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 he

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

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

time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in tightly to him, holding me at

sea. “I wanted to do that the other night, but I thought maybe I’d be moving

to say to him. It’s a long time since anyone kissed me

down….” Emma drops the semi-rotted fish she is holding, letting it fall to the sand. Archie immediately seizes the initiative

don’t want the car to smell of that on the way home. “Archie. Stop

roll too, competing for the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in the melee,

up. “Scruffy.

manage, and persuaded the dogs to play

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

kind of smile that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse

face

bar, I juggle change in my pocket. “What

What have

a bitter chocolate and sour cherry that’s

powerful for me.”

Of course you will….

I think you’ll

not being fair to you. You want something you’re never going to

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’

wander along the beach again, eating cornets, licking away the

“For a living,

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

“Something different?”

one of

a

Haswell Building. You know, the one that went up

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

the sort of thing I enjoy doing. I’ll be on their front desk, so I’ll be seeing people all the time.

sis said something about that too. She’s going

Well, maybe I’ll