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

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

tastes of sunshine and fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand

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

to sea. “I wanted to do that the

him. It’s a long time since anyone kissed

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

don’t want the car to smell

stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in

leaps up.

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

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

the kind of smile that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse for hanging

face transforms. He

in my pocket. “What are

not sure. What

bitter chocolate and sour cherry that’s to die

me.” He sniffs.

Of course you will….

but I think you’ll always choose the

not being fair to you. You want something you’re never

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’ what

the beach again, eating cornets, licking away the

you do?” he asks. “For a living, I

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 new job

“Something different?”

I’m being taken on as a concierge in one of the office blocks in the

certainly a change. Which

one that went up so quickly

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

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

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

I’ll get to