Coffee and Tattoos

This was written for the 750 Word Project 2025. It's a vignette with no sex. Below is a story in 750 words.

I was heading to my corner hideout in the cafe when a short staff worker cut in front of me, rushing over to replace the coffee station carafe.

"Excuse me miss."

His voice was clear and different from the staff's mumbling norm.

I looked the guy over and he was a walking billboard of tattoos, with an adorable face and big brown eyes. He was maybe 5' 4.

I filled my mug, sat down, and tried my best to savor the coffee without being too thirsty for this new walking, talking distraction. But my eyes were like magnets on him; I tracked him as he disappeared with the dirty dishes or when he came back to throw his body around to wipe down tables.

I bussed my mug just as he crouched to clean the sides of the trash bin counter. As I looked down at the mystery animal tattoo clawing at his hairline, he paused his cleaning.

"Can I help you?"

"Just wondering if you've got a high tolerance for pain."

"Excuse me?" He looked up with confusion.

"Your tattoos."

"Oh, yeah."

"I would love to see the rest of your neck tattoo." That tattoo was clearly meant to be seen out in the open, like in the water or in the bedroom.

He was hesitant. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Following the company handbook to the T, huh?"

He got up to suss me out.

"Yeah, first week here and for all I know you're someone from corporate, ready to slap me with a write up." He began to vigorously wipe down the counter top.

"Bummer. Why have those tattoos if you can't tell their stories whenever you want to?" He momentarily stopped wiping.

"Like this one." I slowly traced my fingernail over his forearm tattooed with mystery dates. It drew a mischievous smile accessorized by some serious dimples.

By then the guy got the clue that I was just a curious customer, albeit a touchy one.

"I have to clean the bathrooms next, so if you want, you can come see them there."

"Them? I only want to see the one that's hidden."

"Well if it's hidden you want to see, I have plenty more that's not on display."

"Derek!" A man's voice boomed.

The guy responded, "Yeah?"

"Need to go on your fifteen."

"Got it!" He turned to me. "Tattoo show's venue is now at my car... if you want to check them out..."

He took off his apron and disappeared to the back of the cafe. Then he reappeared, looking in my direction before heading out the door.

I followed him out and saw him go to a black VW Golf GTI.

As I approached, he leaned across his passenger seat and opened the door. We drove to a secluded parking area, the furthest from any storefront.

"In case you didn't catch it, I'm Derek by the way."

"Lana."

And just like that, he took off his shirt. The apron had snuffed out any hint of a chiseled physique. Whoever inked him gave him sleeves and drew all over his rock hard chest and abs.

Derek first pointed out his chest tattoos, entrancing me with their history. Heros with bows and arrows with a few swords mixed in. All of them were a simple black against his pale skin.

He asked if I had any tattoos and I said no.

I took a good look at the identical dragon-like creatures on his obliques. They weren't individuals but part of a bigger creature.

"They're serpents... my Hydra tats. In mythology, the Gods were always battling the Hydra and when one head was cut off, another sprouted up. I try to embody that never ending, never give up ethos. I'm always scrapping it out."

I ruminated over his words as he leaned back in his seat and exhaled, his happy trail leading to another dragon head, of which Derek's waistband obscured the body; IF there was a body. As I grazed my fingers on the right side serpent, he snatched my wrist; my fingers were so close to the center serpent.

"You can't see the full effect of the tattoo as time's up." He quickly put on his shirt and drove back to the cafe.

I got out of the car, lust rattling in my brain.

He was back inside; the tattoo peep show over.

Then I realized he never showed me the animal back tattoo. Next time, I'll have to stay for a refill.