It was late when they got there. They laughed and relayed the stories of what they had told their mothers. Their sneaky plans had worked and they were finally there. They had dressed modestly-for-mama over their sleek and sexy club outfits and didn't turn the radio up until they were a mile away.

Corina didn't normally lie to her mama, but she just needed the occasional freedom to do what she pleased, like this night of salsa dancing and scooping of the guys with her friends. She pulled into the small parking area near the outdoor club and felt the anticipation curl her stomach in a fist. A small rejoice in the back had her friends jumping over each other and giggling. They were all feeling free and rambunctious.

Corina laughed as she looked over her shoulder at them. "Strip it, girls." She raised her voice over the booming of the latest hip-hop music and slipped her light sweater over her head. She watched the moving bodies out in front of them as she unclawed the clip from her hair and then ran her fingers through the dark brown tresses that fell below her shoulders.

A few minutes later they all stepped from the car and walked down the hill of sand. They moved through the gyrating bodies and each took seats at the bar. �Me gustaria una margarita de frambuela por favor.� She ordered.

A few minutes later, Corina held the straw as she sipped her raspberry margarita and looked over the scene; The lights were as red as passion and flashed against the sandy wooden floor and damp skin, saucy looks passed between men and women as they danced or sat at the bar, couple's were locking lips or hands as they wandered away from the club and out towards the sea. The ocean was gleaming with the moons pale light and made a messy reflection in the unsettled water. Corina was suddenly pulled out to the dance floor, sloshing her drink as she quickly set it down on the counter. Her friends laughed and pulled her in the closer to the center of the club.

Energy was all around them and filled them with adrenaline as they moved their bodies to the tangy beat of salsa. The cool breeze fluttered under the roof and over the faces of the crowd occasionally and refreshed them enough to keep on going. Corina giggled as a guy came up behind her to sway with her and she moved her arm up to wrap it around his neck. Her friends found dance partners for themselves and moved to the beat, their hips twisting and short skirts flowing up as they spun.

An hour passed. Corina pulled her hair up off her neck and danced on her toes as she fanned her face. She leaned toward her friend who was wrapped around another guy and in Spanish, told her she was off to get another drink. She walked back through the crowd and up to the bar. She purred her order to the cute yet way-too-old-for-her mesero and a small wine cooler was set in front of her. She took a swig then reached into her bra for ten colons. She took another gulp and felt coolness spread through her stomach and she sighed through her smile. She watched them, enjoying the feeling of observing people. Their moves, their expressions, their eyes. This was what she had needed and wanted. This just throw all caution to the wind feeling of fun. She took another sip and tapped her foot to the bass beats.

He watched her as he sipped a drink at the very end of the bar. She had flowed out on the floor, her had hips moved and her smile was wide with lips pouty and full. Her features were exotic and darkened and in his mind, described as beautiful and sexy. Her skin was mocha tan and looked soft. Damp with the exertion of dancing. She made him think of clear waters and white sand beaches. Like the exotic location they resided. She looked so comfortable with her surroundings. Free smiles passed to people as they walked by her and he wondered if it was that easy to get something so filling. He shook his head and knocked back a shot. These thoughts coming from him. Who would've thought it would be in those types of cheesy words. His eyes followed her hand as it moved her hair to the side and a fist of want formed in his stomach as he set his drink on the counter.

After she finished the bottle she stepped from her stool and started out towards the middle of the crowd to find her friends. A guy suddenly pushed himself against her and started to sway her into a dance but Corina smiled a rejection and moved away from him, careful as his drunken-ness made him look like walking rubber. Another one of mama�s warnings. Drunk men are big no-nos. Corina had merely argued back at how much she repeated stories of her past and Corina would have to repeat the fact that she wouldn't make the same mistakes. She knew the other thing that mama had drilled in her brain; stay away from those charming Latin lovers. Blah blah blah. Corina laughed off the thought, that wasn�t what she was here for and charm didn�t work on her.

She danced along her way to the center but the music changed with a sudden click and just as the new song started she felt a hand close over her arm and tug her around so that she was pressed firmly against a hard, warm, frame. Corina�s eyes locked with his and all mamas� warnings fled from her mind and the deep, dark, brown eyes that stared hard into hers entranced her. He was rugged and had a little of Antonio Banderas but not with his such soft features. Corina was blinded if there any charm. It wasn't in the eyes and the smile like she had see or been warned about. But his eyes locked with hers and she wondered if this was lust or charm. She never knew, but wanted to make it an experience to find out. He moved with her, spinning her into a dip and Corina suddenly slipped into a state of bliss. The music was sultry and moderate; the voice was effective and accented with Spanish. They were just locked, together. Energy surrounded them and caught them in a whirl of body pressed against body. A trance, never had it come over Corina. She felt breathless, helpless. Corina felt him take her hand and spin her around and then dip. Salsa. The moves were a second walk to her and she was caught in the web. Emotions tangled. Fingertips gripped her hips and she fell deeper in the daze.

Craziness...the thought tried to break through. Stranger...mamas warning. Corina was spun to face away and she felt his hands run down her arms and clasp hers. Warm breath sighed against her ear as he whispered, �Te quiero.� She felt tipsy, her mind fuzzy, from the alcohol or the stranger�s trap-like eyes, she didn�t know. Thoughts suddenly worked free....different place, different people. Corina pushed away from him and against people as she tried to lose herself in the moving mass of bodies...hesitant to look back. Wanted to.

Craziness...she thought, was it being under the trance or escaping and wanting to turn back and rush into it again. Corina continued to saunter farther into the crowd. She assumed he wouldn�t follow but she was whirled around fast and Corina�s was swept away as his lips crushed against hers. Corina didn�t think of anything, trance of no trance. She felt herself being walked backwards and then felt the little rocks and pebbles beneath her feet. She felt his hands fist in her hair, her intake of breath accelerate, and she was taken to the sand.

Corina woke, her eyes squinting at the lights still flashing and blazing in the club. She rolled over and settled in against the stranger�s side, seeking warmth. Her eyes glanced at his face as he slept. Trouble curled through her veins...the kind of feeling that came over you when you were caught in a sticky web with no way out.