Jamie is in Costa Rica on spring break. He has his books and writing notebook, but is otherwise alone in this tropical paradise. At dinner he meets two very attentive waiters – Rudiger and Luis – and the interest is mutual. They convince Jamie to accompany them to “la playita” — the “little beach” – a popular and fun place where no one wears anything. It is on la playita that Rudiger and Luis bring Jamie’s private fantasies to life.

Every once in a while I come across a story that takes me completely outside of my reality and myself. Regardless of what’s going on around me there are no distractions whatsoever because I’ve been enveloped into another world. La Playita by Gavin Atlas is such a story. By strict definition erotica is intended to arouse by portraying sex in an explicit way. However, if you believe as I do that good erotica should take the reader on a truly sensual journey in addition to awakening the sexual then you need to read La Playita.

This is a little gem of an erotic tale that in 23 pages engages all of the senses – sight, taste, touch, smell and sound. You feel the sun’s heat and the humidity, smell the sea, hear the little crab scratching at Jamie’s suitcase, taste the salty sweat on skin and feel the abrasion of sand to the touch. You also envision vibrant images of the environs of this Costa Rican paradise and the men of la playita.

Gavin Atlas has written La Playita in the first person personal. Not something too many authors do, or in deed do well. But Mr. Atlas does this extremely well. There is a subtle quality to this author’s writing that very much appeals to me. His descriptions are quite refined yet his writing provokes vivid images and creates a complete sensory experience. Throughout the story the author builds the reader’s anticipation by involving the pleasure of all the senses. There is only one sex scene in this story and it is at the end. In it, Mr. Atlas takes many a popular sexual fantasy – sex on a beach, sex with strangers, ménage sex, sex while being watched – and turns them into an alluring and provocative experience, inviting the reader to share in Jamie’s erotic sojourn on la playita. It is one of the more memorably arousing sex scenes that I’ve read in a while.

La Playita is an altogether erotic treasure of a short story. It is pure, unadulterated eroticism and sensuality – a hedonist’s delight! It melted my butter!

La Playita by Gavin Atlas is available at All Romance eBooks.

Music: Say It Right – Nelly Furtado (Loose, 2006)