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.

out to sea, not speaking. Then he turns to me.

towards him. He leans to me, finishing

air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping my cheek, his touch is soft, his

eyes, then he leans into me once more, but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he pulls me in tightly to him, holding

then away out to sea. “I wanted to do that the other night, but I thought maybe I’d be moving too

don’t know what to say to him. It’s 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 it

don’t want the car to smell of that on

competing for the stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in

leaps up.

can manage, and persuaded the dogs to play in the water long enough to get rid of the worst

further along the beach. “My

that ice cream is just an excuse for hanging around a

face transforms. He becomes an attractive

bar, I juggle change in my pocket. “What

not sure. What

do a bitter chocolate and sour cherry that’s to die

powerful for me.” He sniffs.

Of course you will….

man, but I think you’ll always

I’m not being fair to you. You want something

But…. You’re nice….

‘nice’

again, eating

asks. “For a living, I mean? If you don’t mind

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

“Something different?”

one

certainly a

new Haswell Building. You know, the one that went up so quickly after

works there. What

I enjoy doing. I’ll be on their front desk, so I’ll be seeing people all

sis said something about that

Well, maybe I’ll get to meet