IT STARTED WITH INK
My tattoo shop had been open for about six years. I had seen many interesting people come and go. I'd done many different styles of tattoos; some I would have never dreamed of. But never would I have thought of a seventy-year-old woman walking in and asking for the tattoo she wanted. She introduced herself as Carmen. I told her I was Jacob, the owner.
After much discussion, I drew out some designs. She had a picture in her mind and knew exactly how she wanted it to look. She knew what colors she wanted used and where she wanted it placed.
For a woman her age, she had an amazing body. There wasn't a lot of sagging skin in the area, so it wouldn't be too difficult. I was a bit concerned about the length of time it would take. Maybe this would best be done in a few sittings. Besides, it would give me more time to spend with her.
Carmen was about five foot six, one hundred twenty pounds. Her eyes were a light brown and her hair was a beautiful grey, hanging down to her shoulders. Her cheekbones had the look and build of some Native American to them, which made me think of my grandmother. Carmen just had that look about her. Almost a family resemblance.
It's kind of ironic, because the tattoo she wanted was a tomahawk made of a rose and feathers, with the circle of life, with feathers hanging from it, around it. It would be gorgeous when finished.
So, I took her back to my station and had her remove her blouse and sit back to relax. I offered her a soda, which she accepted. I went to work getting my equipment and colors together on my tray.
Having stenciled out the artwork, I had her remove the left side of her bra and draped her. I then cleaned the area of her breast that she wanted the tattoo. I pressed the stencil to her breast and held it to make sure it transferred to her skin.
As I began to work the dark outline of the tattoo, we started chatting. We talked about her family, the kids, grandkids, the dogs, etc. She had quite a family, for sure.
I decided that I wanted to be able to see her again, so I only did the outline of the tomahawk, then asked her to come back the next day to do the outline of the circle of life. When she left, I had the feeling that I wanted to get to know this woman much better.
Normally I wasn't into much older women, as I'm forty-five years old, but there was something about her that really turned me on. She was pleasant to talk with, she had a great sense of humor, and she had a sensuality about her. A seductiveness. She may not even know it...but she was one hot lady.
Carmen came back the next day and I finished all the outlining. The tattoo was starting to look amazing. We talked constantly about everything and anything. She was a very smart and intelligent woman.
As I was finishing up, I got up the nerve to ask her if I could take her out to lunch. At first, she was hesitant. She said she didn't think it would be proper.
"What's not proper about it?" I asked her.
"Well, this is just business. I'm only here to get this tattoo done. And besides, you are way younger than me. I don't date really. So, no. I don't think so. But thank you anyway." Carmen turned to walk out the door.
"Hold on a second. First off, I don't consider my customers, JUST A BUSINESS. I like to think of them as friends. Second, I like you. You're fun to be around. Don't consider this a date, just two friends going out to have lunch. I just like your company...that's all." I was grasping at straws here. I really wanted to have lunch with her.
Jacob was a good-looking man. He was six feet tall. Weighed about one hundred ninety pounds, had dark brown hair and hazel eyes. Carmen was attracted to him. Yet she hadn't been near a man socially since her husband passed away ten years ago.
"Jacob, that's very kind of you. But..."
"It's right next door. There's a nice deli with the best sandwiches you've ever eaten. Come on. Let me treat you just this once." He was reaching out to take her by the arm and guide her as he spoke.
"Alright. Just this once won't hurt." Carmen wasn't sure about this, but it did sound nice not to eat alone.
They sat at the deli and had a marvelous lunch. The time went by too fast as Jacob had another client in an hour. They made an appointment for in two days' time and they went their separate ways.
It took about eight days before the tattoo was finally finished. In that time, they had had lunch each time Carmen had come to the shop to be worked on. They had seemed to form an attraction to each other. Carmen still wasn't sure this was a good idea but was warming up to Jacob.
Jacob on the other hand was becoming more and more intrigued with Carmen. So much so that he was having to take care of his manly business in the shower each night. It was becoming more difficult to remain soft around her. A few times he had to excuse himself to settle back down before he could continue working on her. If she noticed, she never said or indicated anything.
Finally, Jacob couldn't stand it anymore. He had to have her. His need was to great. He couldn't stand one more night having to take care of himself. He wanted to touch her, lick her, smell her scent all over her body. He wanted to feel himself inside her. He needed to feel her hands on him, her touch on his member. God, he had it bad for this woman.
On the last day, when the tattoo was completed, Jacob got up the nerve to ask her to dinner. Of course she denied him. She said she had enjoyed his company, but their time was over. Jacob was completely distraught.
He moped around the shop for a couple weeks. Cindy, one of the other artists finally had enough.
"Jacob. Enough of this shit. If you want Carmen, go get her. What the hell is wrong with you man? I've never known you to give up on anything. Are you just going to let her get away from you? Pick your ass up off the floor and go see her. Talk to her and tell her how you feel. Quit being a lost little boy and grow some balls." Leave it to Cindy.
Jacob went through the customer cardex and found Carmen's address. After work that day, he showered and went to her house. She lived in a small little community in the outskirts of the city. The house seemed quaint and small from the outside with a driveway and a small front yard.
He pulled into the driveway and turned off the ignition. He stared at the front door and wondered what he would do if she rejected him...again. But what would he do if she didn't?
Opening the drivers door he got out and walked to the front door of the house. He rang the doorbell. He waited, and waited, and waited.
He ran his fingers through his hair, thinking that maybe she isn't home. He was about to turn around and head back to his car when the front door opened.
Carmen stood there in tan silk house pants and a matching tank top. She had bare feet. Her hair was hanging loose around her face and shoulders. She never looked more beautiful to him.
They stared at each other for a few moments before they both spoke at the same time.
"Jacob".
"Carmen".
They both smiled at each other.
"Carmen, I had to come see you. Please, may I come in for a few minutes. I really want to talk to you." Jacob was holding his breath.
"Jacob, you know this isn't such a great idea. Why did you come here?" She wasn't budging from the doorway.
"Please, just hear me out. Then if you still want me to leave, I will." Jacob felt like he was pleading with his life on hold.
Carmen looked at him for a long moment. Then slowly opened the door and let him enter.
"I have to be out of my mind." Carmen thought to herself. He is a nice enough young man, but that is just what he is, a young man.
They stood just looking at each other for a few moments with an uncomfortable silence filling the foyer. Carmen felt the sexual energy flowing between them, but was trying desperately to stem it.
"Would you like to have a seat in the living room?" she said as she headed that way.
"Sure, thank you." Jacob answered as he followed her.
Carmen indicated that he take a seat in one of the arm chairs as she sat in the other. They were the high back type with a floral print in white and lavender. They blended in with the cream-colored sofa, the light beige walls, and the light-colored pine hardwood floor. There was a stone fireplace against the far wall with a solid wood mantle. On it was an array of picture and what knots. The room was obviously used as a sitting room for guests, not for relaxation.
Jacob didn't feel comfortable. He was used to his laid-back digs. This was too much formality for him. But he wanted to get to know this lady in her surroundings. He didn't care what he had to do to try to win her over. He just knew in his heart that she was what he wanted.
