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.

sea, not speaking. Then he turns to me.

swaying in towards 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,

mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in tightly to him, holding me at the

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

know what to say to him. It’s a long time 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,

I don’t want the car to smell

stinking thing, then Scruffy

leaps up. “Scruffy.

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 the smell, we are both hot, sweaty

I suggest, waving vaguely towards the bar further along the beach. “My treat. I owe you a

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

he smiles, his face transforms. He becomes

juggle change in my pocket. “What are

What have they

and sour cherry that’s to

powerful for me.” He

Of course you will….

a good man, but I think you’ll

not being fair to you. You want something you’re never going to get

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what I

beach again, eating cornets, licking away the dripping

is it you do?” he asks. “For a living, I mean? If you don’t mind

mind at all. I was a pastry chef. I know it’s one of those dream jobs for a lot of people,

“Something different?”

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

a

You know, the one that went up so quickly

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

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

sis said something about

I’ll get