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.

staring out to sea, not speaking. Then he turns to

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

tastes of sunshine and fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping my cheek, his touch is soft, his mouth pressed to mine in a gentle, almost chaste

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

sea. “I wanted to do that the other

him. It’s a long time since anyone kissed me in

down….” Emma drops the semi-rotted fish she

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

the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in the melee, and chaos

leaps up.

the waves as Ben’s long-armed throw can manage, and persuaded the dogs

vaguely towards the bar further along the beach. “My treat. I

of smile that suggests that ice cream is just an

smiles, his face transforms. He becomes an attractive

the bar, I juggle change in

not sure. What have

chocolate and

powerful for me.” He

Of course you will….

man, but I think you’ll always

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

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what I

wander along the beach again, eating cornets, licking away the dripping

you do?” he asks. “For a living, I mean?

a pastry chef. 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

“Something different?”

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

a change.

went up

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

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

raises his eyebrows. “Yeah, the sis said something about

maybe I’ll