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.

sea, not speaking. Then he turns to me. “Can

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

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

more, but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and

wanted to do that the other night, but I thought maybe

time since anyone kissed me in that way. He doesn’t

drops the semi-rotted fish she is holding, letting it fall to the

the car to smell

for the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in the melee, and chaos

up. “Scruffy.

manage, and persuaded the

an ice cream?” I suggest, waving vaguely towards the bar further along the beach. “My treat. I owe

that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse for hanging around

as he smiles, his face

I juggle change in my pocket. “What are you

not sure. What

do a bitter chocolate and sour cherry

for me.”

Of course you will….

a good man, but I think you’ll always

being fair to you. You want something you’re never going to get

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what

eating cornets, licking

what is it you do?” he asks. “For a living, I mean? If you

was a 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?”

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

certainly a change. Which

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

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

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

“Yeah, the sis said something about that too. She’s going through their training

I’ll get to meet