Choosing Her Lover

We lie together quietly, he beside me, hands behind his head on the pillow, staring up at the ceiling “Wow! That was quite a ride, Kirstie. Thank you.”

“Thank you. I enjoyed it too.”

“When you asked me to manhandle you, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did.”

“You’ve not done that before?”

“No, I haven’t. I’m more accustomed to women who want flowers and romantic dinners.” He props himself up on one elbow, looking down at me. “You’re a bit of a contradiction you know.”

“How do you mean?”

“You tell me that you want control of your life, that you want to be in charge, but in the bedroom, you enjoy being…. I don’t think mauled is too strong a word.”

Heat blushes up my face and he rolls his eyes. “Don’t be embarrassed. If that’s what gives you your kicks, I’m happy to help….” He hesitates. “Is that why some of your previous…. partners…. didn’t work out? They weren’t comfortable delivering what works for you?”

“Some of them, certainly, yes.”

“You want to meet up again?”

“I’d love to.”

“Good.” He looks pleased, really pleased. “I’m leaving in the morning for this trip, but I’ll be back in the area next weekend if you’d like….”

“Suits me.”

“Great. I’ll see you in a few days then. And next time, I’ll know what to expect. I’ll come prepared.”

*****

The day is much darker than on my last visit to the beach, overcast and with the breeze gusting cold. Rain threatens, and I decide not to walk too far from shelter.

beach bar, I open up the car to let my gang bound out in a melee of joyous, barking enthusiasm,

much stronger today, the sea roiling, forbidding under the threatening sky. I walk briskly, warming myself

splat fatly onto the sand, I realise that I have walked much further from the bar than I intended. Turning, I see rain sheeting down over the sea a mile or so out, a grey haze that obliterates the view. The downpour is

is the cafe bar I left behind me. Calling the dogs in, I sprint back up the beach, racing for cover. The dogs, in a spirit of co-operation, weave themselves around my legs, forcing me to break stride,

hundred yards short of the cafe, I hear the splatter of raindrops behind me, and a second or so later, the whoosh of water hammering on to the sand, before it catches up

at the ‘No Dogs’ sign on the door, heading instead for the car where, as I lift the hatch, as one, the gang jumps inside, shaking rain, slobber and hair over the

wet and stinking for

more to the beguiling warmth of the bar, fling

manners to remove my boots before I go any further, and I unlace them, my numb fingers

voice. “Or hot chocolate perhaps?” It’s Ben, sitting

say to the

Ben, dropping a few coins

the cup, warming my fingers, but still shivering.

then? It almost got me too, but I must run faster than you.” He looks at me, brow furrowed. “Hey, are you okay? You really are drenched, aren’t you? Don’t you have any

was bright sunshine when I left home. Didn’t think

in a jiffy….” He strides out, car keys jangling, returning a

me, “Get that on you. There’s a bathroom out at the back to

bit odd, accepting clothes from a near stranger, but I’m in no position to argue. My jeans are

inside. I’d not realised before how broad-shouldered Ben is, or for that matter,

bar. He eyes me,

I say, pushing the sleeves up past my wrists, trying to free my hands to pick up my coffee mug. “I really appreciate it. Er…. do mind if I borrow it to go home in? I’m happy to post

that you handed it back to me, perhaps when we meet up for a meal?” He cocks an eyebrow at

sip my

wants a

An actual date?

It’s been a while….

interested, that’s fine. I didn’t mean to offend you.” He looks down, then away, out of the window at the