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.

speaking. Then he turns to me.

me, finishing the movement, tilting

affectionate. He tastes of sunshine and fresh air, strawberries, and vanilla. His hand cupping my cheek, his

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

again, then away out to sea. “I wanted to do that the other night, but I thought maybe

anyone kissed me in that way. He doesn’t

to break away. “Emma! Will you put that down….” Emma drops the semi-rotted fish

God knows I don’t want the car to smell of that on the way home. “Archie.

stinking thing, then Scruffy joins in

up. “Scruffy.

have retrieved the fish, tossing 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 enough to get rid of the worst

along the

that suggests that ice cream is just an excuse for hanging

his face transforms. He becomes an

change in my pocket. “What are

not sure. What have

a bitter chocolate and sour cherry that’s to die

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

Of course you will….

man, but I think you’ll always choose

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

But…. You’re nice….

Is ‘nice’

along the beach again, eating

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

for a lot of people, but I hated

“Something different?”

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

a change.

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

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

desk, so I’ll be seeing

“Yeah, the sis said something about that too.

maybe I’ll