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

to me, finishing the movement, tilting his head to

sweet and warm and affectionate. He tastes of sunshine and fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping my cheek, his touch is soft, his mouth pressed to mine in a gentle,

leans into me once more, but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in tightly to him, holding me at the waist, drawing me

looks at me again, then away out to sea. “I wanted to do that the other night, but I thought maybe I’d

kissed me in that way. He doesn’t just want a quick fuck. This man

fish she is holding, letting it fall to the sand. Archie immediately seizes the initiative and starts

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

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

up. “Scruffy.

persuaded the dogs to play in the water long enough to get rid of the worst of the smell, we are both hot, sweaty

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

good,” he replies, with the kind of smile that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse

his face transforms.

in my

not sure. What

do a bitter chocolate and sour cherry that’s to

a bit powerful for me.” He sniffs.

Of course you will….

I think you’ll

You want something you’re never going to get from

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’

beach again, eating cornets, licking away the

do?” he asks. “For a living, I

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

“Something different?”

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

certainly a change.

that went up so quickly after the old headquarters

he comments. “My sister-in-law works there. What made you

seeing people all the time. And the company has a good reputation for training, and especially for promoting

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

Well, maybe I’ll get to meet