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.

him. He leans to me, finishing the movement, tilting his

vanilla. His hand cupping my cheek, his touch is soft, his mouth pressed to mine in a gentle,

holding my eyes, then he leans into me once more, but this time, his mouth opens over

then away out to sea. “I wanted to do that

anyone kissed me in that way. He doesn’t just want

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

car to

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

up.

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

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

of smile that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse

as he smiles, his face transforms.

bar, I juggle change in my pocket.

not sure. What

a bitter chocolate and sour cherry

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

Of course you will….

man, but I think

want

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what

along the beach again, eating cornets, licking

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

those dream jobs for a lot of people, but

“Something different?”

concierge in one of the office blocks in the new part

certainly a

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

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

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

the sis said something about

Well, maybe I’ll get to meet