“I want to marry you but what about our families?” she asked.
“You know what our families are like and what a mess our wedding will be. Your parents will want something small and conservative; my parents will want a reception of drunken debauchery. This saves us a lot of drama.”
Josie laughed. “It’s true.” It was every girl’s dream to marry and have a big wedding—white dress, bridesmaids, flowers, the huge reception. But none of that mattered to Josie, for her, it was about love. Josie threw her arms up and smiled from ear to ear. “Why the hell not? Let’s get married!”
“Great!” Nick exclaimed.
He took her hand and escorted her across the street to the courthouse. Once inside, Josie was shocked to find the justice of the peace waiting. “I was getting worried the young lady didn’t say yes,” he said.
“Yes is her favorite word.” Nick wrapped his arm tightly around her shoulder and yelled out, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
“All right,” said the justice of the peace. “Do you kids have a witness?”
“You,” replied Nick quickly.
“No son,” chuckled the justice of the peace, “someone else.” He called his elderly Pennsylvania Dutch secretary to witness their marriage. “This is Claudia Yoder; she will be your witness. Do you have rings?”
“Yes.” Nick retrieved the male wedding ring from his pocket and handed it to Josie. Holding her diamond, he spoke the vows to Josie. “I, Nick Markovich, in the presence of you…Ms. Yoder, take Josephine Elizabeth Hynes to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to honor and obey,” he stated with a laugh and continued, “to love and to cherish, until death do us part.” He slid the diamond ring on Josie’s left ring finger.
A flood of tears washed down Josie’s face as she awkwardly looked for something to do with the bouquet. Ms. Yoder took the flowers from her. Josie looked up at Nick and laughed before starting her vows. She managed to get through them without crying but fumbled with his wedding ring as she tried to put it on his finger.
“Ouch!” he jokingly yelled out.
She smacked him playfully. “Will you stop? I’m trying to marry you here?”
The justice of the peace looked at both Nick and Josie and said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He glanced at Nick. “You can kiss your bride.”
“Gladly.” He grabbed hold of her ass, pulling her off the ground and gave her a big, wet, sloppy kiss.
Josie wiggled away and punched him on the shoulder. “Will you behave?”
“Save it for the honeymoon kids,” said the justice of the peace.
Later in the afternoon, they arrived in Ocean City and checked into their hotel room. Josie bounced on the bed, waving her wedding flowers. “I’m married! I’m married! I’m married!” She collapsed onto the bed.
Nick crawled over her. “You know what that means. You are mine; I can have you anytime I want.” He kissed her face and neck. “I can have you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” He licked the inside of her ear. “I can have you for brunch. I can have you for afternoon tea and I can have you for a late night snack.”
“Yes!” Josie raised her head toward him. “I can have you in the living room, the kitchen, and the den.”
“I can have you in the bathroom,” he replied, nibbling her t-shirt over her nipple.
She ran her hands through his hair. “I can have you in the pantry and linen closet.”
He raised her t-shirt and bra over her breasts and gently sucked her nipple. “I can have you in the secret room behind the hidden bookshelf.”
She laughed and moaned at the same time, arching her head back.
“I can do anything I want to you now.”
“What can you do that you haven’t already done?” she asked.
“Sweetheart, you have no idea.” Nick slowly traced his tongue down her belly and inserted it in her belly button. It tickled and made her giggle. He unbuttoned her shorts and roughly pulled them off her body, nearly pulling her along with them. He massaged her between the legs. “You are soaking wet.”
Josie writhed, bent her legs and spread them further apart. “I’m ready for the taking.”
Nick inserted his index and middle finger inside her, feeling around for her G-spot. She bucked against his hand. “Nick! Nick! Oh God!” she yelled.
He chuckled, teasing her as she cried out in orgasm. Standing by the bed he lowered his pants and shook his penis at her. “Time now for the stuff of love to consummate the marriage!”
Josie laughed and spread her legs further apart. “The pink cave awaits you to take that pearl!”
Nick stood above her and proudly slid his penis inside her without using any hands as a guide.
“You’re getting good at that, sweetie,” she said.
“Look ma, no hands,” he joked as he pushed himself in deeper.
“You are so strange.” She shifted her hips and pulled him down on top of her. “Come on baby, there’s a whole treasure waiting for you inside.”
“Now who’s the strange one,” he grunted as he pushed harder.
Josie grabbed his arms, dug her nails into his skin, and hoisted her legs on top of his shoulders. “Fu-ck!” she cried.
When he climaxed and pulled out of her, she slithered across the bed and crawled on the floor to the bathroom. Nick entered and turned on the shower. “I wonder if we can get hot water,” he said holding his hand under the stream. Nick stepped in the tub and Josie stepped in behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his back. She noticed the scratches on his shoulders. “Love scars,” she said, kissing his wounds.
“More like love territory marks,” Nick said.
“Damned straight, you’re my man,” she said, running her fingers over his chest and abs.
He turned around and embraced her tightly, burying his face in her neck. “I love you, Mrs. Markovich.”
Josie screamed and jumped up and down. “Mrs. Markovich! I can’t believe I am now Mrs. Markovich¾Mrs. Josie Markovich. Josephine Markovich. This morning I left the house, Josie Hynes, now I am Josie Markovich.
“Do you love me?” he asked.
She wiped the water from his face. “Of course I do. I always have.”
The next day Josie studied the diamond ring on her finger as she rubbed suntan lotion on Nick’s back. “When did you decide you wanted to marry me?”
“Seventh grade English class,” he replied.
She stopped rubbing and laughed. “Seriously.”
He lifted his head and turned toward her. “Seriously. I had a massive crush on you, but you liked Robbie Fowler who was in the ninth grade. I remember you saying to Dianna Cavanaugh, you liked older boys. You didn’t know I existed back then. I was just a scrawny little runt.”
Josie sat back on her heels. “We were in the same seventh grade English class?”
“Yeah. Later I used to hang out after football practice to watch the end of your soccer games. David was always there cheering you.”
“I thought you were watching Cindy Althouse.”
“Nope, I was checking you out.” He laughed. “I remember the time you got knocked on your ass; it was so hysterical. You were so sexy in kneepads and a mouth guard. Can’t tell you how many times I jerked off to you.”
Josie pondered their meeting as she continued to massage his back. “Isn’t it funny that I pursued you our senior year.”
“No you didn’t.”
“Yes, I did,” Josie stated matter of fact. “I invited you over for sex. I wanted to lose my virginity to you. Remember?”
“Of course I do, but I approached you at Jared’s party. I asked you to play pool.”
“Why the fuck didn’t you call me back after we had sex?” she asked.
“What?”
“You didn’t call me back after we had sex for the first time. I called you. Why didn’t you call me?”
Nick thought for a moment, trying to recall.
“I don’t know. I guess I was a little flaked out. Spent all that time jerking off to you, then the real thing happened. I guess I didn’t know what to do or say. Besides, we’re together now.” He propped himself up on his elbows. “When did you first think about marrying me?”
“Our first date at Main Street Grill,” she chuckled. “Oddly, it was your lecture on men and sex that won me over. You talked to me as if you knew me for a long time and afterward you carried me across the street on your shoulder.” She paused and reflected. “I can’t believe it. My future husband was in my life all that time and I didn’t even know it.”
Nick turned on his side and rested his head on his palm. “When did you first notice me? Was it that night at Jared’s?”
“Tenth grade—you strut the hallways like a stud in your football jersey with all those girls hanging all over you. I always used to think, that guy thinks he’s so hot with those expressive eyes and sexy lips. Every time you walked past my knees buckled.”
He reached across the towel to rub her ankle. “If I knew I had that effect on you, I would have hit on you a lot sooner.”
“Oh, I wasn’t ready for you then. You were too fast; I needed David to break me in.”
“Ha!” Nick rolled onto his back and stared at the bright blue sky. “Funny how things work out.”
Josie adjusted her sunglasses, stared out to sea, and then down at Nick. “Yeah.”
Their honeymoon passed by so quickly. They spent their days lounging on the beach and their nights making love in the hotel. By the time their vacation was over, Josie and Nick were sunburnt and physically exhausted. Josie was excited to get home and tell everyone the good news.
The celebration for their marriage came the following weekend, and for the first time since Nick and Josie started dating, the Hynes family dined with the Markovich family. Mrs. Markovich raised the bottle of vodka and poured shots for everyone. “Today, we celebrate a special occasion,”
“Just a little bit for me,” said Mrs. Hynes.
“Loosen up mom,” scolded Josie.
“Honey, I’ll have you know, your father and I were at one time very loose.”
“Twice—me and Daphne—doesn’t count,” replied Josie. She turned to Mrs. Markovich, my parents like cartoons. We were named after cartoons.
“Josie of the Pussycats and Daphne of Scooby Doo are really hot,” defended Dr. Hynes.
Mrs. Hynes cowered. “Can we drink now? I need this shot.”
“Personally, I always had a thing for Wilma Flintstone,” replied Nick.
“Son, Wilma Flintstone was so uptight. Betty Ruble is where it is at,” replied Mr. Markovich.
“Can we please get back to real life women?” said Josie.
“Thank you dear,” replied Mrs. Markovich.
“I always thought Speed Racer was cute,” admitted Mrs. Hynes.
“Mom!” Josie gasped.
“Okay, folks let’s get back to the matter at hand.” Mr. Markovich raised his shot glass and said, “Budmo. It is a Ukrainian toast; it means everlasting life and in this occasion, every lasting love. We yell three times and then drink”. Mr. Markovich hoisted his glass and shouted, “Budmo!” to a chorus of “Hey!” After repeating it again and again, they drained the contents of their glass.
Josie poured another round for everyone. “I have another toast.” She raised her glass and said, “Jeder hört die Musik anders, aber der gemeinsame Tanz ist wunderbar,” and repeated in English, smiling warmly at Nick, “Everyone hears the music differently, but the dance together is wonderful.”
“Here! Here!” Everyone shouted and downed their drinks.
Nick poured more shots. “I got one more,” he said and raised his glass. “A newlywed couple from Johnstown, spent their honeymoon lying by the ocean. In eight days, they screwed eighty ways, imagine such damn devotion!”
Nick’s father roared and cheered, “Here, here!”
Josie raised her glass. “Toasts like this, is why I didn’t want a big reception.”
Mrs. Hynes and Mrs. Markovich laughed and clinked glasses with Josie. “Cheers.”
Later that night, Nick and Josie lay arm in arm on his childhood bed. They stared out his bedroom window at the bright crescent moon hanging over the backyard. “I wonder what awaits us?” Josie asked.
“Life,” he said and he kissed her.
Babylon, Baby!
Josie could see the pale shape of the crescent moon set against the bright blue sky. She turned her back away from the driving, hot wind, and raised her hand to shade her eyes. This wasn’t exactly where she planned on being so soon after their marriage, but she wanted to support Nick’s new job.
Nick accepted a position as assistant to the cinematographer of a documentary about an archeological dig in Babylon—modern day Iraq. For Nick, it was a dream job as he couldn’t be any further from the coal mines of Johnstown. Josie’s enthusiasm waned as time dragged on.
The wind toyed with her long skirt, oversized t-shirt, and the hijab she had wrapped around her head. She watched the archeologists and their assistants scrape and dig through the earth. She tried not to get too close to interfere, but she found it very fascinating.
Josie took refuge under a shaded canopy as Nick moved equipment and ran errands. She spent a lot of her time reading books on ancient Babylon and even some Muslim texts, but mostly she watched Nick. Although he never appeared to tire, she felt his heat and fatigue. She saw the sweat dripping from his tanned face, drenching the front of his woven shirt.
Casually he walked over to the canopy, grabbed a bottle of cold water and sat next to her. “How are you doing?” he asked.
“Good,” she lied.
“I’ve been thinking. Wouldn’t it be weird if you saw thousand-year-old bones that were you in a previous life? I mean, how freaky would that be?” He took a swig of water. “I wonder if you would have the same DNA.”
Josie stared at him in disbelief. It was official; she married a nut job. “I think the heat is getting to you.”
Nick gestured to the scarf Keffiyeh on his head. “Nah, I got one of these on.” He took another swig of water and gestured toward the dig. “I hope they don’t let lose some spirit who will fall madly in love with you. Then I’d have to rescue you from an ancient demon. That would suck.” He patted her on the knee. “Well, I gotta get back to work.”
Josie watched Nick walk off into the hazy heat of the desert. She lay her head on the matt and tried to cool down. A hot breeze blew into her skirt and over her body. The branches of a tree tapped on the canopy and the men’s voices on the set rang out in a dull murmur. Josie fell asleep easily.
Josie dreamed that she lay naked on a stone slab while eight women, four on each side, draped in black robes, caressed and massaged her body—everywhere. Two of the robed women gently pulled her arms above her head, while two at the bottom tugged her legs. As she was being stretched and massaged, she could feel her spine align.
The women holding her legs gently spread them apart and Josie saw the torso of a naked man. The man’s penis was erect—thin and long. When it entered her, it seemed to move like a snake, gently rubbing her insides. She arched her back and screamed in orgasmic bliss.
“Mrs. Markovich! Mrs. Markovich!” yelled Asim, one of their Iraqi guides, shaking her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Josie wrestled herself awake from the dream and looked around her. “Where is my husband?”
Asim glanced into the dim light of the setting sun. He yelled to one of the other guides in in Arabic. “Where is Mr. Markovich? His wife needs him!” Asim looked at Josie with concern. “You look flush. The heat must be getting to you. You need some water? Try some of these crackers. The salt will help.”
Nick rushed to the canopy and knelt before Josie. “What happened honey? Are you okay?”
“I fell asleep. I had a dream; that’s all,” she said.
Looking at her flushed face, Nick knew exactly what kind of dream she had. “Okay, well, have
some water.”
Josie drank the water and swatted Asim and Nick away. “I’m fine. I’m fine. It was just a dream.”
It was after dark when the crew finally wrapped for the day and headed back to the guarded pavilion hotel where they were staying. Despite the armed guards, the Iraqi guides were very protective of Josie. They regularly checked that she was comfortable, that she had enough water and that she was not suffering in the heat.
The crew gathered outside around plastic tables and chairs, below colored lights suspended from a string. The stars lingered above them as they dined on mezza—fried eggplant with tahini, dried fruit and pickled vegetables and drank Arak—an anise flavored liquor.
Nick raised his glass of Arak and tapped it against Josie’s. “Cheers sweetheart.”
“Cheers.” She gazed around. The soft conversations were serenaded by traditional flute music. “It sure is a beautiful night. Imagine what it was like here thousands of years ago. Perhaps some young couple was sitting on this very spot admiring the stars.”
“I’m not so weird now, huh?”
“I have never thought myself a bag of ancient bones,” Josie replied.
Nick leaned toward her and whispered, “Well I have one right now.”
Josie ran her fingers across his thigh. “I suppose you want to go back to the room.”
“I believe that is what was implied.” He rose from his seat and offered Josie his hand.
On the way back he requested a fresh bottle of Arak and assorted mezza for their room. Josie caught a glimpse herself in their bedroom mirror. She had forgotten to take off her hajib and she stared at it in the mirror. There was something about her reflection she never noticed before now. Nick came up behind her and rubbed himself against her backside.
“What do you think of the hajib?” she asked.
“Sexy as hell,” he whispered.
“Really, this turns you on?”
He massaged her breasts through her t-shirt. “All I see is your face and when it’s all I see, I see more of you.” He turned her to face him. “I can see your every thought, your every emotion; I can see you.” Holding her firmly against his body, he kissed her lips.
One with the Wind Page 8
