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 turns to me. “Can I kiss

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

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

once more, but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in tightly to him, holding me at the waist,

“I wanted to do that the other night,

since anyone kissed me in that way.

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

up. God knows I don’t want the car to smell of that on the way home. “Archie.

stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in the melee,

up. “Scruffy.

it as far out into the waves as Ben’s long-armed throw can manage, and persuaded the

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

smile that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse

as he smiles, his face

in my pocket.

sure. What have they

bitter chocolate and sour cherry that’s

bit powerful for me.” He

Of course you will….

man, but I think you’ll always choose the

want

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what

again, eating cornets, licking away the

it you do?” he asks. “For a living, I

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

“Something different?”

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

a change.

one that went up so quickly

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

I’ll be seeing people all the

eyebrows. “Yeah, the sis said something about that too. She’s going

maybe I’ll get to