Ecstasy Read Online Free

like a drum in her chest, Charlie brushed off her concerns.
    “You know what, Candace?” he said, her name rolling off his tongue like warm butter. “I’d like nothing better than to show you around the conference hall and to introduce you to some of my friends and colleagues.” Leaning in closer to her he added with a wink, “Not that I don’t think you’re capable of taking care of yourself, of course.”
    This time, instead of blushing at his double-entendre, Candace laughed. “Thank god I’m starting to get your sense of humor,” she said. “And by the way, if you’re going to be my chaperone, why don’t you call me Candy? The only people who ever use my full name are either my mother or my elementary school teachers when I really got into trouble for something.”
    Clearly unable to stop teasing her, in a rough undertone Charlie asked, “Did you get into trouble a lot, Candy?”
    Candace swallowed and stared into Charlie’s deep blue eyes. The flash of lust she had felt when their bodies had collided was jumping inside of her full-force now. Forcing herself to remember to be cautious, to remember how badly she’d been hurt, a shadow passed over her eyes.
    Shrugging, she finally replied, “More times that I can count.”
    If Charlie noticed her swift change of demeanor, he didn’t let on. Looping his arm through hers, he said, “I’m going to take you in now. But I’m warning you to be prepared for lunacy. We’re a naughty little bunch, you know, us erotica writers.”
    Shaking off her painful memories, Candy smiled up at Charlie. “Lead on, oh wise one,” she said in mock subservience. “Lead on.”
    Charlie directed them into a crowded common room, which had at least a hundred different information booths set up inside. Candace gaped at the displays all around them and started to wonder if it was too late for her to make her escape.
    Seeming to sense her growing embarrassment in that incredibly perceptive way of his, Charlie held firm to her hand. “Now just remember,” he said, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “there’s nothing to be embarrassed about with these folks. We’re all in the business for the same reason—because we love it. No one’s going to look down upon you or call you a pervert today, I promise.”
    Shivering as his breath gently blew against her ear, she looked up at him, a question in her eyes. “How did you know people have been giving me a hard time about writing erotica?”
    Charlie gestured to the group of people in the room with them. “Every one of us has had to deal with misconceptions at one point or another.” With a grimace he added, “And I’d be lying to you if I said it’s all a bed of roses, even after five years.”
    Suddenly, Candace was overwhelmed by the clear picture of the two of them, entwined together on a bed of rose petals. As warm heat pooled between her legs, she forced the vision from her head.
    Thankfully, he didn’t wait for her response and led them up to the first booth by the door, which, to Candace’s dismay had the most comprehensive display of dildos she had ever seen amassed in one place.
    Actually, considering she had never even gotten up the nerve to walk into an adult bookstore, they were the only dildos she had ever seen outside of a magazine ad.
    “Candy, this is Albert. He’s an old-timer around here, and frankly, without him, none of us erotica writers would be worth a damn.”
    Candy managed to muster up a smile for the gray-haired, bearded man, and reached out her hand to shake his.
    “Don’t be shy, missy,” he barked at her. “Feel free to wrap your hands around any one of these babies to find out what they really feel like. I’ve got rubber. I’ve got really life-like skin. I’ve got hard dildos and soft dildos and dildos with vibrators attached. They come in a range of colors, including day-glo green with florescent pink stripes, if you’re really looking for something to spice up a