool aid and how brave you were and be 'Red'."

Jason laughed. Carli giggled 

"So when he sees that I'm scared of something he says be Red. The name stuck and so he calls me Red as a name that represents our years of friendship," she said chuckling.

"Is there a reason you've been this insecure? Anything happen?", Jason asked.

"Yeah, well, I was short and chubby. I wasn't always this beautiful," Carli said giggling. She rolled her eyes. Jason got that she was joking but to him she was beautiful.

"Besides that, my mom had a brother that wasn't always on the straight and narrow, but he was my uncle Chip, Chipton ..." she said. She saw Jason's expression, a smile curling up his lips.

She chuckled. "Look, I don't judge. If that is what my grandparents wanted to call him, it's their business. My mom once told me her aunt said her parents wanted to name her and aunt Sandra, Chefon and Shevon. Fortunately, my grand aunt intervened and gave them sensible names."

Jason chuckled. Carli smiled and giggled a little.

Jason sobered up. "So you have an uncle?"

Carli's countenance became sad. "I had an uncle, he was murdered," Carli said. "He was living with us when it happened. They came in on us and shot him up right in front of me. I was the only one at home with him at the time. My parents had gone to work. He was my babysitter, so to speak. He had moved in with us and hadn't gotten a job yet so he said he would watch me and my mom would give him a little change to pick me up from school and keep me occupied. I actually learned a few baking skills from him."

"Really?", Jason asked.

"Mhm, he was living with us for about two years."

Carli could feel the back of her eyes stinging with held back tears. Jason noticed her sad expression and pulled her to him. He hugged her.

"He said he just wanted to spend time with his favorite sister. He was the baby of the three of them. My mom is the middle child. Uncle Chip would get himself in trouble growing up but it wasn't anything serious. Apparently, he owed some bad people money and he was running away from them. He didn't think they would find him where we were. We had to move after that from May Pen to Mandeville."

"How did they find him?", Jason asked.

"Not sure. He had started working after awhile. Maybe someone saw him on his way to work or sumn. Don't know," she said.

"Where was he living before he came to stay with your family?", Jason asked. He put her away from him slightly so he could see her face. 

She looked away from him. 

"He was living in Kingston," she said.

"I'm sorry for what happened to your uncle," Jason said softly. He pulled her close to him. 

"I lost my cousin to gun violence. It is a painful experience," he said.

Carli looked at him. "Were you and he close?", Carli asked him.

"Yeah, he was kinda like a big brother. He kinda helped raise me. He was much older than me. When I was twelve, he was nineteen," Jason answered. "When he died I was fourteen. I had blood in my eye, and my dad was no comfort. He told me my cuz deserved to die."

Carli was shocked. "Why would he say that?'

"My cousin would hang out with the gangsters in my old neighborhood. He was in the gang thing for a while, then his girlfriend got pregnant, and he said he wanted to change for her and his daughter."

Carli placed her hand on Jason's chest. She could feel his heartbeat through the soft button down shirt he was wearing.

Jason stared at the ceiling as he recalled the day his cousin died. "Tewayne, that was his name. Tewayne said he was going to go to a party on my side of the community. About two weeks before there was a drive-by shooting on my side by guys that came from his side. So the area was tense."

"The don on my side said he wanted peace and said he wanted to keep a party to mend relations with the other side. The leader for my cousin's side said he accepted. So they met and made plans as to how things would work, you know, to make sure nothing silly happened. The don from my side of the community told his young chargies to stand down and not do anything: 'We're gonna keep a party, we're having a peace party', he told them." 

"Well, the young bucks weren't having it. They pretended like they agreed and in the early hours of the dance everything seemed okay, but when it got in full swing they executed their plan. They shot a few of the guys from the other side and my cousin was hit because he was standing with them."

"How do you know this?", Carli asked, impressed with how detailed he told the story.

"I snuck out to go to the dance," he said simply. "I saw everything. Later on I heard people talking about the plot the young men had. Police eventually caught some of them, but I wasn't the same after that. I was always angry. I wanted revenge. I would back answer my mom. I would fight at school, then I wouldn't go to school. I was living with my dad when I was twelve up until I was fourteen years old then he sent me back home. After that my mom allowed me to stay with Marsha's family. I think though that she knew I was hanging out with the gang too. Somebody probably told her."

Carli placed her right leg over his and lifted herself up on her elbow to look at him. He looked at her. She touched his face. "I'm glad you're still here," she said gently. "I'm glad you went to spend time at Marsha's to live."

She lowered her head, placed a soft kiss on his lips then lifted her head. "That's all you're gonna get," she said cheekily.

"That's fine. It will last me a long time," he said, his eyes showing his affection.

"Were there reprisals after that?" Carli asked.

"Yep, but fortunately the police were able to squash it. Some of the guys on both sides got killed by the police and their rivals, while others fled and never came back."

"I'm glad you survived that," she said looking at him, her eyes showing the way she felt about him.

"Me too," he said smiling at her. 

"So aunt Sandra is the oldest sibling?" Jason asked, curious.

"Yeah. My mom is the middle child but she is more rigid while my aunt is ..." Carli paused. She laughed. "Well you can see how she is." 

Jason laughed too. "Yeah," he said. He knew what she was talking about. Jason was quite fond of her aunt. 

Jason stared at Carli intently. There was a light in her eyes whenever she laughed. He couldn't imagine not seeing her face for over a month. He knew it was going to be hard for him.

He cupped her face and looked into her eyes. 

"If I never took this vow I would lay you down and show you just how crazy I am about you. How hungry you make me feel," he said. "I would make love to you to the point where you would be like 'Matthew who?' I can't deny I was jealous when you told me he kissed you. I want you Carli. I want you to be mine and mine alone." 

He gripped her bottom and squeezed. "If I could, I would ravish you, and take you over and over again until morning, until we both can't walk straight. Then I would feed you with your favorite meal and make love to you all over again."

Carli shivered with delight. She closed her eyes and bit her lower lip. "I wish you would," she said. Her loins ached and she was getting wet for him.

"Jason you're making me wet down there," she said softly. She reached out and touched his belly. She brushed her hand on the fabric of his shirt then slipped her hand inside it and the cotton t-shirt he was wearing underneath and touched his skin. His skin was smooth with soft, silky hair snaking down from his chest to past the waist of his pants, to a place where she had not been allowed to go. But now she would test the waters.

Looking into his eyes she moved her hand lower and squeezed his crotch area. She felt him. He was slightly aroused, but as she caressed him, she felt him harden in her hand. 

Jason closed his eyes. He bit his lower lip. Carli wanted to touch him. She was curious about how he felt and what he looked like.

"Jason, forgive me, but I wanna see you. I wanna touch you and...," she paused. "I wanna know how you taste," she said. She squeezed him more tightly as she felt his member grow harder.

Carli licked her lips then bit her lower lip. Slowly, she pulled his zipper down, and slipped her hand inside his pants and caressed him through his underwear. He didn't stop her. 

He opened his eyes and looked at her. There was a sense of surrender in his gaze. Carli moved her body down on the bed so that her face was at the level of his crotch. Gently, she tugged at the waist of his boxer briefs and slipped her hand inside and held him. He was warm and throbbing. She stroked him slowly, enjoying his warm, hard thickness in her hand. 

"Do I have permission to taste you?", she asked. 

Jason nodded. His gaze burning into her. "Yes," he breathed.

Carli used both hands and unbuckled his belt.  Jason lifted his hips and pulled his pants and boxer briefs below his hips.

Carli stared at him. He was beautiful. She gazed at his hard, strong erection. She never saw one in real life before, but she didn't think she wanted to see any other for the rest of her life.

She held him again. This time with greater appreciation. She stroked him slowly. 

Carli heard Jason gasp and whisper her name. She came closer and tentatively rested her lips on him. There was a manly scent that she noticed. It wasn't overpowering, it was subtle with just the right amount of soap fragrance. She groaned. 

She opened her mouth and tasted him. Covering him with her lips, she closed her eyes and began moving her mouth up and down over him. She heard him whisper her name in a deep guttural voice. 

She couldn't explain how what she was doing made her feel. She found herself making sounds too as she pleasured him. She opened her eyes and groaned deeply. She watched his reaction to her love making. His eyes were closed and he was breathing heavily. 

Carli was enjoying what she was doing to him. He tasted so good to her and the intimacy of the moment made her loins throb. She was getting more moist. She felt the muscles down there clench and release. She had never felt that before. It felt really good. She imagined his hard thickness inside her while this was happening. 

"Jason, you're so sweet. Like sweet sugar cane," she groaned.

She heard him call her name telling her that he wanted to be inside her. She longed for that too, but her focus now was satisfying him like this. She never knew she could feel this way. His taste, his hardness made her weak. She desperately wanted to please him. Carli made guttural sounds. He was driving her crazy. She wanted to see him tremble in ecstasy. 

 As his breathing grew faster, she moved faster on him wanting him to feel good. She lifted her head, took her hand and stroked him a little faster. He felt so nice and thick in her hand. She bit her lips as she imagined him inside her.

Carli watched him closely. She noticed that he was moving his hips in time with her strokes. She wanted to know if he was close.

"Baby, are you almost there?", she asked him.

"Yes baby," he said his breathing shallow. He groaned.

She moved her hand faster, stroking him as fast as she could. When he groaned louder, she stroked harder then gripped his hips and covered him with her mouth as he climaxed.

He lifted himself, gripping her shoulders. He moved his hips, jerked and thrusted inside her mouth. Carli grunted and groaned as she felt his thrusts and heard him cry out.

When he was finished he lay back breathing heavily. Carli sat up and looked at him. She had the option of going to the bathroom and washing out her mouth or swallowing. She swallowed him. 

After awhile Jason's breathing returned to normal. He opened his eyes and looked at her. It had been a long time since he felt a woman's touch, but Carli made the experience even more intense for him. She sat there watching him, a strange look on her face. He opened his arms and she lay on top of him. He was willing to return the favor if she wanted him to. He stroked her hair. 

"Do you want me to ..." he chuckled at himself for being shy about saying it. 

"Do you want me to pleasure you?", he asked, his voice deepened.

Carli liked the fact that he was being direct.

"No, not yet," she said. She had been selfish earlier, wanting to taste him, but now she didn't want him to plunge deeper into the transgression they committed.

Jason turned his head slightly to see her face as she lay on him. "Are you sure? I wouldn't have wanted to break my vow, but I think we're past the point of no return now. I'm yours. I belong to you. I want to do this. I'm not allowing you to go home unsatisfied." 

Jason caressed her bottom and gently squeezed. "I heard you making those sounds Carli. I know you want some."

She chuckled. "You taste really good to me," she said. "I lost myself."

"As did I," he said. "I belong to you now. There's no turning back. I want to lose myself with you one more time."

"But if you do it. Your vow."

"My vow was broken the minute I pulled down my pants and allowed you to go down on me." He touched her face. "Come what may, I will bear it for you. Just let me know you'll always be here with me."

Carli looked into his eyes. She saw a hint of fear. His vow meant a lot to him. She leaned her head into his touch. She loved him. What they did meant a lot to her too. "I'm here. I'm not going no where," she said.

"Then let me give you something you won't forget," he said, looking deeply into her eyes.

Carli nodded. She longed for his touch.

He rolled over on top of her and kissed her deeply savoring the taste of her lips. He stood up, readjusted his clothes quickly and came to her. He sat upright on the bed and pulled her up towards him, making her sit on top of him. He kissed her passionately. He lifted her blouse over her head and threw it away from them. Quickly, he unhooked her bra and dropped it to the floor. He looked at her. She was beautiful. 

"You are so beautiful," he breathed. "Like a dream come true." 

He bent his head and cupped her breasts in his hands, skillfully massaging them. Carli arched her body, pushing her breasts up to receive his caresses. She put her hands on his shoulders.

His fingers gently teased her nipples until they hardened for him. Jason lowered his head and lifted her breasts now swollen and perky with desire to his eager lips. He buried his head between them and smelt a hint of her lavender fragrance. He groaned and breathed her in. Gently, he began suckling and pulling on each nipple. He felt like he couldn't get enough. He pulled on them a little harder. She moaned his name. 

He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. "Carli, baby, are you mine?", he asked her. "Do you belong to me?" He needed to know.

"Yes," she breathed, looking at him. Her eyes were half open. His touch was driving her crazy. 

"Do these beautiful breasts belong to me?", he asked, while teasing her nipples some more with his fingers.

"Yes, Jason," she said. "All of me belongs to you." Carli felt weak from his touch. There was no one else she wanted to touch her like this. 

He bent his head again and continued his onslaught on her senses, pulling and suckling her nipples. He trailed a line of kisses from the hardened peaks to the curve of her breasts, giving each individual attention. They were firm, but soft and smooth. He cupped them gently while teasing her.

Jason groaned. He felt like he would lose control. He wanted to be more rough with her, to grip her harder, but knew he needed to focus on her. He didn't want to scare her, but he wanted to bend her over and pierce her moist folds, thrusting hard and deep into her. He closed his eyes and began breathing slowly, deliberately, trying to control his primal urges.

Control yourself Jase. He thought. You love her, and it would be painful to do that to her now because it's her first time. 

He needed to be gentle and control himself. He lovingly caressed her buttocks, telling her how hot she was making him feel, how he wanted to be deep inside of her and he loved her.

She was breathing heavily, moaning his name. His words and touch were intoxicating. She never wanted this feeling to end.

He passionately captured her lips with a kiss. He craved her. Pressing her into the bed, he lay on top of her and removed her shorts and panties then sat back, looking at her. 

She was beautiful. Jason placed the palm of his hand on her pelvic bone. Carli closed her eyes. She was nervous. 

"Carli, look at me," he said.

She opened her eyes. 

"I'll be gentle with you. I won't hurt you. I'm gonna focus on you. I want you to enjoy your first time. Relax and trust me. It's gonna hurt a little bit in the beginning but then it will feel better. I love you. I won't do anything to hurt you. Okay?"

Carli nodded nervously.

Jason lay on his belly and used his hands to part her legs. He looked at her. She was perfect. With one hand he gently cupped her and squeezed. The pressure of his hand on her intimate parts felt good. She moaned.

"You like that?", he asked her. His eyes hungrily took in her beauty. He would remember how she looked, even though he would be hundreds of miles away from her next week.

She nodded. He applied more pressure gently. She closed her eyes and opened her legs wider for him. He came closer, moved his hand, bent his head and blew on her. She shivered. Carli's breathing was shallow. 

He parted her folds and found her most sensitive spot. Using his fingers he stroked her gently. He caressed her slowly wanting to learn what she liked. 

Carli moaned softly. 

"You like that?", he asked. His tone softened as he watched her. She nodded, her eyes closed. 

He slipped one finger inside her. She was very moist. Jason bit his lip. He was enjoying this. He moved his finger in and out, watching how she responded. Carli reached her hand down and covered his. She moved his finger faster inside her. 

"You want me to go faster?", he asked her. His voice was husky with desire.

"Yes," she moaned.

Jason pushed his finger deeper and increased the rhythm of his thrusts. She bit her lips and moaned louder, moving her hips. As his thrusts became more insistent she felt a sharp pain that made her gasp, but it was quickly replaced with a sweet, achy feeling.

"Jason, I need you, please," she moaned. 

"Not yet baby. I have one more mission to fulfill."

She opened her eyes, looking at him confused. He held her gaze and licked his lips. 

Carli gave him a coy smile and lay back. She closed her eyes.

Jason kissed her outer folds, pressing his lips on her flesh, remembering that squeezing her felt good to her. Carli called his name. She was lost in emotions. She could feel her body tensing; erotic sensations were building up in her loins, and fanning out through her body.

He parted her folds with trembling hands and used his tongue to lick her gently. She cried out. He suckled her realizing she had a distinct taste he liked. He was trembling from pent up passion. He needed to keep it together for her. 

He grunted. 

"You taste so good," he moaned. 

Gently, he licked and suckled her sensitive spot until she was grinding and whining her hips; moaning softly and calling his name. Her breathing was more rushed. She told him that he was driving her crazy. He was happy to hear it, but was not yet satisfied. 

He wanted her to explode for him. He wanted to see her shiver in ecstasy. Patiently, he kissed, licked and suckled her, savoring her taste and texture. 

When he felt she was near her climax, he slipped his tongue inside her moving his head back and forth. She screamed his name, gripping his hair in her fingers. He felt her tremble and shiver under him. Jason groaned in response.

Yes baby! That's my girl! He thought. 

He kissed her outer folds gently, applying just a little pressure. He felt her body shiver with an after shock. He smiled. He was satisfied now. He wanted to go all the way, but decided he would leave that to another time.

He moved up to the top of the bed, lifting her along with him. He grabbed a pillow and made her lay her head on it so she could rest.

"I love you," he said.

He tucked the other pillow under his head and watched her, amazed at what just happened between them. Carli looked at him too. She had imagined this moment with him, but it was nothing compared to this. He stroked her face.

"I love you. I belong to you now," she said. "You broke my hymen."

Jason was surprised. "How do you know?", he asked. 

"I felt a sharp pain when your finger went deeper," she said.

Carli sat up and looked down on the bed. Where the ankle of her right leg was she could see a small spot of blood. She pointed to it. Jason raised himself up and looked at it. She was right. He reached out his hand and touched her tummy. He gazed at her with a sincere look on his face.

"I'll do my best to be worthy of it," he said. 

He got up and went to his duffle bag and pulled out a baby blue flat sheet, a fitted sheet of similar color and a thick teal blue cover sheet.

He looked over at her. "Are you okay to stand?", he asked her.

Carli nodded. "I think so," she said.

She scooted over to the edge of the bed and stood up. She took up her bag that was resting on the headboard and the plastic bag with the extra change of clothes aunt Sandra had brought for her. She watched as he changed the sheets, stripping the bed down to the bare mattress, then neatly spreading on the layers. He folded the sheets he removed and took them into the bathroom, placing them on the toilet tank. He would wash them tomorrow. It would be laundry day anyway. 

Carli decided to stuff the bag with the clothes in her shopping bag. Her bag was big enough to hold it. She squeezed out the extra air from the plastic bag, then carefully placed it inside her bag. She put her bag by the door. She felt a bit weird about her blood on Jason's bed, she decided to wait for him.

When Jason returned to the bedroom he was surprised to see Carli still standing. He hoped she wasn't feeling awkward, but just in case, he would show her there was nothing scornful or shameful about her staining his bed sheets. He lifted her in his arms and gently laid her on the bed. He held her close and kissed her forehead.

"Love you chica," he said smiling playfully.

Carli smiled and touched his face. "Love you chico," she replied. She felt blessed to have him in her life. He was considerate of her feelings and he made her feel beautiful. She wanted so much to be his wife.

Jason chuckled. 

They rested in each other's arms. 

**** 

Jason decided to take her mini grocery shopping. She said she wanted to cook something nice for him and his taste buds were eager to comply. After they had cuddled for a little bit longer, Jason told her he would take a shower. She told him she would go in after him. She had gotten dressed in her underwear and pulled on his cotton t-shirt, while she waited on him to come out of the bathroom.

He stripped down to his underpants and blew her a kiss when he saw she was watching him. Her eyes looked at him unashamed, as she remembered how he made her feel earlier. He had gone into the bathroom but forgot his body wash. He was about to go back into the bedroom when he heard her praying.

Dear God,

I know what we did was wrong but forgive us.

Forgive Jason most of all,

I was the one who initiated everything.

It's my fault,

but Lord I love him so much.

I know I haven't spoken to you in awhile but I'm here now.

Please help me,

I want to understand what it is about You that Jason loves,

I want to experience the faith he has in You,

I want to know You and I want to be his wife.

I pray it's not too late, please forgive us,

if we never touch again until he marries me,

I can live with that, 

but please don't be too mad at him,

and forgive me.

I pray in your name.

Amen.

Jason walked into the room and saw her bowed down on the bed. He had touched her shoulder, she looked up and he saw tears streaming down her face. He sat on the bed and held her close to him. He also prayed and asked God to forgive them and that He would accept his prayer and her prayer to Him. 

Jason also asked that He accept their love and that He wouldn't pull them apart. He told God that from now on even though he had broken his vow, he would work even harder to keep himself until marriage and he would make sure that he honored Carli by marrying her, now that he had taken her virginity. 

When he finished he gently kissed her on her forehead and told her he loved her and he would never leave her, and that he was her husband. That he would fulfill her needs in every way. He asked her to forgive him for being too weak to stop her when she touched him, and he told her that this was the last time for now he would allow them to be alone together. He proposed to her again and she accepted. 

He had gone into his bag and taken out a ring. He took her right hand and placed it on her finger, and kissed her hand.

"You can say it's a promise ring if you like," he chuckled.

"I bought this as a way to remind you of my love for you and my promise to make you my wife within the next year. This is why I was in the mall today," he said. 

Carli looked at it. It was a silver ring with a blue Zirconia stone set in the middle.

It was beautiful but she was curious. Why blue? She looked up at him, a question on her face.

"Why a blue stone?", she asked him.

Jason smiled. "In a romantic relationship blue represents loyalty and fidelity, faithfulness, and a sense of belonging if you will. It's my promise to be faithful, and that I belong to you, always."

She reached up and hugged him. "Thank you baby," she said. 

She released Jason from her embrace and gave him an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry about the necklace. I should have told Matt who its rightful owner was," she said smiling ruefully.

Jason cupped her face. "I understand. You may have a little sumn for him, but you're mine now, and I'm not letting you go," he said.

"If there was a spark, it's dead. You killed it," she said chuckling. She touched his face. 

"I meant what I said when you were loving on me. It wasn't just because you were driving me crazy," she said smiling at him. 

Jason laughed softly. He placed his hands on her hips. "I belong to you Jason," she said. "Plus, you've taken my virginity. I don't want to be with anyone else."

He told her that he would wear the necklace she bought him, because it was the thought that counted. He also remembered what Matthew said about her parents being in a financial bind and that she had made the sacrifice to buy it for him. She went into her bag and retrieved it. She opened the necklace and placed it around his neck, fastening it.

He went into the bathroom and looked at it in the mirror. He liked it, but more so because she bought it for him. He re-entered the bedroom and scooped her up in his arms and lifted her in the air. 

"Thank you baby. I love it!", he said. "I will think about you when I look at it."

Now, as he looked at her while she walked among the grocery aisles looking at food items, he was happy. He was sad that he broke his vow, but he was happy that it was with someone he truly loved and who loved him.

****

It had been a long day at work for Sandra. Between answering phone calls and having meetings with her agents, she was overwhelmed with worry for Carli. She wondered if it was a good idea to leave her at Jason's house, but somehow she felt that maybe they needed that time together. Matthew being in town would surely complicate things with her and Jason. 

She drove her car into the driveway of her home and parked the vehicle. She got out, locked the door and armed the car. Tiredly, she walked up to the door. She was about the open it when Melissa opened the door for her.

She patted her daughter on her shoulder. "Thanks honey," she said.

She went into the living room and slumped herself on the big grey couch. 

Lissa followed behind her. "Is she okay?", she asked her mother.

Sandra bent forward and pulled off her three inch pumps off her feet.

She leaned back and closed her eyes. "Yeah, she's okay. Although, when I went over there she was sleeping. Jason said she met up with Matthew and ate something that didn't agree with her and got sick. Apparently, she was vomiting." 

Lissa frowned. She had heard of Matthew before.

"Matthew, Carli's best friend who she made out with?", Lissa asked.

Sandra looked at her and nodded tiredly. 

Lissa sat beside her mother. "Doesn't he have a baby mother or sumn like that?", she asked.

Sandra put her arm behind her head and leaned back. "Yes, apparently he does," she said.

"I think he still carries a flame for Carli though," she said.

Lissa nodded. "So where is Carli now? I thought she was coming home with you?", she asked her mother looking perplexed.

"I allowed her to stay with Jason," Sandra said, easing forward and removing her work jacket. Lissa sat up on the couch. She stared at her mother in disbelief. Sandra leaned back on the couch unperturbed by her daughter's reaction to her decision.

"Mommy, you what?", she asked in shock. Her eyes wide in alarm.

"Mommy, tell mi seh a joke yuh a mek?", she stared at her.

Sandra shook her head. "Nope. I said what I said."

Lissa got up from the couch. "Give me the address. I will go and get her right now."

"You will do no such thing." Sandra's voice cracked like a whip. Even though Melissa was a thirty year old adult her mother's angry countenance still made her nervous.

Sandra saw that Lissa had flinched when she shouted at her.

"Carli and Jason need to work out what's going on between them. He told me he and her needed to discuss some things. No doubt now that Matthew is around, they need to establish if their relationship is on a solid foundation." Sandra softened her tone as she spoke to her daughter.

"Lissa, I know you are very fond of your little cuz but next year June she'll be twenty. She needs to be able to make decisions on her own,' she said sitting up. 

"I think you should focus on your own love life. After what you did with Heather I am very disappointed in you. What happened to Derrick? You guys aren't going out anymore?", she asked, trying to deflect her focus.

Lissa hissed her teeth. "Mommy, we're not discussing me. We're talking about Carli. Carli is the one who is still a virgin. Hopefully she still is after today," Lissa said sarcastically.

"I trust that Jason will ensure that she is," Sandra said. "... but even if she is not, that is a decision she will make for herself."

"And what about her mom, my aunt? Doesn't she have a say? Mommy, she will be livid if she heard you allowed this!" Lissa's eyes were wide open. She didn't want to be here when aunt Sharon's wrath visits.

Sandra looked directly at her daughter. "So you're going to betray me your mother? Me, who carried you for nine months? Who clothed you and fed you, and worked hard with your father to provide you with the expensive education you're now using? You're going to betray me for your aunt who has only given you a slice of cake?"

Lissa became quiet.

"I thought so," Sandra said sardonically.

"Lissa, Carli might be younger than you but she isn't a child. From the way she looks at Jason I know she is capable of falling in love and making her own decisions pertaining to her love life." Sandra emphasized the 'her'. 

"She's even gone as far as buying a gift for him. She is serious about this young man. I beg you do not interfere or you might regret it. You may stand to lose your friendship with your cousin," she said. She stood up tiredly. 

"I'm going to bed, but before I do I'm going to take a shower. I was thinking of calling my sis to ask her if she knew that Matthew is in town, but I won't bother until tomorrow. Tomorrow after Carli comes home and I can get out of her what really happened between her and her friend, then I will see what to do," she said.

She walked to the foot of the stairs then turned back to look at her daughter. "Do not preempt me and call your aunt." Her voice was stern.

Lissa nodded that she wouldn't.

"Good," she said and climbed tiredly up the stairs. She missed her husband so bad. 

Times like these he would rub her feet and whisper sweet nothings in her ear to make her laugh. Afterwards, he would hold her close and kiss her good night. Then in the morning when she was refreshed, he would hold her tenderly and make love to her. She wondered why he was taking so long to come home. She would call him tomorrow morning at work, away from Lissa's prying ears.

****

Jason and Carli decided to cook together. She was going to make noodles with sweet and sour chicken. The noodles were already cooking on the hot plate and she would be seasoning the chicken. 

Jason had cut up the herbs and spices, and was now cleaning the chicken. Carli retrieved the powdered seasoning they had bought earlier that day and waited for him to finish with the chicken. It was in a large ceramic bowl that belonged to his grandmother. 

He always remembered the time he spent that one summer with his granny. He was ten years old at the time. She was living in St. Elizabeth. She was a Kingstonian but somehow found herself moving to St. Bess. His mother told him it was for love, but granny always said it was for business then love. She was married to Brutus MacGregor for fourteen years before he passed away. They met each other in their fabulous fifties as his granny called them. He smiled as he remembered.

After she seasoned the chicken, she decided to let it sit for about an hour. Jason placed the seasoned meat in a clear plastic bag and asked Omie to store it in his fridge for them. She turned off the stove under the noodles, removed them from the hot water and rested them in cold water from Omie's fridge to keep them from cooking further. 

In the meantime, they decided to watch something on cable television. They snuggled up together and Carli rested her head on his chest. She could feel his heart beating. It was steady and quite soothing to listen to it. 

"I love you," she said.

He touched her face and smiled at her. "Love you too," he said.

When they got home he had changed into something more comfortable. He was wearing a marina and black sweat pants. Carli was wearing the black blouse with the word 'Pink' on it and her black jeans shorts with the fringes. She would wear the other clothes her aunt brought for her after she showered tomorrow morning. She did change her underwear though. Her aunt brought her three panties and two bras. She was always prepared for anything. She smiled as she thought about her.

Carli watched him, taking all of him in. She admired his bulging arms. She ran her fingers up and down his right arm, feeling her body tingle with longing for him. Jason smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

"You like what you see?" he asked teasing her.

Carli laughed softly. "Very much so. You see my boyfriend, he is a very muscular and strong guy, but he's also gentle. The way he had me under submission earlier just blew my mind," she said smiling cheekily. 

Jason grinned. He cupped her face. "Well I'm sure he will make sure to do that again soon enough." He kissed her forehead playfully.

Carli giggled. She loved his sense of humor. She admired him as he went back to watching the TV.

A thought crossed her mind. Thinking about earlier how sad she felt after their encounter, Carli wanted to know something.

She sat up and shifted herself to face him directly. Jason saw her face. She looked serious. He took up the remote and turned off the TV. 

"Is something wrong?", he asked.

"Your faith in God," she said. "Tell me about it?", she asked. "How did you become a Christian and why?"

This was the moment he was waiting on. He wanted her to ask him, so it wouldn't be like he was imposing it on her.

He put down the remote and pulled her back into his arms. 

"As I told you, I was in a dark place at fourteen, and I had dropped out of school for awhile, then Marsha's parents took me in, but I was still on the hustle. I wanted to make my own money so I could bring some to my mom. I knew staying with the Miller's was temporary. I would soon have to go back home and face my real life. So on weekends, I told them I was going to spend time with my mom, but what I was really doing was looking for odd jobs. My dad and I were not on good terms at that time so I didn't want to depend on him." 

He sighed. "You should know this. My dad and I aren't close. We don't have the typical father-son relationship. We can be amicable but then it's for the purpose of business."

"Why is your relationship with him like that?", Carli asked.

"He told my mom that he didn't think I was his, even though clearly I look like him. There was this man that used to help my mom out when my dad was short in fulfilling his responsibilities. His name is Joseph Black."  

"Apparently, he had a thing for my mom back in the day but because my mom was seeing my dad he didn't pursue anything. My dad sent me home two years after I stayed with him and Antonia, that's my half brother's and sister's mom. She took care of me and made me feel loved but my dad and I still had our issues. We had a big cuss out." 

"Imagine a fourteen year old cussing his dad like a big man. When he did wrong I would tell him to his face. He had beat my sister and the beating left wails on her back. I was so angry with him. So he rushed me pretending he would hit me, but I stood my ground and took up a knife." 

Carli snuggled up closer and used her hand to caress his face to comfort him.

"He got upset and sent me back home. I was sad to leave because of my bigger sister, she's bigger than me by two years, and little brother, and even Antonia. She was very good to me, but I was also relieved to leave. I couldn't stand being around him," Jason said.

Carli could hear the bitterness in his voice.

"Your little brother and sister by your mom, does he accept them?", she asked.

Jason nodded. "At first he didn't, but as they've grown he has. He says Lisa reminds him of his mom and Joel looks just like him in an uncanny sort of way. Me on the other hand, I'm like a hybrid. Half him, half my mom, but he doesn't see it that way," he said.

She continued to caress his face. "Baby, I'm sorry," she said.

Jason covered her hand with his. "It's okay, we're on amicable terms now. He calls me for a job, I go. I work my tail off for him, I get paid. It is the way it is, but I've grown to accept it," he said.

Carli thought that was sad. She didn't always see eye to eye with her dad, but she knew he loved her.

"So how did Christianity drop in?", she asked him.

Jason chuckled. "Sorry, I went off," he said smiling awkwardly.

"That's okay," she said still caressing his face.

"Yeah so ..." he continued. " I was walking past this church one day and saw this man installing a new door on the church building. It was me and couple of my friends. I told them I would catch up with them and went into the church yard, straight up to the man and asked if he needed help with putting on the door. I was sixteen, but had done that several times before with my dad, so I knew what to do. He told me okay. So I helped him. He gave me a $500 bill which at the time was an okay sum of money. I brought it home to my mom and we bought chicken back and a pound of flour to make cartwheel dumplings." Jason smiled as he remembered.

"The man was uncle Pat, my now mentor. The one who wants to meet you." He stroked Carli's face. 

"After that I would visit the church often and he would give me odd jobs around the church to do, like sweeping the yard or installing windows blades." Carli looked at him surprised. 

He chuckled. "Yes I know how to do that," he said. "My dad taught me a lot. He just wasn't much of a dad otherwise."

Carli felt sad for the resentment he felt towards his father. She wished she could do something to help.

"I was even working on things at his house. I painted over his living room once. That was my first gig outside of working with my dad. One day I was at a Sunday church service and the pastor said something about Christ dying for my sins and I was confused. So afterwards, I asked uncle Pat why would Jesus do that? He didn't know me and I didn't know him."

"Uncle Pat sat me down among the church pews and told me the gospel. He explained that before I was even born the Lord knew me. As a matter of fact he had formed me in my mother's womb. He knew who I would grow up to become and he knew my struggles. So I asked him if God knew this why didn't He intervene and help my mom so she could better take care of me and my siblings, and why did he give us such a lousy father?"

"He turned to me and said that sometimes God places us in circumstances so he can be able to better reach us and show us His love for us. I didn't understand it at first but then I needed to go to six form and I didn't have the money. I didn't know where to turn to get help and then uncle Pat found out and paid it for me. When I needed to go to UWI, I applied to scholarships and kept getting 'we regret to inform that while we appreciate your scholarship application we will not be able to assist at this time', but one day a company I didn't even remember I had applied to, called me and told me that they don't usually give away scholarships for the courses that I was doing, but they would take the chance with me. It was an engineering company. Then the following year I got the athletics scholarship from UWI." 

Carli rested her head on his chest.

"I'm sorry if I'm depressing you," he said touching her face.

Carli looked up at him. "No. Not at all, not at all," she said. "I just wish I could have been there to take the pain away."

Jason kissed her hair. Her kind heart made him feel better.

"When I got into university I vowed that celibacy vow. I told God I would do it, because I wanted to be able to focus on my studies and because of what he had done for me," he said. 

"So He has been there for you, God that is?", Carli asked

Jason nodded.

"Carli, the Lord Jesus showed me what peace is. I was so angry back then, but by reading the Bible and spending time in Bible study with uncle Pat, God has helped me see things differently. Even with the way I touched you today. The Word talks about a husband showing honor to his wife remembering that she is the 'weaker vessel'." Jason said chuckling. 

"Now, don't get upset with me," he said eyeing her reaction.

Carli smiled. "If I am the weaker vessel for you, I don't mind. The truth is, I want to be soft so your masculinity can come out. I want doors to be opened for me and all the other stuff a man should do for his woman," she said.

Jason loved her. She made loving her easy. He wrapped his arms around her.

He continued:

"Now I'm not saying that it was right what we did, because it isn't. I am not justifying it. What we did earlier was flat out wrong. What I mean is, I should consider your needs and treat you well, remembering that you too are made in the image of God, and as the stronger one I must protect you, make you feel safe, and treat you with care."

She nodded. She felt she understood. "Where is that found?", she asked him.

"Oh. It's in 1st Peter verse 7," he said.

"Okay," she said. She would look it up.

"Why were you crying earlier while you prayed for us?", he asked her.

"I was happy to have you in my arms," Carli began. "I'm in love with you, you know, but as I was thinking about how much I loved you, this thought came to me, it felt like someone was speaking to me: if you truly love him, you would have waited until marriage. I felt so bad afterwards."

Jason knew what that meant. He was happy. He hugged her smiling. Carli was perplexed. 

"Um... I don't understand. Why would you be happy I feel guilty?" 

"It's not that I relish you feeling bad, Carli. It's that God was speaking to you!"

"What?!", she exclaimed. She was even more confused.

"The Bible tells us that our conscience either acquits or condemns us for any action we've taken, but sometimes our consciences can become dormant. The more we do something bad, the more we get used to it and our consciences don't work as they should. So if you felt like someone was speaking to you and asking you to question your motives, and you felt guilty that can only come from God.," he explained. 

He looked at her with a wide grin on his face.

"Do you know what that means?", he asked. 

He was excited.

"No," she said.

"It means that God, Jesus then, is reaching out to you and He wants to have a relationship with you. Even what you prayed, I heard what you prayed. You couldn't pray like that if He hadn't helped you to do that through the Holy Spirit."

Carli couldn't believe it.

"But why would he want to be close to me after what I did? I made you give up your vow. I caused what happened between us." 

He reached out and touched her hands. "Carli," he said. "I'm equally to blame for what happened between us. I could have moved your hand. I could have told you no, but I wanted it too."

He touched her face. "But His grace is sufficient. The Word says where sin abounds grace is even stronger. You see, God knows in our fallen state we are gonna do wrong. We are gonna go off course, but he has prepared the opportunity for us to experience His love, through the forgiveness we can receive because of Jesus' sacrifice. It doesn't mean we should go off and sin, and do bad things, but it means because of Christ's sacrifice we can have forgiveness and receive the strength we need from God himself to overcome."

Jason sighed. He clasped her hands in his. "Carli, I know I haven't been a good example for you, because of how I've been when I'm around you. Touching you and so on, but know this, if it weren't for Him restraining me, I would probably have had you multiple times already. I've just been disobedient."

Carli frowned. "What do you mean?", she asked.

"What I mean is, the Bible says it is for my own good to flee sexual immorality, to avoid it, but what do I do? I kiss you, caress you and so on knowing you're not my wife yet. The Bible says I should avoid lust but I give in and lust for you like crazy. I also know that because of how I feel about you, I shouldn't have you here alone with me, but I take the risk anyway, knowing that you make me weak. What happened earlier was bound to happen sooner or later. If anything, I should carry the greater blame 'cause I know the rules. I know better," he said. His countenance changed as he looked at her. He was feeling remorseful. He put his hands at his sides.

Carli felt awful too. She couldn't shake the feeling that it was her fault.

 "But Jason," she said. "You belong to Him, you accepted Him. He will forgive you, but me, I've never accepted Him. He won't look at me."

"You've never?", Jason asked.

Carli thought about it. Yes, she did once. She had asked Christ to come into her heart but it never worked out. 

"Yeah I did. I did when I was younger," she said, remembering.

"But your mom said no to being baptised, right?", Jason asked.

Carli nodded. 

"Carli, even if you had never accepted Him before, His love is stronger than any doubt you have. He would seek you out, even if you've never accepted Him before. The Bible says He came to seek and save that which was lost. Lost souls like me of course, and you too."

Carli was blinking back tears now. She wasn't sure what was wrong with her.

"You felt the strong urge to pray, right after you felt the conviction, after what we did. That is not normal behavior Carli. You prayed today. At your weakest, lowest point you prayed. When was the last time you did that?", Jason asked smiling at her.

"Awhile," she admitted. 

"That my dear Carli is called grace. It's like a favor you receive when you don't deserve it. It's like a beautiful, undeserved gift," he said.

She sat upright and looked at him. "You mean God wants me? I'm totally messed up and look at what I did today. I made you break your vow," she said. For some reason she started crying.

Jason reached out a hand to touch her face. She pulled away from him, got up from the bed and stood by the door. Jason came up behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders. 

"Yet still in your messed up state God decided to reach out to you. I love you Carli but He loves you more than I ever could, and when we get married, even then, the measure of love I have for you cannot compare to what He has for you."

She turned around and he hugged her tightly while she cried.

After putting on a t-shirt, Jason sat her down and explained the gospel about the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, coming to live a sinless life to redeem His people. How He became sin so that persons burdened by addiction, pain and depression could be set free. 

That we needed a Savior because all of us were plunged in a state of darkness that was far from God's love and righteousness, but Christ came to restore the relationship God wanted with us. How Jesus came to save sinners, not those who think they are righteous, but those who are burdened with sin and needed to be rescued. 

And right there in his room, he led her to recommit her life to the Lord. She asked Jesus to forgive her, to come into her heart and fill her life with His love. Jason also recommitted himself to his God, and both of them asked Him to help them keep pure until they were married.

****

Around 7 pm Sandra woke up to hear her cellphone ringing. She reached over to the night stand, answered it and heard her niece on the line. "Carli, honey," she said sleepily. Everything okay?" She was worried about her.

"Yes aunty, just calling to let you know I'll be coming home tonight."

Sandra was surprised but happy. "Okay hun. Glad to hear it," she replied. She noticed that Carli sounded happy.

"Aunty, Jason wants to talk to you," Carli said.

She came off the line and Jason came on. "Aunt Sandra, good night," he greeted her.

Sandra yawned and said "Good night." Sandra noticed that he too sounded cheerful. She wondered what had transpired between them.

"Oh no, we woke you up?", he asked.

"Yeah, but it's okay. Hearing that my niece is okay is a gift. Thank you."

She noted that Jason went silent. Sandra smiled. She figured he was touched by her words.

"Okay, so why are you calling? Is it about the thing you want me to check out?", she asked.

"Matter of fact, it is," Jason said. 

Sandra sat up. She climbed out of bed and took out her notepad and a pen from her work bag. She sat back in bed and said, "Shoot. I'm ready to take notes."

"Okay," Jason said, "We went to this site this morning. I'm gonna text the address to you, it's in rural St. Catherine. It's a 16,000 square feet apartment complex on about half acre of land." 

Sandra's eyebrows were raised as she listened to him. This sounded interesting. 

"What's the name of the developer?", she asked.

"Jeffery Smith," he replied.

"Okay," Sharon said. I've heard of him. "He's done about three other properties before, but those were malls and shopping centres. This would be his first residential venture. He seems to be a legit gentleman. What's your concern?"

"My friends and I went to look at the property ..."

"You went with your friends. Why? You investing as well?", she asked cutting him off. It was a joke but she was intrigued when Jason went silent.

"You are? Aren't you?" Sandra was surprised. There was more to Jason than the eye could see, she mused.

"Never mind. Your business is not my business, just make sure my niece is protected," she said.

"Always," Jason replied.

Sandra cleared her throat. "Okay, tell me your concern," she said.

There's about a 1000 to 1200 square feet space left over that an extra unit or two can hold in. If you're thinking about making money and also considering efficiency in utilizing land area I would think Smith and his team would use that space as well. The site plan does not state what that will be used for. In the plan there's also an external staircase leading to the parking lot even though they will also be building an interior staircase that will lead to the parking lot, which will be at underground level. So I'm a little perplexed about that," Jason said.

Sandra listened to him. She needed an expert on this. She knew an engineer she could ask for a favor. 

"I think I'm gonna have to consult Carli's dad about this one. He's an electrical engineer but he has a friend who is a civil engineer who may be able to help," she said.

Jason replied, "Thank you. Something about this doesn't feel right to me."

Carli's dad an engineer? Really! Jason thought. Nice! He always wanted to dabble a little in that discipline.

"They've dug the foundation yet?", she asked.

"Yes, they have," Jason answered.

"Did you notice anything strange about it? Like did one section of the cement look more thicker than the other or anything like that?"

Jason thought about it. "No enuh. I didn't, but I wasn't focused on that. It was the extra space on the diagram that got me perplexed."

"Sometimes that can be related to the restrictive covenant for that area or the community it will be built in. Is it more like a commercial or residential area when you look around you?", she asked taking notes.

"It's more like a mix. There are some houses but a new mall was just built. There are also a few businesses but for the most part there's still uncleared land. There's still some shrubbery," Jason tried to be as detailed as he could.

Sharon nodded as she listened to him.

I will check that out as well for you. You say it's in rural St. Catherine?"

"Yes," Jason said.

"Okay. I'll call a friend over at the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation and see if he can tell me anything," she said. Her curiosity was growing as she thought about it.  

"Alrighty. Thanks so much aunt Sandra," he said.

"You're welcome, sir Jason," Sandra said. She was impressed with him. "You'll bring my niece home soon?", she asked.

"Yes, I definitely will," he said.

"So y'all good?", she queried.

"Yep. We are very good," he said.

"Alrighty. I'll call and let you know about the property."

"Thank you."

"Later," Sandra said.

"Later," Jason replied. He hung up.

Sharon looked at the phone and smiled. 

"More than meets the eye," she said out loud and placed the phone on the night stand. She would call her contacts tomorrow. She lay down and got cosy under the covers. She closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.

****

Jason dug into the meal he and Carli prepared. He reached over and covered her hand with his. She looked up from eating and he blew her a kiss.

"This really tastes good Carli. Thank you," he said.

She had dished their food on plastic plates, but they were eating with metal forks. Jason went on the road and bought sodas from a nearby grocery shop. He looked at her lovingly. She stared back at him. 

"I love you sweet baby," Jason said smiling at her.

Carli smiled back shyly.

"I can't believe we did what we did," she said blushing.

"Yeah I know. Seeing you soft and beautiful like that was a treat for me," he said. "I wanna make sure we wait from now on. There's so much about you I want to explore and I don't want to feel guilty about it. You are worth the wait Carli."

"Do you regret taking my virginity?", she asked.

"A little, but only because I wanted that to be on our wedding night, but Carli I feel good to know that you trusted me enough to let me be the one." He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.

"Do you regret going down on me?", Jason asked. He was a little curious.

"I don't regret wanting you like that, but yeah, I wish we were already married," she said.

Jason nodded. He totally understood.

"Let's lay some ground rules and keep them until we say 'I do'," he suggested.

He released her hand. Carli rested it on her lap.

"Ground rules like what?", she asked.

"First of all, we are never anywhere alone together in private, nor do we go anywhere like for example a hotel, airbnb et cetera to be alone. We can go to public events together but not have the intention to stay over in a private space," he said looking at her. His gaze was sincere.

Carli nodded. "Anything else?", she asked.

"I can't have you here alone with me, nor should you allow me in your room alone."

Carli felt a pang of regret but understood. 

"Anything else?", she queried.

'No kissing or intimate touching," he said. "Although I'm speaking more to myself." He chuckled. "Ditto what I said a couple days ago about not kissing and touching, although I didn't follow it today," he laughed softly.

Carli giggled.

"I want to do Bible study with you if you don't mind. I have a place in mind for that," he said looking at her waiting for a response.

Carli nodded. "Okay," she said. She could work with that.

Jason smiled. Good. He thought. We can grow together spiritually.

"And I love your body. It drives me nuts, but please don't send me anymore pics for now, " Jason said smiling ruefully. 

Carli understood. She nodded her agreement.

"I've got one," she said in a sober tone.

"Okay, go ahead," he said listening intently.

"Jason, those arm muscles make me weak," she said pointing to his strong arms. "When I see them I can't think straight. I'm gonna need you to somehow make sure they're covered up as much as possible. You said we can't be in an intimate setting together, but when we go out and you wear some of those shirts, it's all I can do not to touch you. You know I usually give in."

Jason chuckled.

Carli laughed softly.

"It's true," she said laughing at herself. "Your arms make me have naughty thoughts."

Jason smiled. "Okay, I'll make sure to see how I can cover up more," he said.

"Going along that line. You're shorts and short skirts have me thinking thoughts too," he told her.

Carli smiled at him amused. "But I like my short shorts and skirts," she quipped. She saw Jason's expression and started laughing while covering her mouth.

"Yes, okay," she said. "I will make the adjustments for you. Don't expect granny frock though," she warned him playfully.

"I wouldn't want that either," he said smiling. He winked at her. Carli laughed and threw a crumpled up paper napkin that was on her lap at him. It hit him and fell on the floor.

Jason laughed also. He picked it up and threw it back at her.

"Tell you what," she said. "When I'm out with you I'll wear my pants. Better? 

"Yes, better," he said chuckling. 

Jason smiled mischievously. "To see you in anything long and granny looking would be amusing, but I can't imagine it, or maybe I could. Mmh ...," Jason said teasing her.

"What? Nobadda wid dat!", she responded, looking at him in alarm.

Jason threw his head back and laughed loudly.

"If me affi wear granny frock yuh going wear three piece suit every day," she asserted, feeling slightly indignant.

Jason held his belly and howled louder. "Not over my dead body!", he said, his body now shaking as he laughed harder. 

Carli saw that he was beside himself with laughter and began laughing too. She would remember these moments.

After about a minute of teasing each other, he sobered up. "So we have a deal?", he asked.

"Deal," she said extending her hand for a handshake. Jason shook it, turned it palm up and kissed it, then let her go. 

Carli blushed. "I love you," she said.

"I love you too," he said. He stared at her intently. She was beautiful. He wondered how he got so lucky, only it wasn't luck. She was a blessing.

 ****

At 10:30 pm sharp Jason brought Carli back to her aunt's house. They had discussed their ground rules further in terms of what would happen if someone broke any of them. They decided that person would be cussed out thoroughly by the other party and ghosted for a week. That would be an incentive to ensure they kept the agreement because neither one of them wanted to not be in contact with each other for more than a day. 

Carli leaned over in the car seat and rested her head on his shoulder. Jason looked down and saw the sadness on her face. 

"Baby, I won't take long. That is a promise I intend to keep," he said putting his arm around her.

"Jason, you've spoiled me. I don't want anyone else. No one else will do for me," she declared boldly.

He was touched by what she said.

"Carli look at me," he said.

She sat up and looked at him.

"That night Marsha snuck in to see me and I told you she kissed me. What I didn't tell you was that she did her very best to get a response from me. She was giving me her best kissing skills, but all I thought about, all I could think about was your lips on mine. Your body pressed on mine and your scent on me. Suffice it to say, she's really mad at me now. I'm spoiled too. I don't want anyone else." Jason looked at her with love in his eyes as he spoke.

He touched her face. "You belong to me and I belong to you. There's no one else," he said.

Carli leaned into his touch. She kissed his palm. Jason leaned over and held her.

"Now go on in before your aunt thinks I'm ravishing you in the car," he said winking at her.

"Would you?", she asked a tad bit curious.

"What do you think?", he asked her. He gazed at her intensely. Carli looked into his eyes. She shivered. She got her answer.

She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. 

"Later babe," she said. Carli stepped out of the vehicle. Jason closed the door for her.

"Yes. Later, beautiful," he answered softly. 

The sensual tone of his voice made chills run down her spine. She could hardly wait for their wedding night to come.

She watched as Jason drove off then closed the gate. She went up to the front door. She was searching in her bag for the key when Lissa opened the door to let her in. 

She stepped aside and Carli entered the house.

Lissa closed the door and leaned on it. "So where are you coming from so late?", she asked her.

"I spent the day with Jason," Carli responded lightheartedly.

"I see," Lissa said moving away from the door.

"And you didn't think we would be worried? That I and your aunt would be worried?", she said angrily.

Carli was surprised. "Lissa, what's this about? It's not the first time I've spent time with him."

"Yeah, but I heard you were planning to sleep over, and I also heard that Matthew's in town. Carli, what are you up to?", Lissa asked. She was angry.

Carli stared at her perplexed. She wasn't sure what her problem was. 

"Look Lissa," she said going up to her, trying to calm her down. "I've told you before Jason is a good guy. I love him and he loves me."

She flashed the ring on her right hand in front of her cousin. 

Lissa grabbed the waving hand and looked at the ring. It was beautiful. This however left a question gnawing at her gut. She had to ask.

"Does that mean you're no longer a virgin?" Lissa asked, her eyes boring into Carli.

Carli stared back at her. "It means that Jason has proposed to me and gave me this promise ring to show his commitment to our relationship. He wants to marry me next year."

Carli walked away from her, moving further into the foyer.

Lissa stared at her cousin incredulously. "What? What are you talking about?", Lissa asked. She came up and stood in front of her.

Carli tried to keep her cool. "Lissa, we love each other. He wants to marry me and I want to marry him too. There is no other man I want," she declared boldly.

"Carli, are you listening to yourself? You're only nineteen. Don't be ridiculous!", Lissa said in shock.

"I'll be twenty next year," Carli replied. "I know what I want Lissa. I've always been indecisive, you know this about me, but in this case I know what I want, and he's what I want."

Lissa breathed in deeply. She would try to reason with her. She tried to soften her tone.

"Carli, honey, by your own admission, you've only known this guy for about three months. How can you be so sure he will be the man you want to spend the rest of your life with? Seriously, is he the best you can get? Hun, you are a beautiful young lady. You're intelligent and when you finish your degree you will be an educated, qualified young woman. You can get any man you want!" Lissa placed her hands on her hips while speaking to Carli. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Carli persisted. "Jason is who I want. He is intelligent, kind, very loving and he makes me happy," she said.

Lissa was curious. She wondered if what she dreaded would have happened did happen.

"How does he make you happy Carli? Tell me. What has he done? What did he do to make you happy? Have you guys had sex?" Lissa asked staring at her.

Carli cocked her head sideways in defiance.

Lissa's eyes widened as the realization hit her. She swore softly. 

"You guys ... you guys did it? You guys had sex?! Did it happen today?", she asked her.

Carli moved past her to go to her room upstairs. Lissa followed her, reached out and grabbed Carli's arm, spinning her around. 

"Carli, did you and Jason have sex while you were at his place today?", she asked angrily, her voice getting louder.

Carli could feel her temper rising. "Lissa calm down. You're going to wake up aunty," she said her voice calm but icy cold. 

Lissa continued. She never noticed the hint in Carli's tone.

"She might as well wake up fi hear dis," Lissa shouted. "Might as well the whole neighborhood hear!"

Carli lost her cool. "Yes Lissa, Jason took me over and over again and I loved every minute of it. He had me in different positions and he made me scream out his name multiple times!"

Lissa reared up and slapped Carli across her face. Carli dropped her bag and pushed Lissa. Lissa grabbed her and the two of them started wrestling in the foyer.

"What is wrong wid unnu?! Stop this!" 

They looked up to see Sandra coming down the stairs. They separated from each other. The women looked at each other like adversaries. 

Sandra came down and stood at the foot of the stairs. 

"What the hell is going on?"

Both young women held their tongue.

"Somebody better talk to me right now or else." She came towards them, her countenance stern.

"Carli is no longer a virgin," Lissa blurted out.

Sandra looked at Carli's flushed face. The slap Lissa gave her was becoming a red print on her right cheek. 

"What's wrong with your face?", Sandra asked.

"Your daughter slapped me!", Carli said angrily, her eyes shooting daggers at her cousin.

Sandra touched her face. Carli winced at the pain.

Sandra turned to her daughter. In one quick movement she stepped up to Lissa and slapped her hard across her face. 

Lissa gasped in shock and held her face. 

"Go to your room Lissa. Since you want to be a child. I will treat you like one. Haven't I told you to mind your own business. Please leave my presence. As a matter of fact, right now I don't care where you go, but I don't want to see you."

Holding her face, Lissa looked angrily at her mother and Carli, then went up stairs to her room.

Sandra looked at Carli. 

"Go into the living room and sit down Carli," Sandra said, her voice was deadly calm.

"Aunty ..."

"Carli, go and sit down," she snapped.

Carli did as she was told.