Passion Partner

September 18, 20071

A costume party was planned at my favorite salsa club and even though I haven’t gone there in a while, something in the back of my mind told me to go, though I don’t know why.2

La Hola was the salsa club in San Francisco and I used to spend all of my time there. Some would say that I lived there. Salsa dancing has always brought me much joy on the dance floor and everyone said that I was a really good dancer. Always able to bring the joy and sensuality to the people that I danced with. But one day everything changed and I lost my interest in dancing altogether.3

Her name was Salia and she was perfect in every way. When I first met her, she was dancing on the floor all by herself and flowing with the music mesmerizing me and I watched her for hours on end.4

When she realized that she was being watched, she grabbed my hand and the two of us created fire on the dance floor. Everyone gave us room and watched as if transfixed on the sight of two people in the midst of passion. 5

For two weeks, we met at La Hola and danced our hearts out to each other. We both left the club sweating and laughing. But then one day she didn’t come to the club and I looked for her and waited for her to come and dance with me, but she never showed up again. 6

After that, dancing lost its hold on me. I dug myself into my schooling and became a physical trainer. I haven’t gone to the club in over two years until a notice from the club arrived in the mail for the costume party.7

I rented a suit fashioned in the Spanish old style and a saber at my side… looking like the roguish don going to a party back in the Old West. By the time that I arrived, everyone was dressed up and even the bartender was in pirate getup complete with an eye patch and the scowl. Despite myself, I enjoyed watching everyone dance, though I had no desire to go on the dance floor and dance myself.8

As I was watching people in the club dance, I glanced over at the doorway and a woman with a silver mask and a long black shoulder dress took off her cloak and caught my attention immediately. Her long black hair was familar as well as the rest of her body, but I couldn't place her for the life of me. I had given no mind to any other woman in the club. This woman had my complete attention.9

Before I knew it, I found myself walking to her and I introduced myself and greeted her in Spanish.10

“Hola, senorita” I said, bowing low, as is custom in Spanish tradition. “Cómo está? (Hello, miss. How are you?)11

“Bien” she said, her lips curved into an amused smile. Her eyes were covered by the mask. “Et tu?” (Good. And you?)12

“Bien” I said and the music changed into a lively rhythm and couples’ dancers began to waltz onto the dance floor. Looking back at her, I switched to English and asked “Would you grant me the pleasure of this dance?”13

“Yes, I would love to.” She said, her voice sultry and soft.14

We walked onto the dance floor and we began a heated dance. As we danced, I began to feel the music flow into me and my body slowly remembered how to dance again and enjoy it. Every cell in my body came back to life one by one and I had eyes only for my mysterious dancer that was giving me a gift for which I could not repay. 15

We twisted and twirled and the surrounding dancers watched us crackle and spark, creating passion and they couldn’t help but be in awe for our dancing. When I brought her close, our legs pinned together, I slowly let her bend back into a dip and I couldn’t help but taste her skin. I kissed her skin just above the breasts and she gasped in pleasure and held my head close before releasing me and beginning the chase across the dance floor. 16

As the song ended and we were both sweating profusely, so we sat down at one of the tables to catch our breath and to rest our legs. My body never forgot how to dance and I wanted to thank this mysterious woman for bringing the joy of dancing back to me. I turned to her and was going to thank her, when she removed the mask and I was staring at the woman that I had been searching for… Salia!17

“Salia!” I said, nearly shouting. “You’re back. Where did you go? I waited for you to come back to the club, and you never showed. What happened?”18

“Fernando, it’s hard to explain, but if you give me a few minutes, I will try, ok?” She said, her eyes pleading. I nodded and she explained what had happened from then until now.19

She told me that the time that she visited San Francisco and heard about this club, she was only here for two weeks, because she was on vacation from college in North California. She said that when she met me, she felt like she belonged and didn’t want to leave when her time was up. But she couldn't drop out, either. So she went back and got her master’s degree in business management and she got a job in San Francisco. She searched for me for a long time before finally finding me and mailing me the invitation to the costume party. 20

I was so happy to have her back that I kissed her impulsively. She returned my kiss with interest and led me back on the dance floor. We danced that entire night and it was utter bliss. Every step, smile, and move felt like I was in ecstasy.21

We won the night’s contest for best costume dancers that night and our night didn’t stop there. We ended up back at my place and made love all night long. The true bliss came when she rested her head on my chest and fell fast asleep, a smile curled on her lips.22

We moved in together a month later and are engaged to be married. The wedding date is set for June 6th, 2008. Three years from the day that we met and we couldn’t be happier23