Chapter 1
The deadbolt clicks loudly as Selara unlocks the door and steps into her small apartment. It's located above "ROGUE INK", a local tattoo shop. She drops her duffle bag at the entrance with a soft thud and lets out a shaky breath. Taking in the smell of new paint and lemon-scented cleaner as she find the light switch. Flipping it on, she speaks into the empty one bedroom apartment,
"This is home," nothing but the hum of the heat running, it being late November. Selara inspects the windows, making sure they are latched, the blinds and curtains are pulled closed. She locks the deadbolt to the front door of the quiet space and heads to the bathroom with the small amount of toiletries she recently purchased.
It's already dark outside as she makes her way down the stairs of her apartment, passing the door to the tattoo shop. Curiosity gets the best of her as she looks through the large glass windows next to the door and sees as a girl in her 30s on her phone at the front desk and the back of a very large, muscular tatted man as he gives a tattoo. The girl, who barely seems 18, is way to eager to be given a tattoo from the dark haired man who towers over her.
The dark haired girl, whom has multiple face piercings, sees me and smiles. She waves at me in a friendly manor, but being caught watching causes my cheeks to flame red as I back away and make my way to my car. I drive to the closest store my gps shows me as I am not familiar with the area and stop to grab basic essentials. Along with the store, I spot a small quaint art store and decide to step inside. Taking in the smell of paint and paper, I decide to get myself a few things to keep my mind occupied. Sketchbook, art pencils, watercolor, paintbrushes and watercolor paper. I grab one giant watercolor canvas that takes up my whole backseat I realize as I'm putting my purchases in my small Kia. Satisfied with my buys, I make my way back to the apartment.
I bring in my groceries up the long flight of stairs, making a second trip for my art things. The canvas takes up majority of my view as I try to make my way back to my apartment, but of course I run into a large frame of a man,
"Sorry! I didn't see you over this canvas. I'm so sorry,"
I spew apologizes to the handsome black haired man standing in front of me, not one bit phased. He smirks and throws his hands up in a "what are ya gonna do" type way,
"Who am I to stop an artist from getting to where they need to be,"
He chuckles, sending an instant pang down south at the soothing, deep grumble.
"Do you need help?"
he curiously asks as I struggle to make my way up the stairs of my apartment, not before stopping and propping the canvas up as the bottom,
"I should be okay," I stubbornly state with a huff.
Making my way up the stairs, and throwing open my apartment door I throw my art things, minus the canvas, on the kitchen table. I round to run back down the stairs to grab it, I bump into the chest of the solid man who made my world stop for a minute. I back away quickly, not expecting him to be standing there as my heart beats fast.
"I'm sorry, just wanted to help,"
he puts the canvas right inside my apartment door, throws his hands up in apology and makes his way back down the stairs and into the door of ROGUE INK.
I calm my breathing and unload my groceries, after bolting the front door shut of course. Can't be too careful in a new town. My apartment came furnished with fridge, stove, microwave, a small kitchen table with one chair, a love seat in the living room and a full size bed in the bedroom. I bought sheets for the bed and a small table cloth to make things my own. After putting away the perishables in the fridge and pantry, I snatch up my new sketch book and pencils and nestle into the small love couch.
I start drawing immediately, not knowing what I want to do exactly I let my mind run and put out the first- or last things it thought about. My muse being the tall, dark haired muscular, tattooed man who smelled like leather and cedarwood. I draw wings, shaded dark and lining the muscles in the back of the mystery man, his face shadowed out with his dark messy hair barely curling over his neckline. As I finish drawing, I label the art at the bottom, "Rogue Angel"
