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

don’t reply, simply swaying in towards him. He leans to me, finishing the movement, tilting his head to the side as his lips brush

fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping

then he leans into me once more, but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me

wanted to do that the other night, but I thought maybe I’d be moving too

a long time since anyone kissed

that down….” Emma drops the semi-rotted fish she

to smell of

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

leaps up.

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

further along the beach. “My treat.

replies, with the kind of smile that suggests that ice

he smiles, his face transforms. He becomes an

I juggle change in

What have they

bitter chocolate and sour cherry that’s to die

bit powerful for me.”

Of course you will….

good man, but I think

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

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what I

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

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

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

“Something different?”

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

certainly a

the one that went up so

he comments. “My sister-in-law works there. What made you pick that

enjoy doing. I’ll be on their front desk, so I’ll be seeing people all the time. And the company has a good reputation for training, and especially

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

Well, maybe I’ll get to