"Breathtaking views," I think standing in front of the window, watching the lights of the skyscrapers in the middle of the night not caring about the fact that I'm naked. No one can see me because the small studio is dark although I manage to see where I put my feet thanks to the city's lights. It'll soon be morning...
The pretty brunette girl turns on the mattress and sighs, hugging the pillow while I look back over my shoulder to make sure she's not awake, alcohol will help her to sleep soundly but I'd better hurry up. This studio is so small that it won't take long for me to search it in order to know Iselen better and later, I'll be able to sleep a little too. There're some clothes in the wardrobe, above all dark pantsuits to go to work, but there's nothing interesting here so I close the door grimacing when I hear it squeaking. Books... lots of books, too many for such a tiny apartment: art, history, novels, travel guides, classics of literature... Her laptop is on the folding table but it'd be too noisy if I turn it on and the light of the screen could wake her up, besides, I don't know if she has a password... Damn it.
"What kind of tattoo would she like?" I think turning the pages of a book she left open on a chair. "Egyptian art... The Eye of Horus is always a popular design..." I grimace while walking across the studio slowly, dodging the bed and taking a look at the kitchen, I know what I'd like to tattoo her: I'd cover that gorgeous pale and flawless skin with flowers, butterflies, a phoenix, dolphins, birds with wonderful colours... I can't wait to start working on her... Iselen will become my showcase... only she doesn't know that yet. She'll be the perfect canvas, I don't understand how I managed to ignore her the first time, although in my defence I must say I'd drunk a lot and I was only thinking of having fun but I restrained myself tonight and payed attention to her conversation, her movements, her body, her small apartment, the few things she owns... The fridge is almost empty, she probably has lunch at the office every day but she should eat better, living off yogurt and fruit can't be healthy. A pang of concern across my chest makes me wince and I decide I'll buy her breakfast today.
Iselen keeps sleeping soundly behind me and I take advantage of the light coming from the open fridge to check some letters on the small kitchen island. Despite she's been living in New York for three months, she's still filling out some forms to be able to get her work permit, bureaucracy works far too slowly... I take another document and go over it till some numbers catch my eye. Is that her salary? I can't help staring at the bed in disbelief, I have no idea how she manages to pay for the rent of this place even if it's small, it's no surprise that her fridge is almost empty and she barely has stuff... Her boss is a horrible guy but maybe I can use this new information to my advantage. If I offer her a good deal, I think I could have what I want from her.
I move closer to the bed slowly, sitting down on the mattress carefully so I don't wake her up, and I lean my hand on her bare back while biting my lower lip. Softer than silk, so delicate... I can picture it covered with my art forever, ink marking her skin permanently, making her mine, I'll change her body through pain improving the work of Mother Nature... Excitement runs wild through my veins when I think about it. My friends say that my creative personality walks along the edge between madness and sanity but they don't understand me... this irrepressible, almost primal urge I feel every time I find the perfect canvas. Etching memories, experiences, happiness, love and loss under the skin of people forever and being linked in their minds to those vital experiences too... Being part of those people's stories is a privilege and, somehow, it allows me to be certain of my own existence. Iselen will never forget me if I sneak under her skin... I can't wait to start working on that.
I slide my hand up slowly, over her ribs and shoulder, and down again grazing the side of her breast and enclosing her waist with my arm. I didn't remember her so beautiful and sensual the last time we were together, sex has been amazing tonight... Fuck, I shouldn't have drunk so much last month, I missed a lot of interesting details I should've paid attention to. The brunette girl sighs when I lie next to her and stick my body to hers, enjoying her scent, I can still taste her sweetness on my tongue... I need to earn her trust somehow, I need her to give me total creative freedom, our bodies and minds must align perfectly or this won't work. Iselen must surrender to me and relax when I take my irons to tattoo her. And her smile will be my reward every time she discovers a new design on her skin, making her even prettier.
