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 me. “Can I kiss

him. He leans to me, finishing the movement, tilting his head to the side

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 pressed

back for a moment, holding my eyes, then he leans into me once more, but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in tightly to him, holding me at the waist,

to do that the other night, but I thought maybe I’d be moving too fast,” he

anyone kissed me in

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

car to

competing for the stinking thing,

leaps up.

long-armed throw can manage, and persuaded the dogs to play in the water long enough to get rid of the worst of the smell, we are

an ice cream?” I suggest, waving vaguely towards the bar further along the beach. “My treat. I owe you a coffee at the

replies, with the kind of smile that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse for

as he smiles, his face transforms.

juggle change in my pocket. “What are you

sure. What

a bitter chocolate and

me.” He sniffs.

Of course you will….

man, but I think you’ll always choose the

You want something you’re never

But…. You’re nice….

‘nice’

beach again, eating cornets, licking

it you do?” he asks. “For a

chef. I know it’s one of those dream jobs for a lot of people, but

“Something different?”

I’m being taken on as a concierge in one of the office blocks in

certainly a

know, the one that went up so quickly after the old headquarters got burned

sister-in-law works there. What made you

doing. I’ll be on their front desk, so I’ll be seeing people all

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

Well, maybe I’ll