Debt cleared

Once they were finished with the food, Jenny and Jason stayed for a while longer in the restaurant that was slowly becoming emptier, being one of the last couples still there. They wanted to enjoy the rotating view while they were having a warm drink before they would leave. By now it was almost midnight and the night had turned cold, so having something to warm them up from inside before they would have to head into the cold night air was quite enjoyable. Though the actual temperature wasn't exceptionally low, they were by the sea. So, the strong wind that came from the water caused a wind chill, dropping the temperature around the restaurant with a few degrees compared to the places further from the shore. Wearing a dress shirt and a short cap-sleeved dressed, could not shield you from that wind nor the cold that came with it. Luckily, the car was right out front, so they would only have to face the wind for a few seconds before they could use the car as a shield.

After finishing their drinks and having enjoyed a dinner that could only be described with the word "perfect!", Jason and Jenny headed to the ground floor, where the driver was already waiting to bring them back to the hotel. With the roads being practically empty, they got back to the hotel in a record time. They wished the driver a good night, before they got off and rushed to the revolving doors of the hotel lobby. The only people there were a few guests enjoying a drink by the bar and the night receptionist, who greeted them when they entered. They gave a polite nod back and wasted no time to get into the elevator and back to their room. Jenny could feel herself dozing off on the ride back and Jason wasn't too far off from that state either. Walking around all day, the fair and the extravagant dinner, made for a full day. In turns they went into the bathroom to get ready for bed.

When it was Jenny's turn, she had already slipped into her night gown and walked up to the sink to brush her teeth. Standing in front of the well-lit mirror, her eyes landed on the hickey Jason had left on the front side of her shoulder. Her hand unconsciously went to touch the odd shaped bruise. As the image of how she got the bruise flashed before her eyes and the tingling sensation came back to her. The mark had started turning darker and darker, making it even more noticeable as the shades of red were making place for a purplish blue. As she was brushing her teeth, her mind started to wander.

She was thinking about how long they had been together, how long they had been sleeping in the same bed and how long it was until they would get married. The reason her mind was occupied by these calculations was because she was starting to wonder whether her decision to save herself till marriage hadn't been too one sided. She had told Jason about her wishes and she was happy he had accepted and respected her decision, but she had never asked him how he felt about it. Because to her, it was something non-negotiable. However, was this hickey proof that he was trying to take things another step further? Hickeys aren't just an act of playfulness, but of passion as well. If she brushed what had happened today off as nothing, just a spur of the moment thing, wasn't she being unfair to Jason who might be struggling on his own?

This mark on her proved that he was thinking about things beyond their current state on some level at the very least, which would be natural. Though she might not be able or willing to change her decision, because this was something she had decided a long time ago and was part of the values she was raised with as a child, she could at least see if it was something he was bothered by. "Maybe him being able to talk about it, opening the dialogue about it just a bit or him knowing that I am aware of his struggles, might help him in some way. At least nothing would be lost if I did." She said to herself. In the end it hadn't been Jason's decision. It might not be something he found important. To him it might be something that was decided for him, when he felt that the only way, he could be with her was if he accepted this or because he saw that it was important to her.

Jenny walked out of the bathroom and got onto the bed. "Jason, ask you about something?" Jason who was sitting on the bed against the headboard looked up from his phone and put it away, wondering what it could possibly be that had made her so serious and want to talk so late at night "Yeah, sure. What do you want to talk about? The shower woke me up, so I'm not sleepy right now anyways." Jenny looked at her hands and started fidgeting with her fingers. "Well, there is no right or wrong answer here. It's just that what happened earlier today made me start thinking about "certain things" that we have postponed in our relationship till after marriage. I know you are a young healthy guy and all our friends have already taken that step in their relationship. With me you can't do those things right now and won't be able to for quite some time. Despite that we sleep in the same bed, we lie in each other's arms and I can imagine that it might be tough for you to be holding back all the time."

"I guess, but the other option is not sleeping next to you and I know that will require a different kind of holding back." He said with a chuckle. "Well let me rephrase it then. Does it bother you that we aren't like other couples that we can't do what they can? I mean I made that choice for me and you were kind of forced to go along with it when I did, so it might not be the same for you. Sometimes it makes me feel a bit guilty. Making me wonder if I am doing the right thing. I mean you have proven to me a long time ago that you are in this for the long haul, so the purpose of saving myself has already been met. We are also already engaged, and I have no doubt that the wedding will follow as well. It's just this thought in my mind that I can't get out. I have always imagined my first time being after marriage, but I don't want to make you suffer for another year at the very least without it having a purpose other than it being something I want. If it's like that, then I have some thinking to do."

"I can't say it doesn't bother me at all, but you are worth the wait. I could have had meaningless sex for some time now, so if I wanted that, I could have done so. I have been waiting many years trying to find someone I want to be with, that could make me want more than just spend a night with them, now that I have found that, what's waiting a year extra? Sure, it's more difficult when we are so close every night and barely wearing anything, but if waiting is something important to you, then I don't mind waiting with you. Don't feel like you have to force yourself to change your believes for me. If the moment comes before marriage and you feel ready to take that step at that time, then I won't stop you of course, but it's not the most important thing in a relationship and at this point it certainly isn't important enough for you to set aside your principles. The fact that you want to make me the first and only person, makes me feel special. The fact you value yourself and your first time that much, makes me value it even more. That will make our wedding more than just a party for the guests, but also a pre-party for us" Jason said laughingly.

Jenny smiled gently at Jason and felt herself falling deeper in love with the guy if that was even still possible. She gave him a soft kiss on the lips, "Thank you. It means more to me than you think." Jason wrapped his arms around her and said "Are you reassured now? Such silly thoughts get into your head at such random times." "Well, whose fault do you think that is. It's your love mark that made my mind go there. If it weren't for someone losing control and bruising me, would I be thinking about this right now?" Jason chuckled and pulled Jenny close as he hugged her. "Well, now that we have had this meaningful discussion, I think it's time for bed. Let me hold you as we fall asleep. I think I have earned that tonight. Don't you agree." Jenny chuckled and agreed.

They lowered themselves underneath the covers and Jenny snuggled close to Jason as she placed her head on his chest. As Jason closed his eyes and was about to fall asleep, he was startled by a mean sting on the left side of his chest. Before he had the time to process the first painful awakening, he was confronted with a second pinch on the inside of his upper arm. "Auch! Jenny what are you doing. Stop pinching me." "Jenny did not open her eyes and laid there harmless as she said, "Debt cleared". Despite Jason's sweet and understanding words, a debt was still a debt and needed to be paid. What better time than when he had his guard down. Realizing what she had done, Jason's chest started moving up and down from laughing. "What a silly and vindictive woman this was. Only focussing on the bruise and not the process." Jason thought. He placed a loving kiss on the top of her head and took the pinches as the scratches you get from a kitten playing around. With that they both fell asleep and didn't wake up until after the breakfast buffet was already closed.