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.

not speaking. Then he turns to me. “Can I kiss

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

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

mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in tightly to him, holding me at the waist, drawing me in

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

to say to him. It’s a long time since anyone kissed me in that way. He

provide my excuse to break away. “Emma! Will 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

God knows I don’t want the car to smell of that

and Meg start to roll too, competing for the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins

up.

the waves as Ben’s long-armed throw can manage, and persuaded the dogs to play in the

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

suggests that

his face

juggle change in my pocket.

not sure. What

do a bitter chocolate and

me.” He sniffs. “I’ll

Of course you will….

I think you’ll always choose

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

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what I

again, eating cornets, licking

what is it you do?” he asks. “For a living, I mean? If you don’t mind me

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

“Something different?”

on as a concierge in one of

a

Building. You know, the one that went

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

be seeing people all the time. And

“Yeah, the sis said something about that too.

I’ll get to meet