Choosing Her Lover

*****

‘An Illusion of Happiness’

A Tale of BDSM Erotic Romance

And the Meeting of Strangers

Part Two

An Illusion of Happiness

As I stroll across the sands, a familiar figure jogs towards me, a small dog trotting alongside; a terrier that looks as though it has been assembled from a junkyard of other dogs.

As the runner approaches, he angles my way. Drawing close, he pulls to a stop, huffing.

“Hi, Kirstie,” he says, “I was hoping I’d run into you. How are you?”

His face is severe. Ben is not an unhandsome man, but his natural expression is unsmiling, which detracts from his looks, making him appear austere, perhaps even puritanical.

And is that just an appearance….? Or is that really the man?

“Hi, Ben. I’m good. You?”

“Yeah, I’m great. Mind if we join you for a bit?”

“We?”

He nods down toward his dog. “Scruffy wants to make friends….”

True enough, Scruffy is making moves on my Meg, who rumbling low, curls up a lip, unimpressed by this rag-tag terrier.

“…. and he’s not the only one.”

“I’d love you and Scruffy to join us. I was about to have some coffee actually.” I hold up my flask. “Want a cup?”

“Great idea.”

Sitting on the dune, close to each other, we sip coffee. The wind blowing into our faces sends my hair streaming over my shoulders. It feels very comfortable, very natural.

sits, staring out to sea, not speaking. Then he turns to me. “Can I

finishing the movement, tilting

sunshine and fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping my cheek, his touch is soft, his mouth pressed to mine in

more, but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in tightly to him, holding me at the waist, drawing me

away, he looks at me again, then away out to sea. “I wanted to do that the other night, but I thought maybe I’d

since anyone kissed me in that way. He doesn’t just want a quick fuck. This man

Will you put that down….” Emma drops the semi-rotted fish she is holding, letting it fall to the sand. Archie immediately seizes the initiative and starts rolling in

to smell of

stinking thing,

leaps up. “Scruffy.

as far out into the waves as Ben’s long-armed throw can manage, and persuaded the dogs to play in the water long enough to

the bar further along the beach. “My treat. I owe you a coffee

he replies, with the kind of smile that suggests that ice

his face transforms. He becomes an attractive

bar, I juggle change in my pocket.

What

do a bitter chocolate and sour cherry

me.” He sniffs.

Of course you will….

good man, but I think you’ll always

You want something you’re never

But…. You’re nice….

‘nice’

wander along the beach again, eating cornets, licking away the

“For a

was a pastry chef. I know it’s one of those dream jobs for a lot of people, but I hated it. I’m starting a new job in a couple

“Something different?”

taken on as a concierge in one

certainly a change. Which

You know, the one that went up

works there. What

I’ll be on their front desk, so I’ll be seeing people all the time. And the company has a good reputation for training, and especially

eyebrows. “Yeah, the sis said something about that too. She’s going through their training program

maybe I’ll get to meet