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

swaying in towards him. He leans to me, finishing the movement, tilting his head to

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

but this time, his mouth opens over mine,

wanted to do that the other

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

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

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

leaps up. “Scruffy.

long-armed throw can manage, and persuaded the dogs to play

further along the beach. “My treat. I owe you

kind of smile that suggests that ice cream

smiles, his face transforms. He becomes an attractive

bar, I juggle change in my pocket.

sure. What have they

and sour cherry that’s to

bit powerful for me.” He sniffs. “I’ll have the

Of course you will….

I

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

But…. You’re nice….

‘nice’ what

the beach again, eating

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

I 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

“Something different?”

as a concierge in one of the office blocks in the

certainly a

that went up

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

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

something about

Well, maybe I’ll get