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

me, finishing the movement, tilting his head to the side as his lips brush

fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping

me once more, but this time, his mouth opens over mine, and he

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

what to say to him. It’s a long time since anyone kissed

Emma drops the semi-rotted fish she is holding, letting it fall to the sand. Archie

up. God knows I don’t want the car to

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

leaps up.

persuaded the

an ice cream?” I suggest, waving vaguely towards the bar further along the

good,” he replies, with the kind of smile that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse for hanging around

as he smiles, his face transforms.

the bar, I juggle change in my pocket. “What are you

sure. What

bitter chocolate and sour cherry

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

Of course you will….

I think you’ll always choose the

fair to you. You want

But…. You’re nice….

‘nice’ what I

the beach again, eating

“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

“Something different?”

on as a concierge in one

certainly a change. Which

one that went

he comments. “My sister-in-law works there. What

I’ll be seeing people all the time. And

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

I’ll get to meet