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.

Then he

finishing the movement,

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

then he leans into me once more, but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in tightly to him,

“I wanted to

don’t 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.

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

I don’t want the car to smell

the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins

up. “Scruffy.

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

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

good,” he replies, with the kind of smile that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse for hanging around a while

his face transforms.

I juggle change in my pocket. “What are you

What have they

bitter chocolate and sour cherry that’s to die

that’s a bit powerful for me.” He sniffs. “I’ll

Of course you will….

I think you’ll

You want something you’re never going to

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what

beach again, eating cornets,

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

dream jobs for a lot of people, but I hated it. I’m starting a

“Something different?”

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

certainly a

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

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

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

the sis said something about

maybe I’ll get to