"Clio, I wanted to have dinner with you because I love your company - I adore your company. You're so interesting and thoughtful--"
"Oh yes," she said, "very exciting that makes me sound. Interesting and thoughtful..."
"It is to me, you silly bitch," he said.
She stared at him. "What did you say?"
"I said you were exciting, to me. I find you very exciting. And today I was very proud of you and--"
"Yes, but what else?"
"I said you were a silly bitch. Ok? I'm sorry."
At the top of the escalator he turned and faced her.
"Look," he said, "I don't know how I can convince you that I like being with you. That I find you terribly attractive. You're driving me mad. What do you want, woman? A signed declaration? Here-" he pulled a sheet of paper out of the small Filofax he kept in his pocket, "here you are. I, Fergus Trehearne, find you, Clio Scott - I don't know what you're married name is, but if I could get hold of your husband I'd punch the living daylights out of him, for doing what he has to you, I find you incredibly exciting and interesting and desirable and I would like to remove all your clothing right here." He tore the paper off, handed it to her. "There. Will that do? Now then, we'd better go and find your bloody train."
Clio stood very still and stared, first at him, then at the piece of paper; then she said: "Fergus, I don't want to get the bloody train. And I don't have to. I want to stay with you. And I want you to remove all my clothing. As soon as possible. Only not just here, maybe."
"Well, where then?" he said, speaking very slowly. He raised his hand, tilted her face up to his.
Clio felt a lurch in what she could only describe as her guts. A strong, probing lurch. It led to part of her anatomy that had been dormant for quite a long time. It wasn't dormant now. It appeared to be on the rampage.
"I believe you've got a flat," she said very quietly. "And could you just say that once again?"
"What?"
"You know, about me being a silly bitch?"
"But why?"
"Well, because it proves you weren't just being polite. It's about the biggest compliment I ever had."
"I can do a lot better than that," he said, "you silly bitch." And he started to kiss her.

- 'Sheer Abandon' by Penny Vincenzi

Beauty and the Beast

Why is it always the woman who has to see past the beast in the man? Why does she always have to clean his wounds, even after he has damaged her beyond repair? Why is it always the man who is worthy of forgiveness for being a monster?

I want to see the beast in the beauty.

The half smile, half snarl. The unapologetic anger. I would like to see the man forgive the monster. To see her, blood and all, and love her anyway.