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.

speaking. Then

in towards him. He leans to me, finishing the movement, tilting his head to the side as his lips brush

fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping my

for a moment, holding my eyes, then he leans into me once more, but this time, his mouth opens

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

time since anyone kissed me

provide my excuse to break away. “Emma! Will you put that down….” Emma drops the semi-rotted fish she is holding, letting it

I don’t want the car to smell of that on the way

for the stinking thing, then

up. “Scruffy.

By the time we have retrieved the fish, tossing it as far out into the waves as Ben’s long-armed throw can manage, and persuaded the dogs to play in the

waving vaguely towards the bar further along

with the kind of smile that suggests that

he smiles, his face

in

sure. What

and sour cherry that’s to die

me.” He sniffs. “I’ll

Of course you will….

man, but I think you’ll

fair to you. You want something you’re never going

But…. You’re nice….

‘nice’

the beach again, eating cornets, licking away

a living, I mean? If

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

“Something different?”

taken on as a concierge in one

certainly a change. Which

Haswell Building. You know, the one that went up so quickly after the old headquarters got burned

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

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

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

Well, maybe I’ll