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 me. “Can I

me, finishing the movement,

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

for a moment, holding my eyes, then he leans into me once more, but this time, his mouth

out to sea. “I wanted to do that the

a long time since anyone kissed me in that way. He doesn’t just want a quick fuck. This man wants

drops the semi-rotted fish she is holding, letting it fall to the sand. Archie immediately seizes the initiative and starts rolling

to smell of that

roll too, competing for the stinking

up.

fish, tossing it as far out into the waves as Ben’s long-armed throw can manage, and persuaded the dogs to play in the water long enough to get

further along the beach.

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

as he smiles, his face transforms. He becomes an attractive

I juggle change in my pocket. “What are you

sure. What

do a bitter chocolate and

me.” He

Of course you will….

a good man, but I think

being fair to you. You want something you’re

But…. You’re nice….

‘nice’ what

along the beach again, eating

is it you do?” he asks. “For a living, I mean? If you

jobs for a lot of people, but I hated

“Something different?”

being taken on as a concierge in one of the

a change.

You know, the one that went up so quickly after the

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

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

his eyebrows. “Yeah, the sis said something about that too.

maybe I’ll