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

towards him. He leans to me, finishing the movement, tilting his head to the side as his lips

air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping my

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

to do that the other night, but I thought maybe I’d be moving

say to him. It’s a long time since anyone kissed me in that way. He doesn’t just want

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

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

for the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in the

leaps up. “Scruffy.

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

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

kind of smile that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse for hanging around a while

as he smiles, his face transforms.

in my pocket. “What

sure. What have

and sour cherry that’s

that’s a bit powerful for me.” He

Of course you will….

but I think you’ll always choose the

fair to you. You want something you’re never

But…. You’re nice….

‘nice’

wander along the beach again, eating cornets, licking away

a living, I mean? If you don’t mind

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

“Something different?”

on as a concierge in one of the office

a change. Which

one that went up so quickly after the old headquarters got burned

works there. What made you

I’ll be on their front desk, so I’ll be seeing people all the time. And the company has a good reputation for training, and especially

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

Well, maybe I’ll get to meet