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.

Then he turns to

him. He leans to me, finishing the

tastes sweet and warm and affectionate. He tastes of sunshine and fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping my cheek, his touch is soft, his mouth

holding my eyes, then he leans into me once more, but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in

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

don’t know what to say to him. It’s a long time since anyone kissed me in that way. He doesn’t just want a

Will you put that down….” Emma drops the semi-rotted fish she is holding, letting it fall to the sand.

the car to smell

and Meg start to roll too, competing for the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in

leaps up.

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 get rid of the worst of

towards the bar further along

suggests that ice cream is just an excuse for hanging

smiles, his face transforms. He becomes an

in my pocket. “What are you

What have they

bitter chocolate and sour cherry that’s to die

me.” He sniffs.

Of course you will….

I

to you. You want something

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what

along the beach again, eating cornets, licking away the

what is it you do?” he asks. “For a living, I mean?

one of those dream jobs for a lot

“Something different?”

on as a concierge in one of the office blocks in the new part

a

You know, the one that went up so quickly

“My sister-in-law works there. What made

I’ll be seeing people all the time. And the company has

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

maybe I’ll