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.

sits, staring out to sea, not speaking. Then he turns to me. “Can I

leans to me, finishing the movement, tilting his head to the side as

tastes of sunshine and fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping my cheek, his touch

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 sea. “I wanted to do that the other

know what to say to him. It’s a long 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 fall to the sand. Archie immediately seizes the initiative and starts rolling

leap up. God knows I don’t want the car to smell of that on the

competing for the stinking

up. “Scruffy.

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

along the beach. “My treat. I owe you a coffee at

that suggests that ice cream

he smiles, his face

I juggle change in my

not sure. What

bitter chocolate and sour cherry that’s to die

me.” He

Of course you will….

but I think

You want something you’re never going to

But…. You’re nice….

‘nice’

eating cornets, licking

asks. “For a living, I mean? If you don’t mind me

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

“Something different?”

as a concierge in one of the office blocks

certainly a change.

You know, the one that went up so quickly after the

place,” he comments. “My sister-in-law works

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

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

Well, maybe I’ll get to meet