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.

speaking. Then he turns to me.

him. He leans to me, finishing the movement, tilting his head to

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

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

again, then away out to sea. “I wanted to do that the other

a long time since anyone kissed

“Emma! Will you put that down….” Emma drops the semi-rotted fish she

don’t want the car to smell of that on the way

to roll too, competing for the stinking thing,

leaps up.

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

I suggest, waving vaguely towards the bar further along the beach. “My treat. I owe

he replies, with the kind of smile that suggests that ice

as he smiles, his face transforms.

change in

sure. What have

chocolate and

powerful for me.” He

Of course you will….

a good man, but I think you’ll always

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

But…. You’re nice….

‘nice’ what I

eating cornets, licking

do?” he asks. “For a living, I

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 a

“Something different?”

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

certainly a change.

went up so quickly after

place,” he comments. “My sister-in-law works there. What made you pick

their front desk, so I’ll be seeing people all the time. And

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

Well, maybe I’ll get to