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 to me.

leans to me, finishing the

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 in

for a moment, holding my eyes, then he leans into me once more, but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in

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

long time since anyone kissed me in that

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

the car to smell of that on the way

too, competing for the stinking thing, then

leaps up.

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

the bar further along the beach. “My treat. I owe you a coffee

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

face transforms. He

in

not sure. What have they

bitter chocolate and

that’s a bit powerful for me.” He sniffs. “I’ll

Of course you will….

a good man, but I think you’ll

You want something you’re never going

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what

wander along the beach again, eating cornets, licking away the dripping

is it you do?” he asks. “For a

dream jobs for a lot of people, but I hated it. I’m starting a new job in a couple

“Something different?”

concierge in one of

a change. Which

know, the one that went up

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

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

I’ll