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.

to sea, not speaking. Then he turns to me. “Can I kiss

finishing the movement, tilting his head to the side as his lips

vanilla. His hand cupping my cheek, his touch is soft, his mouth pressed to

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, drawing

away out to sea. “I wanted to do that the other night, but I thought

anyone kissed me in that way.

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

to

the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in the

up. “Scruffy.

manage, and persuaded the dogs to play in the water long enough to get rid of the worst of the smell, we are both

bar further along the beach. “My treat. I owe

smile that suggests that ice

he smiles, his face transforms.

change in my pocket. “What are you

sure. What have they

a bitter chocolate and sour cherry

a bit powerful for me.”

Of course you will….

I think you’ll

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

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what

beach again, eating cornets, licking away the

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

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 of

“Something different?”

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

certainly a change. Which

the one that went up so quickly after the

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

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

about that too. She’s going

I’ll get to meet