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.

sits, staring out to sea, not speaking. Then he turns

don’t reply, simply swaying in towards him. He leans 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

more, but this time, his mouth opens over

again, then away out to sea. “I wanted to do that the other night, but

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

Emma drops the semi-rotted fish she is

don’t want the car to smell of

roll too, competing for the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in

up. “Scruffy.

the time we have retrieved the fish, tossing it as far out into the waves as Ben’s long-armed throw can manage, and persuaded the dogs to play in

I suggest, waving vaguely towards the bar further along

that ice cream is just an excuse for hanging around

face

the bar, I juggle change in

sure. What have they

and sour cherry that’s

me.”

Of course you will….

I think

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

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what

eating

asks. “For a living, I

one of those dream jobs for a lot of people, but I hated it. I’m starting a

“Something different?”

one of the office blocks in the new

certainly a change.

Haswell Building. You know, the one that went up

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

be on their front desk, so I’ll be seeing people all the time. And the company has a good

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

maybe I’ll get to meet