Loving an Ugly Beast by Danielle Monsch Page A

Do you think anything can turn that man away from you? You give him far too little credit. If his relationship with you was nothing but looks, the minute I transformed him he would have been on a quest to bed any woman he could. He never even looked at another woman.”
    “He saw me and he ran away. How am I supposed to take that?”
    Sara waved away the concern with a motion of her hand and a twist to her lips. “Child, there is one thing you need to realize when dealing with men – they are all emotionally stunted. On their own they bollix everything up, so you need to take charge. Sit Benton down, explain to him what the rules are, and then before he can make any protests throw him on the bed and don’t let him out until the only words he can speak are ‘Yes, dear’.”
    Nissa choked at the older woman’s forthrightness. “Sara!”
    “Do you love Benton and does he love you?”
    Sara’s question cut through the cobwebs and the gray sticky mess that had been strewn inside her head. Yes, and yes. They were the simplest words in the world, but it was no less true because of that. Yes, and yes. “Next time I see Benton I’m laying down the law and grabbing him by the ear.”
    “I was thinking lower, child.”

 
     
    Chapter Ten
     
     
    Two weeks later, Nissa took one look at the now-filled woodshed next to the tavern and knew Benton had returned. Pausing only long enough to tell Joseph where she was heading she set off for Benton’s cabin.
    She banged the door as she entered his bedroom. He looked up but there was no surprise in his gaze. He was shirtless, his clothing lying on the bed.
    They stared at each other for several moments until Nissa decided to break the stalemate. “Nathaniel stood up in front of the entire class yesterday and apologized for his recent behavior. After class, came up to me to ask specifically that I tell you what he did. Any idea what happened?”
    “None.” His voice and face were still. He could have been talking to a stranger for all the regard he gave her. Maybe Sara and Marie were wrong. Maybe—
    No . No more playing. It was time to take Sara’s advice. This was going to get sorted out. He loved her, and she would convince him he would get used to this new body and become attracted to her again. They’d been through too much together for their story to end over something as meaningless as looks.
    Nissa squared her shoulders. Her voice firm, she said, “This stops now. Everything you’ve done these last few weeks – Byron, and facing my past for me – you can’t tell me you don’t love me. And I love you. I’ve been in love with you for so long I can’t even remember when it started, but I do know it won’t end until the day I die and maybe not even then. So this distance ends now. I’m sorry you don’t like me now. I would do anything to be attractive to you, but I can’t change back. But I know you can learn to live with it and accept me.”
    He stared at her like she was insane. His deep voice went even an octave lower. “You’re gorgeous. You are perfect. Men kill to be with women like you. How can you think for a moment I don’t find you the most beautiful female I’ve ever seen?”
    “Wait, you like how I look? You’ve avoided me! You left me naked in your bed and ran out like demons from hell were after you. Why would you put me through all that if you thought I’m attractive in this form?”
    His eyes roamed over her, and a spark of heat flared within his gaze before he looked away.
    Wait. What ?
    She rubbed her eyes, trying to process this. Benton was attracted to her, that look in his eyes confirmed it more surely than his words could have. But his words said she was beautiful.
    That she was perfect.
    Just as he called the other Nissa perfect.
    “Benton, are you upset that you find me attractive?”
    His jaw clenched and anger stole over his features. He turned away from her, his muscles tensed for flight or fight.
    Benton was the most loyal