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.

not speaking. Then he turns to me. “Can

towards him. He leans to me, finishing the movement, tilting

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

this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls

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

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 wants

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

knows I don’t want the car to

Meg start to roll too, competing for the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in the melee, and chaos breaks

leaps up. “Scruffy.

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 water long enough to get rid of the worst of the smell, we are both hot, sweaty

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

that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse for

his face transforms. He becomes

I juggle change in my pocket. “What

sure. What

and sour cherry that’s to die

for me.” He sniffs. “I’ll have the

Of course you will….

good man, but I think you’ll always

to you. You want

But…. You’re nice….

‘nice’ what

wander along the beach again, eating cornets, licking away

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

was a pastry chef. I know it’s one of those dream jobs for a lot

“Something different?”

being taken on as a concierge in one of

a change. Which

Haswell Building. You know, the one that went up so quickly

works there. What

seeing people all the time. And the company has a

said something about that too. She’s going through their training

Well, maybe I’ll get to meet