Extract from The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
I was born beautiful and lived beautiful for thirty-plus years, and during all that time I never once allowed my soul to know love. My unblemished skin was numb armour used to attract women with its shininess, while repelling any true emotion and protecting the wearer. The most erotic of actions were merely technical: sex was mechanics; conquest a hobby; my body constantly used but rarely enjoyed. In short, I was born with all the advantages that a monster never had, and I chose to disregard them all.