Starved Beast. Part 15

I nodded again, angry and embarrassed by her questions. "Of course. What do you expect? It's not practical to eat a woman with her clothes on."

"Maybe so, but a woman should be allowed her dignity, n'est pas? Whatever else, she should be permitted to remove her clothes herself, for that is the empathy in her gift."

I didn't see the issue myself because whatever else, there is no dignity in death - none - but I was too tired to argue and so instead I kept close to her, wanting to touch her but not wanting to frighten her anymore than she was. I saw distress and disgust etched upon her face that needed comforting, and yet, there was also a chink of understanding, a first step maybe towards the appreciation that I'm not entirely callous.

She swallowed hard. "I would prefer that you didn't undress me, monsieur," she choked, dropping her glance. "I know that you'll rape me, and I'm glad that it's you; but for this other thing, it may seem unimportant to you as a man, bu