Read Chambers of Desire: Opus 1 for Free Online Page A

hadn’t changed, and I wasn’t sure I had heard him correctly.
    “Say what?” I asked. I’d heard him, but…
    He lifted his icy eyes to mine. “What turns you on? Sexually.”
    I felt the blood begin its return to my face. “I guess I don’t really know yet,” I said, with a nervous laugh. “I mean… the auction… I haven’t…” 
    Oliver sighed again.  “Ms. Clarke, surely you have had some sexual thoughts in the past?”
    He held my gaze for a moment, tapping his pen on the desk.
    “Let’s try that again. I will attempt to be more specific for you, Ms. Clarke. What did you fantasize about the last time you had an orgasm?”
    I blushed. Hurry up and answer, Sabrina.
    “What my first time would be like. What kind of man it’d be with.”
    “What type of man was he?” He kept writing, not bothering to look up.
    I had never shared these details with anyone, not even Chloe. I’d known girls that loved to tell each other all sorts of crazy fantasies… sex dreams… joking and squealing.  I wasn’t one of them and even if I was Du Cheval seemed like the last person I’d share this type of information with,
    “Well,” I said, remembering the dark, broad-shouldered man I’d imagined in the bath. “His hair was dark brown, chestnut-colored, and he had full lips. Assertive, he took charge—knew what made me feel good.” A tingling zipped through my stomach as I remembered his eyes gazing into mine.
    Were these the answers Mr. Chambers wanted? I hadn’t the slightest clue. He asked for honesty , I reminded myself again.
    “What are you studying at SMU?” Just like that, he shifted gears again calmly.
    “I’m a dance major. My parents aren’t really happy about that either. They’d prefer something more practical.”
    “You don’t find value in a practical major?”
    His condescending tone made me bristle.
    “No, no… it’s not that,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “It’s that I think it is practical to pursue one’s passion.  It’s a different sort of practicality, but it’s just as important.  You know, to be happy, to be fulfilled…” I bit my lip.  Oliver didn’t seem like the sort to revel in happiness much.  This probably sounded like grade-A nonsense to him. 
    “Plans for after graduation?”
    ”Well… graduation is now in jeopardy since my father is not paying for me to continue to go to school so I might be in trouble unless this deal comes through. But a career as a professional dancer would be ideal… If that doesn’t work out, I’ll be very happy teaching dance instead of performing though.”
    Oliver stopped writing and leaned back in his chair, moving his notes to the side for a moment. “What exactly do you know about Mr. Chambers, so far, Ms. Clarke?”
    “Only that he’s a key figure on Wall Street. He’s in his early thirties, but a billionaire. There wasn’t much information on his personal life out there. And you can call me Sabrina.”
    “Mr. Chambers is a private man, Sabrina. You’ll learn that quickly. He prefers it that way. He studies people, observes their behaviors, mannerisms, how they behave when they think no one’s watching. He doesn’t tolerate mediocrity or incompetence.  Not from his employees, not from his colleagues, and not from any of his… associates.” Oliver’s smile, though cool, was not unkind. 
    “Well,” I said, slowly. “I suppose we’ll soon find out if I’m up to his standard, won’t we?”
    “What did you think of the artwork in the foyer, Ms. Clarke?” He seemed to have a real knack for unpredictable transitions.
    “I’ve never seen anything like it,” I answered sincerely. “I thought it was fascinating. Strange, but fascinating.”
    “Did it excite you?”
    I paused, thinking of that woman’s neck in a leash, the chill of forbidden fantasy that had scorched my thoughts.
    “Sexually, Ms. Clarke,” he repeated, as if I hadn’t understood the question. “Did the artwork excite you