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.

Then he turns to

leans to me, finishing the movement, tilting his head to the side as

sweet and warm and affectionate. He tastes of sunshine and fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping

but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in

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

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

provide my excuse to break away. “Emma! Will you put that down….” Emma drops the semi-rotted fish she is holding, letting

don’t want the car to smell of that on

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

up. “Scruffy.

Ben’s long-armed throw can manage, and persuaded the dogs to play in the water long enough to get rid of the worst of the smell, we are

further along

the kind of smile that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse for hanging around a

smiles, his face

the bar, I juggle change in my pocket.

not sure. What have they

chocolate and sour

a bit powerful for me.” He

Of course you will….

I think you’ll always choose the

being fair to you. You want something you’re

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’

wander along the beach again, eating cornets, licking

“For a living, I mean? If you

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

“Something different?”

one of the office blocks in the new part of

a change.

the one that went up so

works there. What made

desk, so I’ll be seeing

sis said something about that too. She’s going through their

I’ll get to