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.

staring out to sea, not speaking. Then he turns

leans to me, finishing the

affectionate. He tastes of sunshine and fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping my cheek, his touch is soft, his

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

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

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

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

want the car to smell of that on the way home. “Archie. Stop

competing for the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in the melee, and

up.

waves as Ben’s long-armed throw can manage, and persuaded the dogs to play in the water long

suggest, waving vaguely towards the bar further along the beach. “My

smile that suggests that ice cream is just

face transforms.

the bar, I juggle change in my pocket. “What are

What have they

do a bitter chocolate and

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

Of course you will….

good man, but I

want something you’re never going to get from

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what

again, eating cornets,

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

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

“Something different?”

as a concierge in one of the office blocks in the new part

a

that went

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

so I’ll be seeing people all the time. And the company has

about that too. She’s going through their training program as

Well, maybe I’ll get to meet